“You stop right there!” Jiang Shiran’s face was dark with anger as she blocked Qiao Zhao’s path.

After being humiliated so badly, did she think she could just walk away like that?

Due to the pain, beads of sweat fell from her forehead like rain. The young lady before her had a face as white as snow, with blood streaks washed away by sweat meandering across her face, making her appear increasingly shocking to behold.

The young lady’s gaze remained indifferent. Facing the aggressive Miss Jiang, she smiled slightly: “Miss Jiang, if you’re not satisfied this time, we can continue next time. For now, please let me go home to treat my wounds.”

“You—” Jiang Shiran instinctively took half a step back.

She was used to being willful, but she had never seen a young lady remain so calm with blood flowing on her face. Her composure was so unsettling that it made her heart turn cold.

Qiao Zhao remained well-mannered, giving Jiang Shiran a slight nod before turning to Du Feixue: “Miss Du, please trouble yourself to have someone call my maid.”

After speaking, she lifted her foot to leave. When passing by Yang Houcheng and Zhu Yàn, she stopped and thanked them openly: “Thank you, both elder brothers.”

Yang Houcheng’s head heated up, and he blurted out: “Miss Li, let me escort you back!”

Even a young girl could be so magnanimous. He was her friend, yet seeing her injured and bullied, he could only watch helplessly due to social propriety. Wasn’t this ridiculous?

To hell with social propriety! At worst—

Yang Houcheng came to his senses and thought awkwardly: At worst, he’d acknowledge her as a sister. Cough, cough. Taking her as a wife would be too young. He wasn’t like that fellow Chi Can—he really couldn’t develop other feelings toward such a young girl.

Zhu Yàn placed his hand on Yang Houcheng’s shoulder and turned to Du Feiyang, who had been wanting to speak: “Cousin, it wouldn’t be proper for Miss Li to return like this. We happen to be leaving anyway, so let’s escort her partway. You’d better inform Aunt and send a capable steward along.”

Du Feixue suddenly looked over, biting her lower lip hard.

Cousin Zhu wanted to escort Li San? Others might not know, but she was crystal clear that although Cousin Zhu was gentle and courteous to people, he never involved himself in such trivial matters.

Could it be—

Du Feixue twisted her head to glance at Qiao Zhao.

Could it be that Cousin Zhu regarded Li San differently?

The more Du Feixue thought about it, the more panicked she became. Her gaze toward Qiao Zhao was as sharp as a blade.

“Good, I’ll go consult with Mother right away.” Du Feiyang said.

Since the person was injured at their residence, no matter what, the Earl’s mansion couldn’t escape responsibility. Sending a respectable steward with gifts to apologize was basic courtesy.

“Elder brother, there’s no need to call a steward.” Du Feixue stepped forward and spoke up. “I’ll accompany Miss Li San to the Li residence.”

“Feixue, you—” Du Feiyang raised his eyebrows in surprise.

He knew better than anyone how much his sister disliked Li San.

Not just his sister—how could he be fond of Li San either?

Thinking of how Li Zhao used to pester him and bully his cousin, disgust flashed in Du Feiyang’s eyes. He pressed his lips together: “Alright then, you escort Miss Li San back first. I’ll go inform Mother.”

“Don’t worry, cousin. I’m here too. I’ll take good care of both younger sisters.” Li Jiǎo spoke up at the right moment.

Qiao Zhao had already lifted her foot to walk outside.

Many carriages were parked outside the gate of Earl Guchang’s mansion. Among them, a very inconspicuous carriage with azure curtains was parked in a corner. The young coachman leaned against the wall, silently daydreaming.

Why on earth had he thought it was a good idea to become a coachman? The days were so boring, so boring!

There was movement at the gate. Chen Guang, the little coachman with excellent hearing, looked over and immediately saw Qiao Zhao coming out with a handkerchief pressed against half her face, blood stains covering her face and body.

Chen Guang’s expression changed dramatically. He shed all his laziness and strode over quickly.

“Miss, how did you get injured? Are you alright?” Chen Guang’s gaze swept coldly over the faces of everyone following Qiao Zhao, particularly severe.

Damn it, though he found life boring, he hadn’t wished for Miss Li to get into trouble!

Damn it, he failed to protect Miss Li again!

The burning pain in her cheek made it difficult for Qiao Zhao to speak. She gave a brief order: “Return to the residence!”

“Yes!” Chen Guang looked deeply at everyone present, thinking: He had memorized all these people. Once he found out who had caused Miss Li’s injury, he would give them a good beating with a club.

What? Don’t hit women?

Please! The General had long taught them that for them, there were only allies and enemies, not men and women!

A’Zhu, whose face had turned pale, helped Qiao Zhao into the carriage. When Li Jiǎo tried to follow, Chen Guang blocked her with his hand, saying flatly: “Miss, the carriage is small and can’t seat so many people.”

After speaking, Chen Guang nimbly jumped onto the carriage and flicked the whip, driving the carriage as fast as if it were flying, leaving everyone with a nose full of dust.

Zhu Yàn and Yang Houcheng looked at each other.

“It seems we were worrying unnecessarily.” Zhu Yàn said with a grave expression, thinking of the wound on Qiao Zhao’s face.

Yang Houcheng stared at the trail of dust in a daze. After a long while, he came to his senses, scratched the back of his head, and muttered: “Zi Zhe, don’t you think that coachman looked somewhat familiar? I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.”

“Really?” Zhu Yàn looked thoughtful.

Du Feixue stamped her foot: “What kind of master has what kind of servant-no no manners at all!”

The carriage prepared by Earl Guchang’s mansion was already waiting in front. Du Feixue lifted her skirt to board the carriage and turned back: “Cousin, are you riding horses?”

“No. Cousin, hurry and catch up with Miss Li San. We’ll be leaving first.”

Du Feixue was stunned and blurted out, “Cousin, you’re not coming?”

Zhu Yàn found it both amusing and helpless: “Since Miss Li San has already left first, we won’t follow along.”

Yang Houcheng had no patience for this Miss Du who always clung to his friend. He pulled Zhu Yàn along: “Let’s go quickly, we still have things to do.”

Watching Zhu Yàn and the other leave, Du Feixue lifted her skirt with tears in her eyes: If she had known, she wouldn’t have volunteered to go to the Li residence. That damned coachman!

“Cousin Jiǎo, get in the carriage.” Du Feixue bit her lip and said irritably.

After Li Jiǎo entered the carriage, Du Feixue asked: “Li San’s coachman—I haven’t seen him before?”

“He was given to her by Physician Li.” Li Jiǎo was in a melancholy mood.

She really shouldn’t have come today. Li San had stolen the spotlight while she could only watch helplessly, being overshadowed and appearing even more mediocre by comparison. And when Li San got into trouble, she couldn’t escape responsibility. When she returned home, Grandmother and the others would surely think she hadn’t taken good care of her younger sister.

“That Physician Li treats her so well? He even gave her a coachman?”

“More than that.” Li Jiǎo recounted all the gifts Qiao Zhao had received that day like counting treasures.

Du Feixue listened in amazement and had a sudden inspiration: “Cousin Jiǎo, didn’t you say Physician Li also gave Li San a box of precious medicinal materials? Could there be some treasures in it? Is that why Li San wanted to rush back to treat her wounds?”

Li Jiǎo’s heart stirred: “I’ll go back and inquire about it.”

They say that Physician Li could bring the dead back to life and heal bones and flesh. Who knows, he might have left some miraculous medicine for Third Sister.