"Tell me if anything feels uncomfortable," Shen Yunxuan said.
Madam Zhou nodded. "Your Excellency, please rest assured, I will tell you if anything happens."
Shen Yunxuan placed the Osmanthus cakes, which Madam Zhou favored, before her. Madam Zhou felt a warmth in her heart. She truly did not want to let go of such a man.
"His Majesty has arrived!" As the announcement rang out, everyone rose to their knees. "Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
"All ministers, rise!" Xue Zining sat on the main seat, and her gaze softened considerably as she looked at Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou curtsied respectfully.
All eyes turned to Madam Zhou. It was known that the Empress was rather cold-hearted, and anyone who could befriend her must be no ordinary person.
Some began to envy Madam Zhou. Not only was she the mistress of the household, but Shen Yunxuan was also a favorite of His Majesty and a third-rank official in the court. Who wouldn't envy such a husband?
Music began to play, and dancers entered, performing a dance.
Madam Fan and Madam Sun exchanged a glance. Madam Sun picked up the wine cup she had poured and signaled for Fan Yunxiu to follow her.
Fan Yunxiu nodded. Madam Sun approached Madam Zhou with the wine cup. Madam Zhou looked at Madam Sun and Fan Yunxiu behind her, knowing that Madam Sun had already made her move.
"Sister, I apologize for my previous actions. This cup of humble wine is my apology to you." As she spoke, Madam Sun handed the wine cup over.
Madam Zhou graciously accepted the wine cup. "Sister-in-law, you are too polite. We are all family, so speaking like this is too distant."
"Sister speaks the truth. I will drink this cup." Madam Sun drank a cup of wine, and the maidservant behind her stepped forward to pour a cup of wine for Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou took it and drank it down.
Madam Sun's gaze fell on Shen Yunxuan. "Lord Shen, this humble woman would like to toast you."
"My lord cannot drink wine. Let me drink it!" As she spoke, Madam Zhou reached for the wine cup that Madam Sun had already poured for Shen Yunxuan.
"Sister, this is for Lord Shen. If you wish to drink, there is more here," Madam Sun said with a smile.
"In that case, am I unworthy to drink the wine sister-in-law is toasting my lord?" Madam Zhou tilted her head and looked at Madam Sun.
Madam Sun's heart faltered, and she felt uneasy. Did Madam Zhou know something?
"If Madam wishes to drink, then drink. There's no need for so many formalities." Shen Yunxuan pushed the wine cup towards Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou raised the wine cup, looking at Madam Sun with a smiling face.
Madam Sun's expression was not good. Madam Zhou truly wanted to expose her, but thinking of what was to come, she still held back.
"My lord, if I wish to drink, my sister-in-law can pour me another cup. Why be in such a hurry?"
As she spoke, Madam Zhou pushed the wine cup back. Shen Yunxuan raised the wine cup and drank it down in one gulp.
Seeing that her goal was achieved, Madam Sun said a few polite words and left.
Madam Zhou turned to look at Shen Yunxuan, and seeing that his complexion was normal and he showed no discomfort, she breathed a sigh of relief.
After a long while, Madam Zhou could not help but ask, "My lord, do you feel any discomfort?"
Shen Yunxuan looked at her and asked, "Madam, is there a problem?"
Madam Zhou shook her head, thinking to herself, was the wine Madam Sun had Fan Yunxiu pour not poisoned?
If it wasn't poisoned, how would her plan proceed?
Madam Sun was also growing anxious. Logically, the aphrodisiac in the wine should have started to take effect by now, but why didn't she sense anything wrong with Shen Yunxuan?
Just then, Shen Yunxuan suddenly rubbed his forehead. Seeing this, Madam Zhou quickly asked, "My lord, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"How did Madam know?" Shen Yunxuan suddenly looked up, his dark eyes now holding a hint of coldness.
Madam Zhou guiltily turned her face away. "My lord, I saw you drinking so much wine, so I felt you might feel unwell."
"I'm going outside for some fresh air. You sit here and wait for me a moment…"
Madam Zhou nodded. "My lord, return soon."
Shen Yunxuan rubbed his forehead and walked out. Madam Sun gave Fan Yunxiu a look, and Fan Yunxiu quietly slipped out. Madam Sun whispered, "Mother, I'll go keep an eye on things too."
Madam Fan nodded. After Madam Sun left, Madam Fan noticed that Madam Zhou was also gone. She quickly got up and walked outside.
Fan Yunxiu watched Shen Yunxuan, who was walking ahead with a slightly unsteady gait, and quickly stepped forward. "My lord, this servant will support you…"
Shen Yunxuan looked up at the maidservant before him. She looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall who she was for a moment.
"My lord…"
"Take me to the room," Shen Yunxuan said.
Fan Yunxiu's heart leaped with joy. She supported Shen Yunxuan to an empty room, opened the door, helped him onto the bed, and then began to undress him.
Suddenly, her nape was struck with a heavy blow, and she fainted.
Madam Zhou looked at the unharmed Shen Yunxuan, feeling a trace of lingering fear. If she hadn't known beforehand, who knew what would have happened. Shen Yunxuan would have been taken as a concubine.
Fortunately, she knew not too late.
She could still rectify the situation.
After helping Shen Yunxuan to the inner chambers to sleep, she walked to the door and softly called out, "Hong Yan."
Hong Yan, who had been waiting outside, quickly came over. "Madam…"
"Come in and help me move him to the next room."
Hong Yan and Madam Zhou helped Fan Yunxiu onto He Bi's bed and removed all her clothes, leaving nothing but her bellyband. With everything prepared, she had Hong Yan call Zhou Yu Lin, who was waiting not far away.
Zhou Yu Lin rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Sister, is everything ready?"
"Brother, remember not to light any candles," Madam Zhou instructed.
Zhou Yu Lin nodded. "Sister, don't worry, your brother understands."
"Go in! I'll keep watch outside for you," Madam Zhou said.
Zhou Yu Lin walked in with a grin. He got onto the bed and discovered the beautiful maiden was completely naked. Unable to contain his excitement, he pounced.
At this moment, Fan Yunxiu, who was groggy, also began to regain consciousness. Feeling a man beside her, she was secretly delighted. She whispered, "Is that you, my lord?"
The rest of her words were sealed with a kiss from the man.
Sounds of ecstasy rose and fell from within.
Madam Zhou did not feel the joy she had expected. She didn't know how Madam Sun would react upon seeing this scene. It was all her own doing.
"Let's go back," Madam Zhou said.
Hong Yan nodded and followed her back to the banquet.
Madam Fan saw her and couldn't help but step forward to ask, "Child, where did you go?"
"My stomach was a bit uncomfortable," Madam Zhou replied faintly.
Madam Fan looked at Madam Zhou, and thinking of what she was about to do and that Madam Zhou knew about it, she felt a pang of guilt. "Child, Mother has wronged you…"
"Mother, everyone is watching us," Madam Sun said, walking over with unconcealable joy on her face.
Returning to her seat, Madam Zhou watched Madam Sun whispering to Madam Fan. Madam Fan inadvertently saw her and quickly lowered her head.
Madam Zhou poured herself a cup of wine and drank it in one gulp.
Madam Sun, you probably won't be able to smile soon.