The warm, soft hand landing on his lower abdomen nearly made Shao Mingyuan jump up.

He couldn’t even manage to say the words “Miss Li,” staring at Qiao Zhao with his bright black eyes wide with shock.

His eyes were distinctly black and white, clear as mountain snow water. Usually, they appeared cold and distant, but at this moment, because of his surprise, they inexplicably carried a childish quality, making him look like a bewildered and helpless youth.

Taking in his expression completely, Qiao Zhao suddenly had the illusion of being a delinquent girl molesting an innocent handsome man.

She curved her fingers slightly, pressing against his firm, tense abdomen, saying matter-of-factly: “The cold poison has already begun spreading here.”

It was indeed firm.

Shao Mingyuan felt as if the young lady’s soft fingertips had ignited a fire in his lower abdomen. In that instant, it broke through all reason, roaring as it surged toward one particular place.

He suddenly turned over and got off the bed.

Qiao Zhao looked startled and said urgently: “You can’t move carelessly!”

Shao Mingyuan turned his back on her: “Miss Li, let’s forget about today.”

Qiao Zhao completely failed to understand why this person was reacting so strongly, saying with a stern face, “Lie down properly. If you give up halfway before the cold poison is expelled, it will make things worse. General Shao, aren’t you still supposed to visit Big Brother Qiao today? What if you can’t hold up?”

Shao Mingyuan faced away from Qiao Zhao for quite a while before silently turning around and lying back down.

Qiao Zhao carefully examined him and breathed a sigh of relief: “Fortunately, none of the needles were displaced.”

She pressed her lips together and said reproachfully: “General Shao, why did you move around just now?”

Last time he had been so well-behaved, so why wasn’t he cooperating this time?

Shao Mingyuan’s thin lips were tightly pressed together, unable to speak.

He could hardly say that he had just lost control and had an inappropriate reaction, nearly making a complete fool of himself.

He must have gone mad to have such a reaction.

Overwhelming shame surged over him, and Shao Mingyuan lowered his gaze to avoid Qiao Zhao’s eyes.

Qiao Zhao raised her eyebrows.

He actually wouldn’t speak, actually wouldn’t look at her—was he refusing to acknowledge his mistake?

Suddenly, Chen Guang’s voice came from the doorway: “Young Master Chi, you’re here!”

Heavens, why was Young Master Chi coming at this time? If he saw the General like this, he would cause an unreasonable scene!

With this thought, Chen Guang’s voice grew even louder: “Young Master Chi, is it hot outside? Are you thirsty? Let me take you to have some tea—”

“What nonsense are you babbling incoherently? Where is your general?”

Inside the room, Shao Mingyuan’s eyes tightened.

In this situation, though his heart was clear, if his good friend saw this, it would inevitably lead to misunderstandings.

Uh, no, he wasn’t qualified to say his heart was clear, because just now—

Thinking of this, Shao Mingyuan felt utterly embarrassed.

“Ah, our General? The General went out—”

“Please ask Young Master Chi to enter.” Qiao Zhao’s voice was calm as she called out.

The door opened, and Chi Can walked in: “How did you get here earlier than me?”

The rest of his words stuck in his throat as Chi Can stood rooted to the spot, forgetting to react.

Chen Guang slammed the door shut with a bang.

No matter what happened, let them sort it out themselves, as long as innocent bystanders weren’t implicated.

Chi Can came to his senses as if waking from a dream, striding over with large steps, his face so angry it could drip blood: “You two—”

“Big Brother Chi, please be quiet. I’m expelling cold poison for General Shao.”

“Expelling cold poison requires removing clothes?” Chi Can’s eyes narrowed as they fell on Shao Mingyuan.

“What else? Administer needles through clothing?” Qiao Zhao countered.

Only then did Chi Can notice the silver needles.

His heart eased slightly, though his face remained ashen.

So this was how Li Zhao had been treating Shao Mingyuan the day before yesterday?

He had stood outside keeping watch for the two of them—his head must have been kicked by a donkey!

Most importantly—

Chi Can glanced at Shao Mingyuan’s upper body again, secretly resentful.

Most importantly, this fellow had a better physique than him. Stripping down like this—was he trying to seduce his little cabbage?

Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes.

Previously, baring his upper body in front of Miss Li had been embarrassing enough. Now he realized that being watched by two people was even more embarrassing.

“Miss Li, is it finished?”

“Mm.” Qiao Zhao nodded, then said to Chi Can, “Please step aside, Big Brother Chi. I need to remove the needles.”

Chi Can moved aside with a dark expression, staring intently at the two of them.

Qiao Zhao’s brow twitched as she silently removed the needles for Shao Mingyuan, feeling utterly helpless.

Just how had Chi Can taken a fancy to her? Couldn’t she change?

After all the silver needles were removed, Shao Mingyuan felt as if granted amnesty, quickly getting up and putting on his clothes.

“General Shao, have you decided when to go?” Qiao Zhao asked.

“Jiang Tang has made arrangements and will send someone to notify me.”

Qiao Zhao stood up: “Then I’ll go prepare your medicine first.”

“You’re preparing medicine too?” Chi Can blurt out.

Qiao Zhao looked at him helplessly and turned to leave.

The room was instantly left with only Chi Can and Shao Mingyuan.

Chi Can sat down, propping one hand on his leg, silently staring at Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan asked nonchalantly: “What’s wrong?”

“Your cold poison—when can it be eliminated?”

Shao Mingyuan could already sense the approaching storm from his friend’s suppressed tone. He hesitantly gestured a “six.”

“Six days?” Chi Can raised his voice.

So Shao Mingyuan would have to strip in front of Li Zhao several more times?

Young Master Chi felt an intolerable sensation, but thinking that only that girl could cure his friend’s poison, he forcibly suppressed his displeasure and reluctantly said: “As long as it can be cured.”

Shao Mingyuan was silent for a moment, then honestly confessed: “Six months.”

“Six months?” Chi Can jumped up directly, glaring at Shao Mingyuan in exasperation.

Don’t joke around—the two of them spending time together like this for six months? After six months, would he be directly waiting to become a godfather?

“This won’t do! This absolutely won’t do!” Chi Can paced back and forth several times, not even glancing at Shao Mingyuan, then lifted his feet and walked out.

Shao Mingyuan watched the constantly swaying door and silently sighed.

He didn’t know what to do either.

Miss Li had said that if his cold poison wasn’t eliminated, he wouldn’t live past a year. Originally, he didn’t cherish this life, but now that his brother-in-law was imprisoned, how could he allow his brother-in-law to remain helpless and isolated?

What he could do for his deceased wife was simply to take good care of her elder brother and younger sister.

When Chi Can found Qiao Zhao, she was tending the fire to prepare medicine. Crystal beads of sweat seeped from her forehead and rolled onto the stove, making soft sizzling sounds, yet she didn’t mind the heat at all, her expression completely focused.

Chi Can stood silently for a while before speaking: “Third Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao stopped fanning and looked toward Chi Can.

“You said that only you and Physician Li could treat Tingquan’s poison?”

“That’s right.”

“Then don’t treat him anymore. I’ll send people to find Physician Li immediately.”

“Once begun, it cannot be stopped.”

“What if it is stopped?”

Qiao Zhao lifted her eyelids to glance at Chi Can, saying with unruffled calm: “He’ll die.”

Chi Can reached up to touch his nose: “Uh, pretend I didn’t say anything. Treat Tingquan properly.”

Six months it is—at least it’s Shao Mingyuan who’s taking off his clothes. Thinking of it this way, his little cabbage wasn’t really at a disadvantage.