However, Mian Tang felt quite confident about the wine recipe.
That day, she had persistently asked Zhao Quan whether he had checked her husband’s pulse to understand the root of his illness.
Zhao Quan, a little annoyed, replied that since her husband always suffered from insomnia, it was likely due to a lack of energy and yang blood.
Mian Tang kept the divine doctor’s diagnosis firmly in mind. After consulting medical books, she spared no expense in preparing an entire vat of medicinal wine for her husband.
Today, the wine had just reached the right color, so Mian Tang filled a jug and brought it to her husband.
After handing the jug to her husband, Mian Tang happily went to a small tent nearby to change into a wrap for the hot spring bath.
Since it was an outdoor bath, not wearing clothes would be against the current customs of Dayan.
As a male servant, Mo Ru would have to leave when Liu Niangzi came out.
While Mian Tang was away, Mo Ru whispered, “My lord, I have tested the wine; it’s not poisonous. However, Liu Niangzi’s skill with recipes is inconsistent. If you ask me, you should avoid drinking it…”
Just as Mo Ru cautiously advised, Mian Tang popped her head out of the small tent, reminding her husband, “Dear! Let Mo Ru warm the wine for you. It needs to be warm to be effective!”
Cui Xingzhou smiled at her, nodded, and then waved Mo Ru away.
Mo Ru, always careful, would naturally test for poison. Since the wine was not poisonous, drinking it wouldn’t be harmful.
Moreover, Mian Tang had put in a lot of effort into preparing it. If he didn’t drink it, she would surely feel bad.
Although Mian Tang was unreliable, no one in the neighborhood had ever died from her concoctions. Cui Xingzhou decided to treat it as something to clear heat and dampness.
Seeing that the prince seemed inclined to drink, Mo Ru sighed and warmed the wine for him, watching with concern as the prince sipped the brown liquid.
After taking a few sips, Cui Xingzhou noticed that Mo Ru hadn’t left. Raising an eyebrow, he said, “Why are you still here?”
Mo Ru quickly exited the screen.
Meanwhile, Mian Tang was in the tent, changing into her bathing robe.
The robe was prepared by Mama Li, who said that noblewomen in the capital favored such tightly wrapped bathing robes for outdoor hot springs. Even when submerged, the skirt wouldn’t float up. The robe had a strapless design, revealing Mian Tang’s snow-white shoulders and slender arms.
Perhaps because she hadn’t practiced martial arts for a long time, her arms had become more graceful. Wearing the tight-fitting skirt immediately highlighted her curvaceous figure.
When Mian Tang came out of the small tent with her long, dark hair flowing, she looked like a flower fairy, exuding an unconscious charm beneath her pure appearance.
She usually walked without much care, but now, restricted by the narrow skirt, she could only take small steps. Her waist naturally swayed, showing a girlish charm.
Cui Xingzhou, bathing after her, was sitting on a mat in a wide robe, drinking wine. As he turned his head, he saw a beautiful woman with a peach blossom complexion walking gracefully through the green forest, brushing aside the branches. Cui Xingzhou’s breath caught.
He thought he had grown accustomed to Liu Mian Tang’s beauty, but she always managed to surprise him with different kinds of charm, making him feel he couldn’t get enough…
Mian Tang, holding the narrow hem of her skirt, walked towards the water pool. As she neared the pool, her bare foot slipped on the wet surface, almost falling.
Cui Xingzhou immediately got up and strode over to support her arm, helping her slowly step into the pool.
Her delicate wrist was so soft that letting go felt reluctant…
Once she was seated, Mian Tang looked up at her husband and said, “You go enjoy the wine. I’ll join you in a bit!”
Cui Xingzhou looked down at her face, hidden in the rising steam, and thought the soldiers of the Northwest were truly lazy and indulgent.
Without proper supervision, they had just piled up this small pool. If it were larger, he could have soaked it with Mian Tang…
But Mian Tang was unaware of her husband’s dissatisfaction.
Mama Li had thoughtfully prepared a basket of dried flower petals and a box of her homemade moisturizing sheep oil balm for Mian Tang.
Earlier, Fang Xie had sprinkled some petals into the pool and applied the balm to Mian Tang’s face, letting the steam do the rest.
Now, Mian Tang rested her head on a soft towel, leaning against the pool wall, surrounded by the fragrance of flowers, feeling her soul nourished.
Though Mama Li had a stern face, her attention to fine details in self-care was impeccable.
From using specific tea to rinse after eating fish to different fruit juices after eating garlic, everything had its unique method.
Even the daily routines and rules were so meticulous they could be annoying.
Initially, Mama Li only fussed over the two young maids, not bothering Mian Tang much.
But lately, the old lady seemed displeased with everyone in the household, subtly reminding Mian Tang to mind her manners and diet.
Whenever this happened, Fang Xie and Bi Cao would look at their mistress with sympathy.
When Mian Tang grew tired of the nagging, she subtly reminded Mama Li that no matter how well she taught her, she was already married. Learning all these rules wouldn’t change her fate of not marrying into a noble family, so Mama Li should save her efforts.
Mama Li apologized, saying she had overstepped.
But Mian Tang could sense that Mama Li still harbored grand ambitions, often sighing at her breaches of etiquette.
To be fair, some of Mama Li’s attentiveness was genuinely pleasant.
For instance, the fragrant petal bath was truly delightful. As Mian Tang carefully sat in the pool, she felt the warm water soothing her.
She couldn’t help but lie comfortably on the edge of the pool, watching her husband eating and drinking in the nearby tent. Occasionally, he would look up, his deep gaze meeting hers.
At this moment, Ninth Master Cui, with his long hair loose, exuded a masculine charm. The muscles faintly visible under his wide robe collar added to his appeal…
Meeting her husband’s deep gaze, Mian Tang smiled sweetly.
After soaking enough, Fang Xie and Bi Cao wrapped her in a large towel and helped her back to the tent to change into a loose white robe. Feeling a bit thirsty from the hot bath, Mian Tang decided to join her husband on the mat.
When Mian Tang sat down, she noticed her husband had already drunk more than half of the medicinal wine she had brought.