Seeing his daughter's serious expression, Duke Yan couldn't help but frown, "What's the matter? Did Zhongguo make you angry?"

Mrs. Qiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "How dare he? Dad, what I want to tell you is about my brother and sister-in-law."

Duke Yan leaned back in his chair, a look of distress on his face.

"Your brother is such a loser. Just let him live his life in a muddle. I have long given up hope that he will achieve anything. Just don't get into trouble."

Mrs. Qiao looked solemn, "Dad, if you don't want my brother to get into trouble, you should keep him under control. You don't know that my brother actually...actually wants to take Di Yi to that place of fireworks!"

"What!"

The Duke of Yan, who had a bad temper, broke the armrest of the chair with one punch.

"That bastard!"

Mrs. Qiao looked at the furious Duke of Yan and couldn't help feeling guilty.

Although this incident has not happened yet, since Jiaojiao mentioned it, it must be true!

I can use this excuse to ask my father to pay more attention to my brother and keep a close eye on him.

Daddy would never tell her about such an unbearable thing when he was scolding my brother.

"No, I'm going to take him back and give him a good beating right now!"

Duke Yan was in a hurry to leave, but Madam Qiao quickly stopped him.

"Dad, wait a minute, my daughter has something else to ask!"

Duke Yan's eyes widened, "Could it be that the brat is still trying to steal the Heavenly Scriptures? His crime is even worse! His crime is even worse!"

Mrs. Qiao: “…”

"Dad, don't be too excited when you go back. It's okay if your arms and legs are broken, but don't hurt my brain."

Duke of Yan: “…”

Who is the one who is in control when saying this?

When Mrs. Qiao saw Duke Yan's dazed look, she covered her mouth and smiled, then straightened her expression.

"Dad, what I want to tell you is about my sister-in-law."

Duke Yan frowned, "What happened to your sister-in-law?"

In fact, he has never been very satisfied with this daughter-in-law. She is too calculating and petty.

Of course, it was also his own bastard son's fault for refusing to live a peaceful life.

Therefore, over the years, he has never given his daughter-in-law a hard time, and the internal affairs of the Duke of Yan's Mansion have basically been delegated to her, which is considered to be giving her enough face.

Mrs. Qiao looked a little unhappy, and lowered her voice and said, "My eldest sister-in-law mentioned it a few days ago, wanting Tian Jing and Ning'er to get closer, but I refused. My eldest sister-in-law seemed to be angry with me, and she didn't even come to Jiaojiao's full moon banquet today."

"Also, I heard something at the banquet today that concerns the reputation of our Duke of Yan's Mansion, so I dared to mention it in front of Dad."

Duke Yan frowned, "What's the matter?"

Mrs. Qiao seemed to find it difficult to speak, and after hesitating for a while, she said, "Dad, this kind of woman's matter should not be discussed in front of you, but Mom passed away early, so only you can make the decision."

"My daughter heard that my eldest sister-in-law had a childhood sweetheart and they were very close. I don't know why some rumors have been spread recently."

"Look, do you want to check it carefully?"

After careful consideration, Mrs. Qiao was still unwilling to reveal the secret that she could hear Qiao Jiaojiao's inner thoughts.

She was really scared. Qiao Jiaojiao had the ability to predict the future. If someone with ulterior motives knew about it, she would be doomed.

But in this case, she had no way to explain how she knew her eldest sister-in-law had a childhood sweetheart, so she could only make up a lie, hoping to find out with the help of her father.

When Duke Yan heard this, his brows were indeed furrowed.

"Your sister-in-law doesn't seem like that kind of person. How about this, I'll send someone to investigate carefully when I get back."

Mrs. Qiao looked at her father with some guilt. This time, in order to prepare for a rainy day, she had resorted to some unscrupulous means.

At this time, Qiao Zhongguo sent away the guests in front and immediately rushed to see his father-in-law.

Duke Yan had something hidden in his mind. He chatted briefly with Qiao Zhongguo and then left in a hurry.

At night, after a busy day, the Qiao Mansion finally returned to peace.

Qiao Zhongguo sat in the study with a gloomy expression. He did not light a candle. Only the moonlight coming in through an open window became the only source of light in the room.

"How's the situation in the North?" Qiao Zhongguo asked in a low voice.

"General, the fate of the crown prince of Beiting is still undecided. Looking at the changing situation, I'm afraid there will be civil unrest."

A hoarse voice suddenly sounded, and it turned out that there was a man in black kneeling in the shadow in front of Qiao Zhongguo.

Qiao Zhongguo showed a thoughtful look, and then ordered calmly: "Send a few people to guard the city gate. If there are people who look like Beiguo, watch them carefully. If there is any suspicion, turn them over directly."

"Also, send a few people to keep an eye on the Second Prince. Make sure they stay far away and see if there are any suspicious people around him."

The man in black answered "yes" firmly and respectfully without asking any questions. He jumped out of the window silently, like a black shadow.

Qiao Zhongguo slowly stood up, walked to the window and looked at the full moon in the sky, and sighed in his heart:

"Jiaojiao, Dad has already made arrangements according to what you predicted, hoping to preserve the hard-earned peace of the Great Yong Dynasty and change the fate of my Qiao family."

Thinking of this, he suddenly missed his gentle wife and well-behaved daughter very much, so he turned around, opened the door of the study, and walked towards the main room.

————

Outside the Qiao Mansion was Chengtian Street, and at the corner of the street there was an inconspicuous carriage parked.

There stood a driver next to the carriage. He was slightly hunched over and looked quite old.

But if you look closely, you will find that the driver has bright eyes, a smooth chin, and slightly protruding temples. He is clearly a middle-aged external martial arts master.

"Master, it's late, it's time to go home."

The driver's hoarse voice was easily dissipated in the night wind.

"Wait a little longer."

A clear and elegant young voice was heard from the car. If Qiao Jiaojiao could see this person at this moment, she would be shocked.

Because the one guarding here is none other than the current second prince, the male protagonist Shen Yuanbai!

The driver was a little puzzled, "Master, who are you waiting for?"

After these words were spoken, Shen Yuanbai's face became a little confused.

In fact, even he himself didn't know who he was waiting for.

Before coming to the Qiao Mansion, he had a vague and strong premonition in his heart that he would meet someone who was extremely important to him today.

As for whether this person was a man or a woman, or whether he was tall, short, fat or thin, he had no idea.

This premonition was so strong, but who would have thought that until the banquet at Qiao's house was over, the person who was destined to meet never showed up.

About a quarter of an hour later, there was no one left on Chengtian Street, and it would have been too conspicuous to stay any longer.

Thinking of this, Shen Yuanbai waved his hand helplessly, "Asheng, let's go."

"Yes, Master."

The coachman jumped lightly onto the carriage and drove the horses away steadily.

Shen Yuanbai slowly leaned against the wall of the car, a sinister look appeared in his originally cold eyes, and his brows were tightly furrowed.

He always felt as if he had lost something great today.