Chapter 137 To die beneath the peony blossoms, even as a ghost, is still romantic.

Pei Shaoqin was a womanizer by nature and actually disliked forcing any woman, even if she was a beauty of unparalleled grace, she would still be subservient to him!

He glanced around at the relatively simple furnishings in the room, a look of disdain appearing in his eyes.

The best way to "train" this kind of woman is on the bed in Prince Rui's mansion. Reason and inner evil are clashing. Even though this method is the simplest and most effective, he will still end up with a reputation for being absurd.

Pei Siyan is under house arrest; the position of Crown Prince is practically his.

What's wrong with him indulging him a little?

Pei Shaoqin's dark gaze fell on her neck again. He loosened two buttons on his shirt, his breathing was a little heavy, and he leaned over to look at her.

Dou Wenyi suddenly stood up and slapped him hard across the face.

The next second, a silver needle gleaming with cold light silently pierced through Prince Rui's neck. She had already smeared the needle with Forget-Me-Not Powder, which would not only cause the poisoned person to fall into a coma but also cause confusion in their memory, even making them forget what had just happened.

Pei Shaoqin's pupils suddenly contracted, and his gaze changed from shock to fear.

He had encountered assassins before, the worst time being when he was stabbed by Pei Siyan's men in a brothel. After that, he became extra careful. He never expected to be caught off guard again this time, and to fall into the hands of a woman.

Almost instantly, Pei Shaoqin lost his balance, and his tall and upright body fell straight to the ground. Dou Wenyi hurriedly caught him and, with great effort, dragged him onto the soft couch and laid him flat.

Dou Wenyi tried to regulate her breathing, her hand holding the needle trembling slightly. Her mind was filled with Pei Siyan's words from back then, "Useless! This needle should be aimed at the enemy!"

Dou Bochang's letter was fake, but assassinating a prince was treason, a serious crime punishable by death by a thousand cuts. If the evidence was proven, all of Dou's relatives would be implicated!

This is why, despite Pei Siyan's repeated bullying, she never dared to retaliate against him.

If she hadn't had the experience of fighting Pei Siyan, she definitely wouldn't have been so swift tonight. She wasn't afraid of the Crown Prince, so why would she be afraid of a Prince Rui?

However, there must be hidden guards around Prince Rui, so she had to escape the scene as soon as possible.

Dou Wenyi had no time to think; in her panic, she ran to another room and escaped through the window...

In the bushes outside, the Seventh Princess Pei Shuyue held a soft, fluffy cat named Xue Tuan in her arms. Her beautiful eyes blinked, somewhat bewildered. "Brother Yanzhou, that sister who ran over just now looked like Dou..."

"There's no sister, Seventh Princess! You're seeing things!"

A moment later, Shen Yanzhou, dressed in a crimson official robe, parted the branches to reveal a cold and handsome face, gazing in the direction Dou Wenyi had left.

Pei Shuyue pouted, her mind filled with doubt, "Wait, there was clearly someone there..."

"Brother Yanzhou, thank you for helping me find Xue Tuan. I also helped you find Fourth Brother. Who should we look for this time?"

Shen Yanzhou's sharp expression softened, and he said gently, "Seventh Princess, let's go see if your fourth brother has sobered up yet."

Shen Yanzhou and Pei Shuyue pushed open the door and entered. They stepped on a gold hairpin that Dou Wenyi had dropped. He picked it up without making a sound and hid it in his sleeve.

"Brother Yanzhou, Fourth Brother is sleeping like a pig."

"Is that so?" Shen Yanzhou casually picked up a cup of tea and splashed it on his face, but Prince Rui still didn't wake up.

At this moment, Feng Tingyun, the chief secretary of Prince Rui's residence, and his attendants rushed over and were shocked to see two more people in the room.

His Highness Prince Rui lay sprawled on the couch, fast asleep. His face was still wet, and his collar was soaked, making him look quite disheveled.

The servants were all somewhat embarrassed.

Feng Tingyun roared, "Guards! Go after the female criminal who attempted to assassinate Prince Rui!"

"A female criminal? His Highness Prince Rui was drunk and wandered into this place by mistake. The Seventh Princess and I were worried about his safety, so we came to check. We didn't see any female criminals. Or does Chief Secretary Feng suspect that the Seventh Princess and I are the suspects you're talking about?"

Shen Yanzhou glanced coldly at the group, his imposing aura overwhelming them.

Feng Tingyun's face turned ugly. "Imperial Censor Shen, you know perfectly well that I am unaware of this intention, yet you still press me so aggressively. Are you trying to oppose the Prince Rui's Mansion?"

Shen Yanzhou remained expressionless, letting out a cold sneer. "His Highness Prince Rui is completely drunk. As his chief secretary, instead of immediately checking on his safety upon entering, you were shouting about arresting a female prisoner. You're far too unworthy of your master's attention. Furthermore, I have a question: how could you be so certain that it was a female prisoner, and not a male prisoner, even though you weren't serving by His Highness's side?"

Feng Tingyun's face twisted in anger. "You!"

He couldn't just tell the truth. Even the most magnanimous master wouldn't allow people to watch him during his lovemaking, so they had to keep their distance.

Who would have thought that His Highness would fall victim to that woman's cruelty.

Just as the two sides were at an impasse, Eunuch Feng, a favorite of Emperor Muzong, came running over.

Feng Tingyun's expression changed repeatedly as he saw who it was.

"Lord Shen, His Majesty has issued an edict ordering you to come to court immediately. I've been looking for you for ages, I've gone around in circles."

Shen Yanzhou lifted his eyelids, his tone indifferent, "Chief Secretary, it seems you have a problem with me. Why don't we discuss this matter before His Majesty today?"

Feng Tingyun glanced at the unconscious Prince Rui and said through gritted teeth, "I will remember this! Men, quickly help His Highness back."

——

Dou Wenyi followed her memory and ran all the way to Jingkun Palace, but according to Prince Rui, Consort Zhang might not be there at all, so she turned back and went to Zhongcui Palace instead.

Qin, the steward of Zhongcui Palace, welcomed her in, saying, "Miss Dou, our lady is taking a bath. Please wait a moment."

The fact that Dou Wenyi was able to enter smoothly already showed that Consort Jiang had never suspected her.

She glanced at the jade vase on the table in the hall; the few begonias that had been in it had been replaced with several golden chrysanthemums.

They must have applied aphrodisiac to the begonia, which would have destroyed the evidence.

The Imperial Household Department had always been in the hands of Consort Tan, and she was quite adept at using this tactic of sowing discord.

They were truly one step ahead. If she hadn't turned back, she wouldn't have known that Consort Jiang had also fallen for their trap, and would naturally have misunderstood her as an accomplice in harming her.

Dou Wenyi understood everything and suddenly looked up, "Your Ladyship will ruin her health by only bathing in ice water. Why don't you go and report this to the Emperor? Just tell him the truth. The Ladyship doesn't even dare to call the imperial physician when she's sick. She only abuses her body. The Emperor will feel sorry for her!"

Manager Qin was Consort Jiang's confidant, so he naturally understood how much his mistress trusted this Miss Dou.

A strange light flashed in her eyes; she understood the word 'sick' in her mouth.

"I'll do as you say, young lady."

Dou Wenyi took out the remaining Nine Immortals Jade Dew Pill and went straight to the bathroom.

Inside the room, under the light gauze curtains, Consort Jiang huddled in a bathtub filled with ice, shivering. When she saw that it was her, her voice was weak, "How come you're alright?"

Dou Wenyi briefly recounted what had happened and then handed over the antidote.

Consort Jiang shook her head, her lips trembling. "I will repay Consort Tan tenfold for the suffering I have endured today! We won't use the antidote for now. They've been scheming relentlessly; this matter is far from over, and they definitely have other plans!"