Chapter 16: Drenching Heir Pei with Tea

Xia Nianchu’s long, slender eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously twisted her embroidered handkerchief.

In just a few short moments, she had already calculated the risks and benefits in her mind.

The Heir Apparent was a man who always repaid grievances with vengeance. If he were to pursue this matter to the end and discover that it was she who had drugged him, let alone marrying him, she would likely be cast out of the Marquis’s estate entirely.

After weighing the pros and cons, she finally reached a decision.

Xia Nianchu lowered her lids, casting delicate shadows with her lashes, and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum: "Everything... everything shall be as the Heir Apparent decrees."

Having said this, she raised her eyes stealthily, darting a quick glance at Pei Dongzhou with her moist, liquid eyes before immediately dropping them again, a faint flush creeping onto her cheeks. "Whatever you say, Cousin, is what shall be. Whatever you desire, I am willing to give."

Upon hearing Xia Nianchu’s response, Pei Dongzhou’s eyes deepened.

When he had spoken earlier, he had actually been testing her.

If Xia Nianchu had indeed drugged him, she would certainly be feeling guilty. If he proposed ending the matter right there, she would naturally seize the opportunity to go along with it.

Since she had indeed followed his lead, did that not confirm that she was the one who had drugged him?

In the past, he had not paid much attention to Xia Nianchu, knowing her only as a fragile, delicate noble lady who knew how to curry favor with the elders. However, after she had suddenly thrown herself into his arms at Wangyue Tower the day before yesterday, he felt that his understanding of her was far from comprehensive.

Shen Shuyi felt goosebumps rise on her arms as she watched the hero and heroine "gazing deeply" at each other.

Thinking of her unfinished mission—that she still had to kiss Pei Dongzhou once more—she felt a sense of utter despair.

"A-Jian, see our two distinguished guests out." At this moment, Shen Shuyi wished only to calm her mind and devise a new plan.

A-Jian immediately stepped forward to usher them out. Xia Nianchu, naturally having no desire to remain in this place, quickly exited Fusang Courtyard.

She intentionally slowed her pace, hoping to find a chance to spend a moment alone with the Heir Apparent, but to her surprise, no matter how long she waited, Pei Dongzhou did not emerge.

It was strange. Why would he choose to remain in Fusang Courtyard? One had to remember that men and women were expected to keep their distance, and hadn't he always detested Shen Shuyi the most?

If Xia Nianchu could not understand it, neither could Shen Shuyi. Why was the Heir Apparent sitting in Fusang Courtyard, refusing to leave?

The scrutinizing gaze with which he watched her made her heart race.

Undoubtedly, he was still suspicious of her. She could not tell if he suspected her of stealing a kiss or of drugging him.

However, the silver lining was that he had no evidence, and therefore, he could not convict her.

She steadied herself and said to A-Jian, "The Heir Apparent likely has matters to instruct me on. Go and pour a cup of tea for him."

Should she just go all in? Should she drug his tea and kiss him while he was under?

Seeing her mistress wink at her, A-Jian wasn't sure if she had misread the gesture.

"Forget it, I shall pour the tea myself to demonstrate my sincerity," Shen Shuyi said, heading toward the tea room.

Watching Shen Shuyi’s retreating back, A-Jian suddenly realized what she was doing—her mistress intended to drug the tea. Good heavens, how could she be so reckless?

Surely her mistress wouldn't be bold enough to drug him right here in Fusang Courtyard?

Inside the tea room, Shen Shuyi paced back and forth, a battle raging in her mind. Should she drug him? It seemed like a golden opportunity.

Pei Dongzhou was currently caught completely off guard; he would never expect her to dare drug him again today. If he drank the tea, she could kiss him, complete the mission, and her body would recover quickly.

However, the drug A-Jian had purchased last time was somewhat flawed; Pei Dongzhou had not completely lost consciousness, or he wouldn't have known someone had kissed him.

After a fierce internal struggle, she ultimately lacked the audacity and decided to let it go.

When Shen Shuyi brought the tea to Pei Dongzhou, he looked at her, a faint mockery in his deep eyes: "You took quite a long time to brew this tea, Cousin. Did you add anything to it?"

Shen Shuyi’s hands holding the tray trembled slightly, and she felt relieved that she hadn't gone through with it.

To make matters worse, Pei Dongzhou added, "I cannot trust your character, Cousin. You drink a sip of this tea first; I will only taste it once I am certain there is no issue."

One truly laughs when pushed to the point of speechless rage.

Shen Shuyi gripped the tray tightly, wanting nothing more than to splash the tea in the Heir Apparent’s face.

But thinking of her precarious life, she bore it in silence.

"Where is the basic trust and respect between people?!" Shen Shuyi lamented, picking up the cup and draining it in one gulp. "Since you are worried about the tea, Cousin, I shall drink it myself, lest something go wrong and I be unable to bear the consequences."

Pei Dongzhou’s expression remained indifferent. "I will ask you one more time, Cousin: have you done anything untoward to me?"

He watched her expressions and movements carefully, but found no change in her demeanor.

It seemed he had been overthinking.

Or perhaps, he had suffered hallucinations of being kissed after being drugged? But he could still feel the warmth and softness of those lips at the time; it did not feel like a hallucination.

"I swear, I have not," Shen Shuyi replied sincerely.

She had indeed done nothing untoward; she had only given him a light peck. Such a cheek kiss was common everywhere abroad; how could that be called untoward?

"Remember your words today, Cousin," Pei Dongzhou said, rising to his feet.

Shen Shuyi responded repeatedly, "Safe travels, Cousin."

Pei Dongzhou did not spare her another glance as he left Fusang Courtyard.

Not feeling at ease, Shen Shuyi checked to see if the favorability ratings of the four Pei brothers had continued to drop after his departure.

To her surprise, the Heir Apparent’s favorability toward her had not dropped but risen, reaching -90%.

How strange. Had she done something to please him?

He clearly suspected her of drugging him and stealing a kiss, so why had his favorability increased?

Perhaps, she had managed to clear all suspicion.

Contemplating this possibility, she became full of fighting spirit.

Next time, as long as she kissed him without him knowing it was her, she could complete her mission without him developing a loathing for her.

Indeed, her strategy was correct. If she stuck to this path, Pei Dongzhou would be unable to do anything to her.

Seeing her mistress suddenly burst into loud laughter, A-Jian was terrified. "Are you alright, Mistress?"

Shen Shuyi was beaming. "I have never been better!"

She now felt that this path of "conquering a man" might not be as difficult as she had imagined.

She made up her mind: she would continue to drug Pei Dongzhou, but she would change the location and the drug. She would go buy the medicine herself this time—the kind that would knock him out cold immediately.

She would act alone and choose a place he would never suspect, a place where he would be completely off his guard.

Seeing her mistress laugh and then display a sinister smile, A-Jian could not help but shiver.