Chapter 25: He had indeed been a negligent brother.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Jiang Xiushu, trembling with rage, laughed mockingly. He snatched the ointment away and slammed it onto the ground, glaring at Jiang Lingyao. "I'd rather throw it away than give it to you! Jiang Lingyao, your heart and mind are filled with nothing but schemes. My greatest regret in this life is that my sister is you, and not Lian'er!"

What madness is this?

Annoyed, Jiang Lingyao looked up and shielded Wenqiu behind her. She asked coldly in return, "Do you think I ever wanted to be your sister? Jiang Xiushu, stop coming to my courtyard to throw your tantrums. Go find your sister Lian'er; you are not welcome here."

"I knew it! Jiang Lingyao, you finally couldn't help but show your true colors." Pointing at her, Jiang Xiushu turned to Jiang Xiumo and shouted angrily, "Look at this! You're still speaking up for her—does she deserve it? Does she have any place in her heart for the two of us, her brothers?"

Jiang Xiumo stepped forward and pulled at Jiang Xiushu, saying in a cold voice, "Third Brother, calm down. Do not say hurtful things while your temper is flared."

"Hurtful? I am speaking the truth! Jiang Lingyao is a woman with a wicked heart, someone whose eyes are filled only with schemes!"

"Fine, then I am that kind of woman—wicked-hearted, full of schemes, and ruthless." Jiang Lingyao sneered, her indifference as sharp as a blade. "Can you leave now?"

Watching her cold expression, Jiang Xiushu felt a sting in his heart, as if he were being held under deep water, suffocating and heavy.

"Mingzhu, your third brother had some... some bad luck yesterday, so he’s in a foul mood today. Could you please hold your tongue for a moment?"

Hearing this, Jiang Lingyao felt a surge of irony, and her gaze toward Jiang Xiumo grew cold.

Jiang Xiushu had a stubborn temper. Although Jiang Lingyao usually didn't care to argue, whenever he got stuck in his own narrow-mindedness, they would inevitably clash. In the past, whenever Jiang Xiumo stepped in to mediate, she would always take a step back.

But as Jiang Lingyao regained her senses, she realized: why should she be the one to back down? It was laughable. Did they really think she still cared for them the way she once did?

She only regretted not learning martial arts from her second brother when she was young; otherwise, she could have shoved this peacemaker Jiang Xiumo aside today and given the foul-mouthed Jiang Xiushu a proper lesson.

Seeing that Jiang Lingyao would not yield, Jiang Xiushu let out a cold laugh and, without hesitation, kicked the stove.

"Wenqiu!"

Jiang Lingyao quickly pulled the nearby Wenqiu toward her, checking her over in a panic.

Wenqiu had been standing so close; if she had been burned by the fire, how could she have rested easy before leaving the Duke's mansion?

Her eyes turned red with fury. Before she could snap at him, she heard Jiang Xiumo shout in alarm, "Third Brother!"

Turning around, she saw that Jiang Xiushu’s robe had caught fire. He was running about in a disheveled panic, shouting angrily, "Where are the servants? You blind fools, come in and put out this fire!"

But where were the servants in this courtyard? The maids and attendants had long since slacked off, and when Jiang Xiushu and Jiang Xiumo arrived, they were feeling guilty themselves, so they hadn't brought anyone along.

Jiang Xiushu was frantic, but Jiang Xiumo remained calm. "Third Brother, throw yourself on the dirt and roll!"

He stepped forward, scooped up handfuls of mud, and piled them onto Jiang Xiushu.

Once the fire was extinguished, Jiang Lingyao felt a strange sense of satisfaction. She stood to the side with Wenqiu, feeling quite refreshed.

Heaven was watching! Jiang Xiushu had come here to throw a tantrum for no reason, and now, he had received his retribution!

Jiang Xiushu’s ankle had been seared by the flames, and he grimaced in pain, but his heart felt even worse than his wound. Why had Jiang Lingyao protected the maid first? If she had reached out to pull him instead, he surely would have been unharmed.

His eyes bloodshot, Jiang Xiushu stumbled forward. "Jiang Lingyao, who is your brother? How could you protect a maid and not me?"

Jiang Lingyao took a few steps back. "But ever since I returned to this mansion, only Wenqiu has protected me. What do you think?"

The fire in Jiang Xiushu’s belly was instantly stifled, leaving his face ashen.

The pain from his ankle set in—burns were the most excruciating of wounds; every throb felt like a blade scraping away his flesh. He kept gasping for air, but his gaze was suddenly drawn to the medicine jar on the ground, and he froze.

If burns hurt this much, was Jiang Lingyao in just as much agony when she was injured?

He didn't know what to say. The more his leg throbbed, the more uncomfortable he felt in his heart, leaving him feeling suffocated. He couldn't help but think: when Jiang Lingyao was injured, only Wenqiu was there to protect her. No wonder she hadn't given him a kind look today. She had always been the most afraid of pain; having such an injury must have been even more unbearable for her.

He had truly been a neglectful brother.

Seeing his face shift from blue to black, Jiang Lingyao rolled her eyes and said coldly to Jiang Xiumo, "You had better take him back quickly. If he develops a scar, don't have him coming back here to whine about his delicate skin."

The words Jiang Xiushu had used to mock her earlier had returned like a boomerang to strike him.

Jiang Xiumo’s expression was also grim. He picked up his brother horizontally. "I shall take my leave. Mingzhu, I will come to see you again in a few days."

As the two moved away, Jiang Lingyao felt a pang of heartache for the ruined porridge and couldn't help but grit her teeth.

Wenqiu laughed out loud. "Serves them right! Who told them to bully such a kind young mistress? Now, even the heavens know you are the best and couldn't bear to see you mistreated, so they gave them a lesson!"

Jiang Lingyao was amused, but after a moment, she sighed. "Go tell Nanny Li that the porridge was ruined today, and she should send it tomorrow instead."

On the other side, Jiang Xiushu struggled out of Jiang Xiumo’s arms. "Why did you drag me out of there?"

Jiang Xiumo darkened his expression. "Do you want to stay there and keep making a fool of yourself?"

Jiang Xiushu was speechless. Looking at the injury on his ankle, his heart felt even more unsettled.

"Third Brother!"

A panicked, delicate voice rang out. Song Lian'er appeared from nowhere, and upon seeing Jiang Xiushu, she immediately burst into tears. "How did you get hurt? Does it hurt?"