Qiao Zhao was led back by Lai Xi.

At this time, Empress Dowager Yang was conversing with the ladies who had arrived later. Noticing Qiao Zhao’s return, she paused mid-sentence and forced a smile: “Lady Marquis returned quite quickly.”

From the faintly smiling eyes of Empress Dowager Yang, Qiao Zhao detected murderous intent, yet her expression remained perfectly calm: “The Grand Princess was sleeping. This subject’s wife sat briefly before returning.”

“What unfortunate timing.” Empress Dowager Yang spoke each word deliberately.

A lady laughed: “The Grand Princess is clever and adorable. No wonder Lady Marquis, as her aunt, is fond of her. But perhaps it won’t be long before Lady Marquis has good news herself…”

The seated ladies all laughed.

Counting the time, Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan had been married for over two years. In others’ eyes, with the woman’s belly showing no signs of activity, offspring naturally became a concern.

Qiao Zhao held the noble title of Marquis’s wife and possessed the enviable prime of youth that these noble ladies envied. Combined with increasingly prevalent rumors of the Marquis Guanjun’s devotion to his wife, such a person who had claimed all the good fortune naturally had her childlessness chewed over and discussed behind her back.

Qiao Zhao was well aware of this. Surveying the crowd’s ambiguous smiles, she responded graciously: “Then I shall accept your auspicious words, Madam.”

She was already seventeen years old. In another year, when her body fully matured, she should indeed consider pregnancy.

This wasn’t due to caring about public opinion, but after experiencing so many trials and tribulations, she wanted to see a tiny little bundle call her mother and call Shao Mingyuan father.

However, before that, she probably needed to resolve these troublesome matters first.

Qiao Zhao’s composure made the assembled ladies find it boring, and the laughter died down.

Qiao Zhao requested permission to withdraw from Empress Dowager Yang, but was detained by her to continue conversing for quite some time before being allowed to leave.

Qiao Zhao noticed that this year’s New Year’s Day summoning of external wives was much more numerous than before, causing their departure from the palace to be delayed by an hour or two compared to previous years.

Ladies who hadn’t received summons in previous years but had the opportunity to speak with the Grand Empress Dowager this year boarded their respective carriages with beaming faces, slowly departing the imperial palace through the wind and snow.

“Madam, please come in quickly—it’s cold outside.” Upon seeing Qiao Zhao approach, Chen Guang, who had been humming a tune out of boredom, shook the snowflakes from his body.

He was no longer just a coachman now, but for such grand occasions, he still had to step up. There was no choice—who told him to enjoy the deep trust of the General? They couldn’t function without him.

Qiao Zhao lifted her skirts to board the carriage and whispered: “There may be people who will move against me on the way back.”

Chen Guang’s eyes contracted, but his expression showed no change as he replied quietly: “Madam, rest assured. This subordinate will certainly deliver you safely back to the residence.”

Qiao Zhao nodded gently and bent to enter the carriage compartment.

Snow continued to fall. The carriage wheels rolled over thick, accumulated snow, making creaking sounds.

The whip cracked a crisp, resounding snap in the air, followed immediately by a melodious whistle.

Qiao Zhao lifted the carriage door curtain just as Chen Guang turned his head to give her a proud smile.

Qiao Zhao felt relieved and waited quietly inside the carriage.

After traveling some distance, the carriage suddenly slowed down. Chen Guang’s lowered voice came through: “Madam, open the carriage’s rear door and jump out immediately.”

Qiao Zhao didn’t hesitate. Kneeling on the low couch near the carriage tail, she pulled open the door latch. Howling wind and snow immediately poured in, blurring her vision.

Remembering Chen Guang’s words, Qiao Zhao bit her lip and jumped out. Instinctive fear made her heart race rapidly, but in the next instant, a pair of hands supported her.

A young man’s voice sounded in her ear: “Madam, don’t be afraid.”

Almost instantaneously, before Qiao Zhao could react, she felt her body suddenly lighten, and when she opened her eyes again, she was already inside a carriage.

Qiao Zhao quickly lifted the carriage door curtain to look. That familiar carriage was receding into the distance through the flying snow, and even the door she had pushed open had somehow closed again.

“Madam, please lower the door curtain lest snow drift in and you catch a cold.” The person sitting upright on the front carriage board said softly.

“Yes, thank you for your trouble.” Qiao Zhao lowered the fine cotton cloth curtain and leaned against the carriage wall, slowly breathing a sigh of relief.

The carriage turned a corner onto another road, while the previous carriage continued away in its original direction.

After returning to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence, the carriage drove directly inside. Qiao Zhao was helped down by A’Zhu, who had been waiting at the second gate, and asked: “Has the Marquis returned?”

“The Marquis has not yet returned.”

“When the Marquis returns, immediately ask him to come over.”

Returning to the main courtyard, Qiao Zhao changed her clothes and slowly sipped hot tea while beginning to worry about Chen Guang.

She was naturally aware of Chen Guang’s capabilities, but since the Grand Empress Dowager and His Majesty had already harbored murderous intent, it probably wouldn’t be so simple to handle.

She hoped Chen Guang would be unharmed, otherwise, she would have failed Binglu.

Just recently, under Chen Guang’s shameless pleading and his sincere gesture of offering all his savings, Qiao Zhao had finally nodded in agreement to his marriage with Binglu. They were only waiting for warmer weather before the two would wed.

“Madam, the Marquis has returned.”

Following the maid’s announcement, familiar footsteps approached, and soon the door curtain was lifted.

“I had intended to return together with you, but His Majesty kept everyone longer this year.” Shao Mingyuan strode in, removing his cloak at the entrance and handing it to a maid before walking toward Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over.

Shao Mingyuan reached out to accept it, and touching Qiao Zhao’s fingertips, couldn’t help but frown: “Why are they so cold?”

Qiao Zhao gave a meaningful look, and A’Zhu understood, leading the maids out.

“What is it?” Shao Mingyuan immediately sensed something unusual.

Qiao Zhao lowered her head to sip her tea before saying: “Today, the Grand Empress Dowager, under the pretext of visiting the Grand Princess, had someone lead me to the rear palace, but it was actually to examine His Majesty.”

Upon hearing this, Shao Mingyuan’s expression darkened.

Zhaozhao was an external wife, not an imperial physician. It was one thing when she was summoned into the palace previously because of the First Prince, but now, secretly examining His Majesty—what did this look like?

Although this realm belonged to His Majesty, this was still too disrespectful.

“His Majesty’s body is hollow and weak as rotten wood. Most likely, there are problems with bedroom matters…” Qiao Zhao shared her speculation and smiled bitterly: “I hope I’m being overly suspicious; otherwise, becoming a thorn in the Grand Empress Dowager’s and His Majesty’s eyes would mean endless troubles.”

Shao Mingyuan’s expression was cold as ice and snow as he tightened his grip on Qiao Zhao’s hand: “Whether you’re being overly suspicious or not, we’ll know when Chen Guang returns.”

About half an hour later, the two finally waited for Chen Guang to return to the residence.

“How did it go?” Shao Mingyuan asked coolly.

Chen Guang gestured with his hands: “Damn it, those people are no good! Such a huge millstone crashed down and smashed a big hole in the carriage roof!”

His words made Shao Mingyuan’s face turn iron-blue.

“Which blind fool dared to move against Madam? This subordinate will take men to eliminate him!”

“Enough, you may withdraw first.”

Chen Guang secretly glanced at Qiao Zhao before retreating.

Qiao Zhao smiled: “It seems I wasn’t being overly suspicious. Since the Grand Empress Dowager and His Majesty have made their move, they won’t let this matter rest. Our future troubles won’t be small.”

“If there are troubles, we’ll just resolve them.”