“Certainly. Miss Li, let’s go out.”

“Alright.”

The two left the study and returned to where Qiao Mo was.

“My Lord, Zhaozhao, let’s discuss Physician Li’s funeral arrangements.” Though Qiao Mo couldn’t bear to mention this matter that would sadden Qiao Zhao, he couldn’t let this elder, who had great connections with the Qiao family and had even lost his life because of him, be left without a place for people to pay their respects. So he took the initiative to bring it up.

“Physician Li has no descendants and lived an unsettled life. Let’s establish his memorial tomb in the capital. Zhaozhao is his adopted granddaughter, so when the time comes, Zhaozhao will erect the tombstone…” As Qiao Mo spoke, he looked toward Qiao Zhao, only to discover that the young woman had her hands braced against the stone table and had somehow fallen asleep.

“Zhaozhao—” Qiao Mo reached out and gently pushed her.

Qiao Zhao’s body swayed, and she collapsed onto the stone table.

Qiao Mo was greatly alarmed: “Zhaozhao, what’s wrong with you?”

Shao Mingyuan extended his hand to her forehead, his expression somewhat grim: “She has a fever.”

“She’s ill?” Qiao Mo lifted Qiao Zhao horizontally in his arms. “My Lord, I’ll take Zhaozhao into a room first.”

Seeing Qiao Mo carry Qiao Zhao away, Shao Mingyuan immediately ordered his guard to fetch a physician, while calling Binglu over and asking: “Your miss is unwell?”

“Yes. Eh, where is our miss?” Binglu looked around in confusion, discovering that Qiao Zhao was nowhere to be seen in the courtyard, and couldn’t help but panic.

She had only dozed off for a moment—how had her miss disappeared?

Shao Mingyuan’s expression was rather grim: “Your miss collapsed. Young Master Qiao carried her into the house.”

“I’ll go see our miss—” Binglu turned to leave.

Shao Mingyuan stopped her: “Wait a moment.”

“What is it, My Lord?” Binglu looked anxious.

“What illness does your miss have?”

Binglu scratched her head: “The physician said our miss is suffering from excessive worry and grief. Yesterday, when she returned, Miss shut herself in her room. This morning, A’Zhu and I discovered that Miss had a fever, so we quickly called a physician to examine her. The physician had instructed Miss to rest well, but unexpectedly, after just one bowl of porridge, Miss brought this servant here. General Shao, you don’t know—Miss snuck out in secret.”

Hearing this, Shao Mingyuan felt quite uncomfortable inside. He glanced toward the room door: “Your miss shut herself in her room for an entire day?”

“Not entirely. Later, this servant kicked down the door and brought in the mynah you sent to Miss.”

Shao Mingyuan was silent for a while, then asked softly: “Did she like it?”

Binglu spoke frankly: “This servant couldn’t tell whether she liked it or not, but that mynah’s speech was too amusing! When it saw our miss, it kept calling her ‘wife’!”

“What?” Shao Mingyuan looked completely bewildered, with an urge to clean out his ears.

He must have heard wrong!

“What did that mynah say?”

“That mynah kept calling our miss ‘wife’! Don’t you think that’s strange?”

The young general looked completely dumbfounded.

Whether it was strange or not, he didn’t know, but he truly had no face to see Miss Li again!

Soon after, the personal guard brought a physician. Shao Mingyuan stood at the doorway, too embarrassed to go in.

Qiao Zhao had already awakened and was reassuring Qiao Mo under his worried gaze: “I’m fine. It’s mainly because I haven’t rested well.”

“Go back and rest properly.”

“Mm, I snuck out anyway, so I won’t stay long.” Qiao Zhao sat up and called out: “Binglu—”

Binglu rushed over: “Miss.”

“We’re going back.”

The master and servant walked outside. Shao Mingyuan, who had been standing at the door, followed: “Miss Li, let me escort you.”

Usually, when Qiao Zhao conversed with Shao Mingyuan, she would dismiss Binglu. Having grown accustomed to this, Binglu naturally fell behind.

Shao Mingyuan walked beside Qiao Zhao, looking at her pale complexion, and said shamefully, “Because of the cold poison in my body, I’ve troubled Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao shook her head: “General Shao needn’t say such polite words. I’ll come again tomorrow, probably around the same time as today.”

After seeing off Qiao Zhao, Shao Mingyuan returned to his study, paced to the figure painting on the western wall and studied it for a long time, then called his personal guard over and gave him some instructions.

The next day, just as Qiao Zhao quietly slipped out through the Li residence’s side gate with Binglu, she was stopped by a young man: “Miss Li, please come with this subordinate.”

Binglu stepped in front of Qiao Zhao, looking wary: “Who are you?”

Qiao Zhao had a good memory and recognized him after just one glance: “General Shao’s guard?”

“This subordinate is indeed so. Here is the general’s token, please examine it, Miss Li.” The personal guard respectfully presented the token with both hands.

After Qiao Zhao looked it over, she asked: “Where are we going?”

“Please just follow this subordinate, Miss Li.”

“What mystery are you keeping?” Binglu pouted.

This person wasn’t adorable like Chen Guang at all!

Qiao Zhao waved her hand to stop Binglu’s complaints and gestured for the personal guard to lead the way.

“Miss, where is he taking us?” Binglu asked quietly.

“Just follow along.”

Since this was someone sent by Shao Mingyuan, he naturally had his arrangements.

Just as Qiao Zhao finished speaking, the personal guard stopped and pushed open a door: “Miss Li, please enter.”

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly to the personal guard and stepped inside.

Binglu looked around in confusion: “The residence next to our Li mansion has been empty for a long time. Why did you bring our miss here—eh, General Shao?”

The young man standing in the front courtyard turned around and strode forward with his long legs: “Miss Li.”

Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred: “This place—”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “I inquired and found that no one lived here, so I found the owner and bought this residence. From now on, Miss Li won’t need to trouble herself with such a long journey. I’ll come here to wait for you at this time every day.”

“General Shao bought this residence?” Though seeing Shao Mingyuan appear here had already made Qiao Zhao guess this possibility, hearing him confirm it personally still made her unable to help but sigh.

This man was truly wealthy and decisive—buying the house next to hers in just one day’s time.

Somehow, Miss Qiao’s mood improved somewhat.

“Miss Li, please come inside.” Shao Mingyuan led Qiao Zhao into a sitting room and said apologetically: “It’s rather messy. I only hastily cleaned up this one room.”

Qiao Zhao smiled slightly: “I remember the male head of this household worked in the Ministry of Revenue, but later committed some offense. This residence has been empty for a long time and even had rumors of being haunted. For General Shao to manage a long-abandoned residence to this extent in just one day is already quite surprising.”

“As long as Miss Li finds it convenient.” Shao Mingyuan pondered Qiao Zhao’s words and comforted her: “As for the rumors of ghosts, Miss Li needn’t be afraid. I’ll always be here waiting for you when you come.”

“Let’s do the acupuncture first,” Qiao Zhao said indifferently.

Yesterday she had thought he was like a block of wood, but unexpectedly he had quietly bought the neighboring residence. He was quite thoughtful and considerate toward young ladies—was he trying to be a good neighbor?

After the acupuncture, Qiao Zhao didn’t linger long. She bowed slightly in farewell and left.

In just a few steps, the master and servant were home. Qiao Zhao felt greatly convenient, but Binglu looked worried.

“What’s wrong?”

Binglu sighed deeply: “Miss, now that General Shao has become our neighbor, does that mean Chen Guang won’t be your coachman anymore?”