Chapter Seven: Taking Him by Force

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As he turned back and caught sight of the medicine bottles on the table, Pei Zhouwu’s heart, which had just hardened, suddenly softened once more.

What if everything she said was true? What if she really was just a maid who risked her life diving into the water to find him, bringing him hand-prepared medicine, and news meant to ease his mind? If so, then when she returned, wouldn’t she be risking punishment and scolding too?

But she…

She must be hiding something—something she just hadn’t told him yet. That didn’t necessarily mean she was lying, though. Maybe she had her own reasons.

Had he been too harsh just now?

Thinking back to her hurt expression, a sour feeling twisted inside him.

He looked down at the iron chains on his hands and feet, his brow furrowing tighter. A man like him—who else would care for him, seek him out, or worry about him? Most could barely avoid him fast enough.

Except… her.

That thought unsettled him even more.

Meanwhile, by the pond, Liu Fuying wore a radiant smile—completely different from her earlier demeanor.

Confidence was written all over her face, clearly saying two words: Not yet.

Today’s meeting had achieved exactly what she’d hoped for.

After she dove back into the water and returned to Changming Temple, Jinli was waiting anxiously behind the door, her eyes red-rimmed.

“What happened?” Liu Fuying asked, thinking something had gone wrong.

“Nothing, miss. I was just so scared—first time doing something like this. I was terrified you might be in danger and not come back.”

Liu Fuying sighed in relief and gently patted her cheek.

“It’s always scary the first time. You won’t be afraid the next.”

As she stepped into the room, Jinli followed, asking again, “Miss, how many more times do we have to do this?”

“Once or twice isn’t enough to get what we want. It’s not like I can drug him and force myself on him.”

“Why not?” Jinli asked, thinking that’d be a lot simpler.

“I did consider it,” Liu Fuying admitted, “but only when I thought he couldn’t leave. Now I know—it’s not that he can’t, it’s that he won’t. So I definitely can’t take that route. Even if he’s imprisoned, the Pei family still stands, and the Empress and Crown Prince are still around. If I drugged him and did something to disgrace him, what if he snaps and escapes to get revenge?”

Jinli nodded. That made sense.

“It’s not the clan-destroying part I’m worried about—those people can burn for all I care. But I don’t want to die.”

“You’re right, madam. I won’t say such things again.”

After changing clothes, Liu Fuying stepped into the courtyard. The sunlight was strong, enough to dry her soaked hair quickly.

She tilted her face up and closed her eyes. Her mind replayed every moment of her interaction with Pei Zhouwu just now.

She had already marveled at his appearance once—but she still couldn’t help being stunned again. Even with that cold, expressionless face, he was still hauntingly beautiful.

A child with him would surely be just as beautiful.

She hadn’t really been that excited about having a child before.

But now… she was already picturing what the baby might look like when born.

The summer sun was harsh, and even with her back to it, her face was damp with sweat. But sure enough, her hair dried quickly. After Jinli helped her comb it neatly again, and the time was right, they ate a vegetarian meal and prepared to descend the mountain.

Everything had gone smoothly today.

After returning to the city and arriving at the estate, she ran into someone from her second uncle’s household at the gate.

“Auntie, heading out?” she greeted warmly.

It was Yang-shi, the wife of her second uncle. Both of them were sly and calculating—Yang’s smile always had an edge to it.

“You’ve just come back from burning incense?” she asked, still smiling.

“Yes,” Liu Fuying replied pleasantly. “Mother-in-law was ill not long ago, so I went to Changming Temple to pray for her recovery. Now that she’s been improving, I made a return trip to give thanks to the immortal for blessing her.”

“What a good, filial child.”

Yang-shi reached out and patted Liu Fuying’s hand as if affectionately, her face all smiles.

But then her tone subtly shifted.

“Of course, your filial piety is something only family like us would know.”

Liu Fuying kept her polite smile, though she found the woman’s touch prickly and uncomfortable.

“What do you mean by that, Aunt?”

“Oh, nothing. Just that you shouldn’t take gossip to heart. As long as we know the truth, that’s all that matters.”

“Of course I don’t care about what outsiders say,” Liu Fuying replied with a sweet smile. “But Auntie, you are family. If you’ve heard something, you must tell me clearly. This half-hinting, half-hiding only makes me uneasy. Did something happen?”

“Ah, don’t get anxious.” Yang-shi patted her hand again with the same mock kindness, which made Liu Fuying want to flinch.

“It’s just some idle gossip. Nothing important. We know you go to the temple to pray, but outsiders? They say you went to beg for a child. Been married two years with no pregnancy—they’re saying you’re barren. What nonsense.”

Liu Fuying’s smile didn’t falter. She knew exactly where that kind of talk came from.

“Let them say what they like. You don’t have to listen either, Auntie. The General and I are still young—children will come sooner or later.”

“That’s true… but my nephew’s always on the battlefield, isn’t he? Rarely home. And even when he is, I hear you two don’t even sleep in the same room. So where’s the child supposed to come from?”

At that, a cold glint flashed through Liu Fuying’s eyes.

She no longer bothered pretending. She yanked her hand back.

“Auntie, you shouldn’t believe the venom some people spit. There are people out there just hoping I’ll never have a child so they can laugh at me. I’ve got an idea—if they want to see me barren so badly, why not just poison the well in our yard with contraceptive herbs and be done with it? What do you think, Auntie?”

“You—you can’t say things like that! That’s downright wicked!”

“Isn’t it? So wicked. People who say such things, with hearts that black, deserve to be torn apart and cast into hell. Karma will catch up to them eventually.”

“You…”

“Weren’t you heading out, Auntie? I won’t keep you. Walk safe.”

With that, Liu Fuying stepped over the threshold and left her behind.

After she was gone, Yang-shi dropped the act, tearing off her silk handkerchief in rage and nearly ripping it in half.

“Who was that aimed at, huh? ‘Sinister people’? You’re the one who should rot in hell. Just wait—once we take over this household, we’ll see who laughs last!”

All the way from the front gate to her quarters in the Brushstar Pavilion, Liu Fuying didn’t say a word.

The atmosphere was heavy enough that Jinli didn’t dare speak either.

Only when they returned to her chambers did Liu Fuying break the silence.

“How did she know the General hasn’t shared a bed with me since his return?”

“Exactly! I thought that was strange too,” Jinli said. “Everyone serving here was handpicked and replaced by you, madam. All of them tight-lipped. That branch hasn’t managed to plant a single spy on our side—especially when it comes to you and the General. No one would dare speak of it.”