“Madam, Madam—”

Qiao Zhao came back to her senses and put on a serious expression: “Mm.”

“Madam, what do you think should be done about this matter?” Chen Guang naturally had a hundred ideas for dealing with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s young master, but without his mistress giving orders, he naturally couldn’t act on his initiative.

After brief consideration, Qiao Zhao asked: “Where did you discover this?”

“In a private residence in an alley not far from the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s residence.”

“This matter is easy to handle. Have your people keep a close watch. When their young master meets privately with that… man again, arrange for someone to shout about catching a thief, saying bandits have entered that house. Then, directly kick down the door and catch them red-handed. By then, neighbors who hear the commotion and come to help catch the thief will naturally follow inside.” Qiao Zhao gave her instructions coolly.

Chen Guang looked at Qiao Zhao with somewhat complex eyes.

He hadn’t expected that Madam would think of the same thing he did. He had thought women couldn’t always bring themselves to be this ruthless—wait, Madam couldn’t be counted among those women. How had he forgotten that Madam had once had him pretend to be a ghost to frighten people?

Qiao Zhao could guess some of Chen Guang’s thoughts and smiled dismissively.

Others had schemed against her—surely she wasn’t expected to be gentle and considerate, thinking on their behalf?

Grandfather had taught her that repaying evil with virtue wasn’t saintly behavior, but foolishness.

Moreover, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s wife was constantly seeking doctors to treat her daughter-in-law’s infertility, which showed her son had kept this matter tightly concealed. His daughter-in-law had endured years without her husband’s affection while also bearing pressure from her mother-in-law—her days must be incredibly difficult.

By exposing this matter, she might rescue an innocent woman from fire and water.

“Oh, after the matter is accomplished, remember to make sure the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s wife understands exactly why this happened.”

Taking revenge without leaving one’s name was like wearing fine clothes at night—certainly not Qiao Zhao’s style.

“Madam, rest assured. Leave it to this subordinate—I guarantee it will be handled perfectly for you.”

Qiao Zhao smiled and, seeing that Chen Guang still wasn’t leaving, looked at him with puzzlement: “Is there something else?”

Chen Guang’s handsome face slowly turned red: “Madam, this subordinate is only two years younger than the General.”

“Mm.” Qiao Zhao looked at Chen Guang with a half-smile.

Having finally broached the subject, Chen Guang steeled himself and threw caution to the wind: “Madam, could you pick a wife for this subordinate?”

Qiao Zhao narrowed her eyes and asked with a sweet smile: “What do you think of Shiliu?”

“Shiliu?” Chen Guang looked confused. “Which elder sister is that?”

“Uh, the one who sweeps the courtyard.”

An image of someone large and robust instantly flashed through Chen Guang’s mind, making his face fall: “Madam, this subordinate thinks he’s still young—perhaps we could wait a bit longer.”

After saying this, Chen Guang fled in panic.

Having rooted out the rumor-spreader and found a way to deal with her, Qiao Zhao was in good spirits. She called Binglu over with a smile: “Chen Guang asked me to pick a wife for him today.”

“Is that so?” Binglu felt somewhat uncomfortable and forced herself to appear nonchalant.

If Madam was about to say Chen Guang wanted to marry her, should she agree or refuse? Oh dear, how troublesome!

“I think Shiliu would be good.”

Binglu’s eyes widened in shock: “Miss, you must be joking! Shiliu’s waist is even thicker than Chen Guang’s!”

A’Zhu covered her mouth and giggled quietly.

She had been pretending not to care just moments ago, but now she’d even forgotten to address her as “Madam.”

“What’s wrong with a thick waist? I hear women like that are good at bearing children.” Qiao Zhao deliberately teased the little maid.

But Binglu became truly anxious: “Madam, you absolutely mustn’t make random matchmaking arrangements! Chen Guang definitely wouldn’t like Shiliu.”

Qiao Zhao laughed.

Only then did Binglu realize what was happening and stamped her foot: “Madam, how can you tease people like this?”

She hadn’t even laughed about how Madam often couldn’t get out of bed when the General was home, needing water several times each night!

Qiao Zhao suppressed her laughter and asked: “Binglu, you and A’Zhu are both the closest maids in my quarters and have reached the age for marriage arrangements. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about—what do you think of Chen Guang?”

Binglu, usually bold and carefree, instantly blushed and pursed her lips without speaking.

“If you don’t have such feelings, I’ll go ask Shiliu—”

“Don’t!” Binglu quickly spoke up. Meeting Qiao Zhao’s smiling gaze, she said with a red face: “He’s… like that.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, just like that! At least he counts as a man.” After saying this, Binglu hurriedly ran off.

Qiao Zhao smiled and looked at A’Zhu.

Though A’Zhu was also blushing, her tone was calm: “This servant would like to continue serving Madam for another two years.”

Qiao Zhao had no interest in being a matchmaker. She was happy to see lovers united, but if there were no feelings involved, she didn’t want to randomly arrange marriages for her maids. She nodded: “Then in the future, if you meet someone who catches your fancy, just tell me. As long as that person has good character, I won’t stand in the way.”

“Thank you, Madam.” A’Zhu quickly expressed her gratitude, filled with appreciation.

For a maid to have some say in her marriage was already an enormous blessing.

Chen Guang sent people to keep watch, and soon the young master of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s residence slipped out again to meet privately with his lover.

That private residence was completely unremarkable, surrounded by neighbors who were either minor officials or small merchants.

Upon receiving word that the two men inside had begun their activities, a voice suddenly rang out from the alley entrance: “Catch the thief! Catch the thief!”

Whenever there was talk of catching thieves or fires, neighbors who heard the commotion would come out to help. Moreover, this was broad daylight, so soon many people emerged to see what was happening. Seeing a shifty-looking person running ahead with an old neighbor who ran a breakfast stall at the alley entrance chasing behind, they immediately joined the thief-catching crowd.

“Quick, that little thief went into this house! Don’t let him get away—he stole my life savings!” the pursuer shouted hoarsely.

When the neighbors heard this, they were outraged. Those with quick tempers immediately kicked down the main door, and the crowd instantly surged inside.

At this moment, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s young master was at the most intense moment with his male companion when the door was suddenly pushed open, revealing a crowd of dark figures standing outside the room door in stunned silence.

After a moment of dead silence, screams erupted one after another.

“Heavens! Two grown men—how shameless!”

“How can we have such people as neighbors? They’ll ruin the feng shui! No, we must take them to see the magistrate—this is simply immoral!”

Poor Young Master Zhang of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s family had secretly rented this residence, so others didn’t know his identity. He was quickly tied up by the group and pushed along to see the magistrate.

Upon hearing they were going to see the magistrate, Young Master Zhang was frightened out of his wits, but in such circumstances he absolutely dared not reveal his identity. He could only struggle continuously while shouting to be released.

At this moment, someone suddenly spoke up: “Hey, isn’t this the young master from the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s residence? I saw him once when I was drinking at Baiwei Restaurant.”

When Young Master Zhang heard his identity exposed, overcome with anxiety and shame, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

On this day, Lady Wang, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review’s wife, had invited several ladies to her residence for tea. The ladies were just discussing the capital’s most sensational gossip when a servant woman hurriedly ran in and whispered in Lady Wang’s ear: “Madam, something terrible has happened!”