When Mu Xueqin’s question was heard, Luo Qingxue, Yue Lian, and Jian Qinwan simultaneously turned around and saw Liang Xiao’s bare chest.
“Ah!” Luo Qingxue, seeing Liang Xiao head-on, cried out in surprise and turned away, her face flushed red.
Jian Qinwan, seeing Liang Xiao’s back, was first startled, then also blushed and turned her head away, focusing only on Mu Xueqin.
It was Yue Lian who, accustomed to such things, looked at the Medical Saint with curiosity.
The seemingly indifferent Medical Saint was actually crying?
Jian Qinwan was also full of disbelief.
Her mother, who had long been accustomed to life and death, was shedding tears for a young man she had never met?
Ding Wuyi’s breath hitched as he gazed at the hideous scars covering Liang Xiao’s back.
To have survived such grievous wounds?!
“Aren’t you the Medical Saint who has saved countless lives? Why are you making such a fuss,” Liang Xiao retorted vaguely.
This Medical Saint clearly understood more than anyone else!
Mu Xueqin regained her composure, her voice still trembling, “I only ask you, what is your relationship with General Tian…”
Yue Lian quickly interjected, “Medical Saint, my young master is a pillar of the state protected by General Tian…”
Mu Xueqin shook her head, pointing at Liang Xiao with a trembling finger, “Let him answer for himself.”
Apart from Ding Wuyi, the other three women were puzzled.
“He is to be my husband sooner or later anyway…” Luo Qingxue mustered her courage and couldn’t help but look at Liang Xiao again, her face still flushed, her red lips pressed together.
Ding Wuyi also stared intently at Liang Xiao’s wounds, his heart filled with complexity.
Pain, worry, doubt…
He remembered what he had said to Xiao Qing back then: Could Liang Xiao possibly be General Tian?
He had later dismissed this conjecture himself!
But now, looking at him…
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and replied, “As Yue Lian said. Besides, your duty is to heal, not to interrogate.”
Mu Xueqin’s eyes darted, she wiped away her tears, and quickly calmed herself, saying, “Alright! Then I will ask you, where did you get all these wounds?”
Liang Xiao fell silent.
Mu Xueqin looked at Yue Lian, “Little girl, do you know? Don’t hide your master’s condition like he does; it will affect my treatment.”
Hearing this, Liang Xiao wished he could throw Mu Xueqin out and have her pick every medicinal herb on Mount Tian.
This old woman, knowing she couldn’t pry any information from him, had resorted to targeting the innocent Yue Lian.
Yue Lian looked nervously at Liang Xiao, “This… only my master knows…”
Oh dear, my good Yue Lian!
Liang Xiao was so touched he almost cried: This girl, she’s keeping her promise!
“Aren’t you the Medical Saint? If you’re healing, you’re healing. Do you need to know the origin of the scars to facilitate mass production?” Liang Xiao taunted.
Luo Qingxue, who had been somewhat shy, was now full of questions. She couldn’t help but step behind Liang Xiao to look, and tears immediately streamed down her face!
This was the first time she had seen the full extent of Liang Xiao’s injuries.
How shocking!
“So, it was because of such severe injuries that he didn’t join the army?”
At this moment, Luo Qingxue’s heart was filled with a mixture of regret and guilt. She longed to embrace Liang Xiao, but then she thought, “But how was he able to escape back to Yanzhou City with such severe injuries that day?”
Mu Xueqin stared fixedly at Liang Xiao with dead fish eyes, her face twitching.
“It doesn’t matter. If you don’t wish to say, I won’t force you. Then I will rely solely on my own judgment.”
“Then hurry up, I’m anxious to return to the capital to find my Xiao Shuangzi.” Liang Xiao urged.
“Who is Xiao Shuangzi?” Mu Xueqin narrowed her eyes and looked at Ding Wuyi.
Ding Wuyi hesitated for a moment, then chuckled dryly, “It is the current Emperor…”
Jian Qinwan was surprised and quickly covered her mouth, lest she laugh out loud.
Mu Xueqin looked back at Liang Xiao, lost in thought, “Oh, I understand. Put your clothes on.”
At this moment, Liang Xiao only wanted to strip all the medicinal herbs from Mount Tian and send them here for Mu Xueqin to grind into medicine!
It was one thing to be wise with age, but she had to be a riddle-maker!
With this thought, Liang Xiao put on his clothes and said, “Miss Qinwan, thank you for your accommodation all this time!”
Jian Qinwan just gave Liang Xiao a stern glare, “Hmph!”
Mentioning Jian Qinwan, Mu Xueqin fell into thought.
A moment later, Mu Xueqin said, “Liang Xiao, your injuries are very serious, and even after healing, you will still need a period of rest. Considering the Emperor’s regard for you and the hatred your enemies hold for you, you will need long-term protection from the finest chivalrous swordsmen of Mount Tian.”
Liang Xiao narrowed his eyes, sizing up Mu Xueqin: Was she trying to plant a spy by my side to investigate my identity?
The others looked at Mu Xueqin in surprise, wondering why she had suddenly become so solicitous.
Jian Qinwan felt her throat dry and picked up her water flask from the table, taking a drink and looking at her mother with a puzzled expression.
Couging a few times, Liang Xiao said sternly, “No need. The Liang Mansion has guards.”
“Yes, yes, ordinary guards can’t compare to Tian Shan swordsmen, after all, they are all disciples of that slut Jian Nan Feng.”
Mu Xueqin muttered resentfully to herself, then looked at Jian Qinwan with eyes full of affection, “From now on, my daughter will be your long-term bodyguard, protecting you closely.”
Jian Qinwan, who was drinking water, finally lost her composure, choking on the water and coughing violently, patting her chest.
Liang Xiao and the others looked bewildered.
“Mother, I don’t want to!” As soon as Jian Qinwan’s violent coughing subsided, she couldn’t help but refuse, “This person is utterly filthy, and his brain is also seriously ill. Not only did he trample on my narcissus patch, but he also peeked at me bathing…”
As she spoke the last words, Jian Qinwan covered her mouth, her face flushed, and glared at Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao’s old face reddened, and he quickly chimed in, “Esteemed Senior Medical Saint, you should consider your daughter’s feelings. She is also not suitable to be a bodyguard. As for seeing her bathe, I truly wasn’t peeking. I meant no offense. After all, I am reading the Spring and Autumn Annals!”
He had no doubt that Jian Qinwan might impulsively stab him in the back at any moment.
“Watching you bathe?” Mu Xueqin pondered for a moment, pursed her lips, and said, “You youngsters should negotiate how to resolve matters like this yourselves, don’t spread it around. If you spread it, you’ll be responsible. The matter of the bodyguard is settled. You all go out first, and leave Liang Xiao behind.”
Jian Qinwan still wanted to protest, but she met Mu Xueqin’s stern gaze and dared not speak. With a wronged expression, she walked outside the bamboo hut.
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian huddled close together, looking nervously at Jian Qinwan, sensing her resentment even from a distance.
“What is Mother plotting, having me be the bodyguard of such a disgusting man? It’s so dirty…” Jian Qinwan couldn’t help but mutter.
Luo Qingxue finally couldn’t hold back and whispered, “Miss Qinwan, if you think the wounds on Liang Xiao’s back are dirty, I will be truly angry…”
Jian Qinwan was taken aback and glared at Luo Qingxue, “It has nothing to do with the wounds. You are not allowed to speak up for him; you are birds of a feather!”
“You…” Luo Qingxue was both angry and anxious, pouting, “Fine, if it’s not that, then all is well!”
Ding Wuyi had been lost in thought about Liang Xiao and had no intention of stopping the girls from bickering.
The voices of two people talking could be heard from inside the bamboo hut.
“Liang Xiao, your body is filled with accumulated toxins from these wounds. Later, I may have to scrape your bones. The pain will be excruciating, unbearable for ordinary people…”
“Heal as you see fit. I only hope to recover soon.”
“Oh, that’s right. After all, you’re not afraid of death, so what is mere pain to you?”
Hearing Mu Xueqin’s words, everyone outside the hut was stunned. Jian Qinwan even stopped glaring at Luo Qingxue.