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“Huan Er, are you still protecting him?”

Jiang Changbai’s initial annoyance had just simmered beneath his calm facade, but now, his eyes were a full-blown storm of fury upon witnessing Jiang Peihuan’s actions.

He thrust the sword in his hand towards Xiao Nanye. Reacting promptly, Jiang Peihuan stepped forth, placing herself protectively in front of Xiao Nanye.

“Huan Er, step aside,” Jiang Changbai ordered, halting his advance. “I intend to give him a piece of my mind today.”

“Big brother,” Jiang Peihuan responded, “if you harm King Cheng today, our entire Jiang Mansion will bear the consequences.”

Despite Jiang Peihuan’s words, Jiang Changbai’s eyes remained ablaze with anger, but he refrained from taking another step forward.

At this moment, Xiao Nanye emerged from behind Jiang Peihuan, directing a calm gaze at Jiang Changbai. “Young General, my visit today was simply to express gratitude, not to offend the Eldest Miss.”

“Express gratitude?”Jiang Changbai queried, his eyebrows knitting together. His frosty gaze locked onto Xiao Nanye. “If it’s a gift of gratitude, why didn’t you use the main entrance? Why infiltrate under the cover of darkness?”

“I merely wished to avoid undue attention,” Xiao Nanye explained.

Before Jiang Changbai could retort, Xiao Nanye added, “General Jiang is set to return to the capital tomorrow. I presume you’d prefer to keep the General’s Mansion from becoming the subject of idle chatter.”

Though Jiang Changbai had his reservations about Xiao Nanye, he couldn’t deny the validity of his points.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Nanye relayed how Zhao Yang, the Prince of Huainan, had lodged a complaint to the Emperor. Jiang Changbai interjected, unable to contain his anger, “Zhao Fuqing has tormented my sister. A beating was the least he deserved, and yet the audacity of the Huainan Mansion to complain to the Emperor!”

“Young General, you’re broad-minded and may not comprehend the ulterior motives at play.”

“When General Jiang returns to the capital, there will be plenty who envy the General’s Mansion. A single person might not sway the Emperor, but with enough whispers of discord, he might begin to doubt.”

“General Jiang, your loyalty is beyond question. I wish not for you to fall prey to malevolent schemes.”

Xiao Nanye’s eyes shone with genuine concern as he spoke the final words. Witnessing his sincerity, Jiang Changbai softened, raising a hand towards Xiao Nanye. In a low voice, he acknowledged, ”1 appreciate your warning, Your Highness. However, a woman’s honor is sacred. I ask that you conduct yourself appropriately in the future.”

With these words, he implicitly assured Xiao Nanye that he would not dwell on today’s events.

Following this, Jiang Changbai concluded, “Your Highness seems quite familiar with the layout of my General Mansion. I’ll forego the formality of escorting you out. Safe travels, Your Highness.”

This was an unmistakable dismissal. Hearing Jiang Changbai’s words, Xiao Nanye didn’t get upset. Instead, he glanced at Jiang Peihuan and spoke quietly, “I’ll go first.”

Seeing Jiang Peihuan nod in agreement, Xiao Nanye swiftly left the plum garden.

“Master, are we leaving just like that?” Han Feng asked after Xiao Nanye had left, quickly following him. He was unable to suppress his thoughts of Jiang Changbai’s discourteous manner and voiced them to his companion.

Han Feng was from the King Cheng Mansion, a place where arrogance was common. He couldn’t fathom leaving in such a humiliated way.

On hearing his words, Xiao Nanye gave him a cool look and replied dismissively, “What do you want? A grand farewell from the entire Jiang family?”

Han Feng was about to agree, but seeing his master’s stern expression, he promptly shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare.”

It was obvious to Han Feng that his master had developed feelings for the eldest Jiang daughter. They were playing in a different league until his master could marry her, and until then, the people of the Cheng Mansion were a notch below the General’s Mansion.

“You were too impulsive, big brother,” Jiang Peihuan quietly commented in the plum garden, after pouring a cup of tea for Jiang Changbai.

Having spent many years in the army, Jiang Changbai had developed crude habits. He gulped down his tea and grumbled, “He dared to trespass into your room in the middle of the night. How could I possibly overlook that?”

Despite not causing any harm to Xiao Nanye, he criticized the inadequate security of the plum garden. “Once our father returns, I’ll discuss getting some soldiers from the army to guard the residence.”

Jiang Peihuan calmly responded, “Big brother, the army soldiers are the emperor’s men. How can we use them for our residence?”

Hearing this, Jiang Changbai was stunned.

After a few seconds, he looked at Jian Peihuan and said, “You’re right. I was thoughtless.”

Just then, Jiang Changbai noticed a wooden box on the table. “Is this King Cheng’s thank-you gift to you?” he asked as he opened the box.

“This, this is the East Pearl?”

Jiang Peihuan tried to stop him, but it was too late. With the box already opened, she simply nodded.

Jiang Changbai looked at the East Pearl inside the box, a complex expression on his face.

“Alright, I admit my mistake. I shouldn’t have obstructed Xiao Nanye. If he keeps bringing such valuable gifts each time, perhaps I could learn to tolerate his visits.”

However, Jiang Changbai quickly frowned and turned to Jiang Peihuan. “Huan Er, tell your big brother honestly. Why did Prince Cheng give you such a precious gift?”

All he had heard from Xiao Nanye was that it was a thank-you gift, but he didn’t know what for.

Since Jiang Peihuan could not tell Jiang Changbai that she had advised Xiao Nanye not to drink, she came up with a vague reason. “One day, King Cheng was attacked, and I helped him.”

“Just for that, he sent such a lavish gift?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Jiang Peihuan nod, Jiang Changbai sensed something was amiss. However, seeing her calm demeanor, he refrained from saying anything.

Instead, he closed the wooden box and pushed it towards Jiang Peihuan. “As this is your thank-you gift, you should keep it safe. This East Pearl is very valuable. Don’t give it away care

Jiang Peihuan understood exactly who Jiang Changbai was referring to. A soft smile graced her features as she addressed her elder brother, “After what happened, Big Brother, I’m sure Ruyun will learn from it.”

“If she had truly learned, she wouldn’t have married Zhao Fuqing.”

Perhaps realizing that speaking ill of a woman behind her back was ungentlemanly, especially when that woman was his own sister, Jiang Changbai abruptly silenced himself.

“You should rest now. Tomorrow, I’ll accompany you to welcome our parents home.”

“Understood.”

It had been a while since she last saw her parents, counting her past life as well. Therefore, when she heard Jiang Changbai’s words, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes gleamed with unbridled joy.

“I’ll come for you tomorrow then.”

As he made this statement, Jiang Changbai affectionately brushed his hand through Jiang Peihuan’s long hair. She laughed gently at his action, “Big Brother, I’m not a child anymore. If you were to pamper Sijin this way, she might not take it well.”

“In my eyes, no matter if you’re in your seventies or eighties, you’ll always be the little girl who grew up by my side. Big Brother will forever protect you.”

Hearing Jiang Changbai’s words, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes twinkled with mirth.

Rising to her feet, she said with a heartening smile, “Huan Er has always been aware of that.”