The small courtyard finally returned to peace.

Chen Guang leaned directly against the wall, clutching his chest: “That was close, so close.”

He hurried over to Shao Mingyuan, lifted his shirt hem, and stared fixedly at his lower abdomen.

Shao Mingyuan opened his eyes and swatted him: “What are you looking at?”

Chen Guang couldn’t help but reach out and touch the General’s lower abdomen.

The General’s face immediately darkened: “Chen Guang, did you eat too much?”

How dare he touch his stomach!

“Third Miss, what did you use to cover the General’s wound?”

Qiao Zhao stepped forward and gently peeled off a thin piece of something from Shao Mingyuan’s lower abdomen, revealing the already scabbed wound beneath.

Chen Guang examined it closely and couldn’t help but marvel: “A piece of paper?”

Looking at the paper that closely matched Shao Mingyuan’s skin tone, complete with natural-looking texture, he was shocked: “Third Miss, did you paint this too?”

Qiao Zhao crumpled the paper and tossed it into the spittoon. Her tense emotions finally relaxed, and a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth: “Yes, it was painted, though a careful examination would reveal it.”

Chen Guang patted his forehead with lingering fear: “That was close, so close. Fortunately, that officer was worried about getting infected and ran off after just a glance. Third Miss, you’re truly clever. I was constantly worried we wouldn’t be able to fool them.”

If they had been exposed, he naturally could have dealt with those four officers, but the aftermath would have been troublesome.

The more Chen Guang thought about it, the more frightened he became. He sighed: “Our luck was good, too. Those officers were cowardly, especially the one who came in to check at the end – he was the most cowardly.”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “It’s not that they were cowardly, it’s just human nature. They’ve been searching everywhere these past few days without finding anyone, so deep down, they didn’t believe they’d find the person at our place. Plus, we have two patients with potentially contagious illnesses – who would want to take that risk? When no one wants to take chances, the person pushed forward is inevitably the weakest among them. Such people are usually timid and lack initiative, so a perfunctory inspection is almost inevitable.”

After finishing her explanation, Qiao Zhao narrowed her eyes and sighed inwardly.

All the luck that others saw was simply the result of thinking things through more carefully in advance.

Hearing Qiao Zhao’s explanation, Chen Guang’s eyes grew brighter and brighter. Finally, he couldn’t help but turn to look at Shao Mingyuan lying on the bed.

Shao Mingyuan glanced at him coldly: “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing much. General, you rest well. This subordinate will go give Censor Xing his medicine.” Chen Guang ultimately didn’t voice his thoughts, shaking his head and sighing as he left.

Third Miss was so clever that he could already foresee the General’s miserable future life – one where any lie would be caught immediately!

Ah, such a cruel reality. He’d better not say it out loud to discourage the General. Instead, he should prepare a few more washboards to give as wedding gifts when the General marries.

As soon as Chen Guang left, Qiao Zhao felt as if the room had lost several hundred quacking ducks. She smiled sweetly at Shao Mingyuan: “Good thing we passed the test.”

Planning was human, but success was heaven’s will. No matter how well one planned, there was always the possibility of that “what if.”

Shao Mingyuan looked at Qiao Zhao with a complex expression.

“What’s wrong?”

Shao Mingyuan pressed his thin lips together: “Zhaozhao, you called ‘father’ quite smoothly just now.”

When he was lying there with his eyes closed, listening, he almost felt like he had a grown daughter.

This thought was truly unpleasant.

He was only a few years older than Zhaozhao – why couldn’t he pretend to be her older brother instead of having to pretend to be her father?

Or perhaps, deep down, Zhaozhao thought he was too old?

Qiao Zhao rolled her eyes at him helplessly: “You’re going to fuss about this, too? Wouldn’t three generations be more appropriate?”

Shao Mingyuan gazed deeply at her, then finally smiled: “As long as you don’t mind that I’m old.”

Miss Qiao looked at someone with the gaze one reserves for idiots: “Shao Mingyuan, don’t forget – we’re the same age.”

Did he think she wanted to become a little girl, not yet fourteen?

Shao Mingyuan nodded with a smile: “Yes, we’re the same age.”

“Your malaria will be completely cured after one more medicinal bath tomorrow. Censor Xing’s health has also recovered considerably after these days of care. When should we leave the city?”

Hearing Qiao Zhao ask this, Shao Mingyuan pondered briefly: “After those officers searched here today, this place is temporarily safe. Tomorrow, let Chen Guang go out first to assess the situation. If conditions are still good, we might as well leave the city later. First, it would allow Censor Xing’s health to recover better. Second, as time passes, the city gate inspections will become more relaxed.”

At this moment, Chen Guang hurried over: “General, Third Miss, Censor Xing has awakened.”

These past few days, Censor Xing had been in continuous slumber, not because his body was so weak as to fall into prolonged unconsciousness, but because Qiao Zhao had specially prepared medicine for him. Sleep was the best medicine.

Of course, everything required moderation. After Censor Xing had slept for several days straight, it was time for him to wake up.

Shao Mingyuan got up from the bed: “Come, let’s go see Censor Xing together.”

“Do you want to wash your face?” Qiao Zhao reminded him.

Shao Mingyuan paused mid-step, then shook his head: “No need.”

It wasn’t like he was meeting Zhaozhao’s current father, Master Li. What did it matter if he looked a bit older?

“General, let this subordinate support you.”

Shao Mingyuan didn’t refuse, allowing Chen Guang to support him as they walked over.

Censor Xing had just awakened and still looked somewhat confused. Hearing footsteps, he rolled his eyes and asked warily: “Who are you?”

Shao Mingyuan approached and spoke directly: “I am the Northern Expedition General, Marquis Guanjun. A few days ago, I rescued you from the Censor’s residence. We’re currently in a civilian house in Fuxing City.”

Censor Xing studied Shao Mingyuan, his voice weak but his eyes clear: “Northern Expedition General, Marquis Guanjun? The renowned Master Qiao Zhuo’s grandson-in-law?”

“That is indeed me.” Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but smile, quickly glancing at Qiao Zhao.

Master Qiao Zhuo’s grandson-in-law – this title sounded truly comfortable.

Censor Xing stared hard at Shao Mingyuan, then suddenly darkened his expression and sneered: “Stop trying to deceive me. You’re not Marquis Guanjun at all!”

“Why am I not Marquis Guanjun?” Shao Mingyuan was stunned.

Censor Xing sneered: “How despicable of you all. Unable to find out where the other account book is hidden, you found someone to impersonate Marquis Guanjun to make me talk. I’ve seen Master Qiao’s granddaughter before. Marquis Guanjun is about her age, at most in his early twenties now. How could he look like you?”

Saying this, Censor Xing snorted disdainfully: “Even if you wanted to be Master Qiao’s son-in-law, people would think you’re too old!”

Shao Mingyuan felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart, wanting to cry but having no tears.

Qiao Zhao reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small mirror, placing it before Censor Xing: “Censor Xing, please don’t get agitated. Look in this mirror and you’ll understand.”

Censor Xing looked into the mirror and froze.

A strange old man with completely white hair and beard appeared in the mirror, with only a trace of familiar features visible, yet he was not yet forty years old!

Being able to quietly collect all that evidence, Censor Xing was clearly a meticulous person. He quickly realized: “Disguise?”