Though he was a prefect, he remained respectful and deferential before Wang Tongye.

“Teacher,” he called out respectfully, “Yesterday regarding my rebellious son’s matter, this student has come specially to beg teacher’s forgiveness.”

As he spoke, he bowed deeply.

Wang Tongye looked at him, made an “oh” sound, understanding what this was about. He scrutinized the prefect with a glance, recalling that among those who had charged into the courtyard last night, there was indeed a child whose features resembled his.

“Oh, your child was there too?” he said with another “oh.”

Since there was no longer any grudge with the Marquis Dingxi’s household, last night’s incident had already been put behind Wang Tongye. He hadn’t bothered to have anyone investigate who exactly had come to cause trouble last night.

Wang Tongye’s casual, relaxed remark made the prefect break out in a cold sweat.

“Teacher,” he dropped to his knees with a thud, “I have already punished my rebellious son. Today I’ve come specially to beg teacher’s forgiveness…”

Wang Tongye shook his head and reached out to help him up.

“It’s no matter, it’s all passed…” he was about to say.

But the prefect continued speaking.

“Teacher, please consider that my rebellious son is young and ignorant, deceived by others into doing such absurd things…” he said, clutching Wang Tongye’s sleeve.

Wang Tongye’s hand, which had been about to help him up, paused.

“Deceived by others?” he asked with a frown.

“Yes, yes.” The prefect, as if grasping at a last straw, nodded frantically, “It was all the young madam of the Marquis Dingxi’s household. She had once treated my son medically. My son, being young, was deceived by her and thus committed such presumptuous acts…”

Wang Tongye looked at him, his expression darkening as he straightened up.

“That Young Madam Qi saved your son’s life back then, didn’t she?” he asked.

The prefect hesitated.

“Back then several physicians were treating him. This student doesn’t understand medicine. As for whose contribution it was, I’m not quite clear…” he said.

Wang Tongye gave a cold laugh and interrupted him, flicking his sleeve.

“Your son was indeed deceived by her,” he said coolly.

The prefect was overjoyed, looking at Wang Tongye.

“Do you know what kind of deception your son received from Young Madam Qi?” Wang Tongye asked, looking at him.

The prefect was stunned. This was… what kind of question was this?

Wang Tongye looked at him and snorted coldly again.

“They say sons resemble their fathers, that there are no weak sons from strong fathers. Now it seems this saying isn’t entirely true,” he said.

The prefect was even more bewildered. This was… what did this mean?

The prefect was unceremoniously escorted out of the Wang family gates, still not understanding what his teacher’s words meant.

So had his son’s transgression been cleared up or not?

The prefect walked dazedly toward his sedan chair. Just as he was about to board, he saw a steward emerge from the gates, giving instructions to the doorkeeper.

“This is the list of those people from last night. The master says that anyone whose name is written on this list is not to be admitted, no matter who comes,” the steward instructed the doorkeeper.

The doorkeeper respectfully took the list.

The prefect, overhearing this, was startled.

How fortunate, how fortunate that he had come early! He breathed a sigh of relief, got into his sedan chair, and urged the bearers to return home in peace. Along the way, he saw several families hurrying toward the Wang residence. He deliberately had his sedan chair stop by the roadside. Sure enough, shortly after, he saw those people returning dejectedly.

“I know my teacher’s temperament all too well – he certainly holds grudges,” the prefect said with some satisfaction, stroking his beard after returning to the inner quarters. “Back then, Deputy Chief Li merely said after drinking that teacher was arrogant and disrespectful to his elders. Teacher learned of this and showed nothing on his face, but after three years, he finally found an opportunity to have him demoted and sent out of the capital…”

The prefect’s wife, whose heart had been in her throat all night, finally relaxed. At the same time, she couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

“What do you mean ‘you know’? It was I who urged you to go quickly,” she laughed.

The prefect laughed and bantered playfully with his wife, enjoying their intimate moments.

“Tell me, how did the Marquis Dingxi’s household end up with such a young madam?” the prefect sighed.

“What’s so strange about that? She was originally from a crude background, and then had the good fortune to treat our Ziqiao, which made her famous. Once her arrogant nature could no longer be suppressed, it naturally showed,” the prefect’s wife said with a sigh, her voice full of disdain and disgust. “Really, a married woman – how could she incite our Ziqiao to do such things? Simply too shameless!”

As she spoke, she quickly reached out to tug at the prefect’s sleeve.

“Going to Lord Wang’s house to apologize isn’t enough. You also need to make a trip to the Marquis Dingxi’s household and tell them to make that woman conduct herself properly!” she said.

The prefect looked hesitant.

“That… wouldn’t be appropriate,” he said.

“How is it inappropriate? First, it would make the Marquis Dingxi’s household properly control that woman, and second, it would let Lord Wang know even more of our sincerity,” the prefect’s wife said.

The prefect nodded.

“Also, you must keep an eye on Ziqiao…” he added.

“This wasn’t our Ziqiao’s fault at all – it was all that woman’s deception,” the prefect’s wife immediately said, unable to bear hearing anything bad about her son. “Besides, our Ziqiao values loyalty and knows how to repay kindness, which is why he listened to that woman’s words…”

When this statement reached the prefect’s ears, he couldn’t help but pause.

Ziqiao values loyalty and knows how to repay kindness…

Why did these words sound somewhat strange…

If his son’s actions showed loyalty and gratitude, then what did his own current behavior amount to?

He couldn’t help but shudder, Wang Tongye’s words echoing in his ears again.

It couldn’t be…

While the prefect and his wife were in turmoil, the Liu family on East Street was also in turmoil.

The Liu family couldn’t be considered a prestigious household. Currently, the head of the Liu family, Liu Changqing, served as deputy magistrate of Yongqing County. This eighth-rank minor official position was earned through his own ten years of diligent study. Having no background or influential relatives to help him, he had held this position for five years. Though upright and well-regarded among the common people, he had yet to find an opportunity for promotion. While Liu Changqing appeared to take these matters lightly on the surface, as a middle-aged official confident in his abundant talents, how could he not wish to accomplish something great? But he suffered from having no one to promote him.

Besides his career stagnation, Liu Changqing now faced this troublesome matter.

His youngest son had actually led household guards to besiege the Wang family residence. Upon learning this news, Liu Changqing flew into a rage and immediately applied family discipline.

Though his youngest son was mischievous, he wouldn’t be so senseless. Liu Changqing scolded and questioned him to learn the whole story.

“It was those Wang family people who were in the wrong to begin with – they captured someone and even beat the Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi’s household when she came to demand the person’s release…”

“…The young madam saved Young Master Huang’s life. A life-saving favor should be repaid like a gushing spring. What does it matter if it’s the Wang family or Zhao family…”

“…Good brothers stick together. Since Young Master Huang wanted help, naturally we couldn’t just stand by…”

The youngest son stuck out his neck defiantly, refusing to admit fault even as the rod struck his body.

“Foolish son, he’s a prefect – if something happens, his father can handle it. But we can’t bear such responsibility,” Liu Changqing’s wife said through tears, feeling sorry for both her son and husband.

“I’ll handle it myself,” the youngest son said, still defiant.

Liu Changqing instead put down the rod.

“You’re talking about that divine physician young madam?” he asked.

His youngest son nodded.

“That young madam went there for the physician who was captured…” he said. “I heard people say this young madam is very protective of her people. If anyone touches her people, she won’t let it go. Wasn’t Wang Qingchun forced to flee with his whole family because of her… Father, it was when she kicked the Wang family’s steward that the fight started…”

Recalling that scene, and thinking of the fights he’d been in before, they seemed utterly insignificant by comparison…

The youngest son couldn’t help but get excited again.

“Foolish son, when immortals fight, us mortals can’t get involved,” Liu Changqing’s wife said.

“Anyway, first it was for my brothers, and second, the Wang family was in the wrong,” the youngest son said, still stubborn.

Liu Changqing didn’t raise the rod again.

“Master, don’t talk about that now. We should first go to Lord Wang’s house to apologize,” his wife urged.

Liu Changqing paced back and forth several times, then suddenly threw down the rod.

“We won’t go. What’s done is done. There’s no perfect solution in this world. Since my son chose loyalty, then we can only abandon propriety,” he said.

Liu Changqing’s wife was stunned.

This meant… not apologizing?

“Master, but we can’t afford to offend the Wang family,” she said somewhat panicked, hurrying to persuade him.

“Some things must be faced even if we can’t afford to offend them. If we can’t afford it but have already done it, once we’ve taken this path there’s no turning back. Whether it brings fortune or disaster, we’ll accept it,” Liu Changqing said gravely.

His youngest son realized what this meant and jumped up cheering.

“I knew father was the most capable,” he shouted, looking at his father with complete admiration.

Though Liu Changqing’s career wasn’t going smoothly, seeing his son’s adoring expression still made him feel somewhat proud. He composed himself.

“However, going out to fight is still wrong, and you must still accept punishment!” he coughed and said sternly.

The youngest son’s head immediately drooped.

“Father, please don’t make me practice calligraphy…” he muttered.

Looking at her husband and son, Liu’s wife finally smiled too.

Whatever happened, her husband had read so many books – he must be right.

What’s done is done, and one must dare to take responsibility. She felt reassured and when people from other families came to discuss going to the Wang house to apologize, the couple firmly refused.

When those families learned of this, they naturally mocked them.

Since the Liu family wanted to court death, they couldn’t stop them. They even thought it was better if they didn’t go – this would draw more of the Wang family’s attention and shift more blame onto the Liu family, so they paid them no more mind.

The Liu Changqing couple paid no attention to the outside talk.

The night passed tumultuously, and the next day at dawn, as the family was eating breakfast, a servant rushed in to report in panic.

“The Wang family… people from the Wang family have come…”

The whole family was startled. The Wang family – which other Wang family could it be!

They must be here to demand accountability.

Though they spoke of not being afraid, their hearts were still anxious. Looking at his wife and children’s expressions, Liu Changqing straightened his clothes.

“Show them in,” he said solemnly.

The whole family followed him to the reception hall, taking deep breaths as they waited for the coming verdict.

Footsteps could be heard outside, along with cheerful laughter.

“We’re disturbing Lord Liu’s family.”

A man dressed in an azure cotton robe, clearly a steward, walked in.

The Liu family was stunned, not only by the steward’s pleasant smile, but also by the two young servants following behind him… carrying two gift boxes in their hands.

“…Our master says the young master was frightened the day before yesterday…” the steward said with a smile. Far from being annoyed by the Liu family’s stunned lack of response, he seemed even happier.