Time Is Slow - Chapter 25

As soon as Second Madam Liu left, First Master Li Guangwen returned.

He entered Qingsong Hall with a puzzled expression.

“Mother, why did you summon me back from the Hanlin Academy?”

Li Guangwen was in his early thirties, tall and refined, with a scholarly grace like jade. He showed no signs of being tainted by the political world.

Every time Old Madam Deng saw her eldest son like this, she felt both joy and regret.

Her eldest son was exceptionally gifted in academics. He had achieved Tanhua (third place in the imperial exam) at a young age and entered the prestigious Hanlin Academy. With his good looks, even when the family was struggling financially, many noble families sought to marry their daughters to him. That was how he ended up marrying Lady Du, a noblewoman from a Bo family.

But who would have thought he had no talent for officialdom? On his very first day, he offended his superior. If not for his cousin from the Eastern Courtyard shielding him, he might have lost his position entirely. Even so, he remained sidelined for years. Later, when Lady Du died in childbirth with their son Li Hui, he was left a widower. If it weren’t for an unexpected turn of events leading to his remarriage with Madam He, he might have struggled to find another wife.

Still, as a mother, Old Madam Deng took comfort in the fact that her son had not become corrupt like many other officials.

Qingyun, the head maid, served tea to Li Guangwen. When she saw him take a sip, Old Madam Deng finally spoke.

“The third girl has returned.”

Li Guangwen immediately spat out his tea.

Madam Deng shot a glance at Qingyun, who was covering her mouth to suppress a laugh, then glared at her son.

“Look at you, losing your composure!”

Li Guangwen remained dumbfounded.

Old Madam Deng signaled to Qingyun, who then led the other servants out of the room.

“The famous Doctor Li personally brought the third girl back. I stopped your eldest aunt from sending her to a Buddhist temple. But her reputation is ruined now, and she will likely have trouble finding a husband in the future. As her father, what do you think?”

Li Guangwen finally snapped out of his shock and muttered, “We’ll just raise her.”

Afraid his mother would worry, he added, “Her mother left her money.”

Madam Deng: “…”

This son of hers was too straightforward!

Since Li Guangwen showed no intention of doing anything extreme, Old Madam Deng felt reassured. She waved him away, not wanting to see his uselessly handsome face any longer.

Once she finally had some peace, Old Madam Deng instructed Qingyun, “Go tell Third Miss that she doesn’t need to come pay respects for the next few days. She also doesn’t need to attend lessons. She should just stay in her room and copy Buddhist scriptures.”

Qingyun understood that Third Miss’s life was now effectively over. Remembering how arrogant and unruly the girl used to be, she found herself feeling no sympathy at all. She acknowledged the order and went to deliver the message.

Life in the capital was not easy. The Western Courtyard was cramped, and except for the sole male heir, Third Young Master Li Hui, who had been given a separate residence after turning twelve, all the daughters still lived with their parents.

After leaving Qingsong Hall, Li Guangwen returned to Yahe Courtyard. Normally, he would head straight to his study, but this time, he went directly to the main house.

Inside the eastern chamber, Madam He was holding Qiao Zhao, wiping away tears. Seeing Li Guangwen enter, her eyes lit up with joy, and she eagerly went to greet him.

“Master, Zhao’er has returned!”

Li Guangwen, without even glancing at her, walked right past and stopped in front of Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao observed coldly. She noticed how the sadness on Madam He’s face flickered for just a moment before she quickly composed herself again.

She sighed inwardly.

In the memories of the original girl, Li Zhao, it had always seemed normal that her father treated her mother with such indifference.

“Father.” She stood up and saluted Li Guangwen.

Li Guangwen was slightly surprised. He stood still for a moment before telling her to rise. After studying her for a few seconds, he finally said, “It’s good that you’re back. From now on, behave yourself and don’t cause trouble.”

“I understand.” It was an easy enough response, and Qiao Zhao had no trouble saying it.

She could tell that Li Guangwen’s feelings for this daughter of his were purely those of basic paternal duty. There was not a shred of affection beyond that.

Of course, when she thought about how the original girl had constantly made trouble for her legitimate older siblings, Qiao Zhao wasn’t surprised.

Li Guangwen clearly wasn’t comfortable staying in this room for long. After sitting for a short while and seeing that neither his wife nor daughter had anything more to say, he nodded slightly at Madam He. 

“I’ll be returning to my study.”

Li Guangwen lived primarily in his study.

Madam He panicked. 

“Master, you’re leaving already?”

She had assumed he would have a lot to say to their daughter now that she was back. She had been wracking her brain trying to think of what to say to ease the conversation, but before she could figure it out, he was already leaving.

Before she could even react, Li Guangwen had already walked out the door.

Madam He stared blankly at his retreating figure, dazed.

Qiao Zhao had seen different kinds of marriages. 

Some like her grandparents’, full of love and harmony; others like her own parents’, polite and respectful. But she had never witnessed a marriage so cold and distant, as if the husband and wife were complete strangers.

Then she thought of herself.

She had been married into the Marquis Jing’an Manor for two years, and in truth, she and Shao Mingyuan were even more like strangers.

But all of that was in the past now. Even the lingering irritation she once felt was fading, just like that thorny cactus she had thrown away.

Now, all she cared about was finding her elder brother as soon as possible.

If that fire had been more than just an accident, then she would do everything in her power to avenge her parents and family.

Qiao Zhao lowered her gaze, staring at her slender hands.

No matter what body she inhabited, she was still Qiao Zhao, the same person who believed in repaying kindness and never leaving debts unsettled. The love and care her parents had given her in raising her could never be erased just because she now wore a different shell.

Even if the future was full of hardships as sharp as knives, she would not be afraid.

“Zhao’er, what’s wrong?” Madam He looked at her daughter’s dazed expression and felt a wave of panic.

She had an inexplicable fear that if she looked away for even a moment, her daughter would disappear again.

Qiao Zhao’s bright, jet-black eyes flickered as she smiled gently. 

“Mother, I’m just hungry.”

Madam He was momentarily stunned, then her eyes suddenly grew misty. 

She quickly turned away to compose herself before saying, “I’ll go tell the kitchen to prepare something delicious for you!”

She hurried out of the room, took a deep breath in the courtyard, and discreetly wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.

For so many years, her daughter had never spoken to her so gently.

“Madam.” A woman dressed as a servant softly called out to her.

He wiped her tears with a smile. 

“Mama Fang, I remember your braised lion’s head meatballs are your specialty. Why don’t you cook some for Zhao’er today?”

Mama Fang sighed inwardly. 

A parent’s heart is always soft.

Third Miss had always been stubborn and proud, looking down on her mother’s lowly origins. She had also resented her birth mother for using underhanded means to marry into the family as a second wife, leading her to treat Madam He with nothing but cold disdain. Yet despite all that, Madam He cherished her only daughter as though she were a precious jewel. How could she not feel hurt?

Now, after suffering outside, Third Miss seemed to have matured.

But this maturity had come too late. She had been kidnapped at her age, her life was already ruined.

“Madam, don’t say that. As long as Third Miss doesn’t mind, I’d be happy to cook for her every day.”

Madam He, feeling emotional, personally went to the small kitchen to supervise the cooking. Before long, a maid entered the main house to report, “Third Miss, Sister Qingyun from Qingsong Hall is here.”

Qingyun?

Qiao Zhao sifted through Li Zhao’s memories, flipping through them like pages in a book. After a moment of thought, she recalled that Qingyun was one of Old Madam Deng’s trusted senior maids. She was someone who carried some authority even among the mistresses of the Western Courtyard.

She nodded and ordered the maid to invite her in.