The handsome young man blocked the Earl of Changchun’s path, repeating word by word: “I was the one who injured him!”

Old Madam Deng was shocked: “Hui’er!”

Li Guangwen was equally surprised: “Hui’er, you—”

Li Hui bowed deeply to his elders: “Grandmother, Father, Madam, it was Hui’er’s lack of filial piety that caused this trouble. It has nothing to do with Third Sister.”

“How could it be you? Before my son fell unconscious, he said it was the Third Miss of the Li residence in Xingzi Alley—”

Li Hui interrupted the Earl of Changchun’s wife with an expressionless face: “You might have heard wrong. He should have said the Third Young Master of the Li residence in Xingzi Alley.”

“Third Young Master?” The Earl of Changchun and his wife looked at each other, then both turned to Physician Zhang.

This twist and turn of events left Physician Zhang completely bewildered.

“Third Young Master of the Li residence—” the Earl of Changchun’s wife murmured these words, filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Saying it this way, it was hard to tell whether Shu’er had said “Third Young Master” or “Third Miss” before falling unconscious.

However, the Earl of Changchun remained unmoved, sneering: “I’ve already asked the people at Bichun Tower. They said someone disguised as a man had snuck into Bichun Tower.”

Li Hui said calmly, “But why doesn’t my lord consider this—what proper young lady would disguise herself as a man to sneak into a brothel? Is this young lady so bored she wants to court death?”

The Earl of Changchun was momentarily speechless.

Li Hui’s gaze swept across Old Madam Deng and the others, finally glancing at Qiao Zhao before continuing: “As for saying it was someone disguised as a man, how did they figure that out? It was simply because they thought the person looked delicate. My lord, don’t forget that in this world, those who look delicate aren’t necessarily girls.”

The Earl of Changchun carefully examined Li Hui and couldn’t help but hesitate.

Boys of this age, if born with delicate features, would indeed be somewhat androgynous. The young man before him was exactly like this.

Earlier, due to the chaos surrounding his youngest son’s injuries, he had detained the people from Bichun Tower and asked only basic questions before rushing over with his men. He hadn’t asked for specific details yet. Could he have been mistaken?

The Earl of Changchun glanced at Old Madam Deng.

The white-haired old lady’s complexion was ashen, with the deathly air of twilight years.

The Earl of Changchun’s heart stirred.

Whether it was the Third Young Master or Third Miss, it was someone from the Li family.

The West Residence of the Li family had only this one young master, so it was unlikely he would be foolish enough to take the blame for someone else. Even if this Li Third Young Master was covering for Li Third Miss, losing their only grandson would be much more costly than losing a granddaughter. They would only profit from this.

“Since that’s the case, Third Young Master Li, please come with us to the courthouse and let the magistrates decide. You may disregard law and order by beating my son to the point of life and death, but we cannot disregard law and order by using vigilante justice!”

“Fine.” Li Hui’s hands trembled slightly, but his face showed no excess emotion.

Seeing her grandson lifting his foot to walk outside, Old Madam Deng shouted: “Wait!”

Li Hui paused but didn’t turn around.

“There must be some misunderstanding here. My grandson could never go to a place like Bichun Tower!”

Li Hui turned around, lifted his robe hem, and knelt before Old Madam Deng, kowtowing: “Grandson is unfilial. I went to Bichun Tower to teach Jia Shu a lesson to defend Elder Sister’s honor!”

“What?” Old Madam Deng staggered back several steps and was supported by Li Guangwen.

Li Guangwen asked Li Hui with a stern expression: “Is this true?”

“Your son does not need to lie. Yesterday, while drinking tea with classmates at a teahouse, I accidentally discovered Jia Shu was in the adjacent room. I overheard him mocking Elder Sister. I couldn’t swallow this insult, so today I snuck into Bichun Tower to teach him a lesson!”

This sufficient reasoning left Old Madam Deng ashen-faced as she collapsed into her chair.

Li Guangwen’s face darkened as he raised his hand and slapped Li Hui: “You fool!”

How could he have such a stupid son? If you wanted to teach someone a lesson, why sneak into a brothel? Wouldn’t it work to wait outside for that bastard surnamed Jia to come out of the brothel, then put a sack over his head and beat him with clubs? As long as no one could see your face, even beating him to death would be fine!

“Your son is indeed foolish.” Li Hui stood up, looked at the silent Qiao Zhao, and smiled slightly: “Third Sister, I’m sorry. I won’t be able to take care of you anymore. Please take good care of Grandmother and the others for me.”

After saying this, he turned and strode outside.

Li Guangwen was stunned for a moment, then hurried after him: “Wait—”

“What else does Lord Li have to say?” the Earl of Changchun asked mockingly.

“If a son is not properly taught, it’s the father’s fault. If my son made a mistake, that’s my responsibility. I’ll go with you.”

Seeing both father and son following the others outside, Old Madam Deng seemed to age several years instantly, her lips trembling as she couldn’t speak.

Seeing this, Qiao Zhao immediately took a pill from her pouch and placed it in Old Madam Deng’s mouth, calling out loudly: “Water!”

The senior maid Qingjun immediately poured water and helped Old Madam Deng swallow it.

Seeing Old Madam Deng’s complexion improve, Qiao Zhao finally relaxed a bit and said to the stunned He Shi: “Mother, please take care of Grandmother. I’ll go outside to stop Father and Third Brother.”

Second Madam Liu Shi appeared at some point and pushed He Shi: “Sister-in-law, hurry and go out with Third Miss. I’m enough to take care of Old Madam.”

Although she believed that whenever Third Miss encountered trouble, someone was bound to be unlucky—and this time it would most likely be the Earl of Changchun’s people—Sister-in-law’s fighting power was also formidable, so having one more person cheering would be good.

He Shi suddenly came to her senses: “Zhaozhao, you’re not allowed to go out either. I’m enough!” After saying this, she rushed out holding the scissors.

Qiao Zhao was momentarily stunned and quickly chased after her.

Li Guangwen and his son had already left the Li residence gates with the Earl of Changchun and his party.

“Stop right there!” He Shi flew out, her gleaming scissors causing the Earl of Changchun’s men to immediately make way.

“What? Is Madam He planning to assault people in broad daylight?” the Earl of Changchun asked coolly.

The crowd watching the excitement outside the West Residence immediately craned their necks.

What was happening? Why were scissors being brandished?

“What assault? Today, if you dare take away my husband and son, you’ll have to step over my dead body first!”

Li Guangwen’s heart shook as he looked deeply at He Shi.

Li Hui pressed his lips together and lowered his eyes.

“Madam He, aren’t you being unreasonable? Your Third Young Master beat my son unconscious at Bichun Tower, and you won’t let us seek justice?”

The onlookers immediately perked up upon hearing this.

Bichun Tower? Beating someone?

Who would have thought that the Li residence’s Third Young Master was also the type to fight over courtesans out of jealousy?

“My third brother has never been to Bichun Tower, and the person who injured Madam Earl’s son, who treats brothels as his home, wasn’t my third brother.” Qiao Zhao walked to He Shi’s side and declared loudly.

At this point, she was still insulting her son? The Earl of Changchun’s wife was furious upon hearing this and shouted: “Third Miss, if it wasn’t your third brother, then it was you! The people at Bichun Tower originally said someone disguised as a man had snuck in. I’ve been suspecting all along that your third brother was covering for you!”

What? The Li residence’s Third Miss disguised herself as a man and snuck into a brothel?

The onlookers were thrilled.

Such gossip was once in a century!

At this moment, a cold voice rang out: “Who said that? Miss Li Third was with me all morning.”