Chapter 286 Yuanyang is a scumbag; he doesn't want to be Shen Chu's brother.

The man's warm breath brushed against my earlobe, sending a strange, tingling sensation through me.

A flush rose on Shen Chu's face, and her voice became somewhat unsteady.

"Wild...mandarin ducks?"

Pei Yuan chuckled softly, his chest trembling slightly, his voice even more alluring than before.

"Or if we're not wild, would it be okay if we were domesticated?"

Shen Chu gave a soft scoff.

Pei Yuan asked in a low voice, "Even domesticated ones won't do?"

Chen Chu lowered his voice.

"People say that mandarin ducks are always in pairs, but in reality, mandarin ducks are not faithful to one man."

They only form temporary families during the breeding season; once the ducklings are born, they go their separate ways.

She and Pei Yuan had a passionate night together, and she is now pregnant with Pei Yuan's child.

Soon she will feign death and leave the capital, parting ways with Pei Yuan.

Thinking about it this way, using mandarin ducks to describe their relationship is surprisingly fitting.

A strange pang of sadness welled up in Shen Chu's heart, and she whispered:

"So whether they're wild or domesticated, mandarin ducks are no good. Do you still want to be a mandarin duck?"

Pei Yuan...

All those beautiful thoughts vanished in an instant.

He gritted his teeth and whispered in Shen Chu's ear.

"Where did you get all this nonsense from?"

What a spoilsport!

"That's what my master said! My master also said that Yuanyang is a scumbag!"

Pei Yuan...

"I must meet your master if I have the chance."

When his master was mentioned, Shen Chu paused for a moment and remained silent.

Two years ago, Master left a letter and departed from Medicine King Valley, saying that she would go again to find what she had been searching for.

From then on, none of the four siblings had any news of their master, nor did they know where he had gone.

Footsteps could be heard fading away outside the door.

The Imperial Guards probably didn't hear anything and eventually left.

Chen Chu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved to the side, increasing the distance between herself and Pei Yuan.

"How did Sixth Brother convince His Majesty to pretend to imprison you and cooperate with your plan?"

Emperor Longqing was not someone who could be easily persuaded with just a few words.

Especially since it concerns the treasures of the previous dynasty.

Pei Yuan slowly sat up straight and leaned lazily against the bedside.

"It's nothing. I just promised my father that I would put 60% of the profits from Green Jade Pavilion into his private treasury."

Shen Chu's expression changed.

"Are you really the mastermind behind Green Jade Pavilion?"

Pei Yuan nodded, "Yes, the Green Jade Tower was initially built to help me gain a foothold in the Flying Eagle Guard as soon as possible. Later, as it grew bigger and bigger, I could no longer show my face casually."

After a moment of silence, Chen Chu thought about the luxury of the Green Jade Pavilion and couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"A 60% profit margin, how much money would that be in a year?"

"Three or four hundred thousand taels, I guess."

Shen Chu gasped.

Regardless of whether Pei Yuan can find the treasures of the previous dynasty, His Majesty's private treasury has increased by three to four hundred thousand taels every year.

This is a sure win for His Majesty.

He had no reason not to agree to Pei Yuan's request.

"By revealing that the Jade Pavilion is yours to His Majesty, won't this bring you trouble?"

Pei Yuan chuckled, "What? Worried about me?"

Shen Chu quickly denied it, "No, I just feel something is amiss."

"Heh, you're just saying that."

Pei Yuan scoffed, "If you weren't worried about me, why were you still defending me on paper when your identity was exposed and Father wanted to punish you?"

It turned out that Pei Yuan had seen the paper she had written to His Majesty.

Shen Chu blushed slightly when her secret was exposed.

"Yes, I'm worried about you, okay?"

Pei Yuan's lips curled up into a wide smile.

"My sixth brother and I have been through many hardships together, and he has saved me from danger many times. I am not an ungrateful person."

Now that Sixth Brother is in danger, I will naturally risk my life to help him.

Pei Yuan's upturned lips suddenly froze.

"Is that all you're doing this for?"

"Of course, that's not all."

"what else?"

In the darkness, Pei Yuan's voice was taut.

Shen Chu pursed her lips, ignoring the strange feeling deep inside, and chuckled softly.

"Of course, it's also because I consider you, Sixth Brother, to be my elder brother."

Pei Yuan...

Screw your brother.

Shen Chu treated him like an older brother, but he only wanted to be with Shen Chu...

Pei Yuan felt a deep bitterness in his heart.

After all this flirting, all I got in return was a "brother"?

"You already have so many brothers, I don't want to be your brother."

"What else would I be if not an older brother?"

"I..." Pei Yuan opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't have the courage to say "I like you."

He rubbed his face, looking somewhat dejected.

Would it scare Shen Chu if I suddenly said it?

It took him a long time to accept the fact that he had fallen in love with a man.

"Never mind, you can go back to sleep. I'm leaving now, I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Pei Yuan's figure flashed past the back window and disappeared in an instant.

Shen Chu looked at the open window, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

------

The next day, Han Feng came to give Shen Chu acupuncture.

"I went to see Aunt Qiao first; she didn't seem to be in good spirits."

Chen Chu remained silent.

Aunt Qiao was suddenly informed that her child had been burned to death at Baiyun Temple half a year ago. At this moment, she felt both regret and remorse.

But no amount of regret or remorse can bring back the obedient and hardworking Chen Chu.

She could help take care of Aunt Qiao for the rest of her life, but deep down she couldn't truly forgive Aunt Qiao for neglecting Shen Chu.

"How is the detoxification process going?"

Han Feng scoffed, "She's not pregnant, so she doesn't need to be so distracted like you are."

After this acupuncture treatment, the toxins in her body were completely cleared. She just needs a few more days of recuperation to fully recover.

Chen Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Senior Brother, the truth about my family's case should be revealed soon, and we can start preparing our plan to fake our death."

Han Feng was overjoyed.

"Great, we can finally leave. Let me tell you, those concubines in the palace are too difficult to serve."

Today one has a headache, tomorrow another has a fever. They clearly have no problems when I take their pulse, yet they all pretend to be delicate, sickly beauties, taking up my time that I would otherwise spend embroidering as they shuttle between the palaces.

If you ask me, they're just too idle. They should have the emperor assign them embroidery tasks.

Each concubine was assigned an embroidery task, and the more she did, the more she earned. The more she embroidered and the better she embroidered, the more favor she received.

That way they won't have time to feign illness and scheme against each other; it saves money and maintains harmony—how wonderful!

Shen Chu was amused and gave a thumbs up.

"It has to be you, Senior Brother. Why didn't His Majesty think of such a good idea?"

Han Feng slightly raised his chin. "Is it because you're stupid?"

Shen Chu said seriously, "Senior Brother is right."

After complaining enough, Han Feng returned to his plan to fake his death.

"Ah Chu, how do you want to die? To be hacked to death? To be burned to death? Or to be drowned?"

Chen Chu...

"These ways of dying sound horrific."

Han Feng stroked his chin and nodded.

"The tragedy is secondary; the main thing is that you will be autopsied for any of these methods of death."

"If you're heavily pregnant, a medical examination will give you away, won't it?"

Shen Chu had a bit of a headache.

"Couldn't you have planned a more normal way to die? Something that disappears without a trace, neither alive nor dead?"

"Hmm, that's difficult. With the Sixth Prince next door eyeing us like a tiger, how can I make you disappear without a trace, dead or alive?"

Last time, you were about to be burned to death, but he still rushed into the fire.

If you fall into the water, he'll probably jump after you; if you fall off a cliff, he'll jump too.

Tell me, how can someone disappear without a trace, neither alive nor dead? Unless…”

Chen Chu's eyes lit up. "Unless what?"