Watching Censor Xing’s departing figure, Qiao Zhao felt increasingly that something was wrong.

For a father-daughter reunion, Censor Xing’s attitude was far too cold.

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhao’s heart jumped, and she quickly turned back, walking to Jingniang’s door and gently knocking.

No one responded from inside.

“Sister Zhenniang, are you in there?” Qiao Zhao called out.

Inside remained completely silent.

Qiao Zhao knocked harder: “Sister Zhenniang, I’m coming in.”

She hesitated no longer and suddenly pushed open the door.

The door creaked open, and Zhenniang was hanging from the beam, her thin body swaying back and forth like a willow in the wind.

“Zhenniang—” Qiao Zhao’s face changed dramatically as she rushed forward to embrace Zhenniang’s legs.

She was too weak to bring Zhenniang down by herself, so she could only hold tightly to Zhenniang’s legs and shout: “Jingniang, Jingniang—”

Jingniang in the inner room heard the commotion and came out rubbing her eyes. Seeing Zhenniang hanging from the beam, she let out a short cry and fainted.

Qiao Zhao was so anxious that sweat poured down like rain. She barely managed to free one hand to take the bone flute hanging around her neck and blow it.

The clear, melodious sound of the flute rang out. Shao Mingyuan’s expression changed, and moments later he came running.

“Tingquan—” Qiao Zhao held onto Zhenniang’s legs, her face deathly pale.

Shao Mingyuan drew the dagger from his waist and cut the rope, bringing Zhenniang down.

Qiao Zhao immediately began administering aid to Zhenniang.

In this short time, Chi Can and the others had all rushed over.

Censor Xing stood outside with his hands behind his back, watching coldly from the sidelines.

Zhenniang groaned softly and awoke.

Qiao Zhao’s face lit up with joy: “Sister Zhenniang, you’re awake.”

Zhenniang blinked, her eyes turning slightly to catch sight of Censor Xing. As if pricked by a needle, she jumped up, pushed Qiao Zhao away, and rushed to crash into the wall.

Yang Houcheng reacted quickly and grabbed Zhenniang, puzzled: “Miss Xing, why are you seeking death for no reason?”

“Young Master Yang, please let me go—” Zhenniang covered her face and wept.

“Are you alright?” Shao Mingyuan asked Qiao Zhao in a low voice.

“I’m fine.” Qiao Zhao shook her head. Seeing Binglu and A’Zhu arriving, she quickly instructed: “Help the two Miss Xings to the inner room.”

Jingniang was still unconscious. Binglu, being strong, bent down and lifted Jingniang.

A’Zhu went to help Zhenniang, but was pushed away: “You don’t need to mind me anymore. Seeing that father has returned safely, I have no regrets and can depart in peace…”

Seeing the determined death wish in Zhenniang’s eyes, Qiao Zhao’s heart sank.

No one could watch Zhenniang every moment of the day without blinking. If she were determined to die, an incident was inevitable.

Zhenniang had been quite strong before – why had she suddenly become like this?

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but look toward Censor Xing. Seeing that he remained unmoved despite watching one daughter attempt suicide and the other faint, she vaguely understood.

After Binglu carried Jingniang inside, she came back out.

“Binglu, help Miss Xing inside with A’Zhu and stay with her.” Qiao Zhao instructed.

This was, after all, women’s quarters. Seeing that Qiao Zhao had settled the Xing sisters, Shao Mingyuan and the others departed.

“Won’t Lord Xing go see the Miss Xings?” Qiao Zhao approached Censor Xing and asked.

Censor Xing’s face was tense as he said indifferently: “This does not require Miss Li’s concern.”

Qiao Zhao raised her eyebrows and smiled coldly: “I wouldn’t want to concern myself either, except that the two Miss Xings finally escaped from their captors, and seeing Miss Xing suddenly wanting to take her own life pains my heart. I wanted to ask Lord Xing exactly why this is happening.”

Censor Xing looked deeply at Qiao Zhao and asked in return: “Why? Although Miss Li is young, you are also an official’s daughter who grew up reading women’s moral instruction. Don’t you know why?”

Qiao Zhao laughed coldly: “I truly don’t know why.”

For the sake of so-called chastity, he would force his daughters to die? Neither of her two fathers was such a person!

Censor Xing concealed the mockery in his eyes and said coldly: “Miss Li is unconventional, indeed different from ordinary daughters.”

These words carried strong sarcasm. Shao Mingyuan frowned upon hearing them and said indifferently: “This Marquis’s fiancée is naturally different from others.”

Censor Xing was slightly stunned.

He had watched Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan’s intimate behavior with displeasure, not realizing they were engaged.

Chi Can looked deeply at Shao Mingyuan, then said lazily: “If you ask me, the one who’s unconventional is Lord Xing. This is the first time I’ve seen a father force his daughters to die.”

“Young Master Chi is mistaken. I am their father and naturally love them dearly. But they were defiled by pirates and should have preserved their dignity through death. How can they continue to live dishonorably in this world?”

“Being defiled by pirates wasn’t their fault – it was the pirates’ fault, and even more so the fault of parasites like Xing Wuyang who made the people’s lives unbearable.” Chi Can said in a deep voice.

Censor Xing stared at Chi Can’s extraordinarily refined features, curled his lips slightly, and asked in return: “Then would Young Master Chi be willing to marry a woman defiled by pirates?”

Chi Can’s face turned cold: “Lord Xing’s words are excessive.”

Censor Xing snorted with laughter: “Since Young Master Chi cannot answer, don’t question me with such words. I am their father, and no one in this world loves them more than I do. I naturally know which choice is truly good for them.”

Chi Can was so choked by Censor Xing’s words that he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao and said expressionlessly: “If that young lady were someone I already cherished, then I would be willing.”

If the girl he loved unfortunately suffered such misfortune, he would only treasure her more – how could he bear to despise her?

Censor Xing smiled and shook his head: “What a pity that my daughters don’t have the fortune to meet someone like Young Master Chi.”

At this moment, Qiao Zhao spoke: “In Lord Xing’s view, is a woman’s fate either marriage or death?”

Because she had lost her chastity and couldn’t marry, he would rather have her die?

Censor Xing didn’t want to say more to Qiao Zhao and snorted coldly.

Qiao Zhao was about to say more when Shao Mingyuan shook his head at her.

Qiao Zhao felt helpless and angry.

She knew that a person’s deep-rooted beliefs were difficult to change, but she couldn’t sit by and watch someone force their daughters to death because of such beliefs.

In this world, women had it too hard. Some lacked the courage to live on, while others, even wanting to live, were not allowed to by their closest relatives.

“Tingquan, Miss Li, you should go wash up. Don’t worry about Miss Xing – with so many people watching, nothing will happen.” Seeing the tense atmosphere, Yang Houcheng tried to smooth things over.

“Where is Grandfather Li?” Qiao Zhao knew that the Xing sisters’ matter couldn’t be resolved quickly and asked about Physician Li.

“Physician Li is researching something and has locked his door, not allowing anyone to disturb him. He doesn’t even know you’ve returned yet.”

Physician Li, having inspiration and secluding himself, was common. Though Qiao Zhao regretted not being able to see him immediately, she didn’t dare disturb him, and instead asked: “What about Miss Xie?”

When she asked about Xie Shengxiao, Yang Houcheng immediately fell silent.

Chi Can smiled: “Yang Er tattled, and Miss Xie’s family took her back.”

Yang Houcheng muttered, “I was doing it for her good.”

Qiao Zhao looked at Yang Houcheng with a complex expression and kindly reminded him: “If Brother Yang has the chance to see Miss Xie again in the future, remember to wear a chest guard.”