Quentin Bennett was troubled—what should he do now? Time could not be delayed any longer. If he dragged it out, the painting might be taken out of the residence, and then where would he go to get it back?

He pondered over and over, sitting in a daze for a long time before suddenly having an idea. He said, “I’ve got it! Father, I have a way!”

……

Early the next morning, as soon as Quentin Bennett woke up, he heard people arguing outside.

“Master Xu isn’t up yet, young lady. There’s no use looking for him. I am Eunuch King’s top bodyguard, James Carter. Eunuch King values me highly, don’t underestimate me. The reason I’m here guarding the gate for Xu is because Eunuch King considers me the best gatekeeper around—everyone has their specialty… Hey, hey… I told you Master Xu is still sleeping. Are you really going to force your way in? Hey! If you barge in like this, you’re not giving any respect to me, the Northern Blade King, Master Deng. Who are you? State your name!”

Quentin Bennett rolled out of bed, slipped on his shoes, and went to open the door. He saw a sedan chair parked in the courtyard. James Carter had drawn his sword halfway from its sheath, the blade half-hidden, glinting coldly. The one being blocked was a young lady with rosy lips and white teeth, a graceful figure, fair skin, dressed in a light green long dress, her waist so slender it could be encircled with one hand—truly a breathtaking beauty.

Though the young lady was beautiful, her expression was cold, as if she were an unmelting iceberg, exuding an air that kept people at a distance. She was staring at James Carter, confronting him defiantly.

At such a critical moment, it’s often when a little hero makes a dazzling entrance.

Without hesitation, Quentin Bennett shouted, “Brother Carter, spare her!”

His shout was like Brother Potato swooping down from the sky in a swirl of rainbow clouds to fight the villains, righteous and imposing.

Girls in the Ming Dynasty were like turtles, all hiding away in their boudoirs, never giving you even the slightest chance to see them. Now, with such a beauty visiting his home, as a normal man, Quentin Bennett naturally wanted to maintain a dignified image.

He stepped forward, politely addressing the young lady, “May I ask, Miss, are you here to see me?”

The young lady’s attitude remained icy, as cold as an unmelting glacier, with an air of utter aloofness. She spoke in a detached tone, “Are you Quentin Bennett?”

Quentin Bennett was taken aback. He had thought he was in for some romantic luck, a beauty coming to see him, but judging by her demeanor, it was as if he owed her money. His attitude immediately shifted, and he replied warily, “What if I am? What if I’m not?”

This was to leave himself some room. If the other party said, “So it’s you, you scoundrel,” Quentin Bennett could immediately deny it, saying, “Who is Quentin Bennett? Miss, you must have the wrong house.”

The young lady took a deep breath and said, “Does Master Xu still remember my father?”

Quentin Bennett replied, “Who is your father? I don’t know him.”

The young lady shot Quentin Bennett a mocking glance and said, “Master Xu, you’re truly forgetful. The trouble you caused—your father, the constable of Qiantang County, Captain Bennett, actually used my father as a scapegoat, claiming he put poison in the medicinal herbs. Are you not man enough to admit what you’ve done?”

Suddenly, Quentin Bennett understood. He suddenly remembered this old debt—no wonder Eunuch King had mentioned last night that his father had framed someone. When he was confined at home, it was likely his father had arrested a merchant selling medicinal herbs as a substitute, and now the merchant’s family had come to seek justice.

This young lady was actually the daughter of the wronged merchant. When she heard her father had been implicated in a poisoning case and arrested by the authorities, she made inquiries and learned it was related to Eunuch King, and that it was Quentin Bennett’s father who had arrested her father. Hearing that Quentin Bennett had visited Eunuch King’s residence the previous night, she mistakenly believed her father had offended Eunuch King, and that the Xu family, being close to Eunuch King, had framed her father on his behalf.

Toward someone like Quentin Bennett, the young lady felt a deep sense of contempt. She said coldly, “What exactly do you want? If it’s money you’re after, my The Harris Family can still come up with some. Name your price, and my The Harris Family will pay.”

Faced with the young lady’s frosty questioning, Quentin Bennett began to ponder.

In fact, Eunuch King had already decided that Quentin Bennett was responsible, so the merchant was no longer of any use as a scapegoat. Whether he was released or not didn’t matter. Since the matter started because of Quentin Bennett, logically, as soon as the young lady came to plead, Quentin Bennett could discuss it with his father and find a way to release the man.

But Quentin Bennett couldn’t stand the young lady’s condescending attitude. Damn it, who’s begging whom here? Would the dignified Xu family care about your little bit of money? That’s looking down on my integrity!

So Quentin Bennett said coldly, “You think a few lousy coins can make up for what your father did?”

Miss Harris was stunned, then angrily retorted, “Then what do you want?”

Quentin Bennett looked at her mockingly. Aren’t you high and mighty? Aren’t you rich? You have money, but I have integrity. Even the sages say integrity is worth ten thousand gold. By that logic, I, Master Xu, am a man of great wealth—how can you compare?

As for which sage said this, Quentin Bennett couldn’t quite remember. Maybe it was a sage surnamed Xu.

Miss Harris seemed to realize her words had been too harsh. But what could she do? As a sheltered young lady, what experience could she have? She didn’t even know how to ask for help, and all her emotions were written on her face—no wonder she was being given the cold shoulder.