Jiang Yuanchao’s mind flashed with the image of Fifth Master Jiang.
Tall and lean, with deep-set eyes and a curved nose—the so-called hooked nose. When he looked at someone, he didn’t need to do anything else to strike fear into their hearts.
Would such a person become involved with a courtesan? Even anger his adoptive father because of it?
Jiang Yuanchao didn’t believe this explanation one bit.
“Keep watching. Report back immediately if there are any developments.”
“Yes.” Jiang Lin responded, turned and pushed open the door to leave, only to see Jiang He standing at the entrance.
“Get in here.” Jiang Yuanchao said indifferently.
Jiang He hurried in. Jiang Yuanchao raised his eyebrows: “If you don’t have a decent reason, go receive your punishment yourself.”
Jiang He shrank his neck and said in a low voice: “Sir, your subordinate remembered something. When Marquis Guanjun came out of the Minister’s residence, he seemed to be injured.”
“Injured?”
“Yes, he had a handkerchief pressed against his shoulder. When I got close, I could smell a faint scent of blood.”
“Mm, that’s good news.” Jiang Yuanchao’s expression relaxed.
Jiang He perked up, rubbing his hands together: “Sir, how should we deal with that brat?”
Jiang Yuanchao glanced at his foolish subordinate, feeling disappointed: “Deal with what? You think knowing Marquis Guanjun is injured means we can deal with him? What do you think he meant by having you deliver that message?”
If Shao Mingyuan dared to speak like that, of course, he wasn’t afraid of the Jinlin Guards.
The Jinlin Guards were the emperor’s eyes and ears. If the emperor had no intention of moving against Marquis Guanjun, the Jinlin Guards would only lie dormant.
Shao Mingyuan truly wasn’t just a warrior who only knew how to fight battles.
“Then—” Jiang He was speechless, thinking: If Sir thinks the news of Marquis Guanjun being injured is useless, why did he call it good news?
Jiang Yuanchao saw through his subordinate’s thoughts at a glance and lifted his eyelids: “I’m simply happy. Is that not allowed?”
“It’s allowed, it’s allowed.” Jiang He withdrew in tears, looking up at the sky.
Ever since Sir entered the capital, his thoughts had become increasingly strange.
Perhaps it was time for him to take a wife?
With the chattering subordinate gone, the room became quiet. Jiang Yuanchao crossed his hands behind his head and lay back, gazing at the ceiling.
Had Young Master Qiao injured Shao Mingyuan?
What a miscalculation. If he had known, he would have gone to spy personally to see how Shao Mingyuan got beaten by Young Master Qiao.
Jiang Yuanchao sat up straight, dipped his slender fingers in tea water, and wrote out a line of dates stroke by stroke on his desk.
His calligraphy wasn’t very good.
He had only begun learning to read and write after being adopted by his foster father. For a Jinlin Guard, being literate was sufficient. His handwriting was already outstanding among his brothers.
But it was still far inferior to those young masters from aristocratic families—he couldn’t even compare to Shao Mingyuan.
No, he had overlooked this. Shao Mingyuan was originally from a noble family and could have been a refined young master. It was those illustrious military achievements that made people subconsciously forget his original identity, remembering only the invincible Marquis Guanjun.
So they had always been people from two different worlds.
Thinking this way, the bitterness in Jiang Yuanchao’s heart grew like wild grass, spreading rampantly.
If, when he first met her, he hadn’t been the notorious Jinlin Guard, or if she hadn’t been a young lady from a distinguished family, would things have been different?
At least, she wouldn’t have died!
Jiang Yuanchao’s lips curved in a smile devoid of warmth as he gently wiped away the water traces on the desk.
That day was the day of her funeral. He wanted to go see her.
The West Side Courtyard of Yahe Courtyard.
The pomegranate tree in the courtyard had already bloomed several brilliant red pomegranate flowers. A kingfisher perched on a branch, hurriedly fluttering its wings and flying away at the sound of movement, leaving only the disturbed branch trembling and dropping newly opened petals.
Binglu walked briskly through the courtyard’s bluestone path and entered the room directly.
“Miss! Good news!”
Ever since Qiao Zhao learned from A’Zhu that Shao Mingyuan had gone to the Minister’s residence and might confront her elder brother, her heart had been restless. She sat cross-legged on the beauty couch, studying chess patterns to calm her mind.
Hearing Binglu’s words, Qiao Zhao placed the chess piece in her hand back into the chess bowl and asked with a gentle smile: “What good news?”
Binglu walked over, smugly glancing at A’Zhu, who stood quietly behind Qiao Zhao, then laughed cheerfully: “It’s about Second Miss having stomach trouble! The news has already spread to our West Residence. Everyone knows that Second Miss couldn’t hold it in at the music room and ran off, covering her stomach in front of the music teacher.”
At this point, Binglu frowned with great regret: “It’s just that Eldest Miss covered it up well at the time. Even though she had the same stomach problems as Second Miss, she didn’t become the subject of gossip.”
“This is the good news?” Qiao Zhao smiled.
The little maid’s eyebrows danced with joy: “Of course it’s good news! This way, how can Second Miss still have the face to attend music lessons? Miss, just wait and see—Second Miss definitely won’t appear in the music room anymore. Maybe after this embarrassment, Second Miss will even take detours to avoid seeing you. Isn’t this good news?”
Qiao Zhao reached out and pinched Binglu’s cheek, smiling warmly: “This is just insignificant news.”
“Huh?” Binglu was stunned and couldn’t help but argue: “How is it insignificant? It’s so rare (and satisfying) for Second Miss to lose face once!”
Among all the young ladies of the two residences since childhood, who hadn’t given way to Second Miss?
“Didn’t Second Miss just lose even greater face recently?” A’Zhu reminded expressionlessly.
Binglu opened her mouth but had nothing to say.
She glared at A’Zhu resentfully, thinking: Did I ask for your reminder? Did I ask for your reminder? Annoying!
Facing this little maid, Qiao Zhao’s mood inexplicably improved. She smiled: “Binglu, go bring me a cup of honey water.”
Upon hearing her miss’s instruction, Binglu immediately put aside her grievances and replied crisply: “Right away!”
Binglu turned and went out, and the room became quiet again.
A’Zhu remained as quiet as always.
Qiao Zhao suddenly looked up, smiling at A’Zhu: “A’Zhu, do you know how to play chess?”
A’Zhu was startled, and after a long while replied: “I learned a little before, but I don’t play well.”
Qiao Zhao gestured for her to sit across from her: “It’s not difficult. Come, I’ll teach you.”
A’Zhu: “…” Last time when Miss taught her that massage technique, she also said it wasn’t difficult, but she had to practice hard for seven or eight days before barely memorizing the steps!
When Binglu entered carrying the honey water, she saw her miss and A’Zhu sitting face to face, with the miss gently and patiently instructing A’Zhu in chess.
Binglu stood at the doorway, suddenly feeling somewhat bitter.
Miss was teaching A’Zhu to play chess, but had never taught her!
Of course, Miss wasn’t wrong—it must be that little hoof A’Zhu who had bewitched Miss, trying to steal Miss away from her!
This couldn’t continue, or her position as head maid would be in jeopardy!
Binglu carried the honey water over with loud footsteps, calling out loudly: “Miss, please drink your water!”
Qiao Zhao set down her chess piece and took the honey water.
Binglu seized the opportunity to request, “Miss, please teach this servant to play chess too.”
“Do you know anything about it?”
“I do! The elephant flies to the four corners of the camp, the horse advances one step and charges diagonally. The cannon must have a piece between to capture, the chariot moves straight in any direction.” The little maid answered with ringing conviction.
A’Zhu looked down at the chessboard.
This was Go, wasn’t it?