“Yes.” Kou Zimo didn’t deny it.

Madam Mao still spoke in a gentle, soft voice: “Zimo, didn’t Mother tell you that you’re grown up now, no longer a little child? How can you so casually go to see your cousin without avoiding suspicion?”

Kou Zimo lowered her eyes, speaking indifferently: “Daughter only went to see if the cousin was alright. I neither entered his room nor said an extra word. Is even this not allowed?”

Avoiding suspicion?

When Mother used to take her and Qinglan to visit the Qiao residence, why didn’t she remind her to avoid suspicion then? It was only because the uncle’s family had encountered misfortune and the cousin had been disfigured that she now needed to avoid suspicion, wasn’t it?

Kou Zimo’s mind was sharp, and she understood everything clearly. But facing her birth mother, she could only smile self-mockingly.

Madam Mao was silent for a moment before speaking: “Zimo, do you blame me?”

“How could I? Daughter wouldn’t dare.”

“Good that you don’t blame me. You must understand, the Qiao family is different now, and your cousin’s face is injured—”

“So, even going to check on the situation is no longer acceptable?” Kou Zimo finally couldn’t help but retort.

Madam Mao’s expression turned cold: “Qiao Mo is your father’s legitimate nephew. We elders will naturally take good care of the siblings. These matters are not for you, young ladies, to worry about.”

Kou Zimo pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent.

Madam Mao waved her hand, dismissing Kou Zimo. After she left, Madam Mao let out a long sigh.

Her eldest daughter shared a character “Mo” in her name with the Qiao family’s Yulang, and since childhood, the elders of both families had often teased them about it.

Master Qiao was a renowned great scholar, Lord Qiao held an important official position, Young Master Qiao was handsome and talented, and Old Madam Qiao was even of royal birth. As a mother, she had naturally been pleased to see things develop between the young pair.

But after that great fire, she had to reconsider everything.

Thinking of her eldest daughter’s stubborn temperament, Madam Mao decided not to mention her thoughts about Marquis Guanjun for now.

It was said that Marquis Guanjun had requested a year’s leave to observe mourning for his wife. This matter could wait for another day.

Kou Zimo went straight to the garden, where she saw from afar her younger sister Kou Qinglan playing butterfly catching with Qiao Wan. She leaned against a tree and stood silently watching.

When Kou Qinglan saw her, she gave the caught butterfly to Qiao Wan, instructed a maid to play with the young cousin, then lifted her skirts and quickly walked over.

“Elder Sister, did Mother scold you?”

“No.”

“That’s good then.”

The two sisters stood together under the banyan tree. After a while, Kou Qinglan asked softly: “Elder Sister, when you saw cousin, weren’t you afraid?”

Elder Sister had always been quite timid.

Kou Zimo smoothed her dress, speaking indifferently: “What is there to be afraid of? Cousin is still cousin, isn’t he?”

“But it’s different now. Cousin’s face—”

Kou Zimo turned to look at Kou Qinglan: “Then is younger sister afraid?”

“Me?” Kou Qinglan was momentarily stunned, then smiled sweetly, “Of course I’m not afraid. Cousin is still as gentle as before.”

“So I’m not afraid either.” Kou Zimo smiled faintly, watching Qiao Wan dejectedly throw down her fan after failing to catch butterflies and walk toward them. Her smile deepened.

“But—” Seeing Qiao Wan approaching, Kou Qinglan stopped the topic and quietly sighed.

Even if cousin was disfigured, he was still wonderful, so of course she wasn’t afraid. But Elder Sister was different—Elder Sister had always wanted to—

Qiao Wan had already walked up to them. The two sisters tacitly stopped mentioning Qiao Mo and led their little cousin to look at flower patterns.

After leaving the Minister’s residence, Shao Mingyuan had just led his horse around one corner when he suddenly stopped. He kicked up a pebble from the ground and flicked it upward, sending it shooting like lightning toward a certain spot.

A low cry of pain could be heard. Shao Mingyuan strode over with large steps and looked down at the young man who had fallen to the ground.

The young man had ordinary features and wore simple clothes. Beside him was a carrying pole with various small items displayed—rouge, face powder, needles, and thread—a peddler who went from street to street.

“Ouch! How do you walk? Do you have hooks on your feet?” the young man complained while getting up.

Shao Mingyuan lightly kicked with his foot, and the ordinary-looking young man tumbled down again with a thud.

“You, you—”

Shao Mingyuan crouched down halfway and said word by word: “Go back and tell your master that I don’t like having tails following behind me. If there’s a next time, it won’t be as simple as kicking your leg.”

Shao Mingyuan’s gaze dropped downward, and the young man reflexively covered his crotch.

Shao Mingyuan: “…” Did the Jinlin Guards usually kick there when punishing subordinates?

The young man awkwardly removed his hands. Thinking he couldn’t lose face for the Jinlin Guards, he put on a fierce expression and said, “General Shao, are you trying to oppose our Jinlin Guards?”

The Jinlin Guards were the current emperor’s eyes and ears. When they wanted to monitor someone, how could the person being monitored have any right to object?

Shao Mingyuan’s eyes were cold and clear. He stood up and said indifferently: “Go back and ask your superior for me—are you certain you want to oppose me, Shao Mingyuan?”

After dropping this line, Shao Mingyuan mounted his horse and rode away without looking back.

The sound of hoofbeats echoed. Looking up at the azure sky, Shao Mingyuan smiled wearily.

After he had gone far, the young man got up and, walking through countless alleys and side streets, returned to the Jinlin Guards’ headquarters to report to Jiang Yuanchao.

“Sir, that Marquis Guanjun is too arrogant! He dared to threaten our Jinlin Guards! Don’t worry, next time I’ll disguise myself as a beggar—I definitely won’t be discovered by him—”

“No need.”

“Sir?”

Jiang Yuanchao slightly curved his lips: “There’s no need to follow him anymore.”

The young man wanted to say more, but Jiang Yuanchao glanced at him and said: “Shao Mingyuan isn’t like those worthless fools you’ve tailed before. Don’t go embarrassing yourself anymore!”

“Oh.” The young man agreed unwillingly.

Just then, another young Jinlin Guard walked in and said in a low voice: “Sir, we have some leads on the matter you asked me to investigate earlier.”

Jiang Yuanchao nodded and glanced at the previous young man.

The young man hurried over to close the door.

Jiang Yuanchao held back his irritation and explained: “Jiang He, I meant for you to go out!”

Jiang He looked at Jiang Yuanchao with grievance, muttering as he walked out: “This isn’t fair! Sir is becoming more and more biased. You assign me to follow Marquis Guanjun, that killing god, but assign Jiang Lin to fool around in Beiding City’s brothels!”

Behind him, Jiang Yuanchao explained indifferently: “Because Jiang Lin is better looking than you.”

Jiang He: “…” Even going to brothels required good looks these days?

The severely wounded young man angrily shut the door.

Out of sight, out of mind!

“Speak.”

“Sir, I’ve discovered that the reason Fifth Master Jiang angered the Grand Commander was because he had some involvement with a courtesan named Yingying in Beiding City.”

“A courtesan?”

“Yes. That courtesan died recently, supposedly from contracting some disease. After her death, she was thrown into the mass burial ground overnight. However—”

“However, what?”

Jiang Lin lowered his voice even more: “I accidentally discovered that someone else seems to be inquiring about that courtesan as well.”

Jiang Yuanchao’s smile faded, and he finally became serious: “Is that so?”

Things seemed to be getting more and more interesting.