Miss Chen’s friend, on the day when everyone in the capital, old and young, went to watch the Top Scholar’s parade through the streets, ran to the teahouse across from Pinfang Studio to drink tea.

Without any friends gathering, just one person drinking tea facing the window, and the window happened to face the bookshop entrance.

Qin Wenyuan didn’t believe this was a coincidence.

This couldn’t possibly be a coincidence.

Qin Wenyuan raised his hand to press against his heart, with only one thought: Chen Yi and the green-skirted young lady were accomplices—his close friend’s incident was their scheme!

He already knew about Chen Yi, but who was that green-skirted young lady?

“A’Hao, this is Zhu Jiayu, Fourth Miss of the Earl of Yichun’s household. This is Tao Qing, from the Earl of Xiliang’s household. You saw them both at the banquet last time.” Chen Yi introduced with a smile.

“Miss Zhu, Miss Tao.” Lin Hao politely greeted them.

Zhu Jiayu was somewhat naturally familiar and smiled mischievously: “Then should I call you Second Miss Lin? That’s too formal. From now on, I’ll call you A’Hao, and you call me A’Yu.”

Lin Hao smiled and agreed.

Listening to the four young ladies chatting and laughing, Qin Wenyuan’s gaze remained fixed on Lin Hao.

Second Miss Lin, her given name contained the character “Hao.”

Lin Hao?

Qin Wenyuan’s eyes flickered as he raised his eyebrows.

He knew who she was!

The General’s household, the Lin family, had been the subject of much discussion recently, and he had also heard of the remarkable news of Second Miss Lin, the mute, beginning to speak.

Lin Hao, Chen Yi.

Qin Wenyuan’s gaze moved between the two, his expression sinister.

“Who are you?” A fierce voice rang out.

Suddenly appearing before him was that round-faced maid.

Qin Wenyuan was startled. Before he could react, he saw the maid raise a section of broken branch she had prepared early and strike at him, shouting as she hit: “Come quickly, someone! There’s a lecher peeping!”

The four carriage drivers who had been sitting in the carriages with eyes closed resting leaped down, grabbed their whips, and ran this way.

The accompanying maids and old servants came flooding over in a rush.

“It’s a misunderstanding—” Qin Wenyuan’s explanation was particularly powerless under Baozhu’s beating.

The young servant pulled Qin Wenyuan and ran: “Young Master, at this time you can’t explain it clearly—you’ll be the one at a disadvantage!”

“Go that way!” Qin Wenyuan shook off the young servant’s hand and ran with all his might toward the four including Lin Hao.

His thinking was clear—if he fled in panic at this time, that would truly be impossible to explain.

Faced with the strange young man running toward them and the string of maids, old servants, and carriage drivers chasing and beating behind him, the three including Chen Yi were stunned. Only Lin Hao remained calm and composed, waiting for Qin Wenyuan to run close before extending her hand holding a short knife and coolly warning: “If you come any closer, this meat-cutting knife won’t agree.”

Zhu Jiayu saw clearly the short knife in Lin Hao’s hand and gasped, covering her mouth.

The short knife was hers—just as Lin Hao said, it was a meat-cutting knife specially brought for slicing braised meat, roasted chicken, and other foods.

When did the knife get into A’Hao’s hands? Just now hadn’t A’Hao, like them, not moved at all? And who was this young man?

Not just Zhu Jiayu—Chen Yi and Tao Qing similarly had a string of questions arise.

Qin Wenyuan stopped, adjusted his breathing slightly, and asked with a face dark as water: “The maid who just slandered and chased me—whose household is she from?”

He couldn’t explain clearly to the little maid, but surely he could settle accounts with her master.

Lin Hao glanced at Baozhu who had chased over and said indifferently: “She’s my maid, but she wouldn’t slander people.”

“Didn’t slander people?” Qin Wenyuan laughed coldly. “Let the four young ladies know that I am Qin Wenyuan, and the Crown Prince’s Junior Mentor is my uncle.”

Hearing him announce his identity, the three including Chen Yi were shocked.

Those servants couldn’t help but restrain their surging murderous aura.

“So what?” Lin Hao asked, her tone even cooler.

The nephew of Crown Prince’s Junior Mentor Qin Yunchuan.

The connections between people were truly marvelous.

“So what?” Qin Wenyuan frowned deeply. “The Qin family’s conduct is pure and upright. If I were a lecher, my uncle would have beaten me to death long ago.”

“Not necessarily.” Lin Hao smiled slightly. “When descendants don’t behave properly, the elders don’t necessarily know. For instance, that Heir of Marquis Pingjia—if his parents had known he had that kind of preference, they surely should have disciplined him properly before discussing marriage arrangements—”

“Silence!” Qin Wenyuan’s face turned iron-blue, rage rushing straight to his head. “The Heir of Marquis Pingjia has already passed away. Can the young lady show some verbal restraint?”

Lin Hao looked calmly at Qin Wenyuan and suddenly smiled: “So Young Master Qin and the Heir of Marquis Pingjia are friends.”

“You’re friends with the Heir of Marquis Pingjia?” Zhu Jiayu had a sudden realization and said in a small voice: “No wonder.”

Qin Wenyuan stared fixedly at Lin Hao: “The young lady indeed likes to speak recklessly. May I ask the young lady’s honored name?”

Chen Yi and Tao Qing, one on the left and one on the right, tugged at Lin Hao’s sleeves, indicating she shouldn’t say.

“I’m called Lin Hao.” Lin Hao glanced at Chen Yi, her tone calm. “I’m friends with the eldest young lady of the Earl of Huai’an’s household. Is Young Master Qin friends with the Heir of Marquis Pingjia?”

With these words, Tao Qing and Zhu Jiayu’s expressions changed slightly, especially Zhu Jiayu, who looked at Lin Hao with eyes carrying a small bit of dissatisfaction.

How could she reveal her own and Chen Yi’s identities? Originally offending the Crown Prince’s Junior Mentor’s nephew was of no consequence—after all, they didn’t know each other. Now it was fine—he knew their family backgrounds.

“What if I am, what if I’m not?” Qin Wenyuan asked coldly.

Lin Hao smiled charmingly: “If you are, then acknowledge it. Just like me—I openly and frankly acknowledge that I’m friends with Miss Chen, and I’m not afraid for people to know anywhere.”

This provocation made Qin Wenyuan’s complexion even more unpleasant.

His gaze shifted slightly to fall on Chen Yi’s face, the corners of his mouth carrying mockery: “Miss Chen is in such fine spirits, running to the outskirts to fly kites.”

Chen Yi heard the sarcasm within and her face alternated between red and white.

“Don’t go too far!” Zhu Jiayu grasped Chen Yi’s hand and forced herself to meet Qin Wenyuan’s gaze.

Setting aside the other party’s status, being mocked to their faces by a young man, ordinary young ladies couldn’t withstand it.

Chen Yi stepped forward and strove to pull out a faint smile: “Having luckily escaped from a sea of bitterness, of course I’m in good spirits.”

She had long anticipated that after breaking off the betrothal she would face some gossip—she couldn’t always let friends block things for her.

“Luckily?” Qin Wenyuan’s tone was meaningful.

Chen Yi’s expression changed, and she instinctively glanced at Lin Hao.

Lin Hao grasped Chen Yi’s hand and asked coldly: “Young Master Qin speaks up for the Heir of Marquis Pingjia like this—exactly what relationship do you two have?”

“Second Miss Lin.” Qin Wenyuan pressed one step closer toward Lin Hao, his expression gloomy.

Lin Hao didn’t retreat because of the other party’s sudden approach and looked at him expressionlessly.

“People act, Heaven watches.” Qin Wenyuan said word by word, the threat in his tone undisguised.

Lin Hao smiled: “Young Master Qin speaks truly—people act and Heaven watches, which is why the Heir of Marquis Pingjia met with retribution.”

She paused, staring fixedly at Qin Wenyuan: “If someone colludes with evil, helping a tyrant commit outrages, they will also meet with retribution.”

“Then we’ll just wait and see.” Qin Wenyuan threw down these words, turned, and left.

Watching him walk farther and farther until he could no longer be seen, the three including Chen Yi let out long breaths, feeling a sense of exhaustion.

“Chen Yi, are you all right?” Zhu Jiayu asked.

Chen Yi shook her head, her face pale.

“A’Hao, you shouldn’t have told him our identities.” Zhu Jiayu couldn’t help but complain a little.

Chen Yi pulled back Zhu Jiayu while still watching the direction Qin Wenyuan had left: “It’s not A’Hao’s fault. He must have already known my identity early on.”