Zhuge Huai frowned deeply and said solemnly, “Not a single day of peace, truly meaningless.”

Zhuge Yue raised his long eyebrows and smiled faintly, “If Elder Brother fears the noise, why not move out of the inner courtyard like I did? What you don’t see won’t vex you.”

Zhuge Huai’s expression immediately softened, and he replied with a smile, “Of course I also wish to be like Fourth Brother, finding a quiet place to enjoy tranquility. But as the eldest son, with Father absent, I can only act in his stead—it’s unavoidable.”

Zhuge Yue smiled but didn’t respond. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and lowered his head in silence.

“Eldest Young Master, the Third Madam requests you and the Fourth Young Master to go to Liyan Courtyard. She says there’s an urgent matter that requires your handling.”

Zhuge Huai immediately showed slight anger and said, “What matter requires both me and Fourth Brother? Tell them I’m busy.”

“Eldest Young Master, the Third Madam has brought out the family punishment implements and is about to… to beat Miss Lixiang of Liyan Courtyard to death.”

Zhuge Yue put down his teacup, stood up, and said, “Elder Brother, let’s just go. Perhaps there is an urgent matter.”

Zhuge Huai sighed deeply and followed him out of the study.

Liyan Courtyard was filled with angry curses. The various Madams were taking turns venting their fury, arguing vociferously. Yet within their anger was a hint of schadenfreude: this little harlot who had bewitched the Master to the point of disorientation had finally gotten what she deserved.

The Seventh Madam stood arrogantly in the middle of the courtyard, coldly smiling at the disheveled Lixiang, “I never would have thought that such a disgraceful incident could happen in our Zhuge Manor. The Master has always treated you well, yet this is how you repay him. Truly shameless!”

The Third Madam wore a garment of red fox and sable. In her thirties, she had maintained herself well, with a distinct air of elegance and nobility. She spoke with apparent regret, “Lixiang when the Master left, he said he would take you into his chambers upon his return. Who would have thought you would commit such an immoral act? Even I cannot tolerate you anymore today.”

“Third Sister, why waste so many words on her? In my opinion, beat her to death with one blow and be done with it. Don’t sully our Zhuge family’s grounds.”

Lixiang’s face was pale as she knelt on the ground, arms wrapped around herself. Her clothes were in disarray, her eyes vacant, and her entire body trembling. Occasionally, she glanced at the man beside her, who was shaking like a sieve, his face ashen, in an even worse state than herself.

When Zhuge Yue entered Liyan Courtyard, this was the chaotic scene he witnessed. After listening to the Seventh Madam’s proud narration, the Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family immediately furrowed his brow, his eyes flashing with sharp light as his mind raced.

“Eldest Young Master!” As soon as Zhu Shun saw Zhuge Huai, he saw him as a lifeline and rushed forward weeping, with snot and tears flowing as he cried loudly, “She seduced me first! She sent me letters, asking me to come. As soon as I entered, she removed her clothes to seduce me. This slave remembers the kindness of the Master and Young Masters, and my mind is filled only with serving the Zhuge family with utmost loyalty until death. How could I commit such a heinous act? This slave resisted desperately, refusing to give in to this wretched woman’s desires. This slave is wronged and knew nothing of this beforehand!”

“You heartless wretch! Do you have no conscience? It was you who—”

“You still dare to quibble!” With a crisp smack, the Seventh Madam slapped Lixiang across the face and sneered, “A lowly woman is just that—you even dared to use despicable means to harm me, only to have your scheme backfire on you. You brought this upon yourself!”

“Fourth Brother! Where are you going?” Zhuge Huai was startled to see Zhuge Yue turning to leave. Unable to attend to matters here, he called out in confusion.

“Elder Brother, I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll find you later.”

Hastily leaving these words, the young Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family departed from Liyan Courtyard, hurrying toward Qingshan Courtyard.

With a bang, he pushed open the door of Qingshan Courtyard. Huan’er and several young maids were watering the orchids in the flower bed. Upon seeing Zhuge Yue, they immediately retreated to the side and respectfully bowed. Zhuge Yue didn’t even look at them, continuing to stride toward the servants’ quarters while asking, “Where has Xing’er gone? Who was watching her?”

“Xing’er said she wasn’t feeling well and went back to her room to lie down.”

A young maid said, while Huan’er beside her, fearing Xing’er would be punished, quickly added, “She’s been sorting new tea with us all day, and just went back.”

Zhuge Yue’s face was grim as he strode toward Chu Qiao’s room. Moon Seven followed beside him, saying in a low voice, “Miss Xing’er was indeed busy in the small kitchen all day. This subordinate didn’t see her leave.”

With a bang, the door was pushed open, and Zhuge Yue, with a dark face, barged in. His eyes swept the room, only to see the child lying pale-faced on the bed, appearing genuinely ill.

Zhuge Yue was slightly stunned, not expecting her to be in her room. For some unknown reason, seeing her lying there safely, his heart immediately felt relieved, as if a great weight had been lifted, giving him an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

“Fourth Young Master?” The child sat up in bed with surprise, clutching her blanket, her voice still carrying the tone of someone who had just awakened. “Has Xing’er done something wrong?”

Zhuge Yue was taken aback, shook his head, and said somewhat awkwardly, “No, Huan’er said you were ill, so I came to check on you.”

“Oh,” the child nodded, “Young Master brought so many people to see Xing’er. Xing’er thanks, Young Master.”

Zhuge Yue’s face immediately turned red, and he seemed at a loss, not knowing what to say as he stood there, clearing his throat with a cough.

Seeing Zhuge Yue’s embarrassment, Zhu Cheng quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: “Xing’er, the Young Master has come to see you. Why don’t you get up quickly?”

The child was startled, showing signs of nervousness as she bit her lip but didn’t move.

Zhuge Yue’s eyes turned cold, suspicion immediately arising. Today’s events had been elaborate, requiring careful stealth to evade the layers of sentries. The clothes worn during such an endeavor would surely bear traces. He had rushed back as soon as he heard the news and shouldn’t have been much slower than the schemer. Given her behavior, could there be something hidden beneath that blanket?

“Xing’er,” Zhuge Yue stepped forward slowly, his eyes firmly fixed on the child’s face, and said in a deep voice, “Pour me a cup of tea.”

The child looked anxious, biting her lip as she said, “Could Young Master please step out first? Xing’er will… will get up to serve you in a moment.”

“No,” Zhuge Yue walked to the bedside. His slender fingers grabbed the thin brocade blanket covering the child. His dark eyes drew close to the child’s large ones as he said, word by word, “I want to drink it now.”

“Ah!” A sudden cry rang out, and everyone was immediately dumbfounded, with exclamations of surprise rising one after another. On the small bed, the petite child tightly hugged her knees, burying her face in the crook of her arm. Her shoulders trembled, her black hair falling over her shoulders—she was completely unclothed!

Zhuge Yue, still gripping the blanket, was momentarily stunned. After a long while, his handsome face suddenly turned bright red. He abruptly turned around and angrily shouted at the wide-eyed servants, “What are you all looking at? Get out!”

The servants awoke from their trance and withdrew from the room.

Zhuge Yue threw the blanket back over Chu Qiao’s body, his tone uncharacteristically unsteady and somewhat agitated as he said, “Put your clothes on quickly!”

Behind him was silence, with the sound of soft sobbing gradually rising. Zhuge Yue frowned deeply, not knowing at whom he was angry, and impatiently snapped, “Forget it, just stay in bed then.”

He then strode out of the room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang. Inside the room, the child raised her head, her expression calm, her eyes serene, without the slightest trace of sorrow. She lifted the mattress beneath her, carelessly tossing a set of dirt-soiled clothes onto the floor.

Zhuge Yue was indeed vigilant, so fast that she didn’t even have time to put on her clothes.

But this was also good—no one would dare enter her room again this afternoon, giving her ample time to do what needed to be done next.

The child lowered her head and smiled softly. Her young face, for some reason, carried a somewhat dark expression.

It was also time to settle accounts.