Chapter 13: It Looks Very Kissable...

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Shen Shuyi instinctively hid the talisman of safety behind her back, unable to understand why the presence of Lord Pei seemed to be everywhere. Pei Dongzhou noticed Shen Shuyi’s wary glare and thought she didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives toward him, so it was unlikely she had stolen a kiss from him.

It seemed that since the day before yesterday, Shen’s cousin had been radiating a strange kind of contradiction.

If she intended to give him the jade pendant from the start, why couldn’t she speak kindly, instead choosing to extort money from him?

If she wished to have him, why did she avoid him like the plague whenever they met?

The talisman she hid also seemed suspicious; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so guarded around him.

“Cousin, have you done something you’re ashamed of again?” Pei Dongzhou asked leisurely.

Shen Shuyi found his words irritating, especially the word “again,” which implied she had committed many misdeeds. In truth, she was a good citizen, at most having shamelessly stolen a kiss from him, and that too was a wasted effort.

She couldn’t afford to offend Lord Pei, so she reluctantly changed the subject. “I heard Miss Li has arrived. The day before yesterday, Lord Pei’s attempt at a match didn’t succeed. Today he should seize the opportunity.”

Could he just keep his distance?

“If it’s fate, we would have met already. If not, even if we’re opposite, our hands cannot touch. Cousin, don’t you think that’s the truth?”

As Pei Dongzhou spoke, he suddenly and unexpectedly took the talisman from Shen Shuyi’s hand.

Caught off guard, Shen Shuyi was silent.

Pei Dongzhou examined the talisman carefully, finding it quite common and unremarkable. If so, why was she hiding it so cautiously?

Shen Shuyi stood up, feeling dizzy; her body was in very poor condition.

She still needed to kiss Lord Pei soon.

Though Lord Pei’s lips were a bit sharp, their shape was beautiful, with crimson petals that looked very kissable...

Pei Dongzhou, engrossed in examining the talisman, suddenly felt his lips locked by a burning gaze.

He looked at Shen Shuyi, who nonchalantly averted her eyes.

She reached out her hand. “Cousin, have you finished inspecting it? Could you please return the talisman?”

Pei Dongzhou, acting as if it were natural, confiscated it. “I suspect you have ill intentions. This talisman will stay with me for now.”

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Shen Shuyi laughed bitterly but couldn’t afford to offend such a powerful figure. She swallowed her pride and said, “Cousin’s words are right. I’ll take my leave.”

At worst, she could buy another. Though she wasn’t wealthy, she had enough petty money for a talisman.

The previous talisman cost her ten copper coins but was taken by Lord Pei. This time, she chose to reduce the cost, buying the cheapest talisman for five copper coins.

Frankly, Pei Beizhou’s favor toward her was almost nonexistent, and that gloomy man was not someone to offend either.

Pei Xizhou saw Pei Dongzhou from afar, noticing his focused gaze forward, and curiously looked over. He saw Shen Shuyi had bought a very cheap talisman for five coins—quite shabby indeed.

“Could it be that our eldest brother has taken a fancy to cousin Shen?” Pei Xizhou teased.

His gaze fell on the young girl ahead.

Today she wore a pure, crescent-white broad-sleeved cross-collar dress, her hair styled in the latest fashion of hanging buns favored by young ladies. Compared to before, when her hair was adorned with many hairpins and rings, today she only had a single gold-and-silver inlaid jade hairpin.

Perhaps the girl had many worries, often sighing toward the sky. When handing over the five copper coins, it was as if she was cutting a piece of her own flesh, her expression rich and complex.

Perhaps sensing the brothers’ gaze, Shen Shuyi looked over. Upon seeing them, her expression shifted from surprise to restraint; she then respectfully bowed to them and quietly slipped into the main hall.

“Xizhou, don’t you think cousin Shen is acting a little odd?” Pei Dongzhou’s voice brought Pei Xizhou back to his thoughts.

Xizhou replied with interest, “Our eldest brother is the odd one—he’s been staring at cousin Shen without blinking.”

Indeed, cousin Shen was somewhat unusual. In an instant, her facial expressions changed rapidly, captivating his gaze. More intriguing was that their usually composed eldest brother would stare at a woman for so long.

Pei Dongzhou glanced at Pei Xizhou and walked away.

Xizhou’s words made sense—why was he staring so intently at Shen Shuyi?

Even if he suspected Shen Shuyi of drugging him, he had Qingzhu investigating; he only needed to wait for the results.

Hidden away, Shen Shuyi waited until the Pei brothers had left before stepping out of the main hall to search for Pei Beizhou.

Failing to find him, Xia Nianchu suddenly appeared from nowhere and dragged her into a secluded corner. “We agreed—you have to admit to the drugging…”

“Did you succeed?” Shen Shuyi asked calmly.

Recalling the matter caused Xia Nianchu pain. “How dare you ask? What kind of medicine did you buy? Lord Pei woke so quickly, I didn’t have a chance to act before he was awake!”

“You were dithering and failed because you couldn’t seize the chance. That’s your problem, not mine. Since you failed, I’m not bound by our agreement. If Lord Pei investigates, you bear all the consequences.” Shen Shuyi said, turning to leave.

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Xia Nianchu was furious and tried to block Shen Shuyi’s way, but two noble ladies happened to pass by. To maintain her image as an innocent, harmless white lotus, she could only stop.

But it didn’t matter—the medicine was bought by Shen Shuyi, so even if Lord Pei investigated thoroughly, he wouldn’t trace it back to her.

Shen Shuyi thought that denying it would let her escape trouble, but she was overly naive.

Meanwhile, Shen Shuyi searched everywhere for Pei Beizhou without luck. Then Lady Pei approached.

“Sister Yi, the vegetarian meal is ready. You and grandmother will sit together later.”

“All right, I was just looking for grandmother,” Shen Shuyi replied with a bright smile.

Lady Pei held Shen Shuyi’s soft hand, her heart melting.

When Shen Shuyi entered the vegetarian dining hall and took her seat, the Pei brothers appeared.

During meal times, the hall was packed. Seeing the Pei brothers, everyone’s eyes lit up.

The Pei brothers each had distinct charm; whether in height, appearance, or aura, they were all exceptional.

Many eligible noble young ladies seeking matches had come to the Great Awakening Temple to pay respects, including Li Shuyao, the legitimate daughter of the Deputy Minister of the Grand Ministry of Ceremonies.

When she visited the Moonwatch Pavilion two days ago, Lord Pei had already left. Now, seeing the four outstanding Pei brothers, she couldn’t help but notice Lord Pei first.

She had previously met Lord Pei at a palace banquet and had fallen for him at first sight. Knowing she could have a match viewing with him made her incredibly happy, but she arrived too late, and Lord Pei had already left.

With so many people around, she dared not approach but could only watch as Lord Pei took his seat at the Pei family table.

The customs of the Qi Kingdom were open-minded; men and women could sit together, and today was no exception. The Pei family’s daughters and sons mingled at the same table.

Shen Shuyi kept her gaze fixed on Pei Beizhou, hoping to sit with him.

Perhaps sensing her eyes, Pei Beizhou chose the seat farthest from her.

She couldn’t help but feel disappointed. When she turned her head, she caught Pei Dongzhou’s probing eyes staring at her...