Xiao Zhongxuan seemed to be taken aback as well.

after all,

This was the first time in his life he had ever been harassed.

Because of the gesture of cupping her face, Chen Zhiyi tilted her head slightly upwards. Her cheeks were flushed from the wine, and her eyes were hazy and slightly tipsy...

A slight smile played on her lips as she chuckled softly, "Hmm? Young man, why aren't you saying anything?"

Why are you so beautiful?

That voice carried a hint of coquettishness.

Because of the wine, his breath was infused with the fragrance of pear blossoms, yet also carried a hint of burning heat, falling lightly and heavily on his face, causing Xiao Zhongxuan's breathing to become slightly heavy.

The hands that were cupping his face were burning hot.

This made Xiao Zhongxuan's breathing become disordered.

"Madam, you've had too much to drink." He tried hard to control his emotions.

"Huh?" Shen Zhiyi looked confused. "Did I drink too much?"

Hongrui and Lühe quickly stepped forward to help their young lady up, saying, "Miss, you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk!" Shen Zhiyi shook her head earnestly.

His steps were unsteady and he staggered, clearly indicating that he was drunk.

"Young Master Xiao, I'm so sorry, my young lady had too much to drink and didn't mean to offend you," Hongrui said hurriedly.

My daughter is usually very restrained, but this is the first time she's ever been drunk.

how……

He started acting like a scoundrel.

"It's nothing," Xiao Zhongxuan said with a forced smile.

Although Shen Zhiyi was pulled away by the maid, the warmth of her palm still seemed to linger on his face.

His breathing became disordered, and he struggled to calm down for a long time.

"I wasn't drunk." Shen Zhiyi pushed the maid away. "Song Yuxiu is a bastard. I liked him so much, and not only did he keep a mistress behind my back, but he even tried to have someone defile me? To ruin my whole family's lives?"

Xiao Zhongxuan raised an eyebrow:

To harm the Shen family?

"Young lady, you've really had too much to drink. Why are you talking nonsense?" Hongrui helped her up.

"I just want to find a husband who loves me, like my mother did, and spend my whole life with him. Why is it so hard?" Shen Zhiyi said with a bitter smile. "Why are there always so many devoted women and unfaithful men in this world?"

She stared intently at Xiao Zhongxuan. "Are you a heartless man?"

"I……"

Before Xiao Zhongxuan could speak, Shen Zhiyi began talking to herself again.

"Tell me, why is this world so unfair? Why can men have multiple wives and concubines, while women must remain faithful to only one man?"

Why is it that men can indulge in debauchery and party every night, while women might be gossiped about behind their backs if they simply talk to a man a few times in public?

“Women are taught from a young age to obey the three obediences and four virtues, but what about men? They marry wives, take concubines, and even keep several outside the marriage.”

Shen Zhiyi was indeed drunk. "Why can Song Yuxiu keep a mistress, but I can't!"

Both Hongrui and Lühe were shocked by their young mistress's remarks.

Good heavens!

How could her daughter have such a bold idea?

“Miss…” Hongrui tried to cover her mouth, but Shen Zhiyi had already broken free of her control and staggered to Xiao Zhongxuan’s side.

She tilted her little face up and smiled at him.

"Young master, are you married?"

"No."

Is there a marriage agreement?

No, not at all.

"So, do you want to be with me? I'll take care of you."

"..."

Xiao Zhongxuan was stunned.

Shen Zhiyi wasn't particularly beautiful, but she had an excellent temperament and refined features. After being soaked in wine, her voice even took on a delicate tone as she looked at him intently.

His gaze was intense, as if it were burning.

The heat in his eyes made his breath quicken again, which had just calmed down.

Both the red stamen and the green lotus were terrified.

My dear girl, you're really quite drunk.

He hurriedly pulled Shen Zhiyi away, apologizing to Xiao Zhongxuan while leading her back to the room.

Shen Zhiyi kept muttering, "Young master, please consider it. I'm serious, young master—"

Xiao Zhongxuan, who remained in the courtyard, found it difficult to calm down for a long time.

He was...

Did you flirt with me?

The spring night breeze still carried a hint of coolness, blowing against his body, yet it couldn't dispel the restlessness in his heart. It only shook the pear blossoms off the branches, and his emotions, like those pear blossoms, were ruffled by the wind.

It's a complete mess!

——

That night, chaos reigned at the Marquis of Xuanhua's residence, and no one could sleep.

However, Shen Zhiyi, who had been drinking, slept soundly for the first time. But in her dream, she vaguely recalled her past life, dreaming of her father and brothers dying on the battlefield and the entire clan being wiped out. She was instantly terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

When I woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

"Miss?" Hongrui frowned. "What's wrong? You look so pale."

"I probably had too much to drink; I have a headache."

Shen Zhiyi rubbed her temples, the hangover kicking in; her head was indeed throbbing. She had really indulged herself last night.

"Miss, I'll go fetch water to help you wash up," Green Lotus said as she walked out of the room.

The air in the village was exceptionally fresh. Shen Zhiyi got up and walked to the window, taking a deep breath. When Hongrui helped her get dressed, she wanted to mention what happened last night, but she hesitated and didn't know how to say it.

"After I left the Marquis's residence yesterday, did they do anything unusual?"

After Shen Zhiyi was reborn, she specifically assigned people to keep an eye on everything happening in the Marquis's mansion. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to strike back and kill those wolves when they tried to frame her.

As Hongrui helped her get dressed, she replied, "Last night, for some unknown reason, Madam punished Cuilan and locked her in the woodshed, forbidding anyone to bring her food or drink."

“Azure…” Chen Zhiyi murmured the name.

This was her mother-in-law's confidante; Cuilan knew many of her secrets.

Even if it was because of yesterday's incident, I shouldn't have gone to her.

"Have someone keep an eye on Cui Lan and secretly send her some food and water in my name."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!