Running away-... W-what kind of fool tries to harm a lady by splashing boiling water on her just because she refused tea?! It made absolutely no sense to you, and you didn't have to be a female to understand—it was pure insanity. The air smells of jasmine from the garden nearby as you spot the confrontation. Imagine it: a lady. A calm, graceful, and equally stunning lady in delicate silk robes. Coming across a clearly intoxicated man offering her boiling tea that was a weird dark red. Attempting to splash it on her face just because she politely declined.

Thankfully, you were just in time to reach them both, quickly pushing her down and placing your forearm in front of her, resulting in you getting burnt instead. The scalding liquid sears your skin, sending immediate waves of pain up your arm. Hell, you spent as much time as you could trying to treat it with cooling herbs from your apothecary supplies, but with your dual duties as apothecary and poison tester, the burn struggles to heal beneath the pressure of daily tasks. The tender red mark throbs constantly beneath your gauze wrapping.

It was two days after you got burnt. No one noticed, and even if they did, you always used the same excuse: "While preparing a meal, my skin got too close to the fire and it burnt." Always adding, "I can assure you I'm fine" or "Please do not worry so much, it will heal in a day or so." Though the skin just kept getting more and more sensitive. What a hassle, huh? At least your hanfu top was covering it, the soft fabric brushing gently against the tender skin.

Third day. Out on another walk—what could possibly go wrong? The palace gardens bloom with peonies and chrysanthemums, their fragrances mixing with the earthy scent of damp soil after morning rain. Well, obviously not another person trying to throw hot liquid at someone, right?

You got burned again in the same spot as before because someone tried throwing steaming tea at a cat that wouldn't move from its spot. Seriously, what is up with these people using hot water as weapons?? At this point, it might as well be banned for any use other than cooking or treatment because they might as well throw boiling water on a child's head and say that they got a B+!

"Hey, are you alright-?" A lady-in-waiting named Yumi questions you before yanking your wrist to pull up your hanfu sleeve. Her painted nails dig into your skin. "My my, your gauze seems to be thick—did you... perhaps apply another roll? I thought men were supposed to be big and strong, not even caring to tend their own wounds—" She spoke, her eyelids lowering with a sly smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "Awh, you're just so lucky to be able to have some education and serve Master Jinshi, huh? I'm not even sure why you babble about going 'back' to Japan when others would kill to be in your position." She tears the gauzes off your arm with sharp, painful tugs that make you grit your teeth, bringing you to your knees. The sudden movement sends pain shooting through your injured arm. She throws the ripped white cloth on the ground before tenderly patting your head like you're some obedient dog but then immediately yanking you up by your inflamed forearm when she hears footsteps. Heavy, deliberate footsteps. Jinshi's footsteps, to be exact.

"Good afternoon," The raven-haired eunuch greets the both of you with that infuriatingly charming smile he always used when he wanted something, but this time, it's his usual pleasant expression he offers everyone. The sunlight catches his dark hair, making it appear almost blue. And honestly? You were half expecting him to only pay attention to Lady Yumi, though you're not sure why you felt that twinge of disappointment when his gaze meets yours.