Shao Mingyuan felt uneasy under Qiao Mo’s gaze.

There was nothing wrong with what he had said, so why was his uncle looking at him like this?

Although he felt bad about Miss Li injuring her foot, what qualification did he have to show it given his position?

“Good thing it’s just an injured foot.” Qiao Mo’s expression returned to normal. “Is the mountain road blocked?”

“Yes. I’ll go up the mountain tomorrow and stay at the temple until the mountain road is cleared, then send word to the Li residence for them to come fetch Miss Li.”

“The Marquis can just bring Zhaozhao down the mountain directly.”

Shao Mingyuan was stunned again. Seeing Qiao Mo’s calm expression, he thought he was overthinking and smiled: “Alright.”

After he left, Qiao Mo looked out the window and sighed.

The relationship between Big Sister and Marquis Guanjun was truly tangled and complicated. Could it be, as Big Sister said, to hide it from Marquis Guanjun for life?

After returning to his room, Shao Mingyuan immediately called his guards and drew a simple topographical map, instructing: “There’s a mountain stream in this valley here. Based on the water flow direction, this part of the mountain range should be its outlet. Take a few men to explore downstream and see if there’s any news of Chen Guang.”

“Yes, sir.”

The next day, before Shao Mingyuan had even left, Chi Can rushed over in a hurry and stuffed a small bundle into his hands: “I know climbing the mountain is inconvenient for you. There’s only some food inside—please take it to Li Third for me.”

“Alright.” Shao Mingyuan took the small bundle and slung it on his back.

Chi Can hesitated for a moment, then reminded: “There’s a letter inside. Don’t lose it.”

“A letter?” Shao Mingyuan untied the bundle and indeed found a letter pressed between several packages of food.

“Tingquan, why are you opening the bundle?” Chi Can was somewhat surprised.

Shao Mingyuan took out the letter and handed it back to Chi Can: “I can’t take this.”

“Can’t take it? Tingquan, what do you mean?”

“Delivering letters isn’t appropriate.”

“How is it inappropriate?” Chi Can crossed his arms over his chest, looking displeased.

“There are too many people gathered at the foot of Luoxia Mountain right now, and I’m not completely confident about climbing up that cliff face. If I slip up… and accidentally drop the bundle, it wouldn’t matter much if it’s just some food, but if this letter fell into someone else’s hands, that would be bad.”

“You’re overthinking it.” Chi Can rolled his eyes.

Others might not know Shao Mingyuan’s skills, but how could he not? There was no chance of slipping up.

“Better safe than sorry.” Shao Mingyuan remained unmoved. “I can help you relay a message.”

“Tingquan, you’re not deliberately making fun of me, are you?”

Shao Mingyuan rubbed his forehead wearily: “I’m not that bored.”

If he could, he would rather stay far away than stand between the two of them.

Chi Can hesitated again and again, then said determinedly: “Fine then. I won’t say much else—tell Li Third to take good care of herself. I’ll work hard these next two years, and when she comes of age, I’ll properly marry her and bring her home.”

After saying this, seeing that Shao Mingyuan did not react, he waved his hand in front of Shao Mingyuan’s face: “Tingquan, are you stunned?”

“No, I’ve got it. Anything else?”

“No.” Chi Can patted Shao Mingyuan’s shoulder. “Be careful climbing the mountain.”

When Shao Mingyuan reached Dafu Temple, it was almost noon. He hastily ate a few bites of vegetarian food, then asked the young novice Xuanjing to go to Shuying Nunnery to inform Qiao Zhao.

At that moment, Qiao Zhao was accompanying Master Wumei in copying Buddhist scriptures.

Sandalwood incense lingered in the quiet room, as if isolating this place into a realm beyond the mortal world.

“Your heart is not calm.” Master Wumei said leisurely.

Qiao Zhao put down her brush and bowed respectfully to Master Wumei, saying frankly: “You laugh at me. The general who brought me to the temple yesterday went down the mountain to deliver news, saying he would come up early today. There’s still no word from him, so I’m somewhat worried.”

Master Wumei looked deeply at Qiao Zhao, then suddenly smiled and shook her head: “You truly are a special child.”

She had thought this was a proud girl, but this girl could openly express her feelings for someone else.

Perhaps such a child was more likely to find happiness.

At this moment, there was movement at the door: “Master Uncle, young Xuanjing has come, saying yesterday’s general has arrived and is waiting at the temple for Third Miss Li.”

“Go then.”

The nun Jingxi helped Qiao Zhao to her feet.

“Thank you, Master.” Qiao Zhao expressed her gratitude.

Jingxi helped Qiao Zhao walk to the courtyard, where two sturdy nuns carried over a sedan chair.

Shuying Nunnery held a special position and didn’t allow secular men to approach. Yesterday, when Shao Mingyuan had carried Qiao Zhao to Dafu Temple, it was young novice Xuanjing who had reported to Jingxi. With Master Wumei’s consent, Jingxi had arranged for these two nuns to carry the injured Qiao Zhao up.

Qiao Zhao thanked them repeatedly and got into the sedan chair.

Along the way, the young novice Xuanjing, walking beside the sedan chair, seemed rather dejected. As they neared Dafu Temple, he finally couldn’t help asking: “Female benefactor, where is the female benefactor who usually accompanies you? The young monk remembers she went down the mountain with you yesterday.”

Qiao Zhao was stumped by the question.

She wasn’t sure if Binglu was still alive, but she also didn’t want to believe Binglu was gone.

How could she be gone? Such a lively, lovely maid who lived so genuinely and brilliantly still had so many good days ahead of her.

“Did she die?” Xuanjing looked up and asked. Seeing Qiao Zhao’s silence, his big eyes blinked twice, and tears began to form. “The young monk hasn’t told her yet that the silk sugar she brought me last time was very delicious…”

Xuanjing was young, and once he started talking, he couldn’t hold back, sniffling: “The young monk doesn’t blame her for laughing that I have no front teeth. I don’t want her to die. Female benefactor, what should we do?”

Qiao Zhao reached out and stroked Xuanjing’s little face, saying gently, “Little Master, don’t cry. She’s fine.”

“Really? Then why isn’t she with you?”

Qiao Zhao smiled warmly: “Because I injured my foot, that general could only carry one person, and she has someone else taking care of her.”

Only then did the young novice break into a smile through his tears: “That’s wonderful! But why didn’t the person taking care of her carry her here, too?”

Qiao Zhao sighed inwardly at how difficult it was to fool children, and pinched his cheek: “Because that person doesn’t have enough strength and couldn’t carry her for so long, so they went to rest at a nearby family’s house. And I was afraid Little Master would worry, so I came over.”

The young novice immediately blushed and waved his hands repeatedly: “The young monk wasn’t worried. We Buddhist monks have purified our six senses and emptied the four elements. Amitabha—also, the female benefactor shouldn’t pinch the young monk’s face.”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh.

Shao Mingyuan waited outside the temple gate and immediately saw the young woman showing a bright, shallow smile to the young novice.

In that instant, he felt his heartbeat quicken. He secretly took a breath to calm his suddenly chaotic emotions, then stepped forward to meet them.

Qiao Zhao followed Shao Mingyuan into the guest room where he was temporarily staying.

“General Shao told my family about the situation, didn’t you?”

“They already know.”

Qiao Zhao’s gaze fell on the bundle in Shao Mingyuan’s hands: “Is this something my family sent for me?”