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"However, I think the one who is most frustrated right now is Lord Dou, whose painstaking plans have been easily disrupted by His Majesty." Jiang Jin's eyes turned cold.

"If the Wang family joins the Third Prince's camp, the balance of power in the court will definitely be disrupted, so I think His Majesty will take action soon." But Jiang Jin also vaguely considered another possibility.

"Could it be that they're also bestowing a concubine upon the Crown Prince?" Zheng Xi wasn't very familiar with the political situation at court.

"No, a concubine of too high a status would easily overshadow the Crown Princess. His Majesty wouldn't deliberately cause discord in the Crown Prince's harem. If the Wang family is sensible, they won't get involved in factional strife. In that case, the only pitiful one to be sacrificed would be Fifth Lady." Jiang Jin suppressed her unease and spoke slowly.

"I don't understand why His Majesty would go to so much trouble just to marry Lady Wang to the Third Prince?" Zheng Xi propped his head up and looked at Jiang Jin with a puzzled expression.

"Perhaps it's a warning, or perhaps His Majesty has other intentions, but I think the journey back to the capital should be much safer."

Jiang Jin estimated the time and got up to go to the window. "It's getting late, be careful, I'm afraid you'll run into Wei Shu." Jiang Jin opened the window a crack to observe the situation outside.

"Alright, then I'll be going now. May my wife be well." Zheng Xi and Jiang Jin curtsied slightly before slipping out through the window crack, their agility astonishing.

Jiang Jin returned to her bed, recalling the news from the capital. The letter mentioned that His Majesty had inspected the arrows and fabric before bestowing the marriage, but Jiang Jin felt she had missed something.

"His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon the Third Prince to the Wang family, so does His Majesty suspect that the assassin was sent by the Crown Prince?" Jiang Jin was still guessing what His Majesty was thinking when footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Madam, the physician has come to take your pulse." A maid's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Come in." Jiang Jin's expression changed from a cold one to a gentle smile.

"Thank you for your help." Jiang Jin's fair arm was wrapped in thick gauze.

"The medicine in Madam's body has been completely expelled; she only needs a few more days of rest to fully recover." Hearing the doctor's words, the maid visibly brightened.

"Madam, this is wonderful!" The maid hurriedly escorted the physician to the courtyard gate, while Jiang Jin stared blankly at the open door.

"Madam, would you like some chicken soup? The chicken is very fresh, and the soup also contains some nourishing ingredients." The maid carefully skimmed off the oil floating on top.

"Where is the general? Has he eaten?" Jiang Jin picked up a spoon and took a few small sips.

"This servant isn't quite sure either. Perhaps we could send someone to the study to ask?" the maid asked, taking the bowl Jiang Jin handed her.

"No need, I was just asking casually." Jiang Jin realized what she had said as soon as the question left her mouth.

"Madam and the General have such a good relationship. Everyone in the manor says you two are a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman. During the days you were unconscious, the General stayed by your side day and night. We wanted to wipe your face, but the General forbade us to do it ourselves!" The maid smiled as she placed the bowls and dishes on a tray.

Jiang Jin didn't know what to say, so she just smiled and said, "I don't need anyone to guard me here. You can stay in the outer room."

Jiang Jin breathed a sigh of relief after lowering the gauze curtains. For a moment, unsure what to do, she could only lie on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

As night fell, Wei Shu carefully opened the door with a lantern, afraid of disturbing Jiang Jin who was sleeping on the bed.

“General, I didn’t sleep.” Jiang Jin leaned against the couch with her hair disheveled. “The physician came to check my pulse today and said I’m fully recovered, so you don’t need to worry about me anymore.”

"Alright." Wei Shu paused, his hand still holding his outer robe, then glanced at Jiang Jin sitting on the couch. The beauty was even more striking under the dim light; her light blue nightgown clung to her exquisite figure, her fair skin tinged with pink.

"General, if there's nothing else, please blow out the candles." Jiang Jin pointed to the lantern on the table.

"Understood." Wei Shu blew out the candle in the lantern, plunging the room into darkness. However, his keen hearing allowed him to sense Jiang Jin's movements as she slipped into the quilt.

"Jiang Jin, would you like to go for a walk tomorrow?" Wei Shu changed into his nightgown in the darkness, his eyes fixed on Jiang Jin through the gauze curtain.

"Okay." Jiang Jin wanted to refuse, but the words wouldn't come out. Perhaps out of guilt, she agreed.

"Get some rest." Wei Shu lay on the floor, and Jiang Jin's steady breathing sounded in his ear.

The next day, Jiang Jin woke up and keenly sensed something was different in the room. Usually, the room was filled with a strong medicinal smell, but today Jiang Jin could clearly smell several wisps of floral fragrance.

"Madam, you're awake!" A maid entered carrying a copper basin adorned with peony blossoms.

"There are flowers in the room?" Jiang Jin, her hair loose, sat down in front of the bronze mirror. Looking in the mirror, she saw a porcelain vase on the table behind her, containing several blooming peonies.

"The peonies in the garden are in full bloom today. Although they are not rare varieties, the general said that the fragrance of the flowers can dispel some of the medicine smell and make the lady feel better. It is better than burning incense."

The maidservant styled Jiang Jin's hair into a bun, then carefully inserted a gilded, carved flower tree hairpin into Jiang Jin's hair.

"Madam, would you like to wear a light green silk dress?" The maid's gaze remained fixed on the light green silk dress on the moon-shaped stool.

“Those aren’t my clothes.” Jiang Jin hesitated for a moment. “I’ll wear the scarlet jacket and blue skirt that I brought.”

Jiang Jin touched the necklace around her neck; the smooth, warm pearls were clearly not a single piece. Suppressing her unease, Jiang Jin put on her cloud-patterned shoes and went out.

"Madam, the General says he wishes you to wait for him in the garden pavilion." Zhou Cong clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Jiang Jin.

"Alright." Zhou Cong specifically instructed people to lower the gauze curtains in the pavilion and to set out fruits before leaving.

"There's no need to wait here anymore, I want to be alone."

Jiang Jin waved for the maid to leave, then sat on the bamboo couch, fanning herself. A familiar, exotic fragrance wafted over, and Jiang Jin looked warily at the figure appearing outside the gauze curtain.

Jiang Jin was about to take out the antidote from her armlet, but her fingers hesitated. Why would Wei Shu, such a meticulous person, use this strangely scented sleeping incense? If he truly wanted to drug someone without anyone noticing, Wei Shu had plenty of colorless and odorless sleeping incense on hand.

He must have had other intentions in doing this. Besides testing him, Jiang Jin couldn't think of any other way to benefit Wei Shu.

Jiang Jin's eyes darkened, and taking advantage of the last bit of strength she had, she swept the three-legged plate off the table. Her arm rested on the round chair, the thin gauze torn open to reveal the scars beneath, but her eyes remained fixed on the person behind the gauze curtain.

The crisp sound of the three-legged chair hitting the ground made Wei Shu's heart skip a beat. He lifted the gauze curtain and saw Jiang Jin's slender arm draped over the round chair. The red marks on her fair skin were jarring to his eyes.

"Jiang Jin!" Wei Shu carefully helped Jiang Jin up, putting his arms around her neck and lifting her into his arms.

"General?" Zhou Cong stepped forward and saw Jiang Jin in Wei Shu's arms.

"So, Madam isn't..." Before he could finish speaking, Wei Shu dashed towards the courtyard.

At three-quarters past noon, Jiang Jin slowly woke up, and waved to Wei Shu, who was sitting by the bed flipping through memorials.

"General, what's wrong with me?" Wei Shu looked up, walked to the bedside, and took Jiang Jin's hand tightly.

"It's nothing serious. The doctor said you're a little weak; you just need to replenish your qi and blood." Seeing Wei Shu's attempt to conceal the truth, Jiang Jin could only sneer inwardly.

"Alright, then I'll stay in my room and rest for the next few days." Jiang Jin obediently didn't press the matter further. There seemed to be a distance between them; Wei Shu held a lantern to read memorials, while Jiang Jin read travelogues.

The five-day period has arrived. Jiang Jin stood in front of the carriage and thanked Governor Wu and his wife who came to see him off. He said, "I have troubled you a lot these past few days. When Governor Wu returns to the capital, we will have a proper get-together. I will then show you both around the capital."

"Madam Wei, you flatter us. We are already deeply grateful for your and General Wei's willingness to help us. Your injury might even be a result of this." Madam Wu looked at the wound on Jiang Jin's shoulder with guilt.

"Madam, please don't worry. I'm much better now, so I'll wait for you both in the capital!" Jiang Jin patted Madam Wu's hand, then turned and got into the carriage. Wei Shu was already sitting inside.

"Shall we take the official road, pass through Bianzhou, and then return to the capital?" Jiang Jin asked Wei Shu, watching the slowly departing supply wagon.

“Yes, we won’t reach the next town until noon. If you’re hungry, you can have some fried dough sticks.” Wei Shu placed the fried dough sticks wrapped in oil paper on the small table.

"Has there been any news from the capital regarding the assassination attempt?" Jiang Jin was well aware of His Majesty's intentions, but she still voiced her doubts.

"No." Wei Shu hesitated for a moment but still concealed what had happened in the capital.

"Very well, it seems that since it involves two princes, even His Majesty cannot make a decision." Jiang Jin didn't say anything more, but simply lifted the curtain and looked at the ground outside the window.

"Upon returning to the capital, the affairs of the court will undoubtedly change constantly. The Crown Prince and the Third Prince are locked in a fierce struggle; you must not get involved in their conflict." A gust of wind carried the floral fragrance emanating from Jiang Jin, which immediately struck Wei Shu's heart.

“I understand. Both parties are watching you. One side wants to threaten you with your mistakes, while the other wants to lure you with benefits. You're in a dilemma now.” Jiang Jin lowered the curtain and looked at Wei Shu with a smile.

"But don't worry, I won't hold you back." Jiang Jin carefully tore off a piece of fried dough and put it in her mouth.

"Although I am not in the court, I can glean some information from the clues. Everyone knows that Du Sanlang is talented but not close to his family. So even if the Crown Princess thinks that the other members of the Du family are useless and that Du Sanlang is unwilling to get involved, that is why His Majesty chose the Du family."

Jiang Jin took a sip of tea and added, "The eldest son of the Dou family married the second daughter of the Wang family, so it seems that the Dou family and the Wang family are more closely connected. That's why His Majesty did not grant the Crown Prince's wish to bestow the fifth daughter of the Wang family upon him as the Crown Princess."

"His Majesty's intentions cannot be presumptuously guessed," Wei Shu said in a deep voice. Jiang Jin couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

"General, you are mistaken. Officials who fail to understand His Majesty's will will die quickly. Not everyone can win the Emperor's favor like you. For example, a minor official once suggested a marriage between Princess Zhaoyang and the Emperor. Enraged, the Emperor issued an edict that all children of that official's family must marry before reaching adulthood, no earlier than later, or face imprisonment in the inner palace." Jiang Jin still remembered the lamps burning all night in that official's house.