"Elder Fan!"
Seeing Fan Xinghe's reaction, Li Bingzhang naturally realized something was wrong.
Fan Xinghe might have been blunt by nature, but he should not have gone this far.
Besides, Jiang Xiaobai was now His Majesty's personally appointed Imperial Examination Case Investigator, as well as Li Bingzhang's future son-in-law.
Even if Fan Xinghe disliked him, he should not have made it so obvious.
At that thought, Li Bingzhang hurried forward and caught Fan Xinghe by the arm. "Haha, Elder Fan, since you're already here, we should clear up whatever is troubling you."
As he spoke, Li Bingzhang glanced at Jiang Xiaobai, then turned back to Fan Xinghe. "Could you have... some misunderstanding about Xiaobai?"
Some things were better asked outright.
Otherwise, leaving everything hanging would only make both sides uncomfortable.
As Li Bingzhang finished speaking, Fan Xinghe stopped and turned his head, casting a cool glance at Jiang Xiaobai.
There was unmistakable displeasure in his eyes.
Standing there, Jiang Xiaobai looked rather innocent.
Wait.
I hardly said anything just now, did I?
Why had Elder Fan suddenly taken such a dislike to me?
"A misunderstanding?"
Fan Xinghe snorted coldly. "Hmph. I may seldom go out, but I've heard the name Jiang Xiaobai far more than once or twice!"
"First, I acknowledge the reputation of the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate. A household of loyal heroes, every one of them a fine soldier who served his country!"
"The Jiang Family's two elder sons were each more brilliantly gifted than the last. Sadly, neither came back from the battlefield alive!"
At this, unmistakable regret entered Fan Xinghe's expression. Then he looked at Jiang Xiaobai, his voice sinking. "But what about you?"
"As a member of the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate, even if no one expects you to match your two elder brothers, you