How is the patient?

Though the girl before him asked this question as if casually, Shao Mingyuan keenly sensed that this question seemed very important to her.

So he answered seriously: “The Divine Physician said there’s nothing serious – he just needs to rest well.”

Qiao Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as Big Brother was alright.

Though she regretted not being able to say even one word to her brother, knowing he was unharmed made Qiao Zhao feel completely relaxed. She smiled slightly at Shao Mingyuan: “Just now I was with my adoptive grandfather, but when he heard Young Master Qiao was ill, he hurried off. I was just asking casually.”

Shao Mingyuan: “…” Though there was no particular reason, this girl seemed to be trying to cover something up.

Qiao Zhao quickly realized this, the smile on her lips slightly stiffening as she looked deeply at Shao Mingyuan.

He was more perceptive than she had imagined.

“Does Miss Li have anything else?”

Qiao Zhao shook her head: “Nothing more.”

Shao Mingyuan’s gaze deepened.

Not “nothing,” but “nothing more.”

That is to say, originally there was something, but now there isn’t.

So what Miss Li wanted to know was whether his brother-in-law was safe?

Why was this? Could Miss Li already know his brother-in-law?

Indeed, his brother-in-law had also been in the capital before, so they might have known each other.

Could it be that Miss Li was one of his brother-in-law’s admirers?

Shao Mingyuan lowered his gaze, looking at the girl before him.

He had heard Yang Houcheng mention that both Chi Can and his brother-in-law were very popular with the young ladies of the capital.

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together.

What was this guy thinking? Something felt strange about it.

“Ahem, General Shao, please attend to your business. It’s getting late, and I should return to the residence as well.” Having learned what she wanted to know, Qiao Zhao curtsied and prepared to take her leave.

Shao Mingyuan looked up and glanced at the horizon.

The fiery clouds at the edge of the sky were gradually becoming dim – indeed, it was getting late.

“Let me have someone escort you,” he said naturally.

Since the Divine Physician had asked him to take good care of Miss Li, having accepted someone’s trust, he should naturally fulfill it faithfully.

Qiao Zhao was stunned for a moment, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.

Did this person offer to have someone escort any girl who spoke with him?

At this rate, within a year, girls wanting to marry him would line up from the Jing’an Marquis Residence to the city gates.

A young marquis with a high position, great power, and gentle manners!

Uh, this seemed to have nothing to do with her, but thinking about it still made her feel stifled. When she was his legitimate wife, this guy had shot her dead without a word, yet he was gentle and considerate to other young ladies?

Watching the girl’s face suddenly turn cold, the young general was quite bewildered.

He didn’t seem to have said anything wrong?

“No need. I have my maid with me. If the General doesn’t leave now, the palanquin will be far away.”

“Very well then. I take my leave.” Shao Mingyuan felt it would be best to leave before the girl completely lost her temper. He turned and walked several steps before suddenly understanding.

Was Miss Li displeased because that time when he dined at the Li Residence, Miss Li had specially prepared fine dishes to entertain him, yet he had never expressed his gratitude?

Thinking this, the young general turned around and bowed with clasped hands to the cold-faced girl: “Thank you for Miss Li’s hospitality that day. Oh… the yam was very delicious…”

What kind of nonsense was “the yam was very delicious”?

Miss Qiao’s expression grew even colder.

“Farewell!” The young general, bewildered and at a loss, hurriedly left.

Shao Mingyuan quickly caught up with the palanquin and quietly instructed one of his guards: “There’s a young lady in azure clothes and a white skirt at the medical hall entrance. Secretly escort her home, but be careful not to let her notice.”

Personal guard: “…” Heavens, their general had fallen in love at first sight with a young lady! How exciting, but he couldn’t say anything!

The personal guard who had discovered major gossip but could only keep it buried in his heart, silently returned.

Qiao Zhao withdrew her gaze and called out with a stern face: “Binglu, what are you standing there for? Let’s go home.”

The little maid, who had been standing like a wooden chicken, finally came to her senses, covering her face with excitement: “Miss, Miss, you’re truly amazing!”

“Hmm?” The little maid’s fervent, worshipful gaze left Qiao Zhao baffled.

“You managed to strike up a conversation with the Marquis Guanjun again!”

Again…

This word made the usually calm Miss Qiao suddenly want to kick the little maid, saying with a dark face: “Go hire a carriage.”

“Yes!” For Binglu, having her young lady strike up a conversation with the Marquis Guanjun was far more worthwhile than watching excitement all day. She immediately responded happily and turned toward the street.

Left alone, Qiao Zhao sighed softly, suddenly hearing footsteps behind her.

She immediately turned around to see someone looking down at her with a playful smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Big Brother Jiang?”

“Miss Li, I’ve discovered something very interesting.”

“What is it?” Facing the famous Thirteenth Guardian of the Jinlin Guards, Qiao Zhao put away all her emotions and asked him calmly.

“You not only know me, but you also know Young Master Qiao.”

Miss Qiao remained expressionless: “Young Master Qiao’s demeanor is unparalleled. Countless young ladies in the capital know him. As for Big Brother Jiang—”

The girl curved her lips in a smile: “Didn’t we just meet on Buddha’s Birthday? I still don’t know where Big Brother Jiang lives or what his full name is.”

Hearing Qiao Zhao say this, this time Jiang Yuanchao didn’t flee in embarrassment but smiled lightly: “Then listen well. My surname is Jiang, given name Yuanchao, and I currently reside temporarily at Grand Commander Jiang’s residence. Does Miss Li have anything else she wants to ask?”

“Nothing more. Big Brother Jiang, I should go home.” Qiao Zhao curtsied slightly and turned to leave.

Jiang Yuanchao said slowly behind her, “But I still have things I want to ask Miss Li. Miss Li had better stay.”

Qiao Zhao turned back around and sighed: “Now I have another problem.”

“You speak first.”

Qiao Zhao looked at Jiang Yuanchao and suddenly smiled: “Big Brother Jiang appears before me so often and always has so much to say. I might think that you secretly admire me.”

Jiang Yuanchao’s smile stiffened at the corners of his mouth, clearly stunned.

Were there such thick-skinned little girls in this world?

How old was she? How perverted would he have to be to have designs on a little girl?

Thinking this, Jiang Yuanchao unconsciously looked at Qiao Zhao over.

The girl had a slender figure and delicate features, like a gardenia that had just budded, quietly blooming just a little bit. Though still very tender, she already had enough reason to make one’s heart flutter.

A delicate, innocent, yet calm and intelligent little girl – such a contradictory existence was enough to attract attention in itself.

So it wasn’t strange that she would draw notice, right?

Wait, how had he been led astray?

Jiang Yuanchao twitched his mouth and awkwardly withdrew his gaze.

“What else does Big Brother Jiang want to ask me?” Miss Qiao asked calmly.

“How did you know I was from the Jinlin Guards?”

Perhaps that time when she bought Jiang He’s candied hawthorn, it was just a coincidence that she recognized Jiang He as someone she’d seen at the teahouse, and she hadn’t guessed they were Jinlin Guards?

He was probably being overly suspicious. Otherwise, if a little girl knew he was from the Jinlin Guards, how could she not be afraid at all, and even dare to… flirt with him?

Based on his twenty-plus years of experience, that was flirting just now, right?

Jiang Yuanchao thought uncertainly.