Shao Mingyuan lay back down.

Right, be patient, just endure until tomorrow.

Outside the window, the moon was bright and stars were sparse, the river breeze was cool. Inside the window, the person tossed and turned, struggling for a long time before finally sitting up.

He couldn’t bear it. He was desperately eager to see her.

Shao Mingyuan got off the bed, pushed open the door, and leaned against the ship’s railing, staring fixedly in the direction of Qiao Zhao’s room. He stood there until the sky showed fish-belly white at the horizon before returning to his room.

Although the weather hadn’t turned cold yet, after standing outside all night, Shao Mingyuan’s hands and feet were ice-cold, but his heart was warm – it had never beaten so rapidly before.

This feeling of accelerated heartbeat was surprisingly wonderful.

Shao Mingyuan went back and reluctantly slept for a while, naturally opening his eyes when it was almost time for breakfast.

“Won’t the General sleep a bit more?” Chenguang asked.

Last night around midnight, he had groggily come out to relieve himself and saw a figure standing by the ship’s railing outside, which startled him so much he lost all drowsiness. Only then did he see it was his General.

What was the General doing, not sleeping properly in the middle of the night?

“No need, let’s go eat.” Shao Mingyuan smiled.

Chenguang scratched his head.

He felt the General had an air of being smitten, as if he could sprout wings and fly at any moment.

Something was wrong, very wrong!

After Shao Mingyuan lifted his foot and left, Chenguang pulled Yeluo into a corner and asked in a low voice: “Yeluo, what good thing happened to the General yesterday?”

“Undressing in front of Miss Li?” The usually taciturn Yeluo thought seriously and couldn’t think of anything more special.

Chenguang waved his hand dismissively: “That doesn’t count as particularly good news, it’s just routine.”

Routine?

Yeluo touched his nose.

So what exactly had happened between the General and Miss Li during the time he was away at sea?

Chenguang glared at Yeluo with frustration and shook his head: “Forget it, it seems like you don’t know anything. I’ll be on duty today.”

Shao Mingyuan had only brought Yeluo on this trip. Although Chenguang was Qiao Zhao’s coachman, since they were traveling by boat this time, he naturally couldn’t be useful, so he cheerfully ran back to continue serving as a bodyguard for his real master.

“Fine.” Yeluo didn’t object.

“Let’s go, we should also go eat first.” Chenguang pulled Yeluo, and the two left arm in arm.

Qiao Zhao had been unsettled by Shao Mingyuan’s shocking behavior last night and naturally hadn’t slept well either.

Hearing their mistress getting up, A’Zhu and Binglu, both sporting dark circles under their eyes, came forward to attend to her.

One held a water basin while the other handed her a towel. After Qiao Zhao washed up, she let A’Zhu arrange her hair in a simple double-ring bun, straightened her skirt, and walked outside.

“Miss—” A’Zhu called from behind, hesitating to speak.

Qiao Zhao turned around: “What is it?”

A’Zhu’s face was slightly red as she raised her hand to point at Qiao Zhao’s lips.

Qiao Zhao was slightly stunned and touched her lips, instructing: “Bring a mirror.”

Binglu brought the mirror, saying angrily: “Miss, look, they’re swollen like sausages, all because of General Shao!”

In the mirror, the young lady’s complexion was somewhat pale, clearly showing insufficient rest, but her lips were vividly red and swollen.

Looking like this, if she said she accidentally bit herself, would anyone believe it?

That bastard!

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together and instructed A’Zhu to take out a redwood box from the luggage. She took out a container of medicinal ointment, picked up a bit of the crystalline balm with her fingertip, and gently applied it to her lips.

Now she was in trouble – she couldn’t go out for breakfast.

“Miss, shall I bring your meal here?”

Qiao Zhao nodded: “Good. Just say I didn’t sleep well last night and have a bit of a headache, so I won’t go out to eat today.”

“Yes.”

Qiao Zhao thought for a moment: “If anyone comes to see me, say I’m sleeping and it’s inconvenient.”

Never mind others, but Chi Can would probably come to check on her if he knew she wasn’t feeling well. If he saw her like this, it would probably cause another round of trouble.

The more Qiao Zhao thought about it, the more annoyed she became.

What kind of fit was Shao Mingyuan having? Where was his composure? His calmness? His cool self-possession?

Moreover, his wife had been gone for less than a year, yet he ran into another young lady’s boudoir and started gnawing without a word?

Miss Qiao became increasingly angry.

This heartless, lustful bastard!

“What if General Shao comes?” Binglu asked tentatively.

Qiao Zhao’s face turned cold: “Then let him in!”

A’Zhu quietly withdrew and headed toward the dining hall.

In the dining hall, Shao Mingyuan was the first to arrive, his eyes fixed on the doorway, sitting on pins and needles.

He hadn’t felt this anxious and nervous even when he got married years ago.

What should he say when Zhaozhao comes later? Would she still be angry?

Forget it, such matters were incredible and inconvenient for others to know. Those words should wait until Zhaozhao gives him acupuncture today.

Yang Houcheng and Chi Can entered one after the other.

“Tingquan, you’re here so early?” Yang Houcheng rubbed his eyes.

“I’ve been hungry for a while.” Shao Mingyuan smiled.

Though he was smiling, he seemed absent-minded.

Yang Houcheng and Chi Can couldn’t help exchanging glances.

This distracted appearance was so incongruous on their friend. Had something happened that they didn’t know about?

“Come back to earth.” Chi Can waved his hand in front of Shao Mingyuan’s eyes.

Shao Mingyuan lowered his gaze, scooped up a spoonful of congee, and commented: “Today’s cloud slice ham congee tastes good.”

Chi Can’s expression was complex: “Tingquan, you’re eating red date congee.”

Shao Mingyuan blinked: “Red date congee? Uh, red date congee tastes good too.”

Chi Can and Yang Houcheng looked at each other.

Confirmed – their friend had lost it.

At this moment, A’Zhu entered carrying a food box. Following Qiao Zhao’s instructions, she informed the three men, packed Qiao Zhao’s breakfast into the food box, curtsied, and withdrew.

“She’s not feeling well?” Chi Can stood up. “I’ll go see her.”

“Young Master Chi, our miss is still lying down. She’s mainly tired from traveling these past days and needs more sleep. It probably wouldn’t be convenient for you to go now.” A’Zhu blocked him with neither servility nor arrogance.

“Then let your miss rest more. If anything happens, report immediately.” Although Chi Can was worried, he understood he couldn’t be as reckless as before, lest he end up annoying his beloved.

He still had a long time to wait for her slowly.

After A’Zhu left, Shao Mingyuan hastily ate a few bites of breakfast and got up to leave.

Zhaozhao had a headache. Was it because she didn’t sleep well?

Uh, it was his fault. Zhaozhao was probably frightened by him yesterday.

Thinking of last night’s loss of control, Shao Mingyuan felt no regret.

If he had to do it again, he would still kiss her.

She was his wife.

However, the most important thing now was to quickly find Zhaozhao and explain everything clearly.

Shao Mingyuan unconsciously walked to Qiao Zhao’s door, remembered A’Zhu’s words, and stopped again.

Zhaozhao was still resting, so he’d wait a bit longer.

Binglu discovered the General standing at the door and said coldly, “General Shao, please go in.”

Shao Mingyuan was slightly surprised and walked in with floating steps.

Chi Can, standing in the corridor, widened his eyes.

What happened to “she’s sleeping and won’t see anyone”?