Chapter 63: Tainting Her Purity

Holding Dou Hongyan down with one hand, Xiao Ze asked with a stern and cold expression, "Tell me, what were you waiting here to do?"

"I... I was told that someone would drug a target during the banquet, and... and that I was supposed to show up later to... to ruin that person's innocence..."

Stammering out of sheer terror, dreading another brutal beating, he pressed himself flat against the ground, not daring to lift his head.

The suffocating pressure emanating from within the carriage descended heavily upon Wang Qi.

He inwardly cursed his own miscalculation; it was too late to beg for mercy, and he could only thank his lucky stars that he had not yet put the plan into action.

No further sounds broke the silence.

Dou Hongyan narrowed her eyes, peering through the carriage curtains at the wretched, ugly, and utterly repulsive shadow outside.

The person destined to be drugged could not be more obvious, and as for the mastermind behind Wang Qi...

That, too, was glaringly apparent.

With such shallow schemes and petty tactics, yet harboring such malicious intent, Liu Xin'er was finally dropping her mask.

Instead of wanting to leave, she reached out and pressed down on Xiao Ze's arm.

Xiao Ze was already boiling with rage.

He closed his eyes for a moment, a tempest raging in his gaze, and looked coldly at the trembling figure kneeling on the ground. "Take him away and dispose of him. I never want to see him again."

The man snapped his head up, his face turning ashen.

That form of address...

He finally realized, with a shudder, just whose path he had crossed.

Seeing that he was still capable of restraint and wouldn't let his fury spread too widely, Dou Hongyan felt slightly more at ease. She relaxed her grip and let out a soft sigh.

Suddenly turning her head, she raised an eyebrow at Xiao Ze and mused, "Since the play has already begun, it would be rude not to play our parts. Would Your Highness be interested in playing the role of the adulterer?"

Beaming with a sly and charming smile, she looked at him, and Xiao Ze thoroughly enjoyed the sight.

His violent urges smoothed out considerably. He lifted Dou Hongyan's chin, his tone laced with ambiguous warmth: "An invitation from a beauty cannot be refused. Your humble servant gladly accepts."

As he gently stroked her chin, which felt as warm and smooth as jade, the raging fire in his chest was suppressed.

Yet it did not vanish. His gaze turned icy as he looked toward the direction of the banquet hall, knowing full well who was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Was it that good-for-nothing Shen Yishu's newly brought-home woman?

Those two were truly more annoying than the other.

A chilling murderous intent seemed to pierce right through the banquet hall, locking straight onto Liu Xin'er.

A sudden shiver ran down her spine, and panic gripped her heart for a split second, as if she had forgotten something of vital importance.

However, when her peripheral vision caught sight of Dou Hongyan returning, she cast all worries aside instantly. She resumed her composed and graceful demeanor, sitting by Shen Yishu's side to welcome the guests.

Naturally, she occupied Dou Hongyan's rightful seat, putting on the complete airs of a mistress of the house.

She fawned coquettishly over the young rakes and nobles on friendly terms with Shen Yishu: "The Marquis's estate is honored to have you all here for my husband's official appointment banquet. Please make yourselves at home, and forgive us if any hospitality falls short."

After drawing everyone's attention,

she feigned an inadvertent gesture, covering her mouth with her hand, and said to the tardy Dou Hongyan, "You've finally returned, Madam. I didn't mean to overstep, but I simply felt it wasn't right for you to leave the guests neglected..."

"So I took the liberty of entertaining everyone on your behalf."

With those words, she gracefully placed a cup of wine before Dou Hongyan and said with a picture of innocence, "Madam, perhaps you should offer a toast to everyone by way of apology. If there is anything I've done that lacks proper decorum, I hope everyone will forgive us together."

With a theatrical flourish, she drained the cup of wine in her own hand. As for the cup before Dou Hongyan, it was naturally laced with poison...

Dou Hongyan smiled with perfect propriety, lightly picked up her wine glass, tilted her head, and drained it in one gulp. "My husband has truly brought back a wonderful younger sister. With you here, I can finally set my mind at ease."