Having eaten and drunk his fill, Shao Mingyuan caressed Qiao Zhao’s smooth back with his large hand and sighed, “Home is still the best.”
The exhausted Miss Qiao glanced weakly at the refreshed and energetic man.
“Did you miss me?” Shao Mingyuan leaned his head over and asked close to her ear.
“No.”
“Didn’t miss me?” Shao Mingyuan cupped Qiao Zhao’s face with both hands and gazed into her eyes.
The man’s dark eyes were deep and full of tenderness. Qiao Zhao involuntarily nodded, “I missed you.”
“Then shall we go again?”
Qiao Zhao slapped him, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Shao Mingyuan chuckled softly, holding Qiao Zhao and not letting go, “Zhaozhao, do you like the north?”
“Why ask this?” Qiao Zhao met Shao Mingyuan’s eyes.
“I’m thinking that the capital is too chaotic. If possible, it would be nice for us to settle down in the north. Of course, the prerequisite is that you like it.”
He had been operating in the Northern Territories for many years, with an unshakeable foundation. There, he wouldn’t worry about Zhaozhao suffering unexpected harm.
Qiao Zhao didn’t answer immediately.
Shao Mingyuan seemed to think of something, his expression changing slightly as he apologetically gripped Qiao Zhao’s hand tightly, “Of course, if you like the south, we’ll go south, or if you’re used to the capital, we’ll stay in the capital. I’ll listen to you in everything.”
Qiao Zhao smiled, “Silly, for me, as long as we’re together, anywhere is the same, so you can arrange these things.”
Shao Mingyuan’s eyes lit up. “You think so?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
“Zhaozhao, you’re so wonderful!” The man pressed down on her, and they laughed as they rolled together.
Outside the door, Binglu silently looked up at the sky.
Being a maid was truly hard work, and being the maid of a married mistress was even harder work. These days were becoming unbearable.
Never mind, she’d better go play with Er Bing instead.
At Prince Mu’s residence, Prince Mu stared at an inconspicuous long box that his confidant had secretly presented, his expression alternating between light and dark.
This long box was sent to him by someone on Lan Shan’s behalf. What exactly was inside?
Prince Mu reached out his hand, but when he touched the box, he recoiled as if burned, his heart racing.
For some reason, he felt as if this box contained a fierce beast, and once opened, the situation would become uncontrollable.
Prince Mu found this thought somewhat ridiculous. Curiosity ultimately prevailed, and he reached out again. Steeling himself, he opened the box.
A corner of bright yellow caught his eye. Prince Mu almost instantly closed the box and shouted sternly, “Everyone out!”
After the servants in the room had withdrawn, Prince Mu’s heart was still pounding like thunder.
He steadied his breathing, his hands trembling continuously as he opened the box, finally seeing clearly what was inside.
Prince Mu’s eyes contracted.
That was—
Prince Mu quickly took out the item from the box and opened it. After reading it, wild joy flashed across his face.
An imperial edict—this was an imperial edict naming him as heir to the throne!
So Father Emperor had already written an imperial edict long ago, planning to pass the throne to him after his death!
Prince Mu clutched the imperial edict tightly, crying and laughing at the same time. After a while of crying and laughing, his expression suddenly froze.
Something was wrong!
He quickly looked down at the imperial edict again. It was indeed Emperor Mingkang’s handwriting, with the imperial seal stamped on it. No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem fake.
But Prince Mu gradually regained his rationality.
This imperial edict was not real. If it were real, how could it have fallen into Lan Shan’s hands?
Then Lan Shan’s purpose in giving him this fake imperial edict was—
Prince Mu’s facial expression changed continuously, finally turning fierce.
Regardless of what Lan Shan meant, this imperial edict of dubious authenticity was now in his hands. As long as the Father Emperor suddenly died before establishing a crown prince—
Prince Mu became more and more excited as he thought about it. He lifted the “imperial edict” and kissed it, then carefully placed it in the box. After that, he wandered around, first hiding it in a secret compartment under his pillow. Thinking it wasn’t safe enough, he took it out and hid it in a hidden layer on the bookshelf. Still not feeling secure, he held the “imperial edict” and wandered around the room.
With the downfall of the Lan father and son, the capital celebrated for several days. Many of Lan Shan’s associates were successively impeached and dealt with, while officials who had been framed for offending the Lan father and son were gradually vindicated. Among these was the former Censor Ouyang Hai.
Unfortunately, Ouyang Hai’s entire family had died tragically, leaving only a few new graves.
At Ouyang Weiyu’s grave, Qiao Zhao offered a stick of clear incense and said softly, “Miss Ouyang, those who harmed your entire family have now received their due punishment. You can rest in peace.”
After speaking, she walked to the side and stood together with Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Mo, who were waiting there.
Chi Can walked over, remained silent for a moment, then smiled, “I told you that you wouldn’t die in vain. Now you see, I didn’t lie to you.”
If there is reincarnation, then I hope you can be reborn into an ordinary, wealthy household and live a peaceful and joyful life.
“Let’s go.” Chi Can offered a stick of clear incense and said to Qiao Zhao and the others.
The group walked together toward the carriage parked under a tree by the roadside.
“Someone’s coming.” Shao Mingyuan stopped.
Soon, they saw a small, elegant carriage with blue curtains slowly approaching around the fork in the road.
Qiao Zhao’s eyes flashed as she looked at Qiao Mo, “It seems to be the Kou family’s carriage.”
The carriage soon arrived and stopped in front of them. Kou Zimo and Kou Qinglan stepped down one after another.
Seeing Qiao Mo standing by the roadside, Kou Zimo’s expression changed, but she quickly regained her composure, lowered her gaze, and curtsied to Qiao Mo, “Cousin, it’s been a long time.”
Kou Qinglan followed with a curtsy, but her expression wasn’t as calm as Kou Zimo’s.
She lifted her skirt and walked to Qiao Mo, smiling as she asked, “Why hasn’t Cousin come over for so long? Grandmother and the others have been thinking of you.”
Qiao Mo smiled warmly, “We just finished the mourning period, and there are many matters at the government office. I’ll bring Wan Wan to visit Grandmother and the others soon.”
Kou Qinglan’s eyes sparkled as she curtsied slightly to Qiao Zhao and the other two, then asked, “Are you also here to pay respects to Miss Ouyang, Cousin?”
“We came to offer incense to Censor Ouyang, and the Marquis’s wife came to pay respects to Miss Ouyang.”
“What a coincidence! I accompanied Big Sister to pay respects to Miss Ouyang, and we didn’t expect to meet Cousin.” Kou Qinglan said this and then turned to call out, “Big Sister, why don’t you come over?”
With several gazes directed at her, Kou Zimo had no choice but to walk over.
Facing Qiao Mo, who had changed from mourning clothes to blue robes, Kou Zimo felt she had a thousand words to say but didn’t know where to begin. She almost wished she could leave this place immediately.
But Kou Qinglan smiled and said, “Big Sister, didn’t you say the other day that you had something to ask Cousin for help with? Since we’ve met today, there’s no need to wait for Cousin to come to our residence.”
Saying this, Kou Qinglan glanced at Qiao Zhao and the other two and smiled generously, “You don’t mind waiting a moment, do you? Let my big sister speak a few words with Cousin.”
“Qinglan—” Kou Zimo was embarrassed and annoyed, but couldn’t show it in front of outsiders.
“Alright, Big Sister, speak quickly with Cousin. I’ll go offer incense to Miss Ouyang first.”
Qiao Mo sighed inwardly and smiled warmly at Kou Zimo, “Does Cousin have something you need my help with? What is it?”
As he asked, he walked toward a nearby tree, which eased Kou Zimo’s embarrassment.