Li Guangwen stood there in a daze, his eyes unable to even move.
Qiao Zhao sensed something was wrong and called out softly: “Father, what’s the matter with you?”
Could it be that he had suffered inhuman abuse in the Jinlin Guards’ prison?
Hearing Qiao Zhao’s call, Li Guangwen snapped out of his stupor and pulled her shoulder into his arms: “Zhaozhao, how did you get here?”
“Father—” Li Guangwen’s panicked appearance made Qiao Zhao’s heart tighten.
Li Guangwen held Qiao Zhao while glaring warily at Jiang Eleven: “What did you bring my daughter here for? I’m telling you, if you arrest my daughter and bring her in here, I won’t leave!”
Only then did Qiao Zhao understand the reason for Li Guangwen’s anxiety, and she couldn’t help but smile: “Father, I came to pick you up.”
Li Guangwen was stunned: “Pick me up?”
“Yes, everything’s fine now. I came to take you home.”
Li Guangwen let out a long sigh of relief: “Home, let’s go home. Your grandmother and your mother must be worried sick.”
Seeing his father-in-law pulling his fiancée forward impatiently, Shao Mingyuan touched his nose and hurried to catch up.
Only then did Li Guangwen notice there was another living person present: “Mingyuan came too. Perfect—I’ve been in jail these past two days and couldn’t eat well. Today, we, father and son-in-law, should have a good drink together.”
“Whatever you’d like to drink, your son-in-law will accompany you.”
“Stir-fried pork belly with green peppers goes best with wine.”
“Your son-in-law will make it.”
…
Watching the two men walk farther and farther away, Qiao Zhao smiled helplessly and lifted her skirts to follow them.
Chi Can and the other two looked at each other.
“Let’s go taste Tingquan’s stir-fried pork belly with green peppers,” Chi Can was the first to turn around.
Yang Houcheng curled his lips: “He values romance over friendship. In all these years, we’ve never eaten a dish personally made by Tingquan.”
Shao Mingyuan, who was chatting with Li Guangwen, turned back and glanced at Yang Houcheng.
Yang Houcheng immediately fell silent.
Jiang Eleven quietly watched the group walk away, then looked back at the prison gates.
“Lord Eleven?” A nearby Jinlin Guard called out.
Jiang Eleven walked expressionlessly toward the Jiang Residence.
At this moment, everyone from the Li family’s West Residence had gathered in Qingsong Hall to discuss matters.
“Mother, don’t worry. I’ve already asked someone to intercede. Although the eldest brother can’t come out for now, he won’t suffer much in prison,” Li Guangshu consoled.
Old Madam Deng’s expression remained heavy after hearing this: “What I’m worried about is Grand Commander Jiang’s sudden death. Your eldest brother was arrested on Grand Commander Jiang’s orders. With Grand Commander Jiang dead, whoever takes over the position of Jinlin Guards Commander probably won’t go against Grand Commander Jiang’s wishes to release your eldest brother.”
“There’s no use in you worrying. Let’s wait for this storm to pass, then I’ll try to find another way through connections,” Li Guangshu said, glancing meaningfully at He Shi. “It’s a pity that Marquis Guanjun was also taken away by the Jinlin Guards; otherwise, we could think of something.”
Mother was still giving him the cold shoulder because of Bingniang, but when it mattered, didn’t she still have to rely on him to use connections to save people?
Thinking this, Li Guangshu sighed lightly: “Mother, there’s something I didn’t dare tell you.”
“What is it?”
“This—” Li Guangshu glanced at He Shi again.
He Shi couldn’t hold back and rolled her eyes: “Why does second brother keep looking at me?”
Didn’t he know she was in a bad mood?
Li Guangshu’s face immediately turned bright red.
Why did the sister-in-law still speak without thinking? Saying it like that made it seem like he had improper thoughts.
Li Guangshu felt both embarrassed and annoyed. He lowered his eyes to hide the cold smile in them and sighed: “Mother, didn’t I send someone to keep watch at the Jinlin Guards’ office? Well—”
“Just say what you have to say!” Old Madam Deng said impatiently.
“Please don’t get too excited when I tell you…”
“Don’t worry, I’ve been getting excited for days now. I’m used to it.”
“The person I sent to keep watch reported that Third Miss was also taken away by the Jinlin Guards.”
“What did you say?” He Shi shot to her feet.
“Be careful!” Old Madam Deng was startled.
Liu Shi helped support He Shi: “Sister-in-law, don’t panic.”
He Shi held her belly and stared straight at Li Guangshu: “Zhaozhao was taken by the Jinlin Guards?”
“How would I dare deceive my sister-in-law? The Jinlin Guard, who took Third Miss, said that Lord Jiang Wu wanted to see her.”
“Jiang Wu?” He Shi lifted her leg to leave.
Liu Shi quickly stopped her: “Sister-in-law, where are you going?”
“I’m going to get a cleaver and fight that Jiang Wu to the death!”
“Nonsense!” Old Madam Deng rarely shouted so sternly.
He Shi looked at Old Madam Deng with grievance.
“Those Jinlin Guards are like mad dogs—is there anyone they won’t harm? Do you think being pregnant will stop them from doing anything to you?”
“But what about Zhaozhao? It’s one thing for them to arrest the master, but why won’t they even spare Zhaozhao?” He Shi covered her face and began crying.
Old Madam Deng glared fiercely at Li Guangshu.
Why bring this up in front of He Shi? Her youngest son used to be so clever—how had he become so stupid since returning from Lingnan?
Li Guangshu showed worry on his face, but sneered inwardly: Now Mother should finally know who to rely on when things get critical.
At this moment, Liu Shi couldn’t help but speak up: “Old Madam, sister-in-law, I think you shouldn’t worry too much. Wait a bit longer—there might be a turn for the better.”
“What do you mean by that?” Old Madam Deng vaguely felt that Liu Shi’s words had a deeper meaning.
Liu Shi naturally couldn’t openly state the conclusions she’d drawn from her usual cold observations, so she could only offer indirect comfort: “Didn’t that Grand Commander Jiang arrest eldest brother just two days ago? Within two days, he was dead. Now Lord Jiang Wu has taken our Third Miss away. I reckon that in a couple of days, he might meet with trouble too. If so, why would the Jinlin Guards keep our Third Miss, just a young lady?”
Jiang Tang’s death had left her shaking with fear for quite some time.
As expected, whoever offended the Third Miss would face misfortune. That Jiang Wu would probably follow in Jiang Tang’s footsteps.
“Ridiculous!” Li Guangshu scoffed, his lips curling with mockery.
He used to think Liu Shi was quite clever, but now she turned out to be just an ignorant woman.
Liu Shi sneered: “Just because you don’t understand doesn’t make it ridiculous.”
“Stop adding to the chaos. How embarrassing!” Li Guangshu’s tone grew increasingly impatient.
Although Old Madam Deng didn’t believe Liu Shi’s words, she also couldn’t stand Li Guangshu’s attitude and scolded: “How is that any way to speak to your wife?”
Li Guangshu’s face darkened.
It was one thing for him to have less status than his eldest brother in Mother’s heart, but now he couldn’t even compare to Liu Shi?
Whose real mother was she anyway?
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy when the head maid, Hongsong, came running in quickly: “Old Madam, the master has returned!”
“Really?” Old Madam Deng’s face showed joy.
Hongsong nodded repeatedly: “It’s true. Not only has the master returned, but Third Miss and Third Master are back too, along with several young masters—”
Before Hongsong could finish, Old Madam Deng led everyone outside.
“Mother, your son has returned.” Seeing his old mother, Li Guangwen’s eyes couldn’t help but moisten.
Old Madam Deng looked her eldest son up and down, her voice excited: “It’s good that you’re back. Mother was worried those Jinlin Guards would refuse to release you.”
“It was Zhaozhao who rescued me.”
Old Madam Deng looked puzzled: “Third granddaughter, weren’t you taken away by Lord Jiang Wu’s subordinates?”
Li Guangshu was even more astonished.
Qiao Zhao smiled and explained: “Lord Jiang Wu is dead.”