Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

The next day, at the foot of the Phoenix Plume Pavilion.

Chu Youyi, along with Fang Zheng and Zhou Tie, stood at the entrance. She continuously instructed, "The gatekeeper is a servant from the noble young master I mentioned before. I'll go up and talk to him first. You must not give yourselves away, or we might not get in."

Fang Zheng waved his hand, signaling her to proceed.

Chu Youyi approached the gatekeeper, who was currently checking the list against the guests arriving with invitations.

Upon seeing Chu Youyi, the gatekeeper's face lit up with eagerness. "Greetings, Second Miss Chu. Why are you so late? Our young master has been waiting inside for a long time."

Chu Youyi asked, "Has my sister already arrived?"

"Yes, she's already inside. Please come in quickly."

"Well... I brought two servants. It might be unsafe to walk at night when we return, so they need to come in with me."

The gatekeeper looked in the direction Chu Youyi pointed and saw two tall figures. He didn't suspect anything.

He smiled and said, "You're so thoughtful, but how could our young master let you go home alone? Since you're here, please come inside."

Chu Youyi gave Fang Zheng a smile and raised her chin slightly.

Fang Zheng and Zhou Tie walked in expressionlessly.

Surveying the outer courtyard, the Phoenix Plume Pavilion was brightly lit inside and out, with exquisite and tasteful decorations that weren't rigid, clearly a place for entertainment.

It seemed this venue had been reserved.

Fang Zheng said, "Youyi, go in and find your sister first. It looks like it will be a while before it starts. We'll go in later."

"Okay, then be careful. Don't let anyone discover anything and kick you out."

Chu Youyi left, and Zhou Tie leaned in with a grin and asked, "Master, after so long, have you finally realized I'm better than Zhang Biao?"

Fang Zheng glanced at him sideways. "He's a father now, taking care of his child. You're a bachelor, so of course it's more convenient to bring you."

Zhou Tie's old face slowly lengthened. "Master, you don't understand. Beauties are like chives, they grow back after being cut. They're endless. Who would stay at home with those few..."

Fang Zheng sized him up. "Do you know why I don't like bringing you along?"

"Why?"

"I think you're unclean. I'm afraid you'll grow cauliflower down there."

"......"

"Today, we're just watching the show. If it's confirmed that someone is harassing the Chu sisters, no matter their identity, they'll be taken to the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison for two days to sober up."

"Then... how should we punish him?"

"He's just a small-time hooligan, no need to use torture, he hasn't broken the law. Didn't the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison just get a few looms? Let him weave cloth to make ten sets of clothes before releasing him. If the quality isn't up to standard, he'll keep making them."

"Understood!"

......

Inside the Phoenix Plume Pavilion, lanterns and decorations created a festive atmosphere.

In the four-story building, the central hall held a stage, and dozens of scholars gathered below, swaying their heads and exchanging their reading experiences or discussing poetry.

On the stage, a charming singer was playing the pipa and singing softly, her voice melodious and beautiful.

Chu Qinghan, dressed in a white dress, undoubtedly became the focus of the crowd.

Four or five scholars surrounded her, their faces filled with flattering smiles.

Chu Qinghan, experienced in the business world, wore a polite smile as she conversed and answered each of them.

Chu Youyi spotted her location, approached, and said loudly, "Sister, I have something to tell you."

Chu Qinghan looked up at the people around her and said with a charming smile, "My younger sister has something she wants to discuss with me privately. Excuse us, everyone."

With that, she broke away and pulled Chu Youyi to a corner.

Seeing that no one was around, she let out a breath and complained, "Why are you so late?"

Chu Youyi revealed a hint of playfulness. "Knowing you didn't want to come, I went to get you some helpers, so you won't have to deal with them anymore."

"Lord Fang?" Chu Qinghan's expression instantly changed.

"That's right!"

"You little brat!" Chu Qinghan pinched Chu Youyi's waist. Chu Youyi cried out in pain and said, aggrieved, "Why are you pinching me? I'm doing this for your own good, aren't I?"

"Youyi! We're not relatives, why bother people? How will we repay this favor in the future?" Chu Qinghan said with displeasure, "I only found out today what the identity of that Ni Wenchun who's been pestering us is. His father is a lecturing scholar in the Grand Secretariat. Aren't you causing trouble for Lord Fang?"

"Although Ni Wenchun is a bit of a rogue, his father is still a learned scholar. He shouldn't do anything too outrageous. Maybe he'll stop bothering us after a while. Why did you have to go to such lengths? It won't be good to offend anyone. You've invited Lord Fang here, what am I supposed to do now?"

"Ah... me?" Chu Youyi's pretty face was full of anxiety. Then she lowered her head and muttered, "I didn't think so much, but that Ni guy is like a band-aid, bringing people to block the door every day. When will it end..."

Chu Qinghan reached out and poked Chu Youyi's forehead forcefully. "Next time you do something, use your brain, okay!"

"Oh." Chu Youyi raised her head and responded listlessly. When she looked up, she suddenly saw two figures walking in and pulled Chu Qinghan's sleeve. "Sister, Lord Fang is here! That's the person he brought, Zhou Tie."

With that, she started waving in Fang Zheng's direction.

Chu Qinghan looked up and saw Fang Zheng arriving in cloth clothes. She felt inexplicably relieved.

As long as it wasn't a grand affair, at least she could resolve the conflict herself.

It's just that she owed him a favor, which would be hard to repay in the future.

"Qinghan greets Lord Fang." When Fang Zheng approached, Chu Qinghan bowed slightly and then said, "Lord Fang, please forgive me. I didn't expect Youyi to talk nonsense in front of you. It's all a misunderstanding. No one is harassing us sisters. I'm really sorry to have invited you here today."

"But since you're here, the atmosphere here is nice today. Why don't you relax a bit?"

Fang Zheng frowned, instantly understanding.

Chu Qinghan was too strong-willed and probably didn't want his help.

But he had to help, after all, he owed her.

"What are you talking about? Youyi told me that someone was harassing her, so I came specifically to help her. Isn't that right, Youyi?" Fang Zheng turned his gaze to Chu Youyi.

Chu Youyi nodded first, but when she felt Chu Qinghan's stern gaze, she quickly shook her head, at a loss for what to do...

She didn't expect Fang Zheng to say that. Chu Qinghan was annoyed, and then said, "I wouldn't dare trouble Lord Fang. This is just a private matter between us sisters. Youyi is just being ignorant. Your reputation is well-known, I'm afraid it won't sound good if it gets out."

"I already said, I'm here to help Youyi. You are you, she is she! Besides, my personal reputation is my personal matter," Fang Zheng said without any doubt.

Chu Qinghan raised her head, her beautiful eyes staring directly at Fang Zheng, her tone gradually increasing. "I thank you for Youyi's sake, but this is my family matter. Imperial Son-in-Law Fang, please mind your own business."

Mind my own business? She's telling me to mind my own business! I came to help with good intentions and she's telling me to mind my own business?

Even though Fang Zheng was a Cancer, he was getting anxious!

He refused to be outdone, his gaze directly staring back fiercely, their eyes meeting and the atmosphere becoming unusually tense.

Chu Youyi was caught in the middle, looking left and right, and by the time she reacted, she was already extremely worried.

What's going on... I clearly invited Brother Fang to help, why is he arguing with my sister first!

Zhou Tie had already quietly retreated to the shadows, his eyes scanning back and forth between the three, a mysterious smile on his lips.

As expected of Master, he really knows how to play! Hehehe.