The gray pigeon hopped obediently at Qiao Zhao’s feet. The mynah bird Erbing, who had come out to sunbathe, suddenly charged out from somewhere and knocked the gray pigeon head over heels with one wing.

This gray pigeon wasn’t as agile and spirited as the white pigeon from last time. While Erbing stared menacingly at the gray pigeon with an expression ready for battle, the gray pigeon seemed stunned by the wing strike and remained motionless in a daze.

Qiao Zhao said helplessly to Binglu, who came running over: “Take Erbing away.”

Binglu crouched down and coaxed patiently: “Erbing, come with Sister Binglu.”

Erbing turned his head away, and Binglu saw disdain in the little mynah’s eyes, making her freeze.

Erbing seized the opportunity to charge at the gray pigeon.

Binglu came to her senses, rolled up her sleeves angrily, and said: “Come back here! I refuse to believe I can’t handle you!”

After a chaotic scene of flying feathers and barking, Binglu finally caught Erbing and took him away.

Qiao Zhao bent down to remove the paper strip from the gray pigeon’s leg. After reading it, she crumpled it up and tossed it into the wind.

“Miss?” A’Zhu called out.

Qiao Zhao came back to her senses: “Let’s go to the main courtyard.”

In the main courtyard, He Shi was rummaging through boxes and cabinets.

“What is Mother looking for?” Qiao Zhao walked in.

He Shi turned to look at Qiao Zhao. Seeing her enter empty-handed, she couldn’t help but frown. She casually stuffed the hollow carved hand warmer from the table into her hands and chided: “In such cold weather, you don’t even think to carry a sleeve warmer. I’m looking for clothes. I remember putting that snow fox fur cloak here a few days ago. Our Zhaozhao has fair skin – that snow fox cloak would suit you best, so that old county lady at the East Residence won’t find fault.”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh: “Mother, have you forgotten? Didn’t Grandmother say the county lady can no longer see?”

He Shi’s movements paused: “Eh, right, I forgot for a moment.”

That old county lady in the East Residence loved to nitpick the most. If it weren’t for the fact that juniors returning from distant travels would be criticized for not paying respects to elders, she wouldn’t want to take Zhaozhao there to suffer.

He Shi stood up: “In that case, let’s go. We’ll go early and return early. I had Nanny Fang stew red date and black chicken soup – it’ll be perfect to drink a cup to warm ourselves when we return.”

“Mother, let’s go to the East Residence later. I need to go out for something.”

He Shi was startled: “Go out? I think it looks like snow today. If it’s not urgent, it’s better to stay home.”

“Mother, I have urgent business.”

“Urgent business?” He Shi blinked and thought for a moment: “Then when will you return?”

“That’s also uncertain,” Qiao Zhao said uncertainly.

The note only said he was waiting for her next door, with no other details.

In Qiao Zhao’s mind, if Shao Mingyuan wanted to see her, it must be related to Xing Wuyang’s case. She couldn’t let other matters hold her back.

“Mother, don’t worry. Marquis Guanjun is looking for me,” Qiao Zhao said frankly.

He Shi stared speechlessly.

“Mother?” Qiao Zhao called out in confusion.

He Shi came to her senses, looking at her precious daughter with complex emotions, and sighed: “Child, how did you just blurt out the truth like that?”

Other families’ daughters who sneak out to meet men always hide and conceal it. Was her Zhaozhao being too honest?

Qiao Zhao laughed helplessly and took He Shi’s arm: “I was afraid Mother would worry.”

He Shi was deeply moved.

Her daughter shared all her intimate thoughts with her – she was truly too good to her.

“Then we should prepare a carriage. Mother will arrange it.”

Qiao Zhao quickly stopped He Shi, who was supporting her belly: “Mother, don’t trouble yourself. I don’t need to take a carriage.”

“How can you not take a carriage? In such cold weather, are you going to walk to Marquis Guanjun’s residence?”

“I’m just going next door. The residence next door belongs to Marquis Guanjun.”

He Shi’s eyes suddenly widened in shock: “What a coincidence?”

Qiao Zhao smiled with pursed lips.

There was nothing she couldn’t tell others. She didn’t think this needed to be hidden from her mother. However, her mother, thinking this was a coincidence, showed unique thinking.

He Shi had just been overwhelmed by the great joy of her daughter being willing to share secrets with her. After calming down, she suddenly understood: “Wait, I remember the residence next door has been empty for several years. How did Marquis Guanjun become the owner?”

He Shi had a sudden realization: Marquis Guanjun had his eye on her daughter, didn’t he? This fellow was planning to take advantage of proximity!

He Shi held her forehead and sat down.

Qiao Zhao was startled: “Mother, what’s wrong?”

He Shi stroked her belly and waved her hand: “Wait, let Mother collect herself.”

She had wondered why she’d had such strange dreams – her precious, delicate daughter being carried off by a large eagle. Now she finally knew who that big-tailed eagle was!

He Shi looked at her flower bud of a daughter with complex feelings.

Her Zhaozhao wasn’t even fourteen yet, and already some stinking man had his eye on her?

This wouldn’t do!

Seeing He Shi’s expression of gritting her teeth, Qiao Zhao smiled and generously invited: “Why don’t you come with me, Mother?”

After all, it was just next door – they could consider it a mother-daughter stroll.

“Ah, this, this, this… alright!” He Shi acted reserved briefly, then decisively agreed.

Since her daughter had personally invited her, she would reluctantly agree. It was also a good chance to meet that big-tailed eagle.

In the residence next door, Shao Mingyuan stood in the courtyard, frequently looking toward the Li residence.

Zhaozhao should have received the carrier pigeon’s message by now. Why hadn’t she come yet? Could she have been held up by something?

Books said not seeing someone for a day felt like three autumns apart. He used to laugh at this, but now he finally understood.

Footsteps approached, and Shao Mingyuan turned around abruptly.

A personal guard walked over quickly: “General, Third Miss Li has arrived—”

Before he finished speaking, Shao Mingyuan was already striding toward the entrance.

The guard followed behind, calling: “General—”

Unfortunately, the residence was too small. Before he could finish his words, their general had already reached the entrance and said with a silly smile: “Zhaozhao, you’re finally here—”

The rest of his words came to an abrupt halt. The guard following behind had already covered his face in despair.

He sympathized with their general, but he was helpless too. Who told the general to be so impatient?

The young general’s smile froze at the corners of his mouth as he stared foolishly at He Shi, who appeared at the entrance with her protruding belly.

He Shi smoothed the pomegranate silk flower by her temple and said with dignity: “Are you Marquis Guanjun? I am Third Miss’s mother.”

Shao Mingyuan’s handsome face turned pale as he quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao.

What was this situation? Why had his future mother-in-law appeared at his doorstep?

No, no, no – if she had appeared at Marquis Guanjun’s residence, that would be one thing, but this was the residence he’d bought next to the Li mansion for the convenience of seeing Zhaozhao. Would his future mother-in-law become suspicious?

Only an idiot wouldn’t become suspicious! The person frozen at the entrance thought desperately.

He Shi looked the young man up and down.

He was quite tall and handsome, but being a tall fool couldn’t put food on the table, and being handsome wasn’t anything special – her Zhaozhao was even more beautiful.

This big-tailed eagle didn’t seem very clever. The future mother-in-law thought with full worry.

Qiao Zhao, who was supporting He Shi, really couldn’t bear to watch and coughed lightly.

Only then did Shao Mingyuan wake up as if from a dream and stutter: “Please, please come in—”