The reason why Marquis Guanjun brought his brother-in-law to live in his residence was because his deceased wife appeared in his dreams, saying there was a white-haired tiger in Minister Su’s residence that had devoured her brother.

People deeply believed in prophetic dreams and loved to ponder the symbolic meanings they reflected in reality.

This piece of gossip spread like wildfire. Those ordinary citizens who didn’t understand the upper-class situation would at most watch the excitement and let it pass, but many wives of noble officials and distinguished families began discussing it heatedly.

“I’m telling you all, the things you dream about are all metaphors for people. This white-haired tiger that devoured Young Master Qiao must be referring to someone who wants to harm Young Master Qiao. That’s why Marquis Guanjun’s wife was worried about her brother and came to warn him in the dream.”

“That can’t be right. Young Master Qiao is living at his own maternal grandfather’s house. How could anyone harm him?”

“Well, that’s hard to say. What kind of affairs don’t happen in great households? Even living in one’s own home, there have been cases of people being harmed. Didn’t the rumor say that the white-haired tiger was right there in Minister Su’s residence? This proves that the person wanting to harm Young Master Qiao is within Minister Su’s residence.”

“No wonder Marquis Guanjun took Young Master Qiao away overnight. Tell me, who do you think this white-haired tiger refers to?”

One by one, these idle people pondered seriously.

When people thought of a certain family, they naturally considered the masters first.

A round-faced woman suddenly understood: “I know!”

The gazes everyone cast upon her made her desire to share even stronger: “It’s that eldest lady Madam Mao from Minister Kou’s residence! White-haired tiger, think about it?”

“Oh, right!” Everyone suddenly understood.

“That’s right, Madam Mao happens to be born in the Year of the Tiger!” Following this line of thought, another woman said.

While everyone was discussing animatedly, yet another woman gasped: “I don’t know if you all know this, but Madam Mao’s maternal family surname is Bai!”

“Then there’s no mistake about it. The white-haired tiger must refer to Madam Mao. But why would she want to harm Young Master Qiao?”

“Who knows? Maybe she finds Young Master Qiao burdensome and doesn’t want to keep supporting him? After all, being an aunt-in-law, there’s still a layer of separation.”

When this rumor reached Shao Mingyuan’s ears, he sat under the grape arbor drinking tea and was stunned for quite a while before instructing his guard: “Contact Chen Guang and ask Miss Li to meet at Chunfeng Tavern.”

Qiao Zhao received Chen Guang’s message and came to Chunfeng Tavern.

“What does General Shao want with me?”

“I heard about that rumor.”

“Oh.” Qiao Zhao’s face remained calm, but she was puzzled inside: Shao Mingyuan specifically called her here just to exchange gossip? He didn’t seem like that kind of person.

Shao Mingyuan looked at Qiao Zhao: “Did Miss Li spread that rumor?”

Qiao Zhao was startled, then her face darkened: “General Shao, do you always speak so directly?”

They weren’t even close, yet this person didn’t feel that speaking carelessly, despite a shallow acquaintance, was inappropriate. How could he give a girl no face at all and directly ask if she was the rumor-monger?

Uh, although she was indeed the one who created the rumor.

Shao Mingyuan was equally stunned.

Why was Miss Li angry? When he discussed military intelligence with his subordinates, they always spoke like this. Wasn’t being direct more efficient?

“Does Miss Li know who spread the rumor?” The young general pondered for a moment, decided to be accommodating, and chose a more tactful way of asking.

Miss Qiao’s expression grew even darker.

How could this person ask something he already knew?

Shao Mingyuan: “…” He’d better not speak at all!

“It was me.” Qiao Zhao decided not to argue with this person anymore.

Seeing Shao Mingyuan remain silent, she asked: “What’s wrong?”

“I think it would be better to respect my brother-in-law’s wishes in this matter. After all, this is my brother-in-law’s private affair, and it might involve some hidden circumstances…”

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t continue because he suddenly discovered that the little girl before him was crying.

Perhaps it wasn’t crying—those beautiful eyes suddenly filled with moisture, looking as aggrieved as a little deer running in the forest who suddenly encountered a stranger.

Shao Mingyuan was somewhat bewildered.

Regarding Miss Li, he had always admired her. Although she was still young, he had never treated her as a little girl.

To him, she was more like a friend he could interact with as equals.

Only now did he realize that no matter what, Miss Li was still a girl, different from his comrades-in-arms.

But what exactly had he said to make Miss Li want to cry?

“Does General Shao think I’m meddling in other people’s business?” Qiao Zhao asked with pursed lips.

She knew she shouldn’t feel wronged. She wasn’t Qiao Zhao now.

She wasn’t big brother’s sister, nor was she this man’s wife.

In everyone’s eyes, she was just a girl who meddled in others’ affairs, worried unnecessarily, and wasn’t at all well-behaved and proper.

But she didn’t feel wronged in front of anyone else—only in front of Shao Mingyuan, she just couldn’t help it.

He had already shot her dead with an arrow, yet he dared to say she was meddling in others’ business?

This shameless bastard!

With this thought, Miss Qiao’s tears, which she had been desperately holding back, fell like broken pearls.

Shao Mingyuan was at a loss.

He hadn’t said anything! Miss Li wasn’t someone who would be unreasonable like this. Where exactly had things gone wrong?

“Miss Li, I’m sorry, you… You’d better stop crying—”

Chen Guang and Binglu, who were standing not far away, occasionally glanced in this direction. Shao Mingyuan had a strong urge to turn and run.

“I can’t meddle in others’ business, and I can’t cry either?” the young lady asked through her tears.

“You can, of course you can… but there’s nothing worth crying about…” the young general consoled dryly.

Qiao Zhao became even angrier.

She was already being very restrained! Any other girl would have cried herself to death by now!

Yet he said—there’s nothing worth crying about!

To hell with “nothing worth crying about”—what did this bastard know!

Miss Qiao suddenly stood up, lifted her foot and kicked Shao Mingyuan’s shin, then turned to leave.

“Binglu, Chen Guang, we’re going back to the residence!”

Binglu and Chen Guang ran over.

“Miss, why are you crying?” Binglu was startled and turned to ask Shao Mingyuan, “General Shao, did you bully our miss?”

Shao Mingyuan silently lowered his head to look at his shin that had been kicked.

Girls had little strength—that kick was like a dragonfly touching water to him, so light he could barely feel it.

Yet somehow, that kick seemed to have landed on his heart, leaving him unable to recover even now.

He had been kicked by a girl, and that girl seemed extremely wronged.

But why exactly was this?

“Binglu, stop talking, let’s go.” Miss Qiao swept her sleeves and left.

Seeing this, Binglu glared at Shao Mingyuan and hurried to catch up.

Chen Guang shook his head repeatedly, saying with frustration: “General, you can’t bully girls—you have to coax them.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Faced with his subordinate, the young general appeared relatively calm.

He had never coaxed a girl before. Besides, he didn’t plan to remarry, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to coax girls other than a wife, would it?

“That’s impossible. Third Miss is the strongest young lady this subordinate has ever seen. General, you must have done something very serious to make her cry.”

Could it be that the general had taken liberties with Third Miss? Hehe, General is amazing!

Shao Mingyuan thought seriously for a moment and said, “I think I just said she was meddling in others’ business—Chen Guang, what’s wrong with you?”