With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

On the other side, Su Yue pulled Yun Jin back.

She looked at the rabbit that Yun Jin was holding in her arms.

"When did you become so familiar with that stable boy's rabbit?"

She reached out and poked the rabbit's little head. The rabbit turned its face to the side, kicked its short legs, and turned its back to her, clearly not wanting her to touch it.

"Hey, you little brat, you're just like that cold-faced stable boy!"

In a fit of anger, she poked the rabbit's rear end twice more. The rabbit hopped out of Yun Jin's arms and ran off to one side of the peach grove.

Su Yue prepared to give chase, but after taking two steps, she hesitated, wanting to say something but ultimately couldn't hold back.

"You mean Shen Nannan and that stable boy...the two of them..."

Yun Jin pursed her lips.

"I'm so envious!"

Su Yue: "????"

"Going into the grove of trees, how romantic, how charming!" Yun Jin's eyes sparkled with longing.

"Master, why don't we give it a try too?"

Su Yue kicked him in the shin: "Get out of here!"

Yun Jin skipped away with a grin, ran a few steps forward, and turned back to wave at her: "Master, come quickly, this way is easier to walk—"

Su Yue followed, but stopped after a few steps, looked around, and

"That's not right," she frowned, "our camp is over there, why did you lead us the wrong way?"

Yun Jin turned around, her face completely innocent.

"Oh dear! Look at me, I just followed the direction they were going."

He glanced deeper into the peach grove, and his eyes lit up.

"Master, do you think we can see Miss Shen and that stable boy if we go along this road now...?"

"Shut up!" Su Yue grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back, her tone stern.

"Keep this matter a secret! Don't tell anyone!"

Yun Jin was pulled so hard that she stumbled and staggered.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. Master, let's hurry back. That second madam of the general's mansion is so stingy; she hasn't even had enough to eat..."

Su Yue glared at him and dragged him toward the camp.

Yun Jin was being pulled along when, out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at a spot in the camp and saw a shimmering, colorful hem of clothing hidden behind a tree, flashing by in an instant.

He smiled slightly, looked away, and obediently followed Su Yue.

Shen Yin peeked out from behind the tree, staring at the two figures walking away, her heart pounding.

Did Shen Nannan and that stable boy go into the grove?

Her heart was pounding, and her eyes were brimming with undisguised excitement.

If Pei Ran found out...

His fiancée, "Little Sister Nannan," is having an affair with a lowly stable boy—how can he still want her?

After the engagement was called off, he and she would gently and considerately comfort each other. Wouldn't Pei Ran be hers then?!

She lifted her skirt, turned around and ran back. The shimmering brocade was particularly eye-catching in the moonlight.

He ran all the way to Pei Ran's tent.

"Where is Brother Pei?" she asked the guard at the door.

The guard bowed his head: "Young Master Pei was called away for drinks by Young Master Shen and hasn't returned yet."

Shen Yin bit her lip, unwilling to give up.

Such a good opportunity, are we just going to let it go?

She stood at the entrance of the tent, hesitated for a moment, then stamped her foot, called to the two maids and two servants she had brought, and headed towards the peach grove.

"Come on, let's go find my sister. She got lost by herself, and I'm worried about her."

The maid and servant exchanged a glance, not daring to ask any further questions, and followed.

The deeper we walked into the peach grove, the dimmer the moonlight grew.

Shen Yin walked ahead, lifting her skirt, and the more she walked, the more she felt something was wrong.

"Where is everyone?" She stopped and looked back—there was no one behind her.

The maids are gone, and so are the servants.

"Cui'er?" she called out, but no one answered.

"Fuzi?" Still no one answered.

The wind blew through the peach grove, and petals fell softly, landing on her shoulders, feeling cool and refreshing.

Shen Yin shivered and turned to run back—

A hand reached out from behind and covered her mouth.

"Ugh—!"

She struggled desperately, but her hand remained firmly in place, like an iron clamp.

"Wearing shimmering brocade!"

A rough, hoarse voice rang in her ear.

"It's Miss Shen! We've found her!"

Another voice exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, yes, this material is shimmering brocade, and there's only one bolt! Quickly, send it to His Highness the Crown Prince. He said there will be a generous reward."

Shen Yin's eyes widened suddenly. She wanted to shout, but her mouth was covered tightly, and she couldn't make a sound.

She wanted to say that she had mistaken someone for someone else, that she wasn't Shen Nannan, but Shen Yin, the second wife's Shen Yin...

A handkerchief was placed over her head, and a pungent smell filled her nostrils, causing her consciousness to begin to blur.

The group disappeared into the depths of the peach grove.

In the shadows of the trees not far away, two figures watched them drag Shen Yin away without moving.

The burly man scratched his head. "Now that things are settled here, what about the master? Should we go over there?"

Mo Bai slapped him on the back of the head, exasperated. "Get lost! That show-off Yun Jin already switched the master's wine! The master is perfectly sober!"

Anan rubbed the back of his head, still completely bewildered. "What is Master doing? Is he trying to trick that young girl?"

"You've been talking too much today! Let's go, we have important things to do!"

"What should we do with these unconscious servants?"

"Cold dish! Bring me the tinderbox! You talk too much!"

The two walked towards the camp.

On the other side of the peach grove,

Ah Chao nestled in the crook of Shen Nannan's neck as if he had no bones. His breathing was still hot, but much more steady than before.

"Ah Chao?" She nudged his head. "Are you feeling better?"

"No," he murmured, nuzzling her neck and taking a deep breath, his voice hoarse.

"Seeing you makes me feel unwell."

Shen Nannan was held tightly by him. She struggled a couple of times but couldn't break free, so she simply stopped moving.

His body temperature was still very high; you could feel the heat even through his clothes.

But he just wouldn't move, only held on quietly, truly like a big dog, not a wolf.

Suddenly remembering something, she pulled one hand out of his embrace and reached into her own bosom. She found a sachet.

Antidote.

How could she forget that!

In his previous life at the Regent's Palace, those people drugged Xiao Yunzhao every few days.

Xiao Yunzhao acted as if he were sick, simply staring at the faces of that group of people, and then drinking it all down with a smile.

He treated her like she was enjoying herself immensely, constantly applying the Chinese medicine to her from dusk till dawn. Even when she cried until her voice was hoarse, he didn't stop.

Until one day, she accidentally drank his wine and remained unconscious for several days.

Xiao Yunzhao specially found a prescription to make antidote pills, which are said to be able to neutralize some of the poison from any medicine.

After her rebirth, she became more cautious and had Qiuyu prepare some according to the prescription. She carried it with her for self-defense.

"Open your mouth." She took out the pill and put it in his mouth.

Ah Chao lifted his head from the crook of his neck, looked at the pill, then at her, but didn't open his mouth.

"Where did this come from?" He didn't really want to eat it...

"I composed it myself," she lied without batting an eye.

"I'm not in good health, so I always keep some antidote on hand. Take it quickly, stop talking nonsense."

Ah Chao stared at her for a while, then didn't ask any more questions, obediently opening his mouth and taking the pill.

His lips brushed against her fingertips, warm and soft.

Shen Nannan was so startled that she tried to pull her finger back, but he was faster and directly took her fingertip into his mouth.

She froze completely.

He held my fingertips in his mouth; they were wet and warm, and his tongue gently sucked on them.

It looked like they were tasting something delicious.

"W-What are you doing?!" She abruptly pulled her hand back, her fingertips still glistening with his saliva in the moonlight.

"bitter."

He looked completely innocent, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"I want something sweet to calm my nerves..."