Time Is Slow - Chapter 29

The engagement between the youngest son of Earl Changchun and Li Jiao, the eldest daughter of the Li family, had been arranged by her mother, Madam Du, while she was still alive. Now that Li Jiao was already sixteen and on the verge of marriage, the annulment of the engagement caused a massive uproar.

As soon as Li Hui, the third son of the Li family who was studying at the Imperial Academy, received the news, he immediately requested leave and rushed back home. He didn’t even stop to pay respects to Old Madam Deng before heading straight to the east side courtyard of Yahe Courtyard.

In the east courtyard, the maids walked carefully, while peach blossoms quietly bloomed in the corners.

Li Hui stormed inside. 

“Elder Sister, are you alright?”

Li Jiao sat upright, her eyes slightly red, but her expression remained calm. She frowned and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be studying? Why did you come back?”

Li Hui let out a cold laugh. 

“I knew that troublemaker’s return wouldn’t bring anything good! I had Qingji keep an eye on things, but I didn’t expect it to be something this serious!”

He grabbed Li Jiao’s hand in frustration and said angrily, “Elder Sister, that wretched girl has ruined you!”

Li Jiao gently patted the back of his hand. 

“Don’t be like this. It’s just my bad luck. No one else is to blame.”

“What do you mean no one else is to blame? If she hadn’t been kidnapped, our family wouldn’t have become the laughingstock of the capital! If she hadn’t returned, how could your engagement have been broken?” Li Hui grew even angrier, stomping his foot. 

“I’m going to find her!”

“Third Brother—”

Before she could stop him, Li Hui had already run off. 

Li Jiao curled her lips into a faint smile, stood up, straightened her dress, and instructed her maid, “Let’s go take a look.”

—

In the west courtyard, Qiao Zhao had just finished copying a stack of Buddhist scriptures. She instructed Ah Zhu to fetch a chessboard and began playing against herself.

Her grandfather once told her, “When you’re trapped in difficult circumstances, play chess. It will help calm your mind, clear your thoughts, and prevent you from making impulsive mistakes.”

She was deep in an intense battle between her left and right hands when the door was suddenly kicked open.

Qiao Zhao’s fingers froze, still holding a chess piece, as she looked up at the intruder.

A delicate-looking young man stood in the doorway, his features burning with fury, making his already striking appearance even more vivid.

Before Qiao Zhao could rise to her feet, the furious young man charged toward her.

Ah Zhu was so startled by the unexpected intrusion that she failed to react in time, but Bing lu swiftly darted between them and screeched, “What do you think you’re doing? What kind of brother barges into his sister’s room like this?!”

“Get out of my way, you wretched maid!” Li Hui roared.

“I won’t! If I move, you’ll bully my young lady!” Binglu puffed out her chest defiantly.

In the past, whenever she did this, the Third Young Master would get flustered and retreat.

But this time, she had miscalculated. Li Hui was consumed by rage and didn’t care about such things. He simply shoved her aside.

Binglu was momentarily stunned before letting out a dramatic shriek. 

“Ahhh! This is outrageous! The Third Young Master is trying to kill someone—”

“Shut up!” Li Hui screamed.

Binglu clutched her chest, ignoring his threats, and sneakily glanced at Qiao Zhao.

See, young lady? She was a loyal and devoted maid who would risk everything to protect her mistress! She had just been assaulted by the Third Young Master, yet she didn’t back down! Meanwhile, that Ah Zhu you picked up along the way… what was she even doing? Just standing there like an idiot! She was even worse than the sold-off Shuanghong!

To Qiao Zhao’s surprise, she immediately understood Binglu’s thoughts. She pressed her lips together and smiled. 

“Binglu, go fetch some tea for the Third Young Master.”

“Yes!” Binglu answered loudly, shooting a triumphant look at the stunned Ah Zhu before swaying her way out of the room.

This brief interruption caused Li Hui’s momentum to falter. He turned to look at Qiao Zhao and saw that she was still holding a chess piece in her hand, a faint smile on her lips, as if she were an outsider watching a farcical scene unfold.

His anger flared up again. He strode forward and swept the chessboard off the table, scattering the black and white pieces onto the ground with crisp, clattering sounds. He held Qiao Zhao’s wrist.

Such a terrible temper, Qiao Zhao mused silently.

“Li Zhao, Elder Sister’s engagement has been called off. Are you satisfied now?”

Qiao Zhao was still unfamiliar with recent happenings, so she was momentarily stunned by the news.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know!” Li Hui snapped. 

“Didn’t you realize that your return would bring trouble to Elder Sister and the others? Why did you even come back? Why didn’t you just—”

As his gaze met Qiao Zhao’s calm eyes, the words caught in his throat.

Why didn’t you just die out there?

For a fleeting moment, he truly thought that.

But the wrist he was gripping was slender and fragile, like a delicate magnolia branch that would snap with just a little force. Her face, once filled with either flattery or defiance, was now clean and composed, her features exquisitely beautiful.

He suddenly found himself unable to say the rest of his words.

“Third Brother, let go!” Li Jiao had rushed over, pulling Li Hui back. She turned to Qiao Zhao with an apologetic smile. 

“Third Sister, please don’t blame him. He’s just too concerned and lost his temper—”

Qiao Zhao replied calmly, “Of course, I don’t blame him. I know he’s only worried about Eldest Sister.”

Li Jiao gave Qiao Zhao a deep look.

The young girl’s features were delicate and distinct, her gaze as clear as a still pond, as if she could see through everything.

For some reason, Li Jiao felt uneasy. Forcing a smile, she said, “I’m glad you don’t blame him. Otherwise, Mother would be upset.”

Looking at the siblings before her, Qiao Zhao only felt exhaustion.

She had never been involved in the inner conflicts of a household, but watching it unfold now, it felt like a ridiculous fa