After leaving Xilaifu, Coroner Qian’s mood visibly dropped.

“Coroner Qian, we want to travel through the night. Can you endure it?” Shao Mingyuan asked.

“Leaving today?” Coroner Qian was somewhat surprised.

Shao Mingyuan patiently explained: “We need to hurry and rendezvous with our friends, then take the water route to Jia Feng. To catch up with the passenger boat at the next dock, it would be best to travel through the night.”

Yang Houcheng and the others were already traveling day and night by boat. Taking the land route would require a detour, so if they wanted to catch up, they had to make haste without stopping.

“If Coroner Qian feels tired, we can first find an inn to rest and set out early tomorrow morning,” Shao Mingyuan suggested, worried that Coroner Qian’s advanced age might make the journey too taxing for him.

“No need, let’s hurry along.”

Shao Mingyuan quickly arranged for a horse cart. For reliability, he didn’t hire a driver but served as the temporary coachman himself. The party of four traveled for two days and nights, finally meeting up with the eagerly waiting Yang Houcheng at the next town’s dock.

Yang Houcheng excitedly punched Shao Mingyuan: “Finally waited for you all! I was worried you wouldn’t make it in time.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “You take care of Coroner Qian. I’m going to sleep first.”

Only then did Yang Houcheng notice the dark circles under Shao Mingyuan’s eyes and the bloodshot vessels filling them.

“How long has it been since you’ve slept?” Yang Houcheng called after Shao Mingyuan’s retreating figure.

Chi Can said with a stern face: “He hasn’t slept at all.”

Yang Houcheng looked at the three of them over.

Although Chi Can and the other two inevitably showed fatigue from the journey, they still seemed to be in decent condition.

“Shixi, didn’t you take turns with Tingquan?”

“He complained I drove too slowly!” Chi Can said irritably.

He had wanted to help, too, but was looked down upon!

Yang Houcheng pondered this and thought, well, Tingquan’s disdain was reasonable. He couldn’t help but laugh: “Alright, hurry aboard and rest.”

He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and when he smiled, he appeared especially bright and friendly: “Coroner Qian, you must be exhausted. I’ve already prepared a room for you. Shall we go back to the cabin to rest first?”

Coroner Qian found Yang Houcheng’s type more agreeable, curling his lip as he asked: “You little fellow were so certain I would come?”

Yang Houcheng’s smile became even brighter: “Of course! Miss Li is extremely reliable in her work and has never disappointed anyone.”

“Heh.” Coroner Qian chuckled and stepped on the wooden planks to board the ship. “I’m hungry. Hurry up and prepare some food for me, boy.”

“Right away! The food is already prepared. Let me take you there.” Yang Houcheng glanced at Chi Can and Qiao Zhao as he spoke.

Qiao Zhao nodded slightly to Yang Houcheng: “I’ll return to my room first.”

Chi Can followed suit: “I’m also going back to my room.”

After traveling for so long, who could eat without washing up first?

When Qiao Zhao returned to her cabin on the ship, Binglu rushed toward her: “Miss, you said you were getting off the ship to handle business, but why didn’t you take your servant along?”

The little maid was extremely aggrieved. She glanced at the quietly sitting A’Zhu and said reluctantly, “It would have been fine even to bring A’Zhu along. If you went out alone and suffered any losses, we wouldn’t be able to help.”

“Miss won’t suffer any losses. General Shao was with her,” A’Zhu suddenly spoke up. “We would only have caused trouble by following.”

“You—” Binglu pointed at A’Zhu, frustrated at her lack of understanding. “A’Zhu, are you stupid? Miss won’t suffer losses to others, but what if she suffers losses to General Shao?”

Hmph, their Miss was an unmarried young lady, and General Shao’s mynah bird would call “wife” whenever it saw their Miss – General Shao must have taught it that.

Although she would be happy to see their Miss marry General Shao, before the wedding, they couldn’t let General Shao take advantage.

“General Shao isn’t that kind of person,” A’Zhu said calmly.

Having followed their Miss for so long, she had observed coldly and felt that General Shao was a reliable person. If their Miss married to General Shao, she should be happy and content.

“A’Zhu, you’re siding with outsiders!”

“I’m just speaking the truth.”

Seeing the two maids starting to bicker, Qiao Zhao raised her hand to rub her temples: “Enough, help me wash up.”

Since visiting the morgue and then traveling day and night without rest, although she didn’t have to drive the cart, the hardships were beyond words.

Qiao Zhao took a refreshing bath and slept until evening before going to the dining hall to eat.

“Why don’t I see General Shao?” Qiao Zhao looked around and asked.

“He’s still sleeping,” Chi Can said.

“Then you all eat first. I’ll go to his room.”

The daily acupuncture couldn’t be interrupted, and since Shao Mingyuan was sleeping at this time, it was convenient for needle treatment.

Chi Can and Yang Houcheng naturally understood what Qiao Zhao was going to do and didn’t say much.

Coroner Qian glanced at Qiao Zhao’s retreating figure and looked at Chi Can with repeated sighs.

This young man liked the little girl, but during these two days of urgent travel, the little girl and General Shao would always spend time alone together, yet this young man remained completely unmoved.

He was getting old and couldn’t understand young people’s thoughts anymore.

Qiao Zhao came to Shao Mingyuan’s door.

“Miss Li,” Yeluo greeted her.

“Is General Shao awake?”

“Not yet.”

“Then come in with me.”

Yeluo followed Qiao Zhao inside.

Shao Mingyuan lay on the bed, his sleeping face peaceful.

“Remove General Shao’s outer garment.”

Yeluo’s pupils suddenly contracted.

What exactly had happened during the days he wasn’t by the General’s side?

Though usually taciturn, Yeluo was more composed than Chenguang. Despite being extremely shocked inside, his expression showed not even a ripple of emotion as he efficiently untied his General’s belt.

Shao Mingyuan suddenly opened his eyes.

Yeluo stood holding the ivory-white belt, dumbfounded.

“You wait outside the door.”

“Yes.” Yeluo kept his head down, not daring to look again. He turned to leave, but after a few steps, suddenly remembered something. He hurried back to stuff the belt into Qiao Zhao’s hands and rushed out like the wind.

Qiao Zhao held Shao Mingyuan’s belt, feeling bewildered.

Why did Yeluo give her the belt?

She couldn’t help but look toward Shao Mingyuan.

Shao Mingyuan was equally embarrassed. What had become a habitual matter now seemed somewhat flustered. He tried his best to appear calm as he smiled: “Why didn’t Miss Li wake me up?”

Qiao Zhao quickly regained her composure and smiled: “General Shao worked the hardest these past two days and should rest more.”

“I’ve slept enough,” Shao Mingyuan said with a smile.

“Then let’s begin the needle treatment. Dinner is ready, and Brother Chi and the others are eating.”

“Good.” Shao Mingyuan couldn’t say why he felt nervous. Seeing Qiao Zhao’s calm expression, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly removed his outer garment, revealing his firm, taut chest.

His movements were somewhat hurried, and a pouch from the inner pocket of his outer garment was inadvertently pulled out, falling to the ground with a soft thud.

Qiao Zhao bent down to pick up the pouch.

The pouch was moon-white in color with fine, dense stitching – the work of someone with excellent embroidery skills.

Hmm, whoever could make this pouch should be a clever and dexterous young lady – she certainly couldn’t make one like it.

Qiao Zhao held the pouch, looking at Shao Mingyuan with an unreadable expression.