Seeing He Shi’s eager expression as she wanted to share gossip with her daughter, Qiao Zhao cooperatively asked: “Which family has Grandmother chosen for Elder Sister?”

“A family surnamed Zhao in the outskirts of the capital. For several generations, they’ve been a scholarly farming family, though they have a rule that seems to forbid their sons from taking official positions. Your grandmother has an old friend whose daughter married into that family, and her life has been quite good. This time it was that aunt who arranged the introduction.” He Shi sighed as she spoke, muttering: “I also think it’s quite good.”

What a pity that people in this world are blind, disdaining Zhaozhao’s reputation. Otherwise, marrying into such a family would be extremely worry-free.

Though He Shi was guileless, she naturally wouldn’t say such things in front of Qiao Zhao, and could only feel sad silently.

Qiao Zhao was perceptive and noticed the regret in He Shi’s words. She linked arms with He Shi and smiled: “Mother, are you still experiencing morning sickness?”

He Shi indeed turned her attention away and laughed: “I stopped having morning sickness long ago. Now Mother can eat three bowls of rice in one meal.”

“You shouldn’t eat too much. Mother should stick to two bowls.”

The mother and daughter chatted and laughed as they entered the West Side Courtyard.

The East Side Courtyard was quiet. Li Jiǎo sat before an embroidery frame by the window, holding an embroidery needle. Hearing the faint sounds of laughter, she became irritated and pricked her finger, drawing blood.

She carelessly stuck the embroidery needle into the frame, put her bleeding finger in her mouth, and after spacing out for a while, called: “Xing’er, why is it so noisy outside?”

Li Jiǎo’s maids had originally been Chun Fang and Qiu Lu, but after she made her mistake, Old Madam Deng angrily dismissed the two head maids and replaced them with two honest and dutiful maids, one called Xing’er and the other Xiao Tao.

Xing’er quickly walked in and replied: “Third Miss has returned. Madam is accompanying Third Miss to the West Side Courtyard.”

“Li San has returned?” Li Jiǎo murmured, a shadow crossing her brow.

She closed her eyes, and the laughter in her ears seemed even clearer.

What were Li San and her stepmother laughing about?

Hmph, they must be laughing that she would be betrothed to a poor family next year.

Li Jiǎo couldn’t help but recall the scene when Old Madam Deng had tested her attitude toward this marriage proposal.

What had she said then?

She had smiled and nodded, saying that whatever Grandmother arranged would be fine.

Only then did Grandmother soften her attitude, and from that time began to tacitly allow her to occasionally visit Qingsong Hall to pay respects.

They thought she was extremely satisfied with this marriage proposal, believing that since her reputation was ruined, being able to marry out at all was already good enough.

But why should that be? Her mother was also a young lady from the Earl’s residence, and her father was a noble Hanlin compiler. If her mother hadn’t died early, how would she have fallen to the point of having to marry into a farming family?

And then there was Li San—

She could at least marry out, but what about Li San? With such a reputation, she could only remain an old maid in the Li residence for the rest of her life. What right did she have to laugh at her?

The more Li Jiǎo thought about it, the more she hated. With a scratch of her long fingernails, the half-embroidered pillow cover with mandarin ducks playing in water was ruined.

“Miss—” Xing’er was startled.

Li Jiǎo glanced at her and said coldly: “Remove the embroidery cloth and help me arrange my hair.”

Li San had returned, so the residence would surely have a reunion dinner. She had been behaving well recently, so she would have a chance to attend.

She wanted to see what Li San looked like now.

Qiao Zhao returned to the West Side Courtyard, where He Shi directed the maids to heat water for her to bathe.

Only when her entire body was soaked in the bathtub with rose essence added did Qiao Zhao feel the real sensation of being home.

After experiencing so much, she had truly returned to the capital.

Qiao Zhao slowly sank her body, her long hair spreading like water plants in the water.

The steaming hot water was very comfortable. Qiao Zhao closed her eyes, worried about Shao Mingyuan’s palace audience.

This time, there was both human and material evidence, and Shao Mingyuan had even brought back Xing Wuyang. There shouldn’t be any more unexpected incidents.

It was just a pity that, given her status, she couldn’t openly witness those proceedings.

There was also her elder brother, who must be very worried about her. She wondered if he had lost weight staying at the General’s residence, and whether little sister Wanwan had been mischievous…

Qiao Zhao’s thoughts wandered far, and she seemed to fall asleep, soaking in the bathtub, until she heard He Shi’s voice from outside the door: “Zhaozhao, are you finished washing?”

Qiao Zhao came back to her senses: “I’m finished, I’ll come out right away.”

Wrapped up tightly, she returned to the room where He Shi took the horn comb from a maid’s hands and personally combed Qiao Zhao’s hair.

“Mother, you shouldn’t tire yourself. It’s inconvenient for you now.”

He Shi smiled: “Mother can’t do heavy work now, but I can still comb your hair. Zhaozhao, now that you’ve returned safely, Mother’s heart can finally be at ease. From now on, let’s not go anywhere else and just stay by Mother’s side.”

“Alright, from now on I won’t go anywhere and will just keep you company.”

If possible, she, too, would like to quietly be Li Zhao.

The reunion dinner was set in the flower hall of Qingsong Hall. Old Madam Deng specifically ordered someone to fetch Li Hui back from the Imperial Academy, and Li Jiǎo also got her wish to leave her room.

“After months of separation, Third Sister has grown thin.” Li Jiǎo smiled as she raised a cup of heated rice wine to toast Qiao Zhao. “While Third Sister was away, everyone at home has been constantly thinking of you.”

“Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister.” Qiao Zhao returned the toast, her attitude not particularly warm.

Li Jiǎo gripped her cup tightly, her white teeth biting her lower lip hard enough to leave a mark, and said softly: “Could it be that Third Sister still blames me?”

Everyone present knew about her mistakenly entering a brothel, injuring the youngest son of Earl Changchun, and having it blamed on Qiao Zhao, so they naturally understood what this referred to.

Qiao Zhao smiled faintly and asked Li Jiǎo: “Must Elder Sister discuss this with me today?”

She understood Li Jiǎo’s intention.

By bringing up this matter with a wronged attitude in front of all the masters of the West Residence, she appeared to be apologizing to her, but was actually forcing her to verbally express forgiveness.

If she said she forgave her, then the matter would be considered past, and if she ever showed dissatisfaction about it again in the future, she would be accused of holding grudges.

If she didn’t express forgiveness, then she would be narrow-minded and lacking in magnanimity.

On this southern journey, she had killed people, more than one, and returning to the inner residence, how could she still have patience for these verbal sparring matches?

Qiao Zhao avoided answering directly, using a counter-question that left Li Jiǎo speechless.

Old Madam Deng had already spoken: “Enough, it’s rare that we’re having a reunion dinner. Don’t talk about such unnecessary things.”

Li Jiǎo lowered her head: “It’s her granddaughter who doesn’t know how to speak properly. Please don’t blame me, Grandmother.”

Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly, pinching her palms painfully.

They were both granddaughters with ruined reputations, yet she now lived like a mouse that couldn’t see daylight, carefully trying to please the grandmother who ruled the family, while Li San lived freely and became the whole family’s treasure.

Why should that be?

Li Jiǎo used force with her hands and accidentally broke a fingernail.

The pain made her face change slightly.

Li Hui, sitting beside Li Jiǎo, asked quietly: “What’s wrong, Elder Sister?”

Li Jiǎo slowly forced out a smile: “Nothing, it’s just been a long time since I’ve eaten with all of you. I’m a bit excited.”

Li Hui’s lips moved, and he sighed softly.

Fire basins were placed in the four corners of the flower hall, making the room warm. After finishing the meal, Qiao Zhao’s forehead was already beaded with sweat.

At this moment, the head maid Qing Yun lifted the cotton curtain and entered to report: “Old Madam, someone from the palace has come.”