Making you a son-in-law is not about making you conquer the world.

Burn you to death? No way, I'm going to burn everyone to death...

This is Zhou Xiyin's inner monologue, except that it includes herself among everyone else.

The moment Lin Ping rushed out of the room, he burst out laughing. He saw Zhou Xiyin, covered in soot, squatting on the ground, adding firewood. Thick black smoke billowed from the earthenware pot, making her cough incessantly.

"Stupid woman, do you want to die?" Lin Ping shoved Zhou Xiyin away angrily and said, "How can you decoct medicine without adding water? You're just burning the medicine!"

Under the multiple blows to her body and mind, Zhou Xiyin finally couldn't hold back her tears and broke down. Tears streamed down her blackened cheeks as she said aggrievedly, "I've never brewed medicine before, and you didn't even tell me I needed to add water, sob sob sob..."

Zhou Xiyin cried harder and harder, as if she wanted to vent all the sadness she had felt over the past few days.

"The Zhou family can't buy salt, all the shops are closed, my father is seriously ill, and you, this worthless doctor, won't treat him. You even stopped me from marrying Ruan Dan. Now I have to do this kind of rough work. I'm a young lady, I've never suffered such humiliation before. My hands are covered in blisters." Zhou Xiyin couldn't control her grief, and her sobs grew even more heartbreaking.

"You've got blisters? Let me see!" Lin Ping immediately grabbed Zhou Xiyin's small hand to check the situation, and couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

He admitted that he had gone too far. Knowing that the other party was a rich young lady, he shouldn't have made her do such rough work. It was not a big deal if her hands got blisters, but it would be no fun if she were suffocated by the thick smoke.

Next, Lin Ping skillfully helped Zhou Xiyin bandage her hands, which were immediately wrapped up like rice dumplings.

"Foolish woman, just watch from the sidelines," Lin Ping said with a hint of anger, as he personally prepared the medicine for Lin Yecheng.

"Why are you being so fierce? What's so great about bullying a girl?" Zhou Xiyin's fragile heart was completely shattered. She couldn't see through Lin Ping's true thoughts at all. Anyway, if you get angry, I'll cry.

Lin Ping was defeated and dared not say another word. He could never win against a girl's tears. Even a heart as hard as a rock could be melted by these tears.

All he could do was meticulously prepare the medicine and send Zhou Xiyin, this great deity, away as soon as possible.

Seeing Lin Ping's serious expression, Zhou Xiyin calmed down and even had the illusion that this guy wasn't so annoying after all.

Decocting medicine is a time-consuming task. It took a full hour for the decoction to thicken. During this time, Zhou Xiyin kept staring at Lin Ping, whether she was learning the decoction technique or simply indulging in her philandering was unknown.

"Xiao Tian, ​​take the medicine back for Miss Zhou," Lin Ping instructed.

The medicine should be drunk while it's hot, and taking the earthenware pot with her is the best way. However, Lin Ping doesn't think Zhou Xiyin can lift it. Spilling the medicine is a minor issue; burning her arm and leaving a scar is a major one.

"Forget it, I'll go myself." Lin Ping suddenly changed his mind.

"Oh..." Zhou Xiyin responded softly, her voice filled with a mix of emotions, at least a hint of surprise and a touch of emotion, but she simply didn't want to express it, lest Lin Ping get carried away.

The two didn't talk much on the way, and the atmosphere was quite awkward. It wasn't until they were close to the Zhou residence that Lin Ping said earnestly, "You don't need to go to Xuanji Hall tomorrow. I'll send Xiao Tian to deliver the medicine."

It turns out that straight men never consider themselves straight and never understand women's thoughts.

There's a classic saying: I don't care what you think, I care what I think.

Lin Ping thought this was a way of showing his relationship with Zhou Xiyin. After all, she was a rich young lady, and it wasn't a good thing for her to be in the public eye all the time, especially since she also had to do some manual labor.

Zhou Xiyin didn't think so. What did Lin Ping mean by not letting me go to Xuanji Hall? Did he dislike me? Or did he not want to see me?

In short, when I, Zhou Xiyin, get angry, you can't appease me!

"Hmph, I don't care to go!" Zhou Xiyin pouted and snorted coldly, then stormed off, forgetting even to take the earthenware pot with her. Luckily, the two doormen took it from her with smiles.

"Is she... angry?" Lin Ping's face was full of confusion. "What did I do to deserve this? Can't I even show some concern? I guess I, Lin Ping, am just being presumptuous and can't afford to associate with you."

The two, acting on impulse, parted ways unpleasantly, neither believing they were at fault.

A streak of crimson fell, and the dark night sky rose. Inside the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) garrison, two people were talking quietly.

"What's his name?" Xia Linglong, dressed in a flying fish robe, asked eagerly, her joy barely concealed.

She has rarely appeared in the garrison these past few days, and it's unclear how the mission to capture the flower thief is progressing.

Hearing Fan Lengyu mention Lin Ping just now made him tense.

Although Fan Lengyu did not reveal Lin Ping's name, there are very few men who can call Xia Linglong by name. Moreover, the fact that she deliberately prevented her from participating in this mission shows that she cares about her.

"It seems to be called... Lin Wuqing." Fan Lengyu said with a slight blush, naturally finding the name rather peculiar.

"Lin Wuqing?" Xia Linglong silently repeated the name countless times in her mind, but she couldn't connect it with Lin Ping, which made her feel a little disappointed.

Fan Lengyu had been observing Xia Linglong's expression and was also a little nervous. Logically speaking, she didn't want Xia Linglong to find Lin Ping. After all, the waters of Yingtian Prefecture were too deep to be stirred up by a commoner like Lin Ping. She didn't want the two lovers to miss each other, and she didn't want Xia Linglong to be unhappy for the rest of her life.

"First, secretly find out the whereabouts of the flower thief. Don't act rashly!" After saying this, Xia Linglong hurriedly left, heading towards the palace city in the due north direction.

"Your Majesty, the princess requests an audience." The young eunuch outside the door announced softly, his heart filled with mixed emotions—a mix of fear that the king might not hear him and a fear of disturbing her rest. Fortunately, the visitor was the princess, the king's most beloved daughter, so he figured the king wouldn't be angry.

"Come in." A voice, both authoritative and kind, came from inside the house. The authoritativeness was the innate aura of a monarch, while the kindness was the affection of a father for his daughter.

"Xia Linglong, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, pays her respects to Your Majesty." Xia Linglong knelt on one knee and said respectfully.

Kneeling before the king is not shameful, and kneeling before one's father is also justified. However, Xia Linglong's cold attitude displeased the king.

"Are you still angry with your father?" The king's tone was somewhat heavy, as he must have guessed what his daughter was thinking.

Not angry? How could that be?

Forcing his daughter to marry someone she doesn't like is not something a loving father would do.

"This humble official dares not," Xia Linglong said, bowing her head, maintaining a subordinate-like attitude when speaking to the king.

"Alright, alright, tell me your purpose," the king waved his hand weakly and replied. After all, he was in the wrong first, and he didn't want to argue about it anymore. In any case, it was a done deal; Xia Linglong had to marry him.

"This humble official is to participate in the mission to capture the flower thief!" Xia Linglong said bluntly.