Chapter 73 Drugged

She watched Su Xiao's retreating figure, then glanced at Yan Mingshen, their eyes meeting briefly in mid-air.

Zhou Manyun didn't smile, but merely raised an eyebrow slightly in acknowledgment.

Yan Mingshen's brows furrowed instantly, his fingertips clenched unconsciously, and his heart sank.

Seeing that the old lady was angry, the guests nearby quickly came over to smooth things over, with some offering tea and others saying auspicious words.

Amidst the chaotic noise, Zhou Manyun slowly stood up, walked to Yan Mingshen's side, and lowered her voice considerably:

"Have you thought it through? Which one do you want, Xia Zhi or Su Xiao?"

Yan Mingshen turned away, avoiding the ears of those around him, his tone cold and hard: "What do you want to do?"

Zhou Manyun looked at his taut jawline and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Her fingertips slowly brushed against the buttons on her cuffs, like a coiling snake:

"What else can we do? Just help you keep your staff."

Her eyes swept over Su Xiao, who was talking to Xu Bozhou not far away, her tone casual yet laced with a hook.

"If you don't want Xia Zhi, then take advantage of tonight to get Su Xiao under your control, make it a fait accompli, and once you have a child, what can she do even if she favors the Xu family's child?"

"mean."

Yan Mingshen's clenched fists turned white at the knuckles, and disgust surged in his eyes.

He should have known that Zhou Manyun would never solve problems through normal means.

Over the years, all the schemes she secretly prepared, from equity to marriage, were all calculated.

Now she's setting her sights on Su Xiao. What exactly is she planning to do?

Instead of being annoyed by his scolding, Zhou Manyun burst out laughing:

"Despicable? I've really raised a good son."

She leaned forward, her breath carrying the scent of sandalwood and a calculating chill.

"Do you think you can afford to wait? If you wait a few more days, and she and Xu Bozhou have established themselves, even if you find out the truth about the car accident, what then? Do you think you can win her back?"

She lowered her eyes and straightened her skirt. Since Xia Zhi had already been targeted by Yan Mingshen, keeping her around would only be a hidden danger. It was better to just get rid of her.

Su Xiao, on the other hand, never expected that this cripple with a broken hand could actually get involved with the Qin family.

Elder Qin's power and Elder Tang's influence are the best support for the Yan family.

As long as Su Xiao is secured, all of this will eventually belong to the Yan family.

Unfortunately, Su Xiao wasn't obedient enough. But wasn't Yan Mingshen investigating his savior? At worst, she could just push out another noblewoman to put pressure on him.

She only needed to be a compliant pawn; she didn't care who ended up by his side.

Yan Mingshen lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting shadows beneath them, and remained silent.

The chill crept up his veins from his fingertips; he was truly afraid, afraid that Su Xiao would never turn back.

Seeing his silent demeanor, Zhou Manyun knew that he was wavering.

"Son, don't let your mother down."

She patted his shoulder, chuckled, and walked aside to instruct her assistant to make some preparations.

If Yan Mingshen were a little more clever and arranged for the reporters to take some useful photos, then Su Xiao's future would be entirely up to her.

It's a good opportunity to write a press release to clear one's name.

With the Yan and Su families on good terms, the previously fallen stocks are likely to rise again.

Halfway through the banquet, Su Xiao suddenly felt a wave of heat rising in her body.

Thinking back to Zhou Manyun's meaningful look, I felt something was off.

It was that cup of warm tea... Su Xiao bit her lower lip and subconsciously clenched Xu Bozhou's sleeve.

When I came to my senses, the tips of my ears were already bright red, and even my breath felt hot.

"Xiaoxiao?"

Xu Bozhou noticed her unease almost immediately, his brows furrowing as he looked down.

He touched her cheek with his fingertip and felt its burning heat. "Do you have a fever?"

His voice had barely faded when they heard Old Mrs. Su coughing from the direction of the mahogany sofa:

"Su Xiao, come here."

Su Xiao forced herself to take two steps forward. Fortunately, she only took a small sip, just to make an example of the old lady, and her mind was still relatively clear.

That's karma.

The old woman twirled a walnut in her hand, not even lifting her eyelids, her tone revealing an unyielding firmness:

“There’s a jar of aged Pu’er tea that I stored away years ago in the backyard storage room. Go and fetch it. We have many distinguished guests tonight, so it’s a good opportunity for everyone to have a taste.”

With so many servants, how could I possibly get a turn?

Su Xiao didn't even look up; she just wanted to find an excuse to leave.

Moreover, her current condition is too dangerous.

"It's only right for a granddaughter to express her feelings, especially since the things you asked me for the other day are over there. Whether you go or not is up to you."

"I'll go with her."

Xu Bozhou took half a step forward, put his hand on her shoulder, and his attitude was stern.

"No need."

The old woman finally looked up, her cloudy eyes filled with calculation.

"How dare outsiders enter the inner quarters of the Su family? Mr. Xu, you should stay here and entertain the guests to avoid giving others cause for gossip, saying that the Su family doesn't know the proper etiquette."

The room fell silent the moment the two locked eyes.

Just as Xu Bozhou was about to speak, Su Xiao gently tugged at his wrist.

She leaned close to his ear, her warm breath falling on his earlobe:

"It's nothing... The backyard isn't far from here. I'll be right back. Wait for me in the corridor. I'll call you as soon as I get it, okay?"

Xu Bozhou stared at the reddened corners of her eyes, the heat almost seeping through the fabric.

He knew she was afraid he would have a conflict with the old lady.

But how could he let her go alone? Especially in her current state.

"obedient."

Su Xiao tugged at it again, her eyelashes trembling violently, but she managed to force a faint smile.

She can't completely break ties with Grandma Su yet, especially not in this kind of situation.

If things go wrong, the old lady might expose her mother's past and burn her belongings.

Wouldn't that be a case of her gaining more than she gained?

"I'll be back soon."

After saying that, she broke free from Xu Bozhou's hand, grabbed the carved railing beside her, and walked step by step toward the backyard.

With each step, the burning sensation on my body intensified.

Xu Bozhou stood still, his brows slightly furrowed.

Not far away, Zhou Manyun held a wine glass, slowly twirling the rim with her fingertips, watching Su Xiao's unsteady steps, a triumphant smile flashing in her eyes.

Su Xiao pushed open the door to the storage room. It was dark inside, and the lights were off.

She had a bad feeling and was about to open Xu Bozhou's chat box to send him her location when someone grabbed her wrist and snatched her phone away.

The door behind her closed, and Su Xiao was completely plunged into pitch-black darkness. She could only hear her own increasingly heavy breathing and the cool scent of the man in front of her.

It is Yan Mingshen.