If you guys still want to vote for me while the double points event is on, now’s the time! If you miss this chance, voting later won’t help me catch up in the rankings. Of course, if you’ve already voted everything you can, never mind, haha. I’m not aiming for the top spots anymore; just sticking around on the front page would be nice. Hehe.

Even though he was the Prefect, he remained exceedingly deferential in front of Wang Tongye. “Teacher,” he called out respectfully, “I have come specifically to beg your forgiveness for my reckless son’s actions yesterday.” As he spoke, he bowed deeply.

Wang Tongye regarded him, giving a soft "Oh," knowing exactly what this was about. He appraised the Prefect, recalling that a child with a similar face had indeed burst into the main courtyard the previous night. “Oh, your child is here too?” he murmured, nodding. Since the estrangement with the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate had been resolved, last night’s events were entirely forgotten by Wang Tongye; he hadn't even bothered to ask who had caused the disturbance.

Wang Tongye’s casual, offhand remark caused the Prefect to break out in a cold sweat. “Teacher,” he exclaimed, falling to his knees with a thud, “I have already punished my undutiful son. I am here today solely to beg your pardon…” Wang Tongye shook his head and reached out to help him up. “It’s nothing, it’s all over…” he began to say. But the Prefect pressed on. “Teacher, please remember that my son is young and ignorant, easily misled into such absurd behavior…” he pleaded, clutching Wang Tongye’s sleeve.

The hand Wang Tongye extended paused mid-air. “Misled?” he countered, frowning. “Yes, yes,” the Prefect affirmed immediately, grasping at the last straw, nodding frantically. “It was the Young Mistress of the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate. She treated my boy when he was very young, and he was misled by her into this reckless act…” Wang Tongye looked at him, his expression growing stern. He straightened up. “That Young Mistress Qi saved your son’s life back then, didn't she?” he asked. The Prefect hesitated for a moment. “Several doctors treated him back then. I know nothing of medicine, so I am unclear whose efforts were responsible,” he replied.

Wang Tongye scoffed, interrupting him and tossing his sleeve aside. “Your son was indeed misled by her,” he stated calmly. The Prefect was overjoyed, looking up at Wang Tongye. “Do you know what the Young Mistress Qi misled your son with?” Wang Tongye asked, fixing him with a look. The Prefect froze. What kind of question was this?

Wang Tongye let out another cold snort. “They say a son takes after his father, a tiger father has no dog sons. It seems that saying isn't entirely true anymore,” he remarked. The Prefect was even more bewildered. What did that mean now?

The Prefect was unceremoniously shown out of the Wang residence, still utterly confused by the cryptic words of his esteemed teacher. Had his son’s current transgression been absolved or not?

The Prefect walked blankly toward his sedan chair. Just as he was about to step in, a steward emerged from the main house and gave instructions to the gatekeeper. “Here is the list of everyone who came last night. The Master said that anyone whose name is on this list is absolutely forbidden entry,” the steward commanded the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper respectfully took the list. The Prefect, overhearing this nearby, jumped in fright. Thank goodness I came early, he thought, letting out a sigh of relief. He hurried into his sedan chair, urging the bearers onward. Along the road, he saw several families rushing toward the Wang residence. He made sure his sedan chair stopped by the roadside. Sure enough, a short while later, he saw those same people returning crestfallen.

“I know my teacher’s temper better than anyone; he holds grudges fiercely,” the Prefect said back in his private quarters, stroking his beard with a hint of smugness. “Li Changshi once mentioned, while drunk, that the Teacher was arrogant and disrespectful to his elders. When the Teacher found out, he showed no outward reaction, but three years later, he finally found an opportunity to have him demoted and sent out of the capital…” The Prefect’s wife, whose heart had been in her throat all night, finally relaxed and couldn't help but smile smugly. “What do you mean you know best? I was the one who urged you to hurry over,” she laughed. The Prefect chuckled and playfully engaged in domestic banter with his wife.

“Tell me, how did the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate end up with this Young Mistress?” the Prefect mused aloud. “What’s so strange about that? She was always low-born, and then she got lucky treating our Ziqiao, gaining fame. Her naturally arrogant nature just couldn’t be suppressed,” the Prefect’s wife sighed, her voice dripping with scorn and disgust. “Honestly, for a married woman to actually instigate our Ziqiao to do something like that—it’s utterly indecent!” As she spoke, she quickly reached out to tug at the Prefect’s sleeve. “Apologizing to Master Wang isn't enough; you must also visit the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate and tell them to make sure their woman behaves herself!” she insisted. The Prefect’s expression grew hesitant. “That… might not be appropriate,” he said. “How is it not appropriate? First, it ensures the Marquis of Dingxi’s estate keeps that woman in line, and second, it shows Master Wang even greater sincerity on our part,” the Prefect’s wife argued. The Prefect nodded. “And you need to keep an eye on Ziqiao…” he added. “This isn't Ziqiao’s fault; that woman misled him,” the Prefect’s wife immediately countered, unable to bear hearing a single word against her son. “Besides, our Ziqiao is merely loyal and values kindness, which is why he listened to that woman…” This sentence struck the Prefect as he heard it. Ziqiao is loyal and values kindness... Why did that sound so wrong? If his son acting out of loyalty and gratitude, then what did that make his own father—himself—right now? He shivered slightly, Wang Tongye’s words echoing in his mind. No way...

While the Prefect and his wife were wrestling with this, the Liu family on East Street in the city was also in turmoil. The Liu family was hardly a prominent noble house. Currently, Master Liu Changqing was the Magistrate of Yongqing County—an insignificant eighth-rank official he had earned through ten years of grueling study. Without the help of background or relatives, he had been stuck in this position for five years. Though upright and well-regarded by the common folk, he had never secured a promotion. Liu Changqing outwardly seemed unconcerned, but as a middle-aged official brimming with talent, how could he not long to make a name for himself? Yet, he lacked patronage.

In addition to his stalled official career, Liu Changqing was now facing this troublesome affair. His youngest son had actually led household guards to surround the Wang family mansion. Upon hearing the news, Liu Changqing was furious and immediately administered corporal punishment according to family rules. Though his youngest son was unruly, he wasn't usually this tactless. After fierce scolding and questioning, Liu Changqing finally learned the reason. “It was the Wang family’s fault to begin with! They arrested their people and then beat up the Young Mistress of the Marquis of Dingxi when she came demanding their release…” “…The Young Mistress saved Young Master Huang’s life! A debt of life must be repaid manifold. Why care about the Wang family or the Zhao family…” “…Good brothers stand by each other. Since Young Master Huang wanted to help, we naturally couldn't stand idly by…” The youngest son stubbornly stuck out his neck, refusing to admit error even as the stick fell upon him. “Foolish boy, that man is the Prefect; if trouble arises, your father can bear the consequences. We cannot afford that burden,” Liu Changqing’s wife sobbed, pained for her son and worried for her husband. “I will bear it myself,” the youngest son insisted stubbornly. Liu Changqing, however, lowered his rod. “You mean that divine physician Young Mistress?” he inquired. The youngest son nodded. “That Young Mistress was going there to retrieve the doctor who was captured…” he explained. “I heard people say that this Young Mistress is fiercely protective. If anyone touches her people, she will never let it go. Didn’t she force Wang Qingchun and his entire family to flee the city before? Father, she was the one who kicked the Wang family steward, starting the whole fight…” Recalling the scene, his previous brawls seemed utterly insignificant. The youngest son couldn't help but grow agitated again. “Silly boy, immortals fight their battles; we mere mortals cannot involve ourselves,” his wife said. “In any case, I did it partly for my brother, and partly because the Wang family was in the wrong,” the youngest son declared stiffly. Liu Changqing did not raise the rod again. “Master, let’s not talk about that now. We should go to Master Wang’s house and apologize first,” his wife urged.

Liu Changqing paced back and forth a few steps, then suddenly threw down the rod. “We’re not going. What’s done is done. There are no perfect solutions in this world. Since my son chose loyalty, then we must sacrifice propriety,” he stated firmly. Liu Changqing’s wife was stunned. Did that mean they weren't admitting fault? “Master, the Wang family is not someone we can afford to offend,” she stammered, anxious, and tried to persuade him again. “Some things, even if we can’t afford to provoke them, we must provoke them. Since we’ve taken this path, there’s no turning back. We will accept whatever fortune or misfortune follows,” Liu Changqing said grimly. The youngest son realized what this meant and jumped up, cheering. “I knew Father was the most capable!” he shouted, looking at his father with adoration. Although Liu Changqing’s career had stalled, seeing his son look at him with such admiration, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. He quickly composed himself. “However, fighting outside the house is still wrong; you must still accept punishment!” he coughed, his expression turning solemn. The youngest son’s face immediately drooped. “Father, please don't make me practice calligraphy…” he mumbled.

Looking at her husband and son, Mrs. Liu finally smiled too. Whatever the situation, her husband had read so many books; he must be right. If something was done, one must dare to own it. With that, she settled down, and when other families came to discuss unified action, she and her husband firmly refused to go apologize to the Wang residence. When the other families learned of this, they couldn't help but mock the Lius. Since the Liu family was intent on courting death, they wouldn't try to stop them. In fact, it was better if they didn't go; that would draw more attention from the Wang family, allowing more of the blame to shift onto their own households. Thus, they stopped paying any attention to the Lius.

Liu Changchun and his wife paid no heed to the gossip outside. The chaotic night passed. As dawn broke the next day, the family was eating when a servant rushed in, panicked. “The Wang family… people from the Wang family are here…” The entire family started in alarm. Which Wang family? This must be them coming to demand accountability! Although they verbally claimed not to be afraid, apprehension still gnawed at their hearts. Seeing the expressions of his wife and son, Liu Changqing straightened his robes. “Please invite them in,” he said solemnly. The whole family gathered in the main hall, taking a deep breath as they awaited the inevitable result.

Footsteps sounded from outside the door, accompanied by cheerful laughter. “Forgive us for disturbing the esteemed Liu family.” A man in a simple blue cotton robe, clearly a steward, stepped inside. Liu Changqing and his family were stunned—not just by the steward’s exceedingly pleasant smile, but also by the two young attendants following behind him… each carrying a gift box. “…Our Master said the Young Master was quite startled the day before yesterday…” the steward said with a smile, showing no surprise at the Liu family’s stunned silence, instead beaming even brighter.