“General—”

Shao Mingyuan lowered his head, and only after a long while did he raise it, his face paler than cold jade: “The Qiao family had a fire?”

“Yes, the news came out the day you left the city. The Qiao family in Jia Feng was destroyed by a great fire. His Majesty has sent an imperial commissioner to investigate whether it was a natural disaster or man-made calamity.” Shao Zhi replied.

“Young Master Qiao is now… staying at Minister Kou’s residence?”

“The General guessed correctly. Young Master Qiao and his younger sister are indeed staying at Minister Kou’s residence now, only—”

“Speak!” Shao Mingyuan’s thin lips parted slightly.

“Everyone outside is saying that Young Master Qiao disfigured himself to save his younger sister!”

Disfigurement wasn’t simply about an ugly appearance—it meant losing the qualification for the imperial examinations. For a scholar, this was the cruelest thing imaginable, equivalent to all those long years of arduous study becoming nothing, with no more chance of rising through the ranks.

“General, you… Please accept our condolences…” Shao Zhi carefully consoled him.

They understood better than anyone that the General had personally shot his wife and had been tormented by guilt for a long time. Now, hearing such terrible news again, he must be extremely distressed.

Shao Zhi gave Shao Liang a meaningful look.

Usually so clever, how had he become tongue-tied at a time like this?

Shao Liang forced a smile onto his face: “General, would you like some wine? This subordinate just went to the famous Chunfeng Tavern and bought two jars—”

Shao Mingyuan waved his hand, showing a faint smile: “I’m fine. You may both withdraw.”

Shao Zhi and Shao Liang exchanged glances and could only silently retreat.

The room became spacious and empty, candle flames flickered, and the lamp shade gradually dimmed.

Shao Mingyuan sat in the chair with the broken armrest for a long time, then suddenly reached out to cover his face.

He remained motionless for a long while, until the room became completely dark, before getting up to lie down on the bed.

The nights in the capital were much livelier than those in the Northern Territory. At this moment, he could faintly hear low insect chirping, like lingering and gentle serenades urging one to sleep.

Shao Mingyuan turned over, and after a moment turned to the other side.

The wound under his ribs began to ache dully again. He pressed it with his hand to no effect, so he let it be.

Someone had once asked whether people who went to battle became accustomed to killing.

He didn’t know about others, but he had never gotten used to it—he simply had no choice but to raise his sword.

Just like the large and small wounds on his body, even when old wounds healed and new ones appeared, he would still feel pain.

No one becomes accustomed to suffering; they just… become accustomed to enduring it.

Shao Mingyuan thought that tomorrow he would go to Minister Kou’s residence to meet that brother-in-law.

With this thought, he slowly fell asleep.

Qiao Zhao was roused by Li Guangwen.

The sky was just beginning to brighten. Qiao Zhao was still sleepy-eyed when she asked her energetic father, waiting in the outer room: “Father, what’s the matter so early?”

Li Guangwen looked excited: “Zhaozhao, this father heard that you wrote excellent calligraphy and received an audience with Master Wumei yesterday?”

It was all because yesterday, after leaving the office, he had run to the study to flip through storybooks and become engrossed. By the time he returned to the residence and had dinner, when he accidentally heard about his daughter’s amazing feat, it was already too late to visit, so he had to wait until this morning.

“Mm.” Having finally achieved the first step of her goal, Qiao Zhao relaxed all at once and felt she hadn’t slept enough. Even now, she was still somewhat dazed.

“Your grandmother said your calligraphy is identical to Master Qiao’s?”

Only then did Qiao Zhao become alert, saying lightly, “Grandmother praised me too highly. When I copy Master Qiao’s calligraphy, I only capture the form—the spirit and essence are still far behind.”

Li Guangwen shook his head: “Zhaozhao must not be too modest. Since your calligraphy caught Master Wumei’s eye, it must certainly be excellent. Come, come, come, let’s move to the study so this father can take a look.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a cloth bundle from his sleeve and offered it like a treasure: “This father brought the Duan inkstone I lent you.”

Qiao Zhao raised her hand and helplessly rubbed her brow, asking Li Guangwen: “Father, is today perhaps a rest day?”

“A rest day? No, it’s not.” Li Guangwen answered without thinking.

“Oh.” Qiao Zhao looked at the sky outside the window, quite puzzled. “At this hour, shouldn’t you be going to court?”

Li Guangwen nodded: “Yes, I should go to court, but I requested leave.”

“Father has business today?”

Since he had business and needed to request leave, why did he come running to her place so early in the morning?

Li Guangwen was momentarily stunned by the question, then said righteously: “Yes, I have business—coming to see Zhaozhao’s calligraphy.”

Miss Qiao: “…” He would request leave for this? Wasn’t that reason a bit too willful?

She must remember to remind Mother later to send some gifts to Father’s superior, making sure Father can compile historical records until retirement.

Li Guangwen urged Qiao Zhao to the west side room, personally grinding ink while saying: “This inkstone is truly top quality—it releases ink quickly and smoothly, even grinding ink is an enjoyment. Only good calligraphy can be worthy of it!”

Qiao Zhao pulled at the corner of her mouth.

So if she couldn’t write good calligraphy, Father planned to keep “borrowing” it indefinitely.

Under Li Guangwen’s eager gaze, Qiao Zhao pondered for a moment, then picked up the brush and wrote a couplet:

The sound of wind, the sound of rain, the sound of reading—all sounds enter the ear. Family affairs, state affairs, worldly affairs—all affairs concern the heart.

“Excellent calligraphy!” Li Guangwen’s eyes lit up as he clapped in praise.

Then he clapped again: “Excellent couplet!”

Of course, this couplet wasn’t Qiao Zhao’s creation, but combined with this extremely elegant handwriting, it inexplicably lifted one’s spirits.

Li Guangwen was already entranced, murmuring the lines several times, his emotions surging: “This father has decided—from now on I must strive to improve, to do things for the country and people, so as not to disappoint my daughter for writing this couplet!”

Qiao Zhao was greatly alarmed.

No, don’t! She was wrong, wasn’t that enough?

“Cough, cough, Father, actually… your daughter wrote this couplet for herself, not for you.”

“Eh?” Li Guangwen calmed down from his emotional surge, his eyes full of admiration. “Zhaozhao, your father never imagined you could write such excellent calligraphy. Mm, though it’s not very similar to Master Qiao’s writing.”

“It’s because your daughter hasn’t worked hard enough.” This couplet was in her calligraphy style.

“No, no, no, it’s already very good!” Li Guangwen’s eyes remained fixed on the couplet, sighing: “It’s too good.”

When he was this age, he couldn’t write characters like these.

“Master Qiao’s calligraphy is naturally excellent, but in the way of calligraphy, after copying for a while, one must develop one’s character and spirit to be considered accomplished. Zhaozhao, your handwriting already shows no trace of mechanical copying. If you continue practicing, within ten years you could establish your school!”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Thank you for Father’s encouragement.”

Li Guangwen suddenly felt very accomplished and said modestly: “Though this father’s encouragement is important, your diligence is even more important. You must maintain it in the future. By the way, Zhaozhao said this couplet was written for yourself—could it be my daughter has begun to care about worldly affairs?”

“This is all because I’ve listened to your stories so much, Father. The stories you tell are particularly interesting.” Qiao Zhao blinked.

Mm, in getting along with Father, she was becoming increasingly adept.

“Cough, cough, is that so?” The corners of Li Guangwen’s mouth turned up greatly.

He knew it—frequently going to the study to browse storybooks was effective!

“By the way, Father, yesterday I heard Grandmother talking about past events. The old lady mentioned a general, but unfortunately, couldn’t remember clearly. Father, could you tell me about him?”