“Sister Qingyu, please sit.” Qiao Zhao did not rise but spoke courteously.

Qingyu was somewhat surprised and looked at Qiao Zhao again before bowing. “This servant dare not presume. This servant has come to relay the Old Madam’s message.”

Qiao Zhao listened calmly to Qingyu’s words.

No morning greetings, no attending lessons – did this mean she was forbidden from leaving the house in the future?

In present-day Great Liang, social customs were open, and women faced no restrictions when going out. Even unmarried young ladies could go to the streets as long as they informed their elders and brought along maids and attendants.

Qiao Zhao had a quiet temperament and wasn’t particularly interested in attending various banquets or strolling the streets, but she couldn’t be confined indoors.

If she were kept at home like a caged bird, how could she meet with her eldest brother?

“Please trouble Sister Qingyu to tell the Old Madam that I understand, and I’ll send her the copied scriptures later.”

After Qingyu left, only Qiao Zhao and A’Zhu remained in the room.

She hadn’t yet returned to her quarters, and the maids who previously served Li Zhao hadn’t appeared before her.

“A’Zhu, massage my forehead.”

“Yes,” A’Zhu responded and moved behind Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao turned her head to ask, “Do you know how?”

She grasped A’Zhu’s hand and pointed to her brow. “Start from the Yintang acupoint and work downward… yes, pay attention to the pressure…”

After demonstrating the complete routine, Qiao Zhao asked A’Zhu, “Do you remember?”

A’Zhu looked completely bewildered: “…”

Miss was joking!

Though the maid was somewhat slow-witted (Qiao Zhao judged by her standards), Qiao Zhao didn’t grow impatient and demonstrated again while guiding A’Zhu’s hands.

A’Zhu’s palms began sweating profusely.

“Don’t be nervous. If you don’t know, you can learn slowly. It’s not difficult.”

Hearing her mistress’s initial words, A’Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, but after hearing the last sentence, she sweated even more.

Qiao Zhao had to give up. “Go wash your hands first. I’ll teach you again later.”

A’Zhu felt as if she’d received a great pardon and went to wash her hands, while Qiao Zhao raised her fingers to rub her temples.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. This state of confinement had to change. Then she would start with copying Buddhist scriptures – Buddha’s Birthday was approaching.

Soon, A’Zhu returned to find that her mistress had already fallen asleep.

The young lady leaned against the pillow with closed eyes, her long eyelashes casting shadows below, revealing traces of weariness between her brows.

A’Zhu couldn’t help but clench her hands.

Her mistress was so tired, yet had been so patient in teaching her. How could she be so stupid!

A’Zhu resolved to master that massage technique as quickly as possible and carefully covered Qiao Zhao with a thin blanket.

The aroma wafted in, followed by He Shi’s cheerful voice: “Zhaozhao, dinner is ready, hurry up—”

Seeing the scene in the room, He Shi’s voice halted.

Qiao Zhao had already opened her eyes.

“Dinner is ready? I was so hungry I couldn’t sleep.”

He Shi busily arranged the dishes, personally using chopsticks to place a braised lion’s head meatball in Qiao Zhao’s bowl, saying softly, “Zhaozhao, try this quickly. This is Nanny Fang’s specialty dish.”

Qiao Zhao took a bite.

The meat was tender and fragrant with rich flavor. The wonderful taste slid over her tongue and warmed her all the way to her stomach.

“It’s delicious.”

“As long as you like it. Zhaozhao, eat more – you’ve lost so much weight.” Seeing her enjoy it rather than showing disdain as in the past, He Shi’s heart finally settled.

“Mother, you eat too.” Qiao Zhao used serving chopsticks to place half a meatball in He Shi’s bowl.

He Shi was stunned, and the sour feeling welled up in her eyes again.

The mother and daughter shared a rare warm meal after so many years. Qiao Zhao returned to the West Side Courtyard with A’Zhu.

The East Side Courtyard of Yahe Courtyard housed the eldest daughter Li Jiǎo, born to Master Li Guangwen’s first wife. She was the oldest among all the young ladies in both the East and West residences, already sixteen this year.

The West Side Courtyard had been thoroughly cleaned. The bluestone path was spotless, a pomegranate tree in the courtyard had sprouted new buds, and a cluster of banana plants before the window grew lush and green.

Three maids ran over to greet her: “Miss has returned!”

Two rough-work maids were named Shiliu and Qiou, while the only personal maid was called Binglu.

Qiao Zhao remembered that there should have been another maid named Shuanghong.

He Shi, who had accompanied her, explained: “That wretched servant Shuanghong lost track of you, so I dismissed her.”

“Then let A’Zhu take her place.”

He Shi glanced at A’Zhu with some concern.

Qiao Zhao knew what she was worried about and pointed at A’Zhu: “She was given to me by Physician Li.”

He Shi immediately had no objections.

“Thank you, Miss!” A’Zhu bowed to Qiao Zhao. After rising, her gaze met Binglu’s. Binglu looked away contemptuously and snorted through her nose.

“Mother, go back and rest.”

“Then you should also rest early. Mother won’t let those people bother you today.” He Shi left reluctantly.

Qiao Zhao knew this referred to the pair of children left by the first wife, eldest daughter Li Jiǎo and third son Li Hui.

Li Hui had entered the Imperial Academy at the beginning of the year, while the young ladies of the West Residence attended the women’s school at the East Residence daily. They hadn’t finished classes yet at this hour.

Qiao Zhao finally understood why Master Li Guangwen was so cold toward He Shi.

Li Guangwen had deep feelings for his first wife, and their surviving children were excellent. Meanwhile, Li Zhao constantly targeted her older siblings, and He Shi wholeheartedly supported her daughter, making no effort to hide her dislike for her stepson and stepdaughter. It would be strange if her husband were satisfied with her.

It seemed the relationship between this couple was terrible, and young Li Zhao had been a major contributing factor.

After days of travel, Qiao Zhao enjoyed a hot bath and fell asleep as soon as she lay in bed.

The sky gradually darkened, evening clouds filled the heavens, and Shao Mingyuan emerged from the palace gates feeling utterly exhausted.

His guard brought his horse over. He mounted and rode in silence to Qingque Alley.

Marquis Jing’an’s residence was located in Qingque Alley. It had once been merely one ordinary mansion among many noble residences, but now, due to Shao Mingyuan’s presence, even its glazed tile roof seemed more brilliant than others.

The main gates of Marquis Jing’an’s residence had long been open. Heir Apparent Shao Jingyuan led the household’s upper and lower ranks, standing on the steps. Seeing the approaching figure from afar, he hurried down to meet him.

Shao Mingyuan dismounted, and Shao Jingyuan had already approached.

“Elder Brother.”

Shao Jingyuan patted Shao Mingyuan’s shoulder: “Second Brother has finally returned. Father and Mother are waiting inside.”

He glanced at Shao Mingyuan’s snow-white cloak but said nothing more.

The two brothers, surrounded by the mansion’s household, entered and headed straight to the main hall.

From a distance, they could see a middle-aged man standing at the entrance, gaunt and haggard. Shao Mingyuan quickened his pace and knelt on one knee: “Father, your unfilial son has returned.”

The Marquis Jing’an’s complexion held an excessive pallor. He bent down to personally help Shao Mingyuan up, smiling: “It’s good that you’re back. Come in quickly—” Before finishing his words, he began coughing violently.

A trace of worry flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes.

His father had fallen seriously ill in the Northern Territories years ago. Despite years of recuperation in the capital, his condition showed no improvement. Seeing him now upon return, the cold poison had become even more severe.

Everyone entered the house.

Shao Mingyuan immediately noticed Marquis Jing’an’s wife, Lady Shen, sitting quietly in a grand chair. Despite all the commotion, she didn’t even lift her eyelids.

His sister-in-law Lady Wang stood beside her.

Shao Mingyuan walked over and knelt, his pure white cloak spreading across the ground like pristine snow.

“Mingyuan pays respects to Mother.”

Lady Shen’s gaze slowly swept over that pure white cloak before saying coldly, “Not returning for years, and the moment you return, you bring me bad luck!”