♂?，，

  In those warm, jade-like eyes, a hint of surprise flashed by. He had already recognized her and was feeling guilty, awkwardly tugging at the corner of his mouth, forcing a stiff smile, making him even more embarrassed.

  Fortunately, his gaze shifted away from her face and he bowed slightly. Li Mingyun withdrew his hand and returned the courtesy. The two of them stood silently for a moment before Hua Wenbo subtly gestured for them to leave first. Li Mingyun nodded slightly and pretended to support Lin Lan as they passed by each other.

  After walking out for over ten steps, he heard a soft voice behind him saying: "Dr. Hua, this way."

  Hua Wen Bo withdrew his gaze, turned around and walked forward through the snow. He had long admired this second young mistress of the Li family. On that day, he had a conversation with Lin Feng, and felt that Lin Feng was knowledgeable and quick-witted. Thinking that someone by the side of the second young mistress of the Li family was already so formidable, he couldn't help but think that the art of the second young mistress must be even more extraordinary. He hadn't expected that Lin Feng would actually be the second young mistress of the Li family. After his surprise had passed, he thought back to the awkward expression on the second young mistress's face and felt a pang of regret in his heart. If only he hadn't looked at her just now, perhaps they would still have had opportunities for long conversations in the future. Now that both sides understood each other, it was likely that they would never meet again.

  Lin Lan glanced at Ming Yun with the corner of her eye, and he was also looking at her. However, his dark eyes were empty, carrying a kind of indifferent estrangement. Lin Lan's heart tightened involuntarily, suddenly remembering that she had forgotten to tell him about what happened when she met with Hua Wenbo that day, and he would definitely ask Wenshan about it...

  "I didn't expect Father to invite a famous doctor to treat Liu Niang, it's clear how much he dotes on her." Lin Lan said with a hint of teasing.

  "Do you know him?" he asked lightly, but his hand around Lin Lan's waist had already withdrawn and was clenched into a fist behind his back.

  "I remember! Do you still recall? Once I accompanied you to see a doctor, and we almost bumped into our superior, so you refused to accompany me anymore. You sat in the teahouse drinking tea while I went to see the doctor alone. When I saw him also seeing patients, it was just a brief encounter. That day, I had an appointment with a supplier, and he came too. Because I was dressed as a man that day, he still recognized me and thought I was representing the Li family's business, so he invited me to drink tea. After hearing that he was the young master of De Ren Tang, I got curious about their donkey hide gelatin and went to sit in the teahouse for a bit. Today, I'm afraid he recognized me, feeling quite embarrassed." Lin Lan explained the whole story of how they knew each other, hoping Li Ming would not misunderstand anything.

  He remained silent for a long time, in the quiet alley, there was only the sound of cotton boots treading on the snow, creaking... The alley seemed even more secluded and the snowy night was eerily still.

  Lin Lan hadn't heard him speak for a long time, and she felt uneasy in her heart, worried and somewhat angry. She had explained everything clearly, but he still didn't believe her? He had never explained things to her about Bai Hui, every time just telling her what to do without giving any reasons, making it seem like there was nothing between him and Bai Hui, but Lin Lan's heart wasn't at ease. This account she hadn't settled with him yet!

  He suddenly stopped in his tracks, turned around and looked at her with a complex expression that was hard to decipher, saying: "Don't dress up as a man again from now on."

  Although he knew that Lin Lan and Hua Wenbo didn't have anything, but when Hua Wenbo just looked at Lin Lan's eyes, he didn't like it. As a man, he was very clear about the information conveyed in that gaze, which had both surprise and regret. What was Hua Wenbo regretful about? It wasn't that he wanted to measure others with his own petty heart, but Hua Wenbo definitely had some other thoughts about Lin Lan.

  Lin Lan was taken aback and just about to respond when a black shadow flashed by in front of her. Lin Lan suddenly shouted, "Who's there sneaking around?"

  Li Mingyun turned around and looked back, but there was no one in sight. He turned his head again to look at Lin Lan: "I didn't see it wrong."

  Lin Lan stepped forward a few steps and stopped at the place where she had just seen the black shadow, pointing to a string of footprints in the snow: "Look, this string of footprints, he went into the inner hall."

  Li Mingyu looked down at the ground and said to Lin Lan: "It's definitely someone who doesn't trust Liu Niang and isn't taking care of her, Father is still waiting!"

  The two of them understood each other tacitly, and it was definitely an old witch's person who came to gather information.

  As soon as they entered the Western Wing, Ah Jin, who was guarding the side door, came out to greet them and made a bow: "The master is waiting for the second young mistress inside."

  Li Mingyun asked: "Who was just seen coming over?"

  A Jin's eyes flickered and he replied: "Except for Dr. Hua, I haven't seen anyone else come."

  Li Mingyun nodded and led Lin Lan inside.

  Before entering the door, I heard Liu Niang crying and sobbing, her voice was very suppressed: "I didn't expect her to be so cruel, if it was any later, my life would have been gone..."

  Then Li Ze heard his father say: "Don't worry for now, I've already sent someone to fetch Lin Lan, and let her take a look again. If her diagnosis is the same, this old master will definitely take charge..."

  The gatekeeper saw the second young master and the second young madam arriving outside the door, so he quickly announced their arrival and lifted the curtain to invite them in.

  "Father..." The two of them paid their respects to Li Ze's father.

  Li Zha's expression was serious: "Lin Lan, let Liu Niang take a look at her, what's wrong with her?"

  Li Mingyun consciously avoided going outside.

  Lin Lan knew that Huawen Bai's medical skills were exquisite, and his diagnoses were mostly accurate, so she was very careful when taking Liu Niang's pulse.

  Liu Yiniang's pair of charming eyes were crying red, with tear stains on her face, sadly and sorrowfully gazing at Lin Lan.

  Lin Lan felt the pulse, her heart sank, and she whispered a question in Liu Niang's ear. Liu Niang was taken aback at first, then nodded slightly, her expression already calm: "Second Young Mistress, can it still be treated?"

  Lin Lan made a silencing gesture with her hand, got up to write a prescription, and after a while, handed it over to Li Zha's father, smiling and saying: "Liu Niang is just suffering from some palace cold symptoms, resulting in lower abdominal pain, nothing serious, I'll give her two doses of medicine to regulate and adjust, that's all."

  Li Zha's father looked at the paper in his hand, his face was already pale, his eyes were filled with anger, but the first sentence written by Lin Lan, "heart has ears to report to God", forced him to suppress his anger.

  Liu Yiniang didn't look at the prescription and listened to Lin Lan's smooth talk, disbelieving: "But Doctor Hua said..."

  Lin Lan'er smiled and interrupted her: "I still have some confidence in my own medical skills. When the wife of Duke Jing was ill, even the imperial physician said there was no way to save her, but wasn't I able to cure her?"

  "But......" Liu Yiniang was confused, earlier the second young mistress had asked her if she had any fine red spots on her lower body, and Dr. Hua had said that the symptoms of mercury poisoning were red spots on the lower body, as well as abdominal pain, nausea and other symptoms, so why did the second young mistress ask about it, only to say it was palace cold?

  Li Jingxian spoke up: "Lin Lan's medical skills, I trust them. Even if it's a minor illness, she can cure it."

  Lin Lan went to write two more prescriptions, one was an antidote for mercury poisoning with dietary precautions, and the other was a prescription for treating palace cold syndrome, both of which were handed over to Li Ze.

  "Father just needs to press this house to grab the medicine, and let Aunt Liu adjust and rest for a few months, it will be fine. However, before the palace cold syndrome is cured, it's best not to get pregnant." Lin Lan said in a low voice: "Fortunately, Auntie is ill now, if she accidentally gets pregnant, I'm afraid the situation will be even worse, the child will either die in the womb or be born with a deformity. This move is really too sinister and vicious, damaging the yin virtue... But since it's about to be New Year's, Father can't do anything now, he needs evidence... My wife saw someone leaving this courtyard when she came earlier, but Ah Jin said he didn't see anyone."

  Li Jingxian's face turned pale with rage, that damned old hag, her methods were so sinister and venomous, yet she dared to set up an ambush in front of him. Li Jingxian stuffed the antidote prescription into his sleeve pocket and said softly to Lin Lan: "Father knows, it was a hard journey through wind and snow." He then loudly called out for Ah Jin.

  A Jin entered at the sound of his name and bowed his head to receive orders.

  Li Jingxian handed the fake prescription to Ah Jin and instructed: "Quickly go to the pharmacy and get the medicine."

  Ah Jin hastily took the prescription and went out.

  Lin Lan curtsied and said: "I'll take my leave first."

  Li Jingxian sighed: "Let's go back first! When we're outside, we'll know what to say."

  Lin Lan'er said: "The daughter-in-law does everything according to her father's wishes."

  Li Jingxian nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand for Lin Lan to leave first.

  Li Mingyun saw her coming out and asked: "How is Liu Niang's illness?"

  "Let's talk about it when we get back."

  In the house of Luoxiazhai, Yinliu returned to replace Yurong on duty. At night on duty, half were Yinliu and Ruyi as a pair, and Yurong and Baihe as a pair.

  "Yu Rong, like intention and Second Lady have gone out, I estimate they will be back soon. The bed has been made, the hot water bottle has been covered, and the hot water is still warming on the stove. There's also a midnight snack, but if the wine-steamed buns get cold, they won't taste good. Guizhen has made some walnut egg drop soup instead, which is still stewing..."

  "Alright, alright, I know, don't worry, I'll go now. Bai Hui, let's go!"

  Bai Hui was sitting on her own mat embroidering flowers when she heard Yu Rong call out to her. She slowly raised her head, but instead of looking at Yu Rong, she coldly stared at Yin Liu and said in a strange tone: "It's still more tiring for Yin Liu, let her continue being on duty!"

  Yu Rong didn't know about the past between Yin Liu and Bai He, and joked: "Could it be that you want to slack off today?"

  "Bai Hui coldly laughed and said: 'How dare I? It's just that some people are so untrustworthy of others' service, so they can only make themselves suffer more.'"

  Jin Xiu poked Bai Hua gently and whispered, "Sister Bai Hua, what's wrong? Who are you angry with?"

  Bai Hui didn't make a sound, lowered her head and continued with her embroidery.

  Yin Liu had long been annoyed with Bai Hui, not for anything else, but because she kept sticking to the second young master. She saw it and hated it. So she coldly smiled: "Whether or not you go on duty, this matter is not up to me to decide. Go ask Zhou Ma or Second Young Mistress yourself. As for Second Young Master, there's no need to ask him, asking would be useless anyway."

  Bai Hui's face turned pale, and she tossed the handkerchief in her hand: "Yin Liu, today I will make it clear what I did wrong. Why do you look at me like that?"

  Yin Liu smiled and said, "Bai Hui sister is joking, who doesn't know that she has been serving the second young master since childhood, more noble than others, maybe one day she will be promoted to madam, who dares to give her a hard time?"

  Jin Xiu listened to the two people's words and felt a strong smell of gunpowder, so she hastily advised: "Everyone is sisters, whatever you have to say, just say it nicely."

  Yu Rong seemed to have understood a few points about Bai Hui's thoughts, but who didn't know that she and Yin Liu were following the second madam, so they naturally had their hearts inclined towards the second madam and would think for her sake. As for others, after all, they had been with Bai Hui for many years and had a deep friendship, fearing that they still hoped that Bai Hui could take the position of the madam.

  Bai Hui's chest heaved with agitation, and she said resentfully, "Who wants to carry the young lady? We slaves only think about how to serve our masters well, that's all. Do I have to be ridiculed for making a quilt for the second young master too?"

  Yin Liu sneered: "Right, Bai Hui sister is the most meticulous, the most considerate, thinks more than Second Madam, and cares more about Second Young Master."

  Bai Hui's eyes turned red: "Don't spout nonsense, everyone here is doing their best to serve the master, why bother picking on me?"

  Yu Rong was afraid that the two would quarrel, and couldn't stand it if they did. But if they were to fight because of this, and either Old Lady Zhou or Second Young Madam found out, they would be in for a scolding. Second Young Madam repeatedly emphasized that everyone should get along harmoniously, and Bai Hui's thoughts were clear as day to her. Naturally, there would be arrangements made, no need for them to take the lead and cause trouble with Bai Hui. So she pulled Yin Liu aside and said, "Speak less, if Old Lady Zhou finds out, you'll be punished."

  Yin Liu had wanted to mock and ridicule a few more sentences, so as to wake up Bai Hui's mind, but Yu Rong's sharp eyes stopped her, she could only swallow this breath, hummed coldly, and sat back on her own bed.

  Jin Xiu saw Bai Hui crying and couldn't help but feel a little angry at Yin Liu: "We're all sisters, we've always gotten along well, what's the point of this?" She handed a handkerchief to Bai Hui to wipe away her tears: "Stop crying quickly, or people will think something has happened. If you're not feeling well, I'll take your shift tonight."

  Yin Liu had just suppressed the fire, but Jin Xiu hooked it up again, sneering: "Jin Xiu, don't be self-righteous, you snatched someone else's good job, be careful that someone is angry."

  Bai Hui cried: "I know we are just the second young master's former favorites, nothing more. I'd rather we all leave far away and let the two of you serve the master alone. I'll ask to be dismissed now, let the second young master dismiss me, and satisfy your hearts." As she spoke, she got down from the kang and was about to go out, but Jin Xiu hastily pulled her back: "Bai Hui sister, don't be muddled, we're all people who have signed a death contract, what's this nonsense about asking to leave? Besides, we haven't done anything wrong, why should we care about someone else's idle chatter and abandon our master, wouldn't that chill his heart?"

  Yu Rong's face sank as she glanced at Silver Willow, saying "Be patient, be patient", but she had a lot to say. However, Bai Hui opened her mouth and said our words were clearly intended to provoke discord, making it unbearable for others to listen. So she said: "Sister Bai Hui, Silver Willow and I followed Second Young Mistress here, but Second Young Mistress never showed favoritism towards us because of this. Second Young Mistress treats everyone equally, if she heard you say that, it would truly be heartbreaking."

  Bai Hui knew she had misspoken, her own future and destiny were in the hands of Second Young Madam. If she offended Second Young Madam at this juncture, wouldn't it be a disaster? She sighed and said: "How dare I be disrespectful to Second Young Madam, it's just that Yin Liu's words are too infuriating."

  "Wai Tou Yun Ying said: 'The second young master and the second young madam have returned.'"

  Yu Rong hastily said: "Jin Xiu, follow me first to attend to things, Bai Hui, hurry up and apply a hot compress to your eyes before coming."

  Lin Lan and Li Ming returned to their room, seeing no one came to serve them, Lin Lan asked Ruyi: "Is Yu Rong and Bai Hui on duty today?"

  Ru Yi extinguished the wind lamp and put it away properly, saying as she turned back: "Yes, I'll go take a look. Perhaps they thought that Second Young Master and Second Young Mistress wouldn't be returning so soon, and they're busy with other things!"

  Yu Rong and Jin Xiu came over, Yu Rong went to attend to the second young master's change of clothes, Jin Xiu attended to the second young mistress' removal of makeup. Lin Lan saw that Jin Xiu's expression was unsettled and calmly asked: "What happened today? Where is Bai Hui?"

  Jin Xiu stepped forward and said: "Bai Hua had a stomachache just now, I'll take her place for the time being.

  Lin Lan remained silent, not taking it to heart.

  Li Mingyun changed his clothes and came out after washing up. Yu Rong said, "Gui Shu has cooked a walnut egg drop soup, do you want me to go get it?"

  Just then, Bai Hui lifted the curtain and came in, holding a tray in her hand, saying softly: "This is a freshly stewed walnut egg drop soup, Second Master and Second Mistress drink a bowl to warm up!"

  Lin Lan glanced at Bai Hui and saw that her eyes were slightly red, as if she had cried. Then she looked at Yu Rong, whose face was lowered. Lin Lan smiled and said: "Forget it!"

  Li Mingyu said calmly, "I've already washed up and don't want any of these sweets. Yurong, go brew a cup of hot tea."

  Jade face responded and went to make tea.

  Bai Hui's expression changed slightly, uncontrollably.

  Lin Lan sighed and said: "Let's go down first! There's no need to wait on duty here."

  Jin Xiu stepped back and saw Bai Hui still standing there in a daze, so she gently tugged on her sleeve. Only then did Bai Hui kneel down to bid farewell, following Jin Xiu as they both withdrew together.

  Yu Rong poured hot tea and placed it in front of Second Young Master. Lin Lan said: "Yu Rong, help me change my clothes."

  Two people entered the clean room, one in front and one behind.

  "What's wrong with Bai Hui?" Lin Lan asked.

  "What's wrong?"

  Lin Lan's eyes widened: "Still deceiving me?"

  Yu Rong hastily said: "I don't dare, and I also don't know what happened earlier that made Yin Liu offend Bai Hui, they had a few words of argument..."

  Lin Lan understood, it must be Yin Liu previously mocking Bai Hui for making a cotton-padded jacket for Ming Yun. Bai Hui was unhappy and ordered: "Let Yin Liu not interfere, during the New Year, don't invite unpleasantness, my affairs, I will arrange freely."

  "The slave understands."

  When Lin Lan came out, Li Mingyun had already gone to bed to read a book. Yu Rong added some charcoal to the brazier and stirred it up before retreating.

  Lin Lan was going to bed, and Li Ming said, "Go to sleep! I'll stay outside and read for a while."

  "No, it's warm where I slept." Lin Lan pushed him inside.

  Li Mingyun had no choice but to give in.

  Lin Lan pulled him with one hand and leaned against his chest.

  Li Ming allowed her to lean against him, put his arm around her and pulled her closer: "Your hands are always so cold."

  "Men are yang and women are yin. Women are naturally more afraid of the cold." Lin Lan slipped her hand into his clothes to warm up, causing him to inhale a mouthful of cool air.

  "About Liu Niang's illness..." he asked after a moment of silence.

  Lin Lan said: "The old witch gave her poison, it should be mercury, the dosage is very small, leading to chronic poisoning. If it's discovered later, I'm afraid Liu Niang will have difficulty giving birth in the future. If she doesn't control the dosage well, it's also possible that someone will die."

  His breath caught in his throat, and through their clothes, he unconsciously tightened his grip on Lin Lan's hand. "This person is too ruthless."

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