“You don’t speak!” Old Madam Deng’s authoritative voice rang out.

Li Guangshu nodded.

His old mother had finally returned to normal, somewhat. When had a junior ever been allowed to be so presumptuous in front of elders?

Old Madam Deng glanced at Li Guangshu sideways and said coldly: “What are you nodding for? I was talking to you.”

Li Guangshu: “…” He was now certain that he had been blown in by the wind!

“Third girl, why do you say this?” Old Madam Deng withdrew her gaze and looked at Qiao Zhao.

She had long known this granddaughter was exceptionally intelligent, so naturally she wouldn’t dismiss her words as a child’s nonsense.

“Because Hao Ge’er is becoming like this is all due to Bing Niang.” Qiao Zhao’s light remark made everyone present change color.

“Big Brother, Sister-in-law, is this how you discipline your child? How can an engaged young lady speak so recklessly?” Li Guangshu asked with an iron-blue face.

“Our Zhaozhao never speaks recklessly. Rather, Second Brother, you’re wrongly accusing people before even asking clearly. This won’t do.” He Shi waved her handkerchief.

“Sister-in-law—”

Old Madam Deng coughed: “Second son, I told you not to speak. What if you anger your sister-in-law and affect her pregnancy?”

Li Guangshu was so angry that his hands shook.

A junior was throwing dirty water on his beloved concubine, and he wasn’t allowed to speak!

If his speaking could affect his sister-in-law’s pregnancy, he might as well say his words could make his sister-in-law pregnant.

Despite being smooth and calculating in Lingnan, quite the shrewd figure, once home he just wanted to go mad!

Qiao Zhao walked directly toward the corner and stopped in front of Bing Niang.

“Third Miss.” As if she hadn’t heard what Qiao Zhao said earlier, Bing Niang greeted her politely.

But her wrist was suddenly grasped by Qiao Zhao.

“Third Miss?” Bing Niang didn’t struggle, looking at Qiao Zhao with beautiful eyes full of surprise.

Li Guangshu’s face was dark as water: “Mother, are you just going to watch a junior act so recklessly?”

Old Madam Deng frowned: “Second son, you’re blocking my view.”

The third girl could even cure that fool from the Earl of Changchun’s residence. If she discovered something wrong with Bing Niang, it didn’t seem particularly surprising.

Li Guangshu’s lips trembled, nearly spitting up blood.

“Binglu, hold Concubine Bing steady.”

“Yes!” Binglu responded loudly, running over with small steps to directly support the woman.

Qiao Zhao pulled out a gleaming silver needle from her pouch.

Bing Niang bit her lip: “What does Third Miss want to do to this concubine?”

“I’m not doing anything to Concubine Bing. I’m treating Hao Ge’er’s illness.” Qiao Zhao said, pulling Bing Niang’s hand forward and letting the silver needle fall.

“Stop!” Li Guangshu could no longer restrain himself, striding over and grabbing Bing Niang’s other wrist to pull her toward him.

He pulled hard but couldn’t move her.

Binglu proudly lifted her chin: “Second Master, don’t waste your strength. You’re not as strong as this servant!”

Li Guangshu was both angry and embarrassed, his face flushing red.

What kind of chaotic people were in this household? He wanted to return to Lingnan!

“Master—” Bing Niang called out softly.

Without hesitation, Qiao Zhao’s silver needle precisely pierced the pad of Bing Niang’s left index finger.

Bing Niang finally began to struggle, yet her appearance remained completely composed: “Third Miss, if you want to treat Hao Ge’er’s illness, why pierce this concubine’s finger? Ten fingers connect to the heart. Though this concubine is of humble status, I still know pain…”

Bing Niang began to weep softly.

Everyone in the room, except the stormy-faced Second Master Li Guangshu, was watching intently with curious gazes, even the maids. Yet no one showed the slightest fear at Qiao Zhao’s actions, as if nothing Third Miss did was out of line.

Bing Niang’s crying paused slightly as she looked tearfully at Li Guangshu, her eyes filled with pleading and fear.

Li Guangshu’s heart was wrenched by his beloved concubine’s gaze, and he lifted his foot to kick at Binglu.

If he couldn’t do anything to his niece, couldn’t he deal with a little maid?

Binglu was quick with her hands and eyes, supporting Bing Niang as she dodged to the side, simultaneously lifting her foot to kick at Li Guangshu’s knee hollow.

With a thud, Second Master Li fell flat on his face.

Binglu looked nervous: “Second Master, sorry, sorry! This servant acted purely on instinct. Forgot to tell you – this servant has trained with the personal guards of Marquis Guanjun. Who told you to attack this servant?”

Oh dear, she kicked a master of the household. Would she get beaten?

The little maid pondered while secretly glancing at her miss.

Qiao Zhao nodded imperceptibly.

Only then did Binglu breathe a sigh of relief.

Good, good. As long as Miss didn’t object, she wasn’t afraid of anything.

While everyone’s attention was drawn to Second Master Li, who had fallen to the ground, Qiao Zhao pulled out another exquisite small incense ball from her pouch. With a twist of her hand, the ball’s cover moved to reveal a small hole, and a strange fragrance wafted out from the opening.

Qiao Zhao held the incense ball close to Bing Niang’s bleeding index finger.

Bing Niang’s expression finally changed dramatically as she struggled violently: “Master, Master—”

She didn’t say anything improper, but her repeated calls of “Master” broke the heart of the man being called.

Li Guangshu hurriedly scrambled up.

Qiao Zhao’s voice was calm: “Knock her out!”

Binglu struck with her hand, knocking out Li Guangshu, who had just gotten up but hadn’t steadied himself yet.

Watching Li Guangshu collapse, even Bing Niang momentarily forgot to struggle.

Qiao Zhao’s mouth twitched as she said helplessly: “Wrong one.”

She pointed at Bing Niang.

“Eh!” Binglu suddenly understood and quickly gave Bing Niang another strike.

The room suddenly became quiet.

Old Madam Deng held her forehead: “Zhaozhao, what exactly is happening?”

Although she trusted her granddaughter wasn’t acting recklessly, the current scene was still too absurd.

“Don’t worry, Grandmother. Let me wake Second Uncle first.”

Some things were better witnessed personally.

With one needle, Li Guangshu opened his eyes.

“What did you do to Bing Niang?” Seeing Bing Niang collapse in Binglu’s arms, Li Guangshu immediately asked.

“Doesn’t Second Uncle want to know what connection Hao Ge’er’s illness has with Bing Niang?” Qiao Zhao asked indifferently.

The young lady’s expression was calm, and her tone flat, making Li Guangshu’s angry questioning seem very awkward.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The young lady smiled slightly: “It doesn’t matter if Second Uncle doesn’t know. Just watch.”

The small hole of the incense ball approached Bing Niang’s bloodied index finger, and everyone inexplicably felt the fragrance in the room growing stronger.

Old Madam Deng seemed to think of something, her expression gradually turning ugly.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, when everyone’s highly concentrated attention was about to scatter, the blood drop on Bing Niang’s index finger suddenly began to move, as if it had come alive.

What was this? Everyone instinctively rubbed their eyes.

The wriggling blood drop suddenly shot to the ground.

A’Zhu, who had received instructions beforehand, was quick with her hands and covered it with a prepared cover.

“What is that?” Old Madam Deng’s voice trembled.

Qiao Zhao explained calmly: “A Mother-Child Heart-Connection Gu.”

She looked at Li Guangshu and asked indifferently: “Does Second Uncle understand now?”