"Hey, little mouse," the unvited, unwanted,unwelcomed strange Alpha called out."What do you want now?!"Yibai asked anxiously.
"That thing," the Alpha looked towards the small pit at Yibai's's feet, "Do you need me to take care of it for you?" Yibai was taken aback that the mysterious, unwanted, uninvited guest had discovered his secret.He quickly put his other foot on top of the pit, but under the stranger's gaze, he felt as if he had been caught red-handed.
He gritted his teeth and, for some reason, decided to trust the mysterious, strange , dangerous Alpha who was probably going to bring him trouble if kept coming in contact with him like this, he already knew that this mysterious strange alpha was not an ordinary individual ,but now he had no choice because he had his mother's ring in hand also if this mysterious Alpha could discover him with these herbs who's to say he won't be caught by someone else he might as well send these things away with him, that's the least he could do ,after all I did treat him at the cruise ship. "Okay, help me take care of it," he said, squatting down and picking up the clump of muddy Chuan Xin Lian. He stuffed it into the man's jacket pocket and patted his hands together. "Okay, you can go now."
The Alpha , who had a severe case of germophobia was at a loss for words.However, Yibai didn't feel that anything was wrong.He had grown up playing in the mud in the countryside.After making sure He hadn't left any Chuan Xin Lian behind, he waved at the stranger and urged him to leave. "Hurry up and go!"
"What's your name?" the stranger asked, his mouth twitching.
"Yiba...," Yibai hesitated, then corrected himself, "Yichen"."Okay, Yichen, I'll remember you," the stranger said, looking deeply into his eyes with an inexplicable expression.Despite his uninvited , unwanted, imposing presence, his gaze made him feel an immense pressure.He breathed a sigh of relief as the univited visiter walked away after just one glance at him.
"Phew," Yibai let out a long breath.He was about to leave the garden when he heard footsteps and just then Yichen's voice rang out, "Who's there?!"
Yibai didn't have time to hide, so he boldly stepped forward. After all, the strange unknown Alpha visitor had already taken the things away, and he wasn't afraid of Yichen finding out anything.
"It's me", he said.Yichen recognized him and immediately dropped the cigarette he was holding and stepped on it.Yibai observed this action carefully.In his previous life, when he had just arrived at the Su Family, Yichen had falsely accused him of smoking, which had made the old lady Su dislike him even more.But now in actuality, it turned out that Yichen was the one who smoked.
It wasn't a big deal for a omega to smoke, but in the eyes of the old lady, it was a sign of lack of self-respect. If the old lady found out that Yichen smoked... well, it was easy to imagine that her opinion of Yichen would change immediately.But there was no rush to reveal this information right now.
Pretending not to have noticed anything, Yibai smiled and approached Yichen. "Little brother, what are you doing here so late at night instead of sleeping?" Yichen felt a little guilty.He had come out to smoke because he was feeling down, and he hadn't expected to run into Yibai.Luckily, Yibai seemed to have not noticed.Yichen breathed a sigh of relief and then spoke like a lackey reporting to his boss, "I was just about to ask you, it's already dark outside, what are you doing here all alone? Don't tell me you have some bad habits from the countryside like stealing and pilfering?"
As he spoke, Yichen pushed Yibai aside and crouched down to inspect the small hole behind him.The hole was empty, there was nothing inside.Strange, did Yibai really come all the way here in the middle of the night just to dig a hole? Yibai was relieved that he had trusted the the mysterious strange alpha earlier and had him take away the Chuan Xin Lian. Otherwise, his use of medicinal herbs would have been exposed.
He pulled at the corner of his lips, deliberately showing an embarrassed expression and said, "I'm sorry, brother. Please don't tell anyone. I grew up in the countryside and I just like to dig some soil..."
Upon hearing this, Yichen's face was filled with disdain.
"Sure enough, a lowly thing raised in the countryside! You're already so old, yet you still like to play with dirt. You're really stupid"!"Yes, yes, yes," Yibai nodded. "I've had enough of playing. I'm going back to sleep now. You should rest early too, brother,"
With that, he tightened the bag of medicinal herbs in his arms and left the backyard.Yichen watched as Yibai ignored him and left, his face looking somewhat unpleasant.
He looked at Yibai's retreating figure and thought to himself.Is'nt this idiot from the countryside a little too care free and complacent with himself.
He even has the time to come out and play with mud in the middle of the night. It's high time that I teach this country bumpkin a lesson for what he did at the at the luncheon today.
After Yibai left the garden,he immediately started to brew medicine for Old Mrs. Su. This medicine was nourishing and had a cough-suppressing effect, and the absence of one herb, the Asarum,did not have any significant or specific impact or effect on the medicine.
Soon, the medicine was ready, and Yibai carried it to the old lady's room."Grandma, drink your medicine. It will lose its potency if it gets cold," Yibai said."Okay, okay," the old lady replied with a relieved expression. Just as she finished drinking the medicine, there was an urgent knocking at the door.
"Who is it "?Aunt Gou frowned and went to open the door.Seeing that it was Mu Xinyan's personal servant, Aunt Gou remembered what Mu Xinyan had done during the day and asked with a frown, "The old lady just took her medicine and is about to rest. What does Madam want now?"
The servant looked apologetic and said, "I'm afraid we need to ask the old lady to come to the living room. There's been a theft in the house!"
"What?!" Aunt Gou was shocked and quickly went back to the room to report to the old lady."A theft?" The old lady suddenly lost her sleepiness and sat up, asking, "What was stolen?"
The servant walked into the room and replied, "It's the gemstone brooch that third young master wore during the day wore during the day. It was a birthday gift from the master to third young master last year and worth over thirty million!"
"Over thirty million?!" The old lady's eyelids twitched."This is not a small amount of money!"
"Help me to the living room, and also, call all the servants over there!"."Madam has already called over everyone who cannot prove their alibi, leaving only the people on your side and First young master..."
Yibai's eyes flickered slightly, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.
facts about the medicinal ingredients I've mentioned until now;•
1• The term "heart-piercing lotus" (Yijian or Chuan Xin Lian) refers to the herb Andrographis paniculata, not a lotus plant, known for its bitter taste and traditional use in Chinese medicine for clearing heat and supporting immune function. While Andrographis paniculata is a distinct herb, the term may also sometimes be used as a metaphor for parts of the actual lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) that are known for their health benefits, such as the lotus stamen, which can "clear the heart" in traditional terms.
"Heart-Piercing Lotus" as an Herb
Botanical Name:
Andrographis paniculata (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.
Common Names:
Chuan Xin Lian, "heart-piercing lotus"
Characteristics:
It is known for its intensely bitter taste.
Uses in Traditional Medicine:
It is a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, used to "clear the heart" and for its effects on the immune system and inflammation. The term "heart piercing lotus" most commonly refers to the Chinese herb Chuan-Xin-Lian (Andrographis paniculata), which contains an active compound named Andrographolide. It is also sometimes used to describe lotus plumule or the heart of a lotus seed, but this is less common and not as precisely named as the Andrographis paniculata.
Chuan-Xin-Lian (Andrographis paniculata)
What it is:
A Chinese herbal plant that has a name translating to "heart piercing".
Key Component:
It contains andrographolide, which is considered a toxic or irritant compound.
Usage:
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this herb is used for various medicinal purposes.
Lotus Plumule/Heart
What it is:
The embryo found in the center of a lotus seed, sometimes called "lotus heart".
Characteristics:
It is a green, slender part inside the seed that can be removed using a piercing machine.
Usage:
Often dried and used to make lotus heart tea.
Key Distinction:
When you encounter the term "heart piercing," it is important to clarify if you are referring to the herb Chuan-Xin-Lian, which is more formally recognized for this description, or the more literal lotus embryo/heart that is used in lotus seed products.
Tianshan lotus is a rare alpine herb belonging to the Asteraceae (sunflower) family and the genus Saussurea. Also known as the Tianshan snow lotus or Xinjiang snow lotus (Saussurea involucrata), it is an endangered, high-altitude perennial flowering plant prized for its traditional medicinal properties in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other Asian traditional medicines.
Key Characteristics
Family and Genus
: It is a member of the Saussurea genus within the Asteraceae (sunflower) family.
Habitat
: The plant grows in extreme, high-altitude environments, specifically on the rocky slopes of the Tianshan Mountains in central Asia.
Life Cycle
: It has a very slow growth rate, taking several years (around 4-8) from seed to flowering.
Medicinal Value
2:The snow lotus is a valuable medicinal herb used to promote blood circulation, reduce inflammation, and treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Conservation Status
: Due to over-collecting and its harsh alpine habitat, it is an endangered species in China. Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic herbs known as lotus, characterized by their rhizomatous stems, large flowers, and distinctive leaves that float on or emerge from the water. While often referred to as an herb, Nelumbo is more precisely described as an aquatic perennial plant belonging to the family Nelumbonaceae.
Key characteristics of the Nelumbo genus:
Aquatic Lifestyle:
Nelumbo plants grow in water, with their submerged stems (rhizomes) spreading through the mud at the bottom.
Leaf Structure:
The leaves have long stalks, with the leaf blades being either floating or emerging from the water's surface.
Edibility and Medicinal Uses:
All parts of the plant, including the leaves, seeds, and roots, are used as food and in traditional medicines, particularly in Asian cultures.
Hydrophobic Leaves:
The leaves of the lotus are famously water-repellent, causing raindrops to slide off their surface.
Examples of Nelumbo species:
Nelumbo nucifera: Also known as the sacred lotus or Indian lotus, this is the most well-known species and a prominent example of an aquatic herb.
Nelumbo lutea: The American lotus, a related species found in North America.
3:Asarum, commonly known as wild ginger, is a genus of low-growing perennial herbs in the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae) that are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. These shade-loving plants are recognized for their fragrant, ginger-like rhizomes and distinctive heart-shaped or kidney-shaped leaves. While some species have been used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory properties, they are not related to culinary ginger and should be approached with caution, as some species can be poisonous.
Key Characteristics
Common Name:
Wild ginger.
Family:
Birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae).
Appearance:
Typically low-growing, with kidney-shaped to heart-shaped leaves and small, often hidden, jug-shaped or bell-shaped flowers that emerge from the base of the leaves.
Habitat:
Prefers moist, shaded conditions with rich, humus-rich soil.
Foliage:
Often evergreen, with a pungent, sweet ginger-like fragrance when bruised.
Rhizome:
The creeping underground stem (rhizome) has a taste and smell similar to ginger but is not related to it.
Medicinal and Garden Uses
Ethnomedicine:
Various Asarum species have been used in traditional Asian medicine for treating ailments like toothache, coughs, and asthma.
Groundcover:
Asarum species are often used as shade-tolerant groundcover plants in woodland and shady gardens.
Botanical Interest:
Their unique flowers and fragrant foliage make them of interest to gardeners.
Cautionary Note
Toxicity:
Asarum species are not culinary ginger and may be poisonous; some countries have banned or severely restricted their use due to potential health risks, including nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity.