Chapter 106: The Scheme Succeeds

In the Jianjia Courtyard, Hanfeng reported the situation. Shen Qingyun bowed her head in contemplation: "You mean Shen Sisi used Shen Zhifeng’s name to lure the Marchioness of Jiang out, and she even brought a strange man along?"

"Yes, Miss. However, judging by the Marchioness's appearance when she left her residence, she likely did not know that the person who invited her was not Shen Zhifeng," Hanfeng replied respectfully.

Yicui looked perplexed. "Miss, why would Shen Sisi do this? She could have easily used the affair between the Marchioness and Duke Shen to her advantage. And who is that man?"

She still felt a lingering fear at the thought of how she had nearly stumbled upon that scandal herself.

Shen Qingyun looked at Yicui as a few thoughts flashed through her mind. Perhaps Shen Sisi was also afraid to expose them directly. She was still living in the Duke’s mansion; if she were to publicly break the news that she knew of their illicit affair without concrete evidence, and given that Shen Zhifeng was a heartless man who would turn on anyone, if the Marchioness and Shen Zhifeng teamed up to silence her, her fate would be uncertain.

Although orders had been given yesterday to refrain from discussing the incident, word had already spread throughout the mansion. Shen Sisi had used the act of attempted suicide to buy time, clearly hoping to prevent the Old Madam from agreeing to let her become a concubine. Therefore, she must be seeking leverage over the Marchioness today to threaten her, without having to expose the scandal outright.

That man. Could it be...

"Where is Hanyu? Why haven't I seen him lately?" Shen Qingyun asked.

A complex look flickered in Hanfeng's eyes as he lowered his head. "He went to follow them and investigate the situation. I returned first to report. Miss, what should we do next?"

"Go to the Xuan Yi Pavilion and find Lian Rufeng. Ask him if he has any drugs that induce intoxication and pleasure. If he does, use them at the critical moment to help Shen Sisi succeed."

"Yes." Although Hanfeng was somewhat confused, he obeyed his mistress’s orders without question.

"Miss, do you know what Shen Sisi is planning?" Pearl widened her eyes, her face filled with admiration and curiosity.

"If I’ve guessed correctly..." Shen Qingyun gave her a playful flick on the forehead. "Never mind if you can't figure it out. Go get the account books for the Liyan Pavilion; I need to audit them."

Pearl clutched her forehead. "Miss, you’ve already audited them several times! Don't worry, the silver isn't going anywhere."

Shen Qingyun glared at her, and Pearl blinked before scurrying off to fetch the books.

***

Yicui, lost in thought, felt her ears flush as she tentatively asked, "Miss, is Shen Sisi trying to set the Marchioness and that man up to..."

Shen Qingyun smiled. "Perhaps. We shall know soon enough."

...

Hanfeng flew without pause to the Xuan Yi Pavilion. Fortunately, Lian Rufeng kept all manner of strange and eccentric concoctions and handed him a bottle.

By the time Hanfeng reached the small courtyard, Hanyu was still lurking on the roof. A roof tile had been pried open just enough to peer inside. The Marchioness of Jiang, having waited for a long time, had fallen asleep on the daybed. The man Shen Sisi had brought in crept inside, smelling strongly of alcohol.

"Hanyu, what is going on?"

Hanyu’s eyes were full of impatience, disgusted by the scene. He whispered, "There must have been a sleeping draught in the tea. She drank it and eventually fell into a deep sleep."

Watching the scene below, Hanfeng understood what Shen Qingyun meant by "helping Shen Sisi succeed."

The man below was struggling to lift the Marchioness onto the bed. Hanfeng lifted the tile and seized the opportunity to sprinkle the powder he held into the room. A faint, floral fragrance drifted through the air. As the scent intensified, the man felt a wave of heat wash over him, but he felt no alarm, assuming it was an aphrodisiac provided by Shen Sisi, and lay down accordingly.

Discordant sounds began to emerge from the room. Hanfeng replaced the tile securely and retreated with Hanyu to a hidden spot behind the courtyard.

As he crouched down, Hanyu’s face turned pale; he gritted his teeth in silence, sweat beading on his forehead. Hanfeng caught a faint scent of blood and glanced at Hanyu’s lower leg, where a stain was seeping through.

"You’re injured?" Hanfeng whispered.

"It’s nothing, it will heal in a few days," Hanyu said, feigning fearlessness, a small smile touching his lips as he thought of the silver he had saved up.

"Aren't you afraid of bringing trouble to the Miss?"

"I won't. I was very careful. I... I won't go back there again."

Hanfeng tightened his jaw, knowing he couldn't control his younger brother, and frowned.

...

What exactly is this thing called passion? He did not understand it, nor did he want to.

Hanyu instructed, "Go back to the Jianjia Courtyard. The Miss needs protection. Watching over this place is enough for me."

Hanfeng shook his head, knowing Hanyu wouldn't let Shen Qingyun notice his injury, and sighed before disappearing into the shadows.

Hanyu waited until the afternoon. A shrill, piercing scream erupted from the courtyard, followed by shouting and cursing—it seemed the Marchioness had awakened.

Hanyu climbed back onto the roof. He saw the Marchioness clutching the quilt to her chest, her face full of panic, her voice trembling: "Who, who are you? Where is the Duke?"

The man looked equally bewildered, his face flushed red and his expression frantic.

Shen Sisi made her entrance then, carrying a food box. She knocked on the door, asking, "Brother Shaohua, are you alright? I’ve brought you some hangover soup."

Hearing a woman knocking and speaking, the Marchioness turned pale with terror, frantically trying to gather the scattered clothes on the floor. The man tried to get off the bed to help but accidentally knocked over a screen, causing a deafening crash.

"Brother Shaohua, are you alright? What was that sound!" Shen Sisi sounded extremely anxious. She gritted her teeth and said, "Forgive me. Hongyu, push the door open and see what’s happened."

Hongyu nodded. The door wasn't locked; with a gentle push, it swung open. She walked in, looked around, and immediately saw the two naked figures behind the fallen screen. She couldn't help but cover her face and scream.

Seeing this, Shen Sisi acted panicked as she walked inside, asking, "What’s going on!"

When she entered, she saw the woman hiding on the bed clutching her clothes, and the man, looking disheveled, having just managed to pull on an undergarment, standing there in embarrassment.

"You... how could... this is just..." Shen Sisi acted as if she couldn't believe her eyes. She rubbed them, confirming it again and again, then turned away with a flushed face. "Hurry and put on your clothes. I’ll wait outside."

She pulled Hongyu out of the room, and as they looked at each other, they both saw the triumphant smiles on their faces.