The smile at the corners of Jiang Yuanchao’s mouth instantly froze.

“Thirteenth Brother?”

“Uh, I understand. I’ll send someone to investigate.”

Jiang Shiran smiled sweetly and linked arms with Jiang Yuanchao: “I knew it—Thirteenth Brother treats me the best.”

Jiang Yuanchao lowered his gaze, which fell on the young lady’s hand.

The young lady’s hand was plump, fair, and exquisitely beautiful.

He looked away and asked seemingly casually: “How badly was that young lady’s face injured?”

Jiang Shiran frowned: “There was so much blood that I couldn’t see clearly. I don’t know if she’ll be disfigured.”

“I see.” Jiang Yuanchao smiled lightly and freed himself from Jiang Shiran’s hand, his tone gentle: “I still have many matters to handle here. Ran Ran, you should head back first.”

“Alright then.” Jiang Shiran reluctantly said goodbye: “Thirteenth Brother, come home early today. I’m in a bad mood and need you to keep me company.”

Jiang Yuanchao nodded lightly: “Good.”

Seeing his agreement, Jiang Shiran couldn’t help but smile, leaving with joy in her heart.

Once Jiang Shiran left, Jiang Yuanchao immediately dropped the smile from his lips and ordered the subordinate outside: “Go replace Jiang He in escorting Miss Jiang home, and tell Jiang He to get in here.”

Soon after, Jiang He came running in: “Master, you were looking for me? This subordinate has something to report to you.”

Jiang Yuanchao sat in his chair, leaning back against it, expressionlessly watching Jiang He.

The master wasn’t smiling!

Jiang He’s heart skipped a beat.

But he hadn’t done anything wrong!

“Didn’t I tell you to roll in here?” Jiang Yuanchao said coolly.

“Ah?”

“Get out and do it again!”

Jiang He blinked: “Master?” He had to roll?

“Hmm?”

The master without a smile was terrifying. He’d better “roll” in.

Jiang He quickly tucked his tail between his legs and backed out, lay down on the ground, and rolled in.

He rolled to Jiang Yuanchao’s feet before tumbling upright, hugging Jiang Yuanchao’s leg pitifully: “Master, are you in a bad mood? If you’re in a bad mood, please say so! Let this subordinate know who made you upset, and I’ll beat them up!”

“Then go ahead and beat them.”

“Huh?” Jiang He was shocked: “Master, this subordinate can’t beat you up—I can’t bring myself to do it!”

Jiang Yuanchao: “…”

He was speechless with anger for a long while. After a moment, Jiang Yuanchao gave Jiang He a thumbs-up.

Jiang He scratched his head embarrassedly: “What are you saying? This subordinate didn’t do anything special—I don’t deserve such praise from you, Master.”

Jiang Yuanchao said coolly, “Jiang He, you’re the first one protecting Miss Jiang, who let her find out about it!”

He must have had a moment of madness, not making this fool scrub toilets and instead sending him to protect Jiang Shiran!

Only then did Jiang He realize he’d made another mistake. He raised his hand and slapped himself twice, looking pitifully at Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao rubbed his forehead helplessly: “Speak. What exactly happened today?”

Jiang He quickly recounted everything he’d seen and heard at Earl Guchang’s mansion from beginning to end. After finishing, he didn’t forget to summarize: “Master, this subordinate really opened his eyes today—those young ladies really know how to have fun.”

Tsk tsk, he’d better marry a simple girl from a modest family in the future. These noble ladies were all terrifying!

Jiang Yuanchao was silent for a while before asking: “Miss Li… how badly was she injured?”

Jiang He scratched his head: “All those young ladies crowded around at the time, and later Miss Li kept covering her face with a handkerchief, so this subordinate couldn’t see clearly. But Miss Li bled a lot! This subordinate estimates that eight or nine times out of ten, she’s disfigured.”

Speaking to this point, Jiang He felt somewhat sympathetic and sighed: “Miss Li was such a beautiful young lady—what a pity to be disfigured. How will she marry in the future? Oh my, Master, you don’t know—when Miss Jiang told Miss Li to be a target, Miss Li agreed without hesitation. But this subordinate could tell that Miss Li was still quite frightened. Standing there, her hands were trembling—it was quite heartbreaking to watch.”

Jiang Yuanchao glanced coldly at Jiang He: “So much nonsense!”

Jiang He quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak anymore.

The master was definitely in a bad mood today—he could be certain of it!

“Go to the Li residence and quietly investigate how Miss Li’s injuries are.”

“Yes.”

Just as Jiang He was about to leave, Jiang Yuanchao worriedly added: “If you mess this up too, you’ll scrub toilets for the rest of your life!”

After Jiang He left as well, Jiang Yuanchao rested his hand on the armrest and gently shook his head.

That little girl was clever and mischievous—how could she have let herself fall into such a predicament? He had the feeling she wasn’t the type to suffer losses. Could she be disfigured?

Jiang Yuanchao’s mind conjured the image of the young lady’s calm, light smile, and his heart felt inexplicably troubled. He stood up and walked back to the window.

Outside the window, green bamboo formed a grove that was pleasing to behold.

Jiang Yuanchao suddenly lost the desire to return to the Grand Commander’s mansion.

No matter how clever and mischievous a girl might be, when facing his sworn sister, she would probably be helpless.

Strength could overcome all skills—in the face of absolute status, how much room was there for intelligence and wit to be displayed?

It was just a pity about that little girl, Jiang Yuanchao thought.

The small azure-curtained carriage stopped in front of the Li family’s West Residence. Chen Guang jumped down from the carriage and called out: “Miss, we’ve arrived.”

The carriage curtain lifted, and A’Zhu helped Qiao Zhao step out.

“Go directly to Yahe Courtyard,” Qiao Zhao instructed A’Zhu.

In her current state, if the Old Madam saw her, she would surely faint from shock.

“Yes.”

The master and servant went straight to Yahe Courtyard. Qiao Zhao’s right cheek had already swollen, making speech increasingly difficult. She raised her hand and pointed toward the West Side Courtyard.

A’Zhu understood and, using her body to block the view from outside, helped Qiao Zhao pass through the moon gate into the West Side Courtyard.

In the West Side Courtyard, the pomegranate tree had borne many pomegranates, their weight bending the branches.

Binglu was walking in circles around the pomegranate tree, trying to find a larger pomegranate to eat. Unfortunately, at this time of year, the pomegranate fruits were still very green and sour. After searching for a long while without finding any, she could only turn around, disappointed.

The little maid saw Qiao Zhao with blood covering her face at first glance.

After a moment of stunned silence, a piercing scream shattered the sky: “Heavens! Miss, how did you get injured?”

Qiao Zhao very much wanted to twitch her mouth corners, but her face hurt too much to manage it.

A moment later, He Shi rushed in through the moon gate: “Where is Zhaozhao injured?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Qiao Zhao’s appearance clearly, and soon a second voice shot straight to the heavens: “Good heavens! My Zhaozhao, what happened to you!”

In her dizziness, Miss Qiao silently thought: Very good, now the Old Madam should know too.

He Shi held Qiao Zhao and cried loudly, pushing Binglu aside. Binglu anxiously jumped around and, seeing A’Zhu, scolded: “A’Zhu, you scoundrel! How did you attend to Miss? Miss went out perfectly fine and came back injured like this—how do you have the face to return?”

A’Zhu’s face was pale, but her expression remained calm. She didn’t respond to Binglu’s accusations and instead advised: “Madam, please help Miss into the house first and ask what she wants to do next.”

Since Miss insisted on returning, she must have her plans.

Only then did He Shi react and shout at Binglu: “What are you standing there for? Hurry and fetch a doctor!”