Warm medicine emits fragrance

"Wan'er hasn't met Shen Bi yet, has she? He couldn't attend the autumn appreciation banquet yesterday because of other matters," the old lady said with a smile to the girl beside her.

The girl beside her was named Shang Qingwan, a renowned talented woman from Xingzhou.

She attended the autumn appreciation banquet yesterday and stayed by the old lady's side the whole time, but she didn't see Li Chenbi himself until the banquet ended.

She had heard rumors about Li Chenbi before, but because it was not as convenient for women to go out as it was for men, and Li Chenbi rarely attended banquets held by wealthy families in Xingzhou City, she had never been able to see Li Chenbi's true face.

Originally, she wasn't interested in Li Chenbi. Li Chenbi had a bad reputation; he was known for his bad temper, arrogance, and haughtiness. His only redeeming qualities were his wealth and beauty.

But beauty is just a rumor; as long as you have money and power, even a toad can be praised to the skies.

She wouldn't have come if it weren't for her elders valuing the Li family's wealth and status.

However, upon seeing Li Chenbi in person, a slight thought stirred within him.

This time, the rumors are true.

She nodded slightly to Li Chenbi and said softly, "Young Master Li." Her every move exuded the poise and elegance of a lady from a prominent family, without any trace of petty arrogance.

The old lady was very pleased with what she saw.

Li Chenbi knew who this person was, but considering the other party's family background, he couldn't be too disrespectful, so he nodded and replied, "It's rare for Miss Shang to visit our home. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."

"Young Master Li, you are too kind. Your family has been very hospitable."

Looking at the shy and timid face in front of him, Li Chenbi's mind conjured up another face.

With that calm, unperturbed expression, and in the most indifferent tone, he dismissed all his affections as a mere transaction.

My already tight chest felt even more congested.

Other women would love to marry into the Li family and become the richest woman in the entire Xingzhou City, but she didn't want that.

Why shouldn't she want it!

Why should she, a penniless woman with no power or influence, refuse him?

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. At that moment, I felt my blood surging and I couldn't sit down any longer.

"I suddenly feel a little unwell, so I'll have to excuse myself. Miss Shang, please enjoy your meal. Brother, sister-in-law, and mother, please take good care of our guest."

After saying that, he got up and left his seat, giving everyone no time to react.

Only after everyone had left did the people at the table come to their senses.

The old lady was a little embarrassed. Mr. and Mrs. Li Chenxin exchanged glances before the doctor spoke up to ease the awkwardness, "The weather hasn't cooled down completely yet, and Chenbi's body can't handle this weather. He usually eats alone, and it's only today, with Miss Shang here, that he's finally come out to sit for a while."

"Normally, he wouldn't even show his face."

The old lady hurriedly added, "Yes, I was quite surprised that he came out today. I, as his mother, have never seen him in this weather."

Miss Shang smiled along, but a hint of displeasure rose in her heart.

This man is so disrespectful to her, he deserves to die.

Li Chenbi returned to the North Courtyard and stopped in front of the room where Fan Liuer had previously lived.

Li Qiuping, who was following behind, also stopped immediately.

Li Chenbi stared at the door for a couple of seconds, then quickly looked away and started walking upstairs.

Unable to fathom his master's thoughts, Li Qiuping could only follow along once more.

After entering the room, Li Chenbi dismissed the servants and locked himself in the room alone, but he still felt uncomfortable.

Whether I'm lying down or sitting, I always feel very irritable.

He wanted to practice his handwriting to calm his agitation, but his handwriting became increasingly illegible until even he couldn't recognize what he was writing.

He slammed down his pen and called out towards the door.

"Li Qiuping!"

Li Qiuping, who was waiting outside, immediately pushed open the door and entered. "Second Master, is there something you need to tell me?"

"What is she doing?"

Li Qiuping was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized who this "she" was.

"I'll go ask right away." He turned to leave.

He was stopped again, and said, "Never mind."

Li Chenbi thought bitterly, "What she's doing is none of my business!"

Who cares what she's doing!

What is Fan Liuer doing? She is squatting in front of the stove in the kitchen, staring at the sweet potatoes she just buried.

At dinner, the cook put two sweet potatoes in the rice. They were sweet and sticky, and Fan Liu'er had never eaten such delicious sweet potatoes before.

I wanted to eat more after I ate it.

I was thinking of asking the kitchen for some more, but there was nothing left that had been prepared, and the cook had gone home to rest.

Not wanting to trouble others any further, Fan Liuer decided to make a roasted sweet potato herself.

It will definitely taste better than steamed.

In the two days since she moved out of the main courtyard, her life hasn't really changed much. She still eats and sleeps every day, occasionally taking a stroll in the garden of the side courtyard to digest her food.

She even felt more at ease, no longer having to guess what that man was thinking every day, no longer having to scheme against him, and she felt that her mind was much lighter.

Sure enough, she's better suited to this kind of simple, ordinary life.

What kind of wealthy wives are they? They only have a glamorous facade; who knows how many unpleasant things happen inside?

Every day, she had to fight with her mother-in-law, her sisters-in-law, all the concubines in the house, and even the children born to the concubines.

They were exhausted, unlike her carefree life now.

Lost in thought, she momentarily forgot to watch the fire, and by the time she realized it, the sweet potatoes in the stove hole were almost ablaze.

"Ah! My sweet potato!"

She quickly took the sweet potato out and slapped the fire out on the ground.

The fire is out, but there's still a black lump left. I don't know if it's still edible.

She was a little angry for a moment.

That damned Li Chenbi! Of all times to show up, he had to appear while she was roasting sweet potatoes, ruining them like this!

After Li Chenbi called out to Li Qiuping, he was still very agitated, so much so that he couldn't concentrate on anything.

There are too many traces of Fan Liuer in this room; her shadow is everywhere, on the bed, on the table, and on the chair.

The intense heat made him feel like he was about to have a heat attack, and the ice in the room seemed to have lost its effect, making him feel stuffy and panicked.

He paced restlessly around the room, and after a few laps, his nose suddenly started to itch, and he sneezed violently.

Then he hit another one, and then several more in a row.

This surprised him. His body had never been exposed to cold since he was a child, so why was he suddenly sneezing?

Could it be that someone is insulting him?

It must be Fan Liuer! Who else would dare to insult her?

Well, she dares to badmouth him behind his back. She delivered herself right to his doorstep!

Li Qiuping, who was outside the door, was wondering what Li Chenbi was thinking when the door suddenly opened from the inside and Li Chenbi strode out.

"Sir, are you going somewhere?"

He remembered that he didn't have any social engagements tonight.

Li Chenbi walked past him and went straight downstairs, "The side courtyard."

"Oh." Li Qiuping took a step to follow, and only realized what was happening after walking a distance away.

A side courtyard?