After Qiao Zhao finished speaking, she inexplicably felt the atmosphere in the room was strange. Old Madam Deng and the others didn’t look at her, but instead turned their gazes uniformly toward Lady Liu.

Lady Liu raised her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and smiled with serene composure.

See? That Lord Jiang Fifth had indeed died!

Li Guangshu looked at the composed Lady Liu, then at the puzzled Li Guangwen, and finally fixed his gaze on Qiao Zhao’s face.

He carefully scrutinized the young woman before him.

The former willful ignorance could no longer be found in the girl. Those calm, bright black eyes seemed to contain too many secrets, drawing people to explore them.

During the five years he had been away, it seemed that too many changes had occurred at home.

“Zhaozhao, how did Lord Jiang Fifth die?” After a brief moment of distraction, Old Madam Deng asked.

Qiao Zhao glanced at Li Guangshu and replied vaguely: “Some situations occurred within their organization. Outsiders aren’t clear on the specifics, but anyway, once Lord Jiang Fifth died, they released Father and me.”

Lady Liu clapped her hands. Seeing everyone look over, she said solemnly: “Our Third Miss is truly fortunate! This is good people receiving good rewards.”

He Shi smiled with pursed lips: “Exactly! Heaven still has eyes – how could it always let bad people have their way?”

Old Madam Deng nodded with a smile.

Li Guangshu frowned slightly.

Something was wrong. Lady Liu knew something!

“Son-in-law has also worked hard.” Old Madam Deng began exchanging pleasantries with Shao Mingyuan.

“This son-in-law is ashamed – I didn’t do much.”

Li Guangwen, impatient with such courtesies, said directly: “Mother, I’ll go wash up first. Mingyuan can accompany me for drinks later.”

“Go ahead. I’ll have the kitchen prepare a good table of dishes for you both.”

“No need. Tingquan’s cooking is quite good – he can handle the kitchen.”

Li Guangwen spoke casually, but the others were dumbfounded.

“Elder Brother, a gentleman stays far from the kitchen. How can you have His Lordship cook?” Li Guangshu couldn’t help but speak up.

Did Elder Brother have something wrong with his head? Just because his daughter was engaged to Marquis Guanjun, did he think he was the man’s father-in-law?

Even Marquis Jing’an probably had never made Marquis Guanjun cook.

Li Guangwen looked at Li Guangshu and sighed: “Second Brother, have you become foolish from too much studying? Can a gentleman stays far from the kitchen be applied here? The ancient sages also entertained their parents in colorful clothes!”

Li Guangshu clenched his fists.

How shameless! If this were twenty years ago, he would beat this foolish elder brother to the ground.

“If you wish to see it, this son-in-law can also do so.” Shao Mingyuan said with a smile.

Li Guangshu: “…” The Capital was too complicated – he wanted to return to Lingnan!

“Grandmother, I’ll also help.” Qiao Zhao spoke up.

An hour later, Li Guangwen ate with great satisfaction and said to Qiao Zhao, “See Mingyuan off. He drank quite a bit today.”

Qiao Zhao saw Shao Mingyuan and his companions to the door.

Zhu Yàn supported Chi Can with one hand and dragged Yang Houcheng with the other: “Tingquan, I’m taking these two back.”

“Have Chen Guang escort you.” Shao Mingyuan was very satisfied with his friend’s perceptiveness.

After watching Zhu Yàn and the three depart, Qiao Zhao turned her head and asked Shao Mingyuan: “Are you alright? I saw you drank quite a bit today.”

“I’m fine. I’ll rest at the place next door tonight.” Stopping at the gate of the residence next to the Li mansion, Shao Mingyuan asked with a smile, “Won’t you see me inside?”

Qiao Zhao gave him a reproachful look: “Fine.”

This man loved to push his luck when he’d been drinking.

Inside the room was as warm as spring. Upon entering, the heavy outer garments became unbearable. Shao Mingyuan removed his cloak and embraced Qiao Zhao in one motion.

The man’s stubbled chin rubbed against the girl’s tender cheek, wine fragrance mixed with crisp mint scent assaulting her senses, instantly leaving her with nowhere to hide.

Qiao Zhao blushed and pushed Shao Mingyuan away: “Don’t act drunk!”

The man’s arms were like iron walls, holding her immobile. A grieved voice came from above her head: “Zhaozhao, Jiang Shisan has feelings for you.”

Qiao Zhao’s body stiffened.

“I’m somewhat unhappy.” The man nuzzled the top of her head, his voice even more aggrieved.

Qiao Zhao felt embarrassed and at a loss, murmuring: “I’m sorry—”

In this situation, she didn’t know what to say. Any explanation felt like a cover-up.

“That person isn’t much, but his taste is quite good.” Shao Mingyuan pouted.

“I don’t have any feelings for him—”

Shao Mingyuan pressed his finger to Qiao Zhao’s lips and smiled gently at her: “I know. You only like me.”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh: “Conceited.”

Shao Mingyuan pulled her to sit down and said matter-of-factly: “Just stating facts.”

“You’ve had too much to drink.” Qiao Zhao looked at the bleary-eyed man with complete helplessness.

Shao Mingyuan shook his head: “I’m very clear-headed. Today, Jiang Shisan’s words to Lord Jiang Fifth confirmed something for me.”

“What thing?”

“Your death was related to the Jinlin Guards.” Saying this, Shao Mingyuan quickly corrected himself, “No, the previous you—”

“Alright, get to the point!”

“The person who went to fetch you at that time was a deputy general under my command named Su Luofeng…” Anger flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes. “Later, we discovered Su Luofeng had close relations with a courtesan named Yingying in Beiding City. I sent personal guards to watch that area continuously. Combined with messages my guards sent back and Jiang Shisan’s mention of Lord Jiang Fifth’s negligence, we can now confirm that the ones who harmed you were indeed the Jinlin Guards.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Zhao fell silent.

In the eyes of the world, the previous her was merely an ordinary woman who had married into a marquis household. The Jinlin Guards’ motive for targeting her could only be one thing: to suppress and control Shao Mingyuan.

And there was only one person who could order the Jinlin Guards to do such a thing – the current emperor.

Shao Mingyuan was equally silent. After a long while, he punched the table and cursed: “Damn it!”

Sometimes he wanted to let all those thoughts of loyalty to the sovereign and love of country go to hell – killing that person would be the proper thing to do!

But he couldn’t.

He didn’t care about being branded a traitorous minister, but if he acted that way, Great Liang would inevitably fall into chaos. Then the southern Japanese pirates and northern barbarians would take advantage of the void, and it would be the common people who suffered. Zhaozhao’s family’s peaceful life would cease to exist.

Qiao Zhao reached out and covered Shao Mingyuan’s hand: “Don’t think about past events. In the future, we must all live well.”

Shao Mingyuan nodded solemnly.

“By the way, has there been any news about my second uncle’s matter?” Qiao Zhao changed the subject.

“I was just about to tell you. The concubine your second uncle brought back isn’t the daughter of some county magistrate. Her true identity is a Yangzhou Skinny Horse.” Speaking of this, Shao Mingyuan’s tone paused, and he asked hesitantly, “Zhaozhao, you know what a Yangzhou Skinny Horse is, right?”

“A relatively thin horse?”

Shao Mingyuan opened his mouth.

“Is that wrong?” The girl looked completely innocent.

“Uh, this—” The young general’s ears turned slightly red as his mind raced to think of an appropriate explanation.

Qiao Zhao burst into laughter.

Only then did Shao Mingyuan realize, saying with mixed feelings: “Zhaozhao, don’t be mischievous.”

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Tell me the detailed situation.”

In the imperial palace, Emperor Mingkang finally emerged from seclusion. Learning of Jiang Tang’s sudden death, he was completely stunned.

Not long ago, he had entered seclusion once, and his chosen son-in-law became someone else’s. This time, he had entered seclusion again, and his milk brother had died?