Changshun was genuinely puzzled.

What a coincidence—the Heir rarely ventured out, yet he had encountered such lively excitement.

Well, watching the excitement was one thing, and he had been quite engrossed himself. But the Heir had actually told him to blend into the crowd and shout those words.

Something about “don’t lump us men together, not many men could do such things,” and also about Steward Wen’s situation—all of it was what the Heir had instructed him to shout.

He had been so nervous while shouting, terrified that someone would notice him and turn the Heir into part of the spectacle as well.

He was such an honest, simple servant—he just couldn’t do this sort of thing!

“After you shouted those words, what was everyone’s reaction?” the young man asked with a smile, his steps light and cheerful.

“It got even more chaotic! Everyone was cursing Vice Minister Wen for being worthless.”

“Exactly.” The young man’s hand brushed the sword at his waist, his smile deepening. “Shouting a few words to make the scene more lively—doesn’t that make us spectators get even more out of it?”

“So that’s how it is.” The servant had a sudden realization, with a hint of relief. “This servant thought the Heir was trying to help Second Miss Wen.”

That had scared him to death!

Hm?

The young man raised an eyebrow, his tone somewhat flat. “Can’t I help Second Miss Wen?”

The servant replied without thinking, “How could that be? Until now, people are still spreading rumors that Second Miss Wen was peeping at you. If Second Miss Wen discovers that you helped her, won’t she become even more presumptuous?”

She had no connection with his family’s Heir yet dared to climb over the wall and land on the Heir. If she realized the Heir was kind-hearted, who knows what frightening things she might do.

As the Heir’s loyal and devoted servant, he would defend the Heir’s innocence to the death!

“Become more presumptuous?” The servant’s words piqued the young man’s interest.

He gripped the scabbard at his waist, falling into thought: Could she… become more presumptuous?

“Yes!” Changshun glanced left and right, lowering his voice. “This servant has been observing coldly—Second Miss Wen is quite bold. What if she wants to peek at you bathing?”

“Shut up.” The young man scolded him, and not knowing what scene came to mind, his ear tips quietly reddened.

Seeing this, Changshun grew even more worried.

His family’s Heir was so pure and kind-hearted—he must protect the Heir well!

“You must not speak nonsense in the future.” Qi Shuo straightened his expression.

Seeing the Heir become serious, Changshun quickly nodded. “This servant understands.”

Qi Shuo ignored him and lifted his feet to walk forward.

Watching that upright figure like a bamboo stalk, the servant fell into confusion: The Heir probably thought his worry was too absurd and got angry.

So was the Heir trying to help Second Miss Wen, or was it to better watch the excitement?

Thinking about the former possibility, Changshun shuddered in fright: The latter, it must be the latter!

In front of the Wen Mansion, Wen Rugui finally awoke as if from a dream and took off at a run.

Judging by the direction, he was actually heading the same way as Old Madam Lin.

The people who hadn’t bothered to disperse began discussing.

“Is Vice Minister Wen trying to chase down Old Madam Lin?”

“He won’t catch up, will he? I saw Old Madam Lin walking faster than young people.”

“True, he definitely won’t catch up.”

Rather than a prediction, this was more like an expectation.

Old Madam Lin was going to file a complaint with the Empress Dowager. If she were chased down and brought back, where would they find such excitement to watch?

By now, everyone had determined Wen Rugui’s wickedness and naturally wanted to see a gratifying conclusion.

“Mother, what should we do?” Chang Qing tugged at Madam Chang’s sleeve, asking through sobs.

Wen Rugui had left in such haste that he hadn’t bothered to settle Madam Chang and her three children, leaving them in a suddenly awkward position.

Madam Chang looked deeply at the plaque inscribed with the two characters “Wen Mansion,” then said through gritted teeth, “Let’s go back first.”

“Mother!” Chang Hui and Chang Qing cried out in unison, shocked beyond belief by Madam Chang’s decision.

This day was something one had anticipated for nineteen years, the other for sixteen years.

This was somewhat of an exaggeration, but they had yearned since becoming aware to live in the Wen Mansion and openly call him father.

Hearing Madam Chang’s words, the siblings were immensely disappointed.

But once Madam Chang had made her decision, she lifted her feet and walked away without looking back.

She desired even more than her children to step openly through the Wen Mansion’s main gate, but the current circumstances didn’t allow her to act rashly.

At least half the servants in the Wen Mansion were Madam Lin’s people—who could blame her for being so fortunate as to have such a maternal family?

Wen Ping watched Madam Chang’s retreating figure, silently sighing with admiration.

This Madam Qing was truly remarkable. No wonder that year, though only in her teens, upon hearing that the master had married a noble lady from a prominent family in the capital, she had dared to carry a bundle and run to the capital.

Wen Ping was well aware of Madam Chang’s situation.

Madam Chang’s mother was Wen Rugui’s aunt, who in her youth had married into a wealthy household.

Of course, in a place like Wen Family Village, a so-called wealthy household just meant having some fields and being able to hire a few workers during busy farming seasons—worlds apart from the wealthy families in the capital.

But locally, this was already considered a good life.

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last. When Madam Chang was about ten years old, her father died of illness, and her mother simply took her daughter back to her maiden family.

Later, Wen Rugui’s parents passed away one after another, but by then he had already shown exceptional intelligence, so his scholarly pursuits continued.

First, he used his parents’ accumulated savings to study. When the family fortune was exhausted, Madam Chang’s mother gritted her teeth and used her own dowry and wealth secretly brought back from her husband’s family to continue supporting her nephew’s education.

Wen Rugui also lived up to expectations—first becoming a scholar, then a provincial graduate, before heading to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examination.

Madam Chang waited with eager anticipation for her phoenix coronet and bridal veil, only to receive the devastating news that her cousin had married someone else.

Not long after, Madam Chang disappeared, leaving only a letter for her mother. Until Madam Chang’s mother died of illness, Madam Chang never returned to that remote Wen Family Village.

Madam Chang left with her pair of children, and of those who had just been at the center of the commotion, only Wen Ping and Wen Rusheng remained.

The two exchanged glances, momentarily uncertain where to go.

Old Madam had already brought Wen Hao to the imperial palace.

While waiting, Old Madam asked Wen Hao, “Is Ahao nervous?”

Wen Hao smiled radiantly. “With Grandmother here, I’m not nervous at all.”

Although the road ahead was difficult and fraught with danger, at this moment her mood felt as if it could take flight.

The showdown between her parents had happened, and not only was Grandmother unharmed, she had even brought her along to file a complaint with the Empress Dowager.

Her efforts had truly made a difference.

“Old Madam, the Empress Dowager requests that you enter,” a eunuch emerged and said.

Old Madam nodded and shuffled inside leaning on her cane.

Wen Hao was stunned for a moment.

Grandmother’s legs—hadn’t she just been walking with swift strides?

From ahead came Old Madam’s urging voice: “Ahao, quickly come support your grandmother.”

Wen Hao suppressed her admiration and hurried to catch up.

The Empress Dowager was casually reclining on a couch. Upon seeing Old Madam enter, she paused. “It’s been over a year since we last met. How have you been, Old Madam?”

Why did it look like she could barely walk properly, as if half her body was already in the grave?

After paying her respects, Old Madam wiped away tears and sighed deeply. “For someone with half her body already in the grave, how well can things be? Just the other day I even consulted a famous physician. I’m not afraid of you laughing at me, Your Majesty—this old woman has come to beg you to dispense justice for us orphans and widows.”