With Qiao Zhao cleared of suspicion, Earl Changchun’s residence was unwilling to let their son be beaten for nothing. Unable to find the culprit, they decisively sent people to report to the authorities, then did as Qiao Zhao requested—beating gongs and drums as they circled the capital to apologize.

Old Madam Jiang from the East Residence trembled with rage, constantly saying: “Absurd, absurd! Such matters should be covered up before it’s too late—how can you let everyone know? Do you want all people to discuss Third Miss over tea and meals?”

Old Madam Deng remained composed: “With so many onlookers today, even without doing this, it would still spread far and wide. Moreover, how unpleasantly it might be distorted would be even harder to predict. I think this is quite good.”

Anyway, she’d never planned for Third Miss to marry out. Rather than swallowing anger, better to be forthright and happy.

“Deng Shi, at your age, how are you becoming more muddled as you age, indulging the younger generation in ruining the family reputation! I will report this matter to the old clan leader.”

Deng Shi sneered: “Madam’s words are interesting. The facts have already proven that Third Miss had nothing to do with it—Earl Changchun’s residence even beat gongs and drums to apologize. How is it that when it comes to you, you still won’t let it go? Just because Third Miss is a woman, even if it’s not her fault, as long as someone implicates her, she deserves to die?”

After Old Madam Deng finished speaking, she glanced at Old Madam Jiang’s daughter-in-law Wu Shi and said coolly: “My granddaughter—as long as she hasn’t done wrong, I’ll protect her. I absolutely won’t let her suffer for the sake of reputation!”

Wu Shi’s face paled, and her hand supporting Old Madam Jiang involuntarily loosened.

Old Madam Jiang clearly understood Old Madam Deng’s veiled reference. Knowing that continuing to argue would only bring more shame, she said coldly: “Unreasonable, simply unreasonable!”

After dropping these words, she turned and left.

With the spread by onlookers and the spectacle of Earl Changchun’s residence beating gongs and drums to apologize, today’s events quickly spread throughout the upper and lower levels of the capital.

Second Madam Liu Shi closed her door to educate her two daughters: “Did you see? You two should learn more from the Third Miss. This way, when you encounter trouble, you won’t just know how to cry.”

Sixth Miss Li Chan pouted: “Learn what? I think all that gong-beating and drum-pounding, becoming the subject of everyone’s discussion—how embarrassing! Fourth Sister, don’t you agree?”

Fourth Miss Li Yan didn’t agree, thinking seriously before saying: “If we encountered the same situation, I don’t think we could handle it better than Third Sister.”

Liu Shi nodded with satisfaction: “Yan’er thinks quite clearly. However, Third Miss’s brilliance wasn’t just in curing Earl Changchun’s son—even the gong and drum apology that everyone finds embarrassing has its methods.”

Seeing her two daughters waiting eagerly for her to explain, Liu Shi smiled: “Think about it—what would Earl Changchun’s residence say when apologizing?”

“That they wronged Third Sister?”

“Right. Third Miss specifically emphasized that they must state someone found her disagreeable and deliberately framed her. This way, whether Earl Changchun’s residence reports to authorities and catches the culprit or not, who would dare openly show hostility toward Third Miss in the future?”

Her two daughters listened in amazement.

What they thought was bad, Third Sister had already planned for other purposes.

Seeing her daughters had listened, Liu Shi smiled: “Just watch—those who previously openly opposed Third Miss should be jumping with anxiety now.”

Just as Liu Shi said, when Jiang Shiran heard this news, she immediately became angry and ran to complain to Jiang Yuanchao: “Thirteenth Brother, tell me, is that Li Third incompatible with my fortune? Why is there never anything good when I get involved with her?”

“What happened to her?” Since it was a rest day, Jiang Yuanchao wore casual bamboo-green robes, appearing more elegant than usual.

“Haven’t you heard about today’s events?”

“No.” Jiang Yuanchao’s lips twitched with a self-mocking smile.

That girl who had completely fallen out with him over a pouch, that girl who always made him involuntarily recall the past—he respected her wishes and no longer paid her special attention.

The Jinlin Guards weren’t idle enough to watch a young lady all day. Speaking of it, it was his personal feelings at work before.

Jiang Shiran quickly told Jiang Yuanchao what she’d heard, finishing indignantly: “Thirteenth Brother, isn’t she just setting people up? Saying someone who found her disagreeable framed her—isn’t this deliberately making people think of me? Everyone knows I had such an unpleasant dispute with her before!”

“Uh, it’s fine. No matter what others think, they can only think. Nothing more.” Jiang Yuanchao smiled.

Jiang Shiran stamped her foot: “Thirteenth Brother, it’s not like that. Even though I know those people can’t do anything to me, I still feel upset about carrying this blame for nothing!”

“Then what does Ran Ran plan to do?” Jiang Yuanchao asked good-naturedly.

“Thirteenth Brother, help me investigate and find that perpetrator!” Jiang Shiran grew angrier the more she thought about it, biting her lip: “I won’t bear this false reputation!”

Seeing Jiang Yuanchao didn’t respond, Jiang Shiran tugged his sleeve: “Thirteenth Brother, is it possible?”

Jiang Yuanchao sighed inwardly and nodded: “Alright, I’ll send people to investigate.”

Jiang Shiran showed a bright smile, taking Jiang Yuanchao’s arm: “I knew Thirteenth Brother is the best.”

Jiang Yuanchao instinctively broke free from her hand, advising: “Go back quickly. Foster Father’s health hasn’t been good lately—you should spend more time with him.”

At Jiang Yuanchao’s mention of this, Jiang Shiran put away her smile: “Mm, I’ll go back now.”

After Jiang Shiran left, Jiang Yuanchao sat at his desk in silence for a long time before instructing people to investigate the incident of Earl Changchun’s son being injured at Bichun Tower.

Chi Can had just entered the house when Taosheng, who was waiting at the gate, approached and whispered: “Young Master, the Eldest Princess heard about today’s events and sent Aunt Dongyu with a message—you’re to go to her immediately upon returning.”

“Understood.” Chi Can nodded expressionlessly and headed to Eldest Princess Changrong’s quarters.

The summer heat was intense, so Eldest Princess Changrong spent most of her time resting in the pavilion by the water.

The pavilion was hung with azure gauze curtains on all sides, with ice basins placed in the corners. Wind slipped through the gaps in the curtains, bringing moisture and coolness, quite comfortable.

When Chi Can entered, a haggard-looking woman who had once been his father’s concubine was kneeling beside Eldest Princess Changrong, peeling grapes to feed her.

Chi Can couldn’t help but frown, calling out, “Mother.”

Eldest Princess Changrong lazily glanced at Chi Can and kicked the woman with her bare jade feet: “Go down.”

The woman dared not lift her head and quickly withdrew.

“Mother summoned me?”

Eldest Princess Changrong’s beautiful eyes circled her son’s incomparably handsome face as she smiled: “I heard you played the hero saving the beauty today?”

Chi Can closed his eyes in patience, his tone calm: “I just helped a young girl.”

“Why help her?”

“She once helped me. The duck play painting Mother saw before—she drew it.”

“Wrong.” Eldest Princess Changrong shook her head and uttered a few words: “Because you like her!”