Chapter 78

Zuo Anning stood with Qiao Diyi in front of the quiet room at the end of the corridor.

Qiao Jiaojiao was somewhat excited.

【Don’t let my second brother’s clumsy appearance fool you. Although he’s not very brainy and proactive usually, he’s really reliable in critical moments!】

【He’s so meticulous and thorough, effortlessly bringing us to Aunt’s presence!】

Qiao Diyi straightened his chest at these words.

Indeed!

That’s because he had such a clever big brother leading the way, spoiling him.

But if he needed to do something important, he could handle it too!

Knock knock knock—

Zuo Anning knocked on the door.

“Mom, it’s me. I met second cousin and he wanted to see you.”

Bang bang!

There was suddenly the sound of tables and chairs colliding in the room, sounding extremely chaotic.

Zuo Anning’s heart suddenly tightened. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Qiao Diyi’s ears perked up, immediately showing solemnity.

Something was off in the room!

“Aunt, it’s me, Diyi. What’s wrong? I’m coming in!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Qiao Diyi pushed open the door without hesitation.

Qiao Jiaojiao couldn’t wait to look up, only to see Aunt standing slightly bent over at the table, her eyes reddened, looking at them with a panicked expression still visible on her face.

And the window in the quiet room was creaking, which seemed particularly eerie in the silence.

Qiao Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes slightly.

【There’s only Aunt in the room… Why is the window making noise constantly?】

“Mom! Why are you crying!”

Zuo Anning hurried forward, seeing the tear marks on Mrs. Zuo’s face, her heart and eyes full of concern.

Mrs. Zuo looked panicked, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, pretending to be calm as she said, “I just remembered something sad and couldn’t help it, Anning, don’t worry.”

Zuo Anning looked around in confusion and couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, what about the friend you mentioned? Anning hasn’t met that lady.”

Mrs. Zuo’s expression stiffened slightly, then she forced a smile from the corner of her mouth.

“She left just now, saying there was something urgent at home and hurried away. Mom didn’t call you because it happened so suddenly.”

Qiao Jiaojiao understood what was going on.

【This old friend can’t be anyone else but Li Xusheng!】

【Aunt used the excuse of taking Anning cousin out to see the top scholar parade to meet privately with Li Xusheng! The two shared their hearts out, and the emotions overflowed, causing tears!】

【It must be so! Li Xusheng is skilled in martial arts, so he must have hurriedly jumped out of the window and left!】

【Tsk, what had to come has finally come. Aunt has already hooked up with Li Xusheng so quickly!】

At this point, Qiao Diyi stepped forward to pay his respects to Mrs. Zuo, politely addressing her as Aunt.

Under Mrs. Zuo’s guilty conscience, she couldn’t keep up a cold expression, so she smiled back.

“What a coincidence, Second Brother is here too.”

Qiao Diyi respectfully nodded and made small talk as he walked towards the window.

“Indeed, Aunt, it’s a rare event to see the top scholar parade today. Nephew didn’t want to miss it.”

“What’s even more coincidental is that I saw Anning cousin in the tea house opposite, so I came over eagerly.”

“Nephew wants to see where the top scholar has gone.”

With that, Qiao Diyi naturally leaned out of the window.

Qiao Jiaojiao leaned on Qiao Diyi’s shoulder, watching Mrs. Zuo’s expression, only to see her tightly clutching the handkerchief, looking extremely nervous.

【Confirmed! Aunt definitely met with Li Xusheng!】

【The male lead really can’t sit still, huh? Even under house arrest, it doesn’t affect his ability to play these tricks! He must be starting to pay attention to our Qiao family!】

【Our family has been reorganized, and now we’re solid as a rock. He can’t plant any spies, so he’s starting to take indirect routes, targeting the Yanguo Duke’s Mansion. How cunning!】

Qiao Diyi scanned the street and smiled as he turned back. “We’re almost at the end of Putian Street. It seems like we’ve seen enough excitement today.”

Mrs. Zuo visibly relaxed at this and forced a smile. “We saw it when we were downstairs just now. There’s nothing much to see.”

Qiao Diyi nodded in agreement and exchanged a few more pleasantries with Mrs. Zuo before bidding farewell politely.

On the way back to the Qiao residence, Qiao Jiaojiao nibbled on a biscuit, muttering to herself incessantly.

【Tsk tsk, Li Xusheng moves fast! Does he even know why his Li family suffered back then?】

【Does he really think it was the Yanguo Duke’s Mansion? That’s purely blaming my grandfather and uncle.】

【But it’s not impossible that Li Xusheng already knew it was Aunt’s family behind it, but for the sake of the Second Prince’s grand plan, he decided to endure humiliation and flatter Aunt, letting her be used by the Second Prince!】

【Hmm… This speculation makes more sense. Now that Aunt has broken ties with our family, she can’t easily enter the Qiao residence, but she’s still a threat.】

【We can’t just sit back and do nothing. It’s time for a counterattack!】

【For example, letting Aunt gain the trust of that side, then discreetly leaking some false information at critical moments, confusing the Second Prince and catching him off guard!】

Thinking of this, Qiao Jiaojiao waved her hands excitedly, and the biscuit flew out.

“Waaaah, my biscuit! My favorite flavor! Waaaah!”

Qiao Diyi: “…”

The contrast was too stark.

Just a moment ago, she was analyzing everything so logically, showing as much insight as her big brother, but now she was crying over a biscuit…

“Young sister, be good. Big brother will bring you plenty of biscuits when we get back.”

Qiao Diyi hugged Qiao Jiaojiao tenderly, gently rocking her back and forth.

Qiao Jiaojiao felt like she had been acting like a baby for too long, sometimes her mentality really regressed, she just liked to act spoiled and be pampered by everyone, feeling happy and satisfied.

Seeing that Qiao Diyi, who was usually so cheerful, had a strained voice, she couldn’t help but smile.

【Big brother spoils me the most!】

【I want grape-flavored ones! The ones with dried fruits inside!】

After returning to the Qiao residence, Qiao Jiaojiao quickly fell asleep.

She had been too excited watching Tan Hanchi parade, and her small body was tired.

Qiao Diyi, seeing this, quickly recounted what happened with Aunt on the way.

He deliberately didn’t mention Qiao Jiaojiao’s plan in the carriage just now, just to see what his big brother’s thoughts were.

As a result, his big brother’s analysis was spot-on, every point coincided with his little sister’s, even the countermeasure at the end was exactly the same!

Qiao Diyi fell silent.

They were all children of the Qiao family, why was he the only foolish one?!

He looked at his own father with resentment.

Qiao Zhongguo raised his eyebrows. “Why do you look so bitter? Did your old man shortchange you on food and drink?”

Qiao Diyi looked aggrieved. “Why does big brother look like mom, and I have to look like dad?”

Qiao Zhongguo raised his eyebrows again. “Is looking like your old man bad?”

Qiao Diyi shook his head honestly. “It’s not good, his brain isn’t smart.”

Qiao Zhongguo was stunned for a moment, then suddenly jumped up.

“You brat, are you trying to insult your old man in every possible way? Don’t move! I’m going to break your legs!”

Meanwhile, chaos ensued.

Mrs. Qiao and Qiao Tianjing were unfazed, continuing to eat elegantly, as if nothing had happened.

Well—

The resemblance was obvious.