Young Lord Leonard's Reasoning

Lingdang felt an inexplicable sadness and didn’t go to the banquet. Instead, she went straight back to Su Li’s house and sat in the courtyard, lost in thought. Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder from behind. Lingdang immediately snapped out of it and, alert, threw the person behind her over her shoulder to the ground.

"Ouch! That really hurts!" Li Yanhao lay on the ground groaning in pain, one arm still being held by Lingdang.

Lingdang quickly let go and helped Li Yanhao up.

"I say, how can a young girl be so violent!" Li Yanhao rubbed his aching waist, looking full of complaint.

Lingdang glanced sideways at him. "Who told you to sneak up on me from behind, Young Master? You should know attacking a bodyguard from behind is very dangerous. I was kind not to stab you to death, okay?"

"Tsk, Xiao Zetian’s men all bully me one by one, hmph!" Li Yanhao said, but he wasn’t really angry, because that’s just how bodyguards are.

But Li Yanhao found it strange that with Lingdang’s skills, she shouldn’t have only noticed him when he was right behind her.

"Lingdang, what were you thinking about so deeply? I walked right up to you and you didn’t even notice?" Li Yanhao sat beside Lingdang, noticing how she seemed unusually down compared to her usual cheerful self.

Lingdang sighed heavily and told Li Yanhao about Zhang Zhaocai’s situation, ending with, "Young Master, that Tang family woman is truly despicable and must be punished. But Zhang Zhaocai is really pitiful..."

Li Yanhao stroked his chin and said, "I didn’t expect you to feel conflicted and guilty? Tsk, I thought you bodyguards were all cold and heartless! But well, the Tang family woman is one thing, and Zhang Zhaocai is another. They are two different people and can’t be lumped together."

"Hmm? How do you mean?" Lingdang looked at Li Yanhao in confusion.

Li Yanhao said, "Think about it: those criminals who commit murder and arson, their crimes are heinous. They deserve to die. But they also have family—parents, maybe even the pillars of their households. Their families depend on them, just like Zhang Zhaocai depends on his mother, the Tang family woman. But committing evil acts means punishment is inevitable. Those criminals deserve to die, so their families must bear the pain of losing them. Zhang Zhaocai’s situation is the same. If the Tang family woman had thought earlier about what would happen if she did too many evil deeds, what would become of her child, maybe things would be different. But she didn’t and remained stubborn until death. She deserves to die, and what happens to Zhang Zhaocai after her death is unavoidable. Maybe it’s just fate..."

As Li Yanhao spoke, he gazed thoughtfully into the distance.

Lingdang was touched by his words. After a moment's thought, she nodded and said, "Yes, those criminals sentenced to death for murder all have parents and loved ones. Although their families suffer, criminals who commit evil deeds deserve to die. These are two separate matters and shouldn't be confused. Tsk, Young Lord Leonard, I originally thought you were just a playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun. I didn't expect your words to carry some sense!"

"Hehe, that's right!" Leonard Li, rarely praised by Lingdang, was so proud his tail seemed to wag to the sky. "Little Lingdang, I have many good qualities, but you commoners just can't see them!"

"Pfft, a little sunshine and you shine brightly!" Lingdang's heart knot untied as she got up and headed to the kitchen. Leonard Li eagerly followed, laughing, "What's good to eat? I want some too! At this banquet, A Li again refused to let me go, saying I'd scare the villagers. Locked inside, I smell the delicious food and I'm starving!"

Lingdang entered the kitchen, took a few sweet potatoes from the basket, and while washing them said, "I'm going to make roasted sweet potatoes. If Young Lord Leonard doesn't mind, they'll be ready soon."

"Roasted sweet potatoes? Sounds great!" Leonard Li's eyes immediately lit up brightly as he squatted by the kitchen door, waiting eagerly to be fed.