Chapter 17: Shen’s Cousin and a Man Together

After a full day of busyness, Shen Shuyi’s body was beginning to falter, yet she still eagerly participated in the evening’s Qiqiao Festival lantern fair.

However, once she boarded the carriage, she began coughing so violently it tore at her chest, frightening A Jian deeply.

The matriarch was elderly and naturally did not attend the lantern fair.

The young ladies of the Pei family, who went to the fair, tacitly gave Shen Shuyi the cold shoulder, refusing to share a carriage with her.

Xia Nianchu disliked Shen Shuyi even more. Her target was Pei Dongzhou; she hoped to slip into the heir’s carriage but was turned away.

In the end, only Shen Shuyi’s carriage had space, so Xia Nianchu begrudgingly squeezed in with her.

Seeing Shen Shuyi cough as though on the brink of collapse, Xia Nianchu sat as far away as possible, full of disdain.

Shen Shuyi, of course, noticed the look of contempt. She deliberately coughed louder, saying, “Cousin, don’t be afraid. I don’t think this illness is contagious. Even if some of it passes to you, you won’t be as unlucky as I am. You’re destined for a long life; no virus can harm you.”

She coughed several more times as she spoke.

Hearing this, Xia Nianchu nearly lost her composure and shouted, “I want to get off the carriage!”

She would rather walk than share a carriage with Shen Shuyi, uncertain if the illness would be passed on to her.

As soon as the carriage stopped, she hurriedly got down.

Just then, a Pei family carriage approached, and she quickly intercepted it. By coincidence, this carriage carried Pei Dongzhou.

The driver, Qingzhu, recognized Xia Nianchu and stopped, saying to Pei Dongzhou, “Young Master, it’s Miss Xia.”

Pei Dongzhou lifted the curtain, revealing Xia Nianchu’s delicate, shy face. “I’m worried about encountering trouble walking there. Cousin, would you give me a ride?”

“Isn’t cousin already in the same carriage with Miss Shen?” Pei Dongzhou asked, puzzled.

“She’s coughing badly and worried she’ll infect me, so she made me get off. I really had no other choice but to ask you for a ride, cousin. Would you be so kind…” Xia Nianchu’s eyes glistened with tears, her gaze pleading.

Pei Dongzhou glanced behind him but saw no other Pei family carriage.

He knew it was dangerous for Xia Nianchu to walk alone at night, but being thorough in his actions, he felt it improper to share a carriage with her at night.

After a moment’s thought, he stepped down and said, “Cousin, get in the carriage.”

Xia Nianchu eagerly climbed aboard, thinking she finally had a chance to be alone with Pei Dongzhou. But to her surprise, he said, “I’ll walk to the lantern fair.”

“Cousin, I don’t mind,” Xia Nianchu said, unwilling to miss the opportunity.

Pei Dongzhou glanced back at her, “I do.”

Xia Nianchu stamped her foot in frustration. How could there be such an unromantic man? Here she was, a beauty throwing herself at him, and he wasn’t even smiling in acceptance.

Meanwhile, Shen Shuyi’s carriage was slow, but Pei Dongzhou was skilled in martial arts and quick on foot. Soon, he heard the coughing from the carriage and realized Miss Shen’s health was worsening.

Shen Shuyi coughed all the way, and just before reaching the street where the lantern fair was held, she got off the carriage with A Jian’s support.

July’s weather had turned cooler, and the night wind made her cough harder, struggling to breathe.

A Jian anxiously said, “Miss, you’re coughing badly. Perhaps we should go back?”

Suppressing the itch in her throat, Shen Shuyi shook her head. “We’ve come out already; let’s stroll a bit.”

She still had to fulfill the task of kissing Pei Dongzhou. She worried that as the ten-day deadline approached, her health would decline further, making the mission more difficult.

Tonight’s visit to see the lanterns was merely an excuse; her true purpose was to buy medicine.

She had deliberately forced Xia Nianchu off the carriage to make it easier to act on her own.

A few days ago, A Jian had indeed gone to Puji Hall to buy restorative medicine, but the sedative she purchased came from a peculiar man named Sun Wang, known in the original story.

Sun Wang was skilled in medicine and experimented with many odd concoctions. In the original tale, Xia Nianchu had many dealings with Sun Wang, their acquaintance beginning tonight.

Shen Shuyi intended to sever the connection between Xia Nianchu and Sun Wang, so that Sun Wang would serve her in the future.

“But Miss, your coughing is getting worse. Nothing is more important than your health,” A Jian tried to persuade again.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.” Shen Shuyi was about to move forward when she sensed someone watching her from behind.

She turned and saw Pei Dongzhou standing beneath the lantern tree, dressed in blue. Tall and outstanding, gentle and refined, his presence was even more striking under the lantern light.

A cold sweat broke out on Shen Shuyi’s brow. She was relieved he had discovered her before seeing her meeting with Sun Wang; otherwise, he would surely realize the sedative came from her.

Pei Dongzhou stepped closer and spoke softly, “Cousin, your health is poor. Return to the manor early. Do not worry grandmother. I will have Qingzhu escort you back.”

“Tonight is a festival. I want to enjoy the lantern fair a bit longer before returning,” Shen Shuyi said, her eyes brightening when she saw Xia Nianchu arrive. “Young Master, please accompany Miss Xia.”

She squeezed A Jian’s hand hard and then quickly slipped into the crowd.

With Xia Nianchu there, she should be able to distract Pei Dongzhou.

Just as Pei Dongzhou was about to follow, Xia Nianchu hastily blocked his path.

In that moment’s hesitation, Shen Shuyi’s figure disappeared from sight.

Once certain she had evaded Pei Dongzhou, Shen Shuyi crossed through the bustling street where the lantern fair was held and headed straight to the bridge.

There, a young man lay by the riverbank, about to be swept away by the rushing water.

If there were no mistakes, this must be Sun Wang. She recalled Xia Nianchu had helped Sun Wang at this exact spot, after which he became her aide.

“Miss, what are you doing?” A Jian, seeing Shen Shuyi moving to rescue the man, hurried to stop her.

The man was a stranger and a man at that—how could the young lady risk rescuing him? If anyone saw, it would be difficult to explain.

“We need to save him, quickly!” Shen Shuyi walked toward the river.

Seeing her determination, A Jian knew she could not stop her and gritted her teeth. “I’ll save him. You wait here.”

Shen Shuyi would never let her handle it alone. She stepped forward to help, finally pulling the man to safety.

Meanwhile, Pei Dongzhou searched the entire street but found no sign of Shen Shuyi. An hour passed with no success, and his heart sank.

Just then, Pei Xizhou emerged from the Baixiang Pavilion. Seeing Pei Dongzhou’s expression, he casually asked, “Who are you looking for, big brother?”

“Looking for Miss Shen,” Qingzhu replied.

Pei Xizhou was surprised. “I saw Miss Shen with a man about fifteen minutes ago. Why are you looking for her?”

Pei Dongzhou turned to Pei Xizhou. “Where is Miss Shen?”

“Near Chunxi Road, close to the Baixiang Pavilion.”

As soon as Pei Xizhou finished speaking, Pei Dongzhou hurried toward Chunxi Road. Driven by curiosity, Pei Xizhou quickly followed.

Not long after, from afar, they saw Shen Shuyi waving at a man…