The courtyard that Shao Mingyuan had arranged for Qiao Mo was much larger than their accommodations at the Minister’s residence. As soon as Qiao Zhao entered, she noticed this place had much more life than elsewhere.

Qiao Wan was playing shuttlecock with several maidservants, her little face flushed red from the activity. Upon seeing Shao Mingyuan, she rushed over: “Brother-in-law—”

Hearing this, Qiao Zhao raised an eyebrow.

The words “brother-in-law” rolled off this girl’s tongue quite smoothly.

She couldn’t help but turn to look at Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan crouched down to be at eye level with Qiao Wan, showing a gentleness he never displayed to outsiders: “Is the shuttlecock fun?”

“Yes, it’s fun!” Qiao Wan nodded repeatedly.

Children are like this—whoever treats them well quickly dissolves their initial hostility and wariness.

Shao Mingyuan reached out to ruffle Qiao Wan’s hair: “Once you’ve exercised your body well, your brother-in-law will give you a little pony.”

Qiao Wan’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

“Of course.”

“Brother-in-law, you mustn’t deceive me.” The little girl was extremely excited, reaching out to tug at Shao Mingyuan’s sleeve.

Qiao Zhao watched coldly, feeling inexplicably displeased.

She had never seen Shao Mingyuan indulge a child like this. At this rate, wouldn’t Wan Wan be completely spoiled by him?

Shao Mingyuan extended his hand: “A gentleman’s word—”

Qiao Wan happily clapped hands with him: “Cannot be taken back!”

Only then did Shao Mingyuan stand up, smiling as he said to Qiao Zhao: “Miss Li, this is my younger sister Wan Wan.” Then to Qiao Wan: “Wan Wan, this is Sister Li.”

Qiao Zhao and Qiao Wan looked at each other.

Qiao Wan pouted: “How is it you are again?”

Shao Mingyuan patted Qiao Wan: “Wan Wan, you cannot speak to Miss Li like that.”

Qiao Wan reluctantly curtsied to Qiao Zhao: “Sister Li.”

“Sister Qiao need not be so formal.” Qiao Zhao smiled.

“Wan Wan, you play here. I’ll take Miss Li to see your elder brother.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Wan’s eyes darted around, and she grabbed Shao Mingyuan: “Brother-in-law, I want to go too.”

This Miss Li was like a lingering ghost—how could she be seen everywhere? Could it be that she wanted to steal away her elder brother and now her brother-in-law, too?

“Brother-in-law, let me go too.” Seeing that Shao Mingyuan didn’t respond, Qiao Wan acted coquettishly.

“Alright—” Someone who had no idea how to handle a little girl’s wheedling immediately compromised.

At the same time, Miss Qiao said coolly: “Not alright.”

Both Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Wan looked at her in surprise.

“Why not? This isn’t your house!” Qiao Wan protested indignantly after recovering from her surprise.

Qiao Zhao lowered her head: “How about this—I’ll give you a couplet. If you can complete it, you can come along. If you can’t, then obediently continue playing here. How about that?”

Qiao Wan stared blankly at Qiao Zhao.

Elder Sister used to test her like this.

Before the little girl could react, a “yes” had already escaped her lips, and then she bit her lip in regret.

“Don’t worry, it’s very easy. Listen carefully. The first line is: ‘Years are ruthless, wind deliberate.'”

Once the first line was out, the little girl’s full attention was immediately captured.

Shao Mingyuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. As they walked inside, he smiled at Qiao Zhao: “Miss Li is indeed good at coaxing children.”

“Sister Qiao is hardly a child anymore. If General Shao continues treating her like a child, she might well become the next Miss Jiang.”

When she was Qiao Wan’s age, she was already learning to care for Grandfather’s health.

Of course, Miss Qiao would never admit that hearing her half-sister say “this isn’t your house” had inexplicably irritated her.

Shao Mingyuan smiled awkwardly: “I don’t have much experience.”

Qiao Zhao gave him a sidelong glance.

Of course, you don’t have experience—you don’t have children!

Qiao Mo’s room wasn’t heavily furnished, but Qiao Zhao could tell at a glance that every item had been carefully selected, showing the thoughtfulness of whoever had arranged the room.

Qiao Zhao thought silently that regardless of everything else, Shao Mingyuan was quite attentive to her elder brother, which gave her some peace of mind.

Qiao Mo wasn’t truly seriously ill. His prolonged unconsciousness was mainly due to the medicine’s effects. Not only would that medicine not harm his body, it would thoroughly nourish a body that had been eroded by toxins.

Qiao Zhao first inserted silver needles into several of Qiao Mo’s acupoints, then wrote out a prescription and handed it to Shao Mingyuan: “Prepare medicine according to this prescription for Elder Brother Qiao to drink. Once a day for three consecutive days, and he’ll be completely recovered.”

“Good.” Shao Mingyuan carefully folded the prescription and placed it preciously in his chest.

“Then… I’ll head back. Regarding the Minister’s residence matter, General Shao can tell him after Elder Brother Qiao wakes up.”

Perhaps when her elder brother learns she drove Lady Mao mad, he’ll blame her.

Thinking this, Qiao Zhao smiled self-mockingly, a flash of loneliness in her eyes.

Shao Mingyuan glanced at Qiao Zhao.

Miss Li seemed somewhat sad.

However, he didn’t seem to have the standing to ask more.

“Miss Li, let me escort you.”

“Thank you.” Qiao Zhao followed Shao Mingyuan outside. At the doorway, she couldn’t help but turn back to glance at Qiao Mo on the bed.

If her elder brother dared blame her, she’d cry for him to see!

When the two reached the courtyard, Qiao Wan was still racking her brains over the second line. Seeing them, she hurried over and looked up to ask Shao Mingyuan: “Brother-in-law, what’s the second line?”

She certainly wouldn’t ask Miss Li.

This scheming woman who coveted both her elder brother and brother-in-law!

“The second line?” Shao Mingyuan, seeing that Qiao Zhao had no objection, deliberately teased Qiao Wan: “But brother-in-law forgot the first line.”

“The first line is ‘Years are ruthless, wind deliberate.'” Qiao Wan hastily reminded him.

“For the second line, I offer: ‘Time has passed, rain chills the heart.'” After Shao Mingyuan finished, he realized this couplet was rather too melancholy and couldn’t help but look toward Qiao Zhao.

“General Shao paired it well.” Qiao Zhao said indifferently.

Qiao Wan lifted her chin: “Of course! My brother-in-law is both literary and martial! Sister Li, do you have another second line?”

“Yes.” Qiao Zhao glanced sideways at Shao Mingyuan and smiled: “My second line is: ‘Red dust has love, ink retains heart.'”

Having said this, Qiao Zhao left with a smile.

This little snippet even dared to glare at her elder sister. She just loved bullying little girls and leaving them unable to cry.

Qiao Wan pondered for quite a while. When Shao Mingyuan returned, she was jumping mad: “Brother-in-law, please don’t let that Miss Li come over anymore!”

“Why?”

“She, she has ulterior motives toward elder brother!”

Shao Mingyuan’s expression darkened slightly.

The little girl, completely oblivious, grew angrier as she thought about it: “Listen to her second line: ‘Red dust has love, ink retains heart!’ Ink retains heart, ink retains heart—she harbors ill intentions toward elder brother!”

Shao Mingyuan’s expression was calm as he patted Qiao Wan’s head: “Enough. Little girls shouldn’t wildly speculate about adult matters. Miss Li isn’t that kind of person.”

“Brother-in-law, you’re already taking her side!”

Just then, a personal guard came to report: “General, a message came from the Marquis’s residence saying the Marquis’s wife is ill and requests your return.”

“Understood.” Shao Mingyuan gathered his things and hurried back to the Marquis Jing’an’s residence.

“Mingyuan, you’ve returned.”

“Father, how is Mother?”

“Her old heart pain condition flared up, but it’s nothing serious.”

Though it wasn’t serious, when a mother falls ill, her son should still return.

“I’ll go see mother.”