Under the blazing sun, a row of crossbows gleamed with cold light, their menacing chill palpable.

The onlooking civilians looked terrified, stepping back once, then again, and in the blink of an eye, they scattered with a whoosh.

“Old Madam, please come inside and sit.” Jiang Yuanchao maintained his faint smile, his expression unchanged.

Old Madam Deng’s face was dark as water as she gave Jiang Yuanchao a deep look: “No wonder you’ve achieved such a high position at such a young age. You truly are someone who doesn’t let trifles hinder great undertakings. However, you should have heard that blocking the people’s mouths is more dangerous than blocking rivers, haven’t you?”

Jiang Yuanchao smiled slightly: “There are many affairs in the capital. This kind of excitement, the common people will forget as soon as they turn their heads.”

Old Madam Deng laughed coldly: “Yes, when it doesn’t concern them, they indeed forget quickly. However, what a person has done cannot be erased.”

She had anticipated this situation. So what if the civilians were driven away? They and the common people belonged to different circles. The civilians might forget quickly, but ultimately there were some people who belonged to the same circle as Miss Jiang.

She couldn’t achieve eye-for-an-eye revenge by disfiguring Miss Jiang as well, but at least she could make Miss Jiang pay with her reputation.

Seeing Old Madam Deng so unyielding, Jiang Yuanchao sighed softly and ordered: “Please escort Old Madam and Lord Li inside.” With that, he turned and walked away.

So they were resorting to force.

“Don’t you dare touch my grandmother and father!” Li Hui jumped down from the carriage and ran over.

He had run too urgently and was panting heavily, his cheeks flushed, but his eyes were startlingly bright.

“Hui’er, why did you come at this time?” Old Madam Deng scolded, then looked up toward the carriage.

Jiang Yuanchao followed her gaze, and in that instant, the smile vanished from his lips.

The young lady lowered her head as she stepped down from the carriage, then raised it to look over calmly.

The swelling on her right cheek had subsided, making the scar even more prominent and causing an ache in the hearts of those who saw it.

Qiao Zhao walked over step by step. As she approached, those Jinlin Guards holding gleaming weapons couldn’t help but look away.

They were accustomed to life and death partings, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to witness women relatives crashing their heads to death before their eyes when arresting criminals. But seeing a beautiful young lady’s face brutally disfigured like this with their own eyes made them feel they couldn’t bear to look directly.

This young lady had been shot by Miss Jiang with an arrow; no wonder her father, brothers, and elders were so furious and insisted on seeking justice.

Justice? What justice was there in this world?

As the young lady approached, none of the Jinlin Guards stepped forward to stop her.

“Zhaozhao, why did you come?” Seeing that Qiao Zhao had also come, Old Madam Deng’s expression became even more unpleasant.

In today’s situation, the best effect would be for her granddaughter to appear and display her face before the world.

But she couldn’t bear it—her granddaughter was already so pitiful, how could she be subjected to being examined and discussed like evidence?

This would be too cruel to Zhaozhao!

“He Shi, what did I tell you?”

“Zhaozhao insisted on coming—” He Shi said sheepishly.

Qiao Zhao reached out and squeezed Old Madam Deng’s hand, then turned to meet Jiang Yuanchao’s gaze.

Jiang Yuanchao’s emotions were complex.

He hadn’t expected that when he saw this young lady again, it would be under such tense circumstances.

Qiao Zhao took a step forward, and Jiang Yuanchao instinctively stepped back.

The Jinlin Guards exchanged glances.

What was wrong with their Lord Shisan? Was he intimidated by a young lady’s injury? This didn’t make sense!

Qiao Zhao stood before Jiang Yuanchao, sighing inwardly: This is what the Jinlin Guards are like—they can never become friends, because you never know when you’ll meet again and they’ll turn cold and ruthless.

Jiang Yuanchao suddenly found the young lady’s gaze somewhat piercing, causing his heart to ache sharply, as if something important had been lost, though he didn’t know what.

Perhaps it was the pity arising in his heart upon seeing something beautiful cruelly destroyed.

He was also human, and humans have emotions.

Jiang Yuanchao’s expression softened, his tone gentle: “Miss Li, the wound on your face shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight. Why don’t you persuade your grandmother to go inside the office first?”

Li Guangwen was furious: “Don’t talk to my daughter!”

Jiang Yuanchao: “…”

The Jinlin Guards: “…” The situation seemed a bit different from what they had expected!

Two of the Jinlin Guards exchanged glances and suddenly understood: They remembered now—wasn’t this the fool who had blocked them in the heavy rain that day and given them a thorough scolding? Not only had Lord Shisan not held it against this fool, he had even had them escort this lost fool home!

Could Lord Shisan’s magnanimity be because of this, Miss Li?

The two Jinlin Guards vaguely felt they had discovered something significant, but couldn’t tell anyone else!

Qiao Zhao looked at Jiang Yuanchao silently, thinking: No wonder Jiang Yuanchao became a Jinlin Guard Commander at such a young age. His decisive action had dissolved more than half of Grandmother’s momentum-building—this kind of courage to prioritize substance over face was indeed rare.

As for Miss Jiang’s reputation—

Qiao Zhao felt somewhat puzzled.

It seemed that Jiang Yuanchao didn’t place too much importance on Miss Jiang’s reputation.

Did he think that, regardless of Miss Jiang’s reputation, others could only dare to be angry but not speak out?

Qiao Zhao sneered inwardly.

She didn’t do things that put her at a disadvantage. Since Jiang Shiran had shot that third arrow, she needn’t expect to continue mixing in noble ladies’ circles in the future.

The Jinlin Guards wielded overwhelming power, but this world ultimately didn’t belong to the Jinlin Guards. Miss Jiang had simply never realized this.

Grandmother’s intended purpose had been largely achieved. Whether Jiang Tang would apologize now wasn’t important, because everyone had seen the Li family stand up.

What Grandmother and the others needed now was to withdraw safely after meeting Jiang Tang.

And this was her responsibility.

She had caused this trouble, so naturally, she should be the one to resolve it.

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly to Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

At least there was one rational person in this family.

“Then please, everyone, come inside.”

“Zhaozhao—” Old Madam Deng called out.

Qiao Zhao turned back and nodded to Old Madam Deng.

She hadn’t said a single word, but meeting her granddaughter’s calm and composed gaze, Old Madam Deng suddenly felt confident.

Since she hoped for Third Girl to look after the younger generations in the future, why not take this opportunity to observe Third Girl’s capabilities?

Perhaps what she needed to give Third Girl was more trust and support.

“Alright, then we’ll go inside and wait.” Old Madam Deng finally stood up.

Perhaps from sitting too long, and with her advanced age, the old lady swayed.

“Old Madam, be careful.” He Shi supported Old Madam Deng.

Qiao Zhao closed her eyes and suppressed the tears.

She had calculated everything, but had forgotten to factor in the Li family’s worry and heartache.

Never again.

Qiao Zhao reopened her eyes, glanced at Jiang Yuanchao, and walked inside.

Jiang Yuanchao was slightly stunned.

Had the young lady been crying?

His gaze swept across the young lady’s disfigured cheek, then moved downward. Inadvertently catching sight of something, he suddenly froze.

A pouch hung at the young lady’s waist, with a small duck embroidered on one corner. The duck’s adorable appearance and pair of green eyes seemed filled with spring lake water, striking hard against his heart.