As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, Shunliu was already waiting in Qinglan Courtyard, standing on tiptoe, looking worriedly at the motionless house.

Tan Yue had been lying in bed all day yesterday, and just as she got up, she saw Shunliu peeking out from the doorway. She snorted, kicked over a small wooden stool, and grinned, "Who put this thing here in the way so early in the morning?"

Shunliu paused, taken aback by Tanyue's veiled insults, and glared fiercely at Tanyue with his eyes darting around.

Tan Yue tossed her head, ignoring him completely, and walked past Shunliu without even glancing at him, entering the tea room next door.

Shunliu curled his lip, glanced disdainfully at the half-closed door, wiggled his toes, shifted his weight, and continued to stand there in a daze.

Less than half an hour later, several noises came from inside the house. Shi Lan opened the door and ordered someone to go in and serve her.

Shunliu hurriedly followed the servants who were waiting on the side and went into the house together.

Inside the room, Zhu Yan was fastening the buttons of her embroidered dress. Shi Lan tested the water temperature, presumably preparing to wet a handkerchief to help Zhu Yan wipe her face.

Shunliu sneaked up to Zhu Yan, whispered in his ear that Aunt Yuan had been throwing a tantrum at Xianglan Garden since last night.

Zhu Yan frowned, looking impatient, but said nothing.

Shi Lan's bright eyes shifted slightly, her fair and delicate face displaying a half-smile. "If you have something to do, go and take care of it quickly, lest you say I'm delaying your business later."

Zhu Yan glanced at her slightly haggard face, and the image of her alluring and charming figure twirling and dancing flashed through his mind. A soul-stirring feeling immediately crept up his spine and spread throughout his body, and his legs involuntarily began to go weak.

"Nothing much, it's just that my father asked me to come over for breakfast," Zhu Yan chuckled as she took the handkerchief and gently covered her face, concealing the embarrassment that unconsciously came from lying.

Zhu Yan's nonchalant tone startled Shunliu. He glanced at Shi Lan, and seeing that she didn't seem to care about him, he quickly bowed and carefully left the room.

As the sun slowly rose, the moment Shunliu stepped out of the door, the brilliant sunrise burst through the clouds, its dazzling light making him squint.

Looking up at the sky for a while, Shunliu recalled Zhu Yan's flattering words from earlier, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart that it was never long for one beauty to stand out in the backyard. It seemed that it was going to become a place where two beauties would compete for attention.

After seeing Zhu Yan off, Shi Lan half-closed her eyes and leaned back in a chair by the window.

When Tan Yue walked in, she was startled to see Shi Lan lying there quietly.

Shi Lan's skin was very white, but it had a very textured whiteness. When it reflected her lips, which were even more beautiful than rouge, it only made her look delicate and alluring. But today, perhaps it was the sunlight, but she had a sickly, transparent paleness. Her lips, which were originally bright red, had only a thin layer of pink. Her long and thick eyelashes cast a faint shadow, giving her an unreal and illusory appearance.

Tan Yue cautiously took a few steps forward, looking at Shi Lan, who seemed to be carved from white jade, with surprise and uncertainty.

After a long pause, she mustered her courage and called out softly, "Young Madam."

Shi Lan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her dark, deep eyes darted around as she looked at Tan Yue, who was clenching her hands and almost crying. "What is it?"

Tan Yue breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense shoulders relaxed.

"Young Madam, you scared me to death," Tan Yue patted her chest, looking like she was still shaken.

Shi Lan weakly raised the corner of her mouth, her eyes, which had been open, closed again. "I'm fine, I'm probably just tired. Have the kitchen make me some nourishing soups these next few days."

Tan Yue responded and turned to leave, but after taking two steps, she turned back with a worried look on her face and said, "Young Madam, why don't you go and fetch a doctor? The one from yesterday was quite good."

Shi Lan shook her head, rejected Tan Yue's suggestion, and sent her away.

The room fell silent again. Shi Lan took out a piece of white paper with strange lines drawn on it from her bosom, examined it carefully for a moment, and then put it away again.

This troop distribution map, which she obtained at the cost of five years of her lifespan, has truly taken a toll on her health.

After drinking the nourishing soup prepared in the kitchen, Shi Lan still felt weak all over, so she had no choice but to lie down on the bed and sleep for a while before she felt a little better.

In the evening, Zhu Yan walked in carrying a vase she had somehow acquired, which contained mimosa flowers in full bloom, fittingly for the occasion.

Shi Lan glanced at it listlessly, and said weakly, "Thank you."

Since leaving in the morning, Zhu Yan had been thinking about yesterday's dance. All day long, he could see Shi Lan swaying her supple waist and looking back with her charming and seductive eyes. He wished he could run back immediately and hold Shi Lan in his arms for another round of lovemaking.

After waiting all day, Zhu Yan rushed over as if her pants were on fire, finally making it to evening.

He was met with Shi Lan's cold and distant demeanor, which immediately dampened his enthusiasm.

Shi Lan, oblivious to the awkwardness, remained reclined in her chair, completely ignoring Zhu Yan who stood there awkwardly.

Zhu Yan glanced at Shi Lan, who completely ignored her intentions, and felt that her passionate love had been met with indifference. Feeling extremely awkward, she simply turned her back and went to Xianglan Garden.

The carved wooden door with glass inlay was slammed shut by Zhu Yan with a loud 'bang'. Tan Yue was so frightened that she stood to the side, not daring to breathe.

Shi Lan glanced at Zhu Yan indifferently, raised the corner of her mouth, waved away Tan Yue, and once again closed her eyes halfway, calmly recuperating.

Silence returned to the room, and a low chuckle drifted in through the crack in the door.

Shi Lan was startled and quickly opened her eyes, looking warily toward the doorway.

In the dim light, a man pushed open the bedroom door and walked in with a leisurely air.

Shi Lan tried to get up by supporting herself with her arms, but her body was too weak. She tried a couple of times but could only give up.

The man, as if he were at home, leisurely walked to the table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then looked up with a teasing tone: "I've never seen a woman before who dares to openly drive her husband away."

Shi Lan looked up and sized up the man. He had a broad forehead, long eyebrows, a high nose, and sharp eyes. His appearance made him seem like someone who was not easy to get along with. In addition, he was tall and slender with broad shoulders and long legs. His large hands with distinct knuckles and calluses on the base of his thumbs clearly showed that he was a martial arts expert.

A martial arts expert who was difficult to get along with appeared quietly in the inner quarters, and it seemed that he had come specifically to find her.

Shi Lan's mind raced.

Seeing that Shi Lan didn't speak, the man walked around the table to the window, his tall frame looking down at her. "Young Madam Zhu, don't you want to say anything?"

Shi Lan pushed away the face that was only a foot away from her, and slowly stood up, supporting her weak body. "I've always heard that the Liu family is a family of scholars and farmers who strictly adhere to etiquette. I didn't expect that the eldest young master of the Liu family, who is rumored to be well-read, would be so unconventional."