"Stop, little thief, don’t run!"

Several young men followed the figure, fighting and causing a ruckus along the way.

"Ah!"

The figure cried out, running towards Long Yue, who pulled him behind her, shielding him.

"Hey, little bastard, why aren’t you running anymore?"

A man sneered as he approached, forcing You’er closer.

You’er was cautious, gently clutching Long Yue, his dark eyes filled with worry and fear.

Long Yue gently patted his back to reassure him.

"Who are you people? Why are you chasing my brother?"

Long Yue had previously told Nanny Wuyu that she regarded this boy as a brother, so she had no qualms about calling him her brother here.

The man had already noticed Long Yue, perhaps taken aback by her beauty, so after speaking, he fell silent.

Only when Long Yue’s cold gaze fixed on him and she asked icily did he snap back to reality.

He quickly replied, "This kid stole something!"

"Ah, ah!"

You’er shouted, a bit agitated. Long Yue patted his back, saying, "He didn’t steal. My brother doesn’t lack food or clothes; why would he need your stuff?"

"Ah!"

You’er responded again, this time with firm agreement with Long Yue’s words.

"Ha, just because you say he didn’t doesn’t make it true! Do you really think we’re fools?"

Two men and two women stood beside the man. One girl in a pink dress mocked, "Or do you think bringing a mute brother will earn sympathy and cover up the theft?"

Long Yue’s gaze instantly turned cold, staring at the girl: "Are you insulting my brother?"

"Not at all. I’m just stating the truth!"

"Fine, then tell me, what did my brother steal from you?"

"He stole our ink jade, a very smooth ink jade. The jade is fine, smooth, and highly translucent, almost seeing through it to the other side, a priceless treasure!"

Another girl spoke.

Her words were not as aggressive as the girl in the pink dress, but her eyebrows exuded a sense of heroism, clearly showing she was from a military family!

Long Yue could figure out the temperament of women from military families. They may be unreasonable and cause trouble, but they are unlikely to frame someone maliciously.

So did You’er really steal it?

It’s impossible!

You’er is not that kind of person.

"Ah, ah, ah!"

You’er probably felt things were against him, anxiously pulling Long Yue and crying out.

"Calm down!" Long Yue tightened her grip on his hand and looked at the people opposite. "You’er couldn’t have stolen anything. Did you see him steal it with your own eyes?"

"No, but we put the ink jade in the room, and when we came back, we saw him passing by, and the ink jade was gone when we went in."

Long Yue almost laughed, "You just saw him passing by and assumed he stole it when the jade was missing? Couldn’t someone else have gone in earlier? It’s ridiculous! Or is it because you think he’s mute and can’t argue back, so you can bully him?"

"Tch, we’re not so lazy as to bully a mute. When I shouted that the ink jade was gone, this kid ran so fast. Doesn’t that show a guilty conscience?"

"So we conclude he stole it; is that wrong?"

Long Yue fell silent.

The girls were aggressive, but the man was captivated by Long Yue’s beauty. He flashed a very gentlemanly smile and asked, "Which family’s daughter is this young lady? With such an extraordinary bearing, surely she wouldn’t do such a thing. Perhaps there’s a misunderstanding?"

Long Yue heard the girl in the pink dress nearby curse in a low voice, "Yan Dan, you scoundrel, you lecher!"

Long Yue was speechless, examining the young man named Yan Dan more carefully.

He looked about twenty, handsome and spirited, likely attracting many young women’s hearts. Long Yue realized that this hunt wasn’t just for Li Qingmu to select concubines, but also a social gathering for many young men and women to meet.

A matchmaking meeting!

Looking at Yan Dan’s squinting smile, his fierce demeanor from earlier towards You’er had vanished. This person changed his attitude quickly.

"If it’s undoubtedly a misunderstanding, will you apologize to my You’er?"

Long Yue teased.

Unexpectedly, the other party smiled lightly: "That’s easy! May I ask which family’s daughter this young lady is? I’ve never seen you before!"

"Wei State Duke Mansion, Wei Yunyan!"

"So, you’re a daughter of the Wei State Duke Mansion? Curious, I recall the Wei State Duke having only one legitimate daughter, Yun Dai, aged sixteen. So this..."

"I’m her elder sister, but while she’s legitimate, I’m only from a concubine."

"Oh, that explains it!"

Yan Dan looked slightly disappointed at this revelation.

Such a wonderful woman, yet only a concubine-born. She would only be a concubine, what a pity.

Long Yue could see through his thoughts?

With a cold smile, she thought, what a lecher, no wonder the other girls are upset.

But his looks are good, not as good as Li Qingmu, but still considered outstanding among men, and the girls with him seem quite captivated by him.

"Ah!"

You’er seemed unable to stand it anymore and tugged at Long Yue again.

Long Yue was not keen on Yan Dan and wanted to leave. She straightforwardly said, "Young man, you said that if my You’er hadn’t stolen anything, you would apologize?"

Yan Dan was stunned, realizing he had said that earlier, and nodded: "Indeed!"

"Alright, You’er!"

"Ah!"

You’er responded and then unbuttoned his clothes.

"Ah—"

The girls opposite immediately screamed, shouting "lewd," "shameless," "despicable."

But You’er merely unbuttoned his outer robe, having a cleanliness fixation and unwilling to let these people see his body!

"Rustle, rustle..."

Various items fell from him, all personal odds and ends, but no ink jade as mentioned.

"Well, did you see clearly?" Long Yue pointed to the scattered items on the ground. "Young man, my You’er didn’t steal your stuff, yet you yelled and slandered him, damaging his reputation. What to do?"

"Mistakes are mistakes; what else can be done?"

The girl who had called Yan Dan a "lecher" earlier was displeased with Long Yue and replied sarcastically.

Long Yue narrowed her eyes, exuding a dangerous aura, about to step forward and argue with her, when Yan Dan suddenly pulled out a jade from his chest and presented it with both hands.

"Miss Wei, we were rash before and offended you. Please forgive us. This is a small token of my apology; I hope you will accept it!"

Long Yue looked at Yan Dan with composure, her gaze falling on the jade.

This was valuable jade, smooth and translucent, costly.

Long Yue knew he was making amends. By right, she shouldn’t accept it, but seeing the disdain in that girl’s eyes, she chuckled softly and took it.

"Thank you!"

After saying this, she took You’er and left, hearing the stomping of feet in frustration from the girl behind her.

Such mischief, I always manage to make so many enemies wherever I go!

Long Yue gave a self-mocking smile.

As she left, a black horse galloped from a distance, ridden by the newly enthroned emperor of Daliang, Rong Mu!