Early the next morning, while Su Niao was having breakfast, Steward Jing arrived. He reported that Chen Yan had sent over one hundred taels of silver, saying it was repayment for the blood ginseng and compensation to buy out the remaining two months of service he had owed at the Su Residence.
During the last wolf hunt, each wolf was worth thirty taels. Xie Chenyan alone had killed nine wolves, and he finally had some money to his name. So now he had come with a generous repayment.
Buying out the remaining two months of service meant that yesterday’s humiliation had indeed become too much for him to bear, and he no longer wished to return. It seemed he was not nearly as calm as he pretended to be after all.
Su Niao’s mood improved immediately. It did not matter if he never came back. In any case, she was truly preparing to make her move. She had already instructed people to prepare a powerful muscle-weakening powder. Actually, she had wanted to poison him directly. However, colorless and odorless poisons were both rare and difficult to obtain. Even if she managed to find one, its rarity would likely attract unwanted attention.
A muscle-weakening powder was different. It could be slipped into someone’s drink without anyone noticing.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Su Residence, Xie Chenyan had built a new room in the Chen family courtyard.
Neighbors and townsfolk came to offer congratulations, and Su Niao did too. Seven or eight days had passed since she had humiliated Xie Chenyan. Since she still intended to lure him away and have him killed, she first needed to lay some groundwork. She wanted everyone around her to see how kindly she treated the Chen family. That way, if Chen Yan ended up dead, no one could possibly suspect her!
To celebrate the completion of the new room, Su Niao had her guards carry a pair of blue-and-white porcelain vases as a gift. But after entering the Chen family courtyard and seeing the neighbors bring practical gifts such as brooms, stools, and chairs, her porcelain vases suddenly looked out of place.
Like everyone else, Chen Yan immediately spotted Miss Su. The Chen and Su families had only one real connection: he had once worked for the Su family.
Now that Miss Su had come to offer congratulations, both courtesy and propriety dictated that he go forward to receive her.
Chen Yan walked past his younger brother, whose eyes were fixed intently on Su Niao, and stood beside Miss Su. He watched the proud little peacock, dressed in splendid finery, gingerly lifting her skirts and forcing herself to stand in his family’s courtyard despite the chicken droppings scattered about. She really has no sense of danger.
With polite courtesy, Chen Yan bowed. “Miss Su’s presence is a great honor. This humble home is brightened by your visit.”
The thought that she would soon be rid of him put Su Niao in an excellent mood. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.
“No need to be so polite. We were master and servant, after all. Since your family has a happy occasion to celebrate, of course I had to come offer my congratulations.” With that, she signaled her guards to present the porcelain vases.
Chen Yan had no memories of his past, but instinctively he could tell at a glance that the pair of blue-and-white porcelain vases was quite valuable.
For a wealthy household, it would indeed be a generous gift to celebrate moving into a new home. But for a family like theirs, it was both far too expensive, and they honestly had nowhere suitable to display it.
He politely declined. “The gift is too valuable. My family and I appreciate Miss Su’s kindness, but you should take it back.”
Su Niao waved a hand dismissively. “I never take back gifts once I’ve given them. If you don’t like them, throw them away.” She clearly could not care less.
Seeing that further refusal would be inappropriate, Chen Yan could only thank her, then ask one of his friends, who was helping entertain guests, to carry the vases inside.
Watching that usually carefree, unruly companion become so intimidated by Miss Su’s presence that he barely knew how to walk, Chen Yan sighed inwardly. Then he turned back to her. “Miss Su, is there something you need?”
Su Niao was secretly startled. Was I really that obvious?
She immediately denied it. “No. Nothing at all.”
Chen Yan looked at her. “Things ended unpleasantly between us last time. Given that Miss Su has honored us with her presence today, I assumed…”
Su Niao instantly put on an expression as if she had just remembered something. “Oh, right. There actually is a small matter.”
She said: “I want to learn how to hunt. None of my guards know how, so I want you to teach me and take me hunting in the mountains.”
Once she got him deep into the wilderness, she could find an opportunity to make him drink water laced with the muscle-weakening powder. After that… She would be rid of him forever.
Hunting? Chen Yan glanced at the noble young lady’s slender frame and tried to dissuade her. “The mountain trails are difficult and full of dangers. Why should a lady of your station put herself at such risk?”
There were indeed wealthy people who enjoyed seeking thrills and excitement, but Chen Yan had never approved of such behavior. In his view, it was little more than needless suffering, or even courting death.
However, Miss Su was obviously not the sort of person who accepted advice. She asked only one thing: “Are you willing or not?”
Seeing that the proud little peacock was about to lose her temper again, Chen Yan looked at her for a moment and fell silent. Then he said, “If I’m the one taking you, then once we’re in the mountains, you must listen to me.”
Su Niao immediately beamed. “Deal.”
Chen Yan reminded her, “Bring some guards with you.”
Su Niao instantly shook her head. “With you there, that’s enough. Even all of them put together couldn’t beat you. Bringing them along would only make them a burden.”
If the muscle-weakening powder worked, she could kill him by herself, which would avoid complications and loose tongues. And if the powder failed, then bringing more people would be pointless anyway. So Su Niao had no intention of taking anyone along.
The pampered young lady had clearly made up her mind. Chen Yan said nothing. Instead, he found himself wondering: Why does she trust a man she’s only known for a short time so completely that she’d dare enter the mountains alone with him? Doesn’t she know what kind of appearance she has? Or do I really look that much like a saint without desires or worldly temptations? How had she even managed to grow up this far?
Of course, Su Niao was not entirely unprepared. She refused to bring any guards because all the guards around her belonged to the Su family. And now, she was no longer the Su family’s legitimate second daughter. On top of that, there was Su Xuan, who wanted to harm her. She did not trust any of them. Besides, it wasn’t as if she had no means of protecting herself.
Two days later, all the preparations were complete. Su Niao changed into a neat outfit suitable for traveling through the mountains, slung a custom-made bow and quiver across her back, and followed Chen Yan into the mountains to hunt.
Su Niao had participated in royal hunts before, so she was not completely unfamiliar with mountain forests. However, she had never personally walked long stretches of rugged mountain trails. Not long after entering the mountains, her legs and feet began to ache. When they stopped to rest, she casually handed one of the two waterskins she had brought to Xie Chenyan. “Have some water. Let’s rest a bit before going farther.”
Xie Chenyan accepted the waterskin. Then hung it at his waist.
Su Niao secretly ground her teeth in disappointment. But after a moment’s thought, she relaxed. They weren’t deep in the mountains yet. They still had farther to go. Sooner or later, he would have to drink. In fact, it would be even better if he drank it later, deeper in the wilderness.
The thought of finally being able to kill the enemy from her previous life filled Su Niao with excitement. Unfortunately, her stamina was limited.
Moreover, although the towering trees blocked out much of the blazing sun, it was still the sweltering heat of August.
Before long, sweat soaked her clothes, and she became so overheated that she could barely take another step. “Let me rest a little longer, just a little.”
Panting heavily, Su Niao stopped in place.
A waterskin was promptly handed to her from the side. Accustomed to being waited on, she took it and drank a couple of mouthfuls. Then, in the very next instant, she froze. Staring blankly at the waterskin in her hand, she went rigid. What had she just drunk?
She was so exhausted that her mind had gone blank. She had actually taken the waterskin containing the muscle-weakening powder and drunk from it herself!
Su Niao was utterly stunned. After a moment of shock, she hurriedly handed the waterskin back.
“This one’s for you.” As she spoke, she quickly pulled out her own waterskin and gulped down several mouthfuls, hastily covering for herself.
“Mine has honey water in it.”
Chen Yan glanced at her and silently accepted the waterskin.
After waiting a moment, Su Niao could not help asking,
“Why aren’t you drinking it?”
Chen Yan looked at the crimson lip stain left on the mouth of the waterskin, paused for a moment, and then pulled out the waterskin he had brought himself.
Su Niao: “…”
Grinding her teeth, she said, “I gave that to you, and you dare not drink it?”
She was already exhausted half to death. If this failed, wouldn’t all her effort be wasted?
Yet the hypocrite merely glanced at the waterskin and replied calmly, “Men and women should maintain proper boundaries.”
Seeing the bright red trace of lipstick on the rim, Su Niao grew so angry she almost went numb. The next moment, without any warning, she stepped forward and planted a quick kiss on the corner of Xie Chenyan’s lips. Seeing him freeze in place, she curled her lips smugly. “We’ve already kissed. Can you drink it now?”
The faint fragrance lingered beside his lips.
Chen Yan let out a slow, heavy breath. Looking at the triumphant expression on the young lady’s face, he spoke evenly: “Miss Su, do you remember that we’re deep in the mountains right now?”
Su Niao looked at him suspiciously. “So what?”
Before she could finish speaking, her vision darkened.
Caught completely off guard, she was suddenly yanked into Xie Chenyan’s arms and pulled down into the nearby brush.