Qiao Zhao had never really considered this question.

Would Shao Mingyuan take concubines? She always felt this wasn’t something worth worrying about. That person had never made her have such doubts.

The young girl widened her eyes, eagerly waiting for Qiao Zhao’s answer.

Qiao Zhao reached out and ruffled Li Yan’s soft hair, smiling: “Fourth Sister, this question has no reference value. Every girl’s situation is different, the people they meet are different, so naturally their choices will be different too.”

After hearing this, Li Yan became even more uneasy.

What if she were particularly unlucky and encountered a man like Father and a concubine like Concubine Bing?

Qiao Zhao vaguely guessed Li Yan’s thoughts and smiled: “However, Third Sister can tell you one thing – concubines like Concubine Bing who dare to kill people are extremely rare in this world. Rather than worrying about wife-concubine conflicts, you’d do better to think carefully about why Concubine Bing acted as she did.”

Li Yan listened in a daze, murmuring: “That’s right, why did Concubine Bing do that?”

To avoid drinking abortion medicine, she killed two maids and fled, but by escaping like that, she couldn’t stay anyway. Not to mention, she ultimately didn’t escape and ended up dying by crashing into a wall.

The more Li Yan thought about it, the more puzzled she became, temporarily forgetting her earlier question.

Qiao Zhao was pondering this question too.

She didn’t believe Concubine Bing was trying to protect the fetus in her womb.

Someone who could cast a curse on a three-year-old child would kill people and flee for an unborn fetus? If that were truly the case, her later decisive suicide wouldn’t make sense.

This Concubine Bing might not be as simple as just a Skinny Horse.

Qiao Zhao harbored suspicions and mentioned this matter when she next met with Shao Mingyuan.

After listening, Shao Mingyuan pondered for a moment: “I’ll send someone to investigate Lingnan again. However, Lingnan has been self-contained for many years – it’s somewhat difficult for outsiders to conduct deep investigations.”

“The person is already dead. Just do your best.” Qiao Zhao naturally understood the difficulties involved.

As a Skinny Horse given to Li Guangshu by the county magistrate, Concubine Bing wasn’t a secret at all locally – it could even be considered a fine story. But investigating whether there were hidden circumstances about her identity was naturally different.

“Let’s go to Chunfeng Tavern.” Shao Mingyuan didn’t want to discuss these unpleasant topics further and explained: “Zi Zhe’s marriage has been settled. Yang Er is making a fuss about getting together, so we arranged to meet at Chunfeng Tavern.”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes lit up: “Elder Brother Zhu is engaged?”

Shao Mingyuan glanced at her with a half-smile: “Hearing about Zi Zhe’s engagement, why do you seem happier than when you got engaged yourself?”

Qiao Zhao smiled gracefully: “Elder Brother Zhu is a good person.”

Shao Mingyuan chuckled softly: “Yes, Zi Zhe is indeed a good person.”

“Which family’s daughter is engaged to Elder Brother Zhu?” Qiao Zhao asked curiously.

“A young lady from the Su family of the Ministry of Rites.”

An image of a quietly dignified young woman immediately flashed through Qiao Zhao’s mind.

She had a deep impression of Miss Su from the Minister’s residence – she was the girl who most loved playing chess among those she’d encountered.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but smile: “Elder Brother Zhu excels at chess, and Miss Su enjoys playing chess. They won’t be bored together in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Shao Mingyuan’s heart began beating like a drum.

Zhaozhao excelled at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while he could at most be considered roughly familiar with them. Zhaozhao was outstanding in medicine, having received Physician Li’s true teachings, while he could only bandage his wounds and, at most, check horses for problems, barely qualifying as a veterinarian. As for Zhaozhao’s cooking… it was mediocre, while he seemed quite talented, probably from tinkering with food in the wilderness so much…

The more Shao Mingyuan thought about it, the more ominous he felt.

Counting everything up, he and Zhaozhao seemed to have no common interests.

“What’s wrong?” Noticing the man beside her had suddenly fallen silent, Qiao Zhao looked up and asked.

Shao Mingyuan pressed his lips together, his handsome sword-like brows slightly furrowed: “Zhaozhao, don’t worry. Our days together won’t be boring either.”

Mm, if they had several children, they’d have common interests.

Qiao Zhao glanced at him: “How did the conversation suddenly turn to us?”

Shao Mingyuan squeezed Qiao Zhao’s hand and smiled without speaking.

The two arrived at Chunfeng Tavern first, and soon Chi Can and the other two arrived one after another.

They were all familiar with each other, so the atmosphere was very casual. Yang Houcheng plopped down and raised a wine jar toward Zhu Yàn: “Zi Zhe, today you’re drinking from this.”

Zhu Yàn smiled bitterly and begged for mercy.

“Come on, Zi Zhe can’t hold his liquor. Making him drink from a wine jar isn’t that making things difficult?” Chi Can glared at Yang Houcheng and directly handed over a bowl. “Zi Zhe, this is enough for us.”

Zhu Yàn’s originally grateful smile immediately froze at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the large bowl and felt dizzy.

“How about we listen to Yang Er after all?” Chi Can asked with a smile.

Zhu Yàn silently took the bowl and filled it with wine, raising it helplessly: “Knowing I can’t escape today, I’ll drink this bowl dry. But don’t force more drinks on me afterward, or I won’t be able to get home.”

After speaking, his gaze slowly swept over everyone present, then he lifted the bowl and began drinking in large gulps.

Everyone knew Zhu Yàn’s drinking capacity was ordinary, so they didn’t rush him. Seeing him finish the wine and turn the bowl upside down to show everyone, they all cheered.

Zhu Yàn’s face was already red. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the wine that had dripped from his lips, his movements still elegant.

Yang Houcheng sighed: “Zi Zhe, I thought you’d at least wait until the second half of the year to get engaged. Getting engaged now has harmed me.”

“How so?” Zhu Yàn asked with a smile.

He didn’t care whether this marriage came earlier or later – at his age, getting engaged was perfectly natural.

Miss Su was friends with his sister, so her character must be good. He believed they would live their lives together in harmony.

“Don’t mention it.” Yang Houcheng took a gulp of wine. “When my grandmother heard you were engaged, she immediately wanted to arrange a marriage for me. When I expressed slight reluctance, she beat me severely with a feather duster. I must say, the old lady’s strength is something – she even broke the feather duster.”

Hearing Yang Houcheng say this, Qiao Zhao immediately thought of Old Madam Deng’s powerfully vigorous punch and couldn’t help but chuckle.

When it came to which old lady had the greatest strength, it seemed none could match Grandmother.

“What is Miss Li laughing at?” Yang Houcheng scratched his head in confusion.

Qiao Zhao gently pressed her lips: “I just found it amusing.”

“Come, let’s drink.” Chi Can raised his wine cup.

Several people toasted and drank, slightly intoxicated, when suddenly clamoring voices came from downstairs.

“Quickly clear out your best private room here. Can’t you see our lord and distinguished guests are waiting?”

“What, there are already customers and you can’t clear it? Are your eyes just for decoration, waiter? Can’t you recognize who our lord is?”

…

Yang Houcheng frowned and slammed his wine cup on the table, saying impatiently: “I’ll go see who it is. Can’t even let people drink in peace.”

Chi Can grabbed him, raised his delicate eyebrows, and said lazily: “Don’t be impulsive. Let me see what kind of trash this is.”

He went out to take a look, then returned with a sneer: “To encounter those eyesores even here – how unlucky.”