The residence where Su Mei stayed was filled with architecture that radiated feminine charm — if one had to describe the place in just two words, they would be "exquisitely beautiful."
At this moment, the lovely young Su Mei was sitting in her boudoir. Since all the servants in her residence were women, she had dressed quite casually.
A loose pink long dress draped over her frame, its generous cut exposing not only her two snow-white shoulders but also half of her full, rounded bust. There was no denying it — Su Mei had truly grown up. Those firm, perfectly shaped curves pressed against the fabric as though threatening to break free. If a man were to catch sight of them, he would be set ablaze with desire, unable to control himself.
Normally, Su Mei wouldn't dress this revealingly. She only wore such loose clothing when she was about to rest, because she found the comfort of oversized garments far more pleasant.
"Xiaohong, did anyone come looking for me today?" Su Mei asked a maidservant standing before her.
"No one has come to see you today, Mistress," the maidservant answered respectfully.
"He still hasn't come?" Hearing this, Su Mei's slender willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly, and her starlit, captivating eyes flickered with a hint of worry.
Chu Feng had told her to rest easy in his territory, promising he would come find her soon. Now, an entire day had passed since their parting at the Thousand-Year Ancient City, and Chu Feng still hadn't shown up — it was hard not to feel a little anxious.
But after thinking it over more carefully, she recalled that Chu Feng had Tai Kou's token on him. On top of that, she had witnessed firsthand how capable he'd become. Within the Four Seas Academy, there shouldn't be anyone who could threaten Chu Feng. So she calmed down somewhat, and could only continue to wait in earnest.
But for a young girl as restless and lovesick as she was, the agony of waiting for her beloved who never arrived was truly a form of torment.
"Xiaohong, did you change the incense?" Suddenly, Su Mei's little nose twitched a few times, and she turned to the maidservant with the question.
"Mistress, I—" The moment the maidservant heard this, her expression changed drastically. Not only was her face filled with terror, but she also dropped to her knees with a heavy thud, as though she had committed some terrible offense.
Seeing the maidservant like this, Su Mei offered a sweet smile and said, "What's this? I did tell you not to change the incense in my room on a whim, but I'm not blaming you for anything. There's no need to be this frightened — come, get up."
As she spoke, Su Mei stepped forward, intending to help the maidservant rise.
But seeing how kind Su Mei's attitude was toward her, the maidservant only broke into even heavier tears. "Mistress, I've wronged you… but I truly had no choice. If I hadn't done this, not only would my life be forfeit, but my entire family would face disaster."
"Xiaohong, what's wrong? Did someone bully your family? Who was it? Tell me, and I'll stand up for you," Su Mei said, her delicate brows shooting upward in indignation. She assumed her maidservant had been bullied and pressed her for answers with righteous anger.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" But Xiaohong refused to answer, nor would she stand. She simply knelt in place, weeping silently.
Just as Su Mei was growing confused about what on earth was wrong with Xiaohong, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her head. Her entire body grew hot, and a strange, foreign sensation welled up from deep within her heart.
Though Su Mei was relatively innocent, she was no fool. The moment she realized something was off, she immediately began searching for the cause, and before long, her gaze settled on the incense burning in the room.
With a swift motion, she snatched the incense holder and pulled it close for inspection. Her face darkened with fury in an instant. She shattered the incense with a single palm strike, then pointed at the maidservant and shouted, "Xiaohong — you — you actually drugged me!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" In the face of Su Mei's accusation, the maidservant offered no defense. She simply cried even harder.
"Damn it." Su Mei had no interest in scolding the maidservant any further, because she realized the poison had already entered her body and was now wreaking havoc from within.