At the long pavilion post road, snowflakes filled the sky.

Qiao Mo raised his hand to adjust the adorable fur balls on Qiao Zhao’s snow fox fur hooded cloak, saying warmly, “This time our family revenge has been avenged, thanks to my sister running around everywhere. As your elder brother, I feel very ashamed.”

In the wind and snow, Qiao Zhao smiled gently, “What are you saying, elder brother? Without the account books that the elder brother risked his life to bring out, I could only have been helpless. Besides, we’ve only avenged half our revenge – there’s still a great mountain that hasn’t been leveled.”

The great mountain Qiao Zhao referred to was the current Chief Minister Lan Shan.

In the Xing Wuyang case, Lan Shan was severely reprimanded by Emperor Mingkang, but in reality, he wasn’t hurt at all – it was merely a salary deduction, which really wasn’t much for Lan Shan.

However, the Qiao siblings knew well that Lan Shan’s crimes were not as simple as failing to properly recommend Xing Wuyang. At the very least, Qiao Mo being poisoned with that strange toxin at his maternal grandfather’s house vaguely had Lan Shan’s shadow behind it.

Speaking more deeply, Lan Shan was the biggest mastermind behind everything. Only by taking him down could their family’s revenge be truly complete.

Both Qiao Zhao and Qiao Mo understood this point clearly, but they also knew that wanting to level the great mountain that was Lan Shan couldn’t be accomplished in a day – they could only proceed gradually.

“No matter what, we’ve temporarily achieved our small goal, which is something worth celebrating.” The black gauze concealed Qiao Mo’s face, making his voice sound even more gentle in the wind and snow.

“Elder brother is right.”

“Zhaozhao—”

“Hmm?”

“From now on, dress more brightly. Elder brother knows you’re observing mourning for our parents, but you’re now a daughter of the Li family. At such a young age, dressing so plainly will displease the elders.”

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together.

Qiao Mo continued persuading, “Our parents’ spirits in heaven know your heart. Everything else is just formality. Don’t you think the elder brother is right?”

Qiao Zhao nodded, “I’ll listen to elder brother.”

Only then did Qiao Mo look toward Shao Mingyuan, who was silently standing beside Qiao Zhao, holding an umbrella for her.

“Marquis—”

The young general in white robes smiled and interrupted Qiao Mo’s words, “Brother-in-law, just call me Mingyuan.”

Generally speaking, elders are called by their given name, and peers are called by courtesy name. Shao Mingyuan’s asking Qiao Mo to call him by his given name showed sufficient respect for him.

Qiao Mo paused for a moment. Of course, he wouldn’t directly address a First-Rank Marquis by name, but he felt warmed in his heart and said with a smile, “Tingquan, I’m entrusting my sister to you from now on. You must take good care of her.”

In front of Qiao Mo, Shao Mingyuan grasped Qiao Zhao’s hand and smiled, “Brother-in-law, rest assured. I will take good care of Zhaozhao and won’t let her suffer any grievances.”

His gaze fell on where their hands were clasped together, and Qiao Mo suddenly felt a bit displeased again.

He had asked this young man to take care of his sister, but he hadn’t said this young man could immediately start taking liberties with his sister!

As the elder brother-in-law, Qiao Mo felt quite vexed. He coughed lightly with his fist to his lips and reminded with feigned casualness, “Although you two are engaged, Zhaozhao is still young after all. You shouldn’t meet too frequently, lest people gossip.”

Shao Mingyuan sheepishly released Qiao Zhao’s hand and repeatedly promised to be an honest and proper fiancé.

Only then did Qiao Mo nod with satisfaction. Changing the topic, he said, “And there’s Wanwan. That girl has a lively personality. Leaving her alone at the Marquis’ residence, I’m also somewhat worried. Tingquan, please take extra care of her for me.”

Shao Mingyuan naturally agreed.

Qiao Mo felt relieved. His gaze moved between Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan as he said warmly, “It’s cold. You don’t need to see me off any longer. Hurry back.”

“Elder brother, we’ll go back after you leave.”

“Alright then, I’ll take my leave first.” Qiao Mo looked deeply at Qiao Zhao, nodded slightly to Shao Mingyuan, and, under the escort of several personal guards specially assigned by Shao Mingyuan, got into the carriage and gradually departed.

Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan stood side by side until the carriage’s shadow disappeared. Shao Mingyuan took her hand and smiled, “Zhaozhao, let’s go back too.”

Qiao Zhao looked at him with a half-smile, “Who was it that just promised my elder brother to be honest and proper?”

Shao Mingyuan helped Qiao Zhao into the carriage, smiling mischievously, “I am very honest and proper.”

Looking at the girl’s nose tip that was slightly red from the cold and her snow-jade-like translucent white face, the man opened his arms, “Come here, let me warm you up.”

Qiao Zhao took off her cloak and hung it on the hook by the carriage door, giving him a white-eyed look, “It’s so warm inside the carriage, who needs your unnecessary gesture?”

Before she finished speaking, her trailing voice turned into a soft, surprised cry as she was pulled into a spacious, solid chest.

“Shao Mingyuan!” Qiao Zhao hit him once.

The man caught the girl’s hand and chuckled softly, “Don’t hit me, be careful not to hurt your hand.”

“Then let go of me.” The other party’s solid, taut chest was pressed tightly against her. Qiao Zhao inexplicably felt her heartbeat accelerate. She pressed her hand against his chest, trying to create distance, but found she couldn’t move at all.

The man released his hands.

Qiao Zhao breathed a light sigh of relief. Just as she was about to sit up straight, a shadow fell from above, and the man’s handsome face suddenly enlarged before her eyes.

His lips fell on hers, scorching and alluring.

“Shao Mingyuan—” Qiao Zhao was quite flustered, wanting to righteously scold him, but afraid of being heard by the sharp-eared and particularly gossipy Chen Guang. In the end, after his tongue invaded, she could only compromise and let him conquer territory.

Perhaps because the cold poison had been expelled, his body was no longer always slightly cool, but so scorching it seemed capable of igniting a person.

Qiao Zhao only felt waves of heat coursing through her body, seeming both satisfied and empty, an indescribable complex feeling that left her mind blank with countless fireworks blooming, until even her fingertips trembled lightly.

Light panting sounds echoed in the warm carriage.

Qiao Zhao’s body suddenly became airborne, and when she came to her senses, she had already been held by Shao Mingyuan and was sitting on his lap.

This position made Qiao Zhao’s cheeks flush with shame as she struggled urgently, “Shao Mingyuan, quickly put me down.”

The voice that came out was soft and gentle, making even Qiao Zhao herself blush and her heart race upon hearing it.

From above came the man’s restrained voice, “Be good, don’t speak.”

The man held her, staying quiet for quite a while, then silently lifted her down and placed her beside him, leaning against the carriage wall and breathing lightly.

Qiao Zhao tidied her slightly disheveled hair and glared at Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan revealed a bright smile and asked gently, “Are you still afraid?”

He knew the girl before him was very strong, strong enough to insist on personally watching the execution of the murderers who killed her parents.

She had remained calm, watching heads fall one by one, hot blood spurting from headless necks, splashing several feet high.

The watching crowd either cheered loudly, cried out in shock, or younger ones were scared to tears. The scene was chaotic throughout, but only his girl watched quietly from beginning to end without even blinking once.

But he also knew that his Zhaozhao was extremely afraid.

He had seen her hands clenched tightly, the veins on the backs of her hands visible, trembling the entire time.

He couldn’t bear to stop her persistence, but his heart ached for what she had to endure.

Meeting his gentle, bright eyes, Qiao Zhao’s eyelashes fluttered as she said softly, “I’m not afraid anymore.”

Perhaps knowing that there would always be someone to accompany her through future wind and snow, there was nothing left to fear.