"I drugged you! Do you think I'm that shameless? Tell me! What are you plotting now?"

Cen Xi sat on the ground with a fierce and menacing look on her face, as if she wanted to stare a hole through Shen Jinchen.

"All I ever wanted was for you to be my wife, what else could it be? But alas, you have no feelings for me."

Shen Jinchen forced himself to get off the bed, looking aggrieved as he complained.

"return…"

Cen Xi was about to speak when he noticed a commotion outside, as if a large crowd had gathered.

At the same time, Shen Jinchen's two guards pushed the door open with a bang.

"Young master, Tan Siye, who is at odds with Wen Daru, led a group of people and smashed up our courtyard gate, saying they want to demand an explanation from us."

Shang Se, who came in first, reported the news to Shen Jinchen with a solemn expression.

When Feng Qin entered later, she saw that Shen Jinchen was still dressed in a light and soft manner, and had a resentful look on his face. She couldn't help but laugh at her young master in her heart, saying that he was indeed shameless and had no bottom line.

"What happened?"

Although Shen Jinchen didn't have much strength, he still swept Cen Xi up with a flick of his sleeve and carried her to the bed, then covered her with a blanket.

"The doctor who came to see you this morning has also contracted the plague. At the same time, many teachers and students in the academy have also contracted the plague. Some busybodies say that it spread from here. Tan Siye gathered several teachers and students from the academy to cause trouble outside our academy."

Shang Se looked at Shen Jinchen and explained with a solemn expression.

"When did I ever have the plague?"

Shen Jinchen sat down at the round table and asked coldly.

"This morning, you were unconscious, and we...we gave you medicine, so you're feeling better now."

Shang Se explained.

"Oh? Plague? Where did it come from?"

Shen Jinchen raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickering slightly.

"I don't know. This morning, we found you unconscious, with a persistent high fever, and you were having convulsions from time to time."

Shang Se stood next to Shen Jinchen and replied coldly.

"And what about her? How did she get into my room?"

Shen Jinchen glanced at the person on the bed and asked.

“Young master, I’ll answer that. I’ve been the one who took care of the mistress. She also contracted the plague, and her maid was in a hurry to fetch a doctor, so she entrusted the mistress to me. I thought it would be more convenient for two people to take care of her together, so I took the liberty of doing so.”

When Feng Qin saw that Shen Jinchen had finally asked about the woman in bed, she smiled and leaned forward to say something.

Shen Jinchen wanted to ask more questions after hearing his words, but was interrupted by a loud voice.

"I wonder if Prime Minister Shen is dead. If he is not, please come out and explain where this plague came from. We can't let our Qingshan Academy suffer an undeserved disaster."

"Young Master!"

Shang Se clenched his fists as he listened to Master Tan's accusatory words outside. He knew that with just one word from Shen Jinchen, he could beat the arguing man to a pulp.

"Fengqin, go and call Qingyi over to take care of her young lady. Shangse, come with me to take a look."

Shen Jinchen glanced at Cen Xi, who was completely covered up, gave her an instruction, put on a cloak, and walked out.

Cen Xi lay on the bed, watching Shen Jinchen leave the room with his upright posture and elegant demeanor. She immediately got up and circulated her internal energy. When her body was no longer so tired, she got out of bed, dressed, and prepared to go out and take a look.

It turns out that last night, no, it should be early this morning, she and Shen Jinchen both contracted the plague, which is why she went to Shen Jinchen's room.

It turned out that he hadn't stolen it; rather, his young guard had taken it upon himself to carry her over.

Plague? Why did she contract the plague? Why did she get the plague immediately after confirming Xiao Qiliang's identity?

After countless questions swirled in her mind, Cen Xi couldn't help but begin to suspect Xiao Qiliang. Everything was too coincidental; it seemed she had to go to Xiao Qiliang's courtyard to find out the truth.

With Shen Jinchen holding things up outside, nothing serious should happen. To confirm her guess, she used her light-footed skill to flash towards Xiao Qiliang's courtyard.

If he were there, it would be suspicious; if he weren't, it would be even more suspicious. Because only he would plot to kill himself; no one else would have the same reason. Shen Jinchen? Perhaps he would have done so before, but he has no reason to now. Besides, if he were to do it intentionally, would he really let himself contract the plague? Only a fool would do that.

Outside the courtyard, Shen Jinchen stood at the gate, coldly watching Tan Siye and his men launch into a torrent of accusations. Only after they had finished speaking and hurling their insults did he finally ask in a low voice:

Who has contracted the plague?

"No matter who has contracted the plague, Prime Minister Shen will have to give us a clear explanation. Our Qingshan Academy cannot suffer an undeserved disaster because of you. Although you are an official of the court, you cannot treat human life lightly."

Tan Siye glared at Shen Jinchen with a righteous and stern expression.

"Then what kind of explanation does Director Tan want from me? How about letting you all contract the plague?"

Shen Jinchen looked at him coldly and asked indifferently.

"you!"

Tan Siye was speechless with anger.

"There is always a source to the plague. I have also been infected with the plague. My precious body has suffered a misfortune at Qingshan Academy. I also want compensation. I wonder how Director Tan can give me an explanation?"

Shen Jinchen deliberately swayed his body, then looked at Tan Siye with a face full of resentment and asked.

"You! You're shameless!"

Tan Siye was so angry he was speechless. His once fluent tongue was now completely unable to utter a single word, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

"I now suspect that someone wants to kill me. Otherwise, why was I the one who was harmed first, while Tan Siye was unharmed? You didn't even cover your face with a veil, which shows that you are fearless. Can I guess that the plague I contracted was not caused by Tan Siye? Murdering an official of the court is a capital offense. I wonder what Tan Siye's explanation is?"

Shen Jinchen stared at him coldly, and before he could come up with a solution, he posed another challenge.

"You! You're spouting nonsense! How could I have caused this plague? Prime Minister Shen, you're really good at shifting blame. Don't think you can use your silver tongue to pin the plague on someone else. Our academy's doctors are still in bed. So what if you're the Prime Minister? Knowing the law and breaking it is a capital offense. If Prime Minister Shen doesn't give us an explanation today, we'll jointly petition the court and accuse you of disregarding the people."

As the deputy manager of the academy, Tan Siye was naturally quite capable. After being rebuked twice, he finally calmed down and quickly came up with a way to deal with it.

"Tan Siye is indeed highly respected. His ability to spout nonsense surpasses even my own. His skill in shifting blame is also masterful. So, I ask you, how did I contract the plague? If you can give me an explanation today, I will grant your wish and give you a proper answer."

Shen Jinchen stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the air of a superior in every gesture and movement, his undeniable authority impossible to ignore. Those who had joined Tan Siye in causing trouble were so frightened that they involuntarily took two steps back, and Tan Siye himself looked somewhat embarrassed.