Shao Mingyuan opened the letter with trembling hands.

“Tingquan, I lift my brush as if meeting you in person. I hear your white horse has already crossed the border passes… You need not think of me. In these times when ominous clouds fill the land and wolves roam the city, how many families can find contentment and happiness? What you do is for the welfare of all people under heaven… I hope you treasure yourself and return victorious soon.”

Shao Mingyuan read word by word to the end, then covered his face with both hands.

So his wife had written him a letter, even earlier than when he had written his first letter.

She told him not to worry about her, that she understood his noble aspirations, and that she too awaited his triumphant return.

But in the end, when she finally met him again, what she awaited was a sharp arrow shot into her heart.

He hadn’t even said a single word to her.

Shao Mingyuan’s heart ached so much it felt as though it was being torn apart, making it impossible for him to stand. He had to slowly crouch down.

That indescribable sorrow and guilt nearly shattered his reason and drove him to madness.

How well his stepmother understood him, using a single letter to make him feel that living meant nothing and dying meant no regret from this day forward.

The metallic sweetness surged up, and a mouthful of hot blood spurted out uncontrollably, followed by a second mouthful, then a third.

The personal guard who heard the commotion was scared senseless and, remembering Chen Guang’s instructions, ran off immediately.

Qiao Zhao was startled upon receiving the news: “How could he be coughing up blood again?”

Chen Guang cried more pitifully than a child: “They say the General saw the letter from the General’s wife and then coughed up so much blood. Third Miss, please go quickly and save our General!”

Qiao Zhao hurried to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence, only to be turned away at the door.

“General Shao says he won’t see me?”

The guard hastily explained: “It’s not that he won’t see you—the General says he wants to be alone and doesn’t want to see anyone.”

Though he said this, his face was full of pleading, fearing that Qiao Zhao would just leave.

Qiao Zhao raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

He had just received acupuncture and was coughing up blood again, yet he was still being willful with her?

What could that letter have possibly said? She could barely remember it herself, yet he was being so—

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhao couldn’t tell what she was feeling, and said with a stern face: “Move aside.”

“The General will blame us—” Before the guard could finish speaking, he swiftly stepped aside.

Qiao Zhao: “…” Were such subordinates really okay?

She pushed the door open and entered.

The room was very quiet. Shao Mingyuan lay with his eyes closed, and upon hearing movement, said in a low voice: “Get out.”

“It’s me.” Qiao Zhao spoke, completely unaffected by the room’s oppressive atmosphere, and walked over.

Shao Mingyuan opened his eyes, his tone indifferent: “Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao sat down beside him: “Extend your hand.”

Shao Mingyuan didn’t move.

Qiao Zhao looked at him: “I heard that General Shao’s condition relapsed because of reading letters. Since General Shao won’t cooperate, I’ll confiscate those letters.”

Well, she wasn’t being curious—she was entirely thinking of Shao Mingyuan’s health.

Shao Mingyuan obediently extended his hand.

Qiao Zhao placed her hand on his wrist to take his pulse and asked him: “Do you still have the Cold-Expelling Pills I gave you last time?”

“No.”

“You finished them?” Qiao Zhao’s eyes narrowed.

Sensing Qiao Zhao’s displeasure, Shao Mingyuan nodded: “Yes.”

Qiao Zhao glanced at him and immediately exposed the truth: “General Shao gave them to Marquis Jing’an, didn’t you?”

“How did Miss Li know?” Shao Mingyuan was embarrassed but even more curious.

“I saw Marquis Jing’an today and discovered he also has cold poison in his body, though not as severe as yours.”

Shao Mingyuan’s eyes lit up: “Could Miss Li treat my father?”

“I can.” Qiao Zhao agreed readily.

“Then I’ll immediately send someone to inform my father.”

Miss Qiao nodded calmly: “Very well, General Shao, please do as you wish. But remember to remind your honorable father that the treatment method will be the same as the one I used on General Shao today. I hope he can adapt to it.”

“The same?” The young general was stunned for a moment, his expression slightly darkening. “When Miss Li says ‘the same,’ do you mean—”

“Oh, he’ll need to remove his upper garments.” Qiao Zhao said without batting an eye.

Shao Mingyuan suddenly began coughing violently.

Qiao Zhao poured a cup of water and handed it over.

Shao Mingyuan drank a few sips to calm himself and said to Qiao Zhao with some embarrassment: “I wonder if Miss Li still has Cold-Expelling Pills? I would like to shamelessly ask for some for my father’s use.”

“You no longer need me to treat your honorable father?”

“No need, no need. We’ll wait for Physician Li to return.”

Qiao Zhao was secretly amused.

Marquis Jing’an’s cold poison was different from Shao Mingyuan’s and wasn’t originally that severe. If he took Cold-Expelling Pills long-term, it could be gradually eliminated—there was no need for him to strip for detoxification.

Well, she was just a bit displeased seeing this person thinking of others even when he was half-dead.

Such patients only knew how to cause trouble.

“Since that’s the case, then forget it.” Miss Qiao looked regretful.

Shao Mingyuan: “…” In Miss Li’s eyes, patients truly had no gender distinction. He had previously thought Miss Li treated him somewhat differently—how presumptuous of him.

“Then General Shao should remove your clothes.”

Shao Mingyuan instinctively clutched his collar: “I—”

Qiao Zhao’s face darkened: “Does General Shao think that by seeing your body, I’m taking advantage of you?”

“No, it’s that I’m… too conservative…” Shao Mingyuan thought for a moment but couldn’t find a more suitable explanation.

Qiao Zhao looked at him silently.

Shao Mingyuan felt quite uncomfortable under her gaze.

Qiao Zhao sighed: “General Shao, are you resisting treatment?”

“I’m not.” He just couldn’t undress in front of a young lady, even though this girl kept emphasizing she was a physician.

“You are. I can’t see the will to live in your eyes.” Qiao Zhao hit the nail on the head.

This fool—he might not have suicidal thoughts, but he also had no desire to live. He was probably just taking each day as it came with a whatever-will-be-will-be attitude.

Was he a monk?

Even monks didn’t truly wish to reach paradise early.

Shao Mingyuan immediately fell silent.

Qiao Zhao remained silent as well.

After an unknown amount of time, Qiao Zhao spoke first: “Because of those letters?”

She understood Shao Mingyuan’s pain. Marquis Jing’an’s wife, Lady Shen, could indeed be described as having a heart like a venomous scorpion.

Not to mention Shao Mingyuan—even she, after learning about today’s events, felt that box of letters had become a small mountain weighing on her heart. The person before her no longer seemed like just a symbol representing the title of “husband” that made her feel annoyed and resentful whenever she thought of him.

He had once written letter after letter to her. If she had been able to receive them, she would have accumulated a full box long ago.

With her replies, he might have written even more.

For some reason, as her thoughts drifted here, Qiao Zhao’s heart suddenly ached.

What would have happened if she had died back then?

Because she now knew, she realized how regrettable it would have been to never know these things.

Qiao Zhao raised her hand and gently pressed the corner of her eye.

“Miss Li—” Shao Mingyuan called softly.

“General Shao has witnessed life and death and should understand better than I that only by living do we have infinite possibilities. When a person dies, there is nothing left.”

She didn’t need to lecture about such truths, but who told this fool in front of her to be stuck in a dead end?

Shao Mingyuan smiled bitterly: “Miss Li is right. When a person dies, there are no more possibilities.”

His wife was dead, so he no longer had the possibility of caring for her, protecting her, or even… loving her.

“That’s not necessarily true.” Miss Qiao extended her hand and placed it on Shao Mingyuan’s collar.