The three of them—Qiao Zhào, her father, and their servant—walked out of the teahouse. Minister Su bid them farewell and departed in his carriage.

Li Guangwen looked at the sky and patted his stomach: “Without realizing it, it’s gotten to this hour. My stomach is rather hungry. Zhàozhào, are you hungry?”

“A little.”

“Then let Father take you to Baiwei Restaurant. It’s not far from the Hanlin Academy—a century-old establishment. Their mutton soup is the most famous.”

Qiao Zhào glanced at the azure-curtained carriage that had quietly appeared beneath a nearby tree at some unknown time, and smiled: “Father, let’s go home to eat instead. Look, mother is already waiting there for us.”

Li Guangwen had noticed that carriage too, but thinking about sharing a carriage with He Shi made him feel uncomfortable all over. Hearing his daughter’s suggestion, he hesitated: “This—”

The girl, whose figure hadn’t yet fully developed, tugged at his sleeve. Half-raising her head, her voice was soft and sweet: “Father?”

The girl naturally had a gentle voice, and when calling someone, she drew out the ending tone, as if a small brush was lightly sweeping across one’s heartstrings. At this moment, the girl no longer gave the impression of a resilient pine or calm lake, but rather a little deer joyfully running in the spring breeze, displaying pure charm.

Li Guangwen immediately couldn’t voice his intended refusal, saying dazedly: “Alright.”

When the father and daughter approached and Li Guangwen also entered the carriage, He Shi immediately didn’t know where to put her hands and feet. She nervously bit her lip for a long while before calling out: “Master—”

Li Guangwen habitually put on a stern face, but remembering what his daughter had said today, he hesitated before asking: “Have you finished buying everything?”

He Shi hadn’t expected Li Guangwen to initiate conversation with her. She was immediately flattered, clutching her handkerchief: “Yes, yes, finished buying—”

Qiao Zhào consciously sat in the corner, observing coldly, and sighed softly.

Wanting these parents to ease their relationship would truly be a long and arduous task.

As twilight fell, the carriage slowly began moving, quickly picking up speed and disappearing at the end of the bluestone road.

Only then did Jiang Yuanchao, who had somehow followed them out of the teahouse, reveal himself. He gazed in the direction the carriage had departed and smiled.

What a warm family indeed.

He composed his expression and hurried back, running into Jiang He head-on.

Jiang He showed no awareness of having just been scolded, holding up the food in his hands: “Sir, I just bought two roasted chickens. Shall we go have a drink?”

Jiang Yuanchao hesitated only briefly before smiling faintly: “Alright.”

He didn’t want to return too early to his adoptive father’s residence. No matter how fine the Grand Commander’s mansion was, it ultimately wasn’t Jiang Yuanchao’s home.

Moreover—

Thinking of his adoptive sister’s recent clinging behavior, Jiang Yuanchao shook his head, feeling quite troubled.

He wasn’t some teenage boy; he had some understanding of his adoptive sister’s feelings. But he had always regarded her as a sister, and her romantic thoughts only made him feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Yet from his adoptive father’s subtle probing, it was clear that his adoptive father would welcome such a development, which undoubtedly put him in an even more difficult position.

“Sir, what was that Miss Li doing at Five Flavors Teahouse?” Jiang He tore off a chicken leg and offered it over.

Jiang Yuanchao snapped back to attention and said coolly: “Mind your own business.”

What was the little girl doing there? He had quietly observed for half the day and was somewhat confused himself.

Li Guangwen bringing his cross-dressed daughter to meet Minister of Rites and Hanlin Academy Director Su He was just to play chess? There must be some other purpose under the guise of chess—any father with a normal brain wouldn’t bring his daughter out for such a reason.

There was a conspiracy!

Seeing his superior wouldn’t take the chicken leg, Jiang He withdrew his hand and bit into it himself, asking vaguely: “Regarding Miss Li, does your subordinate not need to keep watching her anymore?”

“Continue watching. But from now on, you must not appear before her!”

Originally, he had thought it unnecessary to continue monitoring that little girl, but now, with a Minister of Rites who was on the verge of joining the cabinet getting involved, things were different.

Jiang He’s expression became serious: “Sir, rest assured. This subordinate guarantees that Miss Li will never discover me again!”

Jiang Yuanchao nodded and strode into the gathering dusk.

After leaving the teahouse, Minister Su went directly home to the Minister’s residence. As soon as he entered, his wife, Lady Zhang, complained: “Why are you so late leaving the office today? If there was something urgent, you could have sent someone to inform us. The food has all gone cold.”

Minister Su glanced at his little granddaughter Su Luo Yi sitting beside Lady Zhang and smiled: “Cold food can be reheated. Madam doesn’t know—I played chess today and encountered a master.”

“There are always people beyond people, skies beyond skies. What’s so unusual about a master encountering a chess master?” Lady Zhang said dismissively.

She knew her husband’s level—it was just average. If not for the people at the Hanlin Academy letting him win, he’d be depressed countless times a day. Which unaware subordinate had displayed their true skill?

Oh, right, she had heard there was a Scholar Li at the Hanlin Academy whose mind wasn’t quite clear. Had he played against him?

No, that wasn’t right. Yesterday he had played against that Scholar Li, and when her husband came home, he was so angry his beard bristled with rage, cursing that man thoroughly.

Minister Su deliberately glanced at Lady Zhang and asked: “Does being able to intentionally create three consecutive draws count as mastery?”

Lady Zhang was shocked upon hearing this, and little granddaughter Su Luo Yi even forgot to use her chopsticks.

“Grandfather, what do you mean by ‘intentionally create three consecutive draws’?” Su Luo Yi simply put down her chopsticks and gazed at her grandfather with burning eyes.

“Exactly what it sounds like. Grandfather played chess with her, and three consecutive games all ended in draws. This couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?”

“It couldn’t be a coincidence.” Su Luo Yi answered without hesitation.

Minister Su stroked his beard: “So you see, grandfather encountered a master.”

“More than just a master—such a person deserves the title of national champion. Grandfather, who did you play chess with?”

Lady Zhang coughed: “Luo Yi, why are you asking this? You’re a young lady—even if you knew, you couldn’t go play chess with them, could you?”

Hearing Lady Zhang’s words, Minister Su laughed heartily: “Madam, you’re quite wrong. Finding that person to play chess would be very inconvenient for me, but it would be perfectly convenient for our Luo Yi.”

“Hmm? Husband, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Grandfather, I don’t understand either. What do you mean?”

Minister Su looked at his wife and little granddaughter and smiled as he revealed the answer: “Because she’s a little girl.”

“A little girl?” Su Luo Yi and Lady Zhang looked at each other in surprise.

“Yes, she’s Scholar Li’s daughter. I even found out her name—the little girl is called Li Zhào.”

Li Zhào? The Third Miss Li of the Li residence, who was exceptionally summoned by the master of Shuying Nunnery on Buddha’s Birthday? Su Luo Yi looked shocked.

Lady Zhang’s expression was even stranger as she thought: Isn’t master talking about that Li family girl who was kidnapped?

Seeing their reactions, Minister Su asked: “What, you both know her?”

“Of course, we know her—that girl was once kidnapped by human traffickers!”

“Of course, we know her—Third Miss Li was summoned by Master Wumei because of her excellent calligraphy!”

Lady Zhang and Su Luo Yi spoke simultaneously.