"Young Master Wei, what are you doing here?"

Xiao Qingyin asked.

Wei Yan stood up, blushing, and said, "I... I came to find Yun Shu. I knocked on the door but no one answered, so I sat here and waited."

"She went to Baibaozhai and may not be back for a while."

Wei Yan immediately looked disappointed.

"I can't wait that long."

"What do you need her for? Do you need me to pass on your message?"

I want to apologize to her.

Wei Yan said in a heavy tone.

“His Majesty arranged a marriage for her before, and I promised to help her break off the engagement. My father disagreed with my approach and locked me up, so I couldn’t help her at all. I feel so sorry for her.”

“You’ve done your best,” Xiao Qingyin said with a smile. “She will be grateful to you.”

Wei Yan pursed her lips.

No, he's utterly useless.

Aside from his status as the heir apparent to the Duke of Anguo, he had nothing.

He was almost of age, but his father still treated him like a child, locking him up whenever he felt like it.

He couldn't help anyone like that.

He's been confined to his room for the past two days, and he's figured out a lot of things and made a decision.

Thinking of this, he said to Xiao Qingyin, "Sister Xiao, I'm leaving now, otherwise the city gates will be closed."

Xiao Qingyin looked at the bundle on his shoulder and asked doubtfully, "Aren't you going out of the city so late? Isn't it too dangerous?"

"I've signed up for the firearms battalion."

Wei Yan smiled.

“Someone will meet me at the city gate.”

Xiao Qingyin was extremely surprised.

"You're going to the firearms camp?"

"Um."

Wei Yan nodded emphatically.

“I showed my work to Brother Yi, and he said I had a talent for making firearms. He asked me if I wanted to go, and I agreed.”

I won't be able to visit you as often from now on. The artillery battalion isn't open to the public, and I might only get one day off a month.

Xiao Qingyin: "Does your mother know about this?"

Wei Yan shook his head.

"She doesn't know yet. I'll write to her once I'm in the camp."

If he tells her now, he definitely won't be able to leave.

Seeing that he had already thought it through, Xiao Qingyin could only say, "Then be careful in everything you do."

Wei Yan understood the implication in her words.

He suddenly smiled.

"Don't worry, their reach isn't that long."

The firearms battalion is under Brother Yi's command; Aunt Chang and her brother don't have the ability to place people there.

He is perfectly safe there.

Xiao Qingyin watched him leave.

When Yun Shu and Yun Zhao returned, she conveyed Wei Yan's apology and told them about his joining the firearms battalion.

Yun Shu laughed and said, "You've become quite bold, haven't you? You dare to fly outside now."

Yun Zhao greatly appreciated this.

"This is not a bad way out. Rather than staying in the mansion and suffering open and covert suppression, it is better to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Perhaps we can achieve even greater things."

He just said it casually, but unexpectedly, Wei Yan later had great fortune. The two brothers switched their mindsets, and the one who was jealous became Wei Teng.

...

Xiao Qingyin went to Qingfeng Teahouse the next day.

Zhuang Wanmei had already booked a private room and was waiting for her there.

"This is Chunxiang Pill."

As soon as they met, Xiao Qingyin took out a medicine bottle.

"After consuming it, one's entire body will be filled with fragrance. This fragrance is not detectable by ordinary people; only those who have been poisoned by Jorogumo can smell it and become intoxicated by it, unable to extricate themselves."

Zhuang Wanmei raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

She had also participated in the autumn hunt and experienced that turmoil, so she naturally knew about Emperor Chengtai's poisoning.

This Spring Fragrance Pill was undoubtedly tailor-made for Emperor Chengtai.

If she had this medicine, becoming a palace concubine would not be difficult.

However, Zhuang Wanmei was not overwhelmed by this good news.

She looked at the medicine bottle with amusement and asked, "Is it just for people to hold in their mouths? Could it cause poisoning like it did with Jorogumo?"

"This is the only effective medicine. You can have it tested."

Xiao Qingyin replied.

"There are four pills here, one of which can maintain the fragrance for a month."

Zhuang Wanmei immediately understood why Xiao Qingyin wasn't worried about her joining forces with the Imperial Concubine.

The medicine's effects only last for a month. If she wants to continue to gain His Majesty's favor, she must keep taking the medicine, and the prescription is in Xiao Qingyin's hands.

No wonder he killed the Third Princess and escaped unscathed.

This is extremely disadvantageous to her.

But now, she has become a laughing stock in the capital, and with no better option, she has no choice but to take this path.

Zhuang Wanmei reached for the medicine bottle, but Xiao Qingyin took it back.

"I put a lot of effort into making this medicine, so I can't just give it to you for free. It's worth a thousand taels per pill."

Zhuang Wanmei: "..."

"Why don't you just rob it!"

A thousand taels per coin? Does she think she's a money tree?!

Trust me, you won't regret using this medicine.

Xiao Qingyin remained calm.

Zhuang Wanmei was furious.

She called her maid in and was about to give instructions when Xiao Qingyin added, "I only want cash, not banknotes."

Zhuang Wanmei: "..."

That's quite cautious.

Leave no evidence whatsoever.

After paying the money and receiving the pills, Zhuang Wanmei secretly had a doctor examine the medicine.

After confirming that it was non-toxic, she ate one.

Then, after carefully dressing up, he went to the palace to find the Imperial Concubine.

When they arrived at Yikun Palace, the emperor happened to be there, holding an egg-shaped incense burner and smelling the fragrance, looking completely absorbed.

Zhuang Wanmei's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that the Imperial Concubine also used incense to seduce the Emperor?

Why are you here?

When the imperial concubine saw her, she frowned.

Zhuang Wanmei looked at her with a wronged expression.

The imperial concubine immediately understood.

"I originally wanted to help you and General Fu, but I didn't expect him to be so ungrateful, abandoning the young lady of our Xuanyi Marquis's mansion and sticking with a penniless man."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!