Li Weiyang took out a note on which was written: Have important matters to discuss, secret, come quickly.

It was the same as the original note, except for one additional thing—the signature, Xianhui.

Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said: “This was searched from Cousin Gao Jin’s person. As for Xianhui—”

When Chancellor Li saw it, his complexion changed. Xianhui was the courtesy name he had bestowed upon his beloved daughter.

When the Duchess of Weiguo and Gao Min saw this scene, they were both somewhat confused. The Duchess of Weiguo had always thought it was Li Weiyang who had beaten her son, but hadn’t expected there was such a note involved. She wasn’t a stupid person and immediately understood—the mother and daughter Li Changle were using her hands to deal with a concubine-born daughter?! But they shouldn’t have used her son as a plaything! Her complexion immediately became very unpleasant, and she watched the scene before her with an icy expression.

A furious shout was heard. Everyone turned around to see the First Madam’s extremely poor complexion as she said: “Pure nonsense!”

Li Weiyang’s expression remained unchanged as she said: “Mother, every single maid and nanny here can testify. They all saw with their own eyes that this note was searched from Cousin Gao Jin’s person.”

The First Madam’s gaze swept sternly over everyone: “Which of you saw it!”

Stared at by such a terrifying look, no one dared make a sound. The First Madam randomly pointed at a nanny and said coldly: “Did you see it?”

A trace of panic flashed through that nanny’s eyes. She lowered her head and said in a muffled voice: “The scene at the time was too chaotic. This servant, this servant also… also doesn’t remember…”

A trace of satisfied smile flashed across the First Madam’s face, but she heard Bai Zhi say: “Madam, this servant saw it with her own eyes.”

The First Madam looked at her coldly: “You are Weiyang’s maid, correct? Your testimony is insufficient to be credible.” Then she looked toward Chancellor Li: “What kind of person is Changle? How could she do such a thing that shows no understanding of propriety!”

“Father, you must believe your daughter!” Li Changle couldn’t conceal the urgency in her heart. She truly was a bit panicked.

This matter actually involved two misses and had become too unseemly! The Old Madam coughed lightly.

“Everyone be quiet! Today Jin’er merely mistakenly entered the garden and was misunderstood as a thief by the household servants and beaten. This child has been wronged. Another day I will personally visit to apologize. Duchess of Weiguo, you should return first. Treating Jin’er’s injuries is most important.” Li Xiaoran made a decisive judgment and spoke directly. To distinguish right from wrong, one must also cover up family shame. One absolutely cannot interrogate in front of outsiders.

Looking at his expression, one knew this matter had become settled. The Duchess of Weiguo snorted coldly and stood up: “We’re leaving!”

The First Madam hurriedly said: “Nanny Lin, first escort younger sister to my room to rest for a moment.”

“No need!” The Duchess of Weiguo didn’t look back and directed people to carry the stretcher and leave.

The First Madam didn’t chase after her. She knew that right now, the most important thing wasn’t to placate her younger sister, but to clear her daughter of any connection.

The Old Madam glanced at everyone with their various expressions and said: “Nanny Luo, have them all withdraw. You know what to do!”

“Yes!” Nanny Luo obeyed the order and led the unimportant servants away.

“Why aren’t you kneeling down!” Li Xiaoran shouted angrily!

Li Weiyang obediently knelt on the stone slabs, lowering her head and eyes. Li Changle, however, was stunned for a moment and didn’t move. Li Xiaoran’s favoritism toward her was real, but right now his rage was even more real.

He shouted furiously at Li Changle: “Little beast! You kneel down too!”

Li Changle, having grown this big, was being scolded by her father like this for the first time. She was stunned on the spot. Not until someone beside her pushed her did she kneel down in disbelief.

The First Madam, seeing her daughter kneel, immediately had tears brimming in her eyes and gently urged: “Master, your daughter was raised in the palm of your hand. In this freezing cold weather, if she catches a chill it would be terrible. Please let her stand…”

Li Xiaoran glanced at Li Changle. His beloved daughter’s eyebrows were like distant mountains, her skin and bones like snow, her petal-like lips making her appear extremely delicate. His heart softened and he wanted to let her stand, but at the same time, he saw Li Weiyang staring fixedly at him, her distinct black and white eyes carrying a kind of inexplicable scrutinizing quality.

Then Li Weiyang spoke: “Your daughter acted rashly and couldn’t distinguish whether it was a thief or cousin before beating someone, causing Father and Mother trouble. My heart is very guilty, and I humbly request Father’s punishment.”

Her voice was very cool, with each word’s final note cut off very cleanly.

What exactly does this girl mean! In this instant, Li Xiaoran’s entire body shook heavily.

She spoke repeatedly of punishment, but actually had deeper meaning! The First Madam stared at Li Weiyang, hating her to death in her heart, but understood very clearly that if today’s matter was investigated to the end, sooner or later Li Changle would be exposed.

“Aiya, my good daughter, your father knows you’ve just entered the residence and don’t understand things yet. How could he bear to punish you? Quickly stand up…” The First Madam made a show of having someone beside her pull her up.

“If Father doesn’t punish me, I won’t stand up.” Li Weiyang shook off that person’s hand, looking straight ahead at no one, the corners of her lips slightly upturned, her tone extremely light, yet making people feel a particular kind of insistence.

Her attitude made clear she absolutely wanted a result and would never let the matter rest. Though she spoke of punishing herself, wasn’t she actually targeting Li Changle!

The problem was, there was indeed that note, which made it impossible for Li Changle to explain herself clearly. How could she admit that this note was something she used to frame Li Weiyang, yet inexplicably had the two characters Xianhui added! This way, the matter clearly had a connection to herself, and it was very difficult to explain clearly no matter what!

The First Madam, seeing this, bit her teeth and actually also knelt down. Li Changle hurriedly reached out to support her, saying urgently: “Mother, what are you doing?”

The First Madam gazed at Li Xiaoran and said in a deep voice: “Both daughters are implicated in this—it’s truly my failure in discipline. If Master wants to blame someone, blame me. Changle has a weak constitution, and Weiyang doesn’t understand things…” By this point in her speech, she was nearly choking up, appearing extremely wronged.

Hearing this, Li Changle suddenly turned around and looked coldly at Li Weiyang: “Why don’t you come help Mother up! Do you truly want to be this disobedient and unfilial?!”

However, Li Weiyang knelt quietly, her eyes lowered, as if she hadn’t seen anything.

Li Xiaoran was secretly alarmed. Noble family daughters were educated from childhood to be elegant, virtuous, modest, and proper in their conduct. This child actually wasn’t leaving herself any way out…

The entire scene was silent as death, with only the sound of the prayer beads in the Old Madam’s hands clicking.

Having just rained heavily, the ground was all wet. In such weather, even standing was a kind of torment that froze one’s hands and feet. Not to mention kneeling. And Li Weiyang hadn’t even dried her wet hair—she just knelt there ramrod straight.

Li Xiaoran looked at this daughter ten steps away and felt extremely astonished.

Everyone was silent, their expressions somber as they watched Li Xiaoran, waiting for him to make the final decision! Would he shield his treasured pearl Li Changle, or investigate to the end and give Li Weiyang justice!