Chi Can’s mouth hung open for a long time. Meeting Shao Mingyuan’s unmoved expression, he finally managed: “Going to parents at the drop of a hat—is that interesting?”

Why was this guy’s logic so different from normal people?

Shao Mingyuan equally didn’t understand Chi Can’s logic and asked back: “What else then?”

He looked at Chi Can with some surprise: “Go fight with a little girl?”

Chi Can felt somewhat embarrassed by the question and said irritably, “Tingquan, why are you worrying about so much?”

“I’m simply fulfilling a request—don’t misunderstand.” Shao Mingyuan said frankly.

“What would I misunderstand? This is completely baffling!” Chi Can stood up. “I’m going home.”

Shao Mingyuan watched Chi Can’s fleeing figure, his eyes flickering slightly as he looked toward Zhu Yàn and Yang Houcheng.

Yang Houcheng spread his hands: “He’s always been like this, never changed—the more he cares, the more stubborn he gets.”

Shao Mingyuan hesitated before asking: “Shixi cares a lot about Miss Li?”

“Ah—” Yang Houcheng realized his slip of tongue and scratched his head to remedy it: “Actually, I care quite a bit too.”

Zhu Yàn couldn’t help but laugh, explaining to Shao Mingyuan: “It’s mainly because our time in Jia Feng was so unforgettable with Miss Li. Miss Li…”

He thought for a moment and said very honestly: “He is a very special person. Anyone who’s spent time with her would find it hard not to—”

He wanted to say “hard not to be captivated by her,” but felt that wasn’t quite appropriate. Perhaps “impressed” was more suitable—purely about talent, nothing romantic.

“Hard not to admire her. Tingquan, you don’t know—Miss Li could beat Shixi and Zi Zhe at chess with her eyes closed.”

Zhu Yàn: “…” He was still here—what kind of “loyal friend” was this?

“Is that so?” Shao Mingyuan smiled.

He couldn’t help but recall that rainy day, the conversation he’d overheard outside the door.

The little maid had asked Miss Li how he would deal with the two hunters, and Miss Li had said: I don’t know either. But I respect his choice.

A girl with such character was indeed special.

No wonder… Shixi would be moved.

Young Master Chi, after bidding farewell to his companions, began rummaging through boxes and cabinets as soon as he got home, making a complete mess of his room.

When the servant Taosheng came in, he wondered: “Young Master, what are you looking for? There’s nowhere to step in the room.”

“I remember getting two boxes of excellent Frost Cloud Ointment in early spring, but I forgot where I put them.”

“Oh my, Young Master, just tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll find it.” Taosheng went straight to a cabinet, stood on tiptoe, and retrieved two white jade boxes from the top compartment. “Here they are.”

Chi Can took them, examined them carefully, and tucked them into his robes.

“Young Master, what do you need the Frost Cloud Ointment for?”

Chi Can’s face turned cold: “Mind your own business!”

“I’m being nosy, I’m being nosy!” Taosheng lightly slapped himself twice, but persisted: “So what does Young Master need the Frost Cloud Ointment for?”

Chi Can had no way to deal with this shameless servant and walked out.

The stone lions outside the Eldest Princess’s residence stood majestically, as if mocking the men and women of the mortal world.

Chi Can left the Eldest Princess’s residence and stood on the street, suddenly not knowing where to go.

If he just took the Frost Cloud Ointment to that girl’s door like this, would she misunderstand? What if that girl got the wrong idea?

No good, no good—better not to give it.

Young Master Chi agonized for a long time before finally remembering: tomorrow was the day that girl was supposed to go to Shuying Convent. If he happened to encounter her by chance and saw she was pitiful, giving her a box of Frost Cloud Ointment would be acceptable.

The next day, a certain someone got up early, carrying two boxes of Frost Cloud Ointment to wait at a tea stall on the road that led to Shuying Convent.

Old Madam Deng had already sent He Shi to have Binglu inform Shuying Convent yesterday that they wouldn’t be coming, so naturally, Qiao Zhao didn’t need to go out today.

She also couldn’t go out.

Yesterday’s gathering participants—noble young ladies from various families—either out of curiosity or politeness, all sent gifts. People like Zhu Yán, Su Luo Yi, and others even came personally to visit.

Whether out of courtesy or earlier plans, Qiao Zhao met with them all, feeling quite overwhelmed. Fortunately, she could speak again, so it wasn’t too stifling.

“Miss, the eldest daughter from the Minister’s residence has come.”

Qiao Zhao paused with her teacup, her expression unchanged: “Which Minister’s residence?”

“Minister Kou from the Ministry of Justice.”

“Please invite Miss Kou in.”

Soon, the pearl curtain rustled softly as Kou Zimo walked in.

Qiao Zhao rose to greet her: “Miss Kou—”

Kou Zimo hurried forward and grasped Qiao Zhao’s hands: “Miss Li, please sit down quickly. I shouldn’t be disturbing you right now, but I was truly worried—”

Her beautiful eyes swept over Qiao Zhao’s face, and she couldn’t help but redden around the eyes: “It’s this serious…”

A’Zhu served fragrant tea.

“Thank you for coming to see me, Miss Kou. Please have some tea.”

Kou Zimo accepted the teacup, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Qiao Zhao’s face.

Such an injury was disfiguring—why could Miss Li remain so calm?

Realizing this was somewhat rude, Kou Zimo forcibly withdrew her gaze and looked elsewhere.

On the windowsill sat a large-bellied azure vase containing a cluster of gardenia flowers, white as snow, filling the entire room with a light, clear fragrance. On the wall hung a painting of ducks at play, with just a few strokes bringing each duck to vivid life—staring long enough, one could almost hear their quacking.

This should be an early work by the renowned Master Qiao, but strangely, the signature on this painting wasn’t Master Qiao’s name.

“Is Miss Kou interested in this painting?”

Kou Zimo came to her senses and nodded instinctively: “Master Qiao’s duck painting—who wouldn’t be interested?”

“If Miss Kou likes it, I’ll give it to you.” Qiao Zhao smiled.

Kou Zimo was stunned and quickly waved her hands: “No, no, I was just looking. How could I accept such a precious painting?”

Qiao Zhao walked to the wall, stood on tiptoe to simply take down the painting, then returned and handed it to Kou Zimo: “I painted this casually in my spare time—it’s not some Master Qiao painting. If Miss Kou doesn’t mind, please accept it.”

Well, to please her cousin, she was going all out. Miss Qiao thought self-mockingly.

“Miss Li painted this?” Kou Zimo was greatly shocked and couldn’t help but look at the signature on the painting, murmuring: “A’Chu painted in the sixth month…”

Was “A’Chu” Miss Li’s pet name? What a strange name.

Kou Zimo was usually a composed person, but the painting before her was too astonishing, leaving her unable to recover for quite a while.

“Miss Li painted this?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “How could Master Qiao’s paintings be seen so casually? If Miss Kou doesn’t like it, just set it aside.”

Kou Zimo quickly hugged the duck painting: “How could I not like it? Looking at this painting every day, I’d eat an extra bowl of rice.”

Qiao Zhao laughed.

The girl before her had a gentle smile that should have been beautiful as a painting, but the hideous wound destroyed everything.

Kou Zimo sighed inwardly and said, “Miss Li, I came today also to thank you on behalf of Ouyang Weiyu.”