Qiao Liangjin grabbed Qiao Xinting's shoulders and looked at her evenly. He asked: "Are you still going to be bullied like this? If you don't want to, if... You think I'm your big sister... Then let's not be so cowardly anymore, okay? "
Qiao Xinting's eyes looked all around her. She was still in a state of panic and her heart was in a state of numbness. After hearing Qiao Liangjin's words, she tried her best to stabilize her mind and meet Qiao Liangjin's gaze.
After staring at each other for an unknown period of time, Ruo Lan pushed open the door and entered the room. It was only then that Qiao Xinting was able to catch her breath.
Only then did Qiao Liangjin let go of Qiao Xinting's shoulder. He looked back at Ruo Lan, who was carrying the porridge at the door, and said, "Give me some more side dishes. Fifth Miss is hungry."
After saying that, he bent down and helped Qiao Xinting put on her shoes. He pulled her to a table and placed the porridge in front of her.
Qiao Xinting seemed to have no appetite as she shook her head and said, "I can't eat it."
Qiao Liangjin did not try to persuade her. Looking at the little fox that had transformed into her, he said, "It's nothing. It's not going to end well. When you think about it later, it's actually nothing."
Qiao Xinting was silent for a moment. Then, she lifted the spoon and struggled to fill her mouth with the porridge. If Lan Xin brought a few more dishes, Qiao Xinting would eat all the food in front of her with a seriousness she had never experienced before.
After a burp, Qiao Xinting pushed the bowl away and smiled at Qiao Liangjin with great effort: "Big sister, I'm fine."
Qiao Liangjin sat upright and stared at Qiao Xinting seriously. He said, "Xinting, you can consider what elder sister just said."
Qiao Xinting lowered her eyes and stared at her shoes. After a long while, she raised her head and smiled. "Big Sis, both times, Big Sis saved your life. So, don't worry, Big Sis."
Her long eyebrows slightly knitted together as she sighed, "Xinting, being born into such a family is something that we can't avoid. We can't choose to be born, but we can choose to defend ourselves, and this so-called" retreating "doesn't allow others to let you go, we can only think of you as a sacrifice and trample on you at will."
Qiao Xinting looked seriously at Qiao Liangjin's face and nodded. She didn't quite understand why Qiao Ya and Qiao Yue-er didn't like her and had come looking for trouble with her time and time again. However, every time there was a deep malice in her heart, she knew that she couldn't continue to be so cowardly.
Qiao Liangjin didn't know how to care about others. He could only pat Qiao Xinting on the shoulder and say, "Everyone in the Prime Minister's Estate now thinks that you've gone missing, so you're here. Don't show up for now, when you do, it'll be time to get Qiao Ya and Qiao Yue-er out of the Prime Minister's Estate."
After calming Qiao Xinting down, Qiao Liangjin prepared to go to Tranquil Heart Garden. The moment he stepped out of the door, he saw Qiao Siyuan standing not far away from the Moon Gate, kicking away the snow that had fallen.
Seeing Qiao Liangjin, Qiao Siyuan felt a little embarrassed. He turned around and was about to leave when Qiao Liangjin's voice rang out. "What? "She felt she had no face to see me because she didn't protect her sister, didn't she?
After saying those words, the little red face of Qiao Yifan who originally wanted to leave turned around. Step by step, he walked in front of Qiao Liangjin with great difficulty. With his head lowered, he looked as if he had committed a mistake.
Qiao Liangjin was a bit tired. Why were these ancient children so glass-hearted? When Qiao Yifan was standing firmly in front of Qiao Liangjin, Qiao Liangjin placed his hand on his shoulder and said very calmly, "You're a man. Even if you're only nine years old, you're still a man. She's the big sister playing with you. You didn't protect her well."
Qiao Yifan's entire body shuddered and his shoulders started to tremble. Qiao Liangjin could only see large drops of tears falling onto the ground between their feet.
Qiao Liangjin pinched his shoulder and slowly crouched down. She looked at Qiao Siyuan with a serious expression and said, "You are not to be blamed for this matter. You are still too weak. Even if something like this happens in the future, you have to save him. If you can't, then you must run. You must run."
Qiao Siyuan raised his teary eyes and looked at Qiao Liangjin. He asked with confusion, "Why?"
Qiao Liangjin gave a faint smile and took the handkerchief from Ruo Lan. He gently wiped away the tears on Qiao Yifan's face and explained, "If you are unable to save him even if you try your best, it would mean that the forces there are too powerful, so there should be no fearless sacrifices. It wouldn't be too late for a gentleman to seek revenge for ten years."
Qiao Yifan seemed to be deep in thought. His handsome eyebrows slowly knitted together. At this moment, Qiao Liangjin stood up and said to Ruo Lan, "Send the young master to study."
When Lan Ruo answered, she pulled Joshua along and left. Behind her, Zi Yan softly said, "Miss …"
Qiao Liangjin raised his head and took a deep breath, then walked straight towards the Ningxin Garden. When he was almost there, he said, "You guys should have heard it clearly, even if something happens to me in the future, you guys will not be able to save me. Just remember, if there's a chance in the future, you can avenge me."
Purple Smoke and Dai Di were startled, then replied, "Yes, Miss."
Arriving at the Calm Heart Garden, Qiao Liangjin left Zi Yan and Pai Dai at the door and lightly knocked. Guo Caiting's listless voice came from inside, "Come in."
Qiao Liangjin pushed open the door and stepped into the room. Guo Caiting was not lying on the bed, but was sitting in front of the dressing table, staring blankly at him in the mirror.
Qiao Liangjin walked behind Guo Caiting and looked at her haggard face in the mirror. She picked up the comb and slowly combed Guo Caiting's loose hair without saying a word. The room was extremely quiet, with only the two of them slightly breathing.
After knitting Guo Caiting's hair into a bun and putting on a jade-green hairpin, she finally spoke, "How is it? Third Aunt, my cooking skills shouldn't be that bad, right? "
Guo Caiting tilted her head and looked at the bun in the mirror, smiling, "This is the first time I've seen such a plate of hair. The young miss' ideas are endless."
"I've woken up. I'm fine." Qiao Liangjin pulled over a chair and sat down.
Guo Caiting's hand that was pressing down on her sideburns trembled slightly. She turned around and faced Qiao Liangjin as she sat down. With a nervous expression, she asked, "Is Xin Ting alright?"
"Mm, very good, don't worry." Qiao Liangjin's eyes shone faintly.
"Eldest Miss …"
Qiao Liangjin suddenly came back to his senses. When he heard Guo Caiting call her, she smiled at her, "Aunt, you always treat others this way. In the future, just call me Jin'er. Eldest Miss, Eldest Miss is too formal."
Guo Caiting stared blankly for a moment before revealing a smile, "Good, Jin'er."
Qiao Liangjin stood up and looked at the sky outside, his lips curled up, "I really look forward to what kind of big show will be put on."
It was night. The black moon hung high in the sky.
Qiao Liangjin was about to take off her clothes to rest when there was a hurried knock on the door. Ah Kuan's voice sounded, and not long later, the butler knocked on the door and said anxiously, "Miss, quickly go to the madame's place. The madame lost her temper again, the servant found Fifth Miss …"
Qiao Liangjin glanced at the nervous Qiao Xinting and shook his head slightly. He then said, "Alright, I'll go now."
After the butler finished speaking, he left in a hurry. Qiao Liangjin told Zi Yan and Bai Kuan to stay at the Flourishing Mansion and warned them not to let anyone know that Qiao Xinting was here before heading to the madame's room.
Before the madame could enter her room, she heard the madame's roar, "Shame, shame, shame. He's dead already, why did he retrieve it?"
Qiao Liangjin's footsteps halted as he closed his eyes and quietly listened to the sounds coming from inside. There were the growls of the madame, Qiao Zheng's sighs, and a few weeping voices. One of them was Guo Caiting and Qiao Siyuan. Two more... Qiao Liangjin listened attentively, and suddenly couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was actually Qiao Ya and Qiao Ningzi.
A big show was about to take place in the prime minister's residence. Qiao Liangjin was ready, so he pushed open the door and entered the room.
The old mistress' chair was right in front of him. She seemed to be very angry, and her hand, which was leaning on her walking stick, was shaking non-stop.
Seeing Qiao Liangjin walk in, the madame's face was not her face, and her nose was not her nose. He coldly snorted and said: "Qiao Liangjin, it's all your fault. If you didn't want her to learn how to read and write, she wouldn't have eloped with him."
Just as Qiao Liangjin found a place to stand, he didn't expect the madame to come over and scold him. She pointed at her nose in surprise and asked, "Old madam, are you talking to me?"
Qiao Maoshan stood to the side, touching his chin in a strange manner and sneered: "Of course not, our mansion's eldest miss, let a concubine go read and write. This time, the concubine was born as a concubine and did not have any potential."
Qiao Liangjin maintained his confused look and asked: "What are you guys talking about? Have you already found Xin Ting? Where's Xin Ting? "
Just as her voice fell, Guo Caiting cried even louder. His finger trembled as he pointed outside and said, "Xinting …" "Xin Ting stopped at the back door …"
"Stop? The back door? "Why not let her in?"
Hearing Qiao Liangjin's words, the madame became even more furious. She slammed her walking stick onto the ground and bellowed, "His body is already broken! How can he enter my dignified Prime Minister's Mansion?!"
Qiao Liangjin gasped and took two steps back. He leaned on A'Qing who was standing behind him and asked in disbelief, "Really …" How to... Could it be? Not... "Did he elope …"
Qiao Maoshan and Lin Fangli looked at each other before sneering, "To run away is to soak in a pig cage. This is great, that brat sold me to a brothel, and to a brothel on a street …"
Qiao Zheng could no longer bear to listen. He raised the cup that he had placed on the tea table and slammed it onto the floor. With a clatter, the teacup shattered into pieces.
Everyone stopped talking and looked at Qiao Zheng.
Qiao Zheng's chest rose and fell as if trying his best to suppress the anger within him. It was only after some time that he finally spoke. "Everyone is dead. Why speak so much nonsense?"