Qiao Zhao sent Binglu away and had A’Zhu massage her head instead, gradually relaxing her entire body.

She had finally gained the freedom to leave the house. Next, she needed to find a way to meet her brother.

How was Big Brother doing?

The room was very quiet, gradually filled with light, and with steady breathing.

A’Zhu lowered her hands, took a thin blanket to cover Qiao Zhao, and tiptoed out of the room.

Sometimes, she felt that Miss carried an indescribable weariness, though she didn’t know where it came from.

A’Zhu stood under the corridor eaves, looking up at the sky.

Early summer skies were always clean, crystal clear as if washed, as though no shadows could linger for long.

The pomegranate tree in the courtyard had scattered flower buds – who knew when they might bloom vibrantly.

A’Zhu stretched out her hands, the sunlight making her fingertips translucent.

So she could work harder to do better, to lessen Miss’s weariness.

Binglu snorted coldly, shot A’Zhu a withering glance, and flounced away.

She was going to bribe the kitchen cooks to make peach blossom cakes for Miss. When Miss ate peach blossom cakes, she’d be as beautiful as a flower, better than that little hoof A’Zhu’s random massaging!

In Qingsong Hall, Old Madam Deng carefully listened to her head maid Qingjun’s report, her eyes flickering slightly.

“When you went to Third Miss’s place, she was already dressed and ready?”

“Yes, even Binglu had changed clothes. This servant didn’t stand in the West Side Courtyard for long before we left.”

Old Madam Deng nodded, signaling for Qingjun to withdraw.

Only Old Madam Deng and her trusted Nanny Rong remained in the room.

Old Madam Deng spoke, “It seems Third Girl is even cleverer than I thought – she was already confident about the Great Fortune Temple affair.”

Nanny Rong smiled, “It’s good for young ladies to be clever – Old Madam can worry less.”

Old Madam Deng nodded, “True cleverness is indeed a good thing.”

If one only knew petty cleverness, it would be better to be simple-minded instead. Like that Lady at the East Residence – she couldn’t change the imperial family’s habit of wanting to snatch anything good they saw, only ending up embarrassing herself and implicating her granddaughter.

Poor Second Girl.

In Old Madam Deng’s opinion, regardless of what little schemes Li Jiāo usually had, she wouldn’t dare attempt outright theft on such an occasion as Buddha’s Birthday. This time, the young lady was truly ruined by that Lady grandmother of hers.

In Fuxiang Courtyard at the East Residence, Li Jiāo finished recounting her ordeal at Great Fortune Temple with a pale face. Lady Wu suddenly stood up, her expression livid, “Outrageous! I’m going to find Old Madam—”

Her trusted servant quickly stopped Lady Wu, “Madam, you mustn’t be impulsive! No matter what, Old Madam is still your mother-in-law—”

Lady Wu was so angry that her hands shook. Usually composed and dignified in front of her daughter, her voice now carried a sob, “So mother-in-law can do whatever she pleases? What kind of grandmother is this? She, she has ruined my child!”

Lady Wu collapsed back onto the bed, holding Li Jiāo and weeping.

Li Jiāo had never seen her mother like this. Too frightened to cry herself, she clumsily comforted her, “Mother, don’t cry… Grandmother will surely compensate me, yes, she definitely will…”

Thinking of everything that happened at Great Fortune Temple was like a nightmare for Li Jiāo. She unconsciously shrank, hiding in Lady Wu’s embrace as if this could block out all those mocking, contemptuous gazes of every kind that she had never seen in her life.

“Silly girl—”

What could compensate for a reputation destroyed in front of all the noble ladies of the capital? Her daughter had been completely ruined by that old witch!

A flash of intense hatred crossed Lady Wu’s eyes, making even her trusted servant feel chilled.

Lady Wu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, regaining her usual composure. She pulled Li Jiāo from her embrace, “Jiāojiāo, stop crying. Regardless, your grandmother did this with your best interests at heart. You must continue to be filial to her.”

There was much excitement in the capital. For now, she’d keep Jiāojiāo confined and rarely let her out. After a couple of years, when people had forgotten this incident, she’d carefully find her a reliable family to marry into, even if it meant marrying outside the capital.

Thinking of this made Lady Wu’s heart ache.

Her daughter, whom she’d raised as precious as her liver and heart, had she ever imagined she’d have to marry outside the capital!

It was all that old witch’s fault – someday she’d make her pay!

“Yes, daughter understands.”

Grandmother had good intentions at first. If Master Wumei hadn’t ordered her to write on the spot, how would the deception have been exposed?

Those contemptuous looks from the ladies and misses – she’d never forget them for the rest of her life. She had never even thought of impersonating anyone!

That’s right – if Li Zhao hadn’t shown off by copying such Buddhist scriptures, today’s events would never have happened!

Unable to rebel against Grandmother’s authority and with Mother teaching her not to blame Grandmother, Li Jiāo’s grievances had nowhere to go. She instantly found an outlet.

It was all Li Zhao’s fault! Ever since she returned from being kidnapped, nothing good had happened.

Why didn’t she just die out there?

“Mother, I want to go to the West Residence.” She was going to settle accounts with Li Zhao – why should Li Zhao step on her face to gain unlimited glory?

Lady Wu saw her daughter’s angry expression and understood. She shook her head, “No need to go to the West Residence. You should go out less in the future so people can gradually forget today’s events.”

“Mother, I just want to go to the West Residence—”

“Mother knows why you want to go to the West Residence, but Jiāojiāo, you can’t blame others for this. Besides, your great-aunt is still at the West Residence. Times have changed – she won’t tolerate your willfulness.”

If Old Madam Deng had yielded to the East Residence as usual, Third Miss’s Buddhist scripture wouldn’t have been sent out.

“In the future, stay in the residence and properly learn what daughters should learn. When you marry, manage the household well, be obedient to your in-laws, and bear several sons – then these matters won’t count for anything.”

Li Jiāo listened with lowered eyes, but her heart turned cold.

Mother meant she wouldn’t be allowed out anymore?

Among the Li residence’s daughters, the one who should be confined was Li Zhao. She’d been kidnapped and lost her virtue – she should be sent far away to some estate to fend for herself. Why had the one being confined become her instead?

“Jiāojiāo, do you understand what Mother said?”

“Daughter understands.” Li Jiāo never raised her head.

Today in the capital, because of the fallen soldiers’ coffins entering the city, there was less of the usual clamor and frivolity, replaced by a more solemn and heavy atmosphere.

Shao Mingyuan returned to Marquis Jing’an’s residence, washed away his fatigue, and only when deep night fell did he summon Shao Liang and Shao Zhi for questioning.

“General, Marquis Guanjun’s residence will need some time before it’s habitable,” Shao Zhi reported.

Shao Mingyuan nodded slightly, looked at Shao Liang, his voice hoarse, “That traitor’s situation – have you found any clues?”

“General, Su Luofeng was an orphan with no remaining relatives. This subordinate searched his entire birth village but found no useful information. We only know he entered Beiding City to make a living at age twelve, and later, due to his fighting skills, by chance ended up in the garrison.”

“So the trail has gone cold?”

Shao Liang hung his head low, looking ashamed.

Shao Zhi spat fiercely and cursed, “That bastard – why did he have to harm the General like this!”