Ultimately, Caelum agreed to Evangeline’s "request," promising to look after Leo for a period of time. He viewed it as a small compensation for the excellent care the Xiao family had provided him. However, he made his terms clear: Leo was to stay within the confines of the Spring Lotus Garden and not be allowed to run wild; furthermore, Caelum would not be responsible for teaching him any formal academics.Evangeline nodded in agreement, gave Leo a few stern instructions, and then departed with Serena."Eldest Miss, why do you regard the Second Son-in-law so highly?" Serena asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer once they had crossed the threshold of the Middle Courtyard. "In my view, even if he has some talent, he is far inferior to the scholars within the manor, let alone his character being so...""Base." Though Serena didn't utter the word, Evangeline understood her meaning perfectly. Walking gracefully toward a residence on the right side of the courtyard, she replied

The Southern Province was a land of immense proportions, a sprawling urban tapestry characterized by four main horizontal thoroughfares and eight vertical ones. It stretched extensively from East to West, while narrowing slightly in its North-to-South orientation. The grand Noble Manor, where Caelum now resided as a son-in-law, was strategically positioned at the northern end of the city’s central axis on Bashan Street, standing close to the Zhennan intersection. It was a magnificent estate, a fortress of prestige and power that faced South, occupying a vast expanse of prime land that reflected the high status of its owners.After the carriage finally rolled out of the massive manor gates, it made two calculated turns before settling into a steady southward rhythm along the main road. Throughout the entire journey, Caelum could not contain his curiosity; he remained hunched over, his hands gripping the embroidered silk curtains of the carriage as he peered outside with wide, inquisiti

After leaving the Red Beauty House, Caelum instructed Jack to drive the carriage through several other districts in the Southern Province. He soon discovered that they were largely the same; some had more elegant storefronts or larger buildings with the faint sound of music drifting out, frequented by high-ranking officials and wealthy nobles, but there was little real difference. He found it far less interesting than fishing back at the manor. Consequently, Caelum brought the group back to the Noble Estate, not even stopping for a meal outside. Shortly after returning Butterfly and young Leo to the Spring Garden, Eric looked at the surrounding manor guards with a puzzled expression. "Our young master... where does he get such nerve?""Who knows?" another guard replied, shaking his head. "In my opinion, he’s just been cooped up in the manor for too long and wanted to get an eyeful of the south side. If the Old Master or the lords found out, our brother-in-law would be in serious tro

Caelum frowned, realization dawning on him like a cold splash of water.First, it was clear that this mysterious girl didn't actually know him personally, or she wouldn't have asked those provocative questions earlier. Second, her presence here was undeniably linked to his wife, Celeste. Was she an old enemy of the Second Miss? It was highly possible; given Celeste’s standing as a General protecting the borders, her enemies were surely numerous and their methods treacherous.Caelum’s brow furrowed instinctively. How could a martial artist so easily bypass the manor’s elite personal guards and reach the secluded Spring Lotus Garden? How truly powerful was this girl? While analyzing the situation, he shifted his weight with calculated silence, leaning his back against a few stalks of purple bamboo while scanning the shadows for any hidden movement. Before he could speak a word to test her further, he sensed a sharp gust of cold wind behind his head, followed by a crisp, melodic giggle

"Jiaxing Garden?"Caelum stared at the phantom words hovering before his eyes, thinking to himself that the "Undercover Guard" certainly knew how to choose a location. Among the ten residential estates within the Manor’s rear grounds, Jiaxing Garden was currently the most vulnerable. With Lady Celeste’s sisters away, the security there was at its laxest.Caelum recalled his previous nighttime stroll near that area. The artificial mountain and the pond mentioned in the intel were situated just a single wall away from his own Spring Lotus Garden. His decision was instantaneous; for the sake of obtaining this "Destiny," he had to see exactly who this secret agent was.He spent the next quarter of an hour calming his mind and ensuring that Butterfly and the other servants were soundly asleep. Moving with the practiced silence of a predator, he slipped out of the wooden building. This time, fortified by the "Dragon-Phoenix Dance" movement technique, his silhouette was as light and swift as