“Yes, grandmother also feels that a peaceful life is better.”

Some things were understood between both parties without needing to be said explicitly. Old Madam Deng now had a new understanding of Qiao Zhao.

A woman who wasn’t confused about important matters—even if she couldn’t manage the inner residence well, at most it would be vexing, but it wouldn’t be life-threatening!

Old Madam Deng looked at her little granddaughter with gentle eyes, sighing deeply in her heart: Her granddaughter was an uncut jade. What a pity that people were blind and didn’t know that marrying such a daughter-in-law would be true fortune.

Never mind. With Third Miss’s reputation damaged, if she truly stayed at home for life, it might be a blessing for the Li family’s descendants.

Having this thought, Old Madam Deng naturally no longer regarded Qiao Zhao as an ordinary granddaughter. She patted her hand and said, “If that’s the case, how will Zhaozhao explain to the County Lady?”

Qiao Zhao blinked: “Tomorrow I’ll send someone to Prince Rui’s residence to request an audience with the divine physician.”

Old Madam Deng was startled.

“Grandmother can see that the divine physician cares about you quite a bit. If you send someone to invite him, he’ll probably agree, right?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Let’s first go to Prince Rui’s residence to request his presence and see what happens.”

By tomorrow, they probably wouldn’t be able to find the divine physician at Prince Rui’s residence.

When Grandfather Li said that Prince Rui’s residence had a high threshold and was difficult to enter, telling her to contact Shao Mingyuan if she needed anything, he was testing whether she had recognized Shao Mingyuan. But in her view, it also revealed another layer of meaning: Grandfather Li wouldn’t be at Prince Rui’s residence much longer.

Having known Grandfather Li for over ten years, she understood his character well.

A place like Prince Rui’s residence was exactly the kind of place Grandfather Li particularly detested. Now that Shao Mingyuan had finally come to him for help, it would be strange if he didn’t quickly use Shao Mingyuan’s assistance to escape.

No matter what illness Prince Rui had, he wouldn’t want to see Grandfather Li leave. If she sent someone tomorrow to make the request and offended Prince Rui, there was no way it would end well.

But she had already done her best in this matter. Even if that County Lady from the East Residence used her elder status to pressure her again, there would be no way around it. After all, Physician Li not being at Prince Rui’s residence was beyond human control—surely she couldn’t be forced to death over this?

That County Lady wouldn’t want to bear such an uncharitable reputation.

However—

Qiao Zhao’s thoughts turned to Shao Mingyuan.

By taking Grandfather Li away from Prince Rui’s residence, Shao Mingyuan would owe Prince Rui quite a favor.

For such an influential general to owe a prince a favor was not a good thing.

Qiao Zhao thought of Shao Mingyuan’s cold poison and understood his decision.

Owing favors would only bring trouble, but if the cold poison wasn’t eliminated, it could be fatal. Even if he didn’t understand the danger of the cold poison, the suffering it normally caused was unbearable for ordinary people.

“Zhaozhao, what are you thinking about?” Old Madam Deng rubbed Qiao Zhao’s head.

Third Miss had been sharp as a fox spirit just moments ago, but now she was dazed again, making her grandmother unable to resist teasing her.

Having this thought, Old Madam Deng increased the force of her hand, immediately messing up the two small buns on top of Qiao Zhao’s head.

Her hair fell loose, covering the young girl’s smooth forehead. The girl raised her hand to her forehead, looking both surprised and helpless: “Grandmother, you’ve messed up my hair.”

Old Madam Deng burst into laughter.

Such a contrast was truly endearing!

“Nanny Rong, come and style Third Miss’s hair.”

Nanny Rong, who had been waiting outside, came in upon hearing the call. Seeing Qiao Zhao with disheveled hair, she showed no sign of surprise and smiled in praise: “Third Miss has such beautiful hair.”

Nanny Rong’s words weren’t flattery.

Young Miss Li Zhao’s hair had always been thick, and although Qiao Zhao had paid no attention to adorning herself since returning to the Li residence, her daily living habits followed her previous routines.

She wasn’t used to the hair oils sold in cosmetic shops, so she casually wrote out a formula and gave it to A’Zhu, having her buy herbs and fresh flowers according to the recipe to make hair lotion. Unknowingly, her long hair had been nourished to become lustrous and smooth as silk.

When Nanny Rong loosened Qiao Zhao’s hair and combed it with a rhinoceros horn comb, it slid smoothly to the bottom. She exclaimed in wonder: “Old Madam, look at this! What this old servant said was right, wasn’t it? Third Miss, rest assured, this old servant will style a particularly beautiful hairstyle for you.”

Old Madam Deng laughed from the side: “I think you’ve long been tired of styling this old woman’s white, straw-like hair.”

The room lost its previous seriousness and immediately became harmonious and joyful.

Old Madam Deng thought: This kind of life was what she wanted. She hoped it could continue like this forever.

She didn’t ask Qiao Zhao again what method she had to avoid Old Madam Jiang’s request.

Realizing Qiao Zhao’s differences from her other granddaughters, Old Madam Deng already had a vague feeling that since Third Miss was unwilling to cure the County Lady’s eye disease, she would be able to manage it.

Old Madam Deng’s gaze shifted slightly.

The carved dressing mirror reflected the young girl’s beautiful face and lustrous hair, but what was even more captivating and impossible to look away from was the girl’s temperament that could make everything around her become peaceful.

Lady He could never raise such a daughter. This thought suddenly emerged in Old Madam Deng’s mind.

The old lady pondered for a long time, until Nanny Rong finished styling Qiao Zhao’s hair, before concluding: She probably takes after her…

After Qiao Zhao was properly dressed again, she bid farewell to Old Madam Deng and walked back, encountering Li Guangwen on the way, whose clothes were more than half soaked.

“Father finished work at the office so early?”

Li Guangwen said indignantly, “I got into an argument with a colleague and felt uncomfortable staying there!”

Qiao Zhao: “…” Every time like this, she didn’t know what to do. Comforting her father for playing hooky felt somewhat against her conscience.

Li Guangwen waited for a long time, but didn’t see his daughter offer any comfort. His words carried a grievance he hadn’t even noticed: “Zhaozhao, you don’t know how infuriating that colleague was. I was playing chess with him, and when I won by several moves, he refused to accept defeat.”

“And then?”

“Then I said, what’s there to be upset about? If it were my daughter playing, she would have won you half an hour ago.” Li Guangwen became more agitated as he spoke. “You tell me, how ungracious was that person? He turned black with anger and said that half an hour ago, the game had just started, then actually flipped the chessboard!”

Qiao Zhao fell completely silent.

So Father had gotten into a fight with someone over chess at the office and stormed out in anger?

“Then Father should quickly go change out of those wet clothes. I’ll return to my room first.” Qiao Zhao curtsied to bid Li Guangwen farewell.

Li Guangwen stood without moving, chuckling: “Zhaozhao, your father still has something to say.”

“What else does Father have to say?” Qiao Zhao had an ominous premonition.

The slanting rain blurred Li Guangwen’s vision. He moved further into the corridor and rubbed his eyes: “Since he flipped the table in disbelief, your father said I wasn’t lying. If he doesn’t believe it, he can have a game with my second daughter someday.”

He glanced cautiously at Qiao Zhao and smiled: “Then we clapped hands and agreed on tomorrow. Zhaozhao, you’ll help your father, won’t you?”

Qiao Zhao: “Heh heh.”

Seeing his daughter remain unmoved, Li Guangwen sighed: “He said that if I can’t prove that your father wasn’t bragging, he’ll make me get out of the Hanlin Academy.”

“Isn’t he your colleague?” A colleague shouldn’t have that authority, right?

“Oh, although we’re both colleagues at the Hanlin Academy, his words carry weight.”

“He’s close to Father’s superior?”

“Not exactly. He’s the Academy Chancellor.”

Qiao Zhao: “…” Understood. Father’s so-called colleague was the Minister of Rites who concurrently served as Hanlin Academy Chancellor!