Shao Mingyuan sat upright on his horse, gazing at that graceful figure in the teahouse window, remaining motionless for a long time.

The common people on the street grew increasingly puzzled and soon began discussing among themselves.

A sharp-eyed young girl spotted the maiden standing by the teahouse window and couldn’t help tugging forcefully at her companion beside her. “Look quickly! Marquis Guanjun is looking at that girl in the teahouse!”

“Be gentler.” Her companion winced from being pulled and felt somewhat annoyed. She looked up dismissively and said, “That’s not it at all. How could a great hero like Marquis Guanjun stare at a girl? That girl is very ordinary.”

“I am indeed looking at that young lady.” The man’s calm voice rang out, carrying a hint of weariness, yet this weariness made his voice mellow and deep like fine wine, causing those who heard it to blush and their hearts to race.

Both young girls stared blankly at the silver-armored general on the white horse, as if frozen by some immortal spell, even forgetting to blink.

“She is my fiancée.” After Shao Mingyuan spoke, he dismounted and strode toward the teahouse.

Only after the man’s tall figure disappeared at the teahouse entrance did one of the girls come to her senses, excitedly grabbing the girl beside her and squealing, “Marquis Guanjun spoke to me! He spoke to me!”

“What’s there to be excited about? He told us he has a fiancée!” The girl beside her was more rational, though her slightly trembling hands still betrayed her excitement.

“Of course, Marquis Guanjun has a fiancée, but so what? Even if Marquis Guanjun didn’t have a fiancée, he wouldn’t marry us anyway.”

Her companion thought about it and nodded. “That’s true, too.”

“So you see, the important thing is that Marquis Guanjun spoke to us! When we go back, they’ll be green with envy!”

“Ah ah ah, you’re right!” Her companion fully understood and joined in the squealing.

Quite a few people had specifically reserved spots at the teahouse to watch Marquis Guanjun enter the city. As he walked into the teahouse, everyone inside became excited and surged toward him like a tide.

Shao Mingyuan stood in the main hall, looking at Qiao Zhao, who was blocked at the stairs to the second floor, and cupped his hands to the crowd. “Please make way and allow me to speak a few words with my fiancée.”

Hearing Shao Mingyuan say this, everyone silently cleared a path, watching eagerly as he walked up the stairs step by step.

Watching the approaching man, Qiao Zhao, who had experienced all kinds of situations, inexplicably felt somewhat nervous. When he came before her, she had forgotten what she should say.

“I’m back.” Shao Mingyuan looked at his dazed fiancée, his eyes full of tenderness.

Qiao Zhao suddenly snapped back to attention. Catching sight of the countless gazes directed at them from inside and outside the teahouse, she said awkwardly, “What did you come up here for?”

This could truly be called being the center of attention.

“I wanted to hear your voice. I couldn’t hear it from down there.”

Qiao Zhao’s face warmed slightly as she urged, “Alright, hurry and go. The entire city’s people are watching. They came to welcome you, the great hero. They’ll be disappointed to see you acting so romantically.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled. “Zhaozhao, I’m not a great hero who lives under others’ gazes, and I’m not afraid of disappointing them. If these honors belong to me, then they should also belong to you.”

His success and fame were inseparable from her silent waiting. Whether hardship or glory, they should bear it together.

Shao Mingyuan removed his helmet and handed it to Qiao Zhao with both hands. “Keep this for me. I’ll come to retrieve it after reporting to His Majesty.”

The silver helmet felt ice-cold in her hands, with red tassels that had faded somewhat, obviously having been carefully cleaned—it was precisely the one Qiao Zhao had personally braided.

Qiao Zhao watched the tall, long-legged man turn and walk down the stairs, and couldn’t help but hug the helmet tightly and reveal a faint smile.

Was he telling all the young ladies in the capital that Marquis Guanjun had been claimed by Third Miss Li?

Shao Mingyuan remounted his horse and gradually departed with his personal guard army. Binglu covered her face and squealed, “Miss, this servant is about to be charmed to death by the young master! What should I do?”

Qiao Zhao glanced at the little maid and said coolly, “For this question, you can ask Chen Guang.”

Binglu instinctively looked toward Chen Guang.

Chen Guang darkened his face and sneered coldly, “Don’t ask me. I’m charmed by Third Miss, too, and I don’t know what to do about it either.”

Qiao Zhao’s mouth twitched as she stopped paying attention to the two idiots.

When Shao Mingyuan entered the palace for an imperial audience, Wei Wuxie couldn’t help saying, “The marquis’s protection of his fiancée is truly impenetrable.”

Shao Mingyuan looked at Wei Wuxie calmly.

After Wei Wuxie made this subtle comment, he said no more and gestured, “Please, Marquis. His Majesty is still waiting.”

Emperor Mingkang, who was waiting for Shao Mingyuan, wore Daoist robes with wide sleeves, appearing thin and gaunt, actually looking somewhat like he had achieved immortality.

“This subject pays respects to Your Majesty.” Shao Mingyuan knelt on one knee before Emperor Mingkang.

“Please rise, General.” Seeing the young man’s outstanding appearance made Emperor Mingkang uncomfortable, though he couldn’t show it on his face.

He had just received word that on his return journey, Marquis Guanjun had stopped to speak with his fiancée, showing how important that Third Miss Li was in the marquis’s heart.

This being the case, it would be inappropriate for him to betroth Eighth Princess to him.

Since he couldn’t become his son-in-law, Emperor Mingkang found Shao Mingyuan increasingly disagreeable to look at, yet he still couldn’t do without this person for leading troops in battle.

Thinking of these matters made Emperor Mingkang quite frustrated, yet he could only suppress it.

Shao Mingyuan lowered his eyes, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

So what if the emperor of a nation found him disagreeable? As long as he could lead troops in battle for even one day, even if he was found disagreeable, it had to be endured.

As for the future—

Cold light flashed in Shao Mingyuan’s eyes.

As long as no one touched what he cared about most, he would be a loyal and patriotic subject.

Emperor Mingkang asked a few questions about the military engagement and dismissed Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan left the palace and went straight to Xingzi Alley to pay respects to Second Master Li.

The Li residence was not a wealthy family, and Old Madam Deng favored simplicity. Li Guangshu had only been laid in state for fourteen days before burial. Shao Mingyuan, accompanied by Li family members, went to the small ancestral hall where the Li family ancestor tablets were enshrined and lit three incense sticks, which counted as paying his respects.

Qiao Zhao waited outside for Shao Mingyuan. Seeing him emerge, she smiled and explained, “The elders are all at Qingsong Hall. Grandmother instructed me to bring you there.”

Shao Mingyuan took advantage of no one noticing to secretly squeeze Qiao Zhao’s hand once, then quickly released it, saying in a low voice, “Grandmother dotes on me.”

Qiao Zhao gave him a sideways glance. With others present, it wasn’t appropriate to say more, so she walked quickly ahead.

Shao Mingyuan caught up in a few steps. “Walk slower, be careful not to fall.”

The two walked together into Qingsong Hall. Old Madam Deng signaled for a servant woman to carry Hao Ge’er away and looked at Shao Mingyuan with eyes full of loving kindness. “Please sit, Marquis. The journey must have been arduous.”

Shao Mingyuan naturally wouldn’t sit immediately. He first paid respects to Old Madam Deng and the Li Guangwen couple before sitting down.

After exchanging pleasantries, Old Madam Deng glanced at Qiao Zhao. “Third girl, Hao Ge’er, has been crying and fussing at night lately. Why don’t you go see what might be the reason?”

Since Bing Niang’s death, Old Madam Deng had formally taken Hao Ge’er under her care. Though Hao Ge’er was young, he seemed to understand that his birth mother was gone and had become even more well-behaved.

Qiao Zhao understood this was Grandmother sending her away so she could speak privately with Shao Mingyuan. After a moment’s consideration, she understood what matter it concerned and quickly agreed before withdrawing.