In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

"What nonsense are you talking about? We're still outside."

Xie Yige's ears instantly turned bright red. She glared at him and gently punched his shoulder.

Cui Yutang gently enveloped her small fist, pulling her closer, his eyes filled with tender smiles.

"Yes, I'll take you back now."

He carried her and walked quickly toward the carriage.

"You lecher! That's not what I meant at all—"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already carried her into the carriage, and the curtains were drawn, shutting out the sunlight and noise.

His slender, well-defined hand slid down to her slightly open collar, and when his fingertips touched that small patch of soft skin, he tensed for a moment. He gently cupped her hand and pressed it to her lips in a passionate kiss.

Today, he looked down at those faces, tanned dark by the sun.

Many people had scars, big and small, on their faces and hands, but when they looked at him, their eyes were filled with trust.

It was the trust that yearned for him to lead them back alive and victorious, and for the first time he directly experienced the cruelty of war.

He used to be fearless, but now he has something to care about; he empathizes with them—he wants to live together.

He kissed her fiercely, and for some reason, she carried a sweet, milky scent that lingered faintly in the enclosed car, intoxicatingly sweet.

"Cui, Cui Yutang—" Xie Yige was dazed by his kisses and struggled to whisper between breaths, "I have an appointment with someone today."

"Who did you meet?" He looked up, gently gripped her wrist, and his eyes suddenly turned dangerous.

"I've made an appointment with Zhao Huaizhi and Sang Miao. One is skilled in medicine, and the other in Gu poison. The southwest is rife with mosquitoes, poisonous insects, and miasma, so I want everyone going there to have a small medicine pouch."

Cui Yutang's pupils contracted slightly. He helped her up and hugged her tightly.

The force with which he pulled his arm in was heavy; he felt a mix of emotions, and his eyes were red-rimmed.

How could his songs be so good?

"Husband, what's wrong?" She raised her hand to cup his face, her fingertips gently rubbing the corners of his reddened eyes, smiling sweetly. "Don't feel pressured, we're all here for you."

His eyelashes trembled slightly as he gazed at her for a long time before nodding solemnly.

Xie Yige leaned close to his ear, her voice low and soft: "Come pick me up later, we'll meet again tonight..." Before she could finish speaking, a blush rose on her cheeks.

Cui Yutang's throat tightened, and a beautiful smile curved his lips.

"Baby, we haven't arrived yet, I want more—"

He lifted her up and held her in his lap, cupping her chin with one hand and kissing her again.

She was about to speak when he took the opportunity to penetrate her.

He held her lips in his mouth, teasing and nibbling at them, his tongue hooking around her lips again and again, giving her no chance to catch her breath.

Her body gradually went limp, and the fingers that had been gripping his clothes loosened one by one, her peach blossom eyes overflowing with a seductive, watery light.

The carriage rolled over the cobblestone road, the curtains swaying gently in the wind.

He released her just as she was about to run out of breath, pressing his forehead against hers.

Their breaths mingled, deep and disordered.

"We've arrived," he said in a low, hoarse voice.

She then realized that the carriage had stopped in front of Wangjiang Tower, and her face flushed even more as she reached out to push him away.

"Put me down right now."

He chuckled and straightened her disheveled collar and sideburns.

"I'll pick you up later." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Come back soon."

After helping her out of the car, he glanced at Zhixia and Jingqiu.

"Protect her."

The two quickly bowed and accepted the order.

The top-tier private rooms at Wangjiang Tower are very secluded and are usually reserved for personal use.

When Xie Yige pushed open the door, she saw Sang Miao and Zhao Huaizhi, one aloof and the other calm, ignoring each other.

Zhao Huaizhi was flipping through a medical book with her head down, while Sang Miao sat by the window gazing at the river view.

"Sorry, sisters, I'm late," Xie Yige said with a smile, instantly warming up the atmosphere.

"It must be that kid pestering you," Zhao Huaizhi teased. She was dressed in a plain, fitted long robe, her eyes gentle and composed. She put down the medical book in her hand, and as she spoke, a knowing smile appeared on her lips.

Sang Miao also walked over from the window. She was dressed in red and wore silver ornaments on her head. She swayed as she moved, which was very beautiful.

When she saw Xie Yige, a rare, faint smile appeared on her lips.

The three sat down together, and after Xie Yige introduced them to each other, she went straight to explaining her purpose.

"My two elder sisters, I have invited you here today because I have an important matter to discuss. The army will be setting off for the southwest in five days. The mountains and forests of the southwest are teeming with mosquitoes, ants, poisonous insects, and miasma. I would like to prepare a small medicine pouch for each of the 80,000 soldiers to protect their safety."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Huaizhi's eyes lit up, and when she looked at Xie Yige, her eyes were filled with sincere admiration.

"The terrain in the southwest is unique, and ordinary herbs are unlikely to be effective." Xie Yige turned to Sang Miao, "Sister Sang Miao, could you describe the symptoms of mosquitoes and poisonous insects in more detail?"

Sang Miao seemed to be in a daze for a moment, "The southwest is mountainous, forested, humid, and hot, and the poisonous insects and mosquitoes are completely different from those in the Central Plains. They prefer shade and dampness and specifically target people to bite. Once bitten, they immediately become extremely itchy and swollen, and if they come into contact with the miasma of the mountains and forests, they are prone to inflammation and fever. Therefore, the medicine bag suggests prevention first, then treatment."

Zhao Huaizhi nodded, agreeing with her statement: "You're right. Atractylodes lancea and Artemisia argyi can be used as the main ingredients. The medicine has a strong, pungent aroma that lasts a long time. After drying and grinding it into powder, it can be put into a bag and have a lingering fragrance. Wearing it close to the body can repel mosquitoes and ward off miasma."

"When combined with a specially made indigo powder ointment, it is specifically designed to treat bites from poisonous insects and mosquitoes, quickly reducing swelling and itching, and clearing away toxins and swelling. Soldiers can simply apply it to relieve the stinging and redness after being bitten outdoors."

Xie Yige nodded: "These are all lightweight and easy to store, making them ideal for mass production of military medicine pouches."

Zhao Huaizhi frowned: "It's just these two things: procuring the medicinal herbs and sewing the medicine pouches. We have to finish them within five days, so the pressure is still very high."

Sang Miao looked at Xie Yige and said, "The deep mountains of the southwest are rich in various detoxifying herbs. After the army enters the mountains, we can use the local materials to dry and process them."

Xie Yige's eyes lit up, and he made a decision: "Then we'll proceed in three steps. First, prioritize producing 10,000 medicine pouches for the vanguard army. Second, produce the remaining medicine pouches and send them to the front lines in batches. Third, once we reach the southwest, we'll use local resources to replenish our supplies."

She looked at Zhao Huaizhi: "Sister Zhao, the first batch of medicinal materials is urgent. We need your Imperial Medical Bureau to take the lead and the court to allocate nearby stockpiled medicines. I will also order the four major pharmaceutical merchants in the capital to prepare goods overnight."

"As for the sewing of the medicine pouch—" Xie Yige smiled, "you don't need to worry. I'll have someone send a message to Thirteen Sister, summoning all the embroiderers in the city and surrounding suburbs to work through the night."

"Sister Sang Miao," Xie Yige said gently with a smile, "You are skilled in the art of healing and poison, so I'll trouble you to help Sister Zhao these next few days."

The three hit it off immediately. Zhao Huaizhi and Sang Miao then got up and took their leave of Xie Yige.

The private room returned to silence.

Xie Yige stood by the window, gazing at the vast expanse of blue water beyond the Wangjiang Tower, its shimmering golden light stretching for miles. With the important matters settled, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Before long, steady, familiar footsteps came from outside the door, and the light, pleasant scent of sandalwood wafted into the room.

A pair of long, slender arms wrapped around from behind.