Warm medicine emits fragrance

Li Chenbi said it was only once, and he meant it was only once, but he reduced the number of times and increased the duration.

Fan Liuer finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep.

Two days later.

Li Chenbi didn't go out that day. Fan Liuer looked at Li Chenbi, who hadn't left after finishing breakfast, and asked curiously, "Isn't Second Master busy today?"

"I'm not busy." Li Chenbi glanced at Fan Liuer. "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

With Siqing's thoughts on the Star-Picking Pavilion, Fan Liu'er leaned closer to Li Chenbi and said, "Second Master, if you're not busy, could you take me to the Star-Picking Pavilion? I didn't get a good look at it last time I went."

Li Chenbi: "Not today. There's a banquet being held in the East Courtyard today, and there are too many guests coming and going."

Fan Liuer had forgotten about it. "No wonder you're not going out today. Are you going later too?"

"No, I'll stay here with you today. I'll take you out for a stroll tomorrow after the guests have left."

Fan Liuer wasn't in a hurry. She was used to staying in the house every day, so one more day wouldn't make a difference.

However, Fan Liuer found it strange that Li Chenbi did not attend the banquet in the East Courtyard.

Even if Li Chenbi and Li Chenxin don't get along, this banquet is nominally for Li Yuhe to find a husband. As the second uncle, his absence from home will lead outsiders to speculate that the two brothers are at odds.

Li Chenbi is meticulous and never does anything that is detrimental to himself.

So what he wanted was for everyone to know that he and Li Chenxin were at odds?

Fan Liuer couldn't figure out Li Chenbi's purpose in doing this, and she was too lazy to ask, since these things had nothing to do with her anyway.

She was concerned about Li Yuhe.

"Second Master, although this banquet isn't really about choosing a husband for Miss Yuhe, what if the First Master actually takes a liking to someone?"

"Don't worry, Li Yuhe won't get married in the next two years." After saying that, Li Chenbi stood up and picked her up. "You ask too many questions. I'll take you for a walk in the yard."

Fan Liuer's biggest worry was resolved, and she happily followed Li Chenbi for a stroll in the courtyard.

However, strolling around with Li Chenbi is much more tiring than strolling around with Siqing.

Fan Liuer is a lazy person. Even when she's out for a stroll, she has to find a place to sit down after walking a few steps.

When she goes out with Siqing, Siqing naturally indulges her. If she says she wants to sit for a while, she sits for a while; if she says she wants to rest, she rests.

But things were different when she went out with Li Chenbi. The moment her bottom touched the ground, Li Chenbi grabbed her and lifted her up. "How long have we been walking?"

Fan Liuer could only continue wandering around.

After being lifted up by Li Chenbi several times, Fan Liuer, to express her dissatisfaction, clung to Li Chenbi like she had no bones.

She thought that now he should know that she really didn't want to move.

Li Chenbi suppressed the slight upturn of his lips, and in that position, he put his arm around her and continued walking forward.

Fan Liuer: "..."

After the two returned to the house, Fan Liuer began to nag, "Second Master, I don't want you to take me to Zhaixing Pavilion anymore."

Li Chenbi raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Fan Liuer lay down on the couch, looking exhausted. "I'm so tired."

Li Chenbi sat down next to her, put her legs on his own, and pinched the flesh on her calves.

"You need to train more."

Fan Liuer said plaintively, "I have to train at night and during the day! Is this any way to make my life bearable?!"

"You seem to be living a pretty good life. You've gained some weight these past few days." Li Chenbi gently pinched her.

Fan Liuer wanted to refute but couldn't. She had indeed gained some weight recently, and the clothes that had fit her perfectly before were now a bit tight.

It was truly a situation where she couldn't win a fight or an argument. Fan Liuer felt somewhat aggrieved and could only express her dissatisfaction with a long sigh.

Li Chenbi chuckled inwardly, pinching the soft flesh in his hand.

"Don't try to seduce me. The way you look, I just want to do something to you."

Fan Liuer was shocked upon hearing this, "Second Master, you..."

Be yourself!

In the end, Li Chenbi let Fan Liuer go, and the two spent a peaceful day together.

However, Fan Liuer couldn't escape that night. Li Chenbi pinned her down on the bed and devoured her completely, leaving not even a trace.

Inside this room, springtime was in full bloom, while in the east courtyard, it was a scene of bustling revelry, with people toasting and drinking merrily.

In reality, everyone at the table was harboring their own thoughts.

"It seems the rumors are true. Li Chenbi and Li Chenxin are indeed at odds. He won't even attend his own family's banquets," a wine shop owner whispered to the person next to him.

"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have come," the cloth merchant next to him muttered to himself.

Qi Weiming sat in the corner, raising an eyebrow slightly as he listened to the conversation around him.

He came today with a grain merchant he had just met. A few days ago, he learned that the Li family was going to hold a banquet, and he had been thinking about it ever since. He finally managed to win over the grain merchant yesterday and coax him to bring him here.

I came here on official business, but also with some personal motives.

Li Chenbi's absence was unexpected, but he didn't think it was due to discord between the brothers, unlike others.

It could just be a smokescreen to mislead outsiders.

His fingers traced the rim of his glass, his gaze sweeping over everyone at the table, finally settling on Li Chenxin, who sat at the head of the table.

Just then, the music stopped, and Li Chenxin stood up, waved to the dancers, and the dancers and musicians all withdrew.

The noisy banquet suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at Li Chenxin with puzzled expressions.

After the dancers left, the hall doors were closed, and Li Chenxin stepped out from her seat and stood in the center.

"I am honored that you all have graced us with your presence today. As you all know, the purpose of this banquet is to celebrate my daughter's marriage."

"But that's only one reason. The second is for the sake of our Great Yan Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, their expressions gradually becoming serious.

Li Chenxin looked around and, seeing that no one questioned him, continued, "In recent years, the border has been unstable, and foreign enemies have frequently invaded. Although Xingzhou is far from the border, the principle of 'if the lips are cold, the teeth will be gone' is probably self-evident and I don't need to explain it too much."

Li Chenxin spoke at a very long time, until the people below were showing signs of impatience, before finally getting to the point.

"The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen. On a grand scale, it is for the country; on a smaller scale, it is for one's own family. We should all do our part."

"Prince Rong recently went to the front lines to fight the enemy himself, and we, as his subjects, naturally must do our utmost to help him."

"As the leader, I must set an example. I will take the lead and personally donate 10,000 taels for the sake of our family and the community."

As he spoke, a servant carrying a tray walked up to him, and Li Chenxin took out a thick stack of silver notes from his bosom and put them into the tray.

Only then did everyone realize that they had been led astray.

The room was filled with chatter, with people whispering among themselves and talking quietly to the person next to them.

Li Chenxin didn't rush everyone, giving them ample time to discuss. He only spoke again after the noise at the table gradually subsided.

"This matter is entirely voluntary. I, Li, will not force you. If you are willing to do your part for the Great Yan Dynasty, you may stay and continue drinking tea. If you are not willing, you may leave."

"After all, fortune favors the bold, and not everyone can seize the opportunity."

"I think everyone understands what I mean."