Chen Guang’s expression changed drastically, his voice trembling: “What did you say?”

How could the General not be able to see? Not being able to see meant his eyes were blind, didn’t it? He must have heard wrong!

Shao Mingyuan’s expression remained calm as he repeated once more: “I can’t see.”

Chen Guang waved his hand in front of Shao Mingyuan’s eyes and noticed that the other’s eyes would blink following the movement of his hand, making him even more confused: “Your eyes have reactions.”

If he were blind, having a hand wave in front of his eyes should produce no reaction at all.

He naturally didn’t doubt that the General would speak nonsense, which made him all the more puzzled.

The young general smiled slightly: “I can feel the wind stirred up by your hand waving, so I blink my eyes accordingly. This way, it looks no different from ordinary people.”

“General, why didn’t you say so earlier? Miss Li knows medicine, doesn’t she? This subordinate will go call Miss Li over.” Chen Guang was so anxious that his face turned pale, and he turned to leave immediately.

“Stop!” Shao Mingyuan called out coldly.

“General?”

The young general lowered his eyelids: “Don’t let Miss Li know.”

“But if Miss Li doesn’t know, who will treat your eyes?” Chen Guang anxiously rubbed his hands.

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Miss Li has been giving me acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicine – she’s been treating me all along. However, I injured my head, which in turn affected my eyes. Even if she knew, it would only make her worry for nothing.”

“Do you plan to keep hiding this forever?”

“This kind of blindness might be temporary. Let’s wait a few more days and see.” Though Shao Mingyuan couldn’t see, his gaze landed accurately in Chen Guang’s direction as he said seriously, “Chen Guang, I can indulge your chattering about other small matters, but if you leak word of this, don’t blame me for handling it according to military law!”

Chen Guang’s heart shuddered, and he immediately responded: “This subordinate obeys!”

After speaking, he hesitated for a long time before carefully asking: “General, what if your eyes… this subordinate is just giving an example, what if—”

“They never get better again, is that what you mean?” Chen Guang asked with difficulty, but Shao Mingyuan still appeared calm and untroubled, as if blindness did not affect him whatsoever. “Then I’ll hide it from Miss Li for a lifetime.”

“Ah!” Chen Guang’s eyes widened. “What about when Miss Li marries over in the future? You and Miss Li will be together day and night – how could you possibly hide it?”

Zhaozhao marrying over, being together day and night…

Hearing Chen Guang’s words, Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth.

He knew it was impossible, but just thinking of such a scene made his heart feel warm.

But how could a blind man give her happiness?

He had earned his current reputation and position through military achievements. If he were already forty or fifty years old, it wouldn’t matter much – after losing his sight, he could retire gracefully and still have a peaceful old age.

But he was only twenty-one years old. Having climbed so high only to go blind, no longer able to lead troops into battle, one could imagine how miserably he would fall.

Retiring due to old age and illness might earn people’s respect – that respect being tolerance for an aging general on his last legs. But sudden success followed by an abrupt fall from grace would only make most people want to kick him while he was down.

Imperial favor was fickle. With no elders above to shelter him and no descendants below to care for him, one could imagine what kind of life he would lead as time passed.

How could he bear to let Zhaozhao live such a life?

Moreover, Zhaozhao was a girl who habitually took responsibility upon herself. After she spoke those heartless words to him, his eyes lost their sight. If she knew, she would surely feel terrible.

He couldn’t bear to see her sad.

“Chen Guang, don’t mention such nonsense again in the future.” Shao Mingyuan warned lightly.

“General—”

Shao Mingyuan’s expression was particularly serious: “You just need to remember that you absolutely cannot let news of my eye problems get out, even when we return to the Capital. Otherwise, what kind of situation awaits me is hard to predict.”

Voluntarily laying low and being forced to withdraw from court due to blindness were different things. Besides not wanting Zhaozhao to blame herself, the matter of his blindness should have been kept secret anyway.

Seeing the General speak so seriously, Chen Guang and Ye Luo immediately responded in unison.

“Ye Luo, you come over too.”

Ye Luo walked over and stood beside Chen Guang.

Shao Mingyuan listened to the sound of Ye Luo’s approaching footsteps and adjusted his gaze to aim at Ye Luo: “Over the next few days, I will quickly adapt to my current situation. Starting today, you two will take turns staying by my side, never leaving even half a step. I will listen to your footsteps to discern direction and avoid obstacles.”

After Shao Mingyuan finished speaking, he got up from the bed.

“General.” Chen Guang hurried to support him.

Shao Mingyuan pushed away Chen Guang’s hand: “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

Chen Guang looked distressed as he bent down to pick up Shao Mingyuan’s shoes and place them by his feet: “General, your shoes.”

Shao Mingyuan’s feet touched the ground, and he groped around tentatively before getting his shoes on properly and standing up.

Everything was pitch black before his eyes. He tentatively took a step forward, feeling an empty, uneasy sensation in his heart.

Taking another step, he heard Chen Guang’s low exclamation: “General, there’s a chair—”

His shin bumped into the chair. It didn’t hurt, but that feeling of being lost and helpless was like the sea outside the window – wave after wave crashing over to drown and submerge a person in despair.

Shao Mingyuan clenched his fist and commanded expressionlessly: “Ye Luo, walk to my front and side. I’ll follow you around the room once. None of you is to speak up and remind me.”

“Yes.”

Ye Luo and Chen Guang had different footstep sounds, which Shao Mingyuan could distinguish clearly.

He listened intently, then began following behind Ye Luo.

One step, two steps. After Ye Luo took six steps, he turned right – he must have reached the wall.

Ye Luo turned right again – he must have gone around the table by the window.

Shao Mingyuan followed behind Ye Luo. At first, he was somewhat clumsy, his steps hesitant when placing his feet, but gradually his pace became steady and composed.

If an outsider were present at this moment, they definitely wouldn’t be able to tell that the young man casually strolling about the room with a relaxed expression was blind.

“Chen Guang, you take over.”

“Right.” Chen Guang quietly wiped his eyes and took Ye Luo’s place.

Qiao Zhao returned to her room and sat on the bed in a daze.

Binglu and A’Zhu exchanged glances.

Binglu couldn’t help but walk over: “Miss, is General Shao alright?”

“He’s fine.” When saying this, Miss Qiao was absent-minded.

“Uh, then this servant will bring you your meal.”

Only then did Qiao Zhao come back to her senses, shaking her head: “No need, I’m not hungry.”

Binglu’s eyes widened: “But you haven’t eaten yet.”

“I’m a bit tired and can’t eat. A’Zhu, go fetch some water.”

After A’Zhu left, Binglu carefully asked: “Miss, are you unhappy?”

Unhappy?

How could she be unhappy? Shao Mingyuan’s appearance just now clearly showed that her words had taken effect, and he had decided to let go.

She should be happy.

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes and smiled self-mockingly.

It was just that she wasn’t as carefree as she had imagined. Having grown accustomed to that person’s passionate pestering, she was simply not used to his cold treatment.

It didn’t matter – sooner or later, she would get used to it.