AUBTN -Chapter 95 Self-Sabotage

Alarm bells went off in Su Hewan’s mind.

She lowered her gaze, putting on an expression of utmost fear and humility. “Your servant… is merely a lowly palace maid of the Eastern Depot. I am deeply grateful for Your Excellency’s care…”

Zhao Shuo let out a light chuckle, leaning slightly forward, his voice dropping to a suggestive murmur. “Miss Su is clever. You should understand the principle of a fine bird choosing its tree.”

“Although Shen Jue holds power over the court, he is, after all, a defective man.”

Zhao Shuo deliberately emphasized the word “defective,” his tone dripping with contempt and malice.

“What future can you have with a eunuch? He can give you no status, no happiness a woman truly needs, and may not even be able to protect you in the future.”

Behind the screen, Shen Jue’s fists tightened.

Su Hewan could almost feel the murderous aura radiating from him, thick enough to touch.

But she could only play dumb.

She blinked her innocent, wide eyes, looking at Zhao Shuo with feigned confusion. “National Preceptor… your servant doesn’t understand what you are saying…”

【Don’t understand, don’t understand! I won’t listen, I won’t listen! You rotten old man, you’re so evil!】

The tiny voice in Su Hewan’s mind was frantically covering its ears.

Seeing her pretend ignorance, a flicker of impatience passed through Zhao Shuo’s eyes.

He reached out, as if to touch Su Hewan’s pale cheek, his voice turning more seductively ambiguous.

“I greatly admire your talent, Miss Su. If you are willing… my residence happens to lack a proper mistress of the house. Just nod, and wealth, honor, fine clothes and luxurious food—I can guarantee you a worry-free life for the rest of your days.”

This was blatant poaching—right in front of the main party!

Su Hewan felt a chill run down her spine; goosebumps rose all over.

If his hand actually touched her, she feared she might vomit on him.

Just as Zhao Shuo’s fingers were only an inch from her cheek—

“It seems the National Preceptor has far too much free time.”

A cold, bone-piercing voice suddenly cut through the room, shattering the intimate tension in an instant.

Zhao Shuo’s hand froze mid-air.

Behind the screen, Shen Jue stepped out slowly.

He held a bowl of dark medicinal soup, its steam curling up, blurring his expression.

But the chilling aura radiating from him immediately dropped the room’s temperature to freezing.

Shen Jue didn’t even glance at Zhao Shuo. He walked straight to the bedside and placed the bowl of medicine in front of Su Hewan.

“Drink.”

Two simple words, void of emotion, yet radiating an unyielding dominance.

He was angry—furiously, insanely angry.

Zhao Shuo withdrew his hand, unfazed, raising an eyebrow with a half-smile as he watched the scene.

“Just in time, Master Shen. I was chatting with Miss Su about mundane matters.”

“Mundane matters?” Shen Jue turned, his gaze finally landing on Zhao Shuo.

Their eyes met.

It felt as if sparks were flying in the air, crackling loudly.

“I merely think that a young lady as beautiful as Miss Su, still unmarried and living in Master Shen’s Yuyuan without status, might—if word got out—suffer harm to her reputation.”

Zhao Shuo’s words cut to the heart.

He was warning Su Hewan and cautioning Shen Jue at the same time.

Reputation is everything. For an unmarried girl to live in a eunuch’s residence could easily be scandalous.

Su Hewan’s heart tightened. She glanced at Shen Jue with concern.

He casually adjusted his sleeve, his gaze as cold and thin as ice water.

“Reputation?”

He let out a light laugh, tinged with self-mockery and cruelty, with a hint of unhinged madness.

“I am a cripple, a rootless thing—who in this world doesn’t know that?”

“Miss Su lives here with me—what’s improper about that?”

Pft—!

Su Hewan, just about to drink the medicine, nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

She widened her eyes, staring at the man before her, whose expression remained utterly calm.

【My heavens! Shen Jue, you’re ruthless! To roast Zhao Shuo like that—did you really just say that? Self-deprecating, sure, but this is way over the line!】

【Big brother! You’re a fake eunuch! Are you… getting way too into character or what?!】

The little voices in Su Hewan’s mind were already banging themselves against the walls in a frenzy.

Even Zhao Shuo was momentarily taken aback by Shen Jue’s shameless words.

He hadn’t expected Shen Jue to so casually use his own bodily “deficiency” as a bargaining chip—or even as a shield.

This was… completely without limits!

Shen Jue seemed quite pleased with Zhao Shuo’s flustered expression.

He slightly turned his body, blocking Zhao Shuo’s line of sight to Su Hewan, and cast a cool glance at her.

“Moreover…”

He paused, his tone suddenly taking on a teasing lilt.

“Doesn’t the National Preceptor know that Wanwan is our distant cousin?”

“Cousin?”

Zhao Shuo froze.

“What’s the matter?” Shen Jue raised an eyebrow, a hint of provocation in his gaze.

“Though our family has been in the palace for many years, we still have relatives. Does the prince concern himself even with our family affairs?”

This sudden “cousin” revelation caught Zhao Shuo completely off guard.

If it was a family connection, then her staying at the mansion to recover could be at least barely justified.

Although everyone knew it was nonsense, on the surface, it gave Su Hewan a plausible identity.

Zhao Shuo drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his anger.

This Shen Jue was indeed a stubborn, hard-to-deal-with mad dog!

“Since this is Master Shen’s family matter, then I’ve worried for nothing,”

Zhao Shuo said, his smile strained and unconvincing as he stood and adjusted his robe.

“However, I still must remind Master Shen that the storms of the court are far fiercer than the schemes of women in the inner quarters. You’d best be careful.”

With that, he turned his gaze to Su Hewan, his face now calm and gentle.

“Miss Su, rest well. I shall come to see you another day.”

“Y-yes… yes…”

Su Hewan nodded weakly, but inside she was screaming: Please, sir! Please don’t come back!

After Zhao Shuo left and the door closed behind him, the room fell into dead silence once more.

Su Hewan held the medicine bowl, her palms breaking into a sweat.

She stole a glance at Shen Jue.

He was still turned away from her, standing by the bed, radiating an almost oppressive aura.

“Um… Master?”

She called tentatively.

“Does it taste okay?”

Shen Jue suddenly spoke, his voice a bit hoarse.

“Ah?” Su Hewan was momentarily stunned, looking down at the dark medicine in her hands. “I-I haven’t… drunk it yet…”

She swallowed nervously, feeling like a little white rabbit caught in the gaze of a big gray wolf.

“Um… Master, you’ve misunderstood…”

“Misunderstood?” Shen Jue sneered, his long fingers suddenly pinching Su Hewan’s chin, forcing her to look up.

“If I hadn’t come in just now, would you have agreed to him?”

“Impossible!”

Su Hewan immediately denied it emphatically, three times over.

“I’m not blind! Zhao Shuo looks like a steamed bun—he doesn’t even have one ten-thousandth of your charm, Master!”

Even though you have a terrible temper, you’re just too handsome!

Hearing her unspoken thoughts, Shen Jue’s previously tense lips twitched ever so slightly.

This woman…