Great Zhou: Emperor Wu, I need to check your taxes.

"Sir, you..."

Lin Yun's body stiffened. He wanted to dodge but dared not, and could only let that hand, which was slightly cool, move tightly between his chest, the Tanzhong acupoint, and his lower abdomen.

Moreover, it wasn't just that Shangguan would wander around; she would also occasionally grab and pinch him, letting her smooth nails rub against his skin. The feeling was like being electrocuted, making Lin Yun shudder involuntarily.

If someone unaware of the situation saw this, it would look like flirting in broad daylight!

"Don't move."

Shangguan Wan'er's voice was cold and aloof, showing no awareness whatsoever of the proper distance between men and women.

A powerful and domineering surge of true energy forcefully poured into Lin Yun's body through her palm, rampaging through his chaotic meridians.

A moment later, she withdrew her hand, her brows slightly furrowed.

"It was indeed a stasis at the Guanyuan acupoint, and it was a long-standing ailment."

She looked at Lin Yun, lost in thought.

"No wonder you always looked like a sickly scholar. It's only because you met me that you're doing this. If you had been treated by a quack, you would have been a cripple for life."

"Then... does Your Excellency have a way?" Lin Yun suppressed his anger, and hope ignited in his heart.

"Although the Imperial Medical Academy has the Tongmai Dan, it is a tribute item for the royal family and relatives, and I cannot obtain it."

Shangguan Wan'er straightened Lin Yun's disheveled clothes, her movements as natural as if she were helping her husband tidy his clothes.

"However, the case you're investigating this time might contain something even better than the Meridian Opening Pill."

"A batch of secret medicines from the Imperial Medical Academy disappeared along with that messy account. If you can solve the case and find the medicines, I'll take responsibility; they're yours."

"make a deal!"

Lin Yun gritted his teeth and agreed. Fortune favors the bold; to open these meridians, he was willing to risk it all!

However, neither of them noticed.

At that very moment, at the corner of the corridor.

Su Qingtan, holding the pot of freshly brewed aged tea, stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

From her perspective, the scene in the pavilion was absolutely blush-inducing.

The beautiful, aloof woman was practically glued to her brother-in-law.

Even worse, that fair hand was pulling itself out of Yun Lang's arms and was still adjusting his collar, which was hiding a look of enjoyment (actually, stiffness) on his face...

The intimate gestures and ambiguous postures were so suggestive that even a blind person could discern something!

"Clang—"

The teapot lid bumped against the body of the teapot, making a crisp sound.

Su Qingtan suddenly woke up, her face instantly turning bright red, her heart pounding like a drum.

"This is...this is the 'boss' Yunlang was talking about?"

"Could it be...could it be that Yunlang, for the sake of this family and for the sake of making money, actually..."

He actually became a gigolo for such a powerful and wealthy woman?!

Thinking back to Lin Yun's words, "Money is earned," and then considering the expensive items in the courtyard, and those two maids...

Su Qingtan felt dizzy and overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

There was both heartache for the younger brother-in-law who "sacrificed his virtue" to support the family, and an indescribable bitterness and shame.

"No, we can't go in... If we find out, how will Yunlang ever face anyone again?"

Su Qingtan bit her lip in a panic, her eyes reddening. She didn't even dare to serve the tea, and turned around and ran back to the backyard as if she were fleeing.

Inside the pavilion.

Hearing the noise, Shangguan Wan'er's ears twitched slightly. Her gaze swept towards the fleeting glimpse of a skirt in the corridor, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.

"It seems your sister-in-law has a rather deep misunderstanding about me."

Lin Yun was completely bewildered.

"Huh? What misunderstanding?"

Shangguan Wan'er didn't explain, but simply kicked Lin Yun again before putting her veil back on.

"The case files will be delivered to you tonight. Also..."

She walked to Lin Yun's side and said in a tone that only the two of them could hear:

"Since we're going to put on an act, let's go all the way. From now on, in front of others, you're mine."

"Sometimes this identity is more useful than a gold medal for an inside guard."

After saying that, she chuckled softly, her clothes fluttering as she walked away.

Lin Yun was left standing there, breathing in the lingering fragrance in the air, looking at the empty corridor, feeling that something was not right.

"My people? That sounds... kind of awkward?"

"This woman is so weird. Every time she kicks me, she lifts her leg higher and higher... Could she be reading my mind and trying to crush me to death?"

……

As night fell, two bright oil lamps were lit in the dining room of the Lin residence.

The dishes on the table were much more plentiful than before, including braised pork, steamed fish, and two delicate side dishes.

But the meal was rather dull.

Su Qingtan kept her head down, listlessly picking at the white rice in her bowl, without even touching the fish belly meat that she usually loved to eat.

Her gaze was unfocused, occasionally glancing up at Lin Yun, but once their eyes met, she would quickly look away like a startled rabbit, her cheeks inexplicably flushing red.

"Chuntao, Xiahe, you two go down for dinner first."

Lin Yun put down his chopsticks and waved to the two maids serving him.

After the two left and closed the door, Lin Yun leaned over and looked at Su Qingtan with concern.

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you today?"

"Are you feeling unwell? Or are you worried about the laundry?"

"Huh? No...no."

Su Qingtan shook her head in a panic, almost dropping her chopsticks on the table.

"I'm not worried about the laundry room... I just... I just..."

She bit her lip, hesitant to speak.

My mind is filled with the scene I saw in the pavilion that afternoon!

The elegant woman reached her hand inside her brother-in-law's clothes, and uttered the ambiguous phrase, "My person."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he just couldn't bring himself to ask them.

What are you asking? Are you asking if you've sold yourself?

Where does this leave Yunlang's face?

Lin Yun frowned slightly when he saw her stammering.

This is clearly not right.

Is he sick?

[Tianyan Check - Open]

Lin Yun's eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint blue light swept over Su Qingtan's entire body.

[Audit Subject: Su Qingtan]

Credit assessment; S+ (maximum)

Financial Status: Average (Income Unstable)

[Special reminder for close partners: Slight deficiency of Qi and blood (caused by long-term fatigue, no major risk).)]

Hmm? So there are special instructions when visiting relatives?

Is my sister-in-law alright?

Lin Yun breathed a sigh of relief and looked away.

"Sister-in-law, since you're not sick, you're just tired. There's no rush with the laundry; I'll go there when I have some free time," Lin Yun comforted her.

"Your task now is to get your body back in good shape. Your qi and blood are severely depleted. I'll have someone get you some tonics later."

Upon hearing the words "deficiency of qi and blood," Su Qingtan's face turned even redder, and she looked down at herself.

Qi and blood deficiency?

What does that mean? Is Yunlang implying that I'm not as old as that woman?!

She mistakenly thought Lin Yun was implying something, and felt even more ashamed and indignant.

"Yunlang, actually I want to ask...that Miss Shangguan, is she...is she really just your boss?" Su Qingtan finally mustered up the courage to shift her hips, her voice barely audible.

"Of course it's my boss, what else could it be?" Lin Yun said matter-of-factly, about to pick up some food.

"That woman is very fierce. She only dared to mess with me because she knows I have some skills..."

"Young Master!"

Chun Tao's hurried voice suddenly came from outside the door, interrupting the cross-channel conversation.

"A few men came in outside, saying they were delivering goods for the young master. They were carrying several large boxes, and they looked quite intimidating!"

deliver goods?

Lin Yun's heart skipped a beat; he knew that something important had come up.

"Sister-in-law, I'll go take a look."

Lin Yun put down his chopsticks and quickly walked out.

Looking at the swaying curtain, Su Qingtan felt relieved and loosened her tightly closed legs, but then sighed with a hint of resentment.

"Skill? What skill do you have to make someone come to your door in person, and be so intimate..."

"Yunlang, if you've been wronged, you must tell your sister-in-law..."