Shao Xiyuan wore a sapphire blue silk robe with clustered flower patterns today, which made the young man’s features appear more profound and added several degrees more maturity than usual.

He had originally returned to the capital for the New Year holiday from the academy, never expecting to arrive just in time for Shao Mingyuan’s wedding.

After Shao Xiyuan greeted Shao Mingyuan, his gaze fell directly on Qiao Zhao’s face, carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but find it amusing.

The little brother who once followed behind her, calling “sister-in-law this” and “sister-in-law that,” now knew how to size people up like this.

Qiao Zhao’s smiling appearance made Shao Xiyuan feel slightly displeased.

She was just a girl from a small, humble family, not his second sister-in-law. Why was she smiling at him so intimately? They weren’t even familiar!

Glancing again at Shao Mingyuan, Shao Xiyuan became even more displeased.

Looking at his second brother’s smugly satisfied expression, he had truly married a new wife and forgotten the old one.

“Call her second sister-in-law.” Shao Mingyuan glanced at Shao Xiyuan indifferently.

Why was this boy acting so strangely?

Oh right, he had almost forgotten—this brat had once harbored some youthful feelings for Zhaozhao.

Thinking of this, Shao Mingyuan’s expression turned slightly cold, finding the troublesome boy before him extremely irritating.

“Second sister-in-law.” Shao Xiyuan called out reluctantly.

“Zhaozhao, I’ll take you to pay respects to father.”

Shao Mingyuan led Qiao Zhao forward, but Shao Xiyuan rushed ahead in a few quick steps, blocking their path.

Shao Mingyuan frowned at him.

“Second brother, did you just call second sister-in-law Zhaozhao?” Shao Xiyuan’s expression was somewhat agitated.

“So what?”

Shao Xiyuan quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao standing shoulder to shoulder with Shao Mingyuan, his tone strange: “Does second brother know that the former second sister-in-law and the new sister-in-law have the same given name?”

Shao Mingyuan suppressed the urge to kick Shao Xiyuan flying, reached out to grab his shoulder, and lifted him aside: “Of course, I know my wife’s given name. Now, I need to take your second sister-in-law to see Father.”

Watching Shao Mingyuan protectively escort Qiao Zhao inside, Shao Xiyuan stood motionless in place.

“Third Young Master, you should also be present for the tea ceremony. You’ll need to greet the new sister-in-law then.” A servant woman reminded him.

Shao Xiyuan irritably kicked a roadside tree before lifting his feet to follow.

He knew it wasn’t the new sister-in-law’s fault. The second brother couldn’t remain unmarried for life. If he remarried, if it wasn’t the current new sister-in-law, it would be someone else.

But he hated the tenderness in his second brother’s eyes when he looked at the new second sister-in-law. It made him feel sad for the second sister-in-law lying beneath the nine springs.

The second sister-in-law’s death had achieved the second brother’s lifelong reputation and enabled his deep marital love with another woman. How unfair this was to the second sister-in-law!

Marquis Jing’an had been waiting in the flower hall for some time. Seeing Shao Mingyuan enter with Qiao Zhao, he was about to stand up, but remembering his current status and the rules, he quickly pretended nothing had happened and sat back down.

Soon, maids brought tea, and the newlyweds each held a cup.

“Father, please drink tea.” Shao Mingyuan knelt and offered it sincerely.

“Good.” Marquis Jing’an accepted the teacup, took a sip, and produced a red envelope he had prepared beforehand to give to Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan thanked him, then it was Qiao Zhao’s turn to offer tea.

“Father, please drink tea.” Qiao Zhao held the teacup with both hands, raising it above her forehead.

“Good, good.” Marquis Jing’an quickly accepted the tea and drank it all in one gulp, then produced a large red envelope and pressed it into Qiao Zhao’s hands.

Shao Mingyuan fell silent.

Why did the two red envelopes look different in thickness?

Looking at the respectful new daughter-in-law, Marquis Jing’an’s eyes became moist: “Second son’s wife, Second son… hasn’t had it easy. I’ll have to trouble you to take care of him from now on.”

Qiao Zhao bowed again: “Father, please rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will take good care of the Second son.”

Shao Mingyuan’s lips curved upward.

After “husband,” he felt “Second son” also sounded pleasant.

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Shao Mingyuan brought Qiao Zhao before Shao Jingyuan and his wife: “Elder brother, elder sister-in-law, please drink tea.”

By rights, given his current status and Shao Jingyuan’s behavior, this tea ceremony wasn’t necessary. Shao Mingyuan did this naturally out of respect for Marquis Jing’an.

Shao Jingyuan reluctantly took a sip and placed the teacup on the tea table.

The heir’s wife, Lady Wang, was all smiles. After drinking the tea, she gave both her and Shao Jingyuan’s portions to Qiao Zhao: “Younger sister-in-law, please don’t mind the modest gift.”

Next, it was Shao Xiyuan’s turn to pay respects to Qiao Zhao, followed by Shao Jingyuan’s three children.

Qiao Zhao had prepared a pair of shoe pads for Shao Xiyuan along with a small box the size of a child’s palm. Shao Xiyuan didn’t open the box to look.

The three children were easy to please—each received a bag of small trinkets made from gold ingots shaped like flowers, fruits, and animals, both adorable and practical.

Except for Sister Chun, who was still small and only knew how to smile at her two brothers, the two boys were delighted and immediately became close to Qiao Zhao.

Children always loved such glittering, small, and cute things.

Having successfully acknowledged the family, Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Zhao bid farewell to Marquis Jing’an.

After the newlywed couple left, Marquis Jing’an sat in his grand master’s chair for a long time without moving, quietly wiping away tears.

After a hundred years, he could finally tell his old friend that he had not failed his trust.

Shao Jingyuan returned to the heir’s quarters with a dark expression.

Seeing her husband’s appearance, Lady Wang couldn’t help but advise: “My lord, why must you do this?”

“What do you know!” Without needing to maintain appearances before others, Shao Jingyuan’s eyes seemed poisoned. “Look how excited Father was about Shao Mingyuan’s marriage. When I married you, I never saw him like this!”

Lady Wang pressed her lips together and remained silent. After listening to Shao Jingyuan vent for a while, she finally couldn’t help but retort: “So what if that’s the case? No matter how excited the marquis gets, you’re still the heir of our marquis residence. Second brother can’t take that away. Besides, the second brother will inherit the duke’s position in the future. If we maintain close relations with him, there are only benefits and no—”

“Shut up!” Shao Jingyuan stormed off with a flick of his sleeves.

Lady Wang stood in place for a moment, then turned to coax the children.

Shao Xiyuan didn’t return to his quarters after leaving the main courtyard. Instead, he wandered aimlessly and unknowingly found himself at the courtyard that had been vacated for Shao Mingyuan’s previous marriage.

The courtyard gate wasn’t locked. Shao Xiyuan pushed it open and entered. Weeds grew wild in the courtyard, presenting a desolate scene.

Shao Xiyuan walked in, looked at the mint plants Qiao Zhao had once planted in the corner of the wall, and lingered for a moment before the leafless mandarin duck vine, looking down at the small box in his hand.

He wondered what the new second sister-in-law had given him.

He raised his hand wanting to throw the small box away, but when his hand reached halfway, he pulled it back.

Shao Xiyuan simply opened the small box, and seeing what was inside, he couldn’t help but be stunned.

Why would it be this?

Shao Xiyuan couldn’t help but take the object from the box.

It was a thumb ring. Unlike the exquisite thumb rings commonly worn by nobles, this one was light brown with black markings circling it, made from reindeer antler.

When he had taught second sister-in-law archery, he had mentioned that thumb rings made from reindeer antler were most suitable for drawing bows and shooting arrows, with those circled by black markings being the most precious. He had seen second brother wear one.

Shao Xiyuan couldn’t help but grip the thumb ring tightly.

How could the new second sister-in-law give him such a thumb ring?

Was this a coincidence? Or was there some divine providence at work?

Shao Xiyuan stopped thinking deeper but carefully put the thumb ring away.

Regardless of what the new second sister-in-law was like, he very much liked this gift.

In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. Under the eager anticipation of everyone in the Li residence, the new son-in-law brought his new bride home for their first visit.