Qiao Xin didn’t want to attract too much attention upon her arrival, so she and Fan Jihuai agreed that the prey they had hunted would be claimed as the Fan family’s spoils.

The villagers of Old Hu Town wouldn’t take any credit for it.

All they needed was for Fan Jihuai to exchange the wild animals for the supplies they required.

The Fan family had been dormant in Weizhou for far too long—so long that they were nearly forgotten by both the powerful families and the common people of the region.

Now, they needed an opportunity to re-enter the spotlight.

Eliminating a major threat to the people was the perfect way to gain favor.

As soon as Fan Jihuai and his team entered the city, they caused quite a stir.

The guards at the city gates were little more than informants for the major families.

Once the news spread, the heads of the other two prominent families in Weizhou began speculating.

When had the Fan family produced such a powerful individual?

Their previous plans to suppress the Fans had to be reconsidered.

Fan Jihuai was also wary of Qiao Xin switching allegiances, so he personally ensured that everything was handled well to leave a good impression.

Qiao Xin returned to the inn a step later, only to find guards stationed at the entrance.

She didn’t think much of it until one of them nodded toward her.

Her heart instantly understood—the Heng family had finally caught up with her!

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

She just wasn’t sure who had come this time. Could the eldest master himself be inside?

As she made her way toward the staircase, preparing to go upstairs, two guards blocked her path.

They stood in front of her like an impenetrable wall, their expressions warning against any approach.

“Outsiders, step back!” one of them barked.

Qiao Xin’s eyes flashed with displeasure.

She lifted her chin, just about ready to throw them aside when her eldest grandson suddenly rushed out from the corner of the hall.

He grabbed her arm and started pulling her toward the back courtyard.

“Grandma, you’re finally back! Second Uncle is upstairs entertaining guests. Mother told me to wait here and pass on the message. Third Uncle and Mother went to sell the carriage and trade it for an ox-cart. Second Aunt is busy sorting things in the backyard, so she sent me to find you.”

Qiao Renyi(Dalang) explained everything clearly, then tried to drag Qiao Xin toward the kitchen.

He had been stationed here by his second uncle to keep her away from the guests upstairs.

He still remembered how his third uncle, a mere scholar, had to kneel before those people.

If his grandmother, an ordinary woman, went in, wouldn’t she suffer even worse humiliation?

Qiao Xin had been unaware of the situation inside the inn, so she had been worried about Qiao Yunxin and the others.

But after hearing her grandson’s words, she felt reassured that Qiao Yunqing was handling things.

She called over the innkeeper and arranged rooms for the villagers who had traveled with her.

She also ordered some food for them. Once everything was settled, she turned and headed toward the backyard.

Little did she know, her decision to leave made Heng Wen exhale a deep sigh of relief.

He had been worried she would lose her temper and cause a confrontation—one that would be hard to resolve.

By the time the Marquis of Dingbian and the others upstairs heard the commotion and stepped out to check, Qiao Xin had already disappeared from the hall.

They saw Heng Wen standing there unharmed.

The old steward’s eyes turned misty.

He rushed downstairs, hugging Heng Wen as he laughed and cried. “Young Master, it’s wonderful! You’re truly safe! The Master can finally be at ease!”

Heng Wen replied gently, “How are Grandfather and Grandmother?”

Steward Zhu nodded with a smile. “They’re well, very well! Just waiting for you to come home.”

The Marquis of Dingbian quickly strode down the stairs, scrutinizing Heng Wen from head to toe before finally saying, “As long as you’re alright! Physician Lu, examine the young master.”

Heng Wen turned toward him and called out, “Father, I’m truly fine!”

Under normal circumstances, Heng Wen would have taken this as a sign of his father’s concern.

But after everything he had been through, he couldn’t help but read deeper into it.

Seeing his father’s insistence, he said nothing and obediently followed Physician Lu into a private room for examination.

When he returned to the hall, Physician Lu’s hands were trembling with excitement. “A miracle! A miracle, I tell you! Young Master, which divine healer treated you? Your injuries were so severe, yet in just one month, you’ve recovered almost completely! Some wounds don’t even have scars!”

Heng Wen’s eyes darkened.

What was Physician Lu implying?

Was he suggesting that he had faked his injuries?

The Marquis of Dingbian’s gaze turned sharp. “If you were already healed, why didn’t you return home sooner?”

Heng Wen dropped to one knee, his robes sweeping the floor.

With his head bowed, he didn’t try to explain. He simply admitted, “Your son has erred.”

The marquis thought of An’er, who was still bedridden and unable to move.

He then looked at his eldest son, who stood before him perfectly fine.

Having lost and then regained him, doubts crept into his heart.

Had Heng Wen really been so gravely injured?

Physician Lu had served the family for many years—he wouldn’t lie.

So then…

Heng Wen waited for his father to tell him to rise, but no such order came.

His still-healing knee pressed against the cold floor, a dull ache creeping up his leg.

But no physical pain could compare to the sting in his heart.

He clenched his teeth, refusing to meet his father’s gaze.

But deep down, he understood—his father truly doubted him.

Steward Zhu watched Heng Wen swaying on his knees and grew increasingly anxious.

But as a servant, he was powerless to interfere in a father’s discipline.

From the shadows, Qiao Yunqing observed the situation with a deep gaze.

What a loyal old physician.

The question was—loyal to whom?

He pressed his lips together and discreetly signaled to a young girl hiding behind a pillar.

She quickly understood and sprinted toward the backyard.

A short moment later, Qiao Xin’s furious voice rang out in the hall.

“Heng Wen! You reckless little bastard! Do you have a death wish?”

The people upstairs hadn’t even caught sight of her before a gust of wind whooshed past them, heading straight for Heng Wen.

When they finally saw her clearly, they were taken aback by the sight of a slender woman, her face full of anger.

Without hesitation, she bent down and grabbed Heng Wen by the ear, yanking him up.

Heng Wen’s ear stung sharply.

He bared his teeth in pain and quickly raised his hands to protect himself.

He stood up in a hurry.

Qiao Xin didn’t let go.

She simply loosened her grip slightly, her stance radiating pure ferocity.

Heng Wen took the opportunity to plead, “Dai Niang, I was wrong! Please go easy on me—my ear’s about to fall off!”

“Wrong, my ass!” Qiao Xin snapped. “I should never have saved your sorry hide in the first place! In the dead of night, I dragged your half-dead body out of that pile of corpses. Do you have any idea how many holes were in you? You looked like a goddamn sieve!

And now, just as you’ve barely recovered, you’re pulling this nonsense? Didn’t I tell you to take care of yourself? To stay warm? Is this how you ‘take care’? You think my words are just empty air? If I had known you’d be this much of a pain in the ass, I wouldn’t have bothered saving you from that wolf pack just now! Should’ve left you to die in the snow—would’ve saved me the trouble!”