“Big Brother, you’ve caught a cold. The medicine pills I made are perfect for your symptoms. Though these pills have the same effects, their outer coatings have different flavors.”

“Really? What flavors are there?”

The little girl revealed a mischievous smile with her missing front teeth: “Big Brother, try one and you’ll know. You can only eat one pill – what flavor you get depends on Big Brother’s luck.”

“Then I’ll try one.” He picked up the green pill and placed it in his mouth. A bitter taste immediately spread throughout his mouth.

The little girl laughed loudly: “Brother’s luck is really bad – the green one has coptis root in it.”

“Mischievous!” Qiao Mo raised his hand to pinch the little girl’s nose, but obediently swallowed the pill.

Qiao Mo withdrew from his memories, his gaze falling on the green pills in the white porcelain bottle.

After a moment of silence, he poured out a green pill and put it in his mouth.

The familiar bitter taste instantly spread, so bitter that he couldn’t control himself – a tear rolled down from the corner of his eye.

“Zhaozhao—” Qiao Mo murmured these two characters.

If behavior, actions, and handwriting could all be imitated, then what about this?

If enemies could even know about the little joke his younger sister had played with him when she was seven or eight years old, that would be too terrifying.

No, this was impossible.

His younger sister had lived with their grandfather in Jia Feng since childhood, only coming to the capital for short stays each year. To say that these matters had been watched by someone with ulterior motives was already hard to believe, especially since their father had only recently obtained that account book – the mastermind behind this couldn’t have had foresight.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, even if the Qiao family in the capital had been watched early on, how could these colorful pills be explained?

That year, when he returned to Jia Feng to visit his grandparents, he unexpectedly fell ill due to not adapting to the climate, and his younger sister had made these pills for him. Except for him and his younger sister, only a god could have known about this.

So, how did Miss Li know about it?

Qiao Mo picked up that plain note again.

“The wise enlighten others through their enlightenment.”

He gently placed the note against his chest and whispered: “Miss Li, what exactly are you trying to prove?”

Prove that you are my younger sister?

This speculation was already emerging, but Qiao Mo still found it hard to believe.

Soul possession? Did such absurd things exist?

He doubted it, but more importantly, he didn’t dare!

He didn’t dare believe such a possibility existed, because once disappointed, it would become unbearable pain for his already numb heart.

Qiao Zhao was pulled outside by Chi Can. The fresh air and bright sunlight not only failed to lift her spirits but made her feel even more oppressed.

Her big brother was staying in such a dark, sunless place.

Qiao Zhao looked up at the azure sky and took a deep breath.

She must rescue her big brother as soon as possible, using every means at her disposal.

“Third Miss Li, why do I feel like you’re constantly putting your warm face against Qiao Mo’s cold backside?” Chi Can saw Qiao Zhao’s brows remained furrowed and couldn’t help but speak up.

Why did this girl seem more distressed than if she were imprisoned when Qiao Mo was in jail? If the person in prison were him instead, would she be like this?

Just thinking about it made Chi Can’s heart feel like it was soaked in vinegar water, both sour and bitter.

So this was what it felt like to like someone, to feel anxious and worried over her every frown and smile.

Young Master Chi didn’t like this feeling at all, so he had to make Third Miss Li fall for him early, too – then everything would be perfect.

“Big Brother Chi, I’m in a bad mood and don’t want to chat.” Qiao Zhao turned around, her back facing Chi Can.

“Third Miss Li!” Chi Can call out each word distinctly.

Just then, footsteps approached. Qiao Zhao quickly turned around, but discovered the person coming wasn’t Shao Mingyuan, but another familiar person – her maternal grandfather, Minister Kou.

In Qiao Zhao’s eyes, her grandfather looked much older than when she had last seen him, and her eldest uncle’s eyes also showed crow’s feet.

Minister Kou walked out, accompanied by Kou Bohai, his expression grave.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but step forward.

Had her grandfather and eldest uncle come to see her big brother?

Minister Kou glanced in this direction, his gaze sweeping over Qiao Zhao’s face and settling on Chi Can.

Kou Bohai whispered a few words in Minister Kou’s ear. After listening, Minister Kou walked over.

Qiao Zhao stared intently at the gray-haired Minister Kou.

“Has Young Master Chi come to visit this old man’s grandson Qiao Mo?”

“Mm.” Given Minister Kou’s age, Chi Can reluctantly gave a response.

Though he didn’t understand the inside story of how Qiao Mo could be suddenly taken away by Shao Mingyuan while staying at the Minister’s residence, he could guess that this Minister’s residence wasn’t a good place.

When a grandson, whose family was destroyed and whose future ruined, came seeking refuge but found no place to stay, how could he have any good feelings toward the people of Minister Kou’s residence?

When dealing with people he disliked, he was always too lazy to say much. Only this girl didn’t know how good she had it!

Chi Can quite simply ignore Minister Kou and his son, looking toward Qiao Zhao.

Only then did Minister Kou take another look at Qiao Zhao, then coughed and said: “Young Master Chi, may I ask if you came together with Marquis Guanjun?”

“No.” Chi Can denied it straightforwardly and pulled Qiao Zhao along. “Minister Kou, we just came out and will take our leave first.”

Seeing Chi Can drag Qiao Zhao away, Minister Kou maintained his dignity and said nothing more, departing silently with Kou Bohai.

Chi Can released Qiao Zhao’s hand and sneered: “He must want to use Tingquan’s influence to go in and see Qiao Mo.”

Those Jinlin Guards would give face to Marquis Guanjun, but wouldn’t give face to these people.

Don’t look at Kou Xingze being one of the heads of the Six Ministries – he still had to be polite when meeting the Jinlin Guards.

Qiao Zhao said nothing.

Ever since discovering that her eldest aunt Lady Mao had poisoned her big brother, and whether there was someone behind the scenes pushing things along was still unknown, she had become wary of her originally close maternal grandfather’s family.

Regardless of what intentions her grandfather and others had toward her big brother, reducing contact at this time was for the best.

“Why aren’t you talking?” Chi Can asked.

“General Shao is coming out.” Qiao Zhao walked toward the exit.

Shao Mingyuan looked at the two of them and said without expression: “Let’s go back and talk.”

The three returned to Marquis Guanjun’s residence. Shao Mingyuan stopped and said, “Miss Li, please change back into women’s clothing. I’ll escort you home.”

Qiao Zhao didn’t move and said directly: “I want to rescue Big Brother Qiao.”

“What are you getting involved in such matters for?” Chi Can frowned.

Qiao Zhao ignored him and looked straight at Shao Mingyuan: “General Shao should remember what I said before – before Grandpa Li left the capital, he specifically entrusted me to look after Big Brother Qiao. Having accepted someone’s trust, I must be loyal to that trust. Now that Big Brother Qiao is in trouble, I cannot stand by and do nothing.”

“But you—”

“Fine, then come in and talk.” Shao Mingyuan turned and walked inside.

Chi Can rolled his eyes.

Shao Mingyuan was letting this girl act recklessly – simply incomprehensible!

After entering the room, the three sat down. Shao Mingyuan said directly: “Shixi mentioned earlier that for the stability of the court, as long as Xing Wuyang hasn’t committed the great crime of treason, His Majesty won’t hold him accountable.”

“Right.” Chi Can nodded. “That’s why Qiao Mo was locked up in prison. Xing Wuyang can’t be touched, so it can only be that Qiao Mo made ‘false accusations.'”

“What if Xing Wuyang could be replaced?” Shao Mingyuan threw out this statement.

Chi Can’s mind worked quickly in this area. Hearing this, he was immediately shocked: “You want to replace Xing Wuyang in fighting the Japanese pirates?”