Ignoring Lin Qingge's loud exclamations, Murong Bai continued, "Although I haven't seen it myself, I heard he is married. Moreover, his wife not only comes from a prestigious family but is also as beautiful as a celestial being, gentle and demure, much like Lord Lin's wife."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge, forgetting all about the magistrate's luggage, indignantly let loose a string of curses, "Holy crap! He already has one, and yet he shamelessly covets another. What, does he have to collect them all in the same model? This is downright shameless, eating what's in his bowl while eyeing what's in the pot!"
Murong Bai, understanding the whole situation, saw his thoughtful expression soften, replaced by a mocking smile as he anticipated a good show. "What, that guy has designs on Lady Lin?"
Saying this, he took out several small packets of medicine from his sleeve and introduced them one by one. "This packet of white powder is called '鸣金收兵' (Míng Jīn Shōu Bīng), colorless and odorless. After ingestion, it renders a man impotent. This packet of yellow powder is called '铁杵成针' (Tiě Chǔ Chéng Zhēn), also colorless and odorless. After ingestion, it can arouse a man greatly but cause frequent premature ejaculation. This packet of blue powder is called '百拙千丑' (Bǎi Zhuō Qiān Chǒu), possessing a faint fragrance, but even a tiny touch can cause red rashes to appear on the face, and unbearable itching all over the body. No matter how handsome your appearance, it will turn you into a grotesque figure constantly scratching yourself. This packet of brown powder is called '一泻千里' (Yī Xiè Qiān Lǐ), as the name suggests, it causes unending abdominal pain, making one wish they could live in the latrine."
"I say, do you have a grudge against that Lin Moyuan, you rascal?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Lin Qingge belatedly remembered that the enchanting figure before her indeed had a feud with Lin Moyuan. And it seemed to be an irreconcilable one...
But Murong Bai himself raised an eyebrow indifferently, "What, you don't want them?"
"Want, want, want! Whoever doesn't want them is a little puppy!" Lin Qingge busily stuffed the small packets into her embrace. What the enchanting one produced was bound to be top-notch. Even if not used against Lin Moyuan, they might come in handy elsewhere.
"But speaking of which, Coroner Murong, how did you test these medicines of yours? Don't tell me..." Lin Qingge paused, glancing pointedly at the enchanting figure's lower half, her implication quite obvious.
Murong Bai, almost amused to the point of laughter, transferred the chicken legs and roasted meat from the food box into his own bowl. Seeing the green vegetables, Lin Qingge rubbed her hands together. However, before she could intervene, Murong Bai preemptively spoke, "I need to replenish my strength, so Lord Lin won't mind me eating a little more, will you?"
"Heh heh." Lin Qingge's lips curled into an awkward yet polite smile, her heart already cursing this scoundrel to suffer from hemorrhoids due to constipation from eating too much meat the next day.
Transforming her sorrow into appetite, Lin Qingge picked out her favorite mushrooms and lettuce, leaving the remaining greens for Yan Tinghao, who had helped with carrying bricks. Suddenly, a chicken leg appeared in her bowl. Lin Qingge looked up in surprise, only to see Murong Bai calmly say, "The Lin Moyuan I know has always been indifferent to women; let alone sending flirtatious glances, he wouldn't even spare a look for other women."
"So, you drugged him a long time ago?" As if taken aback by Lin Qingge's abrupt question, Murong Bai paused and rolled his eyes ungraciously. "Hmph, I wish I could. Unfortunately, that guy is too unresponsive. Even when women were stripped and sent to his bed, he remained unmoved. It made us all think he had some hidden ailment, that he was impotent in that regard~ Turns out, it wasn't that he was impotent, but that he hadn't met the one who made him potent~"
Listening to this somewhat melodramatic CEO-like persona, Lin Qingge's entire face twitched. If novels like 'Woman, you have successfully caught my attention,' 'Woman, I only have feelings for you, so you must take responsibility for me to the end!' or 'Woman, you are playing with fire!' were to actually happen, she, as an observer, would find it quite amusing. But the key was that the woman wasn't anyone else, but her nominal 'wife.' This feeling of being caught up in the drama, when it involved herself, was truly unpleasant. Especially since Lin Moyuan was a married man. Although ancient times advocated for multiple wives and concubines, Leng Ningyue was her wife. Attempting to seduce a married woman? This was no longer about a virtuous maiden being pursued by a gentleman, but a deficiency in moral character, wasn't it? Lin Qingge mentally cursed Lin Moyuan's ancestors for eighteen generations in authentic Northeastern dialect.
Three more days passed. Having confirmed that all patients infected with the plague had recovered, and no new cases were found among the villagers for seven days. Lin Qingge personally penned a letter to the Prefect, Xu Changling, to report and seek approval. She then announced that the plague had been completely eradicated. Villagers could return to their homes and reunite with their families. However, to be safe, Lin Qingge issued an additional order: anyone returning from the epidemic area was strictly forbidden from entering the school. Of course, Lin Qingge herself was no exception. Therefore, she had to let Leng Ningyue accompany Lin Zimò in a separate carriage, returning to Changzhou County with the main group.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage carrying Lin Qingge and her companions, Hua Jinrong, finally freed from wearing a mask to conceal her peerless beauty, fanned herself and asked with a smile, "Upon returning to Changzhou County, what is the first thing you all wish to do?"
Murong Bai, afflicted with mysophobia, looked down at his clothes with disgust. "After returning, I intend to burn this set of clothes to ashes, and then wash myself from inside out several times." Lin Qingge sniffed, nodding in agreement, "Indeed, it needs a good wash." Although Leng Ningyue had provided a change of clothes, there were simply no bathing facilities in the epidemic area. In other words, she hadn't bathed in nearly half a month. She was so unkempt that she disgusted herself. Before, she hadn't paid attention, but now, in the clean and comfortable carriage, she could even smell her own body odor.
At this point, Hua Jinrong unfurled her fan with a 'swish' and suggested, "Since you all want to bathe, why don't we go soak in aromatic baths?"
"Aromatic baths?" Lin Qingge blinked, somewhat confused. "So-called aromatic baths are warm bathing water infused with various fragrant medicinal ingredients. Bathing in aromatic water not only cleanses the body and removes dirt but also refreshes the mind and is highly beneficial to the body. However, what Master Hua refers to as soaking in aromatic baths is more akin to a hot spring that can accommodate multiple people at once. To put it bluntly, it's many people sharing the same bathing water." As he spoke the last sentence, Murong Bai pouted in disgust. "Coroner Murong, don't be such a spoilsport. Changzhou County recently opened a new aromatic bathhouse called 'Lotus Pond.' Why don't we all go patronize it together?"