Li Guangwen looked around, grabbed a vase from the table by the door, and threw it. Shao Mingyuan’s eyes snapped open as he deftly caught the vase and revealed a weary smile: “Father-in-law, it’s your son-in-law.”

Li Guangwen blinked, stunned: “How are you here?”

“It was the Marquis who brought the Third girl back.” Old Madam Deng’s voice came from behind.

Li Guangwen immediately turned around, looking at Old Madam Deng incredulously: “Mother, and you just let this rascal sleep here?”

Was this her grandmother? How could she be so at ease!

“Son-in-law was improper, I accidentally fell asleep just now.” Shao Mingyuan reluctantly glanced at Qiao Zhao, who had fallen into deep sleep, tucked in her blanket corners, and prepared to get up.

Qiao Zhao’s hand moved slightly as she murmured: “Shao Mingyuan, don’t leave—”

In front of Old Madam Deng and Li Guangwen, Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but blush to his ears, yet his feet seemed rooted and couldn’t move.

Li Guangwen looked at his unconscious daughter with particularly complex feelings: Girls really can’t be kept at home; this rascal is getting all the benefits.

“Fine, just stay there, honestly, don’t wake Zhaozhao up. Remember, just stay there, honestly!” Li Guangwen reluctantly glared at Shao Mingyuan and walked out with a stern face.

Since Shao Mingyuan was already awake, he naturally couldn’t remain lying around in the warm pavilion.

Although he didn’t care about anything, he couldn’t let Zhaozhao become the subject of gossip.

Gently touching Qiao Zhao’s hand, Shao Mingyuan looked at her reluctantly before walking out.

“Everyone has stayed up most of the night, and the Marquis has been traveling non-stop without rest. Now everyone should go rest, and we’ll talk about anything tomorrow.” Seeing Shao Mingyuan come out, Old Madam Deng was satisfied. After all, it wouldn’t sound good for any family to have a grown man staying overnight in an unmarried girl’s room.

“Marquis, don’t return to the Marquis residence. Just make do in the guest room tonight.”

Shao Mingyuan hesitated, then decided to be honest: “Old Madam, your son-in-law bought a residence next door to the Li residence. It’s just a few steps away.”

Old Madam Deng was stunned and instinctively looked at Li Guangwen.

A prospective son-in-law buying a house next to his fiancée’s—this was truly getting the advantage of proximity. The eldest son would surely be furious.

But Old Madam Deng waited a while without seeing Li Guangwen react, and couldn’t help being shocked.

Had the eldest son been stunned into stupidity?

Then she saw Li Guangwen impatiently wave his hand: “Hurry up and leave. Living so close, do you still want to stay here?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled shamelessly and took leave of the two elders.

After he left, Old Madam Deng looked at Li Guangwen: “What’s going on? You already knew about your son-in-law buying a house next door?”

“Of course I knew. I knew even when he wasn’t our son-in-law yet.”

Old Madam Deng felt a vein throb at her temple and sneered: “So you’re quite proud of it?”

“Not at all—” Li Guangwen waved his hand, but meeting his mother’s grim expression, he silently swallowed his remaining words.

“Go rest!” Old Madam Deng was too lazy to look at her foolish son again and got up to go to the inner room.

This silly son, really being sold, and still helping count the money. But being foolish isn’t bad—fools have their fortune…

Old Madam Deng sighed deeply and could finally close her eyes for some sleep.

Shao Mingyuan returned to the house next door but didn’t immediately rest. Instead, he called Chen Guang to question him.

“Tell me everything that happened today.”

Chen Guang knelt before Shao Mingyuan and recounted the situation in detail, prostrating himself in plea for punishment: “General, this humble officer deserves death. Please punish this humble officer.”

Shao Mingyuan sat silently with no expression on his face.

Chen Guang closed his eyes and drew the long blade from his waist to slash at his neck.

With a clang, the long blade was kicked away by Shao Mingyuan.

“This humble officer deserves death, this humble officer has failed the General!”

Shao Mingyuan wearily waved his hand: “You may withdraw and rest. Third Miss has returned, what would I want your life for?”

Speaking to this point, he smiled bitterly: “If she hadn’t returned, why would I need your life either?”

That time when he lost her, he felt guilt and regret, but life would continue. But if he lost her this time, he probably wouldn’t be able to persist anymore.

He had done too much for the country and its people, yet had done nothing for her. Wherever she went, he would only accompany her there.

“General!” Chen Guang’s face showed terror, understanding the meaning in Shao Mingyuan’s words.

The General’s feelings for Miss Li were so deep that his negligence had nearly caused the General’s death!

Thinking of this, Chen Guang broke out in cold sweat, feeling even more frightened.

“Go rest. It’s not anyone else’s fault for not protecting her well.” Shao Mingyuan was too tired to say more. He removed his armor and boots, hurriedly washed, and fell asleep quickly after lying down.

As soon as day broke, Shao Mingyuan woke up. After hastily washing and eating, he hurried to the Li residence.

“Old Madam is still sleeping, and Master left early for the Ministry of Justice.” Qingjun served tea, and catching sight of his firm jawline and the stubble he’d forgotten to shave, she quickly lowered her eyes and dared not look again, though her heart couldn’t help skipping a beat.

The Third Master had rushed back thousands of li for Third Miss—such devotion was truly enviable. The third Miss was so fortunate.

Qingjun had these thoughts but dared not think further, standing properly to one side.

Shao Mingyuan drank a few sips of tea. Since he hadn’t asked Old Madam Deng’s permission, it wasn’t convenient to visit Qiao Zhao in the warm pavilion, which made him somewhat anxious.

After sitting restlessly for about two quarters of an hour, he finally saw Binglu come out and immediately stood up.

“Is Third Miss awake?”

“She’s awake. Miss said she was hungry, so this servant is going to get something for Miss to eat.”

Hungry? Shao Mingyuan suddenly felt the urge to cry.

Being hungry was good—being hungry proved she had recovered some vitality and was no longer in the state he’d seen her in last night.

Shao Mingyuan didn’t dare recall Qiao Zhao’s condition yesterday; each memory felt like a knife to his heart.

“Third Miss has injuries, so don’t let her eat sour, spicy, or fishy foods. Nothing too hard either. Meat porridge would be best…” Shao Mingyuan earnestly instructed.

“General, please rest assured, this servant knows.” Binglu couldn’t help smiling.

Qiao Zhao’s return had restored the little maid’s lively appearance.

“Then go ahead.” Knowing his urgency was causing laughter, Shao Mingyuan didn’t mind, his gaze secretly sweeping toward where Qiao Zhao was.

Li Guangwen stormed in angrily: “Outrageous, simply outrageous! Eh, how are you here again?”

“Son-in-law pays respects to Father-in-law.” Shao Mingyuan properly bowed to Li Guangwen.

Li Guangwen looked at Shao Mingyuan with a grave expression: “You’re not thinking of becoming a live-in son-in-law, are you?”

Shao Mingyuan was slightly stunned, then smiled: “If Father-in-law doesn’t mind, that’s not impossible either.”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Li Guangwen began coughing violently.

A live-in son-in-law couldn’t hold office. The son-in-law originally had an annual salary of two thousand shi. If he lost this income, would he have to rely on his father-in-law’s monthly salary of eight shi to support him?

There was no such shamelessness!

“Don’t think about such things.” Li Guangwen said with a stern face, fearing Shao Mingyuan would insist, and quickly asked Qingjun, “Where is Old Madam?”