On the way back, Qiao Zhao had already regained her composure, showing no trace of having cried.

Chen Guang quietly told Binglu, “Third Miss is in a somewhat bad mood. You should comfort her more.”

“Why? Did your general bully our young lady?”

“How could that be possible?” Chen Guang firmly denied it, thinking to himself that it would be good enough if their young lady didn’t bully their general. She had already seen their general naked, and the general didn’t dare make a sound.

“Your general bullied our young lady. Hmph, our young lady doesn’t like to cry.” Binglu glared fiercely at Chen Guang and helped Qiao Zhao down from the carriage.

At this time, the main kitchen of the West Residence had already begun preparing dinner. Walking through the courtyard, one could see wisps of cooking smoke drifting with the aroma of food, full of the warmth of human life.

Qiao Zhao stood on the bluestone path and took a deep breath.

“Miss, are you hungry?” Binglu asked.

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Yes, I’m hungry. Let’s go see what delicious food Mother has.”

When Lady He saw Qiao Zhao enter, she was somewhat surprised, then filled with joy: “Zhaozhao has come! Quick, come sit by Mother.”

Qiao Zhao was surprised to discover Li Guangwen was also there and paid her respects to both.

Li Guangwen stood up somewhat awkwardly: “Zhaozhao, have you eaten?”

Qiao Zhao was speechless at the question. The main kitchen had only just begun preparations at this time—where would she have eaten dinner?

Her gaze fell on Li Guangwen’s reddened ears, and Qiao Zhao blinked, belatedly realizing that Father was embarrassed.

Li Guangwen was indeed embarrassed. After so many years of respectful distance with Lady He, being suddenly caught by his daughter sitting together waiting for dinner felt very awkward.

“Oh, I’ve already eaten.” Realizing she had interrupted her parents’ rare time alone together, Qiao Zhao tactfully responded and was about to take her leave.

Lady He grabbed her hand and scolded: “Where did you eat? Mother can see your little stomach is still flat—you haven’t eaten outside. Good daughter, sit down and eat with Father and Mother tonight.”

Qiao Zhao’s heart warmed, and she linked arms with Lady He: “Mother, I want to eat braised lion’s head meatballs.”

She actually could no longer be purely Qiao Zhao anymore; she just hadn’t been willing to admit it.

“Good, then we’ll have braised lion’s head meatballs.” Lady He affectionately pinched Qiao Zhao’s cheek and called out: “Nanny Fang, make a dish of braised lion’s head meatballs. Third Miss wants to eat them.”

“Braised lion’s head meatballs take a long time to prepare—we won’t make it in time for dinner.” Li Guangwen tactlessly reminded them.

Both wife and daughter looked at him.

Li Guangwen scratched his head in confusion.

Why were they looking at him? He hadn’t said anything wrong.

Lady He rolled her eyes at him: “Master is something. If our daughter wants braised lion’s head meatballs, then she’ll get them today. At worst, we’ll have them as a late-night snack.”

“But braised lion’s head meatballs are too greasy and hard to digest. Having them as a late-night snack would be bad for the stomach—”

Lady He: “…” This wasn’t the husband she had loved for over ten years!

Qiao Zhao: “…” Mother could keep loving Father all this time?

For some reason, seeing Li Guangwen and Lady He staring at each other with wide eyes, Qiao Zhao’s gloomy mood suddenly lifted somewhat.

“How about I go buy some? The braised lion’s head meatballs at Baiwei Restaurant taste quite good.” Li Guangwen lifted his foot to leave.

Qiao Zhao hurriedly stopped him: “Father, eating anything is the same. Being able to dine with Father and Mother makes me happy.”

“See how well Zhaozhao speaks.” Lady He quickly pulled Li Guangwen to sit down.

Mm, it was rare to spend time with Master, and she would be reluctant if he went out. Their daughter was so thoughtful.

Li Guangwen hastily shook off Lady He’s hand, quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao, and scolded: “What kind of behavior is all this pulling and tugging!”

Qiao Zhao smiled with pursed lips.

When mealtime came, the braised lion’s head meatballs hadn’t been served in time after all, but the family of three didn’t mind and ate happily together.

Lady He hadn’t developed the habit of not speaking during meals. She frequently served food to Li Guangwen and Qiao Zhao while chatting.

Li Guangwen couldn’t bear it any longer: “This will—”

Lady He directly interrupted him: “I know, it will affect digestion. But it’s rare to eat with our daughter—what’s there to fear about affecting digestion?”

Looking at his youngest daughter eating seriously, Li Guangwen raised his hand to touch his nose.

What his wife said made quite a bit of sense.

People are all influenced by atmosphere, and Li Guangwen couldn’t help joining the conversation: “Mm, your uncle from the East Residence has returned.”

The shrimp ball on Qiao Zhao’s chopsticks dropped right back into the dish.

“See, I told you not to talk while eating!” Li Guangwen said regretfully.

Qiao Zhao picked the shrimp ball back into her bowl and smiled calmly: “The shrimp ball was too slippery. Father said Uncle from the East Residence has returned? Didn’t he go south?”

Uncle Li Guangshu from the East Residence, who served as Vice Minister of Justice, had been appointed as an imperial commissioner by the Emperor to investigate the Qiao family fire case in Jia Feng. This uncle had returned today?

So what were the results of the investigation?

That fire at her family’s home—was it a natural disaster or man-made?

These days, Li Guangwen had long been cultivated by his youngest daughter to have a talent for storytelling. Hearing this, he immediately said: “Just returned. Didn’t even enter the house—went straight to the yamen to organize the case files.”

Qiao Zhao was somewhat disappointed.

This meant Father didn’t know what the results were either.

She immediately lost her appetite, but in front of her parents, she could still maintain composure. She calmly finished the meal, but once back in her room, she felt nauseous and vomited everything up.

Binglu panicked: “Miss, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” Qiao Zhao accepted the honey water. A’Zhu silently handed her, rinsed her mouth, and felt more comfortable. “You all go down. I need to rest.”

She was sleepless all night.

Qiao Zhao rose early, dressed properly, and waited until it was about the right time before heading to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence.

To find out what Uncle from the East Residence had brought back, Shao Mingyuan’s information would be much more current than ordinary people. Moreover, Big Brother also lived at Marquis Guanjun’s residence. According to her speculation, regardless of the fire investigation results, the court would very likely summon Big Brother today.

“Good morning, Miss Li.” Shao Mingyuan’s gaze fell on the shadows under the young lady’s eyes.

Miss Li hadn’t slept well last night.

He had thought that after being so upset yesterday, she wouldn’t come today.

“Good morning, General Shao.”

The atmosphere grew cold.

Shao Mingyuan coughed lightly and asked: “Shall we begin the acupuncture?”

Chen Guang, standing in the corner, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The General had made progress—he already knew how to actively remove his clothes!

“I performed acupuncture twice yesterday, so there’s no need for more today.”

Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows.

Then, what had Miss Li come for today? It couldn’t be—to continue crying, could it?

Thinking of this possibility, the young general suddenly became nervous.

When girls cried, it left people at a complete loss!

“General Shao’s complexion doesn’t look good. Did you not take the medicine I prescribed?”

“I took it.” Afraid of making the young lady before him cry, the young general quickly nodded.

The young lady’s delicate brows furrowed: “Then the medicine wasn’t brewed properly. I came today to brew medicine for General Shao.”