Thinking that this pouch was given by Qiao Mo and might have countless connections to the young lady currently holding it, Shao Mingyuan’s eyes tightened involuntarily as he blurted out: “It’s mine.”

Qiao Zhao curved her lips and handed the pouch to Shao Mingyuan: “I know. I wasn’t planning to take it.”

She wasn’t stupid – of course, she knew who owned something that fell from his embrace. Was there a need to be so nervous?

Uh, perhaps it was given by his sweetheart, which was why he treasured it so much.

At this thought, Miss Qiao shot the man before her a reproachful glance.

Well now, rumors of someone’s intimate ailments had spread throughout the capital, yet there were still young ladies giving him sachets. Did today’s young ladies not care at all about whether he was “capable” or not?

Shao Mingyuan felt quite guilty under Qiao Zhao’s glare and hurriedly stuffed the pouch under his pillow, feigning composure as he said: “Miss Li, let’s begin.”

“Mm.” Qiao Zhao discovered that her thoughts seemed unable to return from that pouch, secretly despising her curiosity as she took out her silver needles with a serious expression: “Then I’ll start now.”

Both were familiar with the process of needle treatment to expel poison. For a moment, the room was quiet and peaceful, with only the sound of oars stirring the river water audible.

Qiao Zhao put away her needles and asked Shao Mingyuan, “How does General Shao feel? Has the pain lessened?”

“It’s much better. I no longer break out in cold sweats even when the weather changes.”

“That’s good. In probably another while, we won’t need needle treatments anymore. At that time, I’ll prepare some cold-expelling pills for General Shao. You’ll just need to take them on schedule.”

Shao Mingyuan was overjoyed: “Excellent! That would be much more convenient. Thank you, Miss Li—”

The rest of his words were silently swallowed when he met the young lady’s dark, profound gaze.

He had the feeling that Miss Li seemed somewhat unhappy, so he’d better keep quiet.

Qiao Zhao was indeed somewhat annoyed.

Looking at this person’s delighted expression, he thought that the usual undressing for acupuncture was quite disadvantageous for him. Did he think she was taking advantage?

True, she had touched his abdominal muscles, but how was that taking advantage? That area was as hard as a rock and uncomfortable to touch anyway.

Thinking this way, her gaze involuntarily moved downward.

Those who practiced martial arts had keen senses, and Shao Mingyuan immediately noticed.

He reached over to grab the outer robe he’d removed and placed aside, covering his body as he said with feigned calm: “Before you know it, the weather has turned cool.”

Qiao Zhao stood up with an expressionless face: “I won’t disturb General Shao further. I’ll go eat first.”

She walked to the door and glanced back at the pillow pressing down on the pouch before pushing the door open and walking out.

As the door closed, the faint sandalwood scent that had been lingering at the tip of his nose disappeared, inexplicably creating a sense of loss in his heart.

Shao Mingyuan felt this emotion was somewhat dangerous and shook his head to dispel the chaotic thoughts.

He quickly dressed in his outer robe and rose to leave. After thinking for a moment, he retrieved the pouch from under the pillow and tucked it back into his embrace before heading toward the dining hall.

When he arrived at the dining hall, Qiao Zhao wasn’t there. Yang Houcheng warmly greeted him: “Tingquan, we’ve been waiting for you. Let’s have a good drink today.”

“Didn’t Miss Li eat?”

Chi Can glanced at Coroner Qian and said coldly: “She ate a few bites and returned to her room. She’s been eating very little these past two days.”

After being tested like that, it would be strange if she had a good appetite in the short term. Even he now only wanted to drink and not eat meat, let alone Miss Li.

“Come, come, let’s drink. There’s nothing else to worry about now, so let’s drink to our hearts’ content today.” Yang Houcheng tried to smooth things over.

Shixi just had a personality that couldn’t stand losses. This Coroner Qian was someone with a peculiar temperament – if he decided to quit, Miss Li would be worried, and then Shixi definitely wouldn’t get a pleasant face from her.

The four men exchanged cups and toasts. When Shao Mingyuan returned to his room, he was already slightly intoxicated.

He had already bathed when he first boarded the ship. Now he lay on the bed fully clothed, but couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.

Many things flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, but what remained clearest in his thoughts was that slender figure and the faint sandalwood scent lingering at his nose.

This wouldn’t do, Shao Mingyuan thought hazily.

He had already sworn never to marry again in this lifetime. How could he still be thinking about Miss Li?

The young general opened his eyes and stared straight at the painted ceiling, feeling quite self-reproachful, yet unable to control his thoughts: Miss Li seemed somewhat unhappy when she left today, but he wondered what it was about.

As the wine’s effects surged, Shao Mingyuan raised his hand to rub his temples. After rubbing for several circles, his hand suddenly paused: he remembered now – Miss Li seemed quite attentive to his pouch, and she had looked back at the pillow when leaving.

Thinking this way, Shao Mingyuan reached under the pillow, but after touching nothing, he belatedly realized the pouch was tucked in his embrace.

What exactly was in the pouch his brother-in-law had given him?

Shao Mingyuan had never felt such a strong desire to investigate as he did at this moment.

He reached into his embrace to take out the pouch and examined it carefully. Unable to see anything special about it, he finally couldn’t resist opening it.

Inside the pouch was a neatly folded piece of paper, with handwriting faintly visible from the back.

So he had left him a note.

Shao Mingyuan smiled, somewhat puzzled about what Qiao Mo had to say that couldn’t be said to his face, requiring such a method.

Pouches usually contained clever stratagems. He was curious to see what exactly was written on this plain paper.

The folded paper unfolded, and the characters came into view.

Shao Mingyuan only glanced once before sitting up abruptly. Not even bothering to put on his shoes, he pushed open his door and rushed straight to Qiao Zhao’s room.

At this time, it wasn’t too late yet, but since the group had just been drinking, they were all resting in their respective rooms, making the corridor very quiet.

Shao Mingyuan’s mind felt like a firecracker had been lit, exploding and leaving his thoughts completely blank. Acting purely on instinct, he rushed to Qiao Zhao’s door and knocked.

“Who is it?” A’Zhu’s voice came from inside.

“It’s me.”

A’Zhu turned around: “Miss, it seems to be General Shao.”

Since it wasn’t yet bedtime, Qiao Zhao was still fully dressed. Guessing that Shao Mingyuan was coming at this time probably had some urgent matter, she nodded to A’Zhu: “Please let General Shao in.”

A’Zhu, having received instructions, quickly opened the door.

Along with the cool river breeze, a figure rushed in. Fortunately, A’Zhu was naturally composed and didn’t cry out, instead saying quietly: “General Shao, you—”

Before she could finish speaking, she was pushed out by a great force, and immediately afterward, the door slammed shut with a bang.

A’Zhu, shut outside the door, was instantly dumbfounded.

Shao Mingyuan rushed up to Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao was quite surprised.

She had never seen Shao Mingyuan like this – he seemed like a wild beast that had awakened its instincts.

What exactly had happened?

“General Shao, coming at this time—”

Before Qiao Zhao could finish speaking, Shao Mingyuan directly pulled her into his embrace.

Suddenly falling into a broad embrace, Qiao Zhao was completely shocked and couldn’t help crying out: “Shao Mingyuan, you—”

Shao Mingyuan directly bit down on Qiao Zhao’s lips.