Mu Xueqin remained silent, holding Jian Qinwan's hand as they walked to a stone table in the distance and sat down.
Seeing her pleas were in vain, Jian Qinwan began to cling to Mu Xueqin's arm and act spoiled, "Mother, take back your command..."
"You dislike Liang Xiao very much?" Mu Xueqin asked with a wry smile.
Jian Qinwan showed a look of disdain, "This person is more shameless than the average scholar, but that's not the point. He's also rudely destroyed someone's narcissus patch. So dirty!"
Mu Xueqin was silent.
Jian Qinwan complained again, "Even if Mother insists I become a bodyguard, it should be to protect that Imperial... Princess, not some stinky man."
Only then did Mu Xueqin look at Jian Qinwan and say word by word, "What if Liang Xiao might be the Heavenly General himself?"
This single sentence struck Jian Qinwan like a bolt from the blue, leaving her flustered and at a loss!
"The, the Heavenly General?"
Jian Qinwan stiffly turned her head away, her voice trembling, tears welling up in her eyes as she sobbed, "H-how could that be? The Heavenly General has already ascended to divinity..."
"No one found the Heavenly General's body, did they?" Mu Xueqin sighed mournfully.
"But, this has nothing to do with Liang Xiao..." Jian Qinwan clutched her head, her voice trembling.
Her beautiful eyes, which had once sparkled with brilliance, now seemed somewhat unfocused, her mind a jumbled mess.
"The person the Heavenly General protected is him, how could it be such a coincidence?" Mu Xueqin said sternly.
"Perhaps it's because the Heavenly General has discerning eyes and knows he's an anomaly among scholars who can benefit the people..." Jian Qinwan weakly offered as a defense.
Mu Xueqin's body began to tremble, and after a moment, she covered her face and wept.
"His injuries clearly indicate he went through a fierce battle, exhausted himself fighting, and was also frostbitten, causing the cold evil to invade his body, making him look so ferocious..."
"Went through a fierce battle? Exhausted himself fighting?" Jian Qinwan was stunned.
"Moreover, his physique is unlike ordinary people, very likely possessing rare innate divine strength. His willpower is the same, enduring pain. I initially thought, no matter how much he could endure, it would take him three days..." Mu Xueqin continued.
"Innate divine strength?" Jian Qinwan's breath hitched.
Innate divine strength sounded miraculous to outsiders, but Jian Qinwan, having been exposed to medicine under Mu Xueqin's tutelage, also knew clearly: it was merely a superior physique and greater strength than ordinary people, not some world-creating divine power.
"These are not the key points," Mu Xueqin's voice trembled as she finally revealed her true thoughts, "The key is, with such severe injuries, even with innate divine strength, according to common sense, he should have died. But, he actually survived!"
Jian Qinwan lowered her hands and turned back, staring blankly at her mother.
"Facing such a desperate situation, perhaps only a divine being like the Heavenly General could survive!"
Mu Xueqin's words echoed repeatedly in Jian Qinwan's mind.
At this moment, Jian Qinwan felt her head buzzing, yet it was also blank, her breathing stopped.
Mu Xueqin then grasped Jian Qinwan's delicate hands and choked back tears, "What if he really is the Heavenly General? Then he possesses literary and martial talents... that surpass all ages! And the reason he's become like this and doesn't wish for his identity to be revealed must have its difficulties. My child, I can only go this far; you must discover the truth yourself!"
"He, he..."
Jian Qinwan opened her mouth, but could say nothing. She felt her vision spin and then fainted into Mu Xueqin's arms.
"Young Master, does it hurt?"
In the bamboo house, Yue Lian asked Liang Xiao with tears in her eyes, massaging his limbs.
"It doesn't hurt."
Liang Xiao's nonchalant reply brought fresh tears to the eyes of Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian.
"This kind of pain, for an ordinary person, would have them crying out or even fainting. You must not touch his back carelessly."
They still remembered Mu Xueqin's admonition.
How could it not hurt!
Liang Xiao looked back at the two women, forcing a weak smile on his pale face, "Oh, don't cry. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. I only feel relieved in my heart now."
Luo Qingxue cried like a weeping pear blossom, afraid to touch Liang Xiao's back. She could only gently stroke his face, gazing into his eyes with affection.
"It's all my fault..." Luo Qingxue was filled with guilt.
Perhaps it was her constant "hope for her husband to become a dragon" that had made Liang Xiao act impulsively and go outside Yan Prefecture City?
Liang Xiao saw through Luo Qingxue's thoughts and gently comforted her, "It has nothing to do with you, Qingxue. I will make everyone in the world understand that my woman, Liang Xiao's woman, is the most exceptional woman in the world."
Luo Qingxue felt much better and obediently nodded, quietly rubbing Liang Xiao gently with Yue Lian, weeping silently.
An hour later, Liang Xiao asked with a look of confusion, "Where is the Medical Saint? It's so dark, and she's been worrying about me all day. I hope she hasn't fainted outside."
Luo Qingxue understood and stood up, "I'll go find her."
Just then, Mu Xueqin entered with Jian Qinwan.
Liang Xiao looked up and smiled, "Did you use some crooked method to transfer your energy to your mother?"
Mu Xueqin was beaming, while Jian Qinwan's complexion looked pale, her head bowed silently, her expression complex, no longer possessing her usual noble and aloof demeanor.
Mu Xueqin pulled Jian Qinwan to sit on a long bench nearby and asked with a smile, "Liang Xiao, how are you feeling?"
Liang Xiao replied gratefully, "I feel completely refreshed. As expected of the Medical Saint; I, Liang Xiao, will always remember this kindness!"
Hearing Liang Xiao could still smile through the pain, Jian Qinwan immediately turned away, wiping away the tears that welled up in her eyes.
"What's wrong with her?" Luo Qingxue asked Jian Qinwan, puzzled.
The Jian Qinwan from before was like a proud peacock, noble and arrogant.
"It's nothing serious," Mu Xueqin smiled.
Liang Xiao glanced at Jian Qinwan and said, "Drink more hot water, boil some brown sugar to replenish blood, and you'll be fine in a few days. Medical Saint, you understand. Don't forget to offer timely guidance and spend more time with the child; psychological counseling is very important. Once a girl gets her period, she might cry just by looking at the white clouds in the sky."
In an instant, the bamboo house became eerily quiet.
The four women in the bamboo house simultaneously had the same question: This person seems to know a lot? Has he experienced menstruation?
Jian Qinwan came back to her senses, veins bulging on her fair neck, but she ultimately held back.
"Are you telling an elder what to do?" Mu Xueqin looked at Liang Xiao, with a half-smile.
"No, no, no. You are the current Medical Saint, I'm merely offering a suggestion," Liang Xiao quickly defended.
"The current Medical Saint cannot even eradicate smallpox from the common people, and I still need you to remind me," Mu Xueqin sighed, her eyes also moistening. "Moreover, my daughter has a heart ailment that I cannot cure; I can only seek your help."
Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian looked at Liang Xiao with admiration.
Good heavens, even the Medical Saint respects him!
Liang Xiao could only chuckle wryly.
Anyone who might uncover his identity, he had to minimize conversation with them, lest these worldly-wise individuals expose him!
Compared to them, Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian were as simple as blank sheets of paper!
"You just said you will remember my kindness,"
Mu Xueqin smiled, turned Jian Qinwan around, and added, "My daughter is young. Let her be your personal bodyguard, and at the same time, let her see more of the world and cure her heart ailment."