“Physician Zhang, please wait.” Old Madam Deng caught her breath and stopped Physician Zhang. “What the Earl of Changchun’s residence has accused us of today is truly no small matter. Please stay as a witness to restore my granddaughter’s innocence!”

The Earl of Changchun’s wife flew into a rage: “Old Madam, at this point, are you still going to deny it? If that’s the case, then we’ll have to see each other at the courthouse!”

For a young lady to appear before an official as a defendant, regardless of whether she could clear her name in the end, her reputation would be completely ruined. Old Madam Deng naturally could not allow such a thing to happen.

“Madam Earl, please calm down. Let our two families sit down properly and clarify this matter first. There must be some misunderstanding—”

“Misunderstanding? Even the physician heard it. What misunderstanding could there be? Does Old Madam dare to call out your residence’s Third Miss for confrontation? If it is a misunderstanding, we’ll apologize to her!”

At this point, Old Madam Deng knew she could no longer prevent her third granddaughter from appearing. With the physician as witness, even if she didn’t let Third Miss come out to see people, it wouldn’t stop the gossip.

“He Shi, go call Third Girl over.”

He Shi’s complexion looked very unsightly.

“He Shi?” Old Madam Deng’s heart suddenly sank.

“Old Madam—” He Shi, who was usually quick-tongued, hesitated before saying, “Zhaozhao went out early this morning and hasn’t returned yet.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Deng’s expression changed slightly, while the Earl of Changchun’s wife sneered: “Of course she won’t return. That little wretch must be afraid of being exposed and doesn’t dare come back.”

“Hold your tongue.” A man’s low voice rang out.

When the Earl of Changchun’s wife saw it was Li Guangwen speaking, she was momentarily stunned before saying: “What? You allow your daughter to commit violence, but won’t allow the victim’s family to seek justice?”

Li Guangwen’s expression remained calm: “First, my second daughter would not be a murderer; second, if I had a son who was beaten half to death by a young lady, especially in a place like a brothel, I would be too ashamed to even mention it, let alone repeatedly emphasize it.”

“You—”

“Don’t keep saying ‘you, you, me, me’—we’re not even acquainted! If you’re upright, you don’t fear your shadow being crooked. Don’t you want to question my second daughter? Then just wait. What’s the use of all this shouting and arguing?” Li Guangwen directly silenced the Earl of Changchun’s wife and said to He Shi, “Go find Zhaozhao and bring her back.”

He Shi looked at Li Guangwen with complete admiration.

Her husband was truly wonderful! How could their daughter possibly do such a thing?

“Go on!”

Only then did He Shi come to her senses and hurried out.

Once outside, He Shi slapped her forehead.

Oh no! When Zhaozhao went out this morning, she only said she was going to stroll around. She hadn’t asked for details. Now, where could she possibly find her?

With her daughter’s welfare at stake, He Shi rarely became clever. After thinking for a moment, she walked to the moon gate and beckoned to A’Zhu, who was standing there listening to the situation, instructing: “A’Zhu, you should know where your young miss went, right? Quickly call her back and tell her something has happened at home.”

“Yes.”

Watching A’Zhu’s retreating figure, He Shi suddenly thought of something and quickly walked a few steps to catch up: “A’Zhu!”

A’Zhu stopped.

He Shi bit her lip and said: “Just in case—I mean just in case—if today’s matter is related to Zhaozhao, tell her to hide well and not come back!”

Given Old Madam’s and her husband’s temperaments, if the matter really was Zhaozhao’s doing, nine times out of ten they would make Zhaozhao take responsibility.

She was different. She only wanted her daughter to be well. Even if Zhaozhao made the greatest mistake, she was still her daughter. Anyone who wanted to hand Zhaozhao over would have to step over her dead body first.

A’Zhu nodded: “Madam, please rest assured. This servant understands.”

A’Zhu hurried to Chunfeng Tavern but came up empty.

Seeing her anxious expression, the personal guard remaining at Chunfeng Tavern quickly said: “Don’t worry. Miss Li has gone to our general’s residence. I’ll take you to find her.”

Cough, cough, Chen Guang had specifically instructed them that anyone or anything related to Miss Li must be given importance only slightly less than the General himself.

The highly conscientious little guard immediately led A’Zhu toward the Marquis Guanjun’s residence.

In the elegant room on the second floor of Chunfeng Tavern overlooking the street, Yang Houcheng sat by the window gazing aimlessly outside when he suddenly widened his eyes and shouted: “Shixi, Zi Zhe, look quickly! Isn’t that the maid Zi Zhe originally bought for Miss Li?”

Chi Can and Zhu Yàn both looked out.

“I didn’t mistake her this time, did I? Strange, why is Miss Li’s maid walking away with a big man?”

“That should be Tingquan’s guard,” Zhu Yàn said.

Clang—a light sound as Chi Can set down his wine cup.

Zhu Yàn and Yang Houcheng looked over at the sound.

“When things are abnormal, there’s usually something amiss. Let’s follow and take a look.”

Watching Chi Can’s departing figure, Yang Houcheng puzzledly scratched his chin, muttering: “Isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill?”

“Let’s go,” Zhu Yàn said with a calm expression.

It wasn’t making a mountain out of a molehill—it was simply that when one person always wants to enter another person’s life, they’ll find hundreds of reasons.

The three followed behind A’Zhu. They hadn’t walked far when the guard leading A’Zhu stopped.

“So it’s the three young masters.” The guard breathed a sigh of relief.

Yang Houcheng scratched his head.

They were discovered so easily? Did Shao Mingyuan train these guards like hunting dogs? He should have followed him to the Northern Territories back then!

Yang Houcheng suddenly felt the urge to cling to Shao Mingyuan’s leg again.

Calm down, calm down—he’d had a bit too much to drink.

Zhu Yàn smiled awkwardly.

Chi Can’s expression remained unchanged as he asked with a smile: “Where are you going?”

“Uh, this young lady wants to find Miss Li, so this subordinate is leading her there.”

“She’s looking for her master—why are you the one leading her?” Chi Can felt somewhat displeased upon hearing this.

When had that girl’s maid become so familiar with Shao Mingyuan’s people?

He knew it—that fool Taosheng was just a waste of space!

Taosheng, who had been left with severe psychological trauma after being severely dealt with by Chen Guang while cross-dressing, sneezed and muttered: “Who’s thinking about me now?”

Hearing Chi Can’s words, the guard smiled: “Because Miss Li and our general returned to the marquis’ residence together—”

“Returned to where?” Chi Can’s smile disappeared.

Shao Mingyuan brought that girl to meet his parents?

“The Marquis Guanjun’s residence.”

“Oh.” Chi Can secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly jolted.

Wait, that’s not right! A man and woman alone together—that’s even worse than meeting the parents!

Shao Mingyuan, oh Shao Mingyuan! Who would have thought that this friend who always acted so proper would be this kind of person!

“Let’s go visit Tingquan’s residence. We haven’t had his housewarming wine yet.” By the end, Chi Can’s mouth held only a cold smile.

A’Zhu, who had observed everything, silently sighed and urged the guard to hurry to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence. She leaned close to Qiao Zhao’s ear and whispered: “Miss, something has happened at home, and it concerns you.”

Qiao Zhao nodded, indicating she understood, and calmly bid farewell to Shao Mingyuan.

On the way back, A’Zhu hurriedly reported everything that had happened at the residence to Qiao Zhao in complete detail.