“Nothing, nothing at all.” Having such a general, how difficult it was for a subordinate to still be alive and strong!

Chen Guang walked away with a look of utter despair.

On the way back, Binglu said indignantly, “Miss, please don’t cry anymore. We’ll never come to this wretched Chunfeng Tavern again.”

Qiao Zhao glanced at her and said, “We still need to come.”

Binglu: “…” Miss, where’s our dignity?

After calming down, Qiao Zhao felt somewhat annoyed with herself.

How could she have kicked Shao Mingyuan? That was far too childish.

Forget it, forget it. Let him think whatever he wanted. Anyway, she would continue doing what she needed to do.

In Shao Mingyuan’s view, big brother’s matter had nothing to do with her, but to her, nothing was more important than big brother’s situation right now.

Those who hurt her brother, she would make them pay.

Minister Kou’s residence naturally also heard the rumors.

After Madam Mao heard about it, she felt both guilty and angry. She couldn’t even eat her meals and fell ill immediately.

“Madam Mao, you didn’t come from some small household. Why are you bothering with those rumors?” Old Madam Xue consoled.

“Old Madam, listen to how they’re spreading it outside, saying that Qiao Mo was harmed by your daughter-in-law. How can I face people in the future?”

“The innocent will be proven innocent, the guilty will be proven guilty. These baseless rumors are like rootless duckweed—before long, new gossip will emerge and this will scatter like the wind.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Mao felt even worse.

It was precisely because she had made the move that she feared the situation would escalate!

“Are you feeling very unwell?”

Madam Mao smiled weakly: “I’m alright. I’ve made Old Madam worry.”

“If you’re afraid of making me worry, then recover quickly. I’m getting on in years and don’t have the energy I once had. This vast Minister’s residence still depends on you to manage it. Don’t take these nonsensical rumors to heart.”

“Your daughter-in-law understands.”

“Then rest well.” Old Madam Xue left, supported by her maid’s hand.

Madam Mao clutched the thin quilt tightly, her heart churning endlessly.

Where there’s no wind, there are no waves. How had someone detected clues about her poisoning Qiao Mo?

When she obtained the Lingxiang poison, she was told that it was colorless and odorless, and when it took effect, it would seem like ordinary typhoid fever—completely undetectable.

Or could it be that there were divine beings in this world, and the short-lived Qiao Zhao had appeared in Marquis Guanjun’s dreams?

Madam Mao suddenly sat up, pressed her palms together, and muttered something under her breath.

Amitabha, if this were the case, then that ghost shouldn’t come to trouble her! What was wrong with her thinking of her daughter’s lifelong happiness?

Zimo had been deeply infatuated with Qiao Mo since childhood. If Qiao Mo had stayed far away in southern Jia Feng, that would have been fine, but he just had to come live in the Minister’s residence.

Could she just watch helplessly as her daughter sank deeper and deeper, ruining her prospects for marriage?

Besides, she never intended to take Qiao Mo’s life. That Lingxiang poison was supposed to make people physically weak—after being poisoned, one would just fall ill frequently, but wouldn’t die.

If Qiao Mo fell ill often, Marquis Guanjun would come visit frequently, and this way her daughter would have opportunities…

Yes, Qiao Mo was disfigured and had to observe mourning. Even if Zimo was bewitched, they had no possibility of being together. Making Marquis Guanjun frequent the Minister’s residence was her ultimate goal.

But what made her want to cough up blood was that as soon as Qiao Mo fell ill, Marquis Guanjun took him away.

Took him away!

Now her goal wasn’t achieved, and such rumors were spreading—it was truly blood-curdling.

Fortunately, aside from her confidants, no one knew she was the one who made the move. As Old Madam said, rumors would scatter after spreading for a few days. As long as she could keep her composure, what could others do?

However, things had been so unlucky recently—she should make time to visit Dafu Temple to pray.

In the west side courtyard of Yahe Courtyard in the Li family’s West Residence, Qiao Zhao sat by the stone table next to the pomegranate tree, tending to a tiger skin.

“Miss, why did you bring out this tiger skin?”

Qiao Zhao didn’t look up, saying coolly: “It has a use. Binglu, go call Chen Guang over.”

“Call him to our courtyard?” Binglu was somewhat surprised.

Previously, when Miss met with Chen Guang, it was always in that pavilion near the outer courtyard.

A’Zhu was equally shocked and couldn’t help but look at Qiao Zhao.

Having Chen Guang, a grown man, come over—was that appropriate? Wouldn’t it affect Miss’s reputation?

Qiao Zhao looked up at Binglu: “Go quickly.”

Then, as if explaining to A’Zhu: “It’s fine. Grandmother and the others quite like Chen Guang, so it won’t affect him.”

A’Zhu was dumbfounded.

No, Miss, shouldn’t you be worried about your reputation?

Miss Qiao, who had completely let herself go since the Bichun Tavern incident, looked serene as she unhurriedly tended to the tiger skin with a small brush.

The originally brown and yellow striped tiger skin gradually became white.

Soon, footsteps sounded, and Binglu reported: “Miss, Chen Guang is here.”

This was Chen Guang’s first time entering a young lady’s courtyard in his entire life, and he was so nervous he didn’t even know how to walk properly.

Watching Chen Guang walk in with his arms and legs moving in unison, even the gentle A’Zhu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

After Binglu noticed, she laughed until tears came: “Chen Guang, why are you walking so awkwardly?”

Chen Guang’s face turned bright red. He didn’t dare look at Qiao Zhao and asked with his head down: “Third Miss, what did you call me here for?”

Qiao Zhao glanced at Binglu and A’Zhu, saying coolly: “You two go guard the courtyard gate. Keep watch and don’t let anyone approach.”

“Yes.”

After A’Zhu and the other left, Qiao Zhao didn’t speak for a moment and continued brushing the tiger skin with her small brush.

Chen Guang’s gaze fell on the tiger skin, and he couldn’t help asking: “Third Miss, this tiger skin is from that rainy day when we got it from the hunter, right?”

Qiao Zhao stopped her work and nodded: “Correct.”

Not just this tiger skin, the coachman before her was also obtained from that rainy day.

Chen Guang smiled: “So Third Miss likes tiger skins. But why did you dye the tiger skin white?”

“I need a white tiger skin.”

White tiger skins were rare on the market, and at this particular time, she couldn’t send people out to purchase one, lest she leave traces. So it was more appropriate to do it herself.

“Third Miss should have said so earlier! There are many white tigers in the Northern Territories. Our general has over ten white tiger skins.”

Qiao Zhao looked down at the half-dyed tiger skin, then at the boastful little coachman, and had a strong urge to dye the little coachman’s hair white too.

He was Shao Mingyuan’s subordinate—even his annoying qualities were the same.

Chen Guang remained oblivious and tried to curry favor for his general: “I’ll go back to Marquis Guanjun’s residence and get you one. Our general would let you take one if he knew you needed it.”

“No need.”

That person was already blaming her for meddling in others’ business, and his mind worked quickly. If he guessed the purpose for which she wanted the white tiger skin, who knew if he would try to stop her?

“Tonight is the full moon. Chen Guang, I want to ask you to do something for me.”

“Please speak, Third Miss.”

“I’d like you to go to Minister Kou’s residence tonight, put on this dyed white tiger skin, and scare someone.”

“What?” Chen Guang looked completely bewildered.

He must have heard wrong.

Why had his life taken such a bizarre path ever since he became Third Miss’s coachman?