Qiao Zhao shook her head.

“Then let me escort you home first.” Shao Mingyuan naturally walked to the front of the carriage and picked up the reins.

Qiao Zhao was quite straightforward about it, nodding slightly to Shao Mingyuan before bending down to enter the carriage.

Shao Mingyuan cracked the whip, and the carriage began moving.

A Jinlin Guard who had been watching from afar hurried to report to Jiang Tang: “Grand Commander, this subordinate saw Marquis Guanjun meet with that Miss Li.”

Jiang Tang and Jiang Yuanchao, who were walking home, both stopped simultaneously.

“Was there anything special?” Jiang Tang asked.

It wouldn’t be surprising for Marquis Guanjun to meet with her, given that he had come to see him about that little girl.

The Jinlin Guard thought for a moment and said: “Marquis Guanjun served as coachman for that young lady, driving the carriage off somewhere unknown.”

A flash of astonishment crossed Jiang Tang’s eyes.

This kind of surveillance by the Jinlin Guards wasn’t dedicated monitoring—they were too close to the Jinlin Guards headquarters, which could only mean Marquis Guanjun didn’t care at all about being seen by them.

A dignified Northern Campaign General serving as coachman for a little girl—was Marquis Guanjun doing this to further demonstrate his regard for that young lady?

“Very well, you may withdraw.”

Jiang Tang and Jiang Yuanchao rode their horses, proceeding at a leisurely pace.

Jiang Tang turned his head: “Shisan, when you return, investigate what connection Marquis Guanjun has with that little girl.”

“Mm.” Jiang Yuanchao’s response seemed somewhat distracted.

Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow: “What? Something on your mind?”

Jiang Yuanchao came to his senses and smiled: “Shisan was thinking about Marquis Guanjun’s matter.”

“Stop thinking about it. We’re home now—don’t bring official business into the house.” Jiang Tang dismounted, handed the reins to a servant who came forward to meet them, and asked while walking inside: “Where is First Miss?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a pale pink figure came flying out, her voice bright and clear: “Brother Shisan, you’re back!”

Jiang Tang put on a stern face: “You only see your Brother Shisan—can’t you see your father, this big living person?”

Discovering that Jiang Tang had also returned, Jiang Shiran looked delighted: “Father came back so early too—is there some good news today?”

Jiang Tang reached out to ruffle the top of Jiang Shiran’s head, walking inside while saying: “One piece of good news, one piece of bad news. Which would Ran Ran like to hear first?”

Jiang Shiran blinked mischievously: “Can the good news completely prevent the bad news from affecting my mood?”

Jiang Tang looked deeply at Jiang Yuanchao and said with a smile: “It should be able to.”

Jiang Shiran linked arms with Jiang Tang, her smile radiant as flowers: “Then let’s hear the good news first, so I won’t be in the mood for good news after hearing bad news first.”

“Let’s go inside to talk.”

As soon as they entered the room, Jiang Shiran immediately ordered the maids to serve tea and asked impatiently: “Father, what’s the good news?”

“Ran Ran, try to guess?”

“How could I possibly guess without any hints?”

“It’s related to your Brother Shisan.” Jiang Tang loved seeing his beloved daughter’s girlish expressions.

Jiang Shiran immediately looked at Jiang Yuanchao, reaching out to grasp his sleeve, saying sweetly: “Brother Shisan, what exactly is this good news?”

Jiang Tang looked at Jiang Yuanchao, his eyes containing encouragement.

Being watched by the father and daughter, Jiang Yuanchao felt as if he carried a thousand pounds of weight, pressing down so heavily he couldn’t speak.

“Brother Shisan, please say something.”

Jiang Yuanchao lowered his eyes, looking at Jiang Shiran.

The young lady was at her most beautiful age, her skin smooth as silk, even the curiosity in her eyes appearing so vibrant and spirited.

Yet she showed not the slightest concern for how that girl whose face she had disfigured was faring.

Jiang Yuanchao thought silently: Should he marry his adoptive sister as his wife?

His adoptive father had shown him kindness, his adoptive sister held affection for him, but why was it so difficult to simply nod his agreement?

Jiang Yuanchao’s silence had gone on somewhat too long, and Jiang Tang’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

Jiang Shiran seemed to sense something, pursing her lips and staring at Jiang Yuanchao with wide eyes.

“Ran Ran, I—” Jiang Yuanchao began to speak.

His heart was engaged in an internal battle, turning and twisting countless times, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t utter a single one.

If he had never been moved by someone, it wouldn’t be so difficult; if he didn’t know what it meant to like someone, it wouldn’t feel so heavy.

“Your father is arranging an engagement for you two.” Jiang Tang spoke up.

This single sentence was earth-shattering, stunning both of them.

“Really?” Jiang Shiran’s eyes revealed wild joy.

As for Jiang Yuanchao, the boulder in his heart finally settled, leaving an empty, painful ache.

“Brother Shisan, say something—is it true?”

Jiang Tang smiled and said: “Your Brother Shisan is too excited to know what to say. Ran Ran, does this count as good news?”

Jiang Shiran’s cheeks flushed pink as she stamped her foot: “Father, you’re still laughing!”

Jiang Tang burst into hearty laughter, and after laughing asked: “Ran Ran, can you listen to the bad news now?”

Jiang Shiran smiled with pursed lips: “As long as you don’t tell me this news is fake, then Father can say whatever you want.”

“In a while, have Shisan accompany you to the Li residence to apologize to the little girl whose face you injured.”

“What?” Jiang Shiran was stunned, and after coming to her senses said reluctantly: “I won’t go. She was the one who moved around randomly, causing me to miss my shot and lose such face—why should I apologize to her?”

“Ran Ran, your father has already promised the Li family that you would go apologize.” Jiang Tang briefly explained the Li family’s making a scene at the headquarters.

Jiang Shiran’s face reddened with anger: “Father, how could you be afraid of a mere Compiler?”

A mere Compiler was exactly what was frightening!

Jiang Tang thought to himself while putting on a stern face: “If Ran Ran is unwilling to go, then I’ll have Shisan go in your place.”

Have Brother Shisan go alone?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiran wouldn’t have it, saying reluctantly: “Then we’ll go together. But Father must promise me one thing.”

“What thing?”

Jiang Shiran glanced at Jiang Yuanchao and pushed him toward the door with a smile: “Brother Shisan, you mustn’t eavesdrop—I’m only telling my father.”

Jiang Yuanchao was pushed outside the door, leaning against the wall and staring blankly at the sky.

His engagement had been decided just like that?

Once, when he was still scraping by for food on the streets, even getting an extra steamed bun would make him happy for an entire day.

But how did people become more greedy as they grew older?

The father and daughter inside didn’t know what they were discussing, and Jiang Yuanchao had no interest in finding out, pacing aimlessly around the courtyard.

After an unknown amount of time, the door was pushed open, and Jiang Shiran ran out cheerfully: “Brother Shisan, let’s go.”

The news that the beloved daughter of the Jinlin Guards Commander had personally come to apologize to Third Miss Li quickly spread like wildfire.

In the private room at Chunfeng Tavern that Chi Can and others frequented, Young Master Chi toyed with his teacup, glancing sideways at Zhu Yàn and his companion: “Why do I feel like you two are hiding something?”

Yang Houcheng glanced at Zhu Yàn and quickly denied: “Nothing, what could be wrong? Shixi, didn’t you want to spend a few days at Qingliang Mountain? When should we leave?”

Chi Can looked at him sideways: “Didn’t you join the Imperial Guards? Can you still leave whenever you want?”

Yang Houcheng chuckled: “That place is just for passing time—you all know that, it’s boring. Since Tingquan won’t let me hang around with him, I can only mix with the personal guards.”

“Where has Tingquan gone again? Every time we come, he’s never here. Forget it, let’s not wait for him.” Chi Can set his teacup down on the table with a thud and push the door open to leave.

The discussion downstairs made him pause in his steps.