Princess Changrong’s tone completely treated Chi Can as a useless playboy.

But Chi Can didn’t mind at all, saying in a casual tone: “I want to try being one of the Six Supervising Secretaries for fun.”

Princess Changrong was shocked, her beautiful eyes widening: “Six Supervising Secretaries? Chi Can, are you joking?”

Chi Can smiled and sat down: “How could I joke with Mother?”

“Ridiculous! The Six Supervising Secretaries are all proper jinshi graduates. Do you think it’s like the Imperial Guard, where you can come and go as you please?”

Chi Can chuckled lightly: “That’s why I’m asking Mother for help.”

Princess Changrong stared at Chi Can suspiciously.

Among noble sons, those who achieved official positions through years of hard study and imperial examinations were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Most relied on family connections to secure positions. Though her son had been clever since childhood and could compose poetry without difficulty, he had always been extremely impatient with the proper path of imperial examinations.

Had the sun risen in the west?

“Does Mother find it difficult?” Chi Can smiled, interrupting Princess Changrong’s thoughts.

Princess Changrong came back to her senses and looked at him. Seeing his nonchalant expression, she frowned: “There hasn’t been such a precedent in years. Do you think this is children playing house?”

If she arranged for her son to be placed in such a position, the civil officials would probably devour her alive.

“If Mother finds it inconvenient, forget it. I was just mentioning it casually.” Chi Can stood up as he spoke: “If Mother has no other instructions, I’ll return to my room.”

Seeing Chi Can walking away, Princess Changrong’s expression darkened: “Stop right there!”

Chi Can paused.

“Fine, I’ll go plead with your uncle in the next few days. Don’t forget what you promised me either.”

Chi Can turned back with a broad smile: “Thank you, Mother.”

After speaking, he strode out, meeting Dongyu, the female official by Princess Changrong’s side. Without speaking, he nodded slightly and brushed past her.

Dongyu looked at Chi Can walking away, then at the swaying bead curtain, and sighed quietly to herself.

Qiao Zhao returned home and only took the red tassel from her bosom after washing her hands.

“Miss, this is the red tassel the young master left for you.” Binglu curiously reached out: “May this servant touch it?”

The little maid had already extended her hand, but was calmly slapped away by Qiao Zhao: “No.”

Binglu blinked: “Miss, you’re not such a petty person, are you?”

Miss Qiao smiled without changing expression: “I am exactly such a petty person.”

The little maid left dejectedly.

Qiao Zhao picked up the red tassel, first glanced at the doorway, then brought it to her lips and gently kissed it.

“Miss—” Binglu, who had just left, rushed back in like a whirlwind.

Qiao Zhao quickly put down the red tassel, her face burning with heat, even her tone turning cold: “Binglu, don’t you know to ask permission before entering?”

It seemed she had been too lenient with this girl, who was becoming increasingly improper. She wondered if the girl had seen her secretly kissing the red tassel…

The more Qiao Zhao thought about it, the redder her face became. Soon, large peach blossoms bloomed on her fair, tender cheeks.

Binglu was momentarily stunned, murmuring, “Miss, why are you blushing?”

Qiao Zhao coughed lightly: “What is it?”

“Miss, didn’t the young master leave you the red tassel from his helmet? His helmet will look bare and ugly without it. You could braid a red tassel to send to the young master!” Binglu said excitedly.

Qiao Zhao felt silently deflated.

Was she someone who could braid tassels?

After finally sending away the little maid, Qiao Zhao leaned against the screen, staring at the red tassel in a daze.

He had left so urgently, he must have had many things to say to her.

She had many things to say to him, too.

Personally, braid a red tassel? Perhaps she could learn from A’Zhu.

“Miss called for me?”

Qiao Zhao raised the red tassel in her hand: “A’Zhu, teach me to braid a tassel like this.”

A’Zhu glanced at the red tassel in Qiao Zhao’s hand, her expression somewhat odd: “Miss wants to braid one like this?”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but lower her eyes to look at the red tassel, asking hesitantly: “Is there something wrong with this?”

“There’s nothing wrong with the red tassel, it’s just too… ordinary.” Seeing that Qiao Zhao showed no displeasure, A’Zhu explained: “Looking at this tassel’s style, it should be standard military issue. If you give such a tassel to the General, he might think you bought it.”

Binglu, standing at the doorway, smiled: “The young master would never mistake it. I wouldn’t even mistake Miss’s handiwork.”

Qiao Zhao: “…” She was going to sell this girl!

“Miss, let this servant teach you to make a Five Bats tassel. It’s not difficult.” A’Zhu smiled, helping Qiao Zhao out of the awkward situation.

Three days later.

Qiao Zhao looked at the oddly-shaped Five Bats tassel and sighed.

She probably truly had no talent for needlework.

Binglu consoled her: “Miss, you’re amazing! You’ve improved so much!”

Though such praise was rather against her conscience, who told her to be such a considerate and lovely head maid?

A’Zhu nodded: “Miss has indeed improved greatly. Shall we braid another one?”

“No need, this one will do.” Qiao Zhao carefully put away the red tassel and pushed open the door.

New green could already be seen in the courtyard. Having rained the previous night, fresh air rushed toward her, mixed with the scent of moist earth.

Qiao Zhao took a deep breath, sweeping away three days of dizziness and mental fog, and walked toward the main courtyard of Yahe Courtyard.

He Shi and Li Guangwen were frantically trying to calm the child.

“Get out, get out!” He Shi’s full-throated roar came through.

Followed by Li Guangwen’s aggrieved voice: “I only come in to look for such a short while each day, and the time isn’t even up yet.”

“Nanny Fang, please escort the master out!”

Qiao Zhao was secretly shocked hearing their conversation.

In the past, Mother had always been submissive to Father. What was happening today?

“Zhaozhao, you’re here!” Li Guangwen breathed a sigh of relief seeing Qiao Zhao.

With his daughter present, he wouldn’t be driven out.

Qiao Zhao greeted the Li Guangwen couple and asked with a smile: “Mother, what’s wrong with Father?”

“I just came to see your brother, and your mother already dislikes me.”

Upon hearing this, He Shi’s eyes widened: “Do I dislike you because you came to see the child? Zhaozhao, you be the judge. Brother Fu was sleeping soundly when he came in, but he insisted on pinching Brother Fu’s face. Now look what happened—he woke the child up and made him cry loudly—”

“I held Brother Fu and comforted him.” Master Li interjected with an aggrieved expression.

He Shi’s willow eyebrows shot up: “You still have the nerve to say that! I already told you that you don’t know how to comfort children and to let the wet nurse do it, but you wouldn’t listen. Then, when Brother Fu urinated, you pointed the child right at me, and he peed all over my face!”

“I, I just suddenly noticed the child was urinating and panicked.”

“Still making excuses! In any case, you’re not allowed to hold the child anymore!”

Li Guangwen cast a pleading look at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao silently turned her face away.

If Shao Mingyuan did such a thing in the future, she would want to beat him to death, too.

Uh, wait, where were her thoughts going…

Miss Qiao quietly blushed.