A happy family!

The National Preceptor's Residence.

Knock, knock, knock—

Jiang Ning tapped lightly on the main gate, the sound carrying far through the quiet morning.

A moment later.

Soft footsteps approached from inside.

Then came the sound of the gate being unbarred.

Creak, creak—

The hinges turned unevenly, clearly having seen little maintenance.

"Marquis?!" As the gate of the National Preceptor's Residence slowly opened a crack, a young, innocent face appeared in Jiang Ning's sight. It was Qinghe.

Seeing her familiar face, Jiang Ning smiled.

Then Qinghe stretched out her slender arms, braced them against both halves of the gate, and pushed hard.

The gate of the National Preceptor's Residence was heavy to begin with, and the grinding of its hinges made it clear that they had barely been maintained.

Seeing Qinghe straining, Ji Mingyue stepped forward and gave the left half a firm push.

With Ji Mingyue's help, the gate opened easily.

"Thank you, Seventeenth Princess!" Qinghe said. "Greetings, Seventeenth Princess!" She bowed to Ji Mingyue.

"How have things been lately?" Jiang Ning asked.

"Everything has been well, Marquis!" Seeing Jiang Ning cross the threshold, Qinghe hurried after him.

"How is the National Preceptor?" Jiang Ning asked again.

"Her Excellency is the same as before. Nothing has changed," Qinghe said.

Meanwhile.

Ji Mingyue walked beside Jiang Ning, while the immortal crane followed behind them.

"Little brother!" Jiang Ning had just rounded a tree when a tall, burly man approached him.

Jiang Ning looked up. It was Jiang Li.

He walked toward Jiang Ning empty-handed.

"Where are you headed, Big Brother?" Jiang Ning asked.

"To the market to buy some ingredients. I heard something in the front courtyard just now and wondered who had come. I never expected it to be you!" Jiang Li strode over.

He clenched his fists and thumped