Kou Zimo quietly squeezed Kou Qinglan’s hand and whispered, “Don’t overthink it. Just follow what I entrusted you with earlier.”

“Alright.”

Soon, Su Luo Yi also arrived, saying apologetically, “I’m late. I was delayed by some matters before leaving home. Eh, Third Sister Li, your face has completely healed?”

Zhu Yán laughed beside them, “Yes, we were just marveling at it.”

“It healed so quickly?” Su Luo Yi examined Qiao Zhao and breathed a sigh of relief. “Earlier, everyone was saying that Third Sister Li would be disfigured. After visiting you that day, I’ve been somewhat worried all along. Now I can finally rest assured.”

Qiao Zhao smiled, “I troubled Sister Su with your concern. I also didn’t expect to recover so quickly.”

“It’s still somewhat incredible.”

Kou Zimo interjected, “I know about this. Third Miss Li has excellent scar-removing medicine, much better than even the finest Cloud Frost Cream.”

“Really? Elder Sister, how come I never heard you mention this?” Kou Qinglan suddenly asked.

Kou Zimo smiled, “You don’t even know Third Miss Li, so why would I mention it to you? I happened to hear about it when I went to visit Third Miss Li that day.”

“Now I do know her.” Kou Qinglan glanced at Qiao Zhao.

“By the way, Zimo, didn’t you say you invited us to see the fawns? Where are they?” Su Luo Yi asked.

Zhu Yán chimed in, “Yes, if not for wanting to see the fawns, in this kind of weather, I dread going out.”

“Today is overcast,” Xu Jinghong said flatly.

Kou Zimo stood up, “Follow me, there will be a surprise.”

Several people curiously followed.

Kou Zimo led everyone around half the lake, following a bluestone path through bamboo groves with swaying green shadows, arriving before a small patch of grassland.

“Look over there.” Kou Zimo pointed with her hand.

Qiao Zhao looked in the direction Kou Zimo was pointing and saw two adult sika deer leisurely grazing, while not far from the two sika deer, two tiny sika deer were curled up.

Su Luo Yi covered her lips in surprise, “There are two?”

“Keep your voice down, deer are easily startled.” Kou Zimo smiled, “I didn’t expect it either, that twins would be born. Look, the two fawns are identical.”

“Can we get closer to see?” Su Luo Yi asked.

“Yes, these two deer have been tamed by me. As long as we keep our movements quiet, it’ll be fine.” Kou Zimo said as she walked over first.

One of the adult sika deer indeed only looked over alertly once, then moved a bit farther away and continued grazing with its head down.

The other adult sika deer paced beside the two young ones. Though it didn’t flee, it remained vigilant, watching the group.

Su Luo Yi asked quietly, “Zimo, this must be the doe, right?”

Before Kou Zimo could answer, Xu Jinghong glanced at Su Luo Yi and said coolly, “Bucks have antlers.”

Su Luo Yi’s face turned bright red.

Zhu Yán laughed softly.

The group watched the fawns for a long while before finally preparing to return to the pavilion, satisfied.

Kou Qinglan suddenly spoke up, “Elder Sister, you all go back first. I want to have a word with Third Miss Li.”

“Then we’ll go back to rest first. Come over in a while – I’ve had people prepare ice bowls.”

After returning to the pavilion, everyone ate ice bowls filled with almonds, walnuts, lotus seeds, water chestnuts, watermelon, honey peaches, and other ingredients, immediately feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

“Qinglan is so lively, yet she hit it off immediately with Third Miss Li. I’ve always felt Third Miss Li is a very quiet person,” Su Luo Yi said leisurely.

Kou Zimo sighed, “I can roughly guess Second Sister’s thoughts. Second Sister had a scar on her arm when she was young – she’s probably pestering Third Miss Li about the scar-removing medicine. I shouldn’t have mentioned it earlier, lest I put Third Miss Li in a difficult position.”

“This is also human nature. What girl doesn’t care about such things? Zimo, your ice bowls are made very authentically. Did you hire a specialized master chef?”

The group began chatting casually.

In the depths of the bamboo grove on the grassland, Kou Qinglan pulled Qiao Zhao to sit down.

“Third Miss Li, I heard from Elder Sister that at Earl Guchang’s residence that day, you displayed great prowess during the couplet matching, completely overwhelming even Lan Xinong?”

“It was just for fun.”

Kou Qinglan blinked, “I also love matching couplets. How about we play?”

“Oh, alright.”

Kou Qinglan glanced at the bamboo grove and smiled, “I have it. My first line is: Pine leaves, bamboo leaves, leaf upon leaf emerald.”

Qiao Zhao replied without hesitation, “My second line is: Autumn sounds, wild goose calls, sound upon sound cold.”

“Old trees hold smoke, inscribing evening light.”

“New branches brush water, painting fresh dawn.”

Kou Qinglan paused, then continued, “Peach blossoms fade their beauty, how can bloodstains become rouge.”

“Bean flowers lose their fragrance, hand traces still hold orchid musk.” Qiao Zhao responded effortlessly, but her heart sank after speaking.

This was hardly an auspicious couplet.

Kou Qinglan seemed oblivious and continued.

The two went back and forth, matching several more couplets, when suddenly a girl’s clear laughter came from the bamboo grove: “Big Brother, hurry up!”

The instant she heard this voice, Qiao Zhao’s entire body suddenly tensed, her fingertips even beginning to tremble slightly.

She didn’t know how long she waited – perhaps only an instant, yet it felt endless enough to make one forget to breathe – before finally hearing that voice.

The man’s voice was clear and bright, like summer wind brushing through bamboo groves: “Don’t run so fast, be careful not to fall.”

“Big Brother always worries. Even if I fall, it won’t hurt. I want to see the fawns.”

Behind came the man’s helpless laugh: “Even if you’re not afraid of falling, you should move quietly, or the fawns will be scared away by you.”

“Eh, Second Cousin Sister, you’re here too.”

Kou Qinglan stood up, “Wanwan came to see the fawns?”

“Yes, I brought Big Brother to see these two identical fawns.”

“Cousin Brother.” Kou Qinglan curtsied to Qiao Mo.

“Second Cousin Sister.” Qiao Mo nodded to Kou Qinglan, then his gaze fell on the plainly dressed young lady standing with her back to him.

“This is Third Miss from the Li residence, invited by Elder Sister to play today,” Kou Qinglan introduced.

Qiao Zhao turned around.

“Miss Li, this is my aunt’s cousin brother and cousin sister.”

“Greetings to you both.” Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes and curtsied.

Perhaps it was being close to home that made her timid – for a moment she actually dared not raise her head.

Qiao Wan’s gaze swept across Qiao Zhao’s face before losing interest, returning a “Hello, Sister Li” and running toward the fawns.

Qiao Mo had a vague feeling that the young lady before him seemed familiar, but it wasn’t proper to look closely, so he politely nodded: “Greetings, Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao could no longer restrain herself and raised her head to look over.

Compared to that hasty glimpse from that day, her elder brother in fine white linen clothing had grown much thinner, actually taking on a somewhat gaunt appearance.

Qiao Zhao’s heart ached, staring transfixed, forgetting to look away.

Kou Qinglan stood to the side, murmuring to herself: Elder Sister said Third Miss Li needed to see Cousin Brother’s burn condition to determine the prescription, but seeing Cousin Brother, Third Miss Li is staring far too intently – doesn’t she feel any embarrassment at all?

She was pondering this when she saw Qiao Zhao suddenly stride toward Qiao Mo with large steps, then reach out and grab Qiao Mo’s hand.