Chapter 28: The Familiar Formula

"ah."

Shen Qingshuang screamed and jumped up from her chair. When she looked up and met the Marquis of Changning's almost fiery gaze, her face immediately turned pale.

"Father... Father."

"Get out, I have something to say to your mother."

Shen Qingshuang looked at Madam Chen with a worried expression, but in the end she dared not disobey Marquis Changning, and shrank back as she retreated.

Madam Chen panicked for a moment, but quickly regained her composure. "My lord, what is this... ah!"

Marquis Changning slapped him across the face, his anger palpable.

*Smack*

The slap was so powerful that Chen was knocked down onto the bed, half of her face swollen.

She touched her face in shock for a moment, then screamed and pounced on him without a second thought.

"You dare hit me?"

The flames of anger burned incessantly in the heart of Marquis Changning. The embarrassment of being squeezed out by Shen Chu and the anger of being fooled by Chen Shi were vented at this moment.

He shoved Chen aside, his tone menacing.

"I always thought you were reasonable, understanding, and mindful of the bigger picture. I never imagined you were such an ignorant and short-sighted woman."

As the wife of a marquis, you should be managing the household affairs and raising your children, but you dare to feign illness to fool me and avoid preparing the banquet.

You're clearly trying to embarrass me on purpose. If I embarrass myself, what face will you, as the Lady of the Marquis, have left? You fool."

Chen was so scolded that her lips trembled, and she felt a lump in her throat, unable to utter a word.

"If you still want to be the Lady of the Marquis, get up immediately and make arrangements for tomorrow's banquet, or don't blame me for being impolite to you."

Marquis Changning glared at her coldly, then turned and left.

Chen was so angry that her eyes rolled back, and she wished she could faint on the spot.

She couldn't understand why the Marquis, who had clearly gone to Madam Qiao's courtyard, had returned in a huff.

Is it possible that the Qiao family is unwilling to pay?

Madam Wang entered the room and used an ice cloth to apply cold compresses to Madam Chen. "I just went to inquire, and when the Marquis went there, Madam Qiao fainted."

Madam Chen sneered, "That bitch must be faking it, otherwise how could it be such a coincidence that she fainted as soon as the Marquis arrived?"

"That bitch clearly doesn't want to pay."

"Madam, what do we do now? Are we really going to abandon the banquet?"

Madam Chen gasped for breath, clutching her face in pain, and said angrily, "Why should I spend my money to let that bastard Chen Chu show off? I don't care anymore, does the Marquis really think he can divorce me?"

Madam Wang sighed, "My lady, now is not the time to be angry. When the master and mistress were still alive, you had someone to back you up, so we could speak with more confidence."

Now that the master and mistress are gone, and your uncle is indifferent to you, if we were to confront the Marquis head-on, I'm afraid..."

Chen's expression was gloomy and uncertain.

Her father was originally the Minister of Justice, and was very much favored by the emperor. After marrying the Marquis of Changning, she enjoyed a few years of blissful happiness.

Even after the appearance of Lady Qiao, the Marquis of Changning, despite his favor towards her, did not allow her to surpass her.

After her parents passed away one after another, she only had one older brother who worked in the Ministry of Revenue. Their relationship was not close, which made the Marquis of Changning increasingly indifferent to her.

If it weren't for the fact that she still had some shrewdness towards the Empress and shamelessly called her "cousin," the Marquis of Changning probably wouldn't even enter her courtyard on the first day of each month.

"I heard that the Sixth Prince will also be coming tomorrow. Does His Majesty intend to bestow our young lady upon the Sixth Prince in marriage?"

"Madam, please bear with this moment's anger. When our young lady becomes the Sixth Prince's consort and our young master enters officialdom, we'll have plenty of time to deal with Qiao Shi and Shen Chu."

When the topic turned to her daughter's marriage and her son's career, Mrs. Chen's expression softened considerably.

But he simply couldn't swallow this insult.

She snorted coldly, "You quietly go to Tonghe Restaurant and tell them to send in ten tables of food and twenty jars of the finest Qiulu Bai wine first thing tomorrow morning."

Madam Wang clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Oh my, Madam is so clever! Tonghelou is Qiao's shop. Having Tonghelou deliver the banquet is equivalent to Qiao paying for it."

That way, we don't even have to spend any money to get that Qiao woman to pretend to faint, humph.

Thinking of this idea, Chen felt much better and whispered a few words to Wang Mama.

Madam Wang asked softly, "This... the Sixth Prince will still be here tomorrow. Will that affect his opinion of our family?"

Chen said, "You should do it discreetly. We'll expose this matter when the Sixth Prince isn't around. Isn't Shen Chu just trying to show off?"

Heh heh, tomorrow I'll make him steal the spotlight and ruin his reputation.

------

The following day, guests arrived at the Changning Marquis's residence to offer their congratulations.

Shen Chu was already the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination, and was personally appointed a fifth-rank censor by His Majesty. Many families in the capital sent people to congratulate him.

Marquis Changning personally entertained the guests with Shen Chu.

Madam Wang quietly approached Madam Chen and whispered, "Don't worry, Madam, everything has been arranged."

The servant specially had someone buy this potent drug from a hoodlum. It's a drug used in the market to deal with cattle and horses that don't mate properly. I heard that animals go into heat after getting a little bit of it, and people lose their minds after getting it.

"I've already secretly poured the medicine into the wine pot. As long as that bastard goes with the Marquis to offer him a toast, he'll definitely be able to drink it."

Chen was very satisfied and looked up at Shen Chu, who was chatting and laughing with the guests.

Today, Shen Chu wore a blue dress, which made her look even taller and slimmer, with beautiful features. She stood out in the crowd like a clump of green bamboo.

She couldn't help but be aloof, and said, "Give me a moment longer to be smug."

"Remember to keep a close eye on him and don't let the Marquis drink the wine."

"Don't worry, Madam. The Marquis and that bastard's wine are packaged separately. The Marquis won't drink any of it."

To ensure everything goes perfectly, I also put some medicine on that bastard's wine cup. No matter what he touches, he'll be poisoned. Mama Wang smiled smugly.

"Where's the servant you prepared? Remember to pick one who's handsome and keeps his mouth shut."

"The person I found has his life and fortune in our hands. He'll insist that it was that bastard who forced him."

Mrs. Chen was relieved.

He was lucky to escape from Shen Chu at Jingguo Temple last time, but he wasn't so fortunate this time.

Today, she wants everyone to witness Shen Chu riding on the servant like a male dog, thus solidifying his reputation as a homosexual.

After today, Shen Chu's reputation will plummet, and His Majesty will likely strip him of his official position upon hearing of this.

What new top scholar, what fifth-rank censor, pshaw.

"What are you saying?" The voice of Marquis Changning suddenly sounded from behind.

Ms. Chen's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly put on a dignified and proper smile.

"What does Your Excellency think of today's feast?"

Marquis Changning glanced at the dishes being served one by one, a smile on his face. "A feast for the senses, with a good balance of meat and vegetables. Your wife is very thoughtful."

Ms. Chen's face lit up with a smile.

This is the most expensive banquet at Tonghelou Restaurant, costing three hundred taels of silver per table.

"As long as the Marquis feels it's prestigious, that's all that matters."

Marquis Changning was very satisfied with Chen's attitude. "The Sixth Prince has arrived. Let's go and greet him together."

Many people got up to greet Pei Yuan.

Chen Chu didn't lean forward, but asked Hongxiu in a low voice, "What did you hear just now?"

Hongxiu: "This servant didn't dare to get too close. I only vaguely heard Wang Mama and the madam talking about being in heat and servants."

Shen Chu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Tsk, the same old formula, drugging someone and catching them in the act of adultery, is it?

I just wonder who delivered it to today?

With so many guests today, where will Madam Chen put the medicine to ensure she takes it?

Her gaze fell on the wine jug beside her, and she slightly curled her lips.

This is the wine pot she will use for the toasting later; the wine inside is prepared for her.

If I'm not mistaken, Chen must have drugged this wine.

"Today, Lord Shen is the real protagonist. Lord Shen, I, the prince, toast you."

When Shen Chu came to her senses, she saw that Pei Yuan was already seated at the head of the table, holding a wine glass and looking at her with an indescribable gloom in his eyes.

Her brow twitched slightly. Pei Yuan was indeed her nemesis; she hadn't even had a chance to change the wine pot yet.