Reaching Old Madam Deng, Shao Mingyuan bowed deeply: “I have soiled your eyes just now. This junior apologizes to you.”

Old Madam Deng looked at the young man holding live geese and bowing to her, suppressing her amusement: “Come in.”

The black lacquered gate slowly closed, blocking the view of the onlookers.

Shao Mingyuan accompanied Old Madam Deng walking inside.

“For today’s matter, we must thank the Marquis for helping us.”

Shao Mingyuan’s tone was humble: “Old Madam’s words are too kind and would shame this junior. Marriage is the union of two families, so naturally your residence’s affairs will be this junior’s affairs from now on.”

As he spoke, his steps paused, his gaze falling on a distant corridor pillar.

Behind the vermilion-lacquered pillar, the corner of a plain-colored skirt was faintly visible.

The man’s gaze became ardent.

He didn’t know why, but even though the two of them met frequently and had even spent months together day and night, after being apart for just such a short while, he already missed her terribly.

In the Li family’s courtyard, seeing the girl he thought of day and night hidden behind a nearby pillar, secretly watching him, he couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter.

Watching the young man holding two large geese, unable to move his feet and only grinning foolishly, Old Madam Deng coughed lightly and said with a stern face: “Marquis, let’s go inside for tea.”

Shao Mingyuan snapped back to his senses with a start, his ears turning red. He tried his best to put on a serious expression and walked forward, clutching the live geese tightly.

Old Madam Deng quietly curved the corners of her lips.

She could see that this young Marquis was deeply devoted to their Third Girl. In that case, she could temporarily feel somewhat at ease.

When social ranks were too disparate, she had always worried that Third Girl would suffer grievances after marrying into the Marquis’s residence. When that time came, even if her maiden family wanted to help, how could ants shake a great tree?

Old Madam Deng’s heart finally settled, and she gave her head maid Qing Jun a meaningful look.

Qing Jun nodded understandingly and quietly went to Qiao Zhao: “Third Miss, Old Madam is worried about the First Madam and asks you to return to keep her company.”

“I understand.” Qiao Zhao nodded lightly, took one distant look at the tall figure disappearing at the doorway, then turned and walked toward Yahe Courtyard.

She naturally understood her grandmother’s meaning. No matter how she and Shao Mingyuan usually met and communicated, now that the man’s family had come to propose marriage, as an unmarried girl, she naturally shouldn’t show herself. That she dared to secretly run over to steal a glance at the man without being slapped back by her elders was already not easy.

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly.

She had only heard from A’Zhu about seeing him drunk and uncomfortable that day, so she couldn’t help but come to look. It wasn’t that she missed him…

“Miss, be careful—” A’Zhu pulled Qiao Zhao back from behind.

Miss Qiao had bumped into the door frame and came to her senses, rubbing her reddened forehead.

Ahem, she didn’t miss him!

A’Zhu lowered her head and smiled secretly. Qiao Zhao glanced at her sideways.

A’Zhu quickly suppressed her smile, cleared her throat, and asked: “Miss, what dishes does General Shao like to eat? Should this servant go tell the main kitchen?”

“He can eat whatever the main kitchen makes.” Qiao Zhao said with a straight face.

After a moment, Miss Qiao coughed lightly: “I remember the pickled cabbage with pork we had two days ago was quite good. Go tell the main kitchen.”

Shao Mingyuan had once told her that after leaving the capital for seven or eight years, he had long become accustomed to Northern Territory cuisine. Especially in the dead of winter when water turned to ice, having a pot of pickled cabbage with pork would warm his entire body after eating, making him sweat on his forehead—comfortable and satisfying.

A’Zhu pressed her lips together and said with a beaming smile: “This servant will go right away.”

After A’Zhu left, the room became quiet. Qiao Zhao picked up a pillow and rubbed it, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Previously, she and Shao Mingyuan had been betrothed since childhood, making their future a predictable matter she had no particular expectations about. But now, she truly felt the anxiety and anticipation of beginning a completely new life.

As Qiao Zhao expected, Old Madam Deng was very satisfied with Shao Mingyuan’s actions today and warmly invited him to stay for dinner.

Soon steaming hot pickled cabbage with pork was brought to the table. Seeing it, Shao Mingyuan’s lips curved upward slightly. Throughout the meal he barely touched the other dishes, but ate most of the pot of pickled cabbage with pork.

Old Madam Deng watched with growing concern.

Eating so much meat, he would surely gain weight in the future!

The young general, having eaten and drunk his fill, reluctantly left the Li residence.

“General, those two ruffians have been detained, but after interrogation, they don’t know who was behind instructing them.”

“Don’t know?” Shao Mingyuan gently rubbed his stomach, his eyes clear.

He seemed to have eaten a bit too much. He’d need to practice several sets of boxing later.

“Yes, they said the other party never revealed their identity, only gave them some silver.”

This didn’t surprise Shao Mingyuan at all.

The other party had found two street ruffians to do the deed, precisely calculating to avoid being implicated afterward. Hoping to get useful information from the two ruffians was slim.

Shao Mingyuan’s expression remained calm, but his eyes contained anger. He said indifferently, “There are no walls that don’t let wind through in this world. The key is whether enough effort is spent. Continue investigating—when they met, where they met, the other party’s physical characteristics, or whether anyone else saw them at the meeting place. In short, don’t miss a single clue. You must root out this person for me.”

Kill one to warn a hundred. He wanted those people to weigh their capabilities before thinking of humiliating Zhaozhao again!

In Earl Guchang’s residence.

Li Jiǎo looked at Du Feixue with flushed cheeks with concern: “Cousin Feixue, are you alright?”

Du Feixue leaned weakly against the bedpost, saying listlessly: “It’s all that bastard surnamed Yang’s fault for making me fall into the water and catch this cold. In the end, their family only hypocritically sent someone with some tonics. Hmph, as if anyone would care!”

Li Jiǎo smiled and consoled her, but inwardly curled her lip.

Her cousin was still so willful. Since she had caught a cold, she should just rest properly, but she insisted on calling her over. Didn’t she think about what would happen if she infected her?

Thinking of this, Li Jiǎo felt quite uncomfortable.

Even in her maternal grandfather’s family, while they treated her well on the surface, it was just so-so.

If her mother were still alive, when Du Feixue caught a cold and wanted to invite her for a visit, her aunt would not allow it.

In the end, it was simply because no one stood up for her, so others naturally became negligent.

“Cousin Jiǎo, your residence has been quite lively these past two days, hasn’t it?”

“I’ve been embroidering in my room all day and haven’t paid attention.”

“Hmph, that surnamed Yang kicked me into the water, but fundamentally it was because of Li Zhao. Just thinking of that bitch Li Zhao makes me want to press her head underwater and vent this anger.” Du Feixue’s expression turned vicious.

“Cousin, you shouldn’t think like that. My third sister will soon be the future Marquis’s wife. Offending her won’t benefit us.”

“Cousin Jiǎo, you’re the Li family’s legitimate eldest daughter after all. How can you swallow your anger toward a daughter born to a second wife?”

Li Jiǎo lowered her head with a bitter smile: “What can I do? Didn’t cousin notice that recently, grandmother suspects I’m not sincere enough toward the third sister? She won’t even let me go out. This time, I could leave the house only thanks to your blessing. I’m even afraid grandmother won’t let me come for New Year visits.”

Du Feixue flared up upon hearing this: “Cousin Jiǎo, don’t worry. If the Li family doesn’t let you out after New Year, I’ll ask grandmother to intervene!”

Li Jiǎo’s heart finally settled, and she smiled with pressed lips.