Su Yujiao asked, "This plague in Shu has spread far and wide. I heard that the Crown Prince will personally go there to control the plague?"

"Yes, this mission is very dangerous. On the surface, it's the Emperor training the Crown Prince, but in reality, it's a scheme by Consort Jing and the Third Prince."

“They would love for the prince to contract the plague. Even if the prince is not infected, the journey will certainly be fraught with danger.”

Gu Heng made no attempt to hide anything from Su Yujiao.

Su Yujiao then asked, "Are you going this time too?"

Gu Heng nodded again: "As the Crown Prince's companion, I will naturally go with him."

Su Yujiao hesitated for a moment before asking, "Brother Gu, can I come with you?"

“I heard about the patient’s symptoms from some traditional Chinese medicine doctors, and perhaps I can cure him.”

Gu Heng stood up excitedly: "You can cure smallpox?"

This is the most contagious and deadliest smallpox plague, which even Doctor Mo couldn't cure. How could she cure it?

Su Yujiao nodded. If it were other plagues, she would have no way to cure them.

But if it's smallpox, she does have ways to prevent it.

Smallpox is incurable but preventable; vaccination with cowpox vaccine is sufficient.

“I can’t cure those who have already contracted the plague, but I have a way to prevent others from getting infected.”

"But the medicine to prevent smallpox needs to be extracted from patients, so I want to go with them."

"I don't necessarily have to go to Sichuan, as long as I can come into contact with patients suffering from the plague."

Seeing that she wasn't joking, Gu Heng gradually calmed down after his initial excitement.

"The epidemic area is dangerous, you'd better not go."

"If you trust me, I can do it for you..."

Su Yujiao interrupted him: "I have to go."

“Making a smallpox vaccine is not a simple task. If you haven’t studied medicine and don’t know how to prevent infection, you can easily get infected.”

"Moreover, I also had my own selfish motives for going to make the vaccine this time."

"If I can perform a great service, the Emperor will surely reward me handsomely, and I will be able to rescue my elder brother."

Gu Heng only realized why she insisted on going to the epidemic area when he heard this; it turned out she wanted to make a contribution to save Su Yujing.

In that case, there's no way he can stop him.

"We'll set off early the day after tomorrow. You can pretend to be my attendant and follow along with the group."

"Can you come out?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, Lu Ziqian will accompany and protect the Crown Prince."

Su Yujiao was also aware of this. Lu Ziqian and the Crown Prince were cousins, and it was destined from birth that he would be the Crown Prince's man.

This mission is dangerous, and the Empress will definitely send Lu Ziqian to protect her closely.

Su Yujiao nodded: "I can get out."

"Aren't you going to let Lu Ziqian know?"

"This trip will probably last for several months. How will you explain it to the General's Mansion?"

"I have my own way."

"Besides, I'm about to divorce Lu Ziqian, and I'm free to go wherever I want. Why should I explain this to the General's Mansion?"

The two discussed some more details before parting ways.

Su Yujiao returned home and immediately plunged into the small kitchen, working until dark.

As soon as Lu Ziqian stepped into the courtyard, he smelled the long-lost aroma of food, which immediately put him in a good mood.

"You're back. Quickly wash your hands and eat."

Su Yujiao walked over with a sweet smile, holding a warm, damp towel in her hand, and gently wiped his hand.

Then, she picked up the teacup from Xiao Tao's hand, stood on tiptoe, and brought it to his lips.

The man rinsed his mouth, and she waited quietly with the spittoon in her hand.

Lu Ziqian enjoyed her attentive service and chuckled, "Why the change of heart today? Not making a fuss anymore?"

Su Yujiao pulled the man's hand and walked towards the dining table. She turned her head and gave a shy, reproachful look, her charming eyes making one's bones melt.

"Am I such an immature person?"

"My husband, try this."

Su Yujiao picked up a piece of crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside roasted mutton and placed it in the man's bowl. Then, she rested her chin on her hand and looked at him with affection.

"Is it tasty?"

The man took a bite, and as always, it was delicious. This was food meant for humans.

Seeing that he was too busy eating to pay attention to her, Su Yujiao smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

Then, she placed a piece of tender, deboned fish into the man's bowl.

Lu Ziqian enjoyed her feeding him with a pleasant mood, and his brows relaxed considerably.

Women should be gentle, just like now, tender and considerate.

"Husband, have you eaten?"

Looking into her smiling eyes, the man suddenly became interested and pulled her into his arms, his hand naturally kneading her: "Why are you being so attentive all of a sudden? You want it again?"

"Um...did you wear it?"

Su Yujiao, her face flushed, straddled the man's lap, her soft lips close to his ear: "I want a child."

"You promised me, you can't go back on your word."

Hearing the woman's sweet voice, Lu Ziqian smiled. No wonder she suddenly changed her personality; it turned out it was for the child.

He had said long ago that she would be eternally grateful if he asked to have a child!

Lu Ziqian looked at her with amusement, and deliberately used his hands to wrap his arms tightly around her slender waist, pressing their bodies together.

"It's a waste for you to have children with this kind of body."

"Now that you're pregnant, I can't touch you anymore... I'm really going to miss you."

When he's in a good mood, he often uses some of the swear words common in the military.

Despite her discomfort, Su Yujiao continued to flatter and fawn over him.

She used to love him, and everything he did made her feel both shy and sweet.

But now she resists every touch he makes.

"Once I become pregnant, I will naturally... naturally arrange a maidservant for you."

"No... I won't make you endure it for too long..."

Lu Ziqian suddenly burst into laughter and couldn't help but pinch her cheek: "You're willing to do that?"

"Your reputation for being jealous is well-known."

Su Yujiao's lips trembled slightly, and she looked like she was about to cry: "Don't you want the child again?"

Seeing that she was about to cry, Lu Ziqian stopped teasing her and carried her to the bedroom, saying, "I always keep my word, so I'll do it now."

Su Yujiao couldn't help but pound the man's shoulder: "Ziqian, put me down, I feel a little nauseous."

Lu Ziqian paused, then immediately let go.

"Are you sick?"

"I ate too much just now, I want to go for a walk in the garden to help digest my food."

Hearing her say that, Lu Ziqian realized he was also stuffed, and his stomach felt bloated.

He took her hand and said, "I'll walk around with you."

Su Yujiao looked at him with a flattered expression, smiled happily, and intertwined her fingers with his.

The two walked hand in hand under a sky full of stars in the quiet moonlight, creating a rather ambiguous atmosphere.

She had fantasized countless times about the two of them walking hand in hand...

Now her fantasy has come true, but unfortunately, it wasn't an expectation, but rather her scheme...

She never imagined that one day she would scheme against him!

The servants in the manor, seeing the two chatting and laughing, taking walks together, and even discussing what to name their future children, all knew that the young mistress had finally overcome her hardships.

From this day forward, she will no longer be a mere figurehead, but the true mistress of the General's Mansion.