“The early stages will be like this.”

The young lady’s calm and composed manner made Shao Mingyuan hesitant to speak. Today could still be explained as special circumstances, but if it continued like this every day, even if Miss Li didn’t mind, he couldn’t accept it.

Was he ruining Miss Li’s reputation? The young general thought uncertainly.

If he had never married, he could have taken responsibility for today’s events and wouldn’t be so conflicted.

But he had personally shot and killed his wife, losing any right to remarry. How could he feel at ease entangling himself too much with a young lady?

“In that case, I’ll wait for Physician Li to return and have him treat me instead,” Shao Mingyuan said. As soon as the words left his mouth, he noticed the young lady’s brow furrow slightly, and somehow his heart grew nervous.

Qiao Zhao said with a stern face: “You won’t live to see Grandfather Li’s return. Or does General Shao think I’m bored and have nothing better to do?”

A grown man being so wishy-washy—what did that look like? As if she were some lecher wanting to steal a few more glances.

Shao Mingyuan opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

Chen Guang hurried to say, “General, please listen to Third Miss. Your health is most important! Think about it—if something happens to you, what will happen to all of us brothers?”

Heh heh heh, if the general strips naked and is seen by Third Miss a few times, how could he not marry her?

“What is General Shao hesitating about? Could it be that because I’ve seen you, you think I should take responsibility?”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Shao Mingyuan began coughing. “Miss Li is joking.”

“In that case, it’s settled. I’ll come again tomorrow.” Qiao Zhao decisively concluded. Seeing Shao Mingyuan about to speak again, she reminded him: “As for patients’ words, I generally only listen but don’t adopt them.”

Shao Mingyuan: “…”

Chen Guang secretly gave Qiao Zhao a thumbs-up.

He could see that Third Miss had the best methods for dealing with the general.

“Chen Guang, let’s go. Time to return.” Qiao Zhao nodded to Shao Mingyuan and turned to walk out. After two steps, she suddenly stopped and slowly turned back.

“Does Physician Li have any other instructions?” Shao Mingyuan asked helplessly, his mood particularly complicated.

Qiao Zhao looked Shao Mingyuan up and down several times, withdrew her gaze, and said flatly: “Apart from the cold poison, General Shao’s body has no major problems. If you feel anything is amiss, it’s perhaps psychological. General Shao should just relax.”

Even after Qiao Zhao pushed the door and left, Shao Mingyuan remained petrified.

No major problems with his body…

Anything amiss, perhaps psychological…

The young lady’s gentle, sweet voice echoed in his ears. Each sentence was simple, yet the young general felt his mind couldn’t process them at all.

What did Miss Li mean by this?

It wasn’t what he was thinking!

Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them, his gaze shooting like a blade toward Chen Guang, who was following behind Qiao Zhao.

That bastard—he was going to kill him!

Chen Guang felt a chill down his back and rushed out in quick steps.

The general was too frightening! Third Miss, save me!

As soon as they saw Qiao Zhao and Chen Guang emerge, Chi Can and the others crowded over, leaving Marquis Jing’an standing alone, staring with wide, shocked eyes.

A young lady had come out of Mingyuan’s room?

Wasn’t it said that Mingyuan had vomited blood and fainted? Why would a girl come out?

Surrounded by the crowd, Qiao Zhao’s gaze swept over.

Marquis Jing’an? Why had he come?

Of course, today was Shao Mingyuan’s housewarming celebration. The Marquis Jing’an residence couldn’t possibly not send someone. It wasn’t surprising that Marquis Jing’an knew about Shao Mingyuan’s incident.

Did he know about that box of letters intercepted by Lady Shen?

Chen Guang had said those letters were written by Shao Mingyuan to her in the freezing Northern Territories. She very much wanted to see what someone she had once thought cold and emotionless, who gave all his passion to the country and people, would say to his wife.

Unfortunately, she now had no reason to look at those letters.

Qiao Zhao suddenly thought of something.

She had once written letters to Shao Mingyuan too, but never receiving even a word in reply, she had stopped writing. Were her letters also in that box?

If they were, would Shao Mingyuan see them?

For a moment, Qiao Zhao couldn’t tell if she hoped he would see them or hoped all traces of the past would completely disappear.

“Miss Li, how is Tingquan?” everyone asked.

“Third Miss has miraculous healing hands. Our general has awakened,” Chen Guang said happily.

“Is this young lady a physician?” Marquis Jing’an finally came to his senses and strode over.

Though tall, he was very thin, with more gray hair at his temples than others his age.

In just two or three short years, Marquis Jing’an had truly aged considerably, Qiao Zhao thought.

“I pay my respects to Your Lordship.” She curtsied.

Marquis Jing’an was startled: “Young lady, you know me?”

“I don’t know you. It’s just that seeing your bearing and age, you must be General Shao’s father.”

“I see. Please wait a moment, young lady. I’ll go see my son.”

Qiao Zhao stood in the courtyard. Seeing everyone crowd into Shao Mingyuan’s room, she said to Chen Guang, “Let’s go.”

“Third Miss, didn’t His Lordship say to wait—”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “I’m not even a real physician. Should I stay and wait for Marquis Jing’an to interrogate me?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Guang nodded repeatedly.

The third Miss spoke so reasonably. If he didn’t leave now, should he wait for the general’s reckoning?

The little coachman quickly fled with Miss Qiao.

“Father.” Shao Mingyuan immediately saw Marquis Jing’an.

“Mingyuan, how are you?” Marquis Jing’an pushed to Shao Mingyuan’s side, examining his son.

Chi Can couldn’t help saying: “If Your Lordship wants to know how Tingquan is, why not go back and ask the Marquise?”

Zhu Yàn gently tugged at Chi Can.

They were Tingquan’s close friends, mere juniors before Marquis Jing’an. No matter how angry they were, they could beat up Shao Jingyuan, but embarrassing Marquis Jing’an would be discourteous.

“Shixi, I’ve worried you all. I’m fine now. I happen to have some things to discuss with Father.”

Zhu Yàn pulled Chi Can along and smiled at Shao Mingyuan: “Then we’ll head back first.”

Only father and son remained in the room.

Marquis Jing’an looked at Shao Mingyuan’s snow-white complexion, his mood heavy as he sighed: “Mingyuan, I heard you vomited blood. What exactly happened?”

“It’s nothing serious. It was caused by the cold poison in my body. Vomiting it out was beneficial.”

Marquis Jing’an’s eyes contracted.

Was his second son’s cold poison so severe?

His cold poison came from falling into an ice cave during an enemy ambush years ago. He had suffered from it all these years, but even so, it had never reached the point of vomiting blood.

Marquis Jing’an suddenly felt some warmth in his chest.

The cold-dispelling pills Shao Mingyuan had given him were kept there.

Mingyuan’s cold poison was so severe, yet he had given the cold-dispelling pills to him.

Marquis Jing’an suddenly felt his eyes moisten, murmuring: “Mingyuan, it’s Father who has wronged you.”

Shao Mingyuan was silent for a moment, then looked up at Marquis Jing’an: “Father, Mingyuan has a question for you.”

“Speak.”

“Am I truly Mother’s biological son?” Shao Mingyuan asked word by word.