If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Wen Sheng and Lu Niangzi were refining medicine at the medicine shop in the west of the city. The method they and Mr. Zhou ultimately decided on to remove the Gu poison was to use poison to fight poison.

Xi Lingxian didn't know the specifics of how to expel them, and she chose to fully trust Madam Lu and Doctor Wen.

If possible, she even wanted to ask Doctor Wen to prepare a pill for her that would make her forget everything, but she didn't know if such a thing existed in the world.

In the imperial court of Jiankang, the situation was becoming increasingly tense.

Yu Liang, in the name of the emperor, summoned Xi Jian back to the capital to report on his duties. Although it was called reporting on his duties, everyone knew what he really wanted to do.

Grand Commandant Wang Dun tried to smooth things over several times, but Yu Liang countered by accusing him of favoring the Xi family, leaving the Grand Commandant with no room to say anything more.

You've brought this upon yourself.

Ministers who hold military power are never benevolent, no matter the circumstances.

Unexpectedly, it was Xi Jian.

He readily accepted the imperial edict to return to the capital to report on his duties, and even rode at full speed, arriving back in Jiankang in just two days.

Wang Dun was very pleased with this. His biggest worry was that the Xi family father and son would follow his cousin's example and rebel in a fit of anger!

As long as it doesn't involve treason or rebellion, it doesn't matter what the aristocratic families do.

……

Evening

Snowflakes began to fall heavily in Jiangzhou, and within half an hour, it was a heavy snowfall.

The vast land was instantly covered in a white expanse.

Xi Lingxian took a nap and slept until almost dark, but was still woken up by hunger.

"The young lady is awake. Today the kitchen has prepared a special 'Bo Xia Gong' (a type of traditional Chinese offering), and the Second Young Master is waiting to eat with you."

Xi Lingxian pulled her cloak tighter and walked to the window. "Has Wang Jue returned?"

"No, but Young Master Wang sent someone to tell you that he has something important to discuss with you today, and he wants you to remember to wait for his return."

"It's already this late and he still hasn't returned? What has he been busy with these past few days?"

Peach Blossom whispered, "Young lady, you don't know yet, but several heads have already rolled in the past few days."

Xi Lingxian was startled.

"It was those dishonest officials in Jiangzhou. They had embezzled countless amounts of silver in the past, and not long ago they were openly and secretly making things difficult for Young Master Wang. They all thought that Young Master Wang would tolerate it like his former superiors and dare not act rashly. Who would have thought that he would be imprisoned one day and beheaded the next?"

Xi Lingxian's face turned pale; she was somewhat frightened by the words "heads rolling on the ground."

Taozhi comforted her, "Don't worry, young lady. With Young Master Wang here, everything will be fine in Jiankang."

"The patriarch and the eldest son will both be fine."

At this moment, Xi Lingxian's mind was filled with scenes of heads falling and blood flowing like rivers. She was originally very hungry, but instantly lost her appetite.

Feeling listless, he lay back down on the bed.

She felt as if she didn't know Wang Jue at all; everything she knew about him before was just a facade.

She used to think he was cold, indifferent, hypocritical, and selfish, but considering his background, these qualities didn't seem to be considered flaws.

How did she manage to treat him like an ordinary husband before?

"Young lady, Young Master Wang has arrived!"

Peach Blossom's delighted voice rang in my ears as the door opened slightly, letting in a gust of cold wind carrying the scent of snow.

Wang Jue entered through the snow, wearing a dark brocade robe and a luxurious, warm white fox fur cloak, his posture upright and elegant.

His long, straight eyelashes were dotted with tiny snowflakes, and the unmelted frost made his eyebrows and eyes appear even more deep and refined. His face was tinged with the biting cold air outside, yet his appearance remained handsome and gentle.

How could such an aloof and otherworldly appearance be associated with the phrase "heads rolling"?

This was the first thought that popped into Xi Lingxian's mind.

It was too cold outside, so Taozhi quickly closed the door and went out to let the two masters talk in peace.

Wang Jue stood in front of the charcoal brazier to dry off all the chill from his body before getting closer to speak to her.

Xi Lingxian sat on the couch, her arm propped up on a small table, resting her chin on her hand, gazing at him thoughtfully.

"Haven't seen you for half a day, don't you recognize me?"

He took off his cloak and tossed it aside, then gently pinched the tip of her nose.

Xi Lingxian suddenly realized what was happening. "Do you know your dear cousin is sick?"

Wang Jue gave a casual "hmm," "She brought this on herself; she reaped what she sowed."

"..." That's too ruthless.

"Do you think I'm heartless?" Wang Jue could tell what she was thinking at a glance. He raised his hand and pulled her into a tight embrace, not giving her any chance to break free.

"Human life is of paramount importance. I will never stand idly by when I can save someone's life; but if I am caught in my own trap, then I have no one to blame but myself."

Xi Lingxian raised an eyebrow: "You're so heartless. She likes you so much, and you don't even glance at her."

"If the 'family' you're referring to is yourself, I'd be very happy," he said with a half-smile.

After going around in circles, Xi Lingxian finally understood, and felt a chill run down her spine.

"I would never say something like that!"

She hunched her shoulders and pushed him away with all her might, then sat down opposite him. What relationship did he have that he wanted to touch her? Dream on.

Without the warmth and softness of a beautiful woman in his arms, Wang Jue felt utterly bored.

"I have something important to tell you."

"I'm listening."

"Don't believe any rumors that come from Jiankang these days. You must trust Uncle Shi, and you must trust me. I guarantee that the people you care about will be safe and sound."

"...Do you think someone will use this opportunity to do something to me?"

"Clearly, you are their only and best option when they are desperate."

Xi Lingxian couldn't stand how he was being spoken to, and kicked him in annoyance, "Are you insulting me?"

The pink embroidered shoes were clean and didn't get dirty when they landed on his knees.

Wang Jue laughed. "Can't you figure it out?"

"They can't possibly kidnap me to threaten my father, can they?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Why not? If they catch you, they can use you to threaten not only Uncle, but also me. It's a very profitable deal for them."

She turned her face away and chuckled lightly: "Threatening my father is one thing, but threatening you is what kind of talk."

Wang Jue's gaze suddenly darkened, and he grabbed her slender, fair ankle.

Before Xi Lingxian could react, a figure loomed over her, and he leaned down and gently pressed her beneath him.

She placed her hands on top of him, glaring at him. "What are you going to do now? Let go."

He ignored her, lowered his head and kissed her earlobe, then moved down to take her small, delicate earlobe into his mouth.

She didn't go out today, and her ears were completely clean with nothing on them, which actually made things easier for him.

The warm touch on her ear instantly spread throughout her body, and Xi Lingxian's body suddenly went limp, freezing in place.

He knew perfectly well that her ears...

Wang Jue buried his face in her neck, his voice low and deep, and said slowly, "If those people capture you to blackmail me, this move will really give them a firm grip on me, and I won't be able to do anything about it."

The unspoken meaning in his words was deep and subtle, and it sounded very moving.

Xi Lingxian ignored him, closed her eyes, turned her back to him, and said, "Get out, I don't want to hear what you're saying."

Instead of leaving, the person behind her moved closer to her, stretched out a long arm, and pulled her firmly into their embrace from behind.

His warm breath fell on the delicate skin of her neck. He tilted his head slightly and buried his head deep in the crook of her neck. Before she could raise her hand to hit him, he spoke in a muffled voice, "There's something I want to discuss with you."