Shao Mingyuan handed the bundle to Qiao Zhao: “These are some food items that Shixi asked me to bring to you.”

Qiao Zhao took it and opened it in front of Shao Mingyuan. Inside were several packages of vegetarian pastries from an old-established shop, as well as a cantaloupe.

The cantaloupe was golden yellow, emitting a sweet and refreshing fragrance.

For a moment, Qiao Zhao didn’t know what to say.

“Shixi also asked me to pass on a few words to Miss Li.” Noticing the somewhat awkward atmosphere, Shao Mingyuan quickly said.

“What did Big Brother Chi say?” Qiao Zhao asked calmly.

“He said—” Shao Mingyuan looked at the girl’s dark, deep eyes and hesitated for a moment, “to take care of your health, and that he will work hard to marry you openly and honorably in the future.”

Qiao Zhao’s expression turned cold.

Marry her openly and honorably? Should she be moved to tears and thank this “matchmaker” for delivering the message?

The girl’s cold, icy gaze left the young general somewhat at a loss.

He was just delivering a message—he had no intention of bringing them together, nor did he intend to obstruct them. A girl like Miss Li would have her ideas and shouldn’t be swayed by external influences.

But why was Miss Li angry again?

“General Shao, please remove your clothes. Let me finish the acupuncture treatment early so I can return to the nunnery.”

“Uh.” Shao Mingyuan raised his hand to untie his belt.

Regarding the matter of undressing, someone had grown accustomed to it.

Qiao Zhao raised an eyebrow.

He hadn’t realized his mistake at all? As a general commanding troops, didn’t he feel ashamed about taking on a matchmaker’s duties?

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but think of the previous night.

This man had used her as a blanket for the entire night, nearly freezing her into an ice block, and now he was telling her that another man wanted to work hard to marry her? With a face full of satisfaction at seeing it happen?

Miss Qiao grew more and more annoyed. She extended her index finger and poked at someone’s abdominal muscles, saying coolly: “What excellent scar-removing medicine has General Shao used? This area is healing quite quickly.”

Shao Mingyuan’s face instantly turned red like a fully cooked shrimp.

Qiao Zhao glanced at him indifferently, feeling not the slightest bit of sympathy. While inserting silver needles into his chest, she said coldly, “General Shao can barely take care of himself, so it would be better not to meddle in others’ affairs in the future.”

Shao Mingyuan opened his mouth but didn’t dare to defend himself.

He hadn’t! He was just delivering a message!

But Miss Li looked quite frightening today. If he explained and she continued poking him, what would he do?

The young general, having gained this awareness, kept his mouth obediently shut until Qiao Zhao finished with the silver needles, still not making a sound.

Seeing him silently getting dressed, Qiao Zhao asked: “Is there any news about Binglu and Chen Guang?”

“Not yet. I’ve already sent people to search for them.” Seeing Qiao Zhao ask about serious matters, Shao Mingyuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. “How is Miss Li’s foot?”

“I’ve prepared some medicine for hot compresses and foot soaks. The swelling has gone down, and I’ll be able to move freely soon. Then I won’t need to trouble the masters of Shuying Nunnery to carry me down.”

“It’s all because of treating my condition that Miss Li has been put through such trouble.”

“General Shao saved my life, so please don’t speak such polite words. I need to return to Shuying Nunnery now.”

Shao Mingyuan took something from his sleeve and handed it to Qiao Zhao: “Miss Li, please keep this safe.”

“What is this?” Qiao Zhao examined the object in Shao Mingyuan’s hand.

It was a small item no longer than three inches, appearing to be jade but not jade, bone but not bone. She couldn’t tell what material it was made from, and it had smooth small holes on it.

Even with Qiao Zhao’s extensive knowledge, she couldn’t identify what this object was.

Shao Mingyuan explained: “This is called a bone flute, made from the throat bone of a wild beast from the Northern Territories. The flute sound is short and penetrating. Miss Li, please keep this with you. Now that the mountain paths are blocked and your legs are sore, if you encounter any situation, just blow on it. Given the distance from Shuying Nunnery to Dafu Temple, I should be able to hear it.”

Qiao Zhao held the small bone flute, feeling it was cool as jade, but said: “Even if something really happens and General Shao can hear it, it wouldn’t be convenient for you to come over. Shuying Nunnery doesn’t allow lay men to approach.”

Shao Mingyuan said seriously, “Rules are dead, but people are alive. Miss Li, just keep it.”

“Alright, I’ll keep it. Thank you, General Shao.”

After returning to Shuying Nunnery, Qiao Zhao idly fingered the bone flute Shao Mingyuan had given her, thinking: That man is quite thoughtful, though this flute probably won’t be needed.

In the quiet mountains, time flowed like water for several days. Qiao Zhao was already able to go to Dafu Temple on her own to perform acupuncture to remove poison for Shao Mingyuan. Coming and going, she became increasingly familiar with the little novice monk Xuanjing.

This day, after Qiao Zhao finished treating Shao Mingyuan and was preparing to return, little Xuanjing appeared from somewhere holding a rabbit: “Female benefactor, this rabbit’s leg is bleeding. Could you teach me how to bandage it?”

“Of course.” Wild medicinal herbs could be found everywhere in the mountains. Qiao Zhao led Xuanjing to gather some hemostatic herbs, taught him to crush them and apply them to the rabbit’s wound, then wrapped it with a handkerchief, tying a beautiful butterfly knot.

“There, tomorrow we’ll change the dressing together.”

Xuanjing nodded repeatedly: “Good, the female benefactor saving the rabbit’s life brings immeasurable merit.”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to pinch Xuanjing’s cheek: “Then I should thank this rabbit.”

“Female benefactor, let this little monk escort you back to Shuying Nunnery.”

“No need. The rabbit is injured, and little master still needs to care for it. I can go back by myself.”

“Do you know the way?” Xuanjing asked worriedly.

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but smile: “Of course I know it. Isn’t there only one path from Dafu Temple to Shuying Nunnery?”

“No, female benefactor, let me tell you secretly—there’s another path, but that path takes a detour and requires crossing a bridge. That bridge broke a very, very long time ago, even before I was born, so gradually no one remembers it anymore.”

“How does little master know about it then?”

Xuanjing blushed: “I got lost once and discovered it. This little monk was afraid you might get lost, so I told you.”

“Little master, don’t worry. I’ll just follow the path we take back and forth every day. I definitely won’t get lost.”

Xuanjing stood up, holding the rabbit in one hand and patting the dust off his monk’s robe with the other: “Then this little monk can rest assured. Female benefactor, see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

After bidding farewell to the little novice monk, Qiao Zhao set foot on the mountain path back to Shuying Nunnery.

Shuying Nunnery was positioned higher than Dafu Temple but occupied much less space. The entire nunnery was hidden among lush flowers and trees.

Qiao Zhao was already very familiar with this path. She walked lightly to the nunnery gate and pushed the door open.

She had eaten lunch at Dafu Temple today and had accompanied Xuanjing to gather herbs, so she was returning later than usual.

The nunnery was completely quiet. At this time, the masters in the nunnery should be taking their afternoon rest, but the deeper Qiao Zhao walked, the more she felt something was subtly wrong, as if she had become prey being patiently watched by a hidden hunter, step by step walking into a trap that had been laid out long ago.

Her footsteps gradually slowed, and she swept her peripheral vision to both sides. Suddenly, she caught sight of a footprint by the medicinal garden.

It was a man’s footprint!

Qiao Zhao spun around abruptly.