After Su Mu fetched the cherry juice, the chef and she tried it. After confirming that it was non-toxic and there was nothing unusual, he asked her to bring it to Yan Jiuchao’s study.
It was getting late. The servants had all returned to their rooms, and no one saw Su Mu go to Yan Jiuchao’s study room.
“Young Master.” Su Mu bowed outside the door.
At this moment, the person sitting in the study was no longer Yan Jiuchao. Shadow Thirteen nodded heavily. Although he had disguised himself as Young Master, his face looked very stiff and his voice did not sound like him. In order not to expose himself, he only lit a faint yellow oil lamp.
Su Mu placed the snacks on the table and said gently, “Young Master, please eat.”
Shadow Thirteen glanced at Su Mu indifferently.
Su Mu’s appearance was considered outstanding. Her figure was graceful and exquisite, and she was wearing an extremely slim-fit light pink dress with a waist. There were faint curves at the collar. Ordinary men’s blood pressure would have risen when they saw such a beauty, but Shadow Thirteen was very calm.
2
Shadow Thirteen took a bite of the chestnut cake. It tasted good.
“Young Master, do you want to grind the ink?” Su Mu suddenly asked.
Shadow Thirteen nodded without batting an eyelid.
Su Mu walked forward and went around the desk to Shadow Thirteen’s side. She rolled up her sleeve with one hand and pinched the ink block with the other, gently grinding it on the inkstone. Her movements were soothing and elegant, and fine and pleasant sounds sounded in the inkstone.
It was quiet all around. A cold wind blew in from outside the room, shaking the fragrance on her body. The fragrance wafted into Shadow Thirteen’s nose, and he felt his mind shake.
Shadow Thirteen clenched his fists. “You can leave.”
Su Mu’s eyelashes trembled. She retracted her hand and bowed gently. “Yes.”
Su Mu left.
After confirming that she had left the Qingfeng Courtyard, Shadow Thirteen secretly activated the mechanism and revealed the secret room behind the bookshelf.
Yu Wan pushed Yan Jiuchao out. Shadow Six was also beside the two of them. The three of them looked at the flushed Shadow Thirteen.
Shadow Thirteen took a deep breath and said, “She drugged the food.”
However, it was not placed in one place. Instead, it was distributed in the cherry juice and the sachet on her body. There would be no abnormalities if he only ate the cherry juice. However, once he smelled the fragrance released from her sachet, it would become an aphrodisiac.
Yu Wan’s eyes turned cold. It seemed that this woman had made up her mind to snatch everything from her—her status, her sons, and even her man.
1
“Young Master, Young Madam, I’ll circulate my energy to detoxify the poison first.” With that, Shadow Thirteen returned to his courtyard.
Enduring all kinds of medicine was one of the training for sacrificial soldiers. Shadow Thirteen didn’t take it seriously and just endured it. At this moment, Shadow Six ran over.
Shadow Six’s handsome face entered Shadow Thirteen’s vision.
3
“What are you doing?” Shadow Thirteen asked coldly.
Shadow Six coughed lightly and said, “Ahem… You gave me so much money. We’re considered life and death brothers. As your brother, I can’t leave you alone after you’re drugged… Let me help you.”
3
Shadow Thirteen’s chest swelled. “How-how can you help? We’re all… men.”
“So what if we’re all men? I can tell that you’re inexperienced.”
4
Shadow Thirteen held his breath.
“Oh, I forgot to take something.” Shadow Six retracted his hand and flashed out.
Damn Shadow Six, did he know how strong this aphrodisiac was? He might really…
Shadow Thirteen closed his eyes, not daring to think further.
Shadow Six stuck his round head out of the door. “The things are ready. Come with me! Remember to take off your clothes!”
2
Shadow Thirteen clenched his fists. He still wanted to take off his clothes… This kid!
Fifteen minutes later, Shadow Thirteen sat in a wooden bucket covered in ice. Shadow Six saw that the ice was about to melt and hurriedly scooped a spoonful to add to it.
2
“How is it? Do you feel better?” Shadow Six asked with a smile.
Shadow Thirteen’s face had darkened to the shade of charcoal.
2
… .
It rained heavily at night. Yu Wan and Yan Jiuchao hugged the three trembling little fellows until dawn.
The next morning, the sky cleared up and the three little fellows were lively again.
Yan Jiuchao called over Shadow Thirteen, who was fine but had a livid expression, and asked him to send the three little fellows to Lotus Flower Village.
The three little fellows looked at Yu Wan pitifully.
Yu Wan thought to herself, I’m sorry, sons. I need to detoxify your father, and I have to deal with Su Mu. I can only let you live in the countryside for a while.
The three little fellows left with tears in their eyes.
1
With Yan Jiuchao backing her, it was not difficult for Yu Wan to deal with Su Mu. However, it was a skill to deal with everyone.
In Lanfang Pavilion, Nanny Wan weighed the book on the table. “Do you think the Emperor needs to learn these rules?”
“Doesn’t he need to learn it?” Yu Wan asked.
Nanny Wan snorted. “He’s the rule himself! Remember, they should respect you not because you’re Young Master’s wife, nor because you’re the little masters’ biological mother, but because you’re their master! You’re the rule here! Don’t let others look down on you because of your background. You have to straighten your identity first before they can straighten their eyes! Why do you think the people of the Yan Manor still call the Princess Consort their master even though she has remarried for so many years? Because she never relied on the identities of Young Master’s biological mother and Prince Yan’s wife to establish herself in the Yan Manor. Similarly, when she goes to the Xiao Manor, her situation won’t be any better than your background. But have you seen her suffer in the Xiao Manor? Don’t be a good person. You have to be a smart person.”
1
Yu Wan received the lesson and bowed gratefully to Nanny Wan. She left Lanfang Pavilion. The sky was still the same, but it seemed to be different.
1
Yu Wan returned to the Qingfeng Courtyard and asked Tao’er to call Su Mu over.
Su Mu entered Yu Wan’s room and bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Young Madam.”
Yu Wan smiled and said, “I heard you were looking for me.”
Su Mu was stunned.
Yu Wan said to Tao’er, “Go outside and guard.”
“Yes.” Tao’er left.
“Pour the tea,” Yu Wan said.
Su Mu walked forward and poured Yu Wan a cup of tea.
Yu Wan held the porcelain bottle in her hand, removed the cork, and asked Su Mu, “Do you know what this is?”
Su Mu shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“This is arsenic.” Yu Wan poured the arsenic into the tea.
Su Mu’s eyes flickered.
“The amount isn’t large. It takes ten to twelve hours for it to take effect if an adult eats it.” Yu Wan pulled off the silver hairpin on her head and dipped it in the tea. The hairpin turned black at a visible speed.
Su Mu had an ominous feeling.
Yu Wan gently placed the hairpin on the table. Her eyes turned cold as she slapped the table. “How dare you! You actually dare to poison me!”