By the time they returned to the Shen residence, it was already quite dark. The first thing Shen Yunjiao did upon returning to her room was to take a bath.

Putting everything else aside, opening the museum was really tiring, but it gave Shen Yunjiao a great sense of accomplishment.

She carefully washed her hair with the new perfume from Yuchunfang, then took a comfortable bath. She then casually draped a transparent gauze over her shoulders, her long hair reaching her waist. She gently tucked her sideburns behind her head and sat down in a round-backed chair.

The sheer fabric was thin and clear, and the begonia-colored floral dress casually draped over her chest, concealing the beautiful, snow-white skin beneath her delicate collarbones.

Shen Yunjiao's slender body sank into the armchair, her arms wrapped around her legs, with only a row of smooth, jade-like toes peeking out from under her skirt.

According to older generations, this lazy sitting posture is a sign of qi and blood deficiency.

Shen Yunjiao felt that she had been feeling lazy lately, and after being up all day and night, she was completely listless. Leaning back in her chair, she even started to feel drowsy.

A man stood outside the screen, dressed in a black robe embroidered with python patterns. He was handsome and tall, and his gaze was fixed on her through the screen.

Xiao Huaijin was in a bad mood today. He saw the opening of Shen Yunjiao's clinic and was genuinely happy for her. He also saw Shen Yunjiao save people and win cheers from the crowd, and he even felt a sense of pride.

When he wanted to congratulate Shen Yunjiao, he found that Pei Zhixuan had entered the clinic first.

What is Pei Zhixuan's current status, and why is he still so persistent in pursuing Shen Yunjiao?

Why did Shen Yunjiao accept his gift? Did she still harbor feelings for Pei Zhixuan?

How could she manage to be both embracing Yelü Qi and still maintain a lingering connection with Pei Zhixuan?

Then what am I?

Xiao Huaijin grew angrier the more he thought about it, and the angrier he became, the more he thought about it. His forehead throbbed violently, and the long-lost pain came rushing back like a tide.

He ordered Nanfeng to light the usual incense, but he still couldn't stop the irritability and fear brought on by the recurrence of his headache.

At this moment, he missed Shen Yunjiao's scent terribly, that faint fragrance like flowers blooming after rain.

Xiao Huaijin decided to sneak into the Shen residence under the cover of night.

Through a screen, he saw the culprit that was bothering him. She was leaning back in a round-backed chair, her posture a mix of languidness and allure. Her face was flushed from her recent bath, and she looked quite pretty.

Xiao Huaijin casually picked up a dry handkerchief hanging on the screen, walked behind Shen Yunjiao, whose long, damp hair was still dripping with water. He held the handkerchief in both hands and carefully wiped the water off her hair.

"Fuxia, you should go and rest. It's hot in the summer, your hair will dry on its own in a little while," Shen Yunjiao said listlessly, yawning.

"No, you'll catch a cold if you don't dry yourself off."

The voice behind me was clear and melodious, like a spring.

But it was clearly not Fu Xia speaking.

Shen Yunjiao was instantly wide awake. She opened her eyes and sat up straight in a flash.

Through the bronze mirror, she saw a handsome man standing behind her. His clear, dark eyes were bright and he was staring straight at her.

Shen Yunjiao reacted quickly. She immediately stood up and turned to face Xiao Huaijin. Her slender and plump arms rested on the dressing table. She asked in a calm voice, "Is Your Highness usually this bored? Visiting the Shen residence at night has become a habit."

Xiao Huaijin glanced at Shen Yunjiao's wrist and noticed that it was bare. He then asked, "Why aren't you wearing the pink string I gave you anymore?"

Is it because you're afraid others will misunderstand?

Xiao Huaijin asked silently in his heart.

“I don’t want that ugly thing,” Shen Yunjiao replied awkwardly.

She gets angry whenever the pink rope is mentioned. She liked this pink rope before, not only because it was carefully braided by Xiao Huaijin, but also because of the beautiful memories of that night.

It turns out that this damn prince was giving gifts to everyone he met, which is infuriating.

Xiao Huaijin was taken aback, a hint of unease appearing in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "That was my first time making one. If you don't like it, just throw it away. I'll go back and learn properly, and make an even prettier one for you to wear, okay?"

"No need, you can give it to someone else." Shen Yunjiao thought to herself, why was she getting angry with him? They were going to part ways anyway, and since Xiao Huaijin was here today, she could just clear things up.

“I don’t have anyone else to deliver it to,” Xiao Huaijin replied quickly in a low voice.

Shen Yunjiao, with her sharp ears, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and said, "You can give it to your Northern Hu princess, right? Didn't you already give one? If all else fails, you can give it to Chu Xiyue. Gifts from His Highness the Crown Prince are highly sought after. You can make up more so that everyone can have one."

Xiao Huaijin was speechless after hearing this. Had Shen Yunjiao started to speak recklessly just to avoid accepting his gift?

"I didn't give Loran anything, are you misunderstanding?" Xiao Huaijin asked seriously, grasping Shen Yunjiao's hand. "Today Loran insisted on buying a colorful rope, so I took her to the old lady's stall we knew before. She and Yelü Qi stayed there, and I went back first—"

When I returned to the clinic where you were, I saw you chatting with Pei Zhixuan as if no one else was around, and you even accepted a gift from him.

Thinking of this, Xiao Huaijin's face instantly turned cold. He kicked away the chair that was standing between the two of them, moved closer to Shen Yunjiao, and pressed her for an answer: "Did you accept Pei Zhixuan's gift, which is why you hate the gift I gave you? Did he also braid a pink rope? Or carve a jade stone for you? I can definitely do better than him what he can do."

Shen Yunjiao stared at him in silence for a moment, then suddenly said, "Xiao Huaijin, the Northern Hu princess came to see me today. She told me that you and she were childhood sweethearts and that you will be engaged in a few days."

"Since you're getting married, we can't continue like this. I can continue to help you find the antidote, and you can introduce me to that miracle doctor. We can try to find a solution together, but we shouldn't have any further contact in private."

The more Shen Yunjiao spoke, the more gloomy Xiao Huaijin's face became.

Those once gentle, peach-blossom eyes now slanted slightly upwards at the corners, and without warning, they were filled with intense anger.

"Chen! Yun! Jiao!"

Xiao Huaijin leaned down and pulled Shen Yunjiao into his arms, his hot breath brushing against her ear, "I'll pretend I never heard what you just said."

Shen Yunjiao hugged Xiao Huaijin tighter and tighter until she could hardly breathe, so she frowned and reached out to push Xiao Huaijin's chest: "Let me go."

Xiao Huaijin was unwilling to let go. He held Shen Yunjiao tightly, his expression as if he wanted to devour her whole.

The two pushed and shoved each other, bringing them very close together. Shen Yunjiao could even smell a faint fragrance emanating from Xiao Huaijin.

It was his usual clear and refreshing scent, like that of pine and cypress, mixed with a hint of blood.

Wait, the smell of blood?

Shen Yunjiao suddenly felt something was strange.

Why does Xiao Huaijin smell of blood?