“Did the Old Madam say that?” Lady Jiang, who had rushed over in the rain, darkened her face upon hearing Qingyu’s report.

Qingyu had become the senior maid beside Old Madam Deng precisely because she was perceptive and quick-witted. Hearing this, she quickly smiled and said: “That divine physician has quite a temper, and the Old Madam was afraid you might be slighted.”

“How could you tell that the divine physician has a bad temper?” After hearing Qingyu’s words, Lady Jiang’s anger subsided somewhat, and she gave the woman who had accompanied her a meaningful look.

One must read between the lines—that divine physician must have caused some incident to earn such an assessment.

The woman stepped forward and slipped a purse to Qingyu.

Qingyu declined to accept it, smiling as she said: “The Rural Lady may not know, but the eldest young lady was present at the time. She merely called him ‘Grandpa’ following Third Miss’s lead, only to be directly rebuffed by the divine physician, making it very awkward for the eldest young lady. It’s only because our eldest young lady has such a good temperament and didn’t lose her composure—otherwise, if it had been someone with a smaller heart, she wouldn’t have been able to bear it at the time.”

So our Old Madam’s preventing you from going over was entirely for your consideration.

This was the meaning Qingyu conveyed through her words, and Lady Jiang’s expression indeed softened considerably as she slowly sipped her tea: “People with real ability inevitably have some temperament.”

Speaking of this reminded her of the calligraphy teacher at the women’s school.

He wasn’t even a famous calligraphy master, yet after hearing a few instigating words from Third Girl, he became convinced that Jiāojiāo had character flaws and resigned! How absurd!

Lady Jiang became furious just thinking about the righteous, impassioned speech the pedantic old man had given when resigning, spittle flying everywhere. Yet fearing that the stubborn old fool would go around spreading rumors and damaging Li Jiāo’s reputation, she could only force smiles and offer him a generous severance package. The frustration in her heart was beyond words.

She sat waiting in the flower hall, sending women servants out to gather information.

A woman returned with news: “The Old Madam of the West Residence is currently dining with the divine physician.”

Lady Jiang was immediately so angry she nearly fell backward, drained her teacup in one gulp, and sat motionless with a dark expression.

At Old Madam Deng’s side, the meal was set on the table. She seated Physician Li in the place of honor, with Qiao Zhao accompanying him for the meal.

Old Madam Deng glanced at Shao Mingyuan standing behind Physician Li and instructed: “Qingyu, take this young man to the front to eat.”

Normally, when guests visited, their accompanying servants wouldn’t enter the main reception hall—the household had separate arrangements for servants. However, given Physician Li’s different status and his residence at such a sensitive place as Prince Rui’s mansion, Old Madam Deng didn’t want to cause trouble and hadn’t presumed to make arrangements. But now that everyone was eating, leaving the guest’s guard standing there would be poor hospitality.

“No need, he’s not hungry.” Physician Li picked up a piece of deer meat with his chopsticks without even lifting his eyelids.

Old Madam Deng secretly gave Qiao Zhao a meaningful look.

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes, pretending not to see.

That arrow—she didn’t hate Shao Mingyuan for it, nor did she even harbor resentment. The moment she fell into the barbarians’ hands, she knew her fate.

At that time, the barbarians had pushed her onto the city wall, and she hadn’t even had the chance to take her own life. Without Shao Mingyuan’s arrow, her end would have been far worse.

But regardless, this man standing so close had personally shot a sharp arrow into her heart. She wasn’t so magnanimous as to invite him to dinner!

Old Madam Deng frowned secretly, thinking: This girl has been quite clever recently, so what’s wrong with her today?

“Grandmother, why don’t we set up another table in the flower hall and arrange for the guard to eat there? The divine physician’s safety cannot be compromised, so it’s indeed inconvenient for the guard to leave.” At this moment, Li Jiǎo spoke up, being particularly understanding.

Old Madam Deng looked toward Physician Li.

Physician Li glanced at the standing Shao Mingyuan and thought: This lad won’t die from missing one meal, will he? Though his complexion doesn’t look too good.

Shao Mingyuan kept his head slightly lowered, appearing no different from an ordinary guard, and said respectfully: “Old Madam need not trouble herself. This humble servant is indeed not hungry.”

“Fine, arrange a table for him.” Physician Li spoke up, shooting Shao Mingyuan a sideways glance.

You say you don’t want it, so he’ll give it to you anyway.

Soon, maids came in, directed by Qingyu to set up a table in the corner of the flower hall and arrange the meal.

Seeing Physician Li’s actions, Shao Mingyuan gracefully accepted and walked over to sit down. After washing his hands, he glanced at the dishes arranged on the table and was inwardly surprised.

The Li Residence’s treatment of servants was no worse than their treatment of honored guests.

Someone who had led armies in battle for years with hardly any defeats was not the simple military man others might imagine. He was particularly sensitive to subtle anomalies, and after his initial surprise, Shao Mingyuan felt something was amiss.

Someone had recognized his identity!

He glanced inconspicuously at Qiao Zhao, then immediately withdrew his gaze.

Although Miss Li had maintained her composure throughout, she should have recognized his identity long ago.

Shao Mingyuan picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the refreshing, smooth yam, thinking: Who would have thought that the little girl who threw a cactus at him was quite friendly.

Li Jiǎo sat at Old Madam Deng’s lower right, but her heart wasn’t on the food before her.

Taking advantage of when no one was paying attention, she glanced several times toward the corner of the flower hall, but never managed to catch the disguised Marquis Guanjun looking in her direction.

Li Jiǎo couldn’t hide her disappointment and felt quite helpless.

She could hardly tell Marquis Guanjun directly that the meal he was eating had been arranged by the kitchen at her instruction.

After the meal, Physician Li drank clear tea while instructing Qiao Zhao: “Zhao girl, Grandpa still has matters to attend to, so I’ll head back first. I’ll be staying in the Capital for a while. If you need to find me for anything, just have this lad pass along a message.”

As Physician Li spoke, he pointed at Shao Mingyuan.

Both Shao Mingyuan and Qiao Zhao were startled.

“You should give the Zhao girl a contact address. The prince’s mansion has a high threshold and isn’t easy to enter.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled bitterly to himself.

The prince’s mansion might have a high threshold, but his address wasn’t convenient to share either. When his identity was eventually exposed, what would the girl’s elders think?

Knowing that this divine physician acted rather recklessly, he was about to politely decline when Qiao Zhao spoke up: “That’s not necessary. If Grandpa Li misses me, he can just come visit.”

Seeing her refusal, Physician Li’s heart stirred, and he smiled: “That’s fine too. In any case, if the Zhao girl needs to find me in the future, just look for this lad first.”

“Alright.” Qiao Zhao nodded.

Physician Li chuckled.

Sure enough, he had confirmed through his test that the little girl had recognized this troublesome lad long ago.

He had thought so—that day Zhao girl had even thrown a cactus at this lad, so how could she not recognize him?

After seeing off Physician Li and his companion, Old Madam Deng dismissed Li Jiǎo and pulled Qiao Zhao’s hand: “Third girl, I could tell that the guard Physician Li brought was no ordinary person. Tell your grandmother, who exactly is he?”

Contrary to Old Madam Deng’s expectations, upon hearing her words, Qiao Zhao didn’t deflect or conceal anything at all, saying straightforwardly: “He’s Marquis Guanjun.”

“Who?” Old Madam Deng suspected she had misheard.

“Marquis Guanjun, the general who returned from the Northern Territories.”

Old Madam Deng’s mouth fell open.

So what she was saying was that she had just dined with the divine physician, accompanied by her two granddaughters, while the famous Marquis Guanjun was watching from a corner?