“Huh?”

Miss Qiao looked completely bewildered, suspecting she had misheard.

“What I mean is, from now on, I’ll study harder and strive to pass the imperial examinations earlier, bring honor to our family, and then be able to protect you all.” After Li Hui finished saying these words, his face had already turned bright red. Without waiting for Qiao Zhao’s reaction, he turned and ran off.

Qiao Zhao was stunned for quite a while before pursing her lips in a smile.

Not long after, He Shi came over with reddened eyes: “Zhaozhao, are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine. Mother, look, the wound has already scabbed over.” Qiao Zhao leaned her face closer for He Shi to see.

When He Shi looked, her eyes became even redder.

The wound, having formed a scab, actually appeared darker in color and looked even more jarring.

Her daughter, beautiful as a flower and precious as jade—would Physician Li’s medicine truly be able to prevent Zhaozhao’s face from being scarred?

Qiao Zhao sensed He Shi’s devoted motherly love and couldn’t bear to see her distressed, so she took her arm and said: “Mother, please don’t worry. What kind of person is Grandpa Li? He’s a living immortal capable of miraculous healing—how could he fail to remove a mere scar?”

He Shi nodded repeatedly.

Her daughter made perfect sense, so she shouldn’t worry needlessly.

“Zhaozhao, about that cloud frost cream you said you’d save for me to use, uh… give it to me.”

Seeing He Shi’s strange expression, Qiao Zhao signaled to Binglu to fetch the cloud frost cream, then asked: “Mother, what do you need the cloud frost cream for right now?”

Previously, when Shao Mingyuan had sent several boxes of cloud frost cream and she had offered them to He Shi, He Shi had adamantly refused them.

He Shi’s eyes flickered: “Just to keep it safe. Cloud frost cream isn’t like other things—it’s hard to buy even with money.”

Qiao Zhao completely ignored He Shi’s words and frowned as she asked: “Who got injured?”

He Shi’s entire body stiffened.

Before she could make up some excuse, Qiao Zhao had already asked in a very certain tone: “Father?”

“No, how could your father get injured—”

“Because of me?” Qiao Zhao asked again.

He Shi completely deflated and honestly admitted: “Yes.”

Having such a clever daughter was both a source of pride and sorrow.

“What happened to Father? I’ll go see him.”

Qiao Zhao lifted her foot to leave, but He Shi pulled her back: “Zhaozhao, you mustn’t go. Your father feels he’s lost face and least wants you to know about this.”

“What exactly happened?”

“It was like this: today, when your father came home from the office, he went to the cosmetics shop wanting to bring back some face powder for you. Who would have thought he’d happen to overhear two women gossiping about my daughter’s disfigurement? Of course, your father wasn’t pleased when he heard this, so he started arguing with them. Those two women were utterly ill-mannered—when they couldn’t win the argument, they resorted to violence and scratched up your father’s face. How outrageous!”

Her husband was as elegant as jade—did those two vulgar women have no appreciation for such refined beauty?

Qiao Zhao: “…”

After a long pause, Qiao Zhao asked: “Is it serious?”

Father and daughter both disfigured at the same time—was this destined to become a legendary tale?

“Not too serious, but your father is rather unhappy about it. After all, it’s an injury to his face. He’s afraid people will see it and think I hit him, giving him a reputation for being henpecked.” Speaking of this, He Shi became somewhat agitated. “Am I the type of person who would hit her husband? This just goes to show that most people only look at the surface.”

Although her mother often scratched her father’s face, she hadn’t inherited this particular talent at all!

Qiao Zhao roughly understood the extent of Father’s injuries and, while moved, couldn’t help but find it amusing: “Then I won’t go see him. Mother, please take good care of Father.”

As the mother and daughter were talking, Binglu came over carrying a small box: “Miss, the cloud frost cream.”

Qiao Zhao looked at it and shook her head: “Put this one away for now and bring the previous one.”

Chi Can’s actions were too unpredictable. He had sent her two boxes of cloud frost cream, but who knew what might happen in the future? If they ever met and had an unpleasant encounter, with his temperament, it was entirely possible he’d demand the original items be returned, so it was better to keep them for now. The several boxes of cloud frost cream that Shao Mingyuan had Chen Guang deliver, however, could be used with peace of mind.

Binglu looked down at the cloud frost cream in the box, completely puzzled: Aren’t these the same?

However, the little maid always obeyed her miss’s instructions without question, so she still turned around to exchange it.

In the blink of an eye, several more days had passed, and it was time again for Qiao Zhao to go to Shuying Convent.

Everyone in the West Residence thought the Third Miss would ask for leave again, but unexpectedly, she dressed properly, put on her veiled hat, and left the house.

The weather was getting hotter, and there weren’t many pilgrims on the road leading to the mountain temple. Although the mountain path was shaded by green trees on both sides, climbing step by step up the mountain still left one drenched in sweat.

Binglu asked Qiao Zhao with concern: “Miss, are you hot? Why don’t you take off the veiled hat? There’s hardly anyone around anyway.”

“It’s fine.” Qiao Zhao’s breathing was slightly labored.

She didn’t care about others’ opinions, but why frighten people unnecessarily?

Chen Guang, who had been walking beside Qiao Zhao the whole time, suddenly asked: “Miss, have you been using the cloud frost cream our general sent?”

Ever since catching the male-disguised-as-female Taosheng red-handed, Chen Guang felt tremendous pressure.

He had thought he was already working hard enough for the general’s future happiness, but he hadn’t expected there to be someone even more ruthless who would disguise himself as a woman to directly visit the miss—this was practically cheating!

He had to make Third Miss understand that his general was the most thoughtful and was the first to send cloud frost cream—Young Master Chi was just following in his footsteps.

“I haven’t used it.” Qiao Zhao answered truthfully.

Chen Guang was alarmed when he heard this: She actually hadn’t used what the general sent? Then wasn’t she using what Young Master Chi sent?

“Then, have you used any cloud frost cream sent by random people?”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow: “I haven’t used that either.”

Chen Guang felt relieved when he heard this.

Good, at least it was a tie for now.

His general was still too reserved. The silver ingots and gold leaves that were originally sent to Third Miss under the guise of the divine physician were the general’s compensation for Third Miss to buy a carriage, but unfortunately, the general wouldn’t let him say so.

Thinking of this, Chen Guang sighed deeply.

Feeling displeased, he decided that the next time he encountered Young Master Chi’s servant, he’d beat him up to vent his frustration.

“Who’s there?” Chen Guang’s entire body tensed as he instantly positioned himself protectively behind Qiao Zhao, abandoning his lazy demeanor and staring intently at a certain spot without moving.

“Are there bandits? Are they robbers?” Binglu’s eyes lit up as she eagerly prepared for action.

Qiao Zhao remained very calm, following Chen Guang’s gaze.

The vegetation rustled slightly, and several zhang away stood a tall, slender young man.

Under the blazing sun, the man was dressed in black and appeared cold and stern, as if he had lowered the temperature around him, yet the faint smile at the corner of his mouth was as refreshing as a spring breeze.

A flash of light appeared in Chen Guang’s eyes.

Lord Shisan of the Jinlin Guards? What was he doing here? Right, Jiang Shisan had served as Third Miss’s coachman that day—could he be here today to steal his job?

Who would have thought that Third Miss’s coachman position would be so sought after!

At the thought of competition, a certain professional coachman immediately became as alert as if he’d been injected with adrenaline.

If Jiang Shisan dared take one step forward, he’d fight him to the death!

Qiao Zhao took a step forward and said to Chen Guang sideways, “Take care of Binglu. I’ll be right back.”

Watching Qiao Zhao walk toward Jiang Yuanchao step by step, Chen Guang was stunned speechless.