“General, Leng Yi said that at most by tomorrow, he’ll have questioned everything out of him.”

Shao Mingyuan nodded and instructed Shao Zhi: “Deploy four more personal guards to the residence, to take shifts guarding where I live. In the future, whoever enters, throw them all out.”

Hearing this, Shao Zhi felt sorry for the General and immediately agreed.

Without waiting until the next day, Shao Zhi brought news of Steward Shen’s confession.

“General, that bastard has confessed!”

“Speak.”

Shao Zhi hesitated.

He couldn’t bear to say it.

Shao Mingyuan smiled lightly: “Speak. I can probably guess.”

An inexplicable sadness surged in Shao Zhi’s heart. He opened his mouth, as if a thousand-pound burden pressed on his heart, making his voice hoarse: “We found a man called Xie Wu, formerly of the Northern Expedition Army. Three years ago, he was injured and retired from the army, returning to the capital. Xie Wu is Steward Shen’s cousin—it was Steward Shen who arranged for him to enter the military camp back then. He was one of the residence guards escorting Madam to the Northern Territories. It was he who, under the pretext of hunting, passed through the mountain belly from Ghost Cry Forest to reach Hui Rang, making contact with the barbarians there—”

Shao Zhi paused here, cautiously glancing at Shao Mingyuan: “General—”

“Did Steward Shen confess who was behind it all?”

Shao Zhi fell silent.

Shao Mingyuan waited quietly. When he never received Shao Zhi’s reply, he smiled softly: “I understand.”

He tilted his head and coughed once, covering it with his hand, then turned back: “Continue. Where is this Xie Wu now?”

But Shao Zhi had already turned pale with shock: “General!”

“What’s wrong?” Shao Mingyuan’s brows and eyes were indifferent.

Shao Zhi’s eyes widened. This man, who had seen countless battles, had red-rimmed eyes, desperately controlling himself to keep from crying, his lips trembling as he reached out his hand: “General, you… wipe yourself, you’re bleeding…”

Bleeding?

Shao Mingyuan looked down at his palm.

His well-defined fingers and callused palm were stained with a startling splash of dark red.

Shao Zhi fell to his knees with a thud. In this moment, the iron-blooded man wept like rain: “General, this subordinate knows your heart is in pain, but please don’t treat yourself this way! We need you, and the people of Great Liang need you too!”

Shao Mingyuan took out a snow-white handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, lightly kicked Shao Zhi, and said flatly: “Get up. A grown man crying like this—aren’t you embarrassed?”

“This subordinate doesn’t care, this subordinate isn’t afraid of embarrassment. This subordinate only hopes the General will cherish himself!”

“I’m fine. It’s just overwhelming anger attacking the heart. Heh, I’ve suffered all kinds of injuries before, and I’ve never seen you act so cowardly!”

“I—” Shao Zhi opened his mouth, but couldn’t say a word.

How could it be the same?

But what could he, a subordinate, say at this moment?

Tell the General to cut that damned mastermind into a thousand pieces? He couldn’t—that was the General’s mother!

“Get to the point. Where is Xie Wu?”

Shao Zhi simply lowered his head, not looking at Shao Mingyuan’s appearance, saying quietly: “Steward Shen confessed that after returning to the capital, he sent Xie Wu away to hide. This subordinate has already dispatched people to find Xie Wu. Additionally, requesting the General’s instructions—how should we handle Steward Shen?”

“Let him go back.”

Shao Zhi suddenly raised his head: “Let him go back?”

Shao Mingyuan nodded lightly.

“General, that’s too easy on that bastard! Even if we can’t deal with the mastermind, can’t we deal with that scoundrel?” Shao Zhi spoke urgently, then regretted his slip of tongue.

Since the General said so, he should just comply. Why was he still speaking carelessly and stabbing the General’s heart? He was truly confused!

“Shao Zhi, what I mean is, let him go back and continue being Steward Shen.”

“General—” Shao Zhi was even more confused.

“Have Leng Yi tell him to properly return and be his steward. If he arouses anyone’s suspicion and can’t continue being a steward, then his life won’t be necessary either.”

This time, Shao Zhi completely understood. His look toward Shao Mingyuan became even more reverential as he cupped his fists: “Understood!”

The General was indeed still the General of unparalleled wisdom and courage in his heart. Even in such heartbreak, he could still make the most advantageous choice.

Temporarily not moving against Steward Shen while holding such damning evidence against him was tantamount to controlling most of the residence’s activities from now on.

“Go. When you find Xie Wu, gather all witnesses and evidence, bring them all under control, then investigate everything about Xie Wu from childhood to now.”

Even if that mastermind was close family, how could they have so perfectly chosen such a person?

Shao Zhi left with his orders. Shao Mingyuan poured himself a cup of warm water and slowly drank it, washing away the bloody taste in his mouth. Then he sat down against the wall and closed his eyes.

His mother… did she want him to die?

If she wanted his life, why did she need to harm others?

Oh no, that wasn’t someone else—that was Shao Mingyuan’s wedded wife.

Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes. The bright moonlight filtered through the carved window lattice, falling on his face, making it appear whiter than the snow on Mount Alan in the Northern Territories.

He suddenly understood everything and couldn’t help but show a self-mocking smile.

So what his mother wanted was for him to suffer a fate worse than death.

What a cruel truth.

A surge of blood and qi roiled within him. Shao Mingyuan pressed his hand to his chest, suppressing the churning blood and qi.

For a moment, he desperately wanted to go and demand an explanation regardless of everything, but in the end, he suppressed that thought.

What would questioning accomplish?

He couldn’t bring himself to point a blade and a sword at his mother. Perhaps ending himself with one stroke would be more pleasant.

Shao Mingyuan lowered his head, both hands thrust into his hair. Coldness struck him—from inside to outside, an icy expanse.

The weather gradually grew warmer, and in Qiao Zhao’s secret anticipation, the day of her funeral finally arrived.

Oh, thinking this way seemed somewhat strange.

Whenever Qiao Zhao thought of this, she couldn’t help but smile, secretly mocking herself for becoming increasingly bold.

This day, she rose early, her clean white face bare of any makeup. She wore a duck-egg blue shirt on top, a white embroidered skirt below, with no decorations on her body except for a pair of white pearl earrings.

After paying respects to Old Madam Deng, Qiao Zhao said: “Grandmother, tomorrow is the day to go to Sparse Shadow Nunnery. I’d like to visit the brush and ink shop to see if there are suitable brushes and ink to buy as gifts for Master, to thank her for her guidance these past days.”

“I heard that everything Master Wumei uses is supplied by the imperial family. If Third Sister wants to give Master a gift, you should think carefully.” Li Jiǎo seemed to remind her considerately, but in her heart, she hated Qiao Zhao even more.

During this time, the East Residence women’s academy had remained closed. The academy had originally been established for Second Miss, but now, with Li Jiāo staying indoors and showing signs of withdrawing from the capital’s social circle of young ladies, the East Residence naturally had little interest in running the academy.

Speaking of it, this was all Third Li’s fault. If not for Third Li causing Second Sister to be repeatedly embarrassed, would she have had no school to attend now?

Yet the person who most deserved to be taught a lesson was now pleased with everything—how truly unfair!

“I only need to be sincere. I don’t need to think carefully.” Qiao Zhao said flatly.

Old Madam Deng nodded: “Your Third Sister is right. There’s no need to deliberately curry favor with that Master—sincerity is enough. Zhaozhao, go ahead, return early.”

Li Jiǎo sneered inwardly but smiled warmly on her face: “Grandmother, let me accompany Third Sister. I happen to want to buy some letter paper too.”