Though Jia Feng was pleasant, Qiao Zhao and the others couldn’t stay long. After resting for two days, they decided to return to the capital.

At that moment, there was a loud crash from the thatched hut where Physician Li lived. Physician Li ran out coughing, his beard singed black and his hair decorated with various weeds.

Qiao Zhao was startled and quickly took out her handkerchief to wipe Physician Li clean: “Grandfather Li, are you alright? Are you injured?”

Physician Li waved his hand: “I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s just that the house isn’t sturdy enough – I should have built a stone house back then… Eh, when did Zhao girl return?”

Qiao Zhao smiled helplessly: “I’ve been back for two days. Seeing that you haven’t come out, I was just preparing to bid you farewell.”

Physician Li was stunned: “Leaving so soon?”

“I want to return early to overturn the Qiao family fire case.”

Physician Li roughly scratched his hair and complained: “Leaving in such a hurry – why didn’t you tell me earlier, you girl?”

Qiao Zhao smiled: “When you’re researching something, don’t you hate being disturbed the most? Has Grandfather Li made progress with his research?”

Upon hearing this, Physician Li brightened: “Some progress indeed. I’m purifying a medicine for treating malaria…”

Physician Li spoke with great enthusiasm while Qiao Zhao listened with a smile.

When Physician Li finished, Shao Mingyuan beside them cleared his throat gently: “Divine Physician, would you like to go clean up?”

Physician Li suddenly widened his eyes, puzzled: “When did the Marquis arrive?”

Shao Mingyuan silently looked up at the sky.

He was more than a head taller than Zhaozhao – how could Physician Li not notice such a large figure?

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but be amused.

When Grandfather Li was researching anything related to medicine, he was always completely absorbed, so it wasn’t surprising he’d ignore a living person like Shao Mingyuan.

“Leaving right after eating?” Physician Li asked while walking outside.

The group went to the largest tavern in Baiyun Town.

The food and wine were already prepared. After a few cups, Physician Li gradually became tipsy, squinting as he observed Qiao Zhao and Shao Mingyuan, sometimes appearing satisfied, sometimes slightly annoyed.

“Grandfather Li, drink less,” Qiao Zhao advised.

Physician Li took a sip of wine and smiled: “Seeing you return safely makes me happy, and when I’m happy, I must drink.”

“No one’s stopping you from drinking, but still drink less.”

Physician Li looked at Qiao Zhao and chuckled. After laughing for a while, he suddenly glanced at Shao Mingyuan: “Marquis, when might this old man drink the wedding wine?”

Shao Mingyuan quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao and smiled without changing expression: “Next year.”

Upon hearing this, Physician Li’s smile immediately disappeared as he asked Qiao Zhao, “Next year?”

Qiao Zhao’s face reddened slightly: “Don’t listen to his nonsense.”

Seeing this, Physician Li knew something was wrong. He understood the Zhao girl well – what the Champion Marquis said was probably true.

The Zhao girl would only be fourteen next year. How had this brat already won her over?

No, he needed to have a good talk with this brat.

Physician Li set his wine cup down on the table, stood up, and said seriously: “Marquis, this old man has some words for you.”

Shao Mingyuan also stood up. Qiao Zhao keenly noticed that someone’s behavior carried a trace of inexplicable nervousness.

She couldn’t guess what Physician Li would say, but couldn’t help finding it amusing.

Grandfather Li wouldn’t eat people – she didn’t know why he was nervous.

Once outside, the cold wind dispersed the wine’s effects, clearing one’s mind.

Physician Li looked up at the young man before him, who appeared respectfully submissive.

The young man was very tall, with eyes black as polished gemstones. His pure gaze made one immediately sense his upright character.

In the desolate early winter, Physician Li spoke: “Have you thought it through before taking Zhao girl as your wife?”

“I’ve thought it through and won’t change my mind.” Shao Mingyuan answered earnestly.

Physician Li nodded, studying the tall young man before him, then cleared his throat: “The Marquis is quite a bit older than the Zhao girl, isn’t he?”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Not expecting Physician Li to ask this, Shao Mingyuan began coughing in surprise.

Physician Li’s expression remained unchanged as he continued stabbing at Shao Mingyuan’s heart: “Zhao girl barely reaches your chest.”

“Cough, cough, cough.” The young general coughed even harder, looking at Physician Li with his lips moving, seeming to want to speak but hesitating.

“What do you want to say?”

“Zhaozhao is still a bit taller than my chest,” someone corrected.

Physician Li’s face darkened: “Regardless, the Zhao girl is still young now. She’ll only be fourteen after spring, while you’ll be twenty-two!”

Shao Mingyuan looked confused.

Was he so old that Physician Li wouldn’t allow Zhaozhao to marry him?

“Logically, this shouldn’t be my place to say, but since the Zhao girl only has me as an elder, I must still remind the Marquis.”

“Please instruct me freely, Divine Physician.”

Having drunk wine, Physician Li’s face was slightly red, but his eyes were clearer than before drinking.

He beckoned to the tall young man.

Shao Mingyuan leaned down slightly, assuming an attitude of humble listening.

“Zhao’s constitution is naturally more delicate than ordinary women. For her safety, the Marquis cannot let her conceive before she turns eighteen.” Physician Li’s eyes half-closed as he spoke seriously.

Shao Mingyuan’s face immediately turned completely red.

“Can the Marquis do this?” Physician Li looked sideways at the thoroughly embarrassed young man.

What use was being shy? He wanted his guarantee!

“Divine Physician, rest assured. I won’t do anything that would endanger Zhaozhao.”

“Good then.” Physician Li relaxed slightly, stroking his nearly burned-off beard. “With the Marquis’s word, I’m at ease. Alright, Marquis, go back inside and call the Zhao girl out. I have some things to tell her.”

Shao Mingyuan went in, and soon Qiao Zhao came out in his place.

“Grandfather Li.”

“You’re leaving in haste, so Grandfather Li will speak here. Zhao girl, that boy has good character. Since you’re willing to marry him again, forget about the past.”

Qiao Zhao nodded with a smile: “Grandfather Li, rest assured. I understand what to do.”

Seeing Qiao Zhao agree so readily, Physician Li laughed instead: “What, no more smashing cacti?”

Back then, he never would have imagined that the Zhao girl would end up with the child his old friend had favored after all her wanderings.

“Zhao girl, listen to Grandfather Li. When it’s time to smash, you still must smash. If that boy wants to take a concubine or keep a chambermaid, don’t learn from those muddle-headed young ladies of noble families and pretend to be virtuous and gentle. First, smash that boy awake, and if that doesn’t work, Grandfather Li will prepare some non-lethal poisons for you to use on him freely…”

Qiao Zhao was speechless with amusement: “Grandfather Li, rest assured. He won’t.”

What she wanted was the kind of relationship her grandparents had – each other’s only one, walking hand in hand through life, not like her mother who, in middle age, actively arranged for father to take concubines.

If Shao Mingyuan were the type to take concubines, she simply wouldn’t marry him.

Partings are always melancholy. Qiao Zhao’s group boarded the ship docked at the pier. Even when the people on shore gradually became blurred figures, they could still see Physician Li waving at them.

“Zhaozhao, what did Physician Li tell you?” Shao Mingyuan leaned close to Qiao Zhao’s ear and asked softly.

“Grandfather Li said he wants to grow many cacti to add to my dowry when I marry.”