Second Madam Liu had just left when Master Li Guangwen returned home.

He entered Qingsong Hall with a perplexed expression.

“Mother, what matter required calling your son back from the Hanlin Academy?”

Li Guangwen was in his thirties, tall and upright, pure as jade in appearance—one couldn’t see any trace of having rolled around in the political arena.

Every time Old Madam Deng saw her eldest son looking like this, she felt both joy and sorrow.

Her eldest son had a remarkable talent in scholarship, achieving the rank of Third Place Scholar at a young age and entering the promising Hanlin Academy. Combined with his good looks, despite the family’s difficult financial circumstances at the time, many wealthy families had taken a fancy to him, which led to the marriage to Lady Du, a noble daughter from an earl’s residence.

Who knew that her eldest son simply wasn’t cut out for officialdom? On his first day reporting for duty, he offended his superior. Though he avoided dismissal thanks to protection from his cousin in the East Residence, he was relegated to the cold bench. Later, when Lady Du died in childbirth delivering their son Li Hui, if it hadn’t been for the fortuitous circumstance of marrying Lady He as his second wife, he might have had difficulty even finding a wife.

But in a mother’s eyes, the fact that her son hadn’t picked up scheming and opportunistic habits was comforting.

Senior maid Qing Jun served tea to Li Guangwen. After seeing him pick it up and drink, Old Madam Deng said: “Third Girl has returned.”

Li Guangwen spat out his mouthful of tea.

Old Madam Deng glanced at Qing Jun, who was pursing her lips to suppress laughter, and glared at him: “What kind of behavior is such excitement?”

Li Guangwen still wore a dazed expression.

Old Madam Deng gave a meaningful look to Qing Jun, who led the serving maids out of the room.

“Third Girl was brought back by the famous Divine Physician Li. I blocked your eldest sister-in-law’s intention to send her to the family temple. However, Third Girl’s reputation is ruined, and she probably won’t be able to marry in the future. As her father, what are your thoughts?”

Li Guangwen finally recovered from his shock and mumbled, “Just raise her.”

Afraid the old lady wouldn’t feel at ease, he thought for a moment and added: “Her mother has money.”

Old Madam Deng: “…” This son was truly honest!

Hearing her eldest son say this, Old Madam Deng knew no family tragedy would occur. Too lazy to look at her son’s useless, handsome face, she waved her hand and sent him away.

When it was finally quiet, Old Madam Deng instructed Qing Jun: “Go to Yahe Courtyard and tell Third Miss that she needn’t come to pay respects these next few days, nor go to school. Let her stay in her room and copy Buddhist scriptures when she has nothing to do.”

Qing Jun knew that Third Miss’s life was now set this way. Thinking of her previously arrogant and domineering temperament, she surprisingly felt no pity. She acknowledged with a “yes” and went to Yahe Courtyard to deliver the message.

Living in the capital was difficult, and the West Residence was cramped. Except for the only male descendant of this generation, Third Young Master Li Hui, who had been given separate quarters after turning twelve, all the young ladies lived with their parents.

Li Guangwen left Qingsong Hall and returned to Yahe Courtyard. Usually, he would go directly to his study to rest, but this time he headed straight for the main house.

In the eastern side room, Lady He was holding Qiao Zhao and wiping away tears. When she saw Li Guangwen arrive, joy flashed in her eyes as she went to greet him: “Master, Zhaozhao has returned!”

Li Guangwen kept his eyes straight ahead, walking directly past her to stand before Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao observed coldly, seeing the flash of hurt on Lady He’s face quickly disappear and return to normal, and sighed inwardly.

In little Li Zhao’s memories, her father’s indifference toward her mother seemed completely natural.

“Father—” She rose to greet Li Guangwen.

Li Guangwen was quite surprised. He stood there quietly for a moment, then told her to rise. After looking her over, he said: “It’s good that you’ve returned. In the future, behave yourself and don’t cause any more trouble.”

“Daughter understands.” Such conventional exchanges were easiest to handle, and Qiao Zhao naturally felt no fear.

She could see that Li Guangwen’s feelings toward this daughter were limited to basic paternal instinct, without an ounce of additional affection.

Of course, after reviewing how little Li Zhao had previously targeted the pair of siblings born to the first wife, Qiao Zhao wasn’t surprised at all.

Li Guangwen wasn’t accustomed to staying long in this room. After sitting briefly and seeing that his wife and daughter had nothing to say, he nodded slightly to Lady He: “Then I’ll return to my room.”

Li Guangwen permanently resided in his study.

Lady He was somewhat flustered: “Master is leaving already?”

She had thought that with her daughter’s return, the master would have much to say and was racking her brains to organize her words, never expecting him to leave so soon.

It was just a moment’s distraction, and Li Guangwen had already walked out the door.

Lady He stared blankly at his retreating figure, somewhat dazed.

Among the married couples Qiao Zhao had seen, some were like her grandparents with their harmonious union, others like her parents who treated each other with mutual respect. She had never known that between husband and wife, there could be such coldness, like strangers.

She then thought of herself.

During her two years of marriage to the Marquis Jing’an’s residence, she and Shao Mingyuan were truly strangers.

But these were all past matters. Even that little bit of annoyance had mostly dissipated when she threw out that thorny fairy ball. What she sought was only to see her elder brother as soon as possible, and if that fire was indeed suspicious, to do everything in her power to avenge her parents and family.

Qiao Zhao lowered her gaze to stare at her slender hands.

Regardless of what shell she inhabited, she was still Qiao Zhao—the Qiao Zhao who was willing to do everything possible to repay kindness received and owed nothing to anyone. How could the debt of gratitude to parents and relatives who had given birth to and raised her vanish just because she had changed her appearance?

Even if the future brought storms as sharp as knives, she would never fear.

“Zhaozhao, what’s wrong with you?” Lady He saw her daughter’s vacant expression and felt somewhat panicked.

She always felt that if she wasn’t careful, her daughter would disappear again.

Qiao Zhao turned her clear, dark eyes and smiled gently: “Mother, I’m just hungry.”

Lady He was stunned, then her eyes suddenly grew moist. Unable to control herself, she quickly turned away and said, “Mother will immediately have the small kitchen prepare something delicious for you!”

She hurriedly left the room, stood in the courtyard taking a deep breath, then pulled out a handkerchief to quietly wipe her tears.

In all these years, her daughter had never spoken to her so gently.

“Madam—” A woman dressed as a servant called to her softly.

Lady He smiled through her tears: “Nanny Fang, I remember that braised lion’s head meatballs are your specialty dish. Would you cook it for Zhaozhao today?”

Nanny Fang sighed inwardly: how pitiful are the hearts of parents everywhere.

Third Miss had been stubborn and contrary since childhood, looking down on her mother’s background and resenting her birth mother for using schemes to marry in as a second wife because of gossip. She had never shown Lady He a kind face. Yet Lady He, having only this one daughter, still treasured her like a precious pearl, though how could her heart not ache?

Now, observing coldly, she could see that Third Miss had grown wiser after suffering outside once.

But this wisdom came too late—the Third Miss had been abducted at this age, and her life was already ruined.

“Madam mustn’t say such things. As long as Third Miss doesn’t disdain it, this old servant would be happy to cook for her every day.”

Lady He was excited and personally went to supervise the small kitchen. Soon, a maid came to the main house to report: “Third Miss, Sister Qing Jun from Qingsong Hall has arrived.”

Qing Jun?

Qiao Zhao had received Li Zhao’s memories, which she needed to browse through like reading a book. After thinking for a moment, she remembered this was Old Madam Deng’s senior maid, who commanded some respect even before all the masters of the West Residence. She therefore had the maid invite her in.