After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 169 The Forget-Me-Not Herb Was His Personal Desire
Xiang Ning knew perfectly well that Pei Yanzhi always acted with meticulous care.

Since no clues could be found in the study, the only option was to look for flaws in his daily words and actions.

In the past few days, Xiang Ning has noticed that Pei Yanzhi seems to be keeping a closer eye on her.

Apart from Cheng Hua being able to occasionally come in and out to deliver some items, she was almost completely cut off from the outside world.

If you ask Pei Yanzhi, he will only tell Xiang Ning that he will take her out when he has time.

Nothing else.

Xiang Ning isn't stupid; how could she not notice Pei Yanzhi's unusual behavior and the perfunctory tone in his words?

Meanwhile, Lu Jiang secretly investigated Pei Yanzhi but found nothing unusual about his whereabouts.

Officials are currently on vacation, and Pei Yanzhi's daily life is also very simple.

He now only goes to the palace and the Pei residence.

Even his occasional interactions with court officials were all public and there was nothing suspicious about them.

But Lu Jiang did not give up. He recalled his several interactions with Pei Yanzhi. Those seemingly ordinary conversations and glances now seemed to hold hidden meanings.

Lu Jiang's doubts grew stronger and stronger, and he even felt like he was going crazy.

He relentlessly pursued the matter based solely on a feeling, yet he also felt that his intuition was entirely correct.

That day, Lu Jiang ran into Cheng Hua on the street. Cheng Hua looked hurried, as if he was rushing to take care of something urgent.

Lu Jiang's heart stirred, and he quietly followed.

After many twists and turns, Chenghua finally entered a secluded pharmacy.

Lu Jiang hid at the street corner and watched Cheng Hua whisper a few words to the pharmacy owner. The owner then went into the inner room and soon handed him a package.

Chenghua carefully took it, glanced around, and quickly left.

After he walked away, Lu Jiang entered the pharmacy and, taking advantage of the shopkeeper turning to leave, found the pharmacy's apprentice.

"I want some precious herbs."

The young apprentice who was dispensing the medicine glanced at him and replied, "What kind of precious herbs do you want? You have to give me the name of the medicine, otherwise how am I supposed to know what they are?"

Seeing this, Lu Jiang took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the counter.

"To be honest, I know what that guy just bought, and I also know that only you have it, so give me the same thing."

Upon hearing Lu Jiang's words, the young apprentice was first taken aback, and then hesitated for a moment.

"you……"

After the medicine boy finished speaking, Lu Jiang took out a silver ingot from his pocket and pushed it in front of him, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."

The young apprentice's eyes widened immediately. After looking around, he put the silver directly into his sleeve.

"That young man bought the Forget-Me-Not Herb. This herb is hard to find and ordinary people can't use it. Its effects are only beneficial to women."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiang's doubts deepened. Could Cheng Hua have bought this medicine, which is only beneficial to women, for Xiang Ning?

When the shopkeeper was about to return, Lu Jiang thanked the apprentice and left the pharmacy with the forget-me-not, but he was preoccupied with his thoughts the whole way.

He had heard of the Forget-Me-Not herb, but he only knew that it was rare and precious. He would have to find someone knowledgeable to ask it in detail about its specific effects on a woman's body.

As he pondered this, he remembered that there was a Lu family pharmacy in the city, which might be able to resolve his doubts.

Lu Jiang rushed to the pharmacy to look for the person.

Seeing his anxious expression, the pharmacy owner quickly let Lu Jiang in.

"Young Master, why are you in such a hurry?"

"Please take a look at this forget-me-not. I want to know what effects it has on women. This is a very important matter."

Lu Jiang said urgently, and upon hearing this, the shopkeeper frowned slightly.

After receiving the forget-me-not, he examined it carefully and then gently smelled it under his nose.

"This forget-me-not has the effect of nourishing qi and blood and repairing damaged meridians. However, if it is used in unorthodox ways and mixed with other herbs, it can cause people to temporarily lose their memory and forget some important things." "As time goes by, people who take the forget-me-not may even forget who they are. That is why it is called the forget-me-not."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jiang's expression changed drastically. Could it be that Pei Yanzhi wanted people to forget something?
Such meticulous planning must be hiding a secret.

He thanked the pharmacy owner and left in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Xiang Ning felt that each day in the Pei residence was an eternity.

Pei Yanzhi became increasingly strict in restricting her movements, even when she took a walk in the garden of the mansion, she was closely followed by maids and servants.

Xiang Ning was troubled, but dared not show it at all, and could only pretend to be compliant.

That afternoon, Xiang Ning sat by the window embroidering. Sunlight shone on the embroidery, but she had no heart to appreciate it.

Suddenly, a few birds chirped outside the window, clear and melodious. Xiang Ning looked up and saw the birds say "Hello, young lady."

She tilted her head and realized that the bird was a parrot.

"Who taught you to speak like that?"

The parrot flapped its wings twice and replied crisply, "Sir."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning was stunned. When did Pei Yanzhi get a parrot? How come she didn't know?
Seeing that Xiang Ning did not reply, the parrot spoke again, saying "Hello, young lady."

After saying that, the parrot opened its mouth and recited the ancient poem again, its head bobbing and swaying in a very endearing and cute manner.

Seeing this, Xiang Ning's lips curled up slightly, but she didn't say anything more.

"It's a Western gadget, called Fu Bao Hua, and you can learn it in no time."

Pei Yanzhi's voice came from outside. Xiang Ning looked at him and stood up.

"Doctor Chen changed the prescription; this time the medicine isn't too bitter."

He gestured for Chenghua to put the medicine on the table. Xiangning could indeed smell a faint sweet fragrance from the bowl of medicine.

Xiang Ning frowned slightly, but Pei Yanzhi didn't give her a chance to hesitate. After speaking, he pulled her into his arms and sat down with her on the chair.

"Want me to feed you?"

He reached out and picked up the bowl of medicine, scooped out a spoonful and placed it to Xiang Ning's lips.

The bitterness of the medicine was largely neutralized by its sweet taste, and Xiang Ning couldn't refuse, so she had no choice but to lower her head and drink it.

With a mix of reluctance and acceptance, the medicine was finished.

Indeed, as he said, the medicine was not bitter at all; it even tasted like it had sugar in it.

Pei Yanzhi watched Xiang Ning swallow the medicine, a barely perceptible look flashing in his eyes, as if he were relieved, yet also carrying a complex emotion.

He put down the bowl, raised his hand to wipe away the remaining medicine stains on Xiang Ning's lips, and said softly, "It's not bitter, is it?"

Xiang Ning saw the tenderness in his eyes, but felt increasingly uneasy. Although the medicine didn't taste bitter, she felt that something was wrong.

However, she nodded obediently on the surface: "I wonder what Physician Chen put in the medicine."

"I don't know either, but as long as it's not bitter, that's good."

Pei Yanzhi smiled and ruffled her hair, noticing the fleeting doubt in her eyes, and felt a slight pang in his heart.

"A Ning."

He called her name, and Xiang Ning turned her head to meet his gaze.

"Ok?"

"nothing."

After Xiang Ning finished speaking to him, Pei Yanzhi hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"The New Year is just two days away. How about I take you to a hot spring in the suburbs for a couple of days?"

"Aren't you at the Pei residence?"

(End of this chapter)