The servants’ scalps went numb, and they all lowered their heads in unison, cold sweat dripping down.

Third Miss was so terrifying—they would never dare spread idle gossip about Third Miss again!

Miss Qiao was quite satisfied with this effect. Seeing that the beating was finished, she turned around leisurely and returned to the room.

Old Qian, the coachman, was still kneeling in the room. Upon seeing Qiao Zhao look his way, he nearly broke down in tears.

Wuu wuu wuu, yesterday he had abandoned Third Miss to chase after the horse, and today he was used as a scapegoat by others. Third Miss would surely deal with him harshly, wouldn’t she? His constitution was much worse than Old Du and his wife’s—ten strokes of the rod would take away half his life.

Looking at her third granddaughter’s calm expression, Old Madam Deng’s feelings were quite complex.

She felt that Third Girl no longer had her previous arrogant and domineering manner, yet her conduct was even more… cough cough, more forceful, and forceful in a way that left others speechless.

Deep in her heart, Old Madam Deng felt a bit of joy.

Third Girl had been kidnapped and would probably never marry. In the future, when the Li family descendants encountered troubles, with Third Girl’s thunderous methods, she might be able to protect the younger generations thoroughly.

For the Li family, this was perhaps not a misfortune.

It was just pitiful for Third Girl, whose prime years could only end in the Li residence, with no good man to accompany her in this life.

The old lady decided to treat her third granddaughter, who could protect the descendants, even better in the future.

Li Jiǎo’s sobbing sounds came through. Old Madam Deng frowned and said to Qiao Zhao: “Zhaozhao, what do you think should be done with this Old Qian?”

Li Jiǎo stopped crying and looked at Old Madam Deng in bewilderment.

What did Grandmother mean? Although Li San was the victim, since when did Grandmother need to ask the grandchildren’s opinions before dealing with servants?

Could it be that Li San’s position in Grandmother’s heart had long surpassed hers? Even—surpassed Third Brother’s?

Third Brother was the only male descendant of the West Residence’s generation. It was impossible for anyone to be more valued than Third Brother.

Li Jiǎo dismissed this speculation, but just thinking that Qiao Zhao’s position in Old Madam Deng’s heart had surpassed hers made her bite her lower lip until it bled from hatred.

The wet nurse’s matter had made her lose composure. She couldn’t make any more mistakes. As someone who had lost her mother, if even Grandmother stopped favoring her, she would truly have no foothold in this inner quarters.

Li Jiǎo stopped crying and quieted down.

Qiao Zhao glanced at Old Qian and smiled at Old Madam Deng: “Grandmother, if you’re asking my opinion, let’s not punish Old Qian. Just let him retire with a pension.”

At present, any household with some foundation would never sell out servants who had worked for decades without making mistakes, as it would invite gossip behind their backs. Those who were ill or too old to work could return home to live in honored retirement, with the residence still providing half their monthly wages.

“Retirement with pension?” Old Madam Deng was obviously somewhat surprised that her granddaughter, who had just been so forceful in dealing with others, had become gentle again.

Old Qian had actually abandoned the young lady after the carriage broke down to chase an old horse. Even if it wasn’t intentional, he couldn’t be let off lightly.

Having understood yesterday’s sequence of events, Old Madam Deng became furious whenever she thought of her poor little granddaughter shivering in the heavy rain while that damned coachman went chasing after an old horse.

It was fortunate they happened to encounter Physician Li—what if they hadn’t?

“Although Old Qian isn’t like Old Du and his wife who deliberately caused trouble, even an unintentional mistake is still no small error. Zhaozhao, why are you being so magnanimous?”

After Old Madam Deng asked this question, Li Jiǎo also spoke up: “Third Sister, is it because of me?”

She asked in a soft, gentle voice, seemingly both reproachful and resentful. Without the annoying crying, she appeared even more pitiful.

But these words struck at the heart.

They had all made mistakes—whether intentional or unintentional, since the errors were both significant, why had she just now stubbornly refused to relent and insisted on severe punishment, even personally standing at the door to watch, yet been so magnanimous toward Old Qian?

Li Jiǎo didn’t say it directly, but her implication was obvious.

It was simply because Old Du and his wife were her people—Third Miss was targeting her, this step-sister.

Qiao Zhao looked at Li Jiǎo with indifferent eyes, a smile gradually spreading across her lips: “Is Big Sister asking about the punishment for Old Du and his wife?”

She chuckled lightly: “Hehe, of course it was because I showed mercy for Big Sister’s sake. Otherwise, those dog slaves who splashed dirty water on me—how could it be as simple as a few beatings and sending them back to their hometown?”

Miss Qiao thought for a moment and nodded: “Mm, at the very least their tongues should have been cut before sending them back, to prevent them from talking nonsense in their hometown without my knowledge.”

Li Jiǎo: “…”

Upon hearing this reasoning, Old Madam Deng immediately ordered people to drag in Old Du and his wife, who had already been beaten, and warned them: “When you return to your hometown, you must behave yourselves. If you dare to make up stories about the masters of this residence, should even the slightest rumor spread, you will not be forgiven lightly!”

Old Du and his wife had already lost all face and dignity. At this moment, they were only trembling with fear, repeatedly promising not to speak nonsense. Only then did Old Madam Deng relent and have them taken away.

Old Qian, kneeling to the side, quietly wiped away a tear.

Third Miss said to let him retire with pension—she wasn’t speaking sarcastically, was she?

“As for Old Qian—” Qiao Zhao looked toward Old Madam Deng and sighed gently. “He’s ill. He didn’t forget things due to carelessness, but because he suffers from forgetful sickness, which led to this mistake. People aren’t saints—who can be without fault? Moreover, he’s a sick person. So Grandmother, please let him retire with pension. We can select a qualified coachman when we return.”

Old Madam Deng’s gaze met Qiao Zhao’s.

The young girl’s eyes were black and bright. Because her gaze was serene, her pair of obsidian-like eyes appeared even larger and quietly beautiful, bringing joy to those who looked upon them.

Having both thunderous methods and a compassionate heart—when had that little granddaughter who always made her furrow her brows in worry grown up?

Old Madam Deng’s throat felt somewhat hoarse, as if something was fermenting in her heart, leaving her momentarily speechless. She raised her hand and gently patted Qiao Zhao’s arm, nodding.

Old Qian listened in a daze, tears streaming down his face.

Old Madam Deng cleared her throat: “Old Qian, what are you still standing around for? Go to the accounting office to collect this month’s wages and go home.”

Old Qian came to his senses as if waking from a dream. First, he kowtowed loudly to Old Madam Deng, then immediately kowtowed to Qiao Zhao: “Thank you, Third Miss, thank you, Third Miss.”

Old Qian’s wife also kowtowed, continuously expressing her gratitude.

Old Qian and his wife left a step later than Old Du and his wife. This time, the servants watching the excitement were completely silent.

Involuntarily, they once again cast their gazes toward the doorway.

This time, there was no one on the steps, but each person’s feelings about Third Miss had greatly changed.

The reaction of Old Qian and his wife also left Old Madam Deng sighing endlessly. She unconsciously turned her gaze to Qiao Zhao, thinking: In this way, the ill reputation that Third Girl had just established in the servants’ hearts through her forceful punishment of Old Du and his wife was smoothed away like spring wind and rain. Did Third Girl foresee this result from the beginning, or was it an unintentional stroke of luck?

Qiao Zhao remained quiet and composed, calmly allowing others to observe her.

What she sought was nothing more than peace and a clear conscience.

The commotion finally passed when the gatekeeper came to report again: “Old Madam, a young man has arrived, saying he was sent by the physician to deliver something to Third Miss.”