Yi Qing's face instantly fell. Why was there a change of person?
This big shot gave her a bit of the jitters.
What if she was exposed?
"What, is there a problem?" Guard Xiao asked, his voice a bit sinister.
"Of course not," Yi Qing quickly composed herself and replied with a fake smile. "It's truly an honor for my humble abode that Guard Xiao has graced it with his presence."
Strangely enough, for such an important person, why didn't the emperor receive him?
No, it was still more important for Xiao Jinghan to have an heir.
Thinking like this, Yi Qing felt relieved.
Just like that, Yi Qing led Guard Xiao back home.
Guard Xiao started sizing up the place as soon as he entered the courtyard.
The small courtyard was clean and tidy. There was a grapevine trellis, a swing, stone tables and chairs, and winnowing baskets for drying herbs. The air was filled with a faint aroma of herbs.
"If you've had enough of looking around, go take a look at your room," Yi Qing stood in front of the door, turned back to look at Guard Xiao, and pointed at the west wing.
"Mother, I'll show him," Baozi, considering himself the man of the house, stepped forward voluntarily.
Yi Qing waved her hand. "Go ahead. I'll go cook. Zisu, go buy a piece of streaky pork."
Zisu glanced at Guard Xiao. "Can you resist him?"
Yi Qing almost choked on her words.
Guard Xiao said coldly, "I'm not that desperate."
Yi Qing: "..."
Zisu nodded. "Judging from your looks, you shouldn't lack for women."
After saying that, she went into the house to get some silver and left.
Yi Qing thought to herself how miserable she was. It was bad enough being teased by Zisu, and now there was another person teaming up with Zisu. Life was just unbearable.
She stewed the braised pork, picked some tender cucumbers from the small vegetable garden outside, pounded them, pulled out a bunch of pinkish radishes for decoration, and then rolled out noodles and baked pancakes.
Considering that Guard Xiao was a grown man, she cooked quite a bit more.
Guard Xiao entered the west wing. Looking at the neat layout and the brand - new bedding on the bed, he couldn't help but ask, "Who used to live here?"
"You," Baozi replied.
Guard Xiao: "..." I meant before.
"Strangers who came to our house."
"Why did your family take in strangers?"
"Because my mother is a doctor," Baozi sat down on a chair by himself. "Please sit. Do you want some tea? My mother is cooking. There will definitely be soup later."
Guard Xiao understood the implication. The little guy didn't want him to cause any trouble asking for water. He was quite a straightforward little thing.
Guard Xiao sat down opposite him. "Are you almost five years old?"
"Four and a half," Baozi swayed his short legs and sized up Xiao Tian carefully from head to toe without the slightest hint of shyness. "Are you really his guard?"
"Why do you ask?" Guard Xiao's gaze fell on the Four Treasures of the Study on the table.
"Because I don't know what else to say to you," Baozi answered honestly. "Why don't you come up with a topic?"
Guard Xiao: "..." I am indeed. Are the Four Treasures of the Study for your mother to write prescriptions?"
"No. My mother doesn't know many characters. They're for Aunt Zisu."
She didn't know how to read?
But then he thought, if Yi Qing wasn't lying and had grown up here, it was a miracle she'd survived. It would be strange if she could read.
But then, how did she treat patients?
Thinking of her shifty eyes, Guard Xiao had a strong feeling that this woman might be a quack doctor, no, a fake doctor who cheated people.
Medicine and witchcraft were often intertwined. Could this woman be pretending to be a witch and prescribing random medicine?
So far, except for the birthmark incident, he could hardly find any flaws in her, but he just had a strong hunch that this woman was very untrustworthy, bold, and there was nothing she wouldn't dare to do.