Transmigrating to Woo the Villainous Young Lady - Chapter 26

A gentle breeze rippled across the emerald-green lake, its surface shimmering with light. Lotus flowers had once bloomed here, but now, in the chill of autumn, only withered, yellowed remnants remained.

No one was around.

A sinister thought suddenly crossed Xu Wenqing’s mind: What if Shen Li were to accidentally fall into the water right now?

Then the Young Mistress wouldn’t have this bewitching beauty by her side, this woman who captivated hearts.

Xu Wenqing took a step closer, but Shen Li remained oblivious to the approaching danger, lost in thought. How can I lower this female steward’s guard?

The woman’s constant attention felt suspiciously like jealousy. Could it be… could it be?!

Shen Li’s pupils widened slightly, clearly having pieced something together.

Could Xu Wenqing be in love with Fu Guiyi?!

Though unlikely, it wasn’t impossible. After all, ever since the System’s central headquarters had summoned countless transmigrators into this world…

The world’s political landscape shifted as a result.

Just as Shen Li was reeling from her own speculation, a pair of hands silently landed on her shoulders.

In the next instant, she felt herself being shoved downward with tremendous force.

Then came the rushing sound of water, and countless mouthfuls flooded her nose and lungs, nearly causing her to lose consciousness.

Ripples spread in concentric circles, but Xu Wenqing stood motionless on the shore, feeling only a sense of satisfaction.

Struggle, struggle!

The harder she thrashed, the quicker she’d exhaust herself. By the time the Young Mistress returned, she’d find only a cold corpse.

Next time I choose a bed-warming maid, I’ll be far more careful. No more ambitious vixens like this one.

Shen Li had learned to swim with a floatation ring since elementary school. Though her technique was mediocre, she at least had some basic water skills.

So, her first reaction wasn’t panic.

Instead, she focused all her efforts on surfacing.

The rippling water drew the attention of the estate’s servants. The churning waves clearly indicated someone had fallen in.

It had been many years since anyone had drowned in the Fu Family’s lake. After all, with General Fu gone, there was no inner courtyard, and thus none of the usual scheming and infighting.

Someone’s fallen into the water!

Lei Er, who had been pruning flower branches, immediately stood up when he saw the churning lake surface. Still holding his shears, he began to remove his outer robe, ready to dive in.

What are you doing? Can’t you see Steward Xu is right there?

The servant beside him whispered a warning. It was clear Steward Xu wanted the girl to die; to save their own skins, they should pretend they hadn’t seen anything.

I can’t just stand by and watch someone drown!

Lei Er, ever stubborn, shook off the other servant and plunged into the water. Just as Shen Li was about to surface, she felt someone grab her.

Miss, are you alright?

I’m fine, Shen Li gasped, spitting out water and brushing seaweed from her hair. She looked up at the man before her: dark-skinned, plain-looking, but quite tall.

This guy saved me, Shen Li thought. Xu Wenqing will definitely target him now. She glanced toward the shore, but Xu Wenqing was nowhere to be seen.

Fu Guiyi returned very late that night, well past midnight, with only the whistling autumn wind to break the silence.

Shen Li had warmed the quilt as thoroughly as possible, taking turns sleeping on both sides to ensure the Young Mistress wouldn’t feel cold.

Yet even after all this, Fu Guiyi still hadn’t returned, and Shen Li was on the verge of dozing off when she finally heard a sound outside the door.

She immediately threw back the quilt, revealing eyes as bright and alert as a young deer’s.

Young Mistress, you’re back?

Her voice was sweet and unusually attentive. Fu Guiyi stood in the doorway, clad only in a thin inner robe, her long hair loose and damp, clearly having just bathed.

Mm.

I heard you fell into the water today.

Fu Guiyi’s body was icy cold, but instead of slipping under the covers, she reached out and grasped Shen Li’s wrist.

A faint warmth flowed between them, a temperature that wasn’t alarmingly high, indicating no fever.

Fu Guiyi let out a sigh of relief.

It was… it was my fault. I twisted my ankle and fell into the lake.

Shen Li’s eyes darted around as she hastily fabricated an excuse. Though her feelings for Xu Wenqing had cooled, she remembered that in the later stages of the novel, he would risk life and limb for Fu Guiyi.

Shen Li didn’t want to create any misunderstandings between them.

You sprained your ankle? the Young Mistress asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she reached under the covers and firmly grasped Shen Li’s ankle, its skin as smooth and warm as jade.

But there’s no redness or swelling. Shen Li, you’re lying to me.

Her fingertips traced delicate circles across Shen Li’s skin, like countless ants crawling over her flesh, making her itch intensely.

Shen Li’s toes curled involuntarily.

She inwardly regretted her clumsy excuse, annoyed at how awkward it sounded.

You’re lying, Shen Li. What are you hiding?

Fu Guiyi lowered her head. Her ability to command the Black Armor Army as a woman wasn’t solely due to her lineage as General Fu’s daughter.

A dangerous aura coiled around Shen Li’s waist like a python, tightening its grip inch by inch, or like a spiderweb, trapping her completely, leaving no escape.

Young Mistress, I’m not.

Despite her fear, Shen Li stubbornly maintained her story. Changing her story now could have even more severe consequences.

If you don’t want to tell me, I won’t press you. But I heard a servant saved you today.

Fu Guiyi abruptly changed the subject, though by now she had already formed a suspicion.

The only person in the entire Fu Manor who could make Shen Li, the unruly little maid, cower in fear was likely Wen Qing, who had grown up alongside her since childhood.

Fu Guiyi couldn’t quite grasp the reason behind her actions.

But Xu Wenqing had crossed a line.

Fu Guiyi would never allow anyone to taint her private affairs or her affections.

Not even a childhood friend could interfere. To Fu Guiyi, Shen Li was like the sun, dispelling the cold mist.

She wasn’t merely a bed-warming servant girl.

I’ll settle accounts with Xu Wenqing tomorrow. Today, I have more pressing matters.

Fu Guiyi lowered her head, lifted the covers, and let all the warmth Shen Li had painstakingly built up escape.

Young Mistress, Young Mistress… Shen Li was speechless.

Where did that servant touch you?

As expected of a villainess, her thought process is truly twisted.

Shen Li: ……

This question was impossible to answer. Whether she lied or told the truth, she knew Fu Guiyi would react with intense jealousy or fury.

So Shen Li simply refused to answer.

Tell me.

Fu Guiyi brooked no refusal. She lowered her head, her icy fingers clamping onto Shen Li’s jaw, forcing her to meet her gaze.

The sensation was like wandering through a dense forest and suddenly finding oneself under the intense scrutiny of a hunting leopard.

Shen Li was ultimately afraid.

He just put his hand on my waist. He meant well, trying to save me because he was afraid I couldn’t breathe.