“Agreed.” Shao Mingyuan accepted readily.

This had no difficulty at all?

Physician Li ungracefully propped up his feet and said lazily, “Well then, this old man intends to visit someone right now. You disguise yourself as a guard and accompany me.”

Back when he had sent Miss Li home, he had promised to visit her once he finished the matters at hand. There was no day better than today. With Marquis Guanjun present, he wouldn’t need to have a string of annoying guards following behind.

Shao Mingyuan was quite surprised but didn’t say much. He called out, “Ye Luo, come in for a moment.”

The guard standing outside pushed open the door and entered.

“General.”

“Come here.”

The loyal guard approached: “What are your orders, General?”

In these people’s hearts, the General was always the General, not some Marquis.

“Take off your clothes.”

“Ah?” Ye Luo was dumbfounded and hesitantly glanced at Physician Li. “General, this… this isn’t appropriate—”

When did his General develop such strange preferences?

Although due to years of campaigning abroad, there were indeed some perverted fellows in the military camps who would mess around – he had even seen two naked men during a nighttime bathroom break – this didn’t mean he would go along with such behavior!

Glancing at the incomparably handsome General, Ye Luo steeled his heart.

Fine, if it was a request from the General he worshipped like a god, he would reluctantly make this sacrifice.

But… what was the deal with that wretched old man nearby?

Shao Mingyuan had no idea that his usually taciturn subordinate’s thoughts had wandered so far. His sword-like brows furrowed slightly: “Stop dawdling and take them off.”

“Uh, I’ll take them off right away!” Those who had followed Shao Mingyuan through life-and-death situations were all agile. Ye Luo unfastened his sword from his waist and hurriedly stripped off his outer garment, while glancing at Physician Li and encouraging himself. He gritted his teeth and reached for his inner trousers.

Seeing the situation was getting strange, Shao Mingyuan directly threw his teacup, which precisely hit Ye Luo’s hand.

Ye Luo cried out in pain, released his precarious inner trousers, and looked at the General with innocent eyes.

“Why are you taking off your inner trousers?” Shao Mingyuan bent down to pick up the outer garment the guard had thrown on the ground and said to Physician Li: “Divine Physician, please wait a moment.”

He took the clothes and went behind the screen in the corner of the private room, removed his white robe, and changed into ordinary guard clothing, then emerged after a moment.

Shao Mingyuan was taller than Ye Luo, so the clothes didn’t fit properly. Fortunately, the trouser legs were tucked into thin-soled boots, so it wasn’t obvious, but the garment was an inch or so too short, revealing his distinct wrist bones and prominent Adam’s apple.

Physician Li glanced at Shao Mingyuan and thought: Even wearing a guard’s clothing, this person doesn’t look the part!

“Divine Physician, may we go now?” Shao Mingyuan picked up the sword Ye Luo had placed on a nearby high table and casually hung it at his waist.

“We may.”

“General—” Ye Luo, now wearing only his undergarments, couldn’t help calling out.

Shao Mingyuan, walking beside Physician Li, turned back: “Have the tavern staff buy you some clothes to wear later.”

Ye Luo opened his mouth.

That wasn’t what he meant! Where was the General going dressed like this with the divine physician? Should he tell the General that these clothes hadn’t been washed for three days?

Thinking of how the General had coldly and ruthlessly punished them by making them run bare-chested through the snow in the Northern Territories, Ye Luo decided it was better not to say anything.

Hearing the commotion, Chi Can turned around. Seeing Shao Mingyuan’s outfit, he raised his eyebrows: “Tingquan, what’s this getup?”

His gaze shifted to Physician Li as he walked over and asked: “Where are you two going?”

Shao Mingyuan was grateful to his friend for helping him invite the divine physician, but this wasn’t a convenient time to talk. He said, “I’ll explain in detail later. I’m accompanying the Divine Physician to see someone first.”

“See whom?” Chi Can knew Shao Mingyuan might not necessarily know, so he looked directly at Physician Li.

Physician Li curled his lips: “What business is it of yours, brat?”

Just moments ago, you were threatening him with Miss Li’s reputation. From now on, stay as far away from Miss Li as possible.

Chi Can’s heart stirred as he suddenly thought of something and blurted out: “Are you going to the Li residence?”

Looking across the capital, if this wretched old man had somewhere he wanted to go, it would probably be none other than Third Miss Li’s home.

Chi Can’s gaze shifted slightly to rest on Shao Mingyuan’s face.

According to that little maid called Binglu, on that day, Third Miss Li had even thrown herself into Tingquan’s arms?

This was impossible – Shao Mingyuan wasn’t even as handsome as him!

For some inexplicable reason, Chi Can didn’t want Shao Mingyuan to go to the Li residence and join the excitement. He blocked Physician Li’s path: “Wouldn’t it be fine if I accompanied you? Having Marquis Guanjun dress up like this – how unseemly if someone saw him!”

“You won’t do.” Physician Li looked Chi Can up and down, shaking his head repeatedly while sneering inwardly: Hehe, want to see Miss Li? No way!

Chi Can’s face darkened: “How am I inadequate?”

Physician Li spoke bluntly without courtesy: “Your martial skills are inadequate. What if I get kidnapped or killed as soon as we go out?”

This brat couldn’t even beat those few people Prince Rui had initially sent south to find him. How could he possibly serve as a bodyguard?

Although Chi Can was furious upon hearing this, it was unfortunately the truth. He suppressed his anger: “Then I’ll accompany you both.”

“No, no.” Physician Li shook his head repeatedly.

“How is this also not acceptable?” Chi Can asked with forced patience.

Physician Li sneered: “It’s fine for him to disguise himself as a guard and accompany me to the Li residence, but you’re like a peacock showing off its feathers – what do you intend by following me to someone’s residence?”

Chi Can’s ears immediately turned red with embarrassment and anger: “The Divine Physician is overthinking. I’m just worried my friend is too honest and might be taken advantage of.”

“Shixi—” Shao Mingyuan, who had been observing coldly, finally couldn’t help but speak: “I won’t be taken advantage of.”

The only people who could take advantage of him were those he was willing to let do so.

Like Physician Li before him, when asking for help, he would accept even going through fire and water, let alone just meeting someone.

“Fine, have it your way!” Burning bridges after crossing them, discarding the bow once the birds were shot. He would never bother with Shao Mingyuan again.

Young Master Chi stormed downstairs with a dark expression.

Shao Mingyuan felt rather helpless.

After years apart, Shixi still had the same temperament. Fortunately, they wouldn’t hold grudges against each other.

“Divine Physician, let’s go.”

The guards from Prince Rui’s mansion, waiting in the tavern’s main hall, all stood up when they saw Physician Li come down.

“This old man has business to attend to. You don’t need to follow.”

“Sir, this probably isn’t appropriate. Your safety is paramount – we dare not not follow.” The lead guard said.

Physician Li moved to the side and pointed to the guard standing beside him with lowered eyes: “He’s here.”

“Just him alone—”

Shao Mingyuan raised his eyes to look at the speaking guard.

His cold eyes were like deep pools, emanating a chilling aura that immediately silenced the man.

It was Marquis Guanjun!

“I’ll accompany the Divine Physician out. If anything happens, I’ll personally apologize to His Highness.” After Shao Mingyuan finished speaking, he began walking forward.

He walked neither hurriedly nor slowly, step by step, toward the lead guard. His overwhelming presence made the guard’s legs go weak, and he unconsciously bent his knees. Before completely losing composure, he quickly stepped aside.

The group watched helplessly as Physician Li, accompanied by Marquis Guanjun, boarded a carriage and quickly disappeared into the curtain of rain.