Warm medicine emits fragrance

Li Chenbi was awakened by the strange sensation on his neck. He slowly opened his eyes, looked down, and saw Fan Liuer staring at his neck, untying the hair ribbon around his neck with both hands, and muttering something.

"I absolutely have to burn this thing!"

Li Chenbi pressed her hand down, his voice hoarse and still drowsy, "This is mine, don't burn it."

Fan Liuer looked up and met those eyes, her gaze filled with righteous indignation and without a trace of shame.

Fan Liuer curled her lip, released her grip, and said, "Shameless!"

After saying that, he turned around and pretended to get out of bed.

Li Chenbi pulled her into his arms, pressed his body against hers, and whispered against the back of her neck, "Sleep with me a little longer."

Li Chenbi slept for another half an hour before getting up. He got up late today and went out without even having breakfast.

After finishing her meal, Fan Liuer wanted to go back to her bed as usual, but Siqing dragged her out of the house.

"Madam Fan, the weather is nice today, let's not stay cooped up inside, let's go for a walk in the yard."

Fan Liuer looked at the sun outside and did not refuse.

The two strolled around the courtyard for a while, and Fan Liuer, on a whim, went up to the waterside pavilion by the pond in the north courtyard.

This waterside pavilion has two floors. Going up to the second floor offers a wider view, allowing you to see beyond the North Courtyard.

Fan Liuer had never come up here before. At first, it was because she wasn't familiar with Li Chenbi yet and didn't dare to wander around the North Courtyard. Later, as winter approached, the weather became so cold that she rarely went out, let alone came to such windy places.

The weather was nice today, with little wind, so she decided to come up and take a look.

He led Siqing up to the second floor, where she leaned on the railing and looked into the distance, feeling very happy.

Siqing pointed to a spot and said excitedly, "You can see the Star-Picking Pavilion from here, but we couldn't go up last time, what a pity."

Fan Liuer also felt regretful, "Exactly."

Siqing turned to look at her, "Madam Fan, why don't you have Second Master take you next time? You won't be afraid of running into trouble, and I can also go with you to broaden my horizons."

Fan Liuer herself also wanted to go for a stroll, and readily agreed, "Okay, no problem."

The two chatted for a while, then Fan Liuer looked away.

The view here is indeed excellent; you can see not only the Star-Picking Pavilion and the back garden, but also the East Courtyard in the distance.

She glanced at the people coming and going at the entrance of the East Wing and asked Siqing, "Wasn't it said that Li Yufeng's condition had stabilized? Why are there still so many people going in and out of the East Wing?"

Siqing leaned over the railing and stared in that direction, also feeling puzzled. "Yes, but those people don't look like doctors."

After saying that, she straightened up and said, "I'll go check it out and I'll be right back."

Before Fan Liuer could speak, she had already turned around and hurried downstairs.

Fan Liuer leaned on the railing and looked down. Soon, Siqing's figure appeared downstairs, and she ran quickly towards the north gate of the courtyard.

Fan Liuer thought that if women could become officials in this world, with Siqing's strong desire for truth, she might become a master detective.

Siqing quickly returned with the truth, along with a pot of hot tea and pastries.

"Madam Fan, I've heard that the master is holding a banquet at his residence the day after tomorrow. Those people were invited to help with the banquet preparations," Siqing said as she placed tea and pastries on the table.

Fan Liuer poured a cup of tea and handed it to Siqing.

After Siqing finished her drink in one gulp, she continued, "I heard that this banquet is very grand, even more grand than the autumn appreciation banquet that the old lady held when she was looking for a match for the second master."

Fan Liuer was now quite curious. These days, the most important events in the Li family, besides the old lady's birthday, were Li Chenbi's marriage.

What could be greater than these two things?

"What is the purpose of this banquet?"

Siqing's face was somewhat solemn. "The person I heard from said that this banquet is ostensibly a poetry gathering hosted by the master, but in reality, it's a place for Miss Yuhe to find a husband."

Fan Liuer frowned. "Find a husband for Miss Yuhe? But didn't Miss Yuhe say that the First Madam wants to marry her off to someone in the capital?"

Siqing sighed, "Perhaps what happened last time made the master and madam not want to keep Miss Yuhe by their side, so they want to marry her off as soon as possible."

Fan Liuer felt that things were not that simple.

People who value profit the most are less likely to give up anything that can bring them gain.

If Li Yuhe marries well, it will bring Li Chenxin many benefits, so he can't possibly marry her off so hastily.

unless...

There are other purposes behind this.

Suspicion lingered in her mind, causing Fan Liu'er to think about the matter all day. She didn't sleep at her usual bedtime, waiting until Li Chenbi returned.

Li Chenbi returned home rather late today. He thought Fan Liuer would have been asleep long ago, so he was a little surprised to see the lights still on in the room.

He pushed open the door and entered the room. He looked at Fan Liuer sitting at the table and then closed the door behind him.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Fan Liuer stood up and walked over to him, taking the outer robe he had taken off. "Second Master, I heard that the First Master is holding a banquet the day after tomorrow to find a husband for Miss Yuhe. Is that true?"

Li Chenbi stopped taking off his clothes and looked at Fan Liuer.

After looking her up and down, he said, "Fan Liuer, I've noticed that you don't care much about me, but you care a lot about Li Yuhe."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, leaned close to Fan Liuer, and stared intently at her. "You wouldn't happen to...like her, would you?"

It's no wonder Li Chenbi overthinks things; Fan Liuer is a heartless person, and even though he's been so good to her, he rarely gets any attention from her.

She had only met Li Yuhe a few times, but she cared a lot about Li Yuhe's affairs.

"I quite like her," Fan Liuer replied readily.

Li Chenbi stared at her. "I mean that kind of liking."

Fan Liuer frowned. "What kind of liking?"

After she finished speaking, she suddenly thought of something and looked at Li Chenbi with a hint of disdain in her eyes.

Li Chenbi clicked his tongue. "You're actually looking at me like that. Could it be that I'm mistaken? Fan Liuer, you should examine whether your behavior is too easily misunderstood."

Fan Liuer opened her eyes wide. "What did I do? I didn't do anything right!"

Li Chenbi: "You haven't answered me yet. Don't evade the question!"

Fan Liuer took a deep breath: "I don't have that kind of crush on Miss Yuhe, no!"

Li Chenbi was relieved. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, then sat her down on a chair. "If it's not true, then it's not true. Why are you making such a fuss?"

Fan Liuer: "..."

After a moment, Fan Liuer gritted her teeth and said, "Second Master, sometimes you should reflect on yourself."

Li Chenbi buried his face in her neck and said in a muffled voice, "I've reflected on my actions. I have indeed gone too far these past few days."

Fan Liuer was somewhat surprised; she hadn't expected that this person would actually know how to reflect on their actions.

Before she could speak, Li Chenbi spoke up again.

"Therefore, I will only do it once today."