Qiao Mo naturally repeated to Qiao Zhao everything he had told Shao Mingyuan in prison.

When Qiao Zhao heard Qiao Mo mention that their family members had likely been murdered before the fire, she nearly ground her teeth to powder.

After a suffocating silence, Qiao Mo spoke: “His Majesty suppressed that account book and doesn’t plan to move against Xing Wuyang. Minister of Justice Li Guangyan went to Jia Feng and brought back the conclusion that the fire was an accident. While I was in prison, I already entrusted the Marquis Guanjun to investigate the fire, though there will certainly be countless difficulties—”

“No matter how difficult, we must get to the bottom of this matter. We cannot let our parents and relatives die in vain.” Qiao Zhao said with a serious expression.

Qiao Mo sighed softly: “The emperor’s heart is unfathomable. Elder brother made one wrong move, and though I’m now out of prison, the Jinlin Guards have secretly given orders that the higher-ups forbid me from moving about the capital freely.”

Speaking of this, Qiao Mo smiled self-mockingly: “Having lost even my freedom, how can I investigate the truth?”

Qiao Zhao reached out to press Qiao Mo’s hand, comforting him: “Elder brother, rest assured—you still have me.”

Qiao Mo knew his younger sister was stronger than many men. He didn’t want to hurt her by saying things like “you’re a girl, don’t get involved.” Because he knew that his younger sister was never the type of girl to cling like ivy, and she couldn’t possibly stay out of such family vengeance.

However, thinking that such a heavy burden would fall on his sister’s shoulders in the future filled his heart with bitterness.

“Elder brother, tell me about all the people father was close to during his lifetime. If there’s an opportunity, I want to make a trip to Jia Feng.”

“Return to Jia Feng?” Qiao Mo’s expression changed slightly.

Qiao Zhao remained calm: “Things are whitewashed here in the capital. To investigate the true mastermind behind the fire and obtain solid evidence, Jia Feng must be visited.”

“Zhaozhao, you’re not even fourteen yet. How could you go to Jia Feng alone?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Elder brother, rest assured—I’m not rash. I’ll wait patiently for the right opportunity. That fire at home happened so long ago that many clues have long since been lost. Minister of Justice Li Guangyan went to investigate again—if his position was neutral, he would have found what could be found; if he had ulterior motives, then whatever evidence needed destroying has already been destroyed. What I want to investigate was already deeper and temporarily unnoticed by anyone, so there’s no need to rush.”

Her analysis was logical and well-reasoned, but Qiao Mo said only one thing: “I absolutely will not agree to you going to Jia Feng alone.”

“Elder brother—”

“Calling me elder brother won’t help. Elder brother has already lost you once—do you want me to lose you again? Zhaozhao, you must understand that you and Wan Wan are my only remaining relatives in this world. As the eldest brother, being unable to investigate the truth and avenge our parents and relatives is already worse than death. If I let you risk danger alone, what face would I have to continue living?”

Qiao Zhao quickly promised, “I won’t go alone. If there ever comes a day when I go to Jia Feng, I’ll go with reliable people. Will that work?”

Only then did Qiao Mo nod helplessly and tell Qiao Zhao about the situation of the Qiao family in Jia Feng over the past two or three years.

Shao Mingyuan walked through the moon gate and saw Qiao Wan standing under a gardenia tree, absent-mindedly kicking at the grass by her feet.

He shook his head with a smile and walked over, calling: “Wan Wan.”

Qiao Wan looked up and saw it was Shao Mingyuan. Though somewhat disappointed it wasn’t her elder brother looking for her, she also liked her brother-in-law very much and sweetly called: “Brother-in-law.”

Shao Mingyuan walked over and ruffled Qiao Wan’s hair: “Hungry? Come back with your brother-in-law to eat.”

“I won’t eat.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to eat with Miss Li.”

“And why is that?” Shao Mingyuan crouched down to be at eye level with Qiao Wan.

Qiao Wan pouted: “Who told elder brother to take her as a sworn sister? I don’t like it.”

“Wan Wan, didn’t you tell brother-in-law that your elder brother is the most outstanding man in the world?”

Qiao Wan nodded, then thought and added: “Brother-in-law is too.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “If that’s so, then why doesn’t Wan Wan trust your elder brother’s judgment?”

This question stumped the little girl.

She lowered her head and gently kicked the grass, saying quietly: “I don’t want her to take elder sister’s place.”

“Wan Wan also said that your elder sister was the most outstanding woman in the world. How could such a person be replaced by anyone else? Moreover, you must understand that no matter who someone is, excellent or not, they can never be replaced in their relatives’ hearts.”

“Really?” The little girl’s eyes lit up.

“Really.” The young general answered with certainty.

“Then Miss Li won’t take elder sister’s place in brother-in-law’s heart either?”

Shao Mingyuan was stunned by the question and fell silent briefly before saying, “No.”

Their positions were never the same.

Qiao Zhao to him was wife, responsibility, guilt—a lifetime of regret that could never be repaid or made up for.

And Miss Li—

Shao Mingyuan smiled self-mockingly.

Miss Li only made him realize that he, too, was human, not made of wood—that he, too, could have his heart flutter for a clever and lovely girl.

Hearing Shao Mingyuan’s answer, Qiao Wan finally smiled: “Alright then, I’ll listen to brother-in-law and elder brother and call her elder sister.”

Shao Mingyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Children were so hard to coax.

Qiao Wan’s eyes rolled: “But if elder brother took Miss Li as a sworn sister, wouldn’t Miss Li also have to call brother-in-law ‘brother-in-law’?”

The usually calm person’s expression became particularly complex at this moment. After being dumbfounded for quite a while, he coughed and said, “That’s not how it works. Let’s go quickly—your elder brother and the others must be getting anxious waiting.”

When Shao Mingyuan returned with Qiao Wan, Qiao Zhao and Qiao Mo’s conversation about the Qiao family fire had already concluded. Both appeared calm, showing no trace of their earlier heavy mood.

“Elder brother.” Qiao Wan came to Qiao Mo’s side and called out timidly.

Qiao Mo found it both amusing and helpless, asking: “No more making a fuss?”

Qiao Wan blushed and glanced at Qiao Zhao, softly calling: “Elder sister.”

She didn’t care about Miss Li, but she didn’t want her elder brother to be unhappy.

Qiao Zhao unceremoniously ruffled Qiao Wan’s hair: “I didn’t prepare a meeting gift, but elder sister will make it up to you next time.”

Qiao Wan: “…”

How annoying—why was this person so familiar so quickly!

After the four ate together, Qiao Zhao proposed to take her leave.

Qiao Mo spoke: “Marquis, please see Zhaozhao off for me—it’s inconvenient for me after all.”

Shao Mingyuan naturally had no objection to Qiao Mo’s words and got up to see Qiao Zhao out.

“Regarding the brother-in-law’s matter, I really must thank Miss Li.”

“I’ve already acknowledged Elder Brother Qiao as my sworn brother, so his affairs are naturally my responsibility.” Qiao Zhao said with a serious expression.

The corner of Shao Mingyuan’s mouth twitched.

Miss Li had saved his brother-in-law first and acknowledged him as a sworn brother afterward—

However, he didn’t dare expose this.

“By the way, General Shao, I’ll be coming later tomorrow.”

Shao Mingyuan’s steps paused.

Qiao Zhao explained: “Tomorrow is my day to visit Shuying Nunnery.”

“Miss Li still goes to Shuying Nunnery every seven days?”

“Yes.” After Qiao Zhao spoke, she walked forward silently.

Shao Mingyuan walked beside her, gazing at the young woman’s serene profile.

Qiao Zhao seemed to sense something and turned to look at him: “Does General Shao have something to say?”