This wasn’t going as expected. Jiang Shisan hadn’t moved, but Third Miss was walking forward—what should he do?

“Miss—” Chen Guang instantly made his decision and followed closely behind Qiao Zhao.

He had to keep watch for the general!

Qiao Zhao stopped: “Chen Guang, you don’t need to follow me. I want to speak privately with Lord Jiang.”

“Alright, Miss, call me if you need anything.” Chen Guang dejectedly walked back to Binglu’s side.

Qiao Zhao walked up to Jiang Yuanchao, slightly bowed, and said in an indifferent tone: “Lord Jiang.”

Hearing this form of address, Jiang Yuanchao felt inexplicably irritated.

The young lady before him had once called him Uncle Jiang, then later Brother Jiang, and now Lord Jiang.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Yuanchao spoke: “Miss Li, that day… I was too hasty. My apologies.”

“Lord Jiang is too kind.” Qiao Zhao’s tone was very distant.

Although this person had said something very special to her—those four words so direct and passionate that any girl hearing them would probably feel her heart flutter—she only wanted to stay farther away from him.

When one is infatuated with someone, they pay special attention to her every detail, but she particularly didn’t want to be known as Qiao Zhao by a member of the Jinlin Guards.

She wasn’t some naive girl with her first romantic stirrings. Since the former Jiang Shisan, despite harboring deep affection, had never done anything for Qiao Zhao, why would she expect him to do anything for Li Zhao?

His identity was more likely to bring trouble and harm.

Sensing Qiao Zhao’s distance, Jiang Yuanchao sighed inwardly and said indifferently, “Miss Li, I still want to ask what I asked that day. What is your relationship with Miss Qiao?”

Qiao Zhao remained quiet for a moment, then asked: “Is this question very important to Lord Jiang?”

At that moment, the mountain forest was quiet, with the two of them separated by lush vegetation and the fragrance of wild flowers, within arm’s reach of each other.

Yet Jiang Yuanchao felt as if the young lady before him was as distant as the horizon, like those desolately bewildering dreams that one forgets upon waking, leaving only inexplicable melancholy.

He said: “Very important. I must know.”

How could it not be important? Ever since seeing that pouch, he had been unable to sleep, tossing and turning, waiting for today to come and get an answer.

“There is no relationship whatsoever.” Qiao Zhao said.

Jiang Yuanchao stared at her steadily, clearly unsatisfied with this answer.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Qiao Zhao continued: “If there must be a relationship, it would be that Miss Qiao and I are both Physician Li’s goddaughters.”

Jiang Yuanchao’s eyes deepened, his tone seemingly calm yet carrying an indescribable sense of oppression: “If you’re merely Physician Li’s goddaughter, then Miss Li, why did you follow along and shed tears watching Young Master Qiao on the day of the Marquis Guanjun’s wife’s funeral?”

“Oh, I like him.” Miss Qiao answered without the slightest hesitation.

Knowing that a meeting with Jiang Yuanchao was inevitable, Qiao Zhao had already thought through all the questions he might ask.

What could be a better explanation than liking him? Besides, she wasn’t lying—she naturally liked her brother.

Jiang Yuanchao was struck speechless.

Was this girl truly fond of Qiao Mo, or was she just trying to shut him up?

He had used “I like her” as his reason to persistently question the young lady before him, and she was returning those same words right back to him.

How could there be such a cunning girl?

As a Jinlin Guard skilled in interrogation, Jiang Yuanchao found himself uncertain for the first time whether an answer came from the speaker’s true heart.

Jiang Yuanchao took a step forward, looking directly into Qiao Zhao’s eyes: “Then, as fellow goddaughters of Physician Li, would you have identical pouches?”

Qiao Zhao blinked mischievously and asked back: “Wouldn’t that be allowed?”

Jiang Yuanchao’s mouth twitched slightly.

With her acting this way, continuing to press would make him feel like he was losing all dignity.

But there were some things that he would do even if it meant losing his dignity.

Qiao Zhao seemed to understand Jiang Yuanchao’s thoughts and explained: “That type of pouch is very convenient for carrying small items. I saw Grandpa Li had one and found it interesting and practical, so I made one following the same pattern.”

This time, Jiang Yuanchao remained silent for a long while, as if some spark was falling into the depths of his eyes.

So that was it.

So… it was only that.

He couldn’t tell if what he felt was disappointment or something else, his smile somewhat forced: “Is Miss Li also studying medicine under Physician Li?”

“Yes, Grandpa Li gave me many medical books.” Qiao Zhao looked up at the sky with a smile: “Lord Jiang, it’s getting late. It wouldn’t be good to arrive at Shuying Convent too late. If you have nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Oh, alright.” Jiang Yuanchao silently watched the young lady turn and leave. Only after she had completely disappeared did he turn and head down the mountain, returning to the Jinlin Guards’ headquarters.

“My lord, the Grand Commander wants you to go see him when you return,” Jiang He reported.

Jiang Yuanchao nodded lightly and walked out.

Jiang He stroked his chin: The lord seems rather unhappy today.

“Foster Father, you wanted to see me.”

“Where did you go so early this morning?”

Today, Censor Ouyang’s family is leaving the capital for Beiding. I was worried there might be some situation, so I secretly went to keep watch.”

Jiang Tang nodded: “Very thoughtful of you. Ouyang Hai has quite a good reputation among scholars. If something were to happen to him, the Jinlin Guards would be blamed again. It’s better to let him reach Beiding safely.”

“That’s exactly what Shisan thought, too.”

Jiang Tang smiled approvingly: “I’m fortunate to have good judgment. When I was on assignment years ago, I brought you back from the streets, and now my son can truly handle things independently.”

“Foster Father gives me too much credit. It’s all due to your excellent guidance.”

Jiang Tang’s eyes showed genuine joy: “Shisan, I’ve made inquiries. The eighth day of next month is auspicious—you two should exchange betrothal gifts and get engaged on that day.”

“Mm.” Jiang Yuanchao lowered his eyes in agreement: “Then Shisan should move out of the Jiang Residence.”

Jiang Tang nodded repeatedly: “You should indeed move out. Haha, I’ve already bought you a residence, just waiting for your wedding.”

“Foster Father, Shisan has already bought a residence and was about to tell you.”

“What did you buy another one for?”

“After all, it’s Yuanchao taking a wife. Buying a residence to settle his wife and children is proper.”

Hearing this, Jiang Tang didn’t insist and laughed: “That’s fine too. Take me to see it later. If anything needs fixing, we’ll have people renovate it.”

The mountain temple was cool, and time passed easily. In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon, and Qiao Zhao left Shuying Convent to return to the Li Residence.

Upon seeing Qiao Zhao, the gatekeeper hurried to say: “Third Miss, not long ago, a young lady came to visit. She’s waiting for you in the front flower hall.”

“Which household’s young lady?” Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred.

Could it be Kou Zimo?

“She said she’s the eldest miss from the Eldest Princess Changrong’s residence.”

Qiao Zhao’s mouth twitched, her tone turning cold: “Didn’t I give instructions that if anyone from the Eldest Princess Changrong’s residence comes again, just say I’m not in?”

The gatekeeper looked innocent: “At that time, you gave instructions about maids from the princess’s residence, not young ladies from the princess’s residence. And when this old servant said you weren’t in, that young lady said she could wait.”

Qiao Zhao took a deep breath.

Indeed, she had given instructions about maids, because she never would have thought that in this world, besides men and women, there existed someone like Chi Can!