What?

Kou Qinglan gaped in shock, her mouth staying open for a long time without closing, momentarily forgetting any other reaction.

Though Qiao Wan, protective of her brother, had most of her attention on the fawns, she reacted instantly, rushing over to hit Qiao Zhao’s hand in annoyance: “Why are you touching my big brother?”

Qiao Zhao lowered her head, staring at her hand clasped with Qiao Mo’s, inexplicably feeling somewhat wronged: She was grasping, not touching!

Qiao Mo’s hand had distinct knuckles and slender fingers, possessing the characteristic pale softness of a young nobleman, yet his palm was cold, so cold it made Qiao Zhao’s heart ache.

Qiao Mo was somewhat dazed.

In this instant, he suddenly recalled the girl he had glimpsed by chance in the crowd on the day of his eldest sister’s funeral procession – this was why he didn’t immediately shake off the strange young lady’s hand.

That girl had eyes remarkably similar to his eldest sister’s.

The eyes were very alike, and the expression even more so.

At that time, his emotions had surged, and when he tried to search again, the girl had vanished without a trace. Who would have thought that today she would appear so abruptly before him, looking at him with that same expression?

Under the gaze of such eyes, how could he remember to release her hand?

When Qiao Wan rushed over, Qiao Mo finally came to his senses and hurriedly released the young lady’s hand, but she twisted her wrist and placed her fingertips on his wrist.

Qiao Wan’s eyes widened in fury: “You, aren’t you ashamed? Let go quickly, don’t take advantage of my brother anymore.”

“Be good, don’t speak.” Qiao Zhao casually patted Qiao Wan’s head, her expression grave as she pressed Qiao Mo’s wrist without releasing it.

Looking at the young lady’s coldly focused brow and eyes, Qiao Mo felt somewhat at a loss, not knowing whether he should push the young lady away due to propriety between men and women, or just wait and see what would happen.

Though what exactly he was waiting to see, Young Master Qiao didn’t know either.

“Second Cousin Sister, where did you bring this female rogue from?” Qiao Wan, small and weak, could only turn to Kou Qinglan for help in indignation.

Only then did Kou Qinglan wake as if from a dream, rushing over with quick steps and stammering: “Miss, Miss Li, don’t get too excited. It’s not proper for a young lady to behave this way.”

Though Cousin Brother had once made all the girls in the capital yearn for him, he was disfigured now after all – how could Miss Li still be so excited?

Oh, thinking of it this way, Miss Li’s feelings for Cousin Brother could be considered genuine affection. Such devotion was quite touching.

Bah, bah, what was she thinking randomly about? Cousin Brother belonged to Elder Sister!

Only then did Kou Qinglan fully react: Heavens, hadn’t Elder Sister essentially invited a wolf into the house?

“Miss Li, if you continue like this, I’ll call for people—” Kou Qinglan threatened coldly.

“Don’t call out, it would be bad for Young Master Qiao’s reputation.” Qiao Zhao kept her finger on Qiao Mo’s wrist, her heart churning like stormy seas as she replied casually.

Kou Qinglan was stunned.

Was this the so-called “shameless people are invincible”? Miss Li was only thinking of Cousin Brother’s reputation, not mentioning herself at all, so she was being counter-threatened, wasn’t she?

Second Miss Kou, threatened by Qiao Zhao, was dumbfounded.

“Miss Li, are you finished taking the pulse?” The atmosphere was too awkward, so Qiao Mo finally couldn’t help but speak, his voice like clear spring water flowing through one’s heart on a summer day, instantly soothing people’s restlessness.

Kou Qinglan calmed down and asked back: “Taking pulse? Miss Li, do you also know medicine?”

Having a good prescription for removing scars was completely different from diagnosing illness through pulse-taking.

“My godgrandfather is a divine physician.” Miss Qiao finally released her hand and said calmly, her demeanor even more proper than that of a great family’s daughter, showing not the slightest trace of having just desperately clung to a strange man’s wrist.

“Eh.” Kou Qinglan nodded.

This explanation seemed very reasonable, yet something felt off.

“Young Master Qiao, shall we go over there? I’d like to speak with you privately.”

“Very well.” Qiao Mo looked deeply at Qiao Zhao, soothingly patted Qiao Wan’s head, and walked toward where Qiao Zhao had indicated.

Only after the two had stopped at a distance did Kou Qinglan belatedly realize: Wait, it’s true that Miss Li’s godgrandfather is a divine physician, but what does that have to do with whether Miss Li herself knows medicine?

“Second Cousin Sister, what kind of person did you bring?” Qiao Wan was so angry that her cheeks puffed out with displeasure.

Kou Qinglan’s mood was complicated: “I don’t know either.”

She also wanted to ask Elder Sister this question!

Qiao Mo looked at Qiao Zhao with a gentle expression.

Qiao Zhao’s mood was bitter as she asked softly: “Young Master Qiao, did I frighten you just now?”

“Not at all. Miss Li acted this way for a reason, surely.” At this point, Qiao Mo smiled, “Rather, I hope I didn’t frighten you.”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes grew hot, and she quickly bit her lip lightly.

No matter what trials he endured, her elder brother always remained his best self.

“Young Master Qiao has met Physician Li, hasn’t he? He is my god-grandfather.”

Qiao Mo smiled, his smile gaining several degrees of warmth: “So the goddaughter Physician Li mentioned is Miss Li.”

“Grandpa Li mentioned me to you?”

“He did. Physician Li also said that when he returns, he would introduce us.” Qiao Mo was very forthright.

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes: “So Grandpa Li said so much.”

Since Grandpa Li had said so much to her elder brother, why hadn’t he told him that he had been poisoned with Lingxiang?

Or perhaps Big Brother had only recently been poisoned with Lingxiang? If so, she was even more worried, since her elder brother rarely left his maternal grandfather’s house these days – where could such poison have come from? The thought was chilling to the bone.

She must get to the bottom of this today!

“Does Young Master Qiao know that you’ve been poisoned?” Qiao Zhao simply chose a direct approach.

As strangers now, being direct might be the best choice.

Qiao Mo’s smile froze as he looked deeply at Qiao Zhao.

He had thought the girl before him only understood medicine slightly, but truly hadn’t expected she could tell at a glance that he had been poisoned.

“This poison is called Lingxiang.” Qiao Zhao revealed another card.

With the identity of Physician Li’s goddaughter and accurately naming what poison Big Brother had been afflicted with, surely Big Brother wouldn’t remain silent about this matter.

“Miss Li has keen insight. I was indeed poisoned with Lingxiang, but fortunately, Physician Li helped me detoxify—”

Qiao Zhao suddenly interrupted Qiao Mo: “Physician Li helped you detoxify?”

“Yes.”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but step back, all blood draining from her face, pale as paper.

So Grandpa Li had already detoxified her elder brother!

Grandpa Li hadn’t mentioned a word to her about Big Brother being poisoned. If she hadn’t been so eager to meet her elder brother, she might never have discovered this chilling fact: since Grandpa Li had already detoxified Big Brother, where did the Lingxiang poison currently in Big Brother’s body come from?

Could it be that the villain harming Big Brother was hidden within their maternal grandfather’s household?

Qiao Zhao felt surrounded by layers of fog, making her feel so oppressed she could barely breathe.

“Is Miss Li unwell?”

“I’m fine. Young Master Qiao, there’s something I must tell you.”

“Please speak, Miss Li.”

“You still have Lingxiang poison in your body right now.”