C90 Table-top Gage

Qiao Liangjin brought Qiao Zheng to arrange the residences of all the victims in an orderly manner. They also arranged for their food and drinks. By the time everything was settled, it was already late at night.

Qiao Liangjin rubbed his aching arms and gave a big yawn before climbing into the carriage with Qiao Zheng.

Qiao Zheng looked at Qiao Liangjin's exhausted appearance and said with a pained heart: "Jin'er, it has been hard on you today."

Qiao Liangjin waved his hand and pointed to Qiao Ruo Ying who was riding a horse with him outside the carriage. She whispered: "Big brother is the hardest person to deal with today. Father, didn't you notice that ever since big brother came back from Sheng Cheng, he had become much more mature?"

Qiao Zheng pulled open the curtain and looked at Qiao Ruo Ying who was riding slowly beside the carriage late at night. He then closed the curtain and nodded his head with a bitter smile. "If Ying has changed a lot, he has learnt a lot during this trip to Sheng Cheng City."

And then he said, "If it is really possible, I hope that you are really as naive and carefree as before. However … Father is probably really old, and does not have that much power to protect you, so you all have matured. "

Qiao Liangjin was silent as she rested her head on Qiao Zheng's shoulder. She knew how much pressure this man, who was serving the imperial court, was under. He was not a saint, and he could not do anything. However, the love he could give them was real.

Seeing Qiao Zheng and Qiao Liangjin get off the carriage one by one, Guo Caijing walked over and worriedly said, "I heard that the victims are at the city gates today and that something is going to happen. I have been worried the entire time, seeing that you two have returned safely, I am relieved."

Qiao Zheng patted Guo Caiting's bony palm to comfort her.

Qiao Liangjin, who was still a heartless person, rubbed his stomach and giggled, "Third Aunt, we are all starving. Is there anything good to eat?"

Qiao Xinting supported Guo Caiting as she nodded and said, "Mom said Big Sis and Big Bro like eating rice balls and sweet and sour fish. They have long been prepared and are waiting for you two to come back."

When Qiao Liangjin heard this, he hurriedly used one hand to hold onto Qiao Zheng, one hand holding onto Guo Caiting's other arm, and shouted to Qiao Ruo Ying who was behind him: "The enemy will arrive at the dining hall in thirty seconds. Everyone hurry up, no one fight with me for it today, I want to eat three big bowls of rice."

Although Qiao Zheng was very tired, he had solved the problem of the people outside the city gates and was in a good mood. Looking at Qiao Liangjin's mischievous appearance, he scratched the tip of her nose and laughed, "How old is this girl to still be so naughty?"

Qiao Xinting who was standing to the side saw Qiao Zheng's pampering towards Qiao Liangjin and the smile on her face froze. Qiao Liangjin had unluckily noticed this small action.

Guo Caiting lightly tugged Qiao Xinting's sleeve, shaking her head slightly. Qiao Xinting immediately lowered her head, supporting Guo Caiting as they entered the door.

When they arrived at the dining room, the Countess, Qiao Maoshan and their wife and children were already seated. Seeing Qiao Lianjin and the rest enter, Qiao Maoshan immediately forced out a smile as he stood up to welcome them and said: "Big brother, we have heard of what happened outside the city today. Big brother has done this beautifully."

Qiao Zheng gave two light coughs and looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with praise as he said: "If Jin'er had not gone out to help today, I'm afraid I would not be able to come back at this time."

The old mistress groaned. She tapped the cane on the floor and said in a low voice, "She's a girl after all. What's wrong with showing your face all day long?"

Qiao Liangjin looked at the madame indifferently, smiled and said: "In this Prime Minister Manor, other than my father, who else can help him solve his problem? You? Or you? Or … "You?"

Qiao Liangjin's slender fingers moved along Qiao Maoshan's and Lin Fangli's faces one by one. His face was filled with disdain.

On the other hand, Qiao Zheng held Qiao Liangjin's hand and said with a hint of rebuke, "Jin'er, that's your uncle. Alright, alright, sit down and eat. Everyone is tired and hungry."

Qiao Liangjin turned around and pulled Qiao Ruo Ying to sit on Qiao Zheng's left and right while Qiao Xinting timidly stood beside Guo Caiting. Although she was a girl from the Prime Minister's Estate, she rarely appeared in front of so many people.

Qiao Liangjin sat down and turned around to look at Qiao Xinting behind him. He waved his hand and said, "Xinting, come and sit here."

The madame's face darkened immediately and her voice was filled with dissatisfaction. "Nonsense. A concubine can only serve the meal here, and she still wants to eat at the table?"

Being scolded by the madame, Qiao Xinting was shocked. She timidly hid behind Guo Caiting.

Qiao Liangjin stubbornly waved his hand and called out, "Xinting, come, sit with elder sister."

Guo Caiting looked down awkwardly at Qiao Xinting who was hiding behind her, patting the back of her hand that was tightly gripping her arm, saying in a low voice, "Go, don't worry, trust your elder sister."

When the madame saw that Qiao Liangjin did not care about her face at all, she decided that she would take it out today. She shouted, "I want to see how she will eat this today!"

Qiao Liangjin's hand stopped. He turned around and looked at the madame. There was not a trace of emotion in his eyes. He actually made the madame shudder.

Qiao Liangjin suddenly let out a smile. He flicked his finger and something flew out. That old lady suddenly fell off her chair with a shivering body and fell to the ground.

Qiao Liangjin stood up and walked in front of the madame. His fingers gently touched her body, but he said in a voice that only the madame could hear, "You will be fine. The madame is too old, it's time to go back and rest."

On the other side, Qiao Maoshan stomped his feet as he called for the servant outside to go find a doctor. At the same time, he angrily rebuked Qiao Liangjin who was squatting at the side: "Look at you, you really pissed your grandmother off."

Qiao Liangjin ignored Qiao Maoshan who was stomping about. She knew that the thing Qiao Maoshan was most afraid of was that if the old lady died, then he would no longer have any excuse to stay in this Prime Minister's Mansion.

Qiao Liangjin's lips curled up slightly as he stood up and said, "Someone come and help the madame back. The madame is just old and not in a serious condition. Yun Chu, Wen'er, go serve the old lady and wait for the doctor to come take a look."

Finished speaking, she looked at Qiao Maoshan with a coquettish smile, tilted her head and asked: "Second Uncle, aren't you going to accompany the madame? It's time to use you. "

Qiao Mao Shan was startled and nodded his head. Then, he pulled Lin Fang Li and Qiao Zhi Yong and followed the madame out of the dining room.

Qiao Zheng was about to follow the madame and see how her illness was faring when Qiao Liangjin pulled him back and said, "Father, let's eat first. After you finish eating, we'll pass through and the madame will recover. It's not like she knows that you've gone."

Qiao Ruo Ying's impression of the madame had never been very good. She rubbed her stomach at this moment and looked pitifully at Guo Caiting as she said, "Aunt, it's been a day since we last ate. I'm so hungry."

Guo Caiting originally wanted to follow along and see the Countess' situation, but after Qiao Liangjin's words, she also stayed in the dining room and quickly called for the maidservants to serve the dishes.

Qiao Liangjin stubbornly patted the seat beside him and called out to Qiao Xinting, "Xinting, come. Sit down."

Qiao Xinting timidly lifted her head to look at her mother. Guo Caiting nodded slightly and she sat down.

Qiao Liangjin caught the chicken leg in her bowl and said gently, "You are growing up and eating more. Those pedantic teachings won't work here. Remember, you are also the young lady of this Qiao family. You are the master."

Qiao Xinting was stunned as she stared blankly at Qiao Liangjin. She spoke with such seriousness that what she said was the truth. She did not take herself to be a daughter born out of a concubine.

After Qiao Liangjin said this, he turned to Qiao Zheng and raised his chin as he asked, "Father, is what my daughter said correct?"

Qiao Zheng slightly nodded his head. He had already seen Qiao Xinting's flustered appearance and her cowardly expression. They did not belong to a young lady of the Prime Minister's Estate. Even if he did not love Guo Caiting, his daughter was still his.

Qiao Xinting lowered her head and desperately plucked at the rice grains in her mouth, but her tears fell heavily onto the bowl.

Qiao Liangjin's heart suddenly hurt. He picked up a few pieces of meat and placed them in Qiao Xinting's bowl. He said softly, "In the future, let me make you more delicious food. You're too thin."

Thinking of Guo Caiting, he raised his head to look at her, who was standing next to Qiao Zheng, preparing food for him. He smiled and said, "Aunt, it's not like my dad doesn't know how to eat. Just sit down.

Guo Caiting paused her chopsticks, but Qiao Zheng did not lift his head. Instead, he pointed to a seat beside him, indicating that Guo Caiting should sit down.

After Guo Caiting sat down, Qiao Liangjin happily clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Look, those noisy people are no longer around. It's quite harmonious here, let's have a good meal."

A sumptuous dinner was eaten happily without the interference of a noisy person.

It was only when Qiao Liangjin was patting his belly and burping in satisfaction that he saw the chicken soup placed in the middle of the table. He waved at the makeup on the table behind him, and the makeup came over and whispered a few words into her ear.

Qiao Zheng had already eaten his fill. Thinking of how the madame was ill on the bed while he himself was sitting here quietly eating his fill, he felt a little ashamed.

Qiao Liangjin then walked over to Qiao Zheng's side and said with a smile, "Father, tonight Second Uncle will be very hungry and you will be full. Tonight, you will definitely take care of the Old Madam."

Qiao Zheng thought about it and could not help but laugh. He lightly tapped Qiao Liangjin's forehead with his knuckles and said: "You are always resourceful."

Qiao Liangjin walked to the door and suddenly thought of Guo Caiting and Qiao Xinting. He waved his hand and said, "Xinting remembers to help your mother greet the madame tomorrow morning, I'll go with you."