Old Madam Xue’s gaze swept over Shao Mingyuan, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Shao Mingyuan paid his respects to Old Madam Xue.

Only then did Old Madam Xue notice the handkerchief pressed against his shoulder, her expression changing slightly: “Has the Marquis been injured?”

If news spread that Marquis Guanjun had been injured at the Minister’s residence, the Minister’s residence would face criticism.

The world only wanted to see heroes sacrifice themselves righteously – when had they ever wanted to see the hero’s relatives feel wronged and unwilling? Shao Mingyuan could shoot Zhaozhao with an arrow, but Qiao Mo absolutely could not raise his sword against Shao Mingyuan.

“Please don’t worry, maternal grandmother. It’s nothing serious.”

“Qiao Mo was too impulsive. Please forgive him, Marquis.”

“Elder brother-in-law was magnanimous and didn’t hold it against Mingyuan.”

“Marquis, you should still apply medicine and have a meal here before returning.”

Before Old Madam Xue, Shao Mingyuan kept his head half-lowered, his attitude respectful: “Please don’t worry, maternal grandmother. It’s just a minor injury – the bleeding has already stopped. Mingyuan has other matters to attend to, so I won’t impose any longer.”

Earlier in the main hall, there had been people behind the screen, which naturally couldn’t escape his ears.

Though he trusted the Minister’s residence had proper family conduct and the young ladies wouldn’t behave improperly, he preferred to nip any possibilities in the bud.

Seeing Shao Mingyuan’s insistence, Old Madam Xue could only let him go.

Meanwhile, Madam Mao listened to the matron’s report, lifted her teacup for a sip, and said with interest: “The young master wounded the Marquis, and the Marquis showed no blame at all?”

The matron nodded repeatedly: “Indeed! Not only did he show no blame, but this old servant saw that the Marquis wouldn’t fight back when hit or speak back when scolded.”

Madam Mao lowered her gaze, toying with the jade piece in her hand, murmuring: “So the Marquis feels quite guilty toward the young master?”

If he weren’t cold-blooded and heartless, that would be even more ideal. As long as he didn’t have a moment of madness like Marquis Jing’an’s residence, sending their daughter-in-law to the northern territories and creating such a situation, Marquis Guanjun shouldn’t mistreat his wife.

“Summon the eldest miss,” Madam Mao instructed the maid standing nearby after finishing her thoughts.

The maid went out briefly and returned to report: “Madam, the eldest miss is not in the courtyard. The second miss says the eldest miss went to stroll in the back garden.”

Strolling in the back garden?

Madam Mao’s expression changed slightly, her voice rising: “Go search the back garden!”

That troublesome girl – what strolling in the back garden? She must have gone to find Qiao Mo!

In Listening to Wind Residence, Qiao Wan slowly awakened.

“Elder Brother?” The little girl nimbly sat up, looking around in confusion. “Where’s that bad man?”

Qiao Mo reached out to pat Qiao Wan’s head: “Elder Brother told you before – you can’t call him that anymore.”

“But he killed Sister! I don’t want to call him brother-in-law!” The little girl felt wronged.

Though she hadn’t spent much time with her sister, every time Sister came to the capital, she would bring her interesting little trinkets from Jia Feng and teach her to paint ducks by hand.

Sister could also play beautiful melodies and blow the xun…

Such a wonderful sister had been killed by that big man – he must be extremely bad!

The little girl looked up, tugging at her brother’s sleeve with a self-satisfied expression: “Elder Brother, that bad man isn’t as formidable as you all say. I just punched him once and made him bleed!”

Qiao Mo looked at his youngest sister with considerable helplessness, but his thoughts turned to his elder sister.

Unlike his naive and lively youngest sister, his elder sister had been precocious since childhood. Faced with situations that would cause ordinary girls to panic, she remained calm and composed, as if nothing could disturb her peace of mind. But occasionally, when facing their close relatives, she would also reveal a mischievous side.

That year, when she came to the capital, she had mimicked their grandfather’s handwriting to write a letter, tricking him into going to Dafu Temple. Though he had recognized it as his elder sister’s handwriting, he couldn’t bear to disappoint her and went anyway.

Thinking of that day’s encounter now, Young Master Qiao still felt lingering fear.

He was usually distant and polite toward young ladies and didn’t think much of it, but after that day’s experience, he understood that one girl wasn’t frightening – what was frightening was a group of girls!

He had fled in embarrassment, nearly losing his shoes, while his elder sister, who had been hiding nearby watching the commotion, laughed at him for a long time.

Qiao Mo seemed to see that clever and unparalleled girl smiling mischievously at him, and couldn’t help but curve his lips.

Qiao Wan stared blankly, waving her hand in front of Qiao Mo: “Elder Brother, you smiled.”

Since the fire at home, she had never seen her elder brother smile again. Especially on the day they learned of their elder sister’s death, she had secretly seen their elder brother sitting silently all night without touching his food.

“Elder Brother, were you thinking of Sister?”

Every time Sister came to the capital, Elder Brother would smile more than usual.

Sometimes she would feel a little jealous, but she knew that Sister and Elder Brother were true siblings from the same mother, and being similar in age, they both understood many more things than she did.

Qiao Mo came back to his senses, gently stroking his youngest sister’s soft hair, murmuring softly: “Yes.”

He missed his elder sister, missed his parents and relatives, missed that home they could never return to.

Qiao Wan nestled beside Qiao Mo, sighing: “I miss Sister, too.”

No matter how good the Minister’s residence was, it wasn’t their home.

“Cousin—” A young lady’s voice came from outside.

Qiao Mo took Qiao Wan’s hand and walked out.

Kou Zimo stood in the courtyard, looking uneasy.

Qiao Mo walked down the steps and stopped, his expression gentle: “What brings elder cousin to see me?”

His left face was burned, enough to make timid young ladies scream in alarm, yet he still stood calmly in the courtyard as if completely unaffected by his disfigurement.

Kou Zimo’s gaze was equally gentle, showing no trace of anything unusual. The moment she saw Qiao Mo, her uneasy expression turned soft: “I heard Marquis Guanjun came to see cousin, so I came to check.”

She spoke with concern, her earlobes slightly red as she spoke, though her expression remained composed.

“The Marquis has already left. There’s nothing wrong.”

“That’s good. I’ll head back then.” Kou Zimo extended her hand toward Qiao Wan. “Cousin Wan, your second cousin found some flower patterns for me. Would you like to come look?”

“Sure!” Qiao Wan released Qiao Mo’s hand. “Elder Brother, I’ll go to Elder Cousin’s place first.”

“Go ahead, and remember to rest at noon.” Qiao Mo gently reminded her.

Though he and Qiao Wan were siblings, it was still improper for them to live in the same courtyard. Qiao Wan had separate quarters.

Qiao Wan waved to Qiao Mo and followed Kou Zimo back to her quarters. As soon as they entered, they saw Madam Mao waiting there.

“Mother, why are you here?” Kou Zimo was somewhat surprised.

Madam Mao glanced at Qiao Wan and said to Kou Qinglan, who was making eyes at Kou Zimo: “Qinglan, take your cousin Wan to play in the garden.”

Kou Qinglan made a helpless expression toward Kou Zimo and extended her hand to Qiao Wan: “Cousin Wan, come play in the garden with Second Cousin. There are butterflies now – shall we catch them?”

Qiao Wan silently placed her hand in hers, saying softly: “Alright.”

She felt it wasn’t alright and wasn’t happy, but could she refuse to go?

The little girl, obediently following Kou Qinglan away, thought sadly: If only home were still there.

Once no outsiders remained in the room, Madam Mao looked at her daughter and asked: “Zimo, did you go to Listening to Wind Residence again?”