“What explanation does Master want?” Shao Mingyuan walked over and stood beside Qiao Zhao.

The monks of Great Fortune Temple lived outside the mundane world and had vague connections with the imperial family, so they didn’t fear court officials much.

The middle-aged monk said coldly, “The masters of Reflection Shadow Convent have been brutally murdered, and Master Wumei’s life or death is unknown. This humble monk has reason to suspect that this matter is connected to Miss Li.”

Buddhist monks are compassionate. Regardless of what suspicions Master may have, please first allow Miss Li to treat her driver before saying anything else.” Shao Mingyuan’s expression was as dark as water as he reached out to untie the ropes binding Chenguang.

“Does the benefactor intend to interfere in Great Fortune Temple’s affairs?”

Shao Mingyuan turned around and stared fixedly at the middle-aged monk: “Master is mistaken. This is Reflection Shadow Convent’s matter.”

Even if Reflection Shadow Convent and Great Fortune Temple were closely allied, he wouldn’t let anyone lead him by the nose. A monks’ temple and a nuns’ convent—could they claim to be one family?

The middle-aged monk was indeed rendered speechless by Shao Mingyuan’s retort.

Shao Mingyuan had already untied the ropes on Chenguang’s hands and called: “Chenguang, wake up—”

“General Shao, first help Chenguang to a room,” Qiao Zhao reminded.

Shao Mingyuan supported Chenguang: “Return to the bamboo house.”

“You cannot return to the bamboo house!”

Shao Mingyuan looked at the middle-aged monk.

“If the benefactor insists on treating this person, that’s acceptable, but please examine within the temple. Otherwise, if people escape, it won’t look good.” The middle-aged monk said coldly.

At this point, the abbot spoke: “Marquis, the guest rooms in the temple have everything needed—it would be more convenient to conduct the examination within the temple.”

Shao Mingyuan understood the wisdom of leaving room for maneuvering and didn’t refute the abbot’s words, supporting Chenguang into a guest room.

“Abbot, I need my maid to assist me,” Qiao Zhao said in a calm tone.

Before the abbot could speak, the middle-aged monk said: “Benefactor, don’t push your luck!”

Qiao Zhao glanced at him: “Why must Master make unnecessary trouble? Binglu is just a weak woman. Even if you untie her, with so many eminent monks here, are you afraid she’ll escape?”

“Not necessarily.”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “What is Master afraid of? Are you afraid we’ll flee?”

She swept her gaze over the assembled monks, her eyes finally settling on the middle-aged monk: “Then Master is overthinking even more. If we wanted to escape, with General Shao here, who could stop us?”

At these words, the scene fell silent, and many monks showed expressions of shame and anger.

Was this female benefactor looking down too much on the temple’s martial monks? Yet this seemed to be the truth—

Qiao Zhao had anticipated this reaction from the monks and changed her tone: “But General Shao wouldn’t do such a thing, nor is there any need to. Master’s concerns are unnecessary.”

After speaking, she turned to look at the abbot: “What does the abbot think?”

Shao Mingyuan, who had returned at some point, stood not far away. Hearing the young woman’s words, he quietly smiled.

So this was what Miss Li thought—he had always assumed she considered him stupid.

“Untie this female benefactor,” the abbot said.

“Abbot—” the middle-aged monk called out with displeasure.

“Junior brother, say no more. Miss Li is right. Since the people are already here, there’s no rush. We can wait until tomorrow to question them.”

Qiao Zhao untied the ropes on Binglu’s hands and led her into the guest room.

Shao Mingyuan silently followed them in.

“Miss, will Chenguang be alright?”

“Don’t make noise for now.” Qiao Zhao took Chenguang’s pulse and asked Binglu, “Does he have injuries on his body?”

“Yes, there’s a wound on his back.”

Qiao Zhao looked up: “General Shao, please help turn Chenguang over, back facing up.”

Shao Mingyuan did as requested.

Qiao Zhao calmly reached out to lift Chenguang’s clothing, exposing the young man’s solid back.

Shao Mingyuan’s brow twitched.

Indeed, he had been overthinking—Miss Li treated all patients equally.

Binglu covered her mouth and sobbed: “Miss, you must cure Chenguang. He only became like this protecting this servant.”

Qiao Zhao’s gaze fell on Chenguang’s back, crisscrossed with horrific wounds, and she sighed: “It is indeed quite serious.”

As she spoke, she extended her pale, lustrous fingers and gently touched a wound where the flesh curled outward: “And this area is festering.”

“Does festering mean he might die?” Binglu’s face immediately went pale.

Qiao Zhao gave her a gentle smile: “Festering could be fatal, but with me here, it won’t be.”

Her little maid had fallen in love—how could she bear to break her heart?

Shao Mingyuan was also momentarily dazed by that gentle smile.

He was certain that confident girls were very endearing.

“General Shao?”

Shao Mingyuan suddenly came back to himself: “Miss Li called me?”

“Do you have a clean dagger?”

Shao Mingyuan bent down and drew a dagger from his leg, handing it over: “This dagger hasn’t been used yet.”

Qiao Zhao took it and instructed Binglu: “Bring the oil lamp from the windowsill.”

“Miss, the oil lamp.”

Qiao Zhao drew the dagger and heated it over the flame, then bent down to call Chenguang’s name into his ear.

“What is Miss going to do?” Binglu looked puzzled.

Shao Mingyuan remained silent, watching quietly.

Qiao Zhao straightened up and said to Binglu, “Prepare hot water and a clean soft cloth.”

The guest room was specially set up for pilgrims to rest, so these items were naturally available.

Seeing that Binglu had prepared everything needed, Qiao Zhao handed the dagger back to Shao Mingyuan: “General Shao, please work quickly—cut away this area.”

“Cut flesh?” Binglu cried out in shock. “This, this—”

Before she could finish speaking, Shao Mingyuan had already moved swiftly, cutting away the festering area on Chenguang’s back.

Blood immediately seeped from the wound.

Chenguang groaned, and his hand, hanging over the bedside, suddenly grabbed Qiao Zhao’s skirt hem.

Qiao Zhao had no time to deal with this, quickly inserting silver needles around the wound. The rapidly seeping blood stopped. She concentrated entirely on treating Chenguang’s wound, her forehead gradually covered with fine beads of sweat.

Shao Mingyuan took out his handkerchief and handed it to Binglu, indicating she should wipe the sweat from Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao glanced at Shao Mingyuan and nodded to express her thanks.

Two quarters of an hour passed, and everything was finally properly handled. Qiao Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and reached to pull at her skirt.

Chenguang, in his deep unconscious state, was gripping it tightly and wouldn’t let go.

Qiao Zhao pulled hard several times, quite helplessly.

Seeing this, Binglu quickly said: “Miss, let this servant do it!”

After waiting so long, she finally had a chance to be useful.

Before Qiao Zhao could stop her, the little maid grabbed her mistress’s skirt hem and yanked hard outward. There was a ripping sound as a section of Miss Qiao’s skirt was torn off.

“Uh, I tore it.” Binglu was momentarily at a loss.

Qiao Zhao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

What else? The fabric wasn’t made of stone!

Shao Mingyuan silently looked up at the sky.

Well, when Chenguang recovered, he’d give the boy a good beating. He certainly hadn’t taught him to grab onto young ladies’ skirts and not let go.

“Miss, I’m sorry.” The little maid who knew she had caused trouble hung her head in shame.

Miss Qiao was actually the most composed, dusting off her skirt and saying: “Tell me about your situation these past few days.”

Well, she had already been completely undressed in front of him anyway, so now having just a torn skirt was nothing at all. Serious matters came first.