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The mansion's high gate opened a crack, Page carrying a lantern bent down and walked to Li Danxin, who was kneeling on the steps.

"Miss, the Master asked me to tell you to find a place to stay first, and not to kneel here. It's bad for your health."

"Please tell Father that I am fine. I only ask that Father spare some time to see me."

"Miss, Master said that if it concerns your father-in-law, General Wu, he will inform His Your Majesty after he goes to court tomorrow, and the court will make its own decision."

"I know my father is impartial and incorruptible, and he would not show favoritism for me. I only wish to see him and tell him the truth about my husband's family. The facts are not as those treacherous officials have falsely reported. My father-in-law has never intended to raise an army in rebellion." She spoke louder and louder, taking two steps forward with her knees scraping the ground, and began to shout loudly into the courtyard. "That doggerel was just something my father-in-law casually uttered while he was out for a stroll. It did not show any disloyalty to His Your Majesty, nor any dissatisfaction with the court, Father!"

Long Ang sighed deeply, unwilling to watch any longer. He turned and walked towards the back courtyard of the Li Estate. Unexpectedly, a figure was leaning against the back door, as if waiting for him for a long time. Wei Chenmu looked at him knowingly, "Lord Long, you've arrived."

"You were... waiting for me?"

Wei Chenmu nodded, raised his hand and pushed open the already opened back door. "Please."

He smiled, then took another deep look at Wei Chenmu, who was dressed in black and always had his sword at his side. "So you know what I'm planning to do?"

"Please Young Master, save the young lady!"

"You guessed half right." He raised an eyebrow. "But it wasn't begging, it was kicking."

Miss is back. Lord Long's affection for the Young Master has indeed plummeted to its lowest point.

"Your sister is kneeling outside the door; go and let her in."

The door was kicked open rudely. Long Ang's commanding tone was a stark contrast to his usual graceful demeanor, causing Li Chenjing to slightly raise her eyes, shifting them from her book to him before quickly looking away. She replied indifferently, "Don't remember, don't know, not going." What sister? He had no idea who she was.

"I'll remember you once I've seen you outside."

"..." Regaining memories? Sorry, he had even less interest in that.

Seeing that he didn't move an inch, she couldn't help but recall the words Li Danxin had told him before her marriage—

"Xiaojing can't fight, he has a sullen eye, he's not sweet-talking, and he's definitely not good at begging for mercy. Longyang will definitely drag him into an alley and beat him up. Please take care of my little brother and don't let Longyang bully him."

Ignoring his alluring female attire, he grabbed Li Chenjing by the collar and dragged him outside.

Li Chenjing frowned and was about to raise his hand to shake him off when he heard his slightly trembling voice, which concealed a hint of pleading, "Go and bring her in. In return, from now on, I guarantee that Zhu Bafu will not encounter any trouble in the Dongxu Mansion and will sit securely in his position in the Minister of Works, never leaving your sight."

"..."

Are you satisfied with this exchange?

The woman before him was dressed in pure white, without any makeup. She was enveloped by the lanterns in front of the mansion gate, making her appear exceptionally thin. Hearing the sound of the mansion gate opening, she gently raised her head, and for a moment, her gaze lingered on Li Chenjing's face before her eyes filled with tears.

Li Chenjing finally understood what Long Ang meant by "you'll remember once you go out and see her"—it wasn't that her memories had returned, but rather that her appearance was almost identical to his own.

No wonder he felt countless times that his face was too effeminate, no wonder someone always stared at him with that almost obsessive, perverted gaze... He turned and glanced back at Long Ang, who had brought him here.

"Xiaojing..." Li Danxin wiped away the tears that were about to fall with her sleeve, "You've grown taller, so much taller."

"..." The warm voice made him unconsciously squat down, take off his coat, and gently drape it over her shoulders. "Come in."

"But Father will be unhappy..."

"He doesn't care whether you're hot or cold, so why do you care whether he's happy or not?" Li Chenjing's blunt and simple reasoning left Li Danxin stunned for a long time, staring at him blankly.

The younger brother in front of me seems completely different from before...

Ignoring her questioning gaze, Li Chenjing lowered his eyes, bent down, and swiftly and decisively scooped her up in his arms before she could even exclaim in surprise. He then turned and headed towards the gate of the mansion.

"Little... Xiaojing, what are you doing? Put your sister down!" This younger brother is quite different; he's completely transformed! His speech is no longer refined and gentle, and his movements are no longer as soft and humble as a scholar's. Instead, a domineering and masculine aura is palpable in his every move.

"I practically carried you in. If he's upset about anything, he can take it out on me. Are you relieved now?" he said matter-of-factly, striding towards the inner courtyard.

"..." The struggle stopped, Li Danxin lay quietly in her younger brother's arms, burying her nose in his arm as a sore sensation welled up inside. The siblings had never been so close before, partly because of the difference between boys and girls, and partly because she was still secretly competing with Xiaojing. The competition was boring; she had only told Xiao Ang she just wanted to compare her standing with Xiaojing in their parents' hearts. She didn't need to win, just not lose too badly.

So she busied herself becoming an impeccable lady of a prominent family, while her younger brother gradually transformed into a taciturn, deep-thinking, and indifferent gentleman who only knew books, calligraphy, and painting.

This was the first time I'd ever been held in his arms like this, protected like this.

As she passed through the gates of her own mansion, her spine involuntarily softened, and she shrank into Li Chenjing's arms like a girl who had made a mistake. Even though she was carried into the mansion by her younger brother, her deep-seated obedience to her father made it impossible for her to shake off the guilt.

A large hand stroked her forehead across her eyes, lingering there and refusing to leave, insisting that she close her eyes.