Yang Houcheng stared in disbelief: “Miss Li, please don’t joke around, alright?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “Why would I joke with Brother Yang?”

She had once learned martial arts and boxing from Shao Mingyuan’s third brother, but her talent was limited. Only archery was somewhat decent, but after so many years without touching a bow and arrow, how could she shoot so accurately?

Landing an arrow right in the heart was something even she hadn’t expected.

“At that time, I was just thinking that the town chief had quite a large build, so that arrow should at least hit somewhere on his body and scare those people.” The young lady explained with a smile.

Yang Houcheng’s mouth twitched.

Did this work?

He scratched his head and asked: “Miss Li, weren’t you afraid of shooting even more off-target and hitting someone else?”

Qiao Zhao tugged at the corner of her lips: “They’re all people who help tyrants commit evil anyway, shooting any of them would be the same.”

Yang Houcheng: “…” Miss Li spoke so righteously that he was left speechless.

“It’s ready.” Qiao Zhao carefully lifted the medicine from the stove and smiled at Yang Houcheng, “Brother Yang, go eat quickly. I’ll deliver this medicine to Brother Shao and then come over.”

“Ah, alright.” Yang Houcheng nodded and turned to leave.

“Miss, be careful, it’s hot. Let this servant carry it.” A’Zhu reached out to take the medicine.

Qiao Zhao thought for a moment and handed the tray to A’Zhu: “A’Zhu, you take it over.”

What if she saw him and said something that would stimulate his headache again?

“Miss?” A’Zhu took the tray but stood still.

Qiao Zhao sighed: “Forget it, come with me.”

If she didn’t go, he would start overthinking again.

Patients were such a hassle.

The master and servant came to Shao Mingyuan’s door, where Ye Luo quickly greeted them.

“Is General Shao resting?”

“The General has been waiting for you, Miss Li. Please come in.” Ye Luo opened the door.

Shao Mingyuan, inside, heard Ye Luo say this and cursed silently: This blockhead, he had told him to quickly invite Miss Li in when she came, but he didn’t tell him to reveal such an obvious truth!

As footsteps approached, Shao Mingyuan smelled the medicinal fragrance and felt warmth in his heart: So Zhaozhao had gone to brew medicine for him.

Qiao Zhao quickly walked to the bedside: “Brother Shao, are you feeling better?”

The man on the bed was leaning against pillows, a faint smile hanging at the corner of his mouth: “Much better.”

“I brewed you a bowl of medicine to clear the mind and reduce turbidity. Drink it while it’s hot.”

“Mm, alright.” Shao Mingyuan extended his hands, wrapped like dumplings.

A’Zhu lowered her eyes and thought: General Shao is quite scheming, obviously wanting her miss to feed him the medicine.

However, A’Zhu wasn’t like Binglu – she was always steady. Despite various thoughts churning in her mind, her expression remained unchanged.

Seeing Shao Mingyuan’s bandaged hands, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but frown and said, “A’Zhu, help General Shao take his medicine.”

A’Zhu hesitated for a moment, meeting Qiao Zhao’s eyes.

Qiao Zhao’s expression was calm, showing no particular emotion.

A’Zhu lowered her eyes and obediently replied: “Yes.”

She held the bowl in one hand and took the spoon with the other, scooping up a spoonful of medicine and bringing it to Shao Mingyuan’s lips: “General Shao, please take your medicine.”

Shao Mingyuan pressed his thin lips together tightly, looking at Qiao Zhao.

Zhaozhao was having another woman feed him medicine.

“Brother Shao, why aren’t you drinking? The medicine will lose its effectiveness if it gets cold.”

“I’ll do it myself.” Someone extended his dumpling-like hands, struggling to reach for the medicine bowl.

Qiao Zhao pressed down on his wrist, looking puzzled.

The young general’s eyelashes trembled, casting an enchanting shadow beneath his eyes: “How about Zhaozhao helps me?”

A vein jumped at Qiao Zhao’s temple.

She understood now – this shameless fellow wanted her to feed him!

“Maybe I should just do it myself.” Shao Mingyuan sighed.

Watching him lift his two bear paws to grab the bowl, Qiao Zhao was almost laughing from anger. She reached out to take the medicine bowl from A’Zhu’s hands: “I’ll do it.”

A’Zhu hurriedly handed over the medicine bowl and spoon to Qiao Zhao, consciously retreating to the doorway. After hesitating, she simply walked out and closed the door.

Qiao Zhao stared in disbelief.

Why was even A’Zhu acting like this? Whose maid was she anyway?

Seeing A’Zhu come out, Ye Luo was somewhat surprised. He silently moved aside to make room for her.

A’Zhu stood properly with her eyes straight ahead, head slightly lowered.

For quite a while, neither spoke. A’Zhu appeared calm and composed, but Ye Luo felt rather awkward.

He wasn’t good at conversation. When he wanted to speak, he first cleared his throat, but after coughing, he suddenly forgot what he had wanted to say. He could only close his mouth and silently gaze at the sky.

When Ye Luo wasn’t paying attention, A’Zhu’s mouth quickly twitched.

Unlike the awkwardness between the young guard and the little maid outside, the atmosphere inside the room was much more comfortable.

“Open your mouth.” Qiao Zhao brought the spoon to Shao Mingyuan’s lips.

Shao Mingyuan obediently opened his mouth and swallowed the medicine, his ears gradually turning red.

Although he was used to being thick-skinned around Zhaozhao, having her feed him medicine while conscious was still a first…

Qiao Zhao glanced at Shao Mingyuan, noticing his reddening ears, and feeling quite speechless.

Wasn’t this what he had requested? She wasn’t even blushing, so why was he?

Somehow, seeing him blush, Miss Qiao relaxed and asked with a smile: “Does it taste good?”

“It tastes good.” Someone nodded foolishly.

Qiao Zhao frowned: “You were knocked silly – even medicine tastes good to you?”

The young general raised an eyebrow and smiled, gazing tenderly at the young lady: “No, it’s because Zhaozhao is feeding me that I find it tasty.”

A whole basin of sweet words wasn’t enough for him, so he continued: “If Zhaozhao would feed me every day, I’d find even bitter herbs delicious.”

“You wish!” Qiao Zhao said angrily.

Shao Mingyuan frowned: “My head seems to hurt again.”

Qiao Zhao: “…”

Now she was beginning to suspect he had deliberately let that stone hit him.

“Zhaozhao, I feel a bit dizzy.” Shao Mingyuan’s face turned pale, and he felt his vision becoming unclear.

This time, he was telling the truth.

It made no sense – others could kill and commit arson without heaven batting an eye, but just because he was coaxing his beloved girl, heaven couldn’t stand it and made him dizzy for real?

“Zhaozhao, I can’t seem to see you.”

Seeing that he didn’t appear to be joking, Qiao Zhao was alarmed and quickly took out silver needles to pierce several acupoints on his head for bloodletting.

“Do you feel any better?”

Shao Mingyuan blinked, his eyes regaining some clarity, but the young lady still appeared somewhat hazy to him.

He couldn’t help but lean closer to look at her, murmuring: “A little better.”

“Let me massage you.”

As the young lady raised her wrist, her wide sleeve slipped down to her elbow, revealing a section of fair arm before the man’s eyes.

Her pale wrist was very close to his nose, and he could smell a faint fragrance – a scent he was already familiar with, but being so close, he detected subtle differences.

The young lady’s fingertips gently pressed around his eyes. Originally cool, they gradually warmed with skin contact. In this uniquely comfortable and relaxing sensation, even one’s self-control seemed to diminish.

“Is it better now?” After massaging for a while, Qiao Zhao lowered her hands and asked.

She was very close to him. Shao Mingyuan watched her rosy lips open and close, unable to resist leaning down.