Miss Qiao’s expression remained calm: “No, she’s ill.”

“Ill? So she is sick?”

Qiao Zhao smiled.

Yes, heart disease was also a disease, and one difficult to cure with medicine.

However, Madam Mao still lacked the final straw that would break the camel’s back.

As soon as Chen Guang saw Qiao Zhao smile, he felt his hair stand on end and wiped cold sweat, saying: “Third Miss, you’re not going to make me do something strange and bizarre again, are you?”

He didn’t want to do it anymore—he was still having nightmares featuring that old woman’s bright red undergarments!

“Practice makes perfect,” Qiao Zhao consoled.

Chen Guang: “…” He wasn’t familiar with it at all!

The gossip about Madam Mao suffering from soul-loss syndrome at Minister Kou’s residence quickly spread like wildfire.

As one of the Six Ministries’ officials, Minister Kou naturally lost face having such an incident occur in his household. As soon as he returned home, he wore a grim expression, and Old Madam Xue was equally anxious and worried.

People in the residence were restless, and more and more servants discussed the matter behind their masters’ backs.

“I wonder if the First Madam’s soul can ever be found again?”

“I think it’s unlikely. They’ve already invited several imperial physicians, but there’s no sign of improvement. If you ask me, why invite imperial physicians? They should invite Taoist priests to perform rituals. Who treats soul-loss by inviting doctors instead of Taoist priests?”

“Right, right, right, they should invite Taoist priests to perform rituals. But the First Madam doesn’t seem like someone who would do such unconscionable things.”

“That’s hard to say—you can know a person’s face but not their heart…”

“Silence!” A cold shout rang out as Kou Tianyu walked over with his hands behind his back.

“Young Master.” The two gossiping old women turned pale with fright.

“Discussing your masters’ affairs behind their backs—do you even know how to write the words ‘loyalty’ and ‘righteousness’?”

The two old women knelt on the ground, thinking: Of course they didn’t know—they couldn’t read!

“This servant knows her crime, this servant knows her crime.”

“Since you know your crime, I won’t punish you severely. Each of you will copy the family rules twice and present them to me tomorrow!”

What? The two old women looked at each other and nearly burst into tears.

This was worse than getting beaten or having their monthly wages deducted!

It seemed they could only slip some money to the accountant to help them.

Kou Tianyu took two steps forward and stopped: “Tomorrow I’ll watch you write a few characters. If the handwriting doesn’t match, I’ll tell Grandmother everything you said today!”

The two old women collapsed to the ground.

Kou Tianyu hurried to Madam Mao’s quarters.

“Young Master, Madam is still sleeping. The First Miss and Second Miss are both inside.”

Kou Tianyu nodded seriously and walked in.

Madam Mao lay sleeping on the daybed with her eyes tightly closed. In just a few short days, she had grown so thin her cheekbones protruded.

Kou Zimo kept her head down in silence, while Kou Qinglan’s eyes were slightly red.

After the three siblings looked at Madam Mao, they silently withdrew.

In the courtyard, the flowers and grass grew increasingly lush, and the cicadas in the trees were crying themselves hoarse, creating an irritating cacophony.

“Elder Sister, Second Sister, don’t worry. I believe Mother will be blessed by heaven.”

“I’m just angry at those gossiping people!” Kou Qinglan said angrily.

“The innocent will be proven innocent. These baseless rumors will scatter sooner or later.” Kou Tianyu comforted his sister with mature composure.

“But many people in the residence swear they saw the white-haired tiger—”

“That’s just following what others say. Second Sister, haven’t you heard the story of ‘three people make a tiger’?”

Kou Zimo listened to her younger siblings’ conversation in silence.

“Why isn’t Elder Sister saying anything?” Kou Qinglan asked.

Kou Zimo forced a smile: “I’m worried about Mother.”

Qinglan and Tianyu had complete trust in their mother, but why did she have vague doubts?

Mother had always been wary of Cousin because of her.

Perhaps—

Kou Zimo didn’t dare think further.

Compared to her younger siblings, she was truly unfilial for having such rebellious thoughts.

“Elder Sister?”

Kou Zimo snapped back to attention: “It’s nothing. Let’s go back. From what I hear from Grandmother, she plans to invite Taoist priests to exorcise evil spirits.”

Kou Tianyu frowned: “How can Grandmother also believe in these—”

“Tianyu, some words cannot be spoken carelessly!” Kou Zimo immediately stopped him.

The current emperor’s belief in Taoism had reached the point of obsession. He kept a group of Taoist priests in the imperial palace to refine elixirs. If her brother’s words spread, it would become leverage against the Minister’s residence.

Kou Tianyu moved his lips but said nothing more.

“Alright, everyone, go back.”

The three siblings silently dispersed.

Within two days, Minister Kou’s residence indeed invited Taoist priests to perform rituals.

Madam Mao seemed more spirited that day.

“Minister Kou’s residence invited Taoist priests to perform rituals?” After hearing the news that A’Zhu had gathered outside, Qiao Zhao smiled.

It was indeed as she had expected—they had reached the step of inviting Taoist priests for exorcism.

So the time to deliver the fatal blow to Madam Mao had also arrived.

Qiao Zhao walked to the window and looked outside.

The sky was a smoky blue-green color with layer upon layer of clouds.

It was an overcast day. If it happened to be a thunderstorm night, that would be even better.

Qiao Zhao thought for a moment and called for Chen Guang.

Now, whenever Chen Guang entered the west side courtyard, he began to feel nervous and fearful, as if he would eat one less bowl at lunch.

“What does Third Miss need me for?”

“Chen Guang, I heard you mention that whenever the weather changes, your general suffers severe pain?”

“Ah, yes.” Chen Guang was startled, then overjoyed.

Third Miss knew to care about their general!

He had said it—nothing bad happens three times; there should be some good news eventually.

“Our general is so pitiful. Whenever it’s rainy weather, he hurts so much that cold sweat pours continuously, as if he’s been soaked in water. But our general never makes a sound. There’s no helping it—even if he said something, no one would feel sorry for him. Don’t you think so, Third Miss?”

Qiao Zhao: “…” Why was the little coachman so talkative?

“Then go ask if General Shao is feeling particularly painful today.”

“Hehehe, I’ll go right away!” Chen Guang was beaming with joy.

“Chen Guang—”

“What other instructions does Third Miss have?”

“Don’t ask deliberately. Just ask as if it came up casually, and don’t mention me.”

“Understood, understood.” The third Miss was being shy.

When Chen Guang arrived at Chunfeng Tavern, he couldn’t stop smiling.

Shao Mingyuan was sitting under the grape arbor reading. Seeing Chen Guang arrive, he put down his book: “Does Miss Li have business?”

Chen Guang bowed and said with a grin: “General, Third Miss asked this subordinate to inquire how your health is today?”

The little coachman, who unhesitatingly sold out Qiao Zhao, showed no sign of guilt.

Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Miss Li was asking about his health—

Could it be… she thought that kick the other day could cause internal injuries?

“Tell Miss Li that I’m fine and she needn’t worry about it.”

How could she not worry? If she didn’t worry, when would he complete his mission?

Upon hearing the general say this, Chen Guang was very dissatisfied. His eyes rolled, and he said, “General, this subordinate feels that Third Miss cares about you very much. What do you think?”

Shao Mingyuan glanced at Chen Guang, his dark eyes profound and impossible to read.

“Go back. It’s going to rain.”

Chen Guang looked reluctant.

They were going back just like that? The general should at least say something!

Shao Mingyuan looked at Chen Guang: “Thank Miss Li for the medicine on my behalf. It’s very effective.”

“Alright, this subordinate will pass on the message.” Chen Guang showed a big smile.

Saying thank you was good too—Third Miss would be happy to hear it.

“Also, unless there’s something important, don’t come over anymore.”