Before the medicine was ready, Shao Mingyuan came to call for Qiao Zhao and the others to set out.

Chen Guang had an extra set of men’s clothing in his hands, which he handed to Binglu: “The General wants Third Miss to change into these clothes.”

“Are these your General?”

“No, they’re new.”

“That’s more like it. What about mine?” Binglu took the clothes.

“Only one set was prepared. You shouldn’t need to go, should you?” Chen Guang said uncertainly.

“Why shouldn’t I go? I need to attend to our young lady!” Binglu’s willow eyebrows shot up as she stomped over to argue with Shao Mingyuan.

“General Shao, you only had Chen Guang prepare one set of men’s clothing, not one for this servant.”

Shao Mingyuan’s expression remained calm: “Only Miss Li is going.”

“How can that work? What if our young lady encounters danger in that kind of place?” Binglu became anxious upon hearing this.

“Danger?” Shao Mingyuan’s entire aura turned cold as he glanced at Binglu and said flatly, “There won’t be any.”

Binglu had never seen Shao Mingyuan with such an expression. Her mouth opened and closed, inexplicably feeling somewhat intimidated. Not knowing what to say, she finally clutched the clothes to her chest and turned away.

Qiao Zhao quickly changed into the men’s clothing and emerged as a handsome young scholar.

“Can we go now, big brothers?”

“Unsightly,” Chi Can frowned.

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Quite good.”

The three left Marquis Guanjun’s residence and, under the arrangements of Jinlin Guards Commander Jiang Tang, entered the imperial prison.

The imperial prison was located underground. As they descended step by step, despite it being midsummer, a cold, sinister air rushed toward them. Once below, the damp atmosphere was even worse, making one particularly uncomfortable.

In such an environment, even a strong young man would have his health deteriorate over time. Thinking that her elder brother had already spent a night in this place, Qiao Zhao’s heart ached terribly.

The leading jailer stopped, his attitude respectful: “My Lord Marquis, Young Master Qiao is inside.”

Before the three was a cell blocked by iron bars. Though the man inside wore prisoner’s clothing, his back remained straight.

Hearing voices, the man turned around, his tone slightly surprised: “My Lord Marquis?”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but grasp the bars with her hands.

Big Brother—

She opened her mouth but made no sound, silently calling out in her heart.

“Could you be accommodating and let us go inside to talk?” Shao Mingyuan asked the jailer.

“This—” The jailer looked troubled, involuntarily glancing at the Jinlin Guard who had accompanied Shao Mingyuan’s group.

The Jinlin Guard spoke: “Didn’t you hear the Marquis’s words?”

“Yes, sir.” The jailer quickly nodded, taking out the keys to open the cell door.

“Thank you.” Shao Mingyuan politely expressed his gratitude and bent down to enter.

Qiao Zhao and Chi Can followed closely behind.

“Brother-in-law, how are you? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Shao Mingyuan half-crouched down.

Qiao Mo smiled: “I’m alright. The food isn’t too bad, and I have a single cell. I’m grateful for the Marquis’s care.”

“Brother-in-law, saying such things is too formal.”

Qiao Mo lowered his gaze with a bitter smile: “I only hope the Marquis doesn’t blame me for my concealment.”

“I know brother-in-law must have unavoidable difficulties.”

Qiao Mo suddenly looked up and glanced at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao felt inexplicably nervous, subconsciously clenching her fists.

“Thank you, Miss Li and Young Master Chi, for coming to see me.” Qiao Mo smiled distantly.

“As long as Big Brother Qiao is safe, I… we can be at ease. Big Brother Qiao, please don’t worry. We’ll rescue you.”

Qiao Mo smiled faintly in thanks, then withdrew his gaze and said to Shao Mingyuan: “My Lord Marquis, I have some words I’d like to say to you privately.”

Shao Mingyuan looked toward Chi Can and Qiao Zhao.

“I’ll take her out to wait for you.” Chi Can reached out and tugged at Qiao Zhao: “Let’s go.”

Qiao Zhao felt bitter inside but didn’t dare show it on her face. She took out a small pouch from her sleeve and handed it over: “Big Brother Qiao, this pouch contains medicinal pills for nourishing the body. Taking one daily will prevent you from falling ill in this kind of place.”

She held out the pouch, but Qiao Mo didn’t take it for a long time.

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips tightly together, persistently extending her hand.

Qiao Mo finally reached out to take it, saying flatly: “Thank you, Miss Li.”

“You’re welcome.” Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but reveal a joyful smile.

She was born delicate and refined, and in such a dark, damp environment, her suddenly blooming smile was like the most brilliant flower, bringing bright spring days inside.

Qiao Mo was startled.

Chi Can, however, was so angry he almost jumped.

Damn girl, smiling so brilliantly at Qiao Mo—it infuriated him! Fortunately, he had come along; otherwise, would she have given Qiao Mo a warm hug too?

“Take care, Big Brother Qiao.” Qiao Zhao lowered her gaze and silently followed Chi Can out.

Only Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Mo remained in the cell.

“Why did Miss Li come?”

“She’s very concerned about her brother-in-law,” Shao Mingyuan explained.

For some reason, thinking of the young lady’s silent departure, Shao Mingyuan felt somewhat unable to bear it.

Qiao Mo sighed softly.

Forget it. He had been surprised why the Marquis Guanjun would agree to bring Miss Li to such a place, rather than questioning Miss Li’s reasons for coming.

However, now none of this mattered.

“My Lord Marquis, I’ll make this brief. Shortly before that great fire, my late father obtained a ledger recording how the anti-Japanese general Xing Wuyang had embezzled military funds. He ordered me to deliver it to one of his old friends under the pretext of visiting friends during my mourning period. Not long after, our home suffered that great fire—”

Qiao Mo paused here, smiling self-mockingly: “Now I’ve presented that ledger to His Majesty. His Majesty is the master of this realm, so how to handle it naturally doesn’t allow others to interfere. But there’s one matter I must tell the Marquis—that fire was most likely not an accident. When I went in to rescue my little sister, she was crying and running in the back garden. However, though the entire mansion was burning with great fire, I couldn’t hear any other sounds at all. I think—”

Qiao Mo found it somewhat difficult to continue. After calming his emotions, he said: “I think my parents and family members were probably already gone before the fire, otherwise there wouldn’t have been no sound at all…”

“If that’s truly the case, how did Wanwan escape disaster?” Shao Mingyuan asked.

Qiao Mo smiled bitterly: “Later, I asked Wanwan about it. That day, she had been mischievous and was scolded by Father, so she hid in the artificial mountain cave in the back garden to sulk. Later, she fell asleep and only woke up when choked by smoke, discovering fire everywhere.”

Mentioning these events, Qiao Mo could no longer maintain his composure, his brow showing signs of pain: “Whether that ledger has any direct connection to that fire, I can only guess. Now imprisoned, it’s even more impossible for me to verify. I have two matters to entrust to the Marquis.”

“Please speak, brother-in-law.”

“If the Marquis finds it convenient, please uncover the truth about the Qiao family fire. If my speculation is correct and the fire indeed had a mastermind behind it, even if we can’t bring the culprit to justice, at least the Qiao family won’t die in ignorance. The second matter is hoping the Marquis can raise Wanwan to adulthood.”

“Brother-in-law, I will do my utmost for both matters you’ve mentioned. However, please don’t worry—I will rescue you.”

Qiao Mo revealed a relieved smile: “Thank you, my Lord Marquis.”

“Why must my brother-in-law be so formal with me? We are family.”

Qiao Mo was silent for a while before speaking: “The words the Marquis spoke before need not be taken seriously.”