C17

Lin Shushang let Lingxi help her up and changed her clothes at the back of the hall. Then, she went to the hot spring at the back of the hall.

This was an open-air hot spring. Although the area was not large, it was extremely well-built. The surroundings were a dense wall formed by green bamboo, and the pavilion's lounge chair and fruit platter were ready for it.

As soon as he walked in, Lin Shuqiang felt waves of warmth, and the dense water vapor made the hot spring seem like a paradise.

Lin Shu, who was wearing an inner garment, was supported by Lingxi by soaking in the hot spring.

"Ahh … so comfortable!" Lin Shu sighed in her heart.

The temperature of the spring water was slightly hot, causing her to tremble, and the cold air was expelled from her body.

Lin Shushang turned around and glanced at the palace maids standing in a circle before giving the orders, "Lingxi, please wait on them. Everyone else may leave."

After all, there were so many people gathered in a circle to watch her soak in the bath. It was rather embarrassing.

Lin Shushang leaned against the hot spring wall, one of his arms resting outside. She turned her head and saw that there was a scab on her forearm.

Back then, she'd been afraid that Qiu Rong wouldn't be able to make up her mind about her crime, so she'd struck a little too viciously. This wound was deeper than she'd imagined, and even the imperial physician couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be any scars in the future.

Lin Shuqiang, on the other hand, didn't care. Life was going to be much better without Qiu Rong around.

However, what the Seventh Prince had said just now had caught Lin Shu's attention.

"I also hate my father."

It wasn't unusual for Murong Ping to be hated by others, but the Seventh Marquis had to say the word "also".

Did he see through it? Lin Shuqiang touched her face. She felt that she had always been good at acting, so she shouldn't be revealing anything.

Normally, those who didn't have much contact with Lin Shu Qian would believe those rumors and assume that she and the late emperor had a young relationship.

Those who frequently interacted with him, such as the palace maid from the Phoenix Perch Palace or Murong Jie's family, thought that the two of them had some feelings for each other. However, the rumors weren't as profound.

Only Lin Shu Qian knew how much he hated Murong Ping.

However, Seventh Prince, who had never been to the palace and had never come before to offer his condolences to the previous emperor, had already hinted at Lin Shu Qian's disguise the first time they met.

Lin Shu Qian, who was soaking in the warm spring water, shivered.

This Seventh Marquis might be pretending to be crazy, but he knew it better than anyone else. Or really crazy, what he said just now was nonsense.

Lin Shu Qian chose to believe in the former possibility.

But she didn't understand why the Seventh Prince wanted to talk to her like that.

Lin Shushuang stood up from the water. "Lingxi, help This Dowager change."

She was going to find the Seventh Prince and investigate his background.

"..."

Lin Shu Qian rode on the Phoenix Carriage and arrived at the entrance of Mu Rong Hong's hall.

Although the Seventh Prince's status was noble, his hobbies were special. Thus, the people of the palace arranged for him to stay in a corner of the palace so that his chattering pill concocting wouldn't affect others.

As he got closer to the main hall, Lin Shu could smell the scent of firewood.

Lin Shushang got off the palanquin, and before anyone could tell who it was, he saw the Seventh Prince, with his hair and bare feet, jogging out.

"Empress Dowager, I thought you were coming!" Seventh Prince was dragging a bowl in his hands, and inside the bowl was some unknown powder.

"Empress Dowager, I'm concocting pills. I'm about to succeed." Seventh Prince put his finger to his mouth, making a gesture of silence, then beckoned for Lin Shushang to follow him inside.

Lin Shuqiang did not want to argue with the Seventh Prince, so she asked the others to wait outside while she and Lingxi entered the main hall.

There was a pill furnace set up in the middle of the hall, and a few kids were adding firewood to the furnace. Seventh Prince walked around the pill furnace three times before ordering someone to open it and pour the powder into the furnace.

In that instant, the fragrance that Lin Shushang had smelled previously became even stronger, and his heart inexplicably calmed down.

So that smell just now came from within this pill furnace.

Lin Shu Qian suddenly felt that this Seventh Prince was not fooling around.

"The eight great divine pills of the universe are about to be refined! "Hahahaha!" Seventh Marquis laughed out loud three times.

Lin Shu lightly held his forehead. He was just messing around.