“You, how do you know this?” Li Jiǎo blushed bright red with shame.

Having such a fiancé was no honor for anyone.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but sigh.

How did she know? With a birth mother like He Shi, it would have been difficult not to know.

Whenever this pair of siblings encountered any misfortune, He Shi would immediately rush excitedly to tell her daughter, persistently trying to curry favor despite her daughter’s cold face.

“What kind of twisted logic is this? Big Sister’s engagement has been broken, so we should beat gongs and drums in celebration?”

Qiao Zhao naturally countered, “Isn’t escaping from such a scoundrel worth beating gongs and drums?”

She shifted her gaze to meet Li Jiǎo’s eyes directly. Her black and white pupils had a penetrating clarity that left nowhere to hide.

Li Jiǎo uncomfortably looked away and tugged at Li Hui, “Third Brother, let’s go.”

“Big Sister, you’re always so good-natured!”

“Third Brother, stop making trouble. Third Sister, rest well. I’ll leave first—” Li Jiǎo turned and quickly walked away, with Li Hui hurrying after her.

The bead curtain swayed, making pleasant sounds that lingered in the air.

A’Zhu bent down to pick up the scattered chess pieces.

Binglu spat toward the bead curtain, “Miss shouldn’t have served them tea at all! Two people gang up to bully Miss alone!”

“Enough. Help A’Zhu pick up the chess pieces. I want to continue playing.”

“How can you continue?” Binglu looked confused.

After A’Zhu collected all the chess pieces, Qiao Zhao picked them from the jar and placed them one by one on the board.

She unhurriedly replayed the game while thinking about the situation.

Little Li Zhao’s kidnapping was certainly not as simple as it appeared.

Although Li Zhao’s remaining memories showed nothing unusual, from an observer’s perspective, she could see many interesting things.

On the Flower Festival day, Li Zhao originally didn’t want to go out, but she changed her mind after accidentally hearing that Earl Guchang’s heir, Du Feiyang, would also be there.

Earl Guchang’s residence was Li Jiǎo’s maternal family, and Du Feiyang was precisely her maternal cousin.

To see that heir, little Li Zhao, would naturally set aside her usual dissatisfaction with Li Jiǎo and follow her closely.

Great Liang’s annual Flower Festival was extraordinarily lively, and kidnappers always targeted such occasions. Little Li Zhao had more than enough willfulness but insufficient cleverness. In that chaotic street, she carelessly lost track of others and, finding herself alone, naturally became a target for kidnappers.

Sometimes, wanting to harm someone to death was so simple. Li Jiǎo, in her apparent panic, spread the news that Third Miss of the Li household had gone missing, completely cutting off her path home.

Taking ten thousand steps back, now that she had returned under Li Zhao’s identity, if First Miss Li could take this opportunity to escape such a troublesome engagement while gaining countless people’s sympathy, it wouldn’t be a loss either.

Qiao Zhao’s hands didn’t stop moving as she pondered these matters, feeling that the inner courtyard’s twists and turns were truly chilling.

Li Jiǎo left the West Side Courtyard and walked quickly outside, her heart in turmoil.

Was it her imagination? Why did she feel as if all her calculations had been seen through by that girl?

She had never expected that a kidnapped girl could return completely unharmed. Of course, even if she returned, she wasn’t afraid – being able to use this opportunity to escape the engagement with Earl Changchun’s household was equally worth celebrating.

Earl Changchun’s youngest son was clearly such a scoundrel, but just because it was an engagement arranged when Mother was alive, when Father wanted to break it off, her maternal family was unwilling, so Father compromised.

She had calculated this plan to kill two birds with one stone for a long time. It was seamless, so why did Li Zhao have that expression, as if she had seen through everything?

This was impossible. How could a fool like Li Zhao think of such things?

Lost in thought, Li Jiǎo walked forward, ignoring Li Hui chasing behind her, and nearly collided with Li Guangwen.

Li Guangwen reached out to steady her, looking surprised, “Jiao’er, what’s wrong?”

Li Jiǎo came to her senses and met Li Guangwen’s concerned gaze, her voice unconsciously choking, “Father—”

“What happened?”

“I, I’m fine. Your daughter will return first.” Li Jiǎo hastily performed a courtesy and hurried away.

Li Hui caught up and was stopped by Li Guangwen, “You came from the West Side Courtyard? What’s wrong with your big sister?”

Li Hui’s expression was gloomy. “It’s all Li Zhao again, bullying Big Sister!”

Such scenes had occurred too many times. Li Guangwen instinctively frowned with displeasure. “She’s making trouble again?”

Li Hui snorted coldly.

Li Guangwen understood and looked over his son, “Aren’t you supposed to be studying at the Imperial Academy? Why are you at home?”

Of the two branches of the West Residence, there was only one grandson among all the grandchildren – Li Hui. Naturally pampered, he said huffily, “Wasn’t it because I heard Li Zhao caused Big Sister’s engagement to be broken? Your son was worried about Big Sister and rushed back.”

“Uh…” Li Guangwen paused and instructed, “You siblings have been close since childhood. Go comfort your big sister and tell her not to be too sad. A blessing in disguise – who knows if it’s not good fortune?”

That eldest daughter’s engagement was truly unsatisfactory. Now that it was broken, though her reputation suffered some damage, in the long run, it might not be a bad thing.

If not for Earl Guchang’s household blocking it, he would have wanted to break it off long ago.

Perhaps thinking this way, even though his second daughter had caused such a big incident, Li Guangwen was surprised to find he wasn’t that angry.

Li Hui also noticed this and said dissatisfiedly, “Father, are we just going to let Third Sister off like this? If she doesn’t restrain her temperament, who knows how many more people she’ll implicate in the future!”

Li Guangwen’s face hardened. “Mm, Father should indeed go teach her a good lesson!”

Expecting He Shi to do it was purely a joke.

Only then did Li Hui feel somewhat appeased. He bowed and said, “Father, then your son will go comfort Big Sister.”

“Mm, go ahead.” Li Guangwen nodded and stepped into the West Side Courtyard.

In the courtyard, the green buds on the pomegranate tree had grown more luxuriant, the banana plants by the window were emerald green, and the entire small courtyard was peaceful and elegant. Only the clear sound of chess pieces falling could be heard.

Li Guangwen entered with a stern face and saw the young girl sitting cross-legged, holding white stones in one hand and black in the other, playing chess.

Playing chess against herself?

Li Guangwen’s heart stirred. Momentarily forgetting his purpose, he shook his head at the two maids to signal them not to make noise and walked over.

Qiao Zhao was reaching a wonderful point in her game. After pondering for a long time, she placed a piece and heard a low exclamation, “Excellent!”

She looked up to see her father standing beside her, his eyes shining with an unusual light as he stared intently at the chessboard. Though he was over thirty, his features still held a youthful freshness.

A person as clear as jade.

“Father—”

She was about to rise and bow, but Li Guangwen stopped her, “Come, continue!”

He sat down across from Qiao Zhao and picked up a white stone, falling into contemplation.

Time passed bit by bit. When the game ended, Li Guangwen stood up and laughed heartily, “Satisfying, truly satisfying!”

His whole body felt refreshed. Smiling contentedly, he left gracefully, leaving Qiao Zhao completely bewildered.

What exactly had Father come here for?

Li Guangwen had almost reached his study when he suddenly stopped and slapped his forehead in annoyance.

He always felt he had forgotten something very important, and finally remembered!

He still hadn’t disciplined his daughter, who was always causing trouble!