The Li residence occupied a small area, with only a tiny back garden.

Shao Mingyuan immediately spotted the young woman sitting in the garden pavilion.

The girl had her back to him. Perhaps because it was New Year, she had changed from her usual plain attire to wear a goose-yellow jacket embroidered with ruyi patterns, paired with a crimson pleated skirt. She looked bright and beautiful, stirring one’s heart.

Hearing footsteps, Qiao Zhao turned around.

Shao Mingyuan strode over and sat down across from her at the stone table, naturally grasping Qiao Zhao’s hands to warm them: “Have you been waiting long?”

Qiao Zhao tilted her head to look at him: “What do you mean by waiting long? I was admiring the flowers.”

“Then let’s admire the flowers together.”

Not far away, a wintersweet tree trembled slightly in the wind.

Shao Mingyuan examined it carefully and said diplomatically: “Uh, this wintersweet is blooming well.”

Qiao Zhao burst into laughter: “Alright, if you keep forcing yourself to say more, even the wintersweet will be embarrassed.”

The West Residence was only so large—in this capital, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, having a small garden was already quite remarkable.

“Have these past few days been good?” Shao Mingyuan gazed intently at Qiao Zhao.

He always felt that the time apart was so long, but to sound out his father-in-law’s intentions, he would need to make even more effort this year to marry Zhaozhao home.

“New Year is naturally good.”

The direct murderer who killed the Qiao family had already been brought to justice, her brother’s burn scars had a hope of being healed, the Li family relatives doted on her, and her engagement was settled. This was probably the most relaxed period she’d had since her rebirth.

“And you? Has the New Year been very busy?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Not too bad. Celebrating New Year alone doesn’t require much fuss, just a bit lonely.”

“Alone?” Qiao Zhao was slightly stunned, looking at him with some confusion.

Shao Mingyuan smiled frankly: “Yes, alone.”

Qiao Zhao’s mind raced through countless thoughts before she finally managed to squeeze out: “The Marquis Consort—”

Shao Mingyuan tightened his grip on her hand and chuckled softly: “My marquis consort is right here.”

“You know I’m talking about the Marquis Jing’an Consort.”

The man across from her seemed to have anticipated this question. Upon hearing this, he only paused slightly before saying: “She’s not my birth mother.”

Qiao Zhao’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she surprisingly felt that this was exactly as she had suspected.

The man’s calm voice sounded in her ear: “My father said I was a concubine’s son, coincidentally the same age as his legitimate second son. The legitimate second son died of illness shortly after birth, so Father brought me back to the residence to grow up with the identity of the legitimate second son…”

“So the Marquis Consort knows?”

Shao Mingyuan nodded: “Yes.”

Qiao Zhao fell silent for a moment.

If this were the case, then the doubts that had arisen during those suffocating days at the Marquis Jing’an residence could be explained.

“Zhaozhao.”

“Mm?”

“Will you look down on my origins?”

Qiao Zhao was taken aback.

The man pitifully grasped the young woman’s hand, his face full of sorrow: “Concubines’ sons are regarded by the world as even lower than sons born to personal maids, with absolutely no status. I feel I’m not worthy of you.”

Qiao Zhao’s mouth twitched. If not for seeing that someone’s sorrowful expression didn’t seem fake, she would have rolled her eyes.

What did he mean by “absolutely no status”? That was only for ordinary concubines’ sons under normal circumstances. The dignified Marquis Guanjun was worried about this?

“Don’t think such nonsense—”

The man lowered his head to nuzzle the young woman’s palm with his cheek: “But what if word gets out? Father-in-law is an upright gentleman who would probably despise my origins most. Would he refuse to let you marry me then?”

Hmm, if Zhaozhao’s heart softened, she might work from the inside to help him win over his father-in-law.

Qiao Zhao laughed helplessly: “How could that be? Our engagement is already settled.”

“In Father-in-law’s eyes, the one engaged to you is the legitimate second son of the Marquis Jing’an residence, not some concubine’s son whose mother’s identity is unclear.”

Qiao Zhao opened her mouth: “Tingquan, don’t worry about such trivial matters.”

The young general rubbed his face in distress: “I can’t help but worry. After all, Father-in-law is such an upright and incorruptible person. Zhaozhao, do I look like I’ve lost weight again?”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but carefully examine the man before her.

Uh, his complexion looked fine, but his frame did seem a bit thinner than when they’d met a few days ago.

Shao Mingyuan secretly nodded: Good, wearing one less layer of undergarments today had indeed been effective.

Qiao Zhao reached up to straighten Shao Mingyuan’s collar, saying gently, “Stop overthinking things all day. I imagine the Marquis Consort’s sudden turn to Buddhism and withdrawal from worldly affairs was the result of the Marquis speaking openly with her and both reaching an agreement. The Marquis would be the first person unwilling to have this secret exposed.”

“Zhaozhao—” The man’s large hand covered the young woman’s hand. “Marry me sooner. Only if you marry me sooner can I feel at ease.”

“Doesn’t the wedding date need to be discussed with my parents?”

“I can see that Father-in-law and Mother-in-law both dote on you. They’ll listen to your opinion.”

The young woman’s hand on the man’s collar paused. Her index finger lightly tapped his shoulder as she said with a half-smile: “Lost weight?”

Shao Mingyuan blinked.

“Lost weight?” Qiao Zhao was already pinching his outer robe with two fingers.

Confess and receive leniency!

In this instant, the young general had a flash of inspiration and coughed lightly: “Perhaps it’s the clothes that have shrunk.”

Qiao Zhao: “…” Where was that aloof and steady Marquis Guanjun from before?

“You’ve even learned to take advantage of my sympathy?” Qiao Zhao glanced sideways at Shao Mingyuan.

The person whose lie had been immediately exposed looked like a large dog that had made a mistake, utterly honest and simple: “I know you feel sorry for me.”

“Who feels sorry for you? Stop being so presumptuous!” Qiao Zhao slapped away the man’s hand.

If not for someone’s fox tail showing too quickly, she would have almost believed him just now.

Shao Mingyuan shamelessly grasped Qiao Zhao’s hand again, his dark eyes bright and smiling: “Then would Third Miss take pity on the presumptuous Master Shao and marry over sooner?”

His eyes were too bright, and Qiao Zhao momentarily forgot her words.

Not far away, Li Jiǎo stopped and stared intently in the direction of the pavilion.

“Miss—” Xing’er urged timidly.

Li Jiǎo glanced at Xing’er, then walked directly toward the pavilion. Before speaking, she smiled and called out: “Third Sister.”

Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan looked over.

Li Jiǎo curtsied to Shao Mingyuan: “Greetings, Marquis.”

Shao Mingyuan restrained his smile and nodded reservedly.

Li Jiǎo couldn’t help but bite her lip.

Just moments ago she had clearly seen Third Miss Li and Marquis Guanjun being affectionate together. The smile on the marquis’s face, who in her impression was aloof and noble, had been like a March spring breeze, making one’s heart soften just watching. So why was he giving her such a cold face when she was properly greeting him?

Was Third Miss Li really that wonderful?

“Is Elder Sister going out?” Qiao Zhao asked blandly.

In front of Shao Mingyuan, Li Jiǎo smiled gently: “Yes, I’m going to pay New Year respects to my maternal grandfather and grandmother.”

“Oh.” Qiao Zhao nodded and said nothing more.

Li Jiǎo lingered for a moment. With no one paying her attention, she finally felt embarrassed and curtsied slightly to Shao Mingyuan before leaving with her maid.

Soon after, a maid came to invite Shao Mingyuan to drink wine in the front courtyard. Shao Mingyuan had no choice but to stand up: “Zhaozhao, I’ll go over first, then.”

Qiao Zhao nodded. Seeing him about to leave, she finally couldn’t help but tug at his sleeve and said in a low voice: “The undergarments are finished. I’ll have someone send them to you later. Try them on and see if they fit.”