“Madam Jiang Qi and the late Madam Bai Feng were close friends, sharing a bond akin to that of handkerchiefs. It is precisely because of this that Yan’er and Fourth Miss were betrothed in childhood. Now that Fourth Miss is no longer foolish, having someone else marry her off to Yan’er would only tarnish Madam Jiang Qi’s reputation for trustworthiness,” Jiang Xuanjin remarked, looking at the Old Master.

“Madam Jiang Qi served the Jiang family for many years and raised an Eldest Grandson, contributing greatly. Her last wish should not be easily disregarded,” he continued.

It was rare to hear him speak so much, and Jiang Er Gongzi, who had been lost in thought, looked at him in surprise. Was it really necessary? It wasn’t his marriage; why did he seem so intent on having Jiang Yan marry Fourth Miss?

Once the late Madam Jiang Qi was mentioned, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Jiang Chong frowned and cupped his hands toward the Old Master. “I have met Fourth Miss Bai; she is graceful and exceptionally dignified. If Yan’er could marry her, it would indeed be a blessing.”

Bai Dezhong was taken aback. “The General has met Fourth Miss?”

“Yes,” Jiang Chong nodded. “Today, while welcoming guests at the manor, Fourth Miss Bai came alone but was very courteous.”

Bai Zhuji had come to the Jiang Manor?! Bai Dezhong’s face turned pale as he thought, where did she get the audacity? Coming alone, how could she have entered? Surely, she must have embarrassed the Bai family!

“There is no need for Lord Bai to be so alarmed,” Jiang Chong laughed. “I am not exaggerating; Fourth Miss is indeed a beauty, and her manners are well learned. At first glance, she left Yan’er utterly amazed.”

“Oh?” The Old Master was surprised. “I was unaware of this matter.”

“There were many affairs today, and I have not yet had the chance to report to you, Father,” Jiang Chong replied. “But what I say is not an exaggeration; Inspector Bai has underestimated this Fourth Miss!”

Bai Dezhong was momentarily stunned, recalling the sight of Bai Zhuji he had seen at the Bai Manor, and he couldn’t help but shiver, shaking his head repeatedly. Well-mannered? That was impossible! If that girl didn’t turn the Jiang Manor upside down, it would be a blessing for the Bai family!

“After hearing my elder brother speak, I am quite eager to meet this Fourth Miss Bai,” Jiang Shen said with a smile. “Didn’t she say she would come to the Jiang Manor? Let’s send someone to invite her over.”

Jiang Xuanjin paused, his hand fiddling with the Buddhist beads, his expression stiffening. “What do we need to see her for now? We should first discuss the wedding date.”

“How can the two elders discuss anything without having met her?” Jiang Shen raised an eyebrow, glancing at Jiang Xuanjin. “Third Brother seems a bit strange today.”

Jiang Xuanjin fell silent. He couldn’t possibly send someone to his Mo Residence to find Fourth Miss, could he? That would cause a huge uproar.

“Let’s do it this way,” the Old Master decided. “Shen’er, you take someone to find Fourth Miss Bai.”

“Alright.” Jiang Shen smiled, rising to his feet. He shook his bamboo robe and shot a glance at Jiang Xuanjin before heading outside.

Jiang Xuanjin clenched the Buddhist beads in his sleeve, his knuckles turning white. “Cheng Xu,” he whispered, “find a way to bring Fourth Miss Bai here.”

Cheng Xu wanted to say that since the Second Young Master had already gone, what was the point of him going too? However, when he looked down at his master’s slightly tense jaw, he was startled.

Could it be… she was at Mo Residence?!

“Go quickly,” Jiang Xuanjin urged, glancing at him.

Cheng Xu understood and quietly slipped out, feeling both amused and exasperated. Fourth Miss Bai was truly impressive; she had convinced his master to fetch her and even brought her to Mo Residence.

In his life, he had never bowed to anyone except his master, and now he genuinely wanted to pay respects to that Fourth Miss. It was unbelievable; how did she manage to do that?

Qi Jin headed westward and soon found the “friend” Fourth Miss had mentioned. He smiled and informed him that Fourth Miss was injured and resting at Mo Residence.

Lu Jingxing folded his fan and smiled slightly. “I understand.”

Li Huaiyu had already done everything she could, and now it was time to leave the rest to him.

In the distance, a group of ten servants carrying tea emerged from the front courtyard, and the leader glanced in his direction. Lu Jingxing nodded, and the man understood, leading the others with their heads bowed toward Mo Residence.

Li Huaiyu lay on the soft couch in the attic, glancing out the window at the courtyard below. Outside the not-so-tall courtyard wall, shadows were already wandering.

Her eyes brightened, and she looked around. Yufeng was guarding outside, and Qi Jin had not yet returned, leaving her alone in the room.

Using her cane to get up, she rummaged through a nearby low cabinet and found a fire stick.

The courtyard was heavily guarded, and the main building had many hidden guards. If she didn’t create a diversion, even if Lu Jingxing’s people were formidable, they wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything.

Gritting her teeth, Huaiyu glanced at the incense burner nearby, picked it up, and placed it on the low table beside the soft couch. Then she opened the beast-shaped lid, lit the incense, and casually tossed the unextinguished fire stick onto the ground.

The attic was covered with a brocade carpet, and the fire stick barely ignited upon contact. Huaiyu patiently held the fire stick to light it, and once the brocade carpet caught fire, she placed the stick back on the ground and quickly lay back down on the soft couch, closing her eyes to feign sleep.

The room was filled with drapes and gauzy curtains, and the fire on the brocade carpet blazed as she hoped, igniting the sheets hanging beside the soft couch. Thick smoke quickly filled the room.

Feeling that the fire was about to spread, Li Huaiyu propped herself up and sleepily shouted, “Help! Help!”

Outside, Yufeng sensed something was wrong and immediately rushed in without thinking, only to be shocked by the scene before him.

The ground was ablaze, and the bed was also on fire, thick smoke rolling in, enveloping Fourth Miss Bai as if she were on fire!

“Fourth Miss!”

“Help me! I can’t move my feet!” Huaiyu cried out desperately.

Yufeng glanced around, tore down the curtain at the partition, and quickly began to beat out the flames. The burnt ashes flew everywhere, and Huaiyu could hardly breathe, coughing violently before falling silent.

Yufeng grew anxious, stepping over the flames to carry her and leaping out through the window—

Cheng Xu hurried to Mo Residence, contemplating how to take Fourth Miss Bai out without being seen when suddenly he heard a chorus of screams around him.

He looked up in shock to see Yufeng leaping down from the two-story guesthouse, carrying a bundle of brocade, looking quite disheveled. Behind him, flames shot up into the sky, drawing countless servants to stop and stare.

“It’s terrible! There’s a fire again!” the servants shouted as they ran.

Cheng Xu snapped back to reality, frowning as he rushed into the courtyard. When he saw who Yufeng was carrying, he was struck dumb.

“It’s terrible!”

A servant who had rushed in with him to help put out the fire stared blankly at the girl on the ground, and after a moment of realization, he turned and ran outside, shouting, “Third Young Master is hiding a woman! Third Young Master is hiding a woman!”

The shout was so loud that it instantly drowned out the cries of “Fire!”

After a brief silence, the Jiang Manor erupted into chaos!