“Of course you can.” Qiao Mo was momentarily dazed by the young lady’s earnestness, taking a moment before responding.

The young lady immediately broke into a brilliant smile, tilting her head up to look at Qiao Mo with a familiar tone: “Then let’s root out the person who’s been poisoning you.”

At this point, the young lady’s tone turned cold, carrying a sense of determination: “After all, there’s logic to being a thief for a thousand days, but no logic to guarding against thieves for a thousand days.”

Qiao Mo: “…” He somehow felt things were progressing a bit fast – they had just been strangers, yet now they were going to do such important, serious work together?

Yet strangely, he didn’t feel any discomfort about it.

“Big… Big Brother Qiao, what do you think?” The instant she called out “Big Brother,” Qiao Zhao’s heart felt both sour and sweet.

Finally, she could openly call him “Big Brother.”

“This—” Qiao Mo hesitated, smiling helplessly, “It’s not such a simple matter.”

He and his younger sister were staying at their maternal grandfather’s house, where everything inside and out, high and low, was arranged by their maternal grandfather’s family. They didn’t even have a single person they could use. Wanting to investigate the poisoner without anyone knowing – how could that be so easy?

“Does Big Brother Qiao feel there’s no one available?” The young lady seemed to completely guess Qiao Mo’s thoughts, her expression calm and serious as she spoke unhurriedly, “Then we can proceed step by step, first determining whether the poison was administered by kitchen staff or by those who fetch the meals.”

Like most wealthy households, their maternal grandfather’s family had servants or maids from each master’s quarters fetch meals from the main kitchen at set times. Grandfather and Grandmother had one meal allowance, the uncles and aunts had another, and Big Brother and the cousins had the same allowance.

Higher allowances simply added a few more dishes to the basic allowance, but the fundamental dishes were the same. Determining at which stage the poison was administered wouldn’t be difficult.

“Big Brother Qiao, recall what foods are essential at breakfast?”

“Porridge. Most of the time, it’s jade-stem porridge, jujube porridge, or meat porridge, occasionally red rice porridge. Steamed buns and flower rolls are also essential.” Moved by the young lady’s serious attitude, Qiao Mo answered equally seriously.

“Lingxiang poison isn’t suitable for foods like steamed buns or flower rolls, so it must be put in the porridge. Big Brother Qiao, today I’ll first use silver needles to help draw out the toxins. For the next three days, you can claim a poor appetite and avoid touching porridge. When I come again in three days, if there’s no new Lingxiang poison in your body, that proves the poison was administered by kitchen staff. If you’re poisoned again, then it means it was done by the meal-serving servant.”

Choosing to use Lingxiang poison for gradual harm showed the perpetrator was very cautious and low-key. Even wanting to kill Big Brother, they wanted to create the illusion of death from illness due to a weak constitution. Analyzing from the poisoner’s position, the fewer people involved, the better. In that case, the possibility of kitchen staff and servants colluding was very low.

If Big Brother avoided porridge for these two days, with such a short time, the kitchen wouldn’t know, so that person would still put poison in the porridge, meaning Big Brother wouldn’t be poisoned again.

But if it was the servant attending Big Brother who was doing it, seeing Big Brother not eating porridge, to complete the task, he would put Lingxiang poison elsewhere, like in the tea water.

So she only needed to return in three days to determine who the poisoner was.

After Qiao Zhao finished speaking, seeing Qiao Mo frowning in silence, she smiled and asked: “Big Brother Qiao, what do you think of this plan?”

Qiao Mo instinctively raised his hand wanting to pat the young lady’s head, his hand moved then he restrained himself, his expression calm and gentle: “Good.”

Big Brother had indeed thought of this, too.

Miss Qiao blinked, thinking: Before, when Elder Brother patted her head, she would often get annoyed. Now she wanted to ask him to pat it. She must be regressing as she lived.

“Third Miss Li, if we don’t leave soon, Elder Sister and the others will be anxiously waiting.” Seeing Qiao Zhao and Qiao Mo chatting and laughing together, Kou Qinglan finally couldn’t help but remind them.

Qiao Zhao and Qiao Mo exchanged glances and walked back.

“Second Miss Kou, I’m afraid I can’t leave just yet.”

“What?” Kou Qinglan was startled.

How could someone be so shameless as to refuse to leave?

“When entrusted by someone, one must be loyal to their cause. Since Miss Kou asked me to treat Young Master Qiao’s face, I must see it through to the end.”

“How will you see it through?” Kou Qinglan curled her lip.

She most hated hearing a girl say she would be responsible for a man – generally nothing good came of such words.

“Young Master Qiao’s facial burns are too severe. Applying medicine directly would be ineffective. I need to first use silver needles to draw out the fire poison before applying medicine.”

Kou Qinglan listened in bewilderment, instinctively retorting: “I’ve never heard of burn victims needing silver needles to draw out fire poison before applying medicine.”

Qiao Zhao nodded seriously: “Mm, it’s perfectly normal that Second Miss Kou hasn’t heard of this, because you don’t understand medicine.”

Kou Qinglan was left speechless.

That’s not what she meant!

Wasn’t Third Miss Li using this as an excuse to get close to Cousin Brother?

Also, saying she didn’t understand medicine? A thirteen-year-old girl standing on her family’s territory, saying she didn’t understand? This girl was simply boastful!

“Could it be that Third Miss Li’s medical skills are superb?” Kou Qinglan asked back with cold laughter.

For such a young girl to have superb medical skills – wouldn’t that be seeing ghosts!

Qiao Zhao suddenly stepped forward, leaning close to Kou Qinglan’s ear and whispering: “Second Miss Kou, your heavenly waters will arrive tonight.”

Hearing this, Kou Qinglan’s pretty face suddenly flushed red. She instinctively looked toward Qiao Mo in panic, seeing that he showed no reaction before withdrawing her gaze to glare at Qiao Zhao, saying in embarrassed anger: “Third Miss Li, if you keep talking nonsense, I’ll get angry!”

She had been having her monthly courses for less than a year, the timing wasn’t regular at all. She didn’t even know when the next one would come after this one. For Third Miss Li to say such things – wasn’t it absurd?

“Third Miss Li, I didn’t expect you to be someone who speaks so irresponsibly. I’m going to tell Elder Sister that she misjudged you!” Kou Qinglan stamped her feet in anger, instructing Qiao Wan: “Wanwan, watch her for Second Cousin Sister. Don’t let her get close to your big brother. I’ll be right back.”

Watching Kou Qinglan storm off in anger, leaving only Qiao Wan puffing out her cheeks like a bun while blocking in front of her brother with a protective look, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh softly.

This was perfect – now she could directly detoxify Big Brother. Cousin Qinglan was truly considerate.

“Big Brother Qiao, let’s begin then.”

Qiao Wan stretched out both hands to block: “Don’t get close to my big brother! Second Cousin Sister told me to watch you.”

Qiao Mo half-crouched down and patted Qiao Wan’s head: “Wanwan, will you listen to Second Cousin Sister, or listen to Big Brother?”

Qiao Wan thought for a moment and asked: “Can’t I listen to both?”

“You can only choose one.”

“Then, of course, I’ll listen to Big Brother.” The little girl said without hesitation.

“Then, Wanwan, be good and wait quietly without interfering. Miss Li is treating Big Brother’s facial injury.”

“Mm.” Qiao Wan looked at Qiao Zhao suspiciously.

Though she felt this female rogue, who was only a few years older than her, couldn’t possibly cure Big Brother’s facial injury, since Big Brother said so, she would still listen.

“Big Brother Qiao, go sit over there.” Qiao Zhao pointed to the grass beside the bamboo grove.

Qiao Wan didn’t dare watch the female rogue take out silver needles and stick them into her brother, so she went to look at the fawns instead.

The little girl was watching with great interest when suddenly a voice rang out: “Wanwan, how are you here alone?”