Shen Zhiyi, who had fled back to the house, was in a state of utter confusion.
After drinking a large cup of tea to catch his breath, he frowned and looked at the two maids beside him who were trying hard to suppress their laughter, saying, "Did I really say last night that I wanted to keep him as a mistress?"
The red stamens and green lotus leaves nodded in unison.
Why didn't you stop me?
“Girl, do you think we didn’t stop you? If we hadn’t stopped you, you probably would have gone even further last night, clinging to him and refusing to let go, calling him ‘little young master.’ What could we do?” Hongrui said helplessly.
Green Lotus chimed in, "Yes, you've made Young Master Xiao blush."
"Young lady, did you take in Young Master Xiao because you were attracted by his handsome appearance?"
...
The two maids chatted back and forth.
Shen Zhiyi felt dizzy listening to this, and only asked them to go to the Duke's mansion to invite the physician from the Zhai family. About an hour later, the physician arrived and was taking her pulse.
"Miss, are you feeling unwell?" Hongrui asked with a worried expression.
She remained silent, only looking at the physician from the Zhai family, "Uncle Zhai, have you found anything?"
When did you develop symptoms of cold extremities?
Shen Zhiyi frowned. "Just... a cold constitution?"
"You still have some blood and qi deficiency, probably because you haven't rested well. Your cold constitution needs to be treated slowly. There are hot springs in the village, so soak in them more often, and your symptoms will improve. As for the blood and qi problem, I'll prescribe some medicine for you to decoct and take."
Shen Zhiyi gestured to the maid to prepare pen and ink.
The physician from the Zhai family had practically watched her grow up, and he always felt that his young mistress had been acting rather strangely lately.
Despite her family's objections, she insisted on marrying Song Yuxiu, only to be asked to prepare a medicine that would prevent her from having children. Because she was pampered by the Duke, she was innocent and carefree. Now, her entire demeanor has changed.
Silent and reserved.
It's quite puzzling.
After the physician from the Zhai family finished writing the prescription, Hongrui took the prescription and left. When only the two of them were left in the room, Shen Zhiyi asked casually, "Uncle Zhai, you used to fight alongside my father in the north and south. Do you know anything about the Gu worms in the southern border regions?"
"Why did you suddenly ask that, Miss?"
"I just heard that the Regent has returned to the capital, and I remembered that he was once poisoned by Gu and was left with a lingering illness. I was just curious. Is the poison of Gu really that vicious?"
"It's hard to say. There are many types of Gu worms in southern Xinjiang, and the sources and toxicities are complex and varied. I don't know much about them."
"If it's poisoning, can it be detected?"
The physician from the Zhai family frowned, recalling his young mistress's previous arrogant behavior, and said, "Do you intend to use a curse on the young master?"
"No, it's not..."
"real?"
"I was just asking casually. After all, even someone like the Regent could be affected, which shows how powerful this poison really is."
She had complete faith in the physician Zhai's medical skills, but she never expected that even taking his pulse wouldn't reveal anything.
Does he really want to put his life and fortune in someone else's hands?
As Physician Zhai was leaving, he passed through the courtyard and inadvertently caught sight of a strange man. Although he was dressed simply, his bearing and elegance were undeniable.
Who is this?!
Judging from his appearance, he was not a servant in the manor; more importantly, he was too handsome.
His young lady...
She kept a man on the estate?
When their eyes met, because they were far apart, Xiao Zhongxuan's gaze swept over the medicine box on his shoulder, and he nodded politely as a greeting.
The physician from the Zhai family didn't dare ask any more questions and left in a hurry.
**
Shen Zhiyi stayed at the estate for two days, eating in her own room. It wasn't until she heard that the old lady had returned to the mansion that she found Xiao Zhongxuan and prepared to continue writing the extortion letter.
As Xiao Zhongxuan wrote the letter, he sighed, "Madam is truly heartless."
"What?"
“You flirt with me and then do nothing, and lately you’ve been avoiding me. You only show up when you need me. Your behavior is no different from that of a heartless man.”
Chen Zhiyi took a deep breath.
Why does this person look like this?
How come I didn't notice before that his words and actions were so illogical?
Hongrui and Lühe, however, kept their heads down and chuckled silently. The two noticed that their young lady's temperament had changed drastically recently. She was no longer as carefree and unrestrained as before, but had become much more sullen.
It was as if he had lost his vitality overnight.
Now, being teased by Xiao Zhongxuan like this, it felt as if they had returned to the past, so the two of them just watched from the side and did not say anything.
Once the letter was written, Shen Zhiyi instructed him to send it as soon as possible.
——
That night, Xiao Zhongxuan sneaked into the Marquis's residence again.
He left the extortion letter in Song Yuxiu's study and was about to leave when he heard angry shouts coming from the hall of the Marquis's mansion. He then felt his way along the wall and went over to take a look.
"...Where is the cook in the kitchen?" The old lady of the Marquis's mansion sat at the head of the table, her eyes slightly closed, fiddling with a string of sandalwood prayer beads in her hand.
Standing before her, Chen lowered her head humbly, saying, "She was taken away by the Regent's men."
"What?" The old lady suddenly opened her eyes. "Why did you let him take away someone from our Marquis's mansion?"
"The situation was chaotic at the time, and my mind was a mess, so..."
When Ms. Chen tried to explain, the old lady picked up the teacup beside her and threw it at her.
"Bang—" A teacup smashed on her head, and Chen immediately knelt down, startling everyone else.
"Mother, please calm down." Chen's head was throbbing from the blow, but she could only endure it.
"Isn't this handing over our manor's secrets to others? Won't our manor be at their mercy from now on?" The old lady was furious.
“Grandmother, the Regent should not be that kind of person. Besides, he looks down on our Marquis’s Mansion and should not threaten us,” Song Yuxiu said tentatively.
"Foolish thing!" the old lady snorted. "The Regent Prince and Shen Zhiyi's father, the Duke of Zhenguo, have only a so-so relationship. If he deliberately trips you up because of the Shen family, our entire Marquis's mansion will be implicated."
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