Cheng Shu had no interest in looking at Wen Rugui, who resembled a stray dog. After giving instructions to the men he’d brought, he walked out of the Wen residence together with the Old Madam’s trusted Nanny Cui.

Outside the mansion were countless people craning their necks to watch the excitement. Seeing Cheng Shu emerge with a calm expression, they couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed.

They didn’t even fight!

Cheng Shu’s steps paused as he turned around and looked up.

The plaque inscribed with the two characters “Wen Residence” gleamed brilliantly in the warm spring sunlight.

Cheng Shu found it extremely displeasing. He stepped back a few paces, took a running start, leaped up, and pulled the plaque down.

“Excellent!” The crowd immediately grew excited.

With a loud clang, the plaque was thrown to the ground.

“Take it back and chop it up for firewood,” Cheng Shu told the servants, then strode toward the General’s Manor.

The onlookers couldn’t help but move closer to the Wen family gate, exclaiming in wonder.

“The General’s Manor really took the residence back!”

“If they didn’t take it back, should they leave it for Attendant Wen to keep his mistress?”

“That young master just now jumped so high.”

“Indeed, quite gallant and dashing.”

…

In the crowd, Baozhu quietly tugged at Lin Hao. “Miss, many young ladies are praising the young master.”

Originally she would have called him “Cousin,” but since Lin Hao had entered the Lin family genealogy, the form of address for Cheng Shu had changed.

Lin Hao smiled. “Elder Brother is indeed gallant and dashing. Let’s go back.”

Having personally witnessed her sworn brother retrieve the residence so efficiently, she felt relieved.

The young lady’s steps were light as she gradually walked away.

Not far off, the young servant Changshun curled his lip. “Heir, did you hear that? Miss Wen—Miss Lin Second is praising her cousin for being gallant and dashing! For a young lady of a noble family, she’s really not reserved enough…”

“It’s elder brother, not cousin,” the young man solemnly corrected, striding toward the same direction.

The servant left behind scratched his head in confusion.

What elder brother, what cousin—was that the point he was making?

He thought Miss Lin Second wasn’t dignified enough. The Heir was just too kind, never thinking ill of anyone.

Ah, why has the Heir gone so far—the servant suppressed his sigh and hurried to catch up.

Lin Hao walked at a leisurely pace toward the General’s Manor when she heard sounds of applause.

Her steps halted as she looked toward where the cheering came from, her beautiful eyes involuntarily narrowing slightly.

It was the young man who had been performing outside the Treasure Pavilion that day.

Unlike that day when crowds had gathered, today only a sparse scattering of people watched the young man’s performance, and from here one could clearly see his vigorous figure as he wielded his blade.

Could it be that the Wen family’s commotion had cost this young man business?

Baozhu had obviously recognized him too.

“Miss, let’s hurry back.”

That day, the miss had been watching this young man perform when someone had jostled her veil off, and later it had attracted the covetous attention of a lecher.

That’s right—to the little maid who regarded her miss as a celestial being, any man who looked at her miss twice was a lecher.

The young man finished with a beautiful flourishing move that drew considerable applause, and the elderly man beating the gong began soliciting rewards from the onlookers.

“Baozhu, reward that young man with a corner of silver.”

Baozhu couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

Lin Hao was amused by the little maid’s reaction. “Consider it making up for that day.”

For some reason, every time she saw this young man she felt he looked familiar, so she couldn’t help paying attention.

Baozhu came back to her senses and quickly walked over to place a corner of silver on the old man’s gong.

The crisp sound of silver striking the gong made the old man freeze for a moment, then he bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, young miss! Thank you, young miss!”

Baozhu waved her hand without speaking and turned to run back to Lin Hao.

This commotion caught the young man’s attention.

His gaze followed Baozhu’s retreating figure, finally settling on Lin Hao’s face.

Lin Hao calmly withdrew her gaze and stepped toward the General’s Manor.

The surrounding crowd soon dispersed, leaving only the young man and the old man to pack up their things.

The old man clutched his money pouch with a beaming smile. “Good luck today—we got a corner of silver.”

For people performing on the street, life wasn’t easy. While wielding weapons drew loud cheers and seemed glorious, when it came time to collect rewards nearly half the audience would leave, and the remaining people could remain completely unmoved by the gong thrust before them—only a very small number were truly willing to give rewards.

They would perform four or five times a day, and the reward money collected would barely cover their basic daily expenses. Getting a corner of silver today meant they could buy a pound of pork head meat and improve their meal.

The old man looked forward to dinner when he suddenly heard the young man speak. “That young lady also watched me perform near the Treasure Pavilion before.”

He still remembered her veil being jostled off.

The old man was first startled, then delighted. “Xiao Feng, could that young miss have seen that you’re handsome—”

The young man’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Grandfather, don’t speak nonsense.”

The old man gave an embarrassed laugh and said no more.

The young servant Changshun rolled his eyes to the heavens. “Heir, did you see? Miss Lin Second even gave a reward to some street performer!”

He hadn’t been paying attention before, but Miss Lin Second was far too unrestrained around young, handsome men.

Their Heir was just one among many!

This discovery made the servant both heartbroken and indignant.

Qi Shuo laughed lightly. “Miss Lin Second is indeed kindhearted.”

Changshun nearly stumbled and fell. “Heir, you think this is kindheartedness?”

“What else?”

“Clearly she saw that boy was good-looking!”

The smile at the corners of Qi Shuo’s lips faded, his tone light. “Starting tomorrow, have Changning accompany me when I go out.”

Changshun froze. “Heir… this, why…”

Was the most valued, most favored servant about to be replaced?

The young man glanced at him and said casually, “Changning is better-looking than you.”

Long after his heir had walked several yards away, Changshun still stood rooted to the spot, unable to recover.

By the time she reached the General’s Manor, Lin Hao had broken into a light sweat on her forehead. She thought to herself that it was getting hot—in the future when going out, she should ride Lin Xiaohua.

Just as she was thinking this, a voice came from behind her. “Miss Lin Second.”

Lin Hao instantly realized who owned this voice: her creditor!

She slowly turned around and curtsied. “Heir.”

Qi Shuo’s gaze deepened, a thoughtful look flashing through. He always felt Miss Lin Second’s first reaction upon seeing him was somewhat strange…

“What a coincidence, running into Miss Lin Second.”

Baozhu immediately became alert.

Listen to this nonsense—Heir of Prince Jing has ulterior motives!

Changshun, who had caught up, wore a complex expression.

Could following all the way here be called a coincidence? The Heir this way—no, how could it be called following? They were clearly going home!

Having found the perfect justification for his heir, Changshun had the confidence to resist Baozhu’s wariness: What kind of look is that, little maid? As if our Heir is blind enough to fancy your miss!

Baozhu sneered silently: Like master, like servant!

The two’s gazes collided in midair, swords drawn.

Lin Hao smiled. “It is quite a coincidence—the Heir is going home too.”

This smile required careful calibration. She couldn’t smile too sweetly, lest the Heir of Prince Jing—who lacked nothing except a wife—misunderstand. But she also couldn’t smile too coldly, since she herself had wronged him first, and if she wanted to help the Heir of Prince Jing in the future, being too distant would make it inconvenient to lend a hand.

At this moment, Miss Lin Second facing the Heir of Prince Jing had only one thought: dealing with a creditor is so exhausting!