Forcing me to become a concubine? Remarrying the Ninth Prince, she'll be pregnant all over the

"Madam...please wait a moment."

Jiang Fulu, carrying a food box, jogged out of the Mozhai residence, saying, "You haven't eaten yet, Madam."

Lin Wantang stopped, turned around and smiled. She had promised Lin Rucong that she would have lunch with him today when she left home yesterday, so she said, "No, it's already noon, I have an appointment with my father at home."

Jiang Fulu lowered his head, but his smile seemed forced as he thought of something: "That lady... before the master left, he told this old servant that he didn't have time to say it last night because he saw that you were too tired. That is, for this expedition to aid the western border, the emperor appointed Grand Tutor Lin as the commander-in-chief..."

Lin Wantang paused, her steps faltering, and turned back, unable to hide her surprise: "Is what Father-in-law said true?"

"Yes." Jiang Fulu's voice was a little weak when he saw her worried and anxious, but he quickly said, "But the lord instructed that Madam should not worry. The lord has his own way to make the Emperor rescind his order and reassign someone else. This morning, after leaving the mansion, the lord went to the Grand Tutor's mansion first, presumably to discuss this matter with the Grand Tutor."

Lin Wantang's tense heart couldn't help but relax a little. Wei Wujiu was always steady in his dealings and had outstanding strategies. If he could say that, then he must have a way to solve the problem.

"That's fine, I'll listen to the Governor." Lin Wantang didn't want to lose her composure at this time and cause Wei Wujiu any trouble.

When she returned to the Grand Tutor's mansion, she was about to go to the study to pay her respects to Lin Rucong when the steward informed her that Lin Rucong was meeting with several court officials in the main hall.

This is quite strange. Lin Rucong has not been involved in politics for more than two years and has long been a sinecure with his salary halved. The grass on the threshold of the Grand Tutor's mansion has grown wildly and the gate has been deserted for a long time. Yet, there are still court officials coming to pay their respects.

It must be related to the aid from the western border.

Lin Wantang guessed the general idea, but she didn't get involved or eavesdrop. She took Chunhen and Qiuying back to her courtyard and waited until sunset. Lin Rucong still couldn't get rid of those court officials, nor could he have a meal and chat with Lin Wantang.

She had a casual meal with Lin Che, then tested his studies. After Lin Che went off to have some fun, Lin Wantang watched the sunset outside the window and paced back and forth in the room.

Why haven't we heard from Jiang Sijiu and Wei Liu yet?

They should be back by now. Surely they didn't run into trouble on the way?

Lin Wantang didn't want to think the worst, and Chunhen came over to comfort her. Finally, as night deepened, they heard a voice from outside: "Madam! You're back!"

Qiu Ying hurriedly called out, but her steps slowed down considerably. As she supported Jiang Sijiu, she staggered and struggled to move into the room. Jiang Sijiu was covered in cold sweat and could no longer hold on, so she collapsed to the ground.

Lin Wantang was surprised and hurriedly helped her lie down on her bed. She was about to take Jiang Sijiu's pulse again, but Jiang Sijiu reluctantly said, "No need... I took the poison of the Twin Dream-Awakening Fennel... Shunzi took the antidote... I don't know the dosage... I'm fine... I won't die for now..."

The pain of the poison made it difficult for her to stay conscious. She went crazy several times along the way. It was only thanks to Wei Liu's insistence that she bite her wrist and drink blood to control the poison that she was able to maintain a sliver of consciousness until the return.

Jiang Sijiu was extremely weak and tried to finish her sentence in one breath: "Miss... that Twin Dream-Awakening Fragrance withers and dies as soon as it is picked, and cannot be dried and used again... The local elders say... the timing of picking this twin herb must be precise, otherwise... it's all in vain..."

"I dared not delay... and since I couldn't bring the medicine back, I... so I took the liberty of sharing it with Shunzi... using my... our blood... our flesh... perhaps it could neutralize the poison..."

"It's nothing..." Jiang Sijiu bit her tongue, forcing herself to stay conscious. She desperately tore at her wrist, ignoring Lin Wantang's attempts to stop her, letting the blood flow freely: "It doesn't hurt... I'll use this blood... to detoxify!"

Screaming out all her words with all her might, Jiang Sijiu also fainted from exhaustion.

Lin Wantang was stunned, and Wei Liu's voice came from outside: "Miss, saving lives is the most important thing. Miss Jiang is very righteous, please don't let her efforts go to waste!"

Originally, it was Wei Liu who wanted to take the poisonous strain, but Jiang Sijiu disagreed and insisted on taking the highly poisonous strain herself. She even tried to detoxify with her own flesh and blood, but found that neither her flesh and blood nor Wei Liu's flesh and blood would work. The local elders also said that this method was too risky and reckless, but they suggested trying to mix the flesh and blood of both of them, which might be able to detoxify the poison.

Lin Wantang first had Chunhen and Qiuying take care of Jiang Sijiu, then went out of the room and questioned Wei Liu carefully. Finally, she took a clean porcelain bowl and mixed the blood from Wei Liu's cut wrist with Jiang Sijiu's blood.

"Can this single drop of blood really cure the poison?"

Lin Wantang was uncertain and had many doubts. She always felt that even if she rashly made Lin Rucong or Wei Wujiu drink this bowl of blood, it would be similar to the 'antidote' that the emperor would give them from time to time.

It can only provide temporary relief, not a complete cure.

She still needs to find an opportunity, preferably with Wei Wujiu and Lin Rucong, to personally go to Miao territory, find the twin dream-awakening flowers in the mountains, and then use what method, which the local elders certainly didn't fully explain.

In her spare time these days, she also prepared some medicine to suppress and temporarily alleviate the symptoms, had the maid boil it, and fed it to Jiang Sijiu. She also added some easy-to-eat cane sugar to the bowl of blood before having it served to Lin Rucong.

"Try it first. If Father feels unwell after taking it, then let him take this herbal soup."

Lin Wantang instructed her maids and also told Wei Liu to go and rest. After calming herself down, she changed her clothes and left the mansion by sedan chair, checking the time.

Upon arriving at the Vermilion Bird Bridge, she didn't step onto the bridge. Instead, she had the sedan chair bearers find a secluded spot, alight from the sedan chair, and lifted the curtain slightly to gaze at the arched bridge from afar, waiting patiently.

Not long after, a carriage, its opulence concealed, slowly made its way from the other end of the long street to the bridge.

The moon was hazy tonight, and the remaining snow covered the Zhuque Bridge. The lanterns and candles by the bridge were bright and the cold wind howled, swirling up the snow on the ground. Shen Huai'an helped Li Fuhai down from the carriage, stepping on the eunuchs.

He pulled his cloak tighter around him, walked alone on the bridge, and looked around at the empty, deserted surroundings. He frowned, as if sensing something amiss, then turned to beckon Li Fuhai over. Just as he was about to speak, his gaze caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye—

A slender, graceful figure, supported by a maidservant bowing beside her, walked gracefully onto the bridge. The wide cloak perfectly concealed her face, leaving only her elegant figure, which looked remarkably like her.

They actually dared to come.

Shen Huai'an inwardly scoffed, but outwardly smiled and said, "Tang'er..."

But as soon as she opened her mouth, the other person walked up to her and took off her cloak and hood, revealing a beautiful face with delicate features, as lovely as a painting, but it was not Lin Wantang!

"You... how is it you?" Shen Huai'an was shocked. He never dreamed that the person who came would be... Consort Yu!