Chapter 14: The Heir’s Interrogation, A Face-to-Face Confrontation

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Pei Dongzhou’s unabashed scrutiny made Shen Shuyi a little uneasy. She averted her gaze, wanting to put some distance between herself and Pei Dongzhou. This man was too dangerous; if he grew any more resentful of her, the system might erase her in an instant. Yet, every seat at the table was occupied. If she got up, she would draw everyone's attention.

Her eyes involuntarily landed on Pei Beizhou.

Pei Beizhou’s fondness for her was also close to the point of erasure. If she directly gave him a talisman for safety, he would surely think she was confessing her love, and his goodwill toward her would likely diminish further.

At that moment, she realized this impromptu task was not so simple.

Irritated, she tugged at a strand of hair near her cheek and sensed Pei Dongzhou’s gaze fixed on her face. She quietly shifted her stool a little farther away from him.

Though her movement was subtle, Pei Dongzhou noticed.

Shen Shuyi glanced again toward Pei Beizhou at the other end of the table. He was seventeen this year, his complexion a sickly pale, and beneath his narrow eyes lingered a heavy melancholy, as if a dark cloud refused to dissipate.

Just then, Pei Beizhou looked over and gave her a cold, sinister smile.

Shen Shuyi inwardly cursed her luck. She was about to give such a gloomy male lead a talisman for safety—wasn’t she the one who really needed protection?

She calmly averted her gaze once more, and just then, Pei Dongzhou’s indifferent voice whispered in her ear: “What guilty deed has my cousin done this time?”

Hearing the word “again,” Shen Shuyi felt a bit exasperated.

There were many more guilty deeds she had to commit next, and all were against these male leads. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.

Fortunately, the vegetarian meal arrived. She pretended not to hear Pei Dongzhou and focused on eating diligently.

She believed that only by eating well could she better complete the tasks. Even if she failed, she would go down a well-fed ghost.

After the meal, everyone from the Pingyang Marquis’s residence was about to leave the Great Awakening Temple and return to the manor.

Shen Shuyi’s gaze often fell on Pei Beizhou as she pondered that she currently had three tasks, each targeting a different male lead. She had to complete at least one first, right?

Li Shuyao, seeing the Pei family preparing to leave the temple, summoned her courage and called out to Pei Dongzhou: “Young Master Pei, please wait.”

In that moment, all the Pei family members turned to look.

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Li Shuyao was the epitome of a refined young lady—well-educated, polite, and gentle in demeanor. Under the gaze of the Pei family, she gracefully approached Pei Dongzhou and bowed: “I am the legitimate daughter of Li Shaoqing from the Great Hall Temple, I greet Young Master Pei.”

Pei Dongzhou did not respond but looked toward Shen Shuyi.

Shen Shuyi felt inexplicably uneasy. Surely, the young master wasn’t still upset about her ruining his matchmaking two days ago?

She quickly boarded the carriage, then curiously lifted the curtain to peek outside. She saw the well-mannered young master chatting happily with Li Shuyao.

At that moment, Pei Dongzhou looked over and caught her sneaking a look. Calmly, she lowered the curtain, pretending she was merely admiring the scenery.

On the way back to the Marquis's residence, she enjoyed a good nap. When she got off the carriage, her head was still a bit foggy.

Upon entering the Fusang Courtyard, A Jian unusually ran out to greet her and gave her a knowing look. Confused, Shen Shuyi asked, “What’s going on?”

A Jian whispered in her ear, “The Young Master is here, waiting for you in the courtyard.”

Shen Shuyi was startled.

When she got into the carriage, Pei Dongzhou was still talking with Li Shuyao. How did he get here before her?

Of course—Pei Dongzhou must have come to interrogate her about being drugged.

When she kissed him, he had been unconscious. Why did he not suspect Xia Nianchu but instead suspect her?

Could it be because of her record of previous misdeeds? No matter what happened in the future, the male leads would immediately assume she was behind it.

“A distinguished guest has arrived. Why aren’t you helping to entertain him properly?” Shen Shuyi shook off her earlier fatigue and spoke with renewed energy.

A Jian caught the subtle look in Shen Shuyi’s eyes and immediately understood. The young lady intended to stick to the previous statement so that the Young Master would find no fault with her.

As soon as Shen Shuyi entered the main hall, she saw Pei Dongzhou sitting elegantly in the place of honor.

The young master’s posture was graceful, radiating innate nobility. Combined with his refined demeanor, the ordinary hall suddenly brightened.

“Cousin, sit down,” Pei Dongzhou said slowly.

His tone made it seem as if he were the master of the Fusang Courtyard.

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Shen Shuyi pretended not to hear the young master and asked, “Cousin, is there something you need at the Fusang Courtyard?”

“Later, Qingzhu will invite Cousin Xia over. Regarding the incident at the Great Awakening Temple today, I want you two to confront each other face to face.”

Shen Shuyi expressionlessly realized a fatal flaw. If Xia Nianchu told Pei Dongzhou that she was the first to enter the dormitory, then Pei Dongzhou would know for sure it was Shen Shuyi who kissed him without permission.

Worse still, there was no way to trick Xia Nianchu into taking the blame.

Soon, Qingzhu invited Xia Nianchu, who exchanged a wary glance with Shen Shuyi. Both harbored their own schemes, guessing Pei Dongzhou was here to uncover the truth behind the drugging at the Great Awakening Temple.

Without hesitation, Xia Nianchu struck first, accusing Shen Shuyi: “As far as I know, Cousin Young Master was drugged today under Cousin Shen’s instructions.”

Shen Shuyi was not surprised by Xia Nianchu’s ruthlessness and calmly replied, “When have I ever provoked you to spill such slander upon me?”

Xia Nianchu frowned slightly, glanced timidly at Shen Shuyi, and said, “Yesterday, someone saw A Jian buying a sedative. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but seeing Cousin Young Master drugged today, I realized it must have been Cousin Shen behind it.”

“A Jian did leave the Marquis’s residence yesterday and did help me buy medicine, but it was not the sedative Cousin Xia described!” Shen Shuyi looked toward Pei Dongzhou, who was watching the verbal sparring, “If Young Master investigates, he will see I am telling the truth.”

Pei Dongzhou lightly tapped his long finger on the table and looked at Qingzhu: “Tell us what you found out.”

Qingzhu stepped forward and shared her investigation: “A Jian went to the pharmacy both the day before yesterday and yesterday to buy medicine, but they were all for health maintenance, not the sedative Young Master was given.”

Pei Dongzhou had not asked for Qingzhu’s findings before, but upon hearing this, his eyes darkened slightly.

Because of Shen Shuyi’s past sins, he had initially assumed the medicine package she held the day before yesterday was the sedative he was given.

Between Shen Shuyi and Xia Nianchu, both suspects, he thought Shen Shuyi was more suspicious.

Not only was Pei Dongzhou surprised, but Xia Nianchu was incredulous: “Impossible! My people clearly saw A Jian buying the sedative.”

“Cousin says your people saw A Jian buy the sedative. May I ask who this person is? Which pharmacy did they see A Jian at? Could you bring that person here for questioning?” Shen Shuyi said with complete composure.