With parents and family all perishing in the great fire, the surviving Young Master Qiao still had the mind to visit family friends—this was abnormal.

“Thirteen received word from subordinates that Young Master Qiao entered the capital three days ago and has taken residence at his maternal relatives’ home, Minister Kou’s residence. Currently, news of his arrival in the capital hasn’t spread.”

Jiang Tang nodded and said to Jiang Yuanchao, “Continue having people watch him. The intelligence we gather doesn’t necessarily need to be reported to His Majesty in every detail, but we must know what’s happening in our hearts to prevent being caught off guard someday.”

“Foster father can rest assured, Thirteen understands.”

Jiang Tang smiled: “I’ve always been at ease with how you handle matters. The Qiao family affair can’t be suppressed any longer—it’s time to report it to the Emperor.”

Meeting Jiang Yuanchao’s inquiring gaze, he explained: “Marquis Guanjun has returned. He’s currently in the limelight, and his wife died serving the country. If His Majesty knows nothing about the Qiao family matter, he’ll lose his temper later. Moreover, that old fox Kou Xingze has been quiet all this time—he’s probably waiting for this moment too.”

Jiang Yuanchao wore a gentle smile on his face, but only heard the words “died serving the country.”

These words were like a small knife, stabbing his heart with pain and suffocating tightness.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Tang noticed his foster son’s strange behavior and inquired.

Jiang Yuanchao came back to his senses, his smile extremely faint: “It’s the first time I’ve heard of a woman dying in service to the country!”

Jiang Tang felt somewhat puzzled, but Jiang Yuanchao had already returned to normal. He stood up respectfully: “Foster father, Thirteen has been traveling for days and is dirty from the road. I’d like to return to bathe and change clothes before coming back to receive your teachings.”

“Return where? I’ve already had a courtyard prepared for you—stay there first. Your place hasn’t been inhabited for a long time; let it be properly repaired before you go live there.”

Jiang Yuanchao readily agreed.

Jiang Tang smiled: “Now Ran Ran will be overjoyed.”

Jiang Yuanchao’s lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t respond.

In a teahouse facing the street, Chi Can leaned back against his chair, lazily drinking tea.

The street below was wide and empty. As the Northern Expedition army passed by, the common people who had lined the streets in welcome had followed along, leaving only scattered flowers, silk handkerchiefs, and other items on the ground, trampled into a chaotic mess—no longer having their initial fresh appearance.

“I never expected that fellow Shao Mingyuan would be so popular.”

Yang Houcheng chuckled: “How rare to see Young Master Chi feeling jealous!”

Chi Can kicked at him: “Nonsense! Most of those troublesome matters will be shared by him now—I should thank him instead.”

Zhu Yàn smiled and suggested: “Speaking of which, we haven’t had a gathering with Tingquan in several years.”

Shao Mingyuan’s courtesy name was Tingquan.

The four had been close friends since childhood, so their bond was naturally extraordinary. However, ever since Shao Mingyuan donned military robes at fourteen, he rarely gathered with these three. Over time, the friendship among the other three naturally grew deeper.

Even so, they were excited about their old friend’s return to the capital.

Yang Houcheng recalled: “The last time we gathered was at his wedding, and we didn’t even get to participate in the bridal chamber revelries before that fellow ran off to war again. Sigh, do you think Tingquan feels at ease in his heart? His wife—”

At this point, all three fell somewhat silent.

Finally, Chi Can spoke first: “How could he not feel at ease? Didn’t you see how popular he was today? In the future, princesses and noble ladies will be his for the choosing! Come on, let’s not talk about such dampening matters. When he returns, we’ll call him out for drinks.”

Zhu Yàn and Yang Houcheng exchanged glances, both wearing helpless expressions.

This fellow was being contrary again. Among the four, he had the best relationship with Tingquan. He had rushed over early this morning and had been drinking pot after pot of tea.

Chi Can stood up and slowly walked downstairs. Halfway down, he turned back and asked with raised lips: “In that rain of flowers, I seemed to see a fairy ball fly past. Did you see it?”

“We saw it, we saw it! It was thrown by Miss Li!” Yang Houcheng was beaming with excitement.

Both Chi Can and Zhu Yàn stared at him.

What was this fellow so excited about?

“Looks like she’s recovered from her illness—her aim wasn’t bad.” Chi Can waved his hand backward: “Let’s disperse then, everyone go home.”

The Eldest Princess Changrong’s residence was located in the most prosperous area of the capital. It occupied a considerable area, and the gardens were filled with exotic flowers and rare plants.

Among the clusters of blooming flowers, a dazzlingly beautiful woman reclined on a bamboo couch, one hand pillowing her cheek, the other holding a silk fan which she waved listlessly.

At her feet, a man in slate robes knelt on one knee, gently massaging her legs, while in front of her, a man in brocade robes carefully peeled grapes.

The brocade-robed man had slender fingers with clean, neatly trimmed nails. Each time he skillfully peeled a grape, he would bring it to the Eldest Princess Changrong’s lips.

The Eldest Princess Changrong would eat the grape from the brocade-robed man’s hand, then spit the seeds into his palm.

The grapes from the greenhouse had little flavor. After eating a few, the Eldest Princess Changrong waved her hand and said to a pretty-faced female official standing beside her: “Dongyu, go call that someone over.”

Dongyu understood, acknowledged with a “yes,” turned, and left. Soon she returned, leading a woman.

The woman wore a pale gold satin jacket, her hair styled in a cloud chignon with four pairs of gleaming gold hairpins and a golden walking ornament—magnificent. Yet her complexion was yellower than the gold hairpins, so aged that one couldn’t estimate her years.

The woman came before the Eldest Princess Changrong and knelt straight down: “This servant pays respects to Your Highness.”

The Eldest Princess Changrong lazily tossed her silk fan aside, lifted her chin, and said slowly: “Haven’t I said many times not to call yourself a servant before me?”

“Come here.” The Eldest Princess beckoned to the woman. When the woman knelt closer, she extended her white, tender bare foot and lifted the woman’s chin. Though her tone was gentle, the disdain flowed from her very bones: “Heh, I don’t have servants like you.”

Footsteps sounded, and the female official Dongyu whispered in the Eldest Princess Changrong’s ear: “Your Highness, the young master has returned.”

The Eldest Princess Changrong glanced at Chi Can approaching from afar, withdrew her attention, and rubbed the woman’s cheek with her bare foot: “Clean it properly and put my shoes on.”

The woman held the Eldest Princess Changrong’s jade foot and wiped it carefully, as if handling a priceless treasure. The beautiful men and servant girls surrounding the Eldest Princess were all accustomed to this scene.

Chi Can had walked up close and bowed: “Mother.”

He glanced at the woman, his heart filled with indescribable feelings.

That year, when he first saw this woman, he had wanted nothing more than to draw his sword and kill her, but his mother had stopped him. Now he felt nothing at all—he even pitied her.

Silk and satin, gold and silver jewelry—his mother had never shortchanged her in these things, yet she had aged more than ten years compared to women her age.

The Eldest Princess Changrong casually nodded, paying no attention to Chi Can. Using her newly shod foot, she kicked the woman’s cheek and said with a smile: “How is it? Following by my side, you and your pair of children enjoy endless wealth and honor, much better than following that short-lived wretch who could only secretly save pocket money, right?”

“Yes, yes.” The woman dared not dodge and nodded repeatedly.

“So you see, women shouldn’t be so shallow-sighted. Not everyone has your good fortune.” Having toyed with her enough, the Eldest Princess Changrong waved her hand.

Dongyu immediately led the woman away.

The Eldest Princess Changrong didn’t dismiss the beautiful men serving her. She looked at Chi Can matter-of-factly and spoke: “Did you touch my collection of Master Qiao’s paintings?”