“Lord Shisan, please come out quickly! That Scholar Li has hit a wall!” The Jinlin Guard outside the door was shouting.

They had said not to act rashly in front of the girl’s father—Lord Shisan was still inexperienced!

Qiao Zhao’s head buzzed. She turned and yanked the door open, pushed aside the Jinlin Guard standing at the entrance, and ran.

The Jinlin Guard met Jiang Yuanchao’s dark gaze and finished his report: “Then he crashed into the Grand Commander!”

Jiang Yuanchao strode out. Upon reaching the hall entrance, he heard Jiang Tang’s furious voice: “Bring Thirteen to me!”

Following that was He Shi’s crying and shouting: “Do you Jinlin Guards have no shame left? If killing and silencing witnesses is your specialty, fine, but harming young girls is something only beasts would do! I’ll fight you to the death—”

The hall was in chaos. Jiang Yuanchao took a deep breath and walked in.

Just then, a vase flew toward him. He tilted his head, caught the vase with his hand, casually handed it to a nearby Jinlin Guard, and called out loudly: “Foster Father—”

Seeing Jiang Yuanchao enter, Jiang Tang said sternly: “Enough! Everyone, be quiet!”

The Jinlin Guards firmly restrained Old Madam Deng and the others.

Qiao Zhao gently tugged at He Shi’s sleeve, indicating she was fine. He Shi embraced her and burst into tears.

Jiang Tang raised his hand to rub his temples. Rather than questioning Jiang Yuanchao, he said to Old Madam Deng: “I’ve already understood what happened. Old Madam, today’s incident was just children playing around. Coming to the Jinlin Guards’ office like this—isn’t that going too far?”

At these words, a gloomy light flashed in Jiang Tang’s eyes.

With this commotion, what good reputation would Ran Ran have left?

Although with his status, he could protect Ran Ran no matter what, what about after he was gone? Fortunately, he hadn’t planned to marry Ran Ran into a high official or noble family. Thirteen had no father or mother—if he married Ran Ran in the future, there would be no elders to torment her using her reputation.

However, Thirteen was interested in the Li family girl?

A flash of murderous intent crossed Jiang Tang’s mind.

If it were just children playing around, even apologizing on his daughter’s behalf wouldn’t matter. But if Thirteen had improper thoughts about another girl, he wouldn’t allow anyone who threatened Ran Ran’s position to remain alive!

Jiang Tang’s gaze fell on Qiao Zhao’s face.

Among everyone in the hall, no one understood Jiang Tang better than Jiang Yuanchao. Seeing Jiang Tang’s expression, Jiang Yuanchao’s heart sank: This was bad—Foster Father had murderous intent toward Miss Li!

He somewhat regretted his earlier impulsiveness but dared not show any abnormality.

Old Madam Deng pulled Qiao Zhao over and sneered: “Grand Commander Jiang, look at what my granddaughter’s face has been ruined to—is this still children playing around? If it were your daughter injured like this, would you dismiss it as just children playing around?”

Jiang Tang was momentarily stunned by the question.

If someone had hurt Ran Ran like this, grinding their entire family to dust wouldn’t satisfy his hatred!

But when his daughter had hurt someone, who would dare question him like this?

These Li family members were truly stubborn.

“Then what does Old Madam intend?” Jiang Tang asked calmly.

“I hope your daughter can sincerely apologize to my granddaughter!”

“After such an incident, my daughter is frightened. Old Madam needn’t trouble a child—I’ll discipline her properly when we return home. How about this: I’ll apologize to everyone on my daughter’s behalf. Thirteen, arrange for gifts to be sent to the Li residence.”

Jiang Yuanchao acknowledged the order.

Old Madam Deng laughed coldly: “Now I understand where your daughter’s arrogance comes from!”

Jiang Shiran was Jiang Tang’s weak spot. Hearing someone speak of his daughter this way, his expression immediately changed as he said coolly: “Old Madam shouldn’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I wasn’t planning to pursue the matter of your disrupting office order—”

Such an ungrateful family!

“Jiang Tang, go ahead and pursue it! Better yet, throw us all into the Jinlin Guards’ prison. Perhaps people will believe I’m planning a rebellion!” Li Guangwen shouted.

A vein throbbed at Jiang Tang’s temple.

Though he held high position and great power, capable of making all court officials tremble with fear, he truly couldn’t deal with the Li family at this moment. At least not now by randomly assigning them crimes and arresting them.

Who would believe a mere Hanlin Scholar was rebelling? Everyone would understand he was settling personal scores for his daughter.

Naturally, he feared nothing now, but once a new emperor ascended the throne, this would become ready-made evidence against him.

It was well known that every Jinlin Guard Commander was the emperor’s most trusted person, and such people never retained their positions after a new emperor’s ascension—being able to retire safely was already the best outcome.

Jiang Tang looked at Old Madam Deng’s stern expression, thinking: This old lady saw through this point, which is why she dares to be so bold.

Bold people weren’t frightening, nor were perceptive people, but bold and perceptive people were troublesome.

The mighty Jinlin Guard Commander, whom even the current Grand Secretary treated with respect, felt an unprecedented sense of frustration.

Fine, he’d settle this matter for now. After people had mostly forgotten about it, he could find an opportunity to deal with this family.

To become the current emperor’s most trusted person, Jiang Tang naturally knew when to advance and retreat. Determining that this family was barefoot and unafraid of the shod, not fearing dismissal from office, he put away his aggressive manner and spoke gently: “Scholar Li jests. The Jinlin Guards’ prison holds only rebellious subjects and traitors—how could it be a place for Lord Li? How could this Commander be so unable to distinguish public from private matters? Old Madam, how about this: after I finish work today, I’ll have my daughter personally visit to apologize, giving your granddaughter proper satisfaction.”

Jiang Tang had gained some weight, and when he spoke gently, showing none of the Jinlin Guard Commander’s imposing manner, he appeared somewhat kind and benevolent.

Old Madam Deng nodded.

Having Miss Jiang personally apologize would at least make anyone wanting to bully the Li family think twice for a long time to come.

As for whether Jiang Tang would retaliate later, that was a future concern. People lived for their pride—if one only worried about the future and bent their back to live in compromise, what was the point?

Old Madam Deng sighed inwardly.

This was the limit of what she could achieve. She understood the principle of quitting while ahead—she couldn’t drag all her descendants down with her.

Seeing Old Madam Deng nod, Jiang Tang smiled: “Thirteen, escort Old Madam’s family out.”

“Old Madam, this way please.” Jiang Yuanchao extended his hand.

However, Qiao Zhao, who had been silently standing beside Old Madam Deng, suddenly stepped forward and positioned herself before Jiang Tang.

Qiao Zhao’s action surprised everyone. Jiang Yuanchao couldn’t help but frown, but fearing Jiang Tang might notice something unusual, he immediately resumed his normal expression and stood with lowered eyes as if uninvolved.

Jiang Tang looked deeply at Qiao Zhao and asked: “What is it? Does the young lady have something else?”

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly.

Of course, they couldn’t just leave like this. Without producing something that Jiang Tang truly cared about, should they wait for him to settle scores later?