Physician Li settled into the carriage, still quite displeased, continuously berating Shao Mingyuan: “What use are you anyway? You didn’t even make a sound when we went to the wrong place!”

The innocently scolded Shao Mingyuan explained gently: “I’m not familiar with this area.”

Not just West Main Street—even the places he used to frequent as a youth had become quite unfamiliar to him now.

There was one place on West Main Street that remained vivid in his memory: Chunfeng Tavern.

He, too, had once been young and wild, riding horses and singing with several close friends, just like many other young masters in the Capital. But at fourteen, when his father, the pillar of their family, fell ill in the Northern Territories, the entire family edifice was on the verge of collapse. At that time, he donned armor for his father’s sake and resolutely left behind the splendor and luxury of the Capital.

Before his departure, his friends, still half-grown boys, held a farewell banquet for him at Chunfeng Tavern.

They were still young then, forbidden to drink wine at their respective homes, but that day the group got thoroughly drunk at Chunfeng Tavern. Yang Er even clung to his leg, crying and shouting that he wanted to follow him to the Northern Territories. In the end, unable to tolerate having a human-shaped ornament attached to his leg, he knocked Yang Er unconscious to settle the matter.

Before leaving, he thought he was only temporarily stepping in to resolve his father’s urgent crisis and protect the elderly and young in the clan. But once he truly arrived in the Northern Territories and witnessed with his own eyes the inhuman atrocities committed by the Northern Qi people against the Great Liang civilians, the sword he raised never had another chance to be sheathed.

Those barbarians were beasts who, during food-scarce winters, would preserve captured Great Liang border civilians as dried meat for winter sustenance. They were scoundrels who would publicly take turns violating Great Liang women, then cut off their breasts, roast them over fire, and laugh while eating them with strong liquor.

Whenever he thought of these things, the prosperous and peaceful Capital of his youth faded into a pale dream in his memory.

For him, “How can we call anyplace home until the barbarian invaders are eliminated” wasn’t some heroic declaration, but simply the only choice for a man with backbone.

In the time it took them to exchange just a few words, the carriage stopped, and the coachman called from outside: “Divine Physician, we’ve arrived.”

Physician Li didn’t move, but lifted the window curtain and asked the coachman who had jumped down: “You didn’t get it wrong again this time?”

“No, no, this humble one just ran over to ask the gatekeeper. This is the Li family’s West Residence,” the coachman said breathlessly.

“Fine then. If you get it wrong again, this old man will poison you to death with a pack of rat poison!”

In Qingsong Hall, the eldest young lady Li Jiǎo was chatting and entertaining Old Madam Deng.

Among the four young ladies of the West Residence, Li Jiǎo had lost her mother at a young age and was most cherished by Old Madam Deng. After years of companionship, she naturally held a different place in Old Madam Deng’s heart. At this moment, the old lady was laughing continuously, entertained by her eldest granddaughter.

“Old Madam, the gatekeeper has come to report that Physician Li has come to visit,” the senior maid Qingyu came in to announced.

“Physician Li?” Old Madam Deng was somewhat surprised. “Did you hear correctly? Is it Physician Li?”

“There’s no mistake. This servant asked the woman who delivered the message repeatedly.”

Since Qingyu was always steady and reliable, Old Madam Deng no longer doubted and patted Li Jiǎo’s hand: “Jiǎo’er, you stay here and don’t go out.”

Although given the divine physician’s age, the young ladies in the household didn’t need to avoid him, since Physician Li was visiting for the first time and his temperament and character were unknown, Old Madam Deng prudently had her granddaughter avoid the meeting.

“Alright.” Li Jiǎo nodded obediently.

Old Madam Deng, supported by Qingyu, personally went to the main gate.

Upon seeing Old Madam Deng, Physician Li nodded: “This time it’s correct.”

Meeting Old Madam Deng’s slightly puzzled gaze, he didn’t offer much explanation but stated his purpose directly: “This old man came today because he wants to see my goddaughter.”

“Divine Physician, please come inside and sit first.”

Physician Li nodded and stepped forward.

Having promised to protect Physician Li’s safety, Shao Mingyuan naturally didn’t dare to be negligent and silently followed.

Old Madam Deng’s gaze swept over Shao Mingyuan, vaguely sensing that this guard was somewhat different, but she didn’t think deeply about it and accompanied Physician Li back to Qingsong Hall.

The two took seats in the main room, and Qingyu immediately brought over two cups of hot tea.

“I never expected that troublemaker would still be remembered by the Divine Physician. This old woman is truly ashamed.”

Physician Li had never liked such pleasantries and waved his hand: “Old Madam, there’s no need for courteous words. Where is my goddaughter now? Please call her out so this old man can see her.”

Old Madam Deng smiled: “What a coincidence—because of the rain today, those girls didn’t go to the women’s school. Divine Physician, please wait a moment while this old woman has someone fetch Third Miss.”

After Old Madam Deng finished speaking, she instructed Qingyu: “Go to Yahe Courtyard and invite Third Miss over.”

“Yes.” Qingyu received the order and withdrew.

Li Jiǎo, hiding in the inner room, heard the conversation from the main hall and secretly gritted her teeth.

She didn’t know what dog’s luck Li Zhao had walked into—not only had she suffered no hardship after being kidnapped, but she had even befriended a divine physician.

What did the divine physician look like?

Li Jiǎo’s curiosity was piqued, and she quietly moved to the doorway, carefully lifting a corner of the door curtain to peek outside.

Due to the angle, the first person she saw wasn’t Physician Li, but Shao Mingyuan standing beside him.

He even brought a guard?

Li Jiǎo instinctively frowned, then relaxed: That’s right, it was said that this divine physician was currently staying at Prince Rui’s residence, so having palace guards for protection when going out was normal.

She had no interest in the guard and shifted her gaze downward to Physician Li.

After observing for a moment, Li Jiǎo quietly curved the corners of her lips.

The so-called divine physician looked like nothing more than an ordinary old man, not even as interesting to look at as that guard.

Thinking this, she shifted her gaze upward again, focusing on the young guard.

The young guard seemed to sense something and glanced in this direction, then calmly withdrew his gaze without expression.

In that instant, Li Jiǎo felt as if her mind buzzed, and she hurriedly hid behind the door curtain, her heart pounding as if it would leap from her chest.

That guard, that guard—

She pressed her hand to her heart, and only after her emotions gradually calmed did she extend her delicate jade fingers to lift the door curtain just a fraction, gazing deeply at the young man who stood with lowered eyes beside the divine physician.

She hadn’t seen wrong—that wasn’t a guard at all, but the Marquis Guanjun she had seen on the roadside on Buddha’s Birthday!

Could people look similar?

No, no. That day, because Li Zhao had conversed with Marquis Guanjun in public, she, standing on the roadside, had already deeply imprinted the Marquis’s appearance in her mind.

The person disguised as a guard in the main hall was undoubtedly Marquis Guanjun!

Why would Marquis Guanjun dress as a guard? More importantly, why would Marquis Guanjun accompany the divine physician to the Li Residence?

These questions spun rapidly in Li Jiǎo’s mind, leaving her thoughts in complete disarray.

Just then, a maid’s announcement came from outside: “Third Miss has arrived.”

Li Jiǎo shivered and collected her scattered thoughts, looking toward the entrance.

The slate-colored fine cloth door curtain was lifted, and Qiao Zhao entered with a light smile playing on her lips.