Chen Guang said he had thought of something, his eyes rolling nonstop, practically wanting to stick himself to Shao Mingyuan’s face.

Shao Mingyuan’s hand moved slightly, wanting to give Chen Guang a slap. Considering that the person before him was still a patient, he forcibly restrained himself and said coldly, “Speak quickly!”

The rascal had grown bold after a few days without discipline.

“The General could give that friend a gift.”

Shao Mingyuan looked disappointed: “She doesn’t seem to value gold, silver, pearls, and jade very much, and it wouldn’t be appropriate to give such things at a time like this.”

Miss Li was heartbroken, and he was supposed to send her a chest of silver ingots? Though he lacked experience, just imagining that scene felt wrong.

Chen Guang pursed his lips.

The General was being contrary, still claiming it wasn’t Miss Li. He remembered clearly that the General had already given Miss Li two chests of silver ingots. Otherwise, how would he know she didn’t value them?

“General, is this ordinary friend of yours male or female?” Chen Guang deliberately emphasized the words “ordinary friend.”

“Hmm?”

Chen Guang smiled as he explained: “If it’s a man, sending a chest of silver ingots wouldn’t be wrong, but if it’s a woman—”

If he were a woman, seeing a chest of silver ingots would also make his heart bloom with joy!

Chen Guang quickly suppressed this thought and said seriously, “You could give her an interesting living creature.”

“Living creature?”

“Right, a living creature. General, think about it—cats and dogs are so endearing. When your friend is sad and sees them, she might be distracted from her troubles.”

Shao Mingyuan nodded: “What you say makes some sense. So, should I give a cat or a dog?”

Chen Guang almost couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

Couldn’t you be a little more creative? With the General being so wooden-headed, what would happen without his help?

“General, cats and dogs were just examples I gave. You could give something special.”

“For instance—” Shao Mingyuan thought seriously, “How about giving her a little horse?”

Chen Guang looked at Shao Mingyuan sideways with complete disdain.

Did the General have a wooden head? He’d given Miss Qiao Wan a horse before, and now he wanted to give Miss Li the same gift?

Was this gift-giving or adding to her troubles?

“What’s with that expression?” Shao Mingyuan frowned.

Miss Li wasn’t very tall, so a little horse would be quite suitable. When she was in a bad mood, she could ride out to clear her mind.

Uh, though he didn’t know if Miss Li knew how to ride horses—

Thinking this way, Shao Mingyuan felt that giving a little horse was indeed inappropriate.

Chen Guang secretly sighed.

Expecting the General to figure out what an appropriate gift to give was less likely than hoping for pigs to climb trees.

The little coachman, feeling the weight of responsibility, decided to point the General toward the right path: “General, do you remember the myna bird you received when you moved into your new residence?”

Shao Mingyuan shook his head.

Though he hadn’t held a grand banquet on moving day, he had received many congratulatory gifts. However, that day was destined to be a dark one in his memories, and he had left all those miscellaneous matters to his subordinates to handle, never paying attention to them.

“That myna bird is quite clever and can say many things. Your friend would find it fresh and interesting. Hearing the myna say a few auspicious phrases would surely dispel all her worries.”

“Bring that myna bird for me to see.”

Two quarters of an hour later, a personal guard hurried over carrying an exquisite birdcage.

Shao Mingyuan examined it carefully and saw that the myna in the cage was entirely black with glossy feathers, looking quite spirited.

“Does it talk?” After staring at the myna for a while, Shao Mingyuan asked.

“May all your wishes come true, may all your wishes come true—” The myna sensed it was being underestimated and began calling out cheerfully.

Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows in amazement.

It spoke so vividly and realistically!

Chen Guang sighed inwardly.

General, which of the young masters in the Capital hadn’t grown tired of cricket fighting and bird playing? Why are you acting like a silly roe deer?

“Can it say other things?” Shao Mingyuan’s brows and eyes unconsciously softened as he looked at the caged myna.

“Congratulations and prosperity, congratulations and prosperity.” The myna called out cheerfully again.

Shao Mingyuan played with the myna for a while and found it could say quite a few auspicious phrases, feeling very satisfied.

“What’s this myna’s name?”

“We’ve always called it Little Black.”

Hearing the words “Little Black,” the myna in the cage turned its bird bottom toward Chen Guang, then tucked its head under its wing in a “I’m not listening, I’m not listening” pose.

Shao Mingyuan found this even more curious and thought: Miss Li once said she liked birds. This myna is so interesting, it’s sure to cheer her up.

“Hmm, this myna is quite good, just its name is too ordinary.”

Chen Guang smiled and suggested, “General, wouldn’t it be better to let your friend name it?”

“That makes sense.” Shao Mingyuan nodded.

He used to only find Chen Guang annoying, but now he had discovered the boy had his merits.

“Rest well. When you recover, go to Chunfeng Tavern and get a few jars of Zuichunfeng wine.”

Chen Guang was delighted: “Thank you, General!” Another sum of wine money he could save for marrying a wife.

Shao Mingyuan handed the birdcage to a personal guard and instructed: “Deliver this myna to Third Miss Li at the Li residence.”

He hoped this interesting myna could bring her some cheer.

Qiao Zhao returned to the residence and immediately shut herself in her room after entering, sending both Binglu and A’Zhu away.

The two maids stood under the corridor eaves outside the door, speaking in low voices.

“Did Miss encounter something unpleasant?”

Binglu looked confused: “I don’t know either. Miss didn’t let me stay close when she was talking with General Shao and Master Qiao.”

A’Zhu looked worriedly at the tightly closed door: “I’ll go prepare some sweet soup. You watch over Miss, and call me if anything happens.”

Miss had once said that when feeling down, eating sweet things would make one’s heart sweet, and then one’s mood would improve.

After A’Zhu left, Binglu’s heart began to pound with anxiety.

What did A’Zhu’s words mean? What could happen to Miss? Hiss—could Miss be having dark thoughts?

Thinking of this possibility, Binglu panicked and raised her hand to pound on the door: “Miss, Miss, please open the door quickly!”

When there was no movement inside, the little maid lifted her foot and kicked the door open.

Qiao Zhao, who had just reached the door, stared in shock.

The little maid, conscious of causing trouble, blinked: “Miss, are you alright?”

Qiao Zhao, whose eyes were red-rimmed but otherwise showed no unusual signs, asked softly: “Is something the matter?”

“Ah—” Binglu’s eyes darted about, finding an excuse: “Miss, General Shao sent you a bird!”

Qiao Zhao was somewhat surprised, pausing before saying: “Bring it in.”

She silently turned and went inside, her back somehow conveying a sense of sorrow.

Binglu hurried to the side room to fetch the birdcage: “Miss, look! This bird can even say, ‘May all your wishes come true! ‘”

Qiao Zhao felt heavy-hearted and had no mood to listen to a myna’s amusing chatter. She said indifferently: “Hang it under the eaves.”

“Won’t Miss listen to it talk?” Binglu tapped the birdcage. “Quick, say ‘may all your wishes come true’ to Miss.”

Qiao Zhao’s gaze unconsciously fell on the myna.

The myna rolled its eyes cleverly, and just before her gaze shifted away, it suddenly spoke: “Wife.”