Looking at Binglu’s pale face, Qiao Zhao raised her hand and patted her shoulder: “Pull yourself together, don’t disgrace your miss.”

Upon hearing this, the little maidservant immediately straightened her chest: “Yes!”

Seeing that Binglu’s expression had returned to normal, Qiao Zhao signaled for her to open the door.

The door slowly opened, light streamed in, the candle flame flickered, and was extinguished by the wind.

Prince Rui eagerly looked inside and saw Prince Gong of Xijiang lying on the bed, sleeping soundly. Standing at the door, he could even hear his steady snoring.

Prince Rui’s face showed astonishment.

After Prince Gong of Xijiang moved into his residence, he had people constantly monitoring his movements, so he naturally knew that Prince Gong had been unable to sleep night after night these past few days, constantly in a state of terror. When had he ever shown such a peaceful sleeping expression?

Qiao Zhao walked out.

“Third Miss, he is—”

“Prince Gong is already asleep. Your Highness needn’t worry. When he wakes up, his spirit should be much better.”

“Thank you, Third Miss.”

Qiao Zhao’s tone remained cool: “I dare not accept Your Highness’s thanks.”

Prince Rui secretly wondered.

He had thought Miss Li would surely take this opportunity to ask him to plead for Marquis Guanjun, but unexpectedly he had guessed wrong.

“This young lady has been out for a long time and fears her family may worry. I’ll take my leave now.” Qiao Zhao curtsied slightly to Prince Rui.

Prince Rui wanted Qiao Zhao to stay longer and gave Li Jiǎo a meaningful look.

Li Jiǎo’s heart had long been like an overturned spice box, filled with mixed emotions.

Was Li Zhao’s medical skill so brilliant? This was simply incomprehensible. Even if Li Zhao had started learning medicine from her mother’s womb, she was only fourteen now—how could she be more skilled than those old imperial physicians at the Imperial Medical Bureau?

Moreover, others might not be clear about what kind of person Li Zhao used to be, but didn’t she know?

Words like “unlearned and unskilled,” “pampered and willful” flashed through Li Jiǎo’s mind, making her suddenly feel confused as she looked at the young woman with calm eyes before her. Within that confusion, a kind of fear arose.

Li Zhao—was she Li Zhao?

“Ahem.” Noticing Li Jiǎo’s distraction, Prince Rui coughed lightly in displeasure.

Li Jiǎo came back to her senses and smiled with effort: “Third sister, it’s almost noon. Why don’t you stay and have lunch with us?”

“No need.” Qiao Zhao refused decisively and said to Prince Rui, “If Your Highness feels uneasy, when Prince Gong wakes up and if there are any problems, you can send someone to inform me.”

With Qiao Zhao saying this, Prince Rui had no reason to detain her. Just as he nodded, a servant came over and said, “Your Highness, Commander Jiang of the Jinlin Guard has arrived.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Zhao’s eyebrows moved slightly.

Why would Jiang Yuanchao come to Prince Rui’s residence?

You must know that the identity of the Jinlin Guard Commander was very sensitive—it was taboo to have close dealings with princes.

Prince Rui was equally puzzled upon hearing that Jiang Yuanchao had arrived. After hesitating briefly, he said to Li Jiǎo: “Please see Third Miss off.” He then hurried to the reception hall, where he saw a young man in red robes standing with his hands behind his back, staring at the landscape painting above in contemplation.

“Commander Jiang.”

Jiang Yuanchao turned around and bowed to Prince Rui: “Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Commander Jiang, please sit. I wonder if Commander Jiang’s visit is for official business or—” Prince Rui felt somewhat uneasy.

Jiang Yuanchao’s expression was calm, the smile at the corners of his mouth even fainter: “This subordinate has come to ask Prince Gong of Xijiang about that night’s situation, to see if there are any clues.”

“Uh, Prince Gong is sleeping right now. The timing is rather unfortunate.”

Jiang Yuanchao frowned slightly and pondered: “Then Your Highness can just lead this subordinate to take a look. I heard that Prince Gong of Xijiang is seriously ill. If something happens to him, it might be difficult to explain to my superiors.”

“Commander Jiang, please follow me.”

Jiang Yuanchao followed Prince Rui to the room where Prince Gong of Xijiang was sleeping. Scanning the interior, his eyes flickered slightly: “Prince Gong is staying here?”

Although Prince Rui was a prince, he was unwilling to offend the Jinlin Guard and quickly explained: “This is the room where the doctor treated Prince Gong.”

A doctor treating Prince Gong?

Jiang Yuanchao thought of how Prince Rui’s residence had suddenly sent someone to invite Qiao Zhao to the residence. He immediately understood what was happening and asked without revealing his thoughts: “Has the doctor left?”

Prince Rui smiled: “After Prince Gong fell asleep, the doctor left.”

Jiang Yuanchao breathed a sigh of relief inwardly but showed no emotion on his face: “Since Prince Gong is fine and has fallen asleep, this subordinate won’t disturb him.”

Prince Rui also breathed a sigh of relief.

Please leave quickly. If Father Emperor learned that the head of the Jinlin Guard was wandering around his residence, he would surely become suspicious of him.

Jiang Yuanchao walked out of Prince Rui’s residence. Jiang He approached and whispered: “Just now this subordinate saw Miss Li get into a carriage and leave through the side door.”

“In the direction of our office?”

Jiang He was startled and nodded repeatedly: “Yes, how did you know, my lord? You truly are wise and mighty…”

Unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Yuanchao kicked Jiang He and mounted his horse to head toward the Jinlin Guard office.

In the carriage, Binglu anxiously tugged at Qiao Zhao’s sleeve.

“Hmm?”

“Miss, the young master… will the young master…”

“No, he won’t.” Qiao Zhao replied decisively.

“Huh?” Binglu blinked in confusion.

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Others can’t deceive him.”

She wouldn’t mistake him even with her eyes closed, and she believed he could do the same.

Those people who are treasured and held dear in one’s heart are never recognized with the eyes alone.

Binglu still couldn’t understand but nodded vigorously.

Although she didn’t understand what her miss said, following her miss’s words was never wrong.

“Third Miss, we’ve arrived.” Chen Guang pulled the reins, and the carriage stopped steadily.

Binglu lifted the carriage curtain to help Qiao Zhao out, smiling: “Chen Guang, you’re becoming more and more excellent as a coachman. Your driving is steady.”

Chen Guang silently rolled his eyes.

This kind of praise couldn’t make him happy at all. He didn’t want to be a coachman forever!

After Qiao Zhao got out of the carriage, she suddenly heard a gentle voice behind her: “Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao’s steps paused. Chen Guang stepped in front of her with a stern face.

Jiang Yuanchao walked to a nearby spot and stopped: “Miss Li, I have some words to say to you.”

Qiao Zhao looked at Jiang Yuanchao without any ripples in her eyes.

Chen Guang sneered: “What words does Commander Jiang have to say to our Third Miss privately?”

Jiang Yuanchao ignored Chen Guang and gazed at Qiao Zhao: “It’s about Marquis Guanjun.”

“Where shall we talk?” Qiao Zhao asked coolly.

“Third Miss—” Chen Guang was somewhat anxious.

Qiao Zhao smiled at Chen Guang: “It’s fine. You and Binglu just wait here for me.”

Jiang Yuanchao’s action of going to Prince Rui’s residence was too abnormal. She wanted to see what he was thinking.

“Follow me.” Jiang Yuanchao glanced at Qiao Zhao and walked forward.

Qiao Zhao silently followed.

Jiang Yuanchao stopped under a tree and looked at Qiao Zhao silently.

“Commander Jiang, please say what you have to say. I’m listening.”

“You… should try to avoid contact with Prince Gong of Xijiang in the future.”

Qiao Zhao’s elegant eyebrows rose slightly—she hadn’t expected Jiang Yuanchao to say this.

“Prince Gong of Xijiang is not pure of heart. You made such a brilliant showing at that day’s banquet that I fear he might have improper thoughts and be harmful to you.” Jiang Yuanchao made up a random excuse.

Given their strained relationship, he naturally couldn’t mention the dancer incident, lest she think he was trying to take credit.