The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

Xu Qianhui looked up and saw Lin Zuoqing slowly walking out of the shadows of the corridor, his expression unreadable.

She didn't know what Lin Zuoqing would say.

But it doesn't matter what you say.

At this point, his goal had been achieved.

What she wanted was never for anyone to pay any price.

All she wanted was to return to Jiangnan with Zuo An as soon as possible.

She wanted everyone to see for themselves how Zuo An protected her, and she wanted everyone to hear Zuo An formally introduce himself.

She wanted to completely sever ties with the past.

She couldn't allow her marriage to Zuo An to be ruined by someone with ulterior motives.

If she hadn't seen Lin Zuo'an and Lin Zuoqing under the winding corridor, she wouldn't have deliberately provoked Qiu Zhiqing.

She is no longer the naive girl she once was.

She would never do anything that was of no benefit to herself again.

"Zuo Qing, what brings you here?" Lin Zhiwei stepped forward to greet him.

"My mother sent me to find Rulan." Lin Zuoqing looked at her, his deep eyes revealing no emotion. "Is this matter related to you?"

Everyone assumed that the young master, known for his upright and just character, would hold someone accountable.

Only Xu Qianhui understood the meaning behind it.

What he meant was that if this matter involved her, then even if everyone else was wrong, it could never be Lin Zhiwei's fault.

He did indeed love her terribly.

Lin Zhiwei shook her head: "It was Miss Xu and Zhiqing who had a quarrel."

Lin Zuoqing visibly relaxed his shoulders.

He led Lin Zhiwei into the pavilion, where the noble ladies all bowed and greeted him, saying, "Greetings, Young Master."

After Lin Zuoqing nodded in acknowledgment, he looked at Qiu Zhiqing and said, "Miss Qiu, before you speak, why don't you guess how much this young master just saw?"

Qiu Zhiqing, who was about to speak in defense, was speechless at these words.

How much did you see?

We can't possibly see everything, can we?

Facing the man she had longed for but could never have, she spoke softly as if she were a different person.

"Young Master, it's Zhiqing's fault. Zhiqing shouldn't have retaliated so angrily after Xu Qianhui spoke rudely."

The noble ladies were all dumbfounded upon hearing these words, wondering how Qiu Zhiqing had suddenly become so intelligent.

Lin Zuoqing, however, was not buying it.

He said coldly, "Just now, Zuo An asked if Miss Qiu was in charge of the Duke's mansion. What did Miss Qiu say?"

Qiu Zhiqing's fingertips trembled, and just as she was wondering what to do, Xu Qianhui's voice came.

"Miss Qiu is just a bit too hasty, and Zuo An arrived just in time. I wasn't injured either, so let's just let this matter go."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zuo'an was displeased: "Ahui, you are my fiancée, a member of the second branch of the family. Anyone who touches you is disgracing the family of my second branch."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Zuoqing: "Ahui was invited to the mansion by her aunt, but almost lost her life in the back garden. I beg you, brother, to give her justice."

Xu Qianhui's fingertips drooped down gently.

Zuo An has said everything that needs to be said; adding anything more now would be superfluous.

Lin Zuoqing looked at Xu Qianhui and remained silent for a long time.

Seeing the atmosphere had become tense, Lin Zhiwei stepped forward: "Second Young Master, what Miss Xu said earlier makes sense. Zhiqing may be quick-tempered, but she's not a bad person..."

"She was about to kill someone! And she's not a bad person?!" Lin Zuo'an interrupted her, incredulous. "Miss Lin really doesn't have an eye condition?"

Lin Zuoqing said sternly, "Zuo An, how dare you speak like that?"

Lin Zuo'an then toned down his sharp edge and bowed respectfully.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Lin, I was just curious."

This apology was even more hurtful than the previous one.

Even with her excellent self-control, Lin Zhiwei couldn't help but clench her hands, which were hanging in her sleeves.

Even the noble ladies began to whisper among themselves.

"This Miss Xu is truly capable, managing to gain the Second Young Master's such protection."

Some people also disliked Lin Zuo'an's aggressive manner.

"So what? Who in the capital doesn't know that the second branch of the Duke's mansion is just a son born out of wedlock? Is a son born out of wedlock considered a legitimate son? How ridiculous."

"Keep quiet. The young master is still here. Don't let us get involved later."

The words weren't spoken loudly, but they were loud enough to penetrate one's ears.

Lin Zuo'an glanced coldly at them: "Which young lady spoke just now? Why don't you step forward?"

The person behind the handkerchief immediately lowered their head.

Lin Zuo'an scoffed, "So all your rules are only good for gossiping behind people's backs."

"Zuo An," Lin Zuoqing said, stopping him.

"My brother wants me to observe proper etiquette, fine," Lin Zuo'an said without backing down. "On the condition that these noble ladies know how to behave appropriately as guests."

Qiu Zhiqing hurriedly said, "Second Young Master, why are you being so aggressive?"

Lin Zuo'an turned to her: "Miss Qiu, when you pushed someone into the water, did you ever think about those four words? Or is it that all you can write is 'heart of a snake'?"

Qiu Zhiqing's face turned ugly as she was cornered.

Lin Zhiwei stepped back to Lin Zuoqing's side before saying, "Second Young Master, Zhiqing will apologize to Miss Xu."

Xu Qianhui looked up at the white magnolia hairpin at Lin Zhiwei's temple; it was pure white and beautiful.

But it didn't match her mouth.

The word "apology" was uttered lightly, reducing the incident of pushing someone into the water to a minor dispute between girls.

Qiu Zhiqing took a half step back. Xu Qianhui waited for a while, but she didn't bend her knees. Instead, her face was full of shame and indignation.

Just as the stalemate was reaching its conclusion, the sound of jade pendants could be heard from under the eaves.

A woman walked over, supported by her maid.

Her light blue dress clung to her slender waist, a thin shawl draped over her shoulders, and her hair adorned with a few pearl hairpins, yet exuding an air of refined elegance.

Lin Rulan stopped by the pavilion: "So you've all been here. I've been looking for you for ages."

Seeing the various expressions on everyone's faces, and noticing that their gazes were fixed on Xu Qianhui, she seemed to understand something and said with a smile, "They're having a game of pitch-pot in the front yard. Let's go play together, instead of hiding here."

Lin Zuo'an said calmly, "Thank you for your kindness, Second Sister, but I have some other matters to attend to, so I won't be going."

Lin Rulan didn't mind and smiled, "Second Brother, please do as you please."

Lin Zuo'an helped Xu Qianhui walk out. After passing through the winding corridor, he said, "Ah Hui, I'll go back with you first."

Xu Qianhui hummed in agreement.

"I've already paid my respects to the old lady, so there's nothing for me to do here." She turned to look at him, adding, "But... wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to leave like this?"

Lin Zuo'an scoffed, "What does that woman's birthday have to do with me? Anyway, the gift has already been sent to Furong Garden, so no one can blame me."

"You know how to shut people up."

Lin Zuo'an looked down at her: "I learned it from you."

Xu Qianhui chuckled: "I didn't teach you to ask Miss Lin if she has an eye disease in front of her."

"Did I say something wrong?" Lin Zuoan paused in his steps.

"It's not that I'm wrong," Xu Qianhui said seriously. "It's just that Miss Lin might be your sister-in-law in the future. If you offend her like this, it will be even more difficult for you in the manor."

"I don't rely on her for a living anyway, and besides, she sided with Qiu Zhiqing today. If I don't stand up for you, others will think you're easy to bully. Furthermore, we'll be going back to Jiangnan soon; why should we have to put up with these attitudes anymore?"

Xu Qianhui lightly placed her fingertips on his arm.

"Zuo An."

"Um?"

Thank you for today.

Lin Zuo'an leaned closer and asked, "Just one word of thanks?"

Xu Qianhui glanced at the servants coming and going, and took a half step back.

"This is the Duke's Mansion."

Lin Zuo'an laughed out loud: "Alright, alright, we'll make it up when we get back."