Seeing Du Feixue’s indignant appearance, Qiao Zhao calmly countered: “So does Miss Du intend to take my eldest sister back to the Marquis’s residence?”
Back to the Marquis’s residence?
Looking at Li Jiǎo’s completely soaked appearance, then at Zhu Yán’s calm expression, Du Feixue hesitated for a moment.
She wasn’t living in her own home now—how could she bring Cousin Jiǎo to stay at the Marquis’s residence?
Moreover, Cousin Zhu was still next door—
Just thinking this through, Du Feixue dismissed the idea.
“What exactly does Miss Du intend?” Qiao Zhao pressed.
Du Feixue quickly glanced at the silent Li Jiǎo and bit her lip: “In any case, you can’t bully my cousin—”
Li Jiǎo lowered her head further, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.
This ungrateful wretch—she had coaxed and appeased her for so many years with humble submission, yet when trouble came, this was all she amounted to.
“Then I’ll take my eldest sister home.” Qiao Zhao no longer looked at Du Feixue, nodding slightly to Zhu Yán: “Thank you for your trouble today, Miss Zhu.”
Zhu Yán smiled gently: “Miss Li Third is too polite—it was just a small favor. Miss Li has already drunk brown sugar ginger water, but in this weather, falling into water will take a toll on the body. You should return home early. Our carriage is nearby—we can send both young ladies back.”
Considering Li Jiǎo’s current unseemly appearance, Qiao Zhao didn’t decline further, nodding: “Then thank you very much. Our carriage is parked far away, so we’ll have to trouble Miss Zhu and your group to walk a bit.”
After the Zhu siblings returned to the Marquis Taining’s residence and settled Du Feixue, the brother and sister talked as they walked back to their rooms.
“Seventh Sister, you should keep your distance from that Miss Li in the future.”
Zhu Yán smiled helplessly: “Fifth Brother, you know that Cousin Feixue is close friends with Miss Li. Cousin Feixue just lost her mother, and her grandmother indulges her every wish. When she wants to do something, I have no way to stop her.”
Zhu Yàn was silent for a moment before saying, “Then in the future, try to avoid getting involved between them. When you have free time, you can visit Miss Su for chess.”
Zhu Yán covered her mouth and laughed: “I know, Fifth Brother, needn’t worry about these things. I know what I’m doing.”
The siblings stopped at the moon gate, and Zhu Yàn smiled: “As long as you know what you’re doing. We’re all tired from today’s commotion—go back and rest early.”
Zhu Yán nodded, glanced at her brother, and seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
“What is it?” Zhu Yàn asked with a smile.
“Fifth Brother, I thought you and Miss Li Third—” Meeting her brother’s gentle eyes, Zhu Yán paused in her speech, then said instead: “I thought Miss Li Third was special to you…”
She hadn’t expected Miss Li Third to be engaged to Fifth Brother’s close friend, the Marquis Guanjun.
Hearing this, Zhu Yàn was stunned for a moment, then slowly smiled: “Seventh Sister, when did you start having such wild thoughts?”
“Am I having wild thoughts?”
Zhu Yàn reached out and patted Zhu Yán’s shoulder, emphasizing his tone: “Yes, you girl are just thinking wildly. But there’s one thing you’re right about—Miss Li Third is indeed a very special young lady. If possible, Fifth Brother hopes you can be friends.”
“Alright, I understand.” Zhu Yán smiled, waved at her brother, turned, and walked inward. After a few steps, she stopped, turned back, and said: “Fifth Brother, I happened to hear Mother mention the other day that she wants to arrange for you to meet some young ladies. If you have someone you fancy, you should tell Mother early.”
Watching his sister’s retreating figure, Zhu Yàn remained silent for a long time before turning to leave.
Someone he fancied? There probably wasn’t anyone now, so he might as well trust his mother’s judgment.
Qiao Zhao took Li Jiǎo back to the West Residence in the Marquis Taining’s carriage.
Old Madam Deng was in good spirits. Despite her age, she hadn’t retired for the night at this hour. When she heard a servant report that the two young ladies had returned in the Marquis Taining’s carriage, she sensed something was wrong. When she saw Li Jiǎo’s disheveled appearance, she couldn’t help but be alarmed.
“What happened?”
“Eldest sister fell into the water while viewing lanterns.” In front of the servants, Qiao Zhao spoke vaguely.
Old Madam Deng’s heart skipped a beat, but she remained composed as she gave orders: “Qing Yun, help the eldest miss bathe and change clothes; Hong Song, go prepare cold-dispelling soup for the eldest miss; Nanny Rong, go ask the master and madam to come.”
After the old lady had methodically given all her instructions and the servants had all gone to carry out their orders, she beckoned for Qiao Zhao to come forward.
“Third girl, sit down.”
Qiao Zhao sat beside Old Madam Deng.
“Grandmother remembers you didn’t go out together with your eldest sister. Do you know exactly what happened?”
Qiao Zhao felt comforted in her heart.
Her grandmother was just like this—never scolding people indiscriminately right off the bat. No matter how urgent the matter, she always maintained sufficient patience with the younger generation.
Whether in her previous life or this one, she had a good grandmother.
Qiao Zhao briefly recounted what had happened, naturally not mentioning that Li Jiǎo had been kicked into the water by Chi Can, nor was it appropriate to say whether Li Jiǎo’s fall toward Chi Can was intentional or accidental. She focused on the matter with Prince Rui.
Even the composed Old Madam Deng was stunned: “You’re saying your eldest sister pulled down Prince Rui’s belt?”
Li Guangwen, who had hurried over, raised his voice even higher after hearing this: “Jiāo’er pulled down Prince Rui’s belt? Did Prince Rui’s pants fall?”
He Shi lightly patted Li Guangwen’s arm: “What are you saying in front of our daughter?”
Li Guangwen ignored this and stared directly at Qiao Zhao.
Qiao Zhao shook her head: “They didn’t fall.”
“Good, good. If they didn’t fall, then our residence doesn’t need to take responsibility.” Master Li had an expression of relief, as if fearing the Prince’s residence would come after them.
Old Madam Deng shook her head with a laugh: “Pure nonsense—why would a dignified prince need us to take any responsibility? However, the eldest girl did cause Prince Rui public embarrassment, and Prince Rui will certainly feel displeased. Well, Princess Rui died early, so your daughter-in-law and I aren’t suitable to make an appearance. Here’s what we’ll do—tomorrow morning, you take some gifts to Prince Rui’s residence and hand them to the residence’s steward. Once we’ve observed proper etiquette, whatever dissatisfaction Prince Rui might have will be a matter for the future.”
Li Guangwen was quite reluctant: “I don’t even know which way Prince Rui’s residence gate opens.”
How he hated dealing with these imperial relatives and nobles!
“Why not have the second brother go instead?”
Old Madam Deng gave her eldest son a withering look: “If you keep complaining, next month’s allowance will be stopped!”
In front of his wife and daughter, Li Guangwen felt greatly embarrassed and mumbled: “Mother, why are you threatening people for no reason? I’ll go, alright?”
Doesn’t that son-in-law know to show some filial respect to his father-in-law with a few silver ingots after all these years of gifts? Not clever at all!
Li Jiǎo had soaked in hot water and drunk cold-dispelling soup, immediately driving away the chill from her entire body. But thinking about what had happened at the Lantern Festival, she couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.
Such a good opportunity, yet she hadn’t been able to seize it. Who knew when the next chance would come?
After the first month, the grandmother would arrange her betrothal to that family in the suburbs of the capital. Time was running out for her—what should she do?
Li Jiǎo worried so much she didn’t sleep all night. The next morning, however, visitors from Prince Rui’s residence delivered news that shocked the entire West Residence.