“I heard something quite remarkable today—have you all heard about it?”
“What thing?”
“The head of the Jinlin Guards has a daughter who disfigured an official’s young lady—”
Yang Houcheng grabbed Chi Can by the back collar and dragged him back inside: “Hehehe, Shixi, let’s sit a while longer. It would be strange to leave without seeing Tingquan.”
“Let go!” In the corridor, Chi Can struck Yang Houcheng’s hand hard with his fan handle, his face dark as he said, “Yang Er, what’s gotten into you? Is Tingquan your wife or something?”
Fearing Chi Can might hear something he shouldn’t, Yang Houcheng grinned foolishly: “Well, I don’t have a wife, so good brothers are most important. Not seeing you all for a day feels like three autumns—”
“What nonsense!” Chi Can frowned, then suddenly raised an eyebrow. “Something’s wrong—there’s a problem!”
He pushed Yang Houcheng aside and went straight downstairs, the conversation below reaching his ears.
“That official’s family was quite tough, going directly to the Jinlin Guards headquarters.”
“What kind of family would be so bold? Must be a high-ranking official to not fear those people.”
“Not at all—that young lady’s father seems to be just a minor Compiler—”
Chi Can’s heart sank. He quickly walked over to the two men talking and sat down, revealing an intoxicating smile: “Big brothers, what you’re discussing sounds fascinating—let little brother listen too.”
He was handsome, and even men would be stunned upon first seeing him.
“This big brother said a Compiler’s daughter was disfigured? I wonder which Compiler is so useless and incompetent that he can’t even protect his daughter?”
“Little brother, how can you say that? That Compiler has already done his best. After his daughter was hurt, the whole family went to sit in protest at the Jinlin Guards headquarters. In the end, even that big leader of the Jinlin Guards backed down and had his daughter personally apologize.”
“Personally apologize? I heard there are countless Compilers at the Hanlin Academy—I wonder which family it was?”
The two drinkers exchanged glances, and one said: “That Compiler seems to be surnamed Li.”
Young Master Chi stood up expressionlessly and headed straight for the exit.
Seeing this, Yang Houcheng and Zhu Yàn hurried after him.
“Shixi, what do you want to do?”
“What do I want to do?” Chi Can turned around abruptly, smiling coldly. “Zi Zhe, Chongshan, you two knew all along, didn’t you?”
Zhu Yàn spoke up: “That’s not it—we only knew Miss Li had injured her face.”
Yang Houcheng nodded repeatedly: “Right, we also just learned about their family going to the Jinlin Guards headquarters.”
If they had known earlier, he wouldn’t be here now.
“Then why were you hiding it from me?” Chi Can raised an eyebrow with a smile, showing no emotion.
Unfortunately, these two were longtime friends who knew him all too well. Yang Houcheng scratched the back of his head: “We were afraid you’d act impulsively and run to Miss Li’s residence.”
“Shixi, Miss Li is currently at the center of attention with many households watching. If we rashly went to see her, it would only cause her more inconvenience.” Zhu Yàn chimed in.
Chi Can chuckled lightly: “Hehe, you’re overthinking it. Miss Li and I are neither relatives nor friends—what would I go to her residence for?”
After speaking, he turned and walked away, but Yang Houcheng held him firmly: “Then where are you going?”
“Oh, I’m just going to stroll around casually, see if I might happen to encounter Miss Jiang.”
Yang Houcheng nearly fell over: “Don’t! In that case, let’s go see Miss Li instead.”
With Chi Can’s lawless temperament, he might end up disfiguring Miss Jiang, and then Jiang Tang would fight them to the death.
“Shixi, calm down—” Zhu Yàn advised.
Chi Can shook off both of them, saying coolly: “I’m very calm. I’m just going out for a stroll.”
He turned and hurried forward, running straight into Shao Mingyuan.
Yang Houcheng and Zhu Yàn finally breathed a sigh of relief, saying in unison: “Tingquan, quickly stop Shixi!”
Upon seeing it was Shao Mingyuan, Chi Can waved his hand and walked away rapidly.
Though Shao Mingyuan didn’t know why he should stop Chi Can, Zhu Yàn was usually steady—if he said so, there must be a reason. So he reached out and placed his hand on Chi Can’s shoulder.
Unable to leave, Chi Can said with a dark face: “Shao Mingyuan, let go!”
Yang Houcheng caught up: “Don’t let go no matter what—he’s going to cause trouble!”
Shao Mingyuan glanced around, seeing quite a few people looking over curiously, and said calmly: “Let’s go inside to talk.”
Chi Can was forcibly dragged back into the room and exploded in anger: “Are you three sick or something?”
Shao Mingyuan didn’t even look at him, directly asking Zhu Yàn: “What’s going on?”
Zhu Yàn smiled helplessly: “Shixi just heard about Miss Li being disfigured and wants to go settle accounts with Miss Jiang.”
“I told you I was just going out for a stroll—what does that girl being disfigured have to do with me?”
“You were going to settle accounts with Miss Jiang.” Yang Houcheng fearlessly retorted.
Did they think he was stupid?
Chi Can glared fiercely at Yang Houcheng, laughing in anger: “Fine, this young master is in a bad mood and wants to go harass some innocent women. Is that not allowed?”
Yang Houcheng rolled his eyes.
He lost—when someone was shameless, they were invincible.
Yang Houcheng stepped aside and glanced at Shao Mingyuan.
Better let the one with the highest combat ability among them handle this. If he kept talking nonsense, a good beating would sort him out.
“What, you want to stop me, too?” Chi Can looked at Shao Mingyuan provocatively.
So what if he had good martial arts? Someone had ruined the cabbage he’d picked up, and he wasn’t even allowed to lose his temper? If this continued, he’d end their friendship!
Young Master Chi thought about it and felt that ending their friendship was a bit too severe.
Well, he’d better see what Shao Mingyuan’s attitude was first.
“I just saw Miss Li.” Shao Mingyuan spoke up.
What?
Yang Houcheng and Zhu Yàn exchanged glances, then both looked at Chi Can.
Chi Can’s eyebrow twitched, his mouth curving in a smile: “Oh?”
“The wound on Miss Li’s face is quite serious—it will probably leave a scar.”
Chi Can’s gaze turned cold.
“Divine Physician Li should be able to treat it. Miss Li won’t be disfigured, just temporarily unsightly. But in that case, Miss Li will go out less in the future, which can help her avoid some troubles.” Shao Mingyuan analyzed the situation objectively and calmly, then smiled at Chi Can. “You don’t need to worry too much.”
“I never planned to go see her anyway.” Chi Can denied awkwardly, then glared fiercely at Yang Houcheng and Zhu Yàn.
These two bastards were afraid he’d go see Miss Li and cause her trouble, but how come when Shao Mingyuan had already met with her and returned, they all became mute?
Shao Mingyuan, a dignified Northern Campaign General, running off to see a little girl—was that appropriate?
Unaware of Chi Can’s internal criticism, Shao Mingyuan continued: “As for Miss Jiang, Shixi, you shouldn’t go there either. After all, arguing with a little girl doesn’t look good.”
“So we just let it go?” Chi Can smiled coolly.
Everyone was afraid of offending Jiang Tang and wanted to use gender differences as an excuse.
So what if she was a little girl? If a little girl made him unhappy, he’d still deal with her!
“Oh, I already spoke with her father. Jiang Tang promised me he would properly educate his daughter.” Shao Mingyuan said.