“Young Master, please slow down, slow down! Be careful not to trip!” The servant Qing Ji chased after Li Hui, the third young master of the Li residence.

The youth was slender but ran extremely fast, charging into the West Residence and heading straight for Yahe Courtyard.

He rushed inside and stood frozen at the doorway.

The girl who had once been graceful and beautiful now bore a grotesque, bloody wound across her cheek that stood out shockingly against her jade-white face.

“Third Sister—” The youth opened his mouth, his chest tight with discomfort.

He had never liked this sister of his because she was too willful, always bullying their elder sister. He had even entertained the sudden thought that it would have been better if Third Sister had never returned when he heard the news of their elder sister’s broken engagement.

But now, seeing Third Sister in this state, why did he feel the urge to cry?

No matter what kind of person she was, she was still his blood sister, yet she had been bullied by outsiders to this extent, while he, as her elder brother, had never once protected her.

“I’m sorry, I came back too late.” Seeing Qiao Zhao remain silent, Li Hui thought she was angry and mumbled an apology.

The servant Qing Ji said from the side: “Third Miss, it’s not that our young master wasn’t anxious. When I went to the Imperial Academy, our young master was taking an examination from his teacher, and the message couldn’t get through—”

“Qing Ji, stop talking!” Li Hui cut off Qing Ji’s explanation.

A’Zhu spoke up: “Third Young Master, our young lady has applied medicine and can’t speak for the time being.”

Li Hui looked toward He Shi: “Madam, have Grandmother and Father already gone to the Jinlin Guards’ office?”

“Yes.” Seeing Li Hui appear, He Shi’s expression softened somewhat.

Following Old Madam’s instructions, she had sent people to fetch the master and Third Young Master. When Li Hui was delayed in returning, she had felt it was only to be expected, so his appearance now was surprising.

He Shi was honest—if someone was good to her daughter, she thought well of that person. If not for the current circumstances, she would have instructed Nanny Fang to make lion’s head meatballs for Third Young Master.

“Then I’ll go find Grandmother and Father!” Li Hui turned and ran, but after a few steps, he returned, placing both hands on Qiao Zhao’s shoulders and saying seriously, “Third Sister, rest assured, we won’t let you suffer this injustice for nothing!”

Seeing Li Hui about to leave, He Shi hurriedly called out: “Don’t go! Old Madam instructed that since your father is delivering the noon meal, you should deliver the evening one!”

“Madam, Grandmother is getting on in years, and Father… uh, Father is also getting on in years. I’m worried they can’t handle it, so I want to go check on them to feel at ease.”

The corner of Qiao Zhao’s mouth curved into a subtle arc.

Third Brother was trying hard, not wanting to speak ill of their father, he had come up with such an excuse.

He Shi firmly blocked Li Hui: “In any case, you can’t go. Today’s matters must follow Old Madam’s instructions.”

“Madam!” Li Hui was filled with regret.

If he had known this would happen, he would have gone directly from the Imperial Academy. He had just wanted to see how Third Sister was doing first.

Qiao Zhao reached out and gently tugged at He Shi’s sleeve.

“What is it, Zhaozhao?”

A’Zhu curtsied to He Shi: “Madam, Miss wants to go to the Jinlin Guards’ office to find Old Madam and the others.”

“This—” He Shi had never refused her daughter’s requests before, and now found herself in a difficult position, unconsciously looking toward Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao blinked and gently tugged at He Shi’s sleeve again.

He Shi’s heart immediately softened: “Alright then, let Mother get ready, and we’ll go together.”

After speaking, He Shi didn’t forget to include Li Hui: “If Third Young Master wants to go, let’s all go together.”

Li Hui: “…” Didn’t you say we should follow Grandmother’s instructions? What happened to Stepmother’s principles?

In front of the Jinlin Guards’ office, more and more people gathered to watch the excitement. As the saying goes, the law cannot punish the masses, common people who usually feared the Jinlin Guards like tigers, now whispered among themselves.

“We’ve told you already, our Grand Commander isn’t at the office today, yet you’re still drinking tea and eating in front of the Jinlin Guards’ office. Are you here to cause trouble?”

Li Guangwen spat: “Under the bright sun and clear sky, in front of all these fellow townspeople, can you, Jinlin Guards, turn black into white? We’re just waiting here for Grand Commander Jiang to return. Have we damaged even a single brick or tile of your office? Have we?”

“No, they haven’t!” Some bold members of the crowd of onlookers joined in the shouting, then shrank back into the crowd. Even with the Jinlin Guards’ keen eyes, they couldn’t find them.

The Jinlin Guards all had headaches.

What kind of situation was this? The trouble caused by the Grand Commander’s daughter had brought people to make a scene here.

If it were any other matter, relying on the Jinlin Guards’ authority, they could intimidate the other party into submission with a few threats. But with this matter involving a young lady, without orders from their superiors, they really couldn’t grasp the proper measure.

“Lord Shisan!” All the Jinlin Guards bowed their heads and stepped aside, simultaneously breathing sighs of relief.

With the Grand Commander absent, Lord Shisan stepping up would work too.

A young man walked out through the path they had cleared, wearing crimson robes with black boots, a gold-inlaid silver-embossed Embroidered Spring Knife at his waist. His features weren’t outstanding enough to be breathtaking, but with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, he was certainly capable of controlling the scene.

The scene suddenly fell silent, with everyone’s gaze focused on the young man in red robes. Those with broader knowledge couldn’t help but gasp: he was a Jinlin Guard of the Fourth Rank! Considering that the head of the Jinlin Guards was only Third Rank, for someone so young to already hold the Fourth Rank position, the future leadership of the Jinlin Guards—

“It’s you?” Li Guangwen was startled, then flew into a rage. “It’s you again!”

Jiang Yuanchao smiled and cupped his hands toward Li Guangwen: “Lord Li, my subordinates were ignorant and showed disrespect.”

Li Guangwen snorted coldly.

Was he the type of person who would be confused by a few nice words? This man was not a good person, and what was even more detestable was that he wanted to be friends with his daughter.

Did he think he was stupid? What kind of friends could the Jinlin Guards have? Who knew what this man’s intentions toward Zhaozhao were?

Jiang Yuanchao bowed slightly toward Old Madam Deng: “Old Madam, Lord Li, our Grand Commander, is indeed not at the office. How about this—you two please come inside to sit, and whatever you have to say, you can tell me. It’s the same thing.”

Old Madam Deng spoke calmly: “You cannot make decisions in this matter.”

Jiang Yuanchao’s smile faltered.

“This old woman is the grandmother of my poor little granddaughter, who was disfigured, and this is her father. May I ask what relation you have to Miss Jiang?”

“I am her sworn elder brother.”

Old Madam Deng laughed mockingly: “So as I said, you cannot make decisions in this matter. We’ll continue waiting here for Grand Commander Jiang to return.”

Jiang Yuanchao finally dropped the smile from his lips.

The Li family’s actions made their intentions clear—they were building momentum to make this matter known to everyone, both ruining his sworn sister’s reputation and forcing his sworn father to bow his head.

His sworn father treasured his sworn sister like a precious jewel. If the matter escalated further, they would all find it very difficult to explain.

“Have the onlooking civilians disperse.”

“Lord Shisan, there are too many people—we can’t drive them away.”

Jiang Yuanchao smiled faintly: “Prepare the crossbow unit!”

With a backbone to rely on, the Jinlin Guards naturally gained confidence and immediately declared sternly: “Yes, sir!”

A row of crossbow archers aimed at the onlooking civilians.