explain

The only sound in the room was the clinking of a spoon against the bowl. Wei Shu propped his head up and watched Jiang Jin, who was sitting in a chair flipping through a medical book.

"Are you very familiar with that young man?" Jiang Jin's attention was entirely focused on the medical book in her hands, and she only managed a weak reply, "I've met him a few times."

"He seems to care about you a lot." Wei Shu looked at Jiang Jin flipping through the medical book with some urgency. "I remember that Governor Qu's mansion also has quite a few medical books. Should we have someone go and fetch them?"

"It's alright, I'll look again." Jiang Jin's gaze was fixed on the medical book, so she didn't see the fleeting look of disappointment on Wei Shu's face.

"You two have known each other for a long time?" Wei Shu knew he shouldn't bother Jiang Jin now, but the doubts in his heart were making it hard for him to breathe.

"It's alright." Jiang Jin took a sip of chicken soup and continued reading until the candle was almost burned out, at which point she realized it was already late at night.

"Wei Shu, why aren't you resting yet?" Jiang Jin put down her book and stretched.

"I want to wait for you. I can't sleep without you by my side." Wei Shu patted the empty seat next to him and looked at Jiang Jin expectantly.

"Okay, I'll go wash up." Jiang Jin put on her cloak and opened the door. A crescent moon hung high in the night sky.

“Madam Jiang.” Song Zhimin stood at a distance, holding a piece of paper in his hand. “This shows the changes in Madam Ziyuan’s pulse. Although they are very subtle, it is still possible to see that there is indeed a problem.”

Jiang Jin stepped forward, took the paper, and examined it closely. "Indeed, but wasn't it said to be only six-tenths similar to Luo Luoxiang? Why is it starting to show Luo Luoxiang's pulse characteristics?"

"Perhaps the ingredients were impure or someone altered the formula, but what is certain is that the poison in Ziyuan's body is indeed related to Luoluo incense."

Song Zhimin's heart sank. Although Ziyuan could be a bit sharp-tongued at times, she was still her best friend. Seeing her face death step by step was unbearable for anyone.

"Is there an antidote for that Luo Luo incense? We can have A-Wan try it little by little; we'll eventually find a way to detoxify." Jiang Jin slowly tightened her grip on the paper until blood appeared.

"Ah Jin, calm down. There is a way to cure Luo Luo Xiang, but gathering all those herbs is incredibly difficult. Zi Yuan can't wait!" Song Zhimin wanted to hold Jiang Jin's hand to check on her injuries, but ultimately didn't reach out.

"Are you really going to make me just watch Ziyuan die? Song Zhimin, you may be incredibly calm, but I can't. No matter what, I will save Ziyuan and those innocent people. Give me the medicine and I'll have someone gather it!"

Jiang Jin stretched out her hand in front of Song Zhimin, "You know me. Even if you don't write it down for me, I have ways to get it!"

“One of the medicinal herbs is the South China Sea Ice Lotus. That thing was given to the Dou family when their property was confiscated. Ah Jin, you understand what I mean, right?” Song Zhimin looked at Jiang Jin with red eyes. Although he was wearing a mask, Jiang Jin could still clearly remember his appearance.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know..." Jiang Jin realized she had touched a sore spot and said no more.

"South China Sea Ice Lotus is rare. That one was a lucky find at home; it's hard to find another one like it in the entire Great Yan." Seeing Jiang Jin's tears, Song Zhimin's heart ached.

"Then I'll go to the Dou family and steal it back!" Jiang Jin blurted out, her blood boiling, as she looked at Song Zhimin.

"If you go crazy again, I'll write to His Highness. I can't persuade you, but His Highness can." Song Zhimin knew who Jiang Jin's weakness was, so he brought up Lou Xuan.

"You should think about whether Zhai Wan has a way to replace the South China Sea Snow Lotus, or we can think of another method." Song Zhimin took a step back, afraid that he would be unable to resist wiping away Jiang Jin's tears.

"Will the antidote pill you gave me work? Will it harm Ziyuan?" Jiang Jin suddenly remembered the pill Song Zhimin had just given her.

"It can only cure some common poisons, but I'm not sure how effective it is against Luoluo incense or if it might have any drawbacks," Song Zhimin sighed.

"You should think about why Gao Yunge has such power. If they are really involved in the affairs of Beizhou, how will you extricate yourself unscathed?"

"Do you think I can get out of here unscathed?" Jiang Jin asked, looking into Song Zhimin's eyes. "Did you think about getting out unscathed when you took this step?"

"I'll stay here for now to help stabilize Ziyuan's poison, but I can't guarantee that Wei Shu won't become suspicious." Song Zhimin knew that Jiang Jin was worried about implicating His Highness, so he spoke frankly upfront.

"I'll just explain to Wei Shu that as long as you don't give yourself away, no one will discover your identity." Jiang Jin looked at the lit room behind her and smiled, "Alright, I'm tired, do as you please."

"I have nothing else to do, I'm going to watch over Ziyuan." Song Zhimin followed Jiang Jin's gaze to the shadow standing by the window and smiled, "Is General Wei always like this?"

"He's just a little clingy because he's injured." Jiang Jin smiled as she watched Wei Shu's figure slowly disappear. "I'm leaving."

Jiang Jin turned and left. Song Zhimin stood there, watching Jiang Jin's retreating figure. It was in the same way that Jiang Jin left him when he was standing outside the city.

Wei Shu lay on the couch, staring at the doorway. The scene from earlier kept replaying in his mind's eye: the two of them standing under a tree, the moonlight bathing them. That young master Zheng was clearly a refined gentleman raised in a noble family, possessing an elegance and humility that Wei Shu lacked.

"Wei Shu." Jiang Jin entered the room, placed the papers she was carrying on the table, weighed them down with a paperweight, and then walked to the bedside.

"Young Master Zheng came to see me. Ziyuan's condition isn't good." Jiang Jin knew Wei Shu had seen her standing with Song Zhimin, so she didn't hide anything and told him everything.

"The incense for removing the Luo Luo requires South China Sea snow lotus. Have you heard of South China Sea snow lotus?" Jiang Jin looked at Wei Shu with some anticipation.

"South China Sea Snow Lotus?" Wei Shu slowly rose, lost in thought. "I remember when the Song family was wiped out, a South China Sea Snow Lotus was sent to the Dou family, but it shouldn't be there anymore." Wei Shu couldn't help but sigh as he recalled the events of that time.

"The Song family was indeed innocent victims back then, merely a tool used by the Dou family to make an example of them. Unfortunately, no one could save them. A few years ago, when the Imperial Concubine needed South China Sea Snow Lotus for medicine, the Dou family already presented the Snow Lotus to His Majesty." Wei Shu, being by His Majesty's side, naturally had better access to information than Song Zhimin.

"Is there any other news about Snow Lotus? I'll find the antidote for Luo Luo Xiang no matter where it is, even if it's not in Da Yan." Jiang Jin sat on the edge of the couch, holding Wei Shu's arm and looking at him anxiously.

"I'll have someone inquire about it. Don't worry, it's just a South China Sea snow lotus, nothing particularly valuable." Wei Shu patted Jiang Jin's hair. "Don't be nervous, Lady Ziyuan will be fine."

Jiang Jin stepped over Wei Shu and lay down next to him. "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"

Wei Shu turned his head away, avoiding Jiang Jin's eyes. "No."

"Then I can go to sleep~" Jiang Jin turned over, keeping a close eye on Wei Shu's movements behind her. She heard him fidget for a moment and then poke Jiang Jin's back.

"Will you tell me anything I want to ask?" Wei Shu asked with a smile. Jiang Jin deliberately remained silent, pretending to be asleep.

"Stop pretending, I know best whether you're asleep or not." Wei Shu turned Jiang Jin's body and gave her a light, fleeting kiss on the lips.

"I want to ask how many people Princess Zhaoyang has?" Jiang Jin suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Wei Shu warily, just in time to meet his smiling eyes.

"Not pretending to be asleep anymore?" Wei Shu helped Jiang Jin sit up, and the two of them leaned against the soft pillows together.

"Who told you to spout such nonsense, pulling me right back from my slumber?" Jiang Jin leaned against Wei Shu, thinking of his figure by the window.

"Then I'll give you one more chance, but you have to ask carefully this time, or there won't be a third chance!" Jiang Jin poked Wei Shu's ear. "If you ask any more strange questions, I'm really going to go to sleep."

"Actually, I don't have any questions. Although I have some doubts, it's not to the point of keeping me up at night." Wei Shu also pinched Jiang Jin's earlobe.

“I met Zheng Langjun a few times in the capital.” Jiang Jin took a breath. “But after he chose to leave the capital, we had no contact. Meeting him in Beizhou was just a coincidence.”

"I didn't have any other thoughts. This isn't something I wanted to ask; you brought it up yourself." Wei Shu hugged Jiang Jin, his fingertips caressing her cheek.

"Yes, yes, I couldn't hold it in and told General Wei myself." Jiang Jin reached out and stroked Wei Shu's cheek.

"Wei Shu, you're the only one in my heart right now." Jiang Jin kissed Wei Shu's lips, her kiss both cool and tender, her fingertips hooking around Wei Shu's neck. Wei Shu's warm hands gripped Jiang Jin's waist.

"Alright, are you relieved now?" Jiang Jin smiled, looking at Wei Shu's slightly swollen lips.

"I'm relieved." Wei Shu tapped Jiang Jin's nose, looking at his reflection in her eyes. "Have you ever held hands with him?"

Jiang Jin shook her head. "We've only met a few times. Back then, I was still quite young and hadn't reached the age of marriage."

"When we got married, you were so innocent and naive. I was thinking then that Imperial Censor Jiang's daughter didn't resemble him at all." Wei Shu pulled the blanket over Jiang Jin's waist.

"I just thought you were funny back then, and I wanted to tease you, and you wouldn't have done anything to me." Jiang Jin hugged Wei Shu, feeling the warmth of his body.

"Oh~ Madam has this kind of fetish?" Wei Shu poked Jiang Jin's hand, which was hidden under the covers.

"The fearsome General Wei can be shy for a moment. Don't you find that amusing? Besides, you're my husband, so teasing you is perfectly legitimate." Jiang Jin looked up at Wei Shu's nose.

"Were you even slightly tempted back then? With such a beauty in your arms, wouldn't the general have even the slightest thought of kissing her?" Wei Shu couldn't help but laugh out loud at Jiang Jin's playful expression.

"You really know how to boast, but Ah Jin is indeed as beautiful as a lady in a painting. It's a pity your identity is questionable. I'm still afraid you'll die under the peony." Wei Shu pinched Jiang Jin's fidgeting hand and tucked the blanket around her. "Alright, rest now."