Lure out the mole

Pei Songsheng rubbed Cheng Yayin's palm like a nagging animal, giving her goose bumps. She quickly pulled her hand away and dodged backwards.

Pei Songsheng was a little dissatisfied. When they were only a foot apart, he grabbed Cheng Yayin's wrist and pulled her in front of him, insisting on staying close to her.

This guy was like a dog-skin plaster. Cheng Yayin was a little annoyed and couldn't help but scold him out loud, but she swallowed the words back when they came to her lips.

After all, Pei Songsheng was framed and ended up in this state. He is quite pitiful. When he wakes up and thinks about how he behaved, he won't know how to blame himself and feel ashamed. So we should be more patient with him now.

Thinking of this, Cheng Yayin's heart couldn't help but soften a little, and she no longer resisted Pei Songsheng's closeness. However, when she was pulled into his arms, she still tried to keep a little distance and said seriously: "Stop making trouble, I'm talking to you about serious matters."

Pei Songsheng saw that she looked serious and seemed to have something important to say, so he stopped teasing her, let go of her hand, and let her continue.

Cheng Yayin adjusted her hair and launched into a pretext she had prepared long ago: "As you know, you hold an important position and are the top target of our Hidden Sect. However, I have been with you for so long but have yet to complete my mission. The leader of the sect is naturally anxious, so he sent another assassin. That person is hiding in the mansion, but I don't know his identity yet. The most urgent thing is to find that person. After all, you are my mission, and only I can complete it. No one else can take the credit."

After he finished speaking, Pei Songsheng's expression became much more serious. He stroked his chin with a stern expression and said thoughtfully, "According to what Madam said, my current situation is very dangerous."

"Yes!" Cheng Yayin was delighted. She was worthy of being her. She could easily come up with deceiving words. Her words were simply flawless.

Pei Songsheng: "Now we must find the other killer hiding in the mansion as soon as possible, otherwise my life will be in danger."

"right."

"I can't die at the hands of others. After all, my life belongs to Madam, and I can only let Madam make the decision."

"...Yes." Cheng Yayin suppressed the goose bumps all over her body.

"But finding that person won't happen overnight. We need to plan carefully, so we have to focus on more important things first."

"ah?"

Cheng Yayin was about to ask what was more important when her head suddenly spun. Pei Songsheng grabbed her waist and carried her to the bed. She looked up at the man in front of her who was pressing down on her like a dark cloud and cried out, "What are you going to do?!"

"Of course, we do what couples do."

Pei Songsheng buried his head in her neck and sniffed the fragrant aroma. He sighed with satisfaction, but was dissatisfied with her dodging action. He grabbed her waist to prevent her from moving. "Last night was a wonderful night, but the Madam made me sleep the whole night. How naughty." His hand moved down and slapped her waist lightly. "You deserve to be punished."

Cheng Yayin was slapped there, and a wave of shame that rushed straight to the top of her head instantly overwhelmed her whole body. Her whole body went limp, and the hand that was originally pushing Pei Songsheng's chest dropped down weakly and covered her red face.

"Madam, what's wrong?" Pei Songsheng said with a bit of amusement, "We have done everything between husband and wife, why are you so embarrassed?"

Cheng Yayin covered her face tightly, her voice trembling with shame and anger as it leaked out from between her fingers, "You will regret this."

Pei Songsheng didn't hear clearly, so he leaned closer and asked, "What?"

Cheng Yayin took a deep breath, then suddenly, with great vigor, pushed Pei Songsheng down, pressed his chest, and said, "My husband's life is at stake, how could I have the heart to think about such romantic things?"

Pei Songsheng frowned and wanted to say something, but Cheng Yayin covered his mouth with her hand. "I know my husband is used to being attacked openly and secretly, and those villains are not worth your attention, but for me, your life and safety are more important than anything else. I can't ignore it."

Pei Songsheng was slightly surprised by the sudden confession, and even forgot to struggle. Cheng Yayin saw that this method worked and immediately continued to try.

"I know you love me deeply, and I've been in love with you for a long time. Unfortunately, I've been wandering around for so long, and I can't help myself. I can't repay your kindness. I can only find the person who harbored evil intentions towards you as soon as possible and let you live in peace by my side. I won't be able to sleep or eat in peace until the person who harmed you is eliminated."

This heartfelt confession made Pei Songsheng feel very relieved. He raised the corners of his mouth in pleasure, his eyes full of smiles. "Okay, it's my fault for not understanding your kindness. Do whatever you want, Madam. I won't interfere."

Cheng Yayin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that fortunately this person was written by herself, and she knew how to deal with him.

Pei Songsheng hugged her again, pinched her waist, and said in a low voice: "But you know the consequences of leaving me alone for too long."

Cheng Yayin shuddered when she was pinched, and she suppressed the urge to jump up and run away with all her might. She smiled and said, "I know, I will do my best. But if I want to successfully lure that person out, I need my husband's cooperation."

"oh?"

Cheng Yayin took the initiative to move closer and whispered to him.

*

The next day at noon, the couple had lunch together. They were eating happily, chatting and laughing, but for some reason, Pei Songsheng suddenly looked unwell, holding his head with his hands, as if he was struggling to hold on.

Cheng Yayin was shocked and hurriedly helped him back to his room to rest.

Once inside the inner courtyard, the servants outside had no way of knowing what the situation was. However, news of the master's sudden illness quickly spread throughout the Pei residence. Many servants saw the mistress helping the master back home. The master had his eyes closed and his steps were unsteady. The servants spread the story from mouth to mouth, making Pei Songsheng's symptoms even more serious, and everyone in the residence was worried.

At dusk, Jian Zhu led people to sprinkle talisman water in every corner and every room of the mansion, and asked all the servants to gather in the courtyard. He gave each person a bowl of talisman water and watched them drink it one by one, saying that there was an evil spirit causing trouble in the mansion, and the lady arranged to use the talisman water to drive away the evil spirit.

All the servants recalled that the master had been unwell a while ago, and the old woman had even gone to a Taoist temple to get a talisman. Now even the lady was seeking help from Taoist magic. Could there really be something sinister going on in the mansion?

Rumors spread quietly among the servants. They all felt that the once pure and upright Pei Mansion had suddenly turned into a den of evil, and that invisible ghosts were lying in ambush, waiting for an opportunity to kill people. Everyone was terrified and hid in their rooms at night, refusing to go out, for fear of being harmed by evil spirits.

However, there was one person who was not afraid of the rumors of sneaky harm. He took advantage of the fact that no one was around and walked to the inner courtyard and peeked inside. He didn't dare to go in, but was hesitant and unwilling to leave. His face was full of anxiety, as if he was worried about something.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice a figure quietly approaching him. By the time he reacted, it was too late to escape. He was tied up tightly with several bundles of thick hemp ropes and dragged into the inner courtyard.

The man was thrown to the ground fiercely. A powerful voice rang out from above his head: "Madam, this guy was sneaking around outside and I caught him red-handed."

He was familiar with the voice; it was Jian Zhu, the master's personal attendant.

The man looked up in panic and saw a large mahogany chair under the eaves. His wife was sitting on it, with two maids standing on either side. All three of them were looking at him solemnly. This elegant courtyard instantly turned into a courtroom, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that he could hardly breathe.

Cheng Yayin looked at the man who was tied up below, and a sneer appeared at the corner of her mouth.

She knew this person. He was the servant in charge of purchasing in the mansion, named He San.

She asked calmly, "Everyone in the mansion is in danger, hiding in their rooms and not daring to come out, yet you're wandering around outside the courtyard, acting furtively. What are you planning to do?"

He San said apprehensively, "Madam, please forgive me. I didn't mean to disturb you. I just heard that you were suddenly unwell today, and I was worried, so I wanted to come and see you."

"Really? You're really concerned about the master's health." Cheng Yayin glanced at the man with a half-smile, then suddenly changed the subject, "But the master is just a little tired from the long days of paperwork. You are so cautious. Are you really concerned about his health? Or - have you done something to harm him, so you feel guilty?"

These words, neither light nor heavy, struck like thunder, making He San's face turn pale. He shouted quickly, "Madam, you are really wronging me. How dare I hurt your body? It's just that you have always been kind to me, and I am grateful. I was really worried and wanted to find out. I deserve death for disturbing you. But please don't wrong my kindness!"

He San's face flushed with excitement. As he spoke, he looked at Jian Zhu beside him and said, "Steward Jian, I have been in the mansion for many years. You should know me well. Please also ask Madam for mercy on my behalf."

Jian Zhu snorted coldly, stood further away and ignored him.

Cheng Yayin looked at the man below who was swearing and begging. His face was flushed red, his eyes were filled with tears, and he looked like he had suffered a great injustice.

She had no choice but to appease him, "Alright, alright, I believe you, just stop yelling."

He San immediately burst into tears of gratitude and said, "Thank you, Madam."

Now that his grievances had been cleared, he waited for someone to untie him. However, Jian Zhu remained motionless. Cheng Yayin did not give any instructions, but instead said slowly, "Don't blame me for being suspicious. To tell you the truth, the master is not unwell from overwork. He was poisoned."

He San opened his mouth wide, knelt on the ground in silence, and after a long while he stammered, "What's going on? Who is so bold as to poison the Master?"

Cheng Yayin sighed, a look of worry between her brows. "I still don't know who the thief is, but the poison was applied to something he used every day. It must be someone in the mansion, so I'm so nervous."

He San listened stiffly, seemingly unable to recover from the shock. Suddenly, he angrily slammed his hammer on the ground and gritted his teeth, saying, "There are people in the mansion harboring evil intentions. We must find them and bring them to justice!"

"That's right." Cheng Yayin nodded. "Luckily, I've stumbled upon a wonderful method. We'll find out who the thief is tonight."

He San was startled when he heard this, and asked dryly, "What do you mean, Madam?"

"Thank goodness, God has helped me find a miracle doctor. He diagnosed the poison that infected you. Although he can't find a cure for it right now, he gave me another medicine." Cheng Yayin leaned forward, slowly approaching He San, staring at him with piercing eyes. "Since the thief smeared the poison on the pen, he must have come into contact with the poison himself, but the dosage was so small that it wouldn't have any effect on him. But if he drank the medicine given by the miracle doctor, the two drugs would clash in his body. If he doesn't take the antidote in time, he will die from a perforated stomach within a few hours at most."

He San's eyelids twitched, and his voice was as tense as a string about to break: "Then...the medicine?"

"Put it in the talisman water distributed to the servants today. I asked Jian Zhu to watch over everyone and make sure they drank it." Cheng Yayin suddenly smiled at He Sanran, "You drank it too, didn't you?"