Transmigrating to Woo the Villainous Young Lady - Chapter 16

The moment Shen Li swallowed the fake cold medicine, it took effect. Her head began to spin, her breathing grew heavy, and a faint flush spread across her cheeks.

It’s this severe…

Fu Guiyi immediately noticed Shen Li’s condition. Her heart clenched, and she instinctively pulled the girl into her arms. It wasn’t appropriate to summon a physician to the reception hall.

They needed to go to her private chambers.

Shen Li’s frail body was surprisingly light to carry. Perhaps the recent nourishing meals had softened her previously bony frame, making her feel remarkably comfortable in Fu Guiyi’s arms.

Fu Guiyi hurried through the corridors, reaching her chambers in no time. The door was tightly shut, but with Shen Li cradled in her arms, she couldn’t open it.

With a surge of impatience, she kicked the door open.

The door swung open, and Fu Guiyi gently laid Shen Li back on the bed.

She had no time to worry about Li Huaifeng, who was still waiting in the reception hall.

Why does your young mistress care so much about a mere servant? Li Huaifeng asked the maid standing nearby after waiting for a while without seeing anyone return.

The maid looked terrified, clearly unwilling to speak.

Li Huaifeng was a shrewd man who had witnessed many things since childhood. He could easily guess the reason behind Fu Guiyi’s behavior.

This Young Mistress Fu’s relationship with the servant is far from simple. Could it be…?

Li Huaifeng’s heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed his father’s hopes were dashed. The daughter-in-law he had chosen would never reciprocate his feelings. Her entire focus was clearly on that servant.

Dispirited, Li Huaifeng bid farewell.

Soon after, the physician rushed in. Fu Guiyi sat on the edge of the bed, her face etched with worry as she watched Shen Li.

For the first time, she experienced the pangs of anxiety. Fu Guiyi didn’t want Shen Li to die. She had only just realized her feelings and hadn’t had time to explore them further.

Whenever the Young Mistress was displeased, the atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze, heavy with oppressive tension.

The doctor trembled as he took Shen Li’s pulse, terrified that the maid might have contracted a serious illness. If he couldn’t cure her, would the Young Mistress have him dragged out and beaten to death?

Though ordinary citizens lacked the power of life and death, Fu Guiyi was no ordinary person. She wielded the Tiger Tally, a symbol of military authority.

Even the Emperor would hesitate before moving against her, let alone a mere doctor.

Reporting to the Young Mistress, the doctor said, the maid has only caught a cold. It’s not particularly severe and nothing to worry about.

After examining Shen Li through observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation, the doctor finally delivered his diagnosis, allowing Fu Guiyi to breathe a sigh of relief.

I’ll write a prescription for her right away.

The doctor withdrew, followed by the other maids, leaving only two figures in the room. Only then did Shen Li dare to open her eyes and look at the Young Mistress.

Though she had successfully turned away the male lead’s visit this time, feigning illness might not work again. Fu Guiyi was too clever to fall for the same trick twice.

At that moment, Fu Guiyi had no idea what Shen Li was thinking. She simply watched her with concern.

Perhaps I got too cold last night, Shen Li said.

I’ll have the servants light a charcoal brazier tonight, Fu Guiyi replied.

Lighting a charcoal brazier in the middle of summer seemed absurd, but given how cold Fu Guiyi’s body ran, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.

No need, Shen Li said. Young Mistress, I just didn’t sleep well.

Shen Li slowly sat up. Fu Guiyi placed a hand on her shoulder, their eyes meeting. An indescribable feeling stirred within them.

Fu Guiyi’s gaze trembled before settling on Shen Li’s slightly pale lips. She recalled their unfinished kiss, her heart racing with a thousand thoughts.

If only I knew what to do, she thought. I could kiss her back.

But Fu Guiyi had never been one to torment herself. She lowered her head, her lips about to touch Shen Li’s.

Just in time, Shen Li turned her head, the soft lips brushing only against the corner of her mouth.

Are you avoiding me?

Fu Guiyi frowned, displeased. From childhood, she had only ever been obliged to obey her mother’s commands. Everyone else had always dared only to flatter her.

Young Mistress, have you forgotten I’m still contagious with a cold? If I infect you, it would be terrible, Shen Li said, her voice slightly hoarse.

Fu Guiyi nodded, realizing she had been blinded by desire and hadn’t considered this. She regretted her earlier anger.

Yet she didn’t move away, instead leaning closer.

Shen Li knew she couldn’t avoid her any longer. If she angered this villainous boss, she would suffer the consequences later. She could only stare blankly at Fu Guiyi.

But the soft lips didn’t land on her own. Instead, they pressed against her forehead, a delicate fragrance drifting through the air, plucking at her heartstrings like the strings of a zither.

Congratulations, Host! Capture  points increased by 3!

The System’s triumphant announcement rang in Shen Li’s mind, but only she knew that she had secretly awarded the cold-faced Young Mistress an additional 10 points of affection in her heart.

I’m doomed! I’m doomed! I’ve completely fallen for her!

This Young Mistress’s constitution is nothing like your frail one. I crossed an icy river as an infant without harm. How could such a minor cold possibly affect me?

Fu Guiyi reached out and gently tapped Shen Li’s forehead, right where she had just kissed her, leaving a faint red smudge of lipstick.

Absolutely stunning.

Fu Guiyi couldn’t even imagine how breathtaking this maid would look with full makeup.

How had I never noticed such a beauty in my own household before?

Really?

Then how did you develop such a chronic illness, Young Mistress?

Shen Li asked casually, but immediately regretted it. She suddenly remembered that Fu Guiyi’s cold constitution wasn’t actually from crossing the icy river.

It was the result of her mother force-feeding her medicine to save her brother.

This is terrible! Shen Li thought, overwhelmed by the novel’s convoluted plot. She had completely forgotten this crucial detail.

She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for Fu Guiyi to kick her off the bed.

The story is complicated, Fu Guiyi said, surprisingly without anger. She simply smiled.

In any case, my body isn’t as weak as you think. I can withstand a minor cold.

Tonight, you’ll still sleep with me.

Fu Guiyi reached out and tapped Shen Li’s nose, her voice firm and resolute, leaving no room for argument or refusal.

After about an hour, Shen Li felt the medicine’s effects wearing off. She was about to sit up and stretch when…

Fu Guiyi had left earlier, seemingly busy with something.

The door suddenly opened, and Xu Wenqing entered, followed by several maids.

Shen Li, this is freshly brewed medicine. Drink it quickly.

Xu Wenqing’s lips curled into a smile, but Shen Li couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about her. Still, the medicine was already in front of her. Refusing to drink it would only confirm she was faking her illness.

She reluctantly took the porcelain bowl, inhaling the bitter, foul-smelling, pitch-black herbal concoction. Taking a deep breath, Shen Li pretended it was cola and gulped down a large mouthful.

Bitter! So bitter!

Shen Li’s eyebrows nearly knotted together from the bitterness.

Just as she was about to feign accidentally spilling the medicine, a slender, jade-like hand suddenly steadied the white porcelain bowl.

Shen Li, this contains expensive medicinal herbs that the Young Mistress specially ordered to nourish your body. You mustn’t waste it.

Shen Li strongly suspected Xu Wenqing was doing this on purpose.