“Open the door quickly!” In front of Minister Kou’s residence, the driver, disheveled and covered in dust, pounded forcefully on the door.

The vermilion door with its beast-head bronze knocker creaked open. The gatekeeper thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, rubbed them, and was shocked: “Old Wang, what happened to you?”

“Don’t ask now, just let us in quickly.”

The gatekeeper looked at the man beside the driver and was startled: “Young Master, you… Why are you covered in dirt? Come in quickly, come in quickly.”

Soon, news of Young Master Qiao Mo’s attack on his way back spread throughout the Minister’s residence.

Kou Zimo, who was keeping her mother company in conversation, turned pale with fright and shot to her feet.

Lady Mao glanced at her daughter and said flatly, “Zimo, go back to your room first. I’ll go check on your cousin.”

“Mother—” Kou Zimo stepped forward.

“I told you to go back to your room.”

“Yes.”

Watching Lady Mao leave, Kou Zimo immediately headed straight for Kou Qinglan’s quarters.

“Where is Second Miss?”

“Second Miss hasn’t returned yet.”

Kou Zimo couldn’t help but feel deflated.

Right, in her panic, she had forgotten that Qinglan should still be at Wufu Tea House with Third Miss Li at this time, probably not yet knowing about her cousin’s attack.

Kou Zimo steeled herself and went to Qiao Mo’s quarters.

At Tingfeng Residence, Old Madam Xue and her eldest daughter-in-law Lady Mao and second daughter-in-law Lady Dou had all rushed over. Seeing Kou Zimo arrive, Lady Mao’s eyes swept over her, then she said gently: “Zimo has come.”

Under her mother’s meaningful gaze, Kou Zimo curtsied: “Grandmother, Mother, Second Aunt, I heard that Cousin was attacked on his way back from Dafu Temple. How is Cousin?”

Old Madam Xue said gravely: “Fortunately, your cousin is unharmed, just somewhat shaken. He’s resting in his room now.”

Kou Zimo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank heavens Cousin was alright, otherwise she would blame herself painfully for the rest of her life.

Without her arrangements, how would Cousin have left the residence?

“Grandmother, what exactly happened with Cousin’s attack?”

“That’s what we want to know. Nanny Qing, bring the driver Old Wang over.”

Soon, Nanny Qing led driver Old Wang into the room.

Old Wang immediately knelt: “Greetings to Old Madam, First Madam, Second Madam.”

“Nanny Qing, bring Old Wang a small stool to sit on.”

Nanny Qing brought over a small stool, and Old Wang sat down nervously.

“Old Wang, tell us exactly what happened today, detail by detail.”

“Ah, in reply to Old Madam, it was like this: We came out of Dafu Temple and were hurrying back. The weather was quite hot, and we were all eager to return to the residence, when we saw someone standing in the middle of the road…” Old Wang got excited as he spoke and couldn’t help slapping his thigh. “That little bastard Huaifeng was worthless! As soon as he saw the assassin heading for the carriage, he ran off! Fortunately, this old servant was fearless in danger and loyal, immediately driving the carriage at full speed. The assassin couldn’t catch the carriage, probably thought it wasn’t worth it, so he took that little bastard Huaifeng away instead. This was truly heaven opening its eyes—”

Seeing the masters’ expressions weren’t good, Old Wang lowered his voice.

“If that’s the case, why were you and Young Master in such a sorry state?” Old Madam Xue asked sternly.

Old Wang wiped away tears: “How could we not be in a sorry state! This old servant desperately drove the carriage, but who knew there was another assassin waiting ahead? That assassin wore a veiled hat and gray clothes—”

Old Madam Xue raised her eyebrows impatiently.

Lady Mao coughed: “Get to the point!”

“Uh, the point is this gray-clothed assassin was more cold-blooded, more ruthless, more terrifying. This old servant’s desperate blocking was useless – that person went straight for the Young Master. Young Master desperately dodged, and just when that assassin raised his sword to stab Young Master’s heart, at that critical moment—”

“This isn’t storytelling!” Lady Mao’s mouth twitched.

Old Madam Xue raised her hand: “Let him speak!”

With the Old Madam’s permission, Old Wang immediately displayed his storytelling skills, dramatically describing everything from the gray-clothed assassin’s cold ruthlessness to a passerby’s heroic intervention, to the master and servant’s difficult escape, explaining everything clearly with emotion.

“Old Wang, you loyally protected your master and did very well. Go to the accounting office to receive your reward,” Old Madam Xue waved for Old Wang to leave, then turned to Lady Mao: “Lady Mao, the servant you arranged for Mo’er wasn’t well chosen.”

With sister-in-law Lady Dou present, Lady Mao’s face immediately turned red with embarrassment: “It was this daughter-in-law’s poor arrangement. This daughter-in-law will select a good one to serve Young Master.”

“Forget it.” Old Madam Xue shook her head and glanced at her trusted aide, Nanny Qing: “Nanny Qing, I remember your little grandson is fifteen now?”

“He just turned fifteen last month.”

“Then let him serve Mo’er. How about it?”

Nanny Qing hurriedly expressed gratitude: “For that boy to serve Young Master would be his good fortune.”

Lady Mao was extremely embarrassed, secretly nearly tearing her handkerchief to pieces.

The Old Madam truly doted on her elder sister-in-law’s children. Previously, when Qiao Zhao came, she immediately overshadowed her two daughters, with the old lady’s heart and eyes full of her granddaughter. Now she was the same with her grandson – just over a servant, she gave her no face at all.

“Zimo, you may go back. Grandmother and your mother and second aunt have some matters to discuss.”

With Old Madam Xue’s dismissal, Kou Zimo obediently left Tingfeng Residence, but instead of returning to her room, she quietly slipped out through the back door and headed straight for Wufu Tea House.

“Elder Sister, didn’t you say you had matters and couldn’t come out?” In the private room at Wufu Tea House, Kou Qinglan couldn’t speak directly in front of Qiao Zhao and asked tactfully.

“Cousin had an incident.”

“Ah? What happened to Cousin?”

Kou Zimo briefly recounted the old driver’s words, then said to Qiao Zhao with a grave expression: “Third Miss Li, my cousin was frightened and needs to recuperate. He probably can’t go out recently. His fire poison—”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “It doesn’t matter. There isn’t much fire poison left in Young Master Qiao’s body. When there’s another opportunity to meet, one more acupuncture session will do. Since he’s been frightened now, recuperation should be the priority.”

She remained composed on the surface, comforting Kou Zimo, but her heart was filled with shock and suspicion.

How could there be two assassins? From what Kou Zimo said, the second assassin intended to kill Elder Brother!

According to the plan she and Elder Brother had discussed, next Elder Brother would take the pill she gave him, turning passive into active by creating the illusion of a serious illness. This way, the mastermind would think their goal of secretly harming Elder Brother had been achieved and wouldn’t make any more killing moves, ensuring Elder Brother’s safety during this period.

But now another assassin had appeared out of nowhere – which faction had sent this person?

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help feeling a wave of fear.

What if that assassin had succeeded? Wouldn’t she have harmed her elder brother?

After bidding farewell to the Kou sisters, Qiao Zhao returned home heavy with worry and immediately called Chen Guang over to ask about the situation.

“Miss, rest assured. That servant has been handed over to one of my comrades. That comrade is the best interrogation expert and is very tight-lipped.”

“Chen Guang, let me ask you – did you have any comrades help you pose as assassins?”

Chen Guang was stunned and shook his head: “No.”

Qiao Zhao’s heart suddenly sank.