By the time Qiao Mo arrived in the capital, it was already late April.

Having received his letter, Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan went early to the suburban wharf to wait for him.

In early summer, ice and snow had long since melted—it was prime time for water transport. Ships came and went like shuttles on the river surface, creating quite a lively scene, while weeping willows on both banks gracefully stretched their forms.

Qiao Zhao stood on tiptoe, gazing at the river surface, feeling rather nervous.

She wondered how her elder brother’s face looked now.

Though she firmly believed in Grandfather Li’s medical skills, when it came to someone so dear to her, feeling anxious was only natural—no one could be exempt from such feelings.

“Don’t worry, he should arrive soon.” Shao Mingyuan handed Qiao Zhao a water flask. “Drink some water to moisten your throat.”

Qiao Zhao took the flask and sipped from it. Shao Mingyuan casually took it back and drank several mouthfuls directly from the spout.

Qiao Zhao stared at his behavior somewhat dazedly.

“What?” Shao Mingyuan still had crystal water droplets hanging from the corner of his mouth. Seeing Qiao Zhao staring at him, he suddenly realized what had happened. Glancing at the flask in his hand, he smiled without changing expression. “After years of leading troops in battle, I’ve gotten used to it. Once I’m out, I forget about such niceties.”

Mm, this good habit should be maintained in the future—the water that Zhaozhao had drunk seemed to taste sweeter.

Qiao Zhao silently looked away.

Someone’s skin was getting thicker and thicker. Don’t think she didn’t know—considering he still had to wait ten months, she just didn’t want to expose him.

“Zhaozhao, look—brother-in-law’s boat is coming.”

Qiao Zhao looked in the direction Shao Mingyuan pointed and indeed saw a medium-sized passenger boat slowly approaching the shore. On the deck stood a young man in plain clothes leaning against the rail—undoubtedly Qiao Mo.

The boat drew closer and closer. Qiao Zhao could already see Qiao Mo’s appearance clearly, and joy burst forth in her eyes.

Qiao Mo had indeed fully recovered. Having experienced such tribulation, his formerly dazzling, eye-catching brilliance had been completely restrained. Yet this didn’t render him mediocre—rather, like a polished piece of beautiful jade, he was even more impossible to look away from.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help taking two steps forward.

This was her elder brother’s true appearance—a modest gentleman, gentle as jade.

“Zhaozhao, careful not to wet your hem.” Shao Mingyuan steadied Qiao Zhao, though he could understand her feelings and accompanied her forward.

The passenger boat soon docked. Qiao Mo walked in front, followed by several servants carrying book chests.

Qiao Mo had rushed back by the end of April specifically for the spring imperial examinations of Mingkang’s twenty-sixth year, which had been postponed to May.

Originally, Qiao Mo should observe three years of mourning for his parents and couldn’t participate in the imperial examinations. However, after Qiao Zhao and others cleared the Qiao family’s name, Emperor Mingkang had a whim and specifically ordered Qiao Mo to participate in this examination.

Qiao Mo wasn’t one to cling to conventions. At this time, when his sister was charging ahead to avenge their family, for the elder brother to act like a coward under the pretense of observing mourning would not be filial piety but selfishness.

Not only would he participate in the imperial examinations, but he would perform well—only then could he quickly approach the center of power and deal with those he wanted to deal with.

Looking at the familiar suburban wharf, cold light flashed in Qiao Mo’s eyes, but when his gaze met Qiao Zhao’s, it turned to warmth and joy.

“Elder brother, you’ve recovered.” Qiao Zhao spoke this sentence, but found she couldn’t continue.

Qiao Mo raised his hand to pat Qiao Zhao’s shoulder, but catching sight of the curious gazes directed at them from all around, he changed direction and placed it on Shao Mingyuan’s arm instead. “Thank you, Marquis, for taking care of my sister.”

“Brother-in-law, let’s talk more when we return to the residence.”

“Good, let’s go home.”

Marquis Guanjun’s residence had become lively again with Shao Mingyuan’s return to the capital. Knowing Qiao Mo would arrive in the next day or two, even the flagstone roads had been swept spotlessly clean.

“Home is still the best.” For Qiao Mo, wherever his loved ones were, that was home.

Although Shao Mingyuan behaved much more properly in front of his future brother-in-law, maintaining a distance of half a zhang from Qiao Zhao, Qiao Mo vaguely sensed that after their separation of several months, these two had become even more in sync, clearly with their feelings having progressed further.

“Have the two families set a wedding date?”

At the mention of this topic, Shao Mingyuan’s heart turned bitter, and he said rather aggrievedly, “It’s set for February next year.”

Speaking of which, brother-in-law was Zhaozhao’s real relative—would he help make decisions for them or not?

“February next year?” Upon hearing this, Qiao Mo stopped walking, his refined eyebrows furrowing. “Zhaozhao will have just come of age then—isn’t that a bit early? I think waiting another two or three years would be fine too.”

General Shao, who could take an enemy general’s head from among ten thousand troops as easily as reaching into a pocket, nearly tripped on flat ground and broke out in cold sweat.

Fortunately, my brother-in-law couldn’t make decisions now—truly Heaven’s protection.

“Elder brother, how is Grandfather Li?” Taking in Shao Mingyuan’s reaction completely, Qiao Zhao secretly found it amusing and quickly changed the subject.

Mentioning Physician Li, Qiao Mo frowned slightly, instinctively glancing around before saying in a low voice, “Physician Li is no longer in Jia Feng. These past few months, people have constantly come looking for Physician Li, and there were even many instances of people sneaking into the residence at night to kidnap him. Unable to bear it any longer, Physician Li had Ye Luo escort him away.”

“Where did Grandfather Li go?” Hearing this, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help worrying about Physician Li’s safety, though she knew that with his temperament, he definitely couldn’t endure such harassment.

“Physician Li didn’t say. He only said that once he settles down, he’ll have someone bring us news, as soon as three to five months, as late as one or two years. He told you not to worry about him.”

Qiao Zhao sighed softly.

It seemed Grandfather Li had been frightened by the harassment and wouldn’t easily reveal his whereabouts.

“Zhaozhao, you needn’t worry. Ye Luo is the most skilled among my guards. With him accompanying Physician Li, nothing will happen to him.” Shao Mingyuan, concerned that Qiao Zhao might worry, spoke to comfort her.

There was another matter he wouldn’t mention for now—since Ye Luo was his guard, once Physician Li settled somewhere, even if Physician Li didn’t say anything, Ye Luo would find a way to get word to him.

The group entered the hall. Qiao Mo first went to bathe and change clothes, followed by much commotion that needn’t be detailed.

In the blink of an eye, it was May. The weather began turning hot, while the atmosphere in the capital became even more heated.

The triennial spring imperial examinations had arrived. Though postponed by three months, they were still the spring examinations.

Many households began training their servants or hiring strong, brave men. When uninformed people asked why, those people would at most smile mysteriously but wouldn’t say another word.

Of course, they couldn’t say more—if everyone knew, wouldn’t they all be watching the same targets?

The triennial spring examinations produced few successful candidates to begin with, and among them, those still unmarried were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. In unlucky years, there might not be even one, yet the capital was full of unmarried young ladies.

That’s right—these households were all preparing to catch bridegrooms beneath the announcement boards.

Having saved up energy for three years, they were all waiting for this moment to snag good sons-in-law for their daughters, granddaughters, younger sisters, and the like. They weren’t having it easy either.

Shao Mingyuan was equally struggling, repeatedly instructing his guards to protect Qiao Mo well.

He dared not imagine what expression his bride would have if, when the results were announced, brother-in-law got a sack thrown over his head and was carried off.

The examinations were divided into three sessions—one on the ninth, one on the twelfth, one on the fifteenth. Three days per session, nine consecutive days that left every candidate with unsteady steps and swaying as if about to collapse. Several were even carried out unconscious.

After the nightmarish examinations ended, it was soon time for the results to be announced.