“Zhaozhao?” Qiao Mo’s expression changed drastically as he murmured: “Zhaozhao—”
“Yes.” Qiao Zhao smiled as she responded.
Qiao Mo came back to his senses and looked at the radiantly smiling girl with a complex expression. After a long while, he finally regained his calm demeanor and said flatly: “I’d better call you Miss Li instead, to avoid causing gossip.”
“Zhaozhao” was a name that belonged exclusively to his eldest younger sister. Even if the girl before him resembled his younger sister greatly, she ultimately wasn’t his deceased younger sister.
Toward this girl, he would inevitably feel tenderness and closeness because she resembles his younger sister, but he absolutely wouldn’t let anyone replace his younger sister’s position.
Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes, hiding her disappointment: “Elder Brother Qiao can call me whatever you prefer.”
“Cough, cough.” Light coughing sounds arose, followed by Kou Zimo’s voice: “Are you finished?”
Qiao Zhao bowed slightly to Qiao Mo and walked to Kou Zimo’s side: “We’re done.”
Kou Zimo hurriedly nodded to Qiao Mo and quickly pulled Qiao Zhao away. Once they returned to the house, she said: “I saw a servant from my mother’s courtyard passing by earlier. It wouldn’t be good if she saw us.”
Qiao Zhao nodded to show her understanding and stood to take her leave: “Then I’ll return to the residence first. In three days, I’ll administer acupuncture to Young Master Qiao once more, and then we can begin using medicine.”
“Good, I’ll make arrangements then.”
Not long after Qiao Zhao left, a maid from Lady Mao’s courtyard came to invite Kou Zimo over.
“Mother, you called for your daughter. What matters requires attention?”
Lady Mao took a sip of tea, placed the teacup on the tea table, and said reproachfully: “Can’t your mother call you over without having business?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Zimo, did you invite Third Miss Li to visit today?”
“Yes.”
“How did you suddenly become familiar with Third Miss Li?”
Kou Zimo lowered her eyes and explained: “A few days ago, when I invited Miss Su and Miss Xu for a small gathering, Miss Su praised Third Miss Li’s chess skills highly, so I took the opportunity to invite Third Miss Li over to play. That day I felt very compatible with Third Miss Li, so I invited her again today.”
“Compatible?” Lady Mao immediately frowned, showing displeasure. “Mother has also heard about that Third Miss Li. Everyone in the Li family’s West Residence acts too impulsively. It’s better to have less contact with such people in the future. Otherwise, if something happens, they’re barefoot and unafraid of those wearing shoes. Wouldn’t those close to them get dragged into trouble?”
Seeing Kou Zimo’s calm expression and silence, Lady Mao knew her eldest daughter was quite opinionated. She changed from her usual gentle tone to a stern one: “Did my daughter remember what I said? Mother isn’t interfering with your friendships. You’re close with Miss Su, Miss Zhu, and Miss Xu – when has Mother ever stopped you? But this Third Miss Li is different. She was once abducted by human traffickers and has lost her reputation. If you befriend her, what will others think of you? Moreover, their family has offended the leader of the Jinlin Guards. Who knows when they might meet with disaster, and at that time they might even implicate you.”
Kou Zimo listened silently, her lips pressed tightly together.
“Zimo, did you hear what Mother said?”
“I heard.” Kou Zimo looked at Lady Mao and, after restraining herself repeatedly, asked one question: “But what if your daughter encounters trouble?”
Seeking help is difficult, difficult to seek help, Everyone finds it difficult to seek help when in trouble.
This was the couplet Third Miss Li had composed, giving guidance to Weiyu, but hadn’t it also brought her shock?
Everyone only thought about staying far away when others encountered difficulties, but when they faced hardship, who wouldn’t want to have a family like Third Miss Li by their side?
Even if Third Miss Li couldn’t cure her cousin’s face, she would still be willing to be close to such a person.
Lady Mao’s face darkened: “Zimo, what are you saying? How can you speak about yourself like that? You are the legitimate eldest daughter of this generation in the Minister’s residence, destined for smooth sailing. Don’t say such inauspicious things in the future. As for that Third Miss Li, even if you resent Mother, Mother cannot indulge your whims anymore. She is not allowed to visit again in the future.”
“Mother—” Kou Zimo looked stunned.
She knew that on some matters mother and daughter had different views, but she hadn’t expected her mother to so directly interfere with her friendships.
Lady Mao picked up her teacup and took another sip, glancing at her eldest daughter’s unpleasant expression, then softened her tone and asked: “These past few days, have you been going to the bamboo grove frequently?”
Kou Zimo’s heart tightened.
She had long known that ever since her cousin came to stay at the residence, her mother had been watching her closely, particularly concerned about her meetings with her cousin.
When Mother mentioned the bamboo grove, had she heard some rumors and was warning her?
“Zimo, did you remember what Mother said? Don’t associate with that Third Miss Li anymore in the future.”
“I understand.” Kou Zimo said flatly.
The current priority was treating her cousin’s face. If arguing with Mother affected this matter, it would be a mistake.
Leaving Lady Mao’s quarters, Kou Zimo was heavy with worry and called for Kou Qinglan.
“What’s wrong, Elder Sister? You look terrible.” Kou Qinglan took hold of her sister’s hand and suddenly realized: “Elder Sister, did you also notice that Cousin looks at Third Miss Li very unusually? That seriousness, that focus – combined, that’s deep affection!”
Kou Qinglan became more excited as she spoke, linking arms with Kou Zimo: “Elder Sister, I think we shouldn’t let Third Miss Li come see Cousin anymore in the future.”
If Third Miss Li snatched Cousin away, Elder Sister would have nowhere to cry.
Kou Zimo laughed self-deprecatingly: “Third Miss Li won’t be visiting anymore anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Mother forbids it. Mother just called me over to discuss this very matter.”
“Why would Mother forbid it?” Kou Qinglan was stunned.
“Probably because – Third Miss Li isn’t Miss Su, nor is she Miss Zhu or Miss Xu…”
Kou Qinglan was lively and clever, immediately understanding her sister’s meaning. Her expression immediately soured, and she bit her lip: “So what if she isn’t? I think Third Miss Li is quite good!”
When young ladies made friends, they only sought compatibility. Even if they became a princess’s lackeys, what of it? Could the noble Princess Highness take them to heaven?
Kou Zimo couldn’t help but chuckle: “Who was it that just said we shouldn’t let Third Miss Li see Cousin anymore?”
“That’s a different matter. I was just worried Elder Sister would be heartbroken in the end.”
Kou Zimo raised her hand and smoothed her sister’s hair, saying gently, “Qinglan, please help your sister with something. Go tell Cousin to arrange to meet Third Miss Li outside in three days.”
“Alright, will Elder Sister also go out then?”
Kou Zimo shook her head: “I’ll accompany Mother in conversation that day.”
Kou Qinglan sighed: “Very well then. Don’t worry, Elder Sister, I’ll arrange everything properly.”
She had heard that Third Miss Li’s elders had even gone to the Jinlin Guards’ office to seek justice for Third Miss Li. How was it that here, they still had to deceive their mother?
Thinking this way, they should be the ones envying Third Miss Li.
Three days later, Qiao Mo proposed going to Dafu Temple to donate incense oil money and pray for his deceased sister’s blessing, taking his servant and departing by carriage.