"Miss..."
Liuyun called out softly. Shen Linyi followed Liuyun's gaze with a sidelong glance and saw Wen Heyu, looking ill-tempered, staring straight at her.
Shen Linyi thought carefully and knew that Wen Heyu was suspicious of her.
But she didn't care at all and had no intention of leaving her seat to explain.
Let Wen Heyu wait there. Anyway, Wen Heyu would have tricks up his sleeve for her next.
Moreover, wouldn't it be better to build good relationships with these noble ladies than to rely entirely on men?
"Before, Miss Liu sent a message saying that she saw Butler Lao going into a back alley. I guess he got that medicine and is going to deal with you. Should we..."
Liuyun lowered her voice. The people around were all immersed in their conversations and didn't notice the hushed talk between the mistress and the maid at all.
Since they knew that Wen Heyu was not a reliable person, Liu Jingxian had sent someone to keep a close eye on him, for fear that he would harm other women again.
Who would have thought there would be an unexpected discovery.
That back alley was a place where lowlifes bought and sold information and did some shady things.
The shop Butler Lao went to was in the back alley of a brothel. The young servant who followed Butler Lao knew what was sold in that shop and panicked and reported it to Liu Jingxian.
Liu Jingxian originally thought that Wen Heyu was going to use this medicine on her and was almost furious. She immediately found someone to kill Wen Heyu.
Fortunately, Shen Linyi wrote a letter to persuade her, and Liu Jingxian held back her killing intent. As a result, this medicine was actually what Wen Heyu was going to use against Shen Linyi.
"Aren't you carrying the antidote pills? Don't be afraid. Nothing will happen."
Since Shen Linyi dared to come to the banquet, she had made full preparations. She would never let anything happen to herself before she successfully took revenge.
Another two hours passed before the banquet gradually ended. Li Ayun, who had a very pleasant conversation with Shen Linyi, and the other noble ladies reluctantly said goodbye to each other and made an appointment to meet at the next banquet.
Shen Linyi knew that she couldn't attend those banquets, so she declined. Li Ayun seemed to see Shen Linyi's embarrassment and immediately spoke up to help her out.
"Listening to Sister Shen's voice, it seems that she is a bit weak in qi and in poor health. She must be recuperating at home on weekdays, which is why she doesn't often attend banquets. You all, don't make things difficult for Sister Shen. Anyway, we're all in the capital. We'll surely meet again."
Seeing that those noble ladies wanted to inquire about Shen Linyi's address and visit her with gifts, Li Ayun had no choice but to forcefully take them away.
Shen Linyi knew that Li Ayun was deliberately helping her out and blinked at her gratefully.
After the group left, the tea room became quiet.
Wen Heyu had been waiting nearby for two hours before finally waiting for Shen Linyi to be alone. But the anger and resentment in his heart didn't dissipate. Instead, they intensified.
Why was he the center of attention but had lost all his face today, while Shen Linyi, whom he wanted to make a fool of, was liked by the noble ladies.
He was really annoyed by Shen Linyi's way of acting like the mistress of the family. Since she was a concubine, she should keep a low profile. How could she, with her humble status, make friends with noble ladies.
It was simply absurd!
"Butler Lao, go and get a pot of fine wine," Wen Heyu's tone was as cold as frost, which made Butler Lao shiver.
He didn't dare to disobey Wen Heyu and obediently turned around. Then he saw a young wine boy holding a pot of good wine coming over.
He quickly ran towards the wine boy. Then, under the wine boy's stunned expression, he quickly added the aphrodisiac into the wine pot and shook it a few times.
Seeing that the wine boy wanted to say something, Butler Lao showed a fierce look and threatened, "Boy, shut your mouth. Know what to say and what not to say. If you're not obedient, I'll let the steward sell you off."
The young wine boy trembled, fear appearing in his eyes, and tightly closed his small mouth.
After dealing with it, Butler Lao snatched the tray from the wine boy's hand, carried the wine pot back to Wen Heyu's side, and asked, "Young master, should I take this wine to Miss Shen now?"
"Go ahead."
Wen Heyu replied, but then he thought it was inappropriate. After Butler Lao took two steps, Wen Heyu stopped him again.
"Wait."
Butler Lao quickly turned around, thinking that Wen Heyu had a conscience and wouldn't do this anymore. He was just about to be happy.
But he saw Wen Heyu looking around, then pointing at the wine boy who had been threatened by Butler Lao just now, and saying, "You, come here."
The wine boy slowly approached under Wen Heyu's threatening gaze, with his head hanging low and not daring to say a word.
Butler Lao didn't understand and asked, "Young master, what are you doing?"
Wen Heyu picked up the wine pot and shook it a few times, saying, "Let this wine boy deliver it. Otherwise, I'm afraid Miss Shen won't drink it."
Butler Lao's back stiffened, and cold sweat began to ooze from his forehead.
Why was his young master so meticulous when doing bad things? But when he was being condemned by everyone just now, he seemed to have no brains at all.
"Boy, do this thing well for me. I'll surely reward you handsomely if it succeeds. But if you dare to reveal a single word, I'll let the steward beat you to death. Do you understand?"
Wen Heyu was better-looking than Butler Lao, but when he made a fierce expression, he looked even more terrifying.
The wine boy was startled, and he almost dropped the tray in his hand.
"Yes, yes, yes. I know, master."
The wine boy replied in a childish voice, his voice trembling as if he was very scared.
Then, the wine boy carried the tray, looking back three times at every step. Under Wen Heyu's murderous gaze, he tremblingly carried the wine to Shen Linyi.
"Miss, this wine is from that young master. It's the aged Shaoxing wine treasured by our restaurant."
The wine boy said while pointing in Wen Heyu's direction.
Shen Linyi naturally knew that there was nothing good in this wine pot. But when she saw the red and blue beads on the handle of the wine pot, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
But on the surface, Shen Linyi still pretended to be overjoyed. She turned to look at Wen Heyu and then shyly turned her head away.
This appearance actually pleased Wen Heyu, and most of his doubts dissipated.
It seemed that what happened just now should be an accident. Otherwise, how could Shen Linyi act like a young girl at this moment.
It must be that after Shen Linyi talked with the noble ladies, she recognized her own status and knew that she couldn't compare with those noble ladies, so she was going to agree to be a concubine.
Wen Heyu was full of lustful thoughts and didn't notice at all that the wine boy actually turned back under his nose and whispered a reminder to Shen Linyi.
"Sister, the blue bead is clean. The blue bead is clean!"
The wine boy was afraid that Shen Linyi wouldn't understand, so he repeated it twice.
Shen Linyi quietly lowered her head and saw the wine boy's sorrowful face. Her heart stirred. Taking advantage of the veil that prevented others from seeing her speaking, she replied to the wine boy.
"Thank you. I understand."
The wine boy's face lit up. After putting down the wine, he left in a hurry.
Shen Linyi glanced at Liuyun. Liuyun understood and calmly followed the wine boy out.
Wen Heyu walked over. His expression was already completely composed, with a gentle smile on his face. He asked, "Where is Miss Liuyun going?"
Shen Linyi carefully observed Wen Heyu's expression and naturally didn't miss the hint of nervousness in his eyes and the probing tone in his voice.