Medicated bath

"Jiang Jin, get up and take your medicine." Wei Shu placed the medicine bowl on the table, then walked to the bedside and lifted the bed curtains.

"Actually, I feel like I'm all better, except for a slight cough. Maybe I can stop taking this medicine tomorrow?"

Jiang Jin pinched her nose and gulped down the Chinese medicine, the familiar bitterness instantly filling her lips and teeth.

"Tomorrow I'll have the physician accompanying His Highness examine you. If the physician says you're fully recovered, then you won't need to take your medicine anymore," Wei Shu said, glancing at Jiang Jin's bitter face.

"Then there's no need to trouble yourself. The palace physicians will make a mountain out of a molehill over the slightest fever. If they were to treat me, I'd probably have to take medicine for another month."

Jiang Jin quickly waved her hand, "I'll continue taking the medicine prescribed for me by the doctor in Zhuxi County."

"This ice?" Wei Shu then noticed that the porcelain jar was already filled with blocks of ice, which had dissipated the heat in the room.

"This was sent by Lady Xueya, who serves Princess Zhaoyang." Jiang Jin placed her hand on the ice and felt the coolness. "It's good to have enough ice; at least I don't have to sleep in the stuffy heat anymore."

"Jiang Jin, be careful not to catch a cold again." Jiang Jin, not wanting to listen to Wei Shu's nagging anymore, picked up her bowl.

"I'll go out and take the dishes. You can tidy up a bit more." Jiang Jin pushed open the door and went to the kitchen. She had just put down the bowls when she saw Chang Yi walking towards her. She couldn't dodge in time and had to face him head-on.

"Commander Chang".

"Madam Wei."

After exchanging greetings, the two passed each other. As they reached the corner, Jiang Jin saw Chang Yi talking to a maid. Although she was curious, Jiang Jin had to abandon the idea of ​​going forward to inquire due to her status.

"Wife?" Xueya, holding the clothes, saw Jiang Jin standing at the corner and called out softly.

"Shh, look." Xueya followed Jiang Jin's gaze and saw Chang Yi chatting animatedly with a maid.

"My lady, what's going on?" Jiang Jin pulled Xueya away hastily. "Who is that maid? Was she from His Highness's palace?"

"She's from His Highness's palace, but just an ordinary maid. Frankly, she wouldn't have any private dealings with court officials." Xueya shook her head suspiciously.

"Could it be that Chang Yi bribed her, wanting this maid to monitor His Highness's every move?" Jiang Jin always harbored some suspicion towards Chang Yi.

"Don't worry, my lady, I will have someone secretly investigate. If this maid has truly betrayed her master, I doubt His Highness will spare her." Xueya said with a stern face, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Jin's wrist.

"My lady, His Highness has asked Lady Zhai to prepare some scar-removing ointment. When you return to the capital, you can have Abei pick it up from the clothing store."

"Alright, is this dress to be sent to His Highness? It doesn't seem like something His Highness usually wears." Jiang Jin glanced at the emerald green dress; it didn't seem to suit Lou Xuan's tastes.

"This was sent by Commandant Chang. His Highness asked me to take it to be washed." Jiang Jin frowned upon hearing this. "How come Chang Yi doesn't even know His Highness's likes and dislikes? When has His Highness ever worn a dress of this color?"

"My lady, what extraordinary abilities could Commander Chang possibly possess to find out His Highness's likes and dislikes? So sending some slightly inappropriate things first will help us get to the point." The two exchanged a smile, and Jiang Jin instantly understood the meaning behind Xueya's words.

"As expected, those who can win His Majesty's favor are all quite cunning." Jiang Jin's words even included a curse on Wei Shu.

"My lady is getting more and more outspoken." Xueya almost burst out laughing, her eyes glancing around every now and then.

"Never mind, I won't keep you any longer. I'll go back to my room first." Jiang Jin waved her hand and walked towards the west wing. As soon as she reached the door, Wei Shu opened it. Their eyes met, and Wei Shu instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why are you back so late?" Wei Shu stepped aside to let Jiang Jin in, then closed the door and bolted it.

"I ran into Commandant Chang and Lady Xueya. I won't get lost in the courtyard, so why are you in such a hurry?" Jiang Jin poured herself a cup of tea, sat down on a stool, and looked at Wei Shu.

"This is Princess Zhaoyang's place, so naturally I'm not worried about anything happening to you. I'm just worried that you might offend Princess Zhaoyang." Wei Shu's tone became slightly more serious when he saw Jiang Jin's nonchalant attitude.

“Princess Zhaoyang and Changyi’s visit here is definitely not just to assist us. To what extent do you think Zhaoyang’s statement that this trip will not be in vain will be true?”

Jiang Jin glanced at Wei Shu's anxious expression and smiled, "Just do it. Princess Zhaoyang shouldn't use you as a scapegoat."

“Princess Zhaoyang is trying to force a dog to jump over the wall.” Wei Shu’s face darkened further. “But if she can’t control herself, I will be the one to bear the consequences.”

“Wei Shu, if you’re unsure, you can write to His Majesty or have an open and honest talk with Princess Zhaoyang. However, since His Majesty sent Princess Zhaoyang here, he must have anticipated this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t really be letting her and Chang Yi develop feelings for each other, would he?” Jiang Jin’s words pinpointed Wei Shu’s suspicions.

"So Your Majesty doesn't intend for Princess Zhaoyang to come out..." Wei Shu didn't finish his sentence, but Jiang Jin knew that Wei Shu might have guessed what the Emperor meant.

"I don't think His Majesty would really let Princess Zhaoyang marry a captain. He'll have to find something else to compensate for it. You're already out of promotion range, but a regular captain isn't."

Jiang Jin's only thought right now was to get Wei Shu away from the right path; she didn't really care where they ended up.

“That makes sense. Princess Zhaoyang is His Majesty’s most beloved daughter, so it’s only right that Commandant Chang be promoted further.” Wei Shu thought Jiang Jin’s words made some sense.

“But these words cannot be spoken by Commandant Chang himself, so it is normal for Princess Zhaoyang to say them,” Jiang Jin quickly added, finally suppressing Wei Shu’s doubts for the time being.

"But we still haven't figured out what to do if an uncontrollable accident happens?" Wei Shu always felt uneasy when faced with uncertainty.

"What's there to be afraid of? Anyway, Wang Juesong is a member of the Wang family. No matter how much they suppress him, they can't get rid of his surname. So why not punish the Wang family as well? If there are any problems in Bianzhou that eventually get out of control, the Wang family can be punished. After all, powerful families aren't afraid of these things."

Jiang Jin placed a cup of tea in Wei Shu's hand, "Since their proud surname brought them glory, they must always pay back."

"You're quite heartless." Wei Shu downed the tea in his cup in one gulp, staring intently at Jiang Jin's face.

“What’s so cruel about that? Aren’t those common people who are desperately climbing the social ladder pitiful?” Jiang Jin’s eyes were full of disgust for the aristocratic families. “Just because they were born into a good family, they think they have the whole world in their hands.”

"Why do you harbor such resentment towards powerful families? Even your father didn't seem to feel this way." Wei Shu stared intently at Jiang Jin, sensing a veil of mystery surrounding her.

"My mother was from the north. Later, she followed my maternal grandfather to Sangzhou, where she met my father." Jiang Jin sighed deeply, her expression gradually becoming serious.

“My parents went to the capital, and my maternal grandfather’s family started a business in Sangzhou. Actually, it wasn’t really a business, just a small stall. Later, my father passed the imperial examination and became a censor. Only then did we learn that my maternal grandfather and his family had been exiled the year after they went to the capital.” Jiang Jin’s eyes were filled with sorrow, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"The reason was simply that my rented stall disturbed their horseback riding at the market. They overturned my maternal grandfather's stall and then took a liking to my aunt. My maternal grandfather begged for mercy in every way, but to no avail. Later, my aunt stabbed that man, and my rented family was exiled to the borderlands, where some died and others were maimed on the way." Jiang Jin's eyes flashed with intense hatred.

“My mother miscarried during her pregnancy due to heartbreak and eventually died of grief. My father has been trying to find my maternal grandfather’s descendants but has not succeeded to this day. How can I not hate them? I wish I could drink their blood and eat their flesh!”

Jiang Jin cried and grabbed Wei Shu's arm, "I will never forget the Sun family of Sangzhou!"

"Jiang Jin!" Wei Shu gently patted Jiang Jin's back and coaxed her softly, "Don't worry, as long as you do it, you will definitely leave evidence. I will stay with you until you avenge your maternal grandfather's family."

"Wei Shu, therefore my resolve is even stronger than yours. I am willing to risk everything to eradicate the aristocratic families. The people of Wei Shu have suffered under their oppression for too long!"

Jiang Jin held back her tears, "I still remember that when my mother died, no one from my maternal grandparents' family came to mourn her, so from then on I knew that everyone outside of aristocratic families was an ant."

"Jiang Jin, rest assured, His Majesty's desire to eliminate the powerful families is no less than yours, and there are many loyal officials in the court. I believe that in time we will surely see a bright and peaceful world."

Wei Shu held Jiang Jin quietly, feeling her tears dripping onto him.

"Alright." After this incident, Hou Shu lost all interest in discussing court affairs. Jiang Jin hastily wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and then had someone lead her to the greenhouse.

Jiang Jin's swollen eyes naturally caught Xue Ya's attention. She took on the task of leading Jiang Jin to the greenhouse and walked ahead of Jiang Jin, asking in a low voice, "Wife, are you alright? Did General Wei bully you?"

"It's nothing, I was just talking about my maternal grandfather. We are still too weak in Sangzhou, and we dare not make any rash moves. Right now, the Sun family's weaknesses are all insignificant. If this continues, we don't know when we will be able to get rid of this festering sore."

Jiang Jin sighed. Sangzhou was too far away, and His Highness had only recently sent people there. The Sun family had dominated Sangzhou for a century; Jiang Jin simply couldn't contend with them.

"My lady, please rest assured. His Majesty and His Highness understand the problems plaguing aristocratic families. I believe that with their full efforts, they will soon be able to eradicate this cancer and restore peace and stability to the people." Xueya pushed open the door, and a strong smell of medicine wafted out.

"This is a medicinal bath?" Jiang Jin immediately took a few steps back, leaning straight against the door.

"My lady, don't overthink it. This is a good thing, it's most effective for your fever. His Highness specifically instructed me to prepare it for you." With Xueya half-pulling and half-dragging, Jiang Jin soaked the medicine in it.

"Take your time soaking. I'll keep watch outside. I'll change the water when it's time, so don't sneak out!"

Xueya carried Jiang Jin's dirty clothes out the door, leaving Jiang Jin alone to face the strong medicinal bath, on the verge of tears.