Li Huaiyu clutched the prescription and wound her way to find the pharmacy boy.

“This medicine needs to be brewed for half an hour,” the pharmacy boy said as he gathered the herbs and prepared the pot. “I have quite a bit on my hands; could you help keep an eye on it?”

“Of course!” she replied with a bright smile, nodding as she took the fan from his hand and moved a stool to sit by the small stove.

The pharmacy boy hurried off to another area of the large courtyard, where pots of medicine were brewing everywhere, leaving him no time to pay attention to her.

Huaiyu glanced at the pot, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Half an hour later, the brewed medicine was poured into a bowl and placed in front of Jiang Xuanjin.

Jiang Xuanjin leaned against the headboard, glancing at the medicine and then at her, turning his head away.

Huaiyu was taken aback, then plopped down on the edge of the bed, picked up the bowl, and blew on it. “I understand; here, let me feed you!”

His brows twitched, and Jiang Xuanjin said in a deep voice, “I don’t want to drink it.”

“You can’t skip your medicine when you’re sick!” she exclaimed, then, in a tone like she was coaxing a child, added, “Look, I brewed this medicine for half an hour, using only the best herbs. Even if you don’t care about me, you should at least care about the ingredients.”

Jiang Xuanjin lowered his gaze to the brown liquid, a flicker of light flashing in his eyes.

“You drink a sip first.”

Huh? Huaiyu was momentarily stunned, and then her smile faded. “You suspect me?”

Coughing a couple of times, Jiang Xuanjin replied, “It’s a rule that anything that goes into my mouth must be tasted by someone first.”

“Come on, you just think I’ll poison you,” she scoffed, her expression turning cold as she looked at him. “I’ve guarded this medicine for half an hour, and it’s still hot to the touch. In the end, I’m being treated like a donkey’s liver and lungs.”

Her tone sounded genuinely hurt.

However, Jiang Xuanjin was not swayed. He replied flatly, “You chose to brew the medicine yourself.”

Implying that she was asking for trouble and making things difficult for herself.

“If you don’t want to, you can leave now.”

Huaiyu heard this and laughed, tossing the spoon from the bowl onto a nearby low stool before gulping down the entire bowl of medicine in one go.

That’s right; she didn’t just take a sip; she drank it all down to the last drop.

Jiang Xuanjin had initially maintained a calm demeanor, but upon seeing her actions, his expression finally shifted. “What are you doing?”

Setting the empty bowl down, Huaiyu wiped her mouth. “You don’t trust me, do you? Then you shouldn’t drink this medicine; let Cheng Xu brew it again.”

With that, she stood up to leave.

“….” Jiang Xuanjin was somewhat taken aback. By his judgment, this girl should have intended to cling to him. Although he didn’t know her motives, he assumed she had no good intentions.

Yet, unexpectedly, after he said one thing, she was going to leave.

Huaiyu walked slowly, even deliberately slowing her pace, her back appearing filled with anger and grievance, her shoulders shaking slightly.

Just as she was about to step out the door, she finally heard a voice from behind: “Wait.”

Her heart leaped with joy, and she maintained her aggrieved expression, turning around with a mournful look. “What is it?”

Jiang Xuanjin sighed softly. “Thank you.”

He was someone who responded better to gentleness than harshness. If someone truly cared for him, he should express his gratitude; it was a matter of upbringing. Although this girl’s gaze was somewhat unsettling, her actions did not seem to indicate any intent to harm him. Drinking the medicine she had brewed for half an hour in one go must have burned her throat.

Thinking of this, he glanced at her, pressed his lips together, and softened his expression slightly.

This was the result she wanted!

Huaiyu felt a sly grin spread across her face. This was what it meant to retreat to advance, to entice by letting go—look, she had succeeded again!

She knew how heavy Jiang Xuanjin’s guard was. Before his defenses crumbled, any tricks she played would be useless. That was why she hesitated for half an hour in the courtyard and didn’t put anything in the medicine pot.

It turned out she understood him well!

With a grin, she scooted back to the bedside, tilting her head to look at him. “You actually can’t bear to let me go!”

His previously softened face darkened again at her words. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

It was just a simple thank you!

“Alright, alright, I know you’re shy; I understand!” She patted his shoulder generously. “We’re on the same page.”

On the same page? Jiang Xuanjin was so angry he couldn’t speak, and he coughed a couple of times. Huaiyu exclaimed, “Oh dear!” and slapped her forehead. “You drank my medicine, so you won’t have any today. Your condition might worsen!”

“…Who told you to drink it all at once?”

“I was just angry,” Huaiyu pouted. “I put my heart into helping you, and all I got in return was suspicion. Who wouldn’t be upset?”

Jiang Xuanjin snorted lightly, lying back down and closing his eyes to sleep.

It was already the hour of the rat. Seeing that he had no intention of settling down, Huaiyu sat at the edge of the bed, propping her chin up with one hand while reaching out to check his forehead with the other.

Cheng Xu silently hid in the corner, seeing that she made no aggressive moves, so he remained quiet.

The next morning, just before the hour of the rabbit, Jiang Xuanjin opened his eyes and felt that someone had added to his bed.

Her legs were sprawled over his, her arm draped around his waist. Turning his head, he found a pale, slightly sickly face only half an inch away from his, her light pink lips slightly parted, and a glistening drool trickling down the corner of her mouth…

Jiang Xuanjin blinked in surprise, narrowing his eyes.

Just then, Cheng Xu was about to push the door open when he heard a loud thud from inside.

“Ah!” Huaiyu woke up, rolling on the ground several times before stopping, dazedly looking at the person on the bed. “What are you doing?!”

Leaning against the headboard, Jiang Xuanjin shot her a cold glare. “Shameless!”

Was a man’s bed something anyone could just climb into?

Furious yet amused, Huaiyu pointed at Cheng Xu as he entered. “You ask him! Ask him what you did last night!”

Jiang Xuanjin was taken aback, turning to look at the door, where Cheng Xu stood with an embarrassed expression, placing a basin of water on a nearby shelf and bowing. “Master.”

“What happened?” Jiang Xuanjin asked, somewhat confused.

Cheng Xu scratched the back of his head and walked over to him, speaking softly, “Last night, you had a high fever and were cold all over, so you wouldn’t let go of this young lady’s arm… so…”

Jiang Xuanjin’s face turned pale, his eyes narrowing sharply as he glared at him.

Cheng Xu quickly shook his head. “I’m not lying!”

Huaiyu, still sitting on the ground, huffed, “You started the shamelessness first, and now you’re framing me! Just tell me how you plan to compensate me!”

After a moment, she added, “Besides offering yourself, I won’t accept any other form of compensation.”

“You’re dreaming.” Jiang Xuanjin coughed lightly, turning his head away, his face still flushed.

“Master,” Cheng Xu noticed his obvious embarrassment and quickly came to his aid. “Someone just sent word that Lord Li, the Chancellor’s Grand Historian, wishes to see you.”

Lord Li? Li Fengxing?

Upon hearing this, Huaiyu immediately stood up.