Li Xiaoran stood up and said: “This is what a harmonious family should be. Today, do you know where you were all wrong? Tell me.”

Li Changle replied shyly: “Your daughter’s skills were inadequate, and I spoke rashly for a moment.”

Li Minfeng’s expression was solemn: “Your son acted recklessly and misunderstood my good younger sister.”

The Old Madam smiled faintly and said: “What fault does Weiyang have?”

Li Xiaoran was stunned.

At this moment, a voice suddenly spoke up: “Third Sister does have a fault.”

Everyone was extremely surprised and looked toward the young boy standing beside Li Weiyang. He wore a crimson robe with a moon-white gold-threaded belt around his waist. His eyebrows carried three parts smile, though it didn’t reach the depths of his eyes. His slightly upturned eyes, when smiling, gave him a beauty so striking one couldn’t look away. The Third Madam was startled: “Min’de, what are you saying?”

Li Min’de said loudly: “Third Sister does have a fault! Her fault is being too poor, which is why people suspected her! If Third Sister had enough silver on her person, how could people suspect she stole and exchanged Old Madam’s red ginseng for money? This shows Third Sister is very poor!”

Though it sounded like a child’s words, everyone was stunned, including Li Xiaoran, who had just been ready to criticize Li Weiyang for being too unyielding.

Li Min’de’s action undoubtedly helped Li Weiyang out of the predicament, preventing Li Xiaoran from reproaching her, and it had another benefit as well.

Sure enough, the Old Madam said: “From today forward, Third Miss’s monthly allowance will be doubled.”

Li Changxi abruptly stood up: “Old Madam!” This way, wouldn’t she be ranked lower than Li Weiyang by one level!

The Old Madam said calmly: “That is all. No one is permitted to mention today’s events again.”

Li Weiyang simply retreated two steps silently, maintaining the proper smile a granddaughter should have. This matter no longer concerned her.

The Third Prince still wanted to converse with everyone, but Li Weiyang claimed she was somewhat tired and wanted to return first.

Just then, Ziyan suddenly rushed out, crying out: “Third Miss, please take this servant back with you! This servant is guilty, please spare this servant!”

Now that the conspiracy was exposed, the Great Madam would absolutely not spare Ziyan. That Ziyan could realize this point meant she wasn’t completely stupid. But did she think she was a charitable person? Since she dared to betray, she must pay the price. Li Weiyang smiled slightly and said: “You already belong to elder brother now. There’s absolutely no reason for you to return with me! Serve well from now on!”

With that, she walked out without looking back. Ziyan collapsed dejectedly to the ground, her face showing complete despair.

Tuoba Zhen watched her leave, a trace of a smile appearing in his eyes. Li Weiyang, was it? He would remember her…

After leaving the Lotus Fragrance Court, Li Weiyang finally released Li Min’de’s hand: “How did you come running here?”

Li Min’de blinked his eyes, his long lashes trembling twice: “Third Sister, you were in danger. I absolutely had to protect you!”

Li Weiyang couldn’t help but laugh. She pinched his face, which was like white tofu—mmm, smooth, with an excellent texture.

Li Min’de’s cheeks were pinched and pulled about, turning so red they seemed ready to drip blood. He raised his face and looked directly at her: “Third Sister, why do you always get into trouble!”

Li Weiyang looked at the young boy’s jet-black, bright eyes. Initially helping him was partly convenient, partly useful, and partly because of his slight resemblance to Yuli. But now, his appearance was extraordinarily handsome, without half a trace of Yuli’s shadow. Min’de was ultimately just Min’de.

Li Min’de grabbed Li Weiyang’s hand again: “Third Sister, there’s rose dew prepared in the pavilion. Come drink it with me.”

In the pavilion, the wet nurse rushed out: “Oh my Third Young Master, you’ve finally returned! If you didn’t come back, this servant would have to search everywhere for you again!”

Li Weiyang was somewhat puzzled—how did Li Min’de know she was in difficulty? He seemed to be constantly paying attention to her.

However, in the pavilion, Li Min’de had already sat down and was seriously eating the rose dew. The pink juice stained his rosy lips, making him look extremely handsome.

Li Weiyang looked at him. Her eyes, which had been tinged with coldness, slowly became gentle. She couldn’t help but reach out and pat his head. Li Min’de smiled and looked at Li Weiyang, his eyes suddenly brightening. But a moment later, as if remembering something, he tilted his head to the side. Li Weiyang was startled.

“I’m not a little child,” he suddenly said stubbornly.

Li Min’de looked at her expectantly: “I’ve already grown up. Don’t treat me like a child!”

At this moment, on his fair complexion, it was as if rouge had been applied. His voice still carried childish tones, but his expression was serious and solemn.

Li Weiyang suddenly laughed at his childish words in this moment. Only children in this world would say they had already grown up.

Seeing that Li Weiyang didn’t believe him, Li Min’de suddenly grabbed Li Weiyang’s hand and said seriously: “I want to become strong so that no one will ever bully you again.”

Li Weiyang’s large eyes, with their distinct black and white, blinked, and she ultimately couldn’t hold back—she laughed aloud.

Li Min’de was annoyed. His Third Sister had the most beautiful pair of eyes in the world: black as ink, gentle as moonlight, and… lonely as cold stars. What he said came entirely from his heart.

He was angry—angry at her current disbelief, angry that she completely dismissed it as nothing.

Bai Zhi stared at the Third Young Master and gently sighed. What a beautiful young man this was, and he was so utterly devoted to their own young miss.

In the distance, Tuoba Zhen took his leave and came out. Passing through the corridor, he suddenly stopped.

He looked at the young girl in the pavilion whose smile bloomed like flowers. For a moment, he couldn’t connect her with that woman in the hall earlier who had shown her claws and had a cold heart and cold lungs.

A young girl, clearly not yet fully grown, yet possessed contradictions and complexity that belonged only to adults. It was truly very interesting.

Behind him, Li Minfeng, who was about to kneel in the ancestral hall, said hatefully: “That damned girl!”

Tuoba Zhen turned his head and said: “Brother Minfeng, this time, you miscalculated!”

Li Minfeng had held a playful attitude, thinking that with one move he could place Li Weiyang in a fatal position. He hadn’t expected that trying to steal a chicken, he lost the rice instead. He had thoroughly lost face before the entire family and even caused his noble younger sister to kneel in apology. Feeling truly vexed, he couldn’t help but say hatefully: “Her time to cry in pain will come!”

Tuoba Zhen said calmly: “Men should focus their energy on the court, not the inner residence. You shouldn’t participate in this kind of meaningless struggle anymore.”

Li Minfeng was startled and immediately fell silent. His expression changed for quite a while before he finally said: “Yes.”

Tuoba Zhen cast another glance toward Li Weiyang in the distance and smiled slightly.

In the evening, just after finishing the evening meal, Mozhu entered the room and said: “Miss, the Third Prince’s Highness has sent people to deliver gifts to all the madams and young misses.”

Li Weiyang raised her eyes, slightly displeased. Mozhu said carefully: “Miss, do you want to see—”

“What is it?” Bai Zhi glanced at Li Weiyang’s expression and asked softly.

“It’s a pot of crabapple flowers.”