Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

"Please go back, young master Zhou. The master said he is unwell and cannot receive guests these days." The maid curtsied to Zhou Jinghuai and closed the gate to the courtyard.

Zhou Jinghuai, who had been turned away, was about to find a suitable corner to forcibly climb over the courtyard wall when Pei Suisui, who had just gotten off the carriage, called out to him.

"Young Master Zhou, please wait."

Pei Suisui was dressed in a light purple tweed shirt, her eyes crinkling with a smile, as if she were in a very good mood.

Zhou Jinghuai nodded at her, a smile on his lips, as gentle as a spring breeze. "Are you here to see Thirteen too?"

"No, I came to see you." Pei Suisui took out an exquisitely crafted purse from her sleeve and handed it to him.

Zhou Jinghuai took the exquisite purse in front of him, and suddenly reverted to his previous playboy manner, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "A gift for me? That's not appropriate. I don't have the life to be tormented by the Third Prince."

"What are you saying!" Pei Suisui's face flushed instantly at his teasing words. She lowered her voice and said, "This is for you from Thirteen. She has some things to take care of these days and it's not convenient for her to see us. When I came last time, she asked me to give it to you."

"Why would a man like him give me this?" Zhou Jinghuai said with feigned disgust, but he still opened the purse and took out the note inside.

The handwriting was ugly; it was indeed her own.

He glanced at the note, and his casual demeanor instantly turned serious.

"Miss Sui Sui, I have to go now. I'll treat you to tea next time."

Pei Suisui watched his hurried departure, her curiosity growing even stronger about what was written on the note in the purse.

"Miss, shall we return to the manor?" Pei Suisui's maid, Aru, asked softly beside her.

"Okay, let's go back." Pei Suisui was about to leave when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the street corner out of the corner of her eye. She paused for a moment, then said, "Wait."

She stopped and turned to walk towards the street corner.

"Miss!" Aru hurriedly followed after her upon seeing this. "It's only been a month since the incident at Fengyazhai. Master was furious at home and won't let you go out freely. Please don't wander off."

"Wait, don't make a sound." Pei Suisui's face was unusually serious as she glared at Aru. She then quietly led Aru to the front of the dark alley.

Inside the alley, a woman dressed as a maid looked around and took out a heavy bag of silver from her sleeve.

"The master said this is your deposit; if things go well, you'll get half back."

The man in front of the maid had his back to Pei Suisui, so she couldn't see his face. She could only hear his voice, which was hoarse and trembling like a broken gong.

"Leave it to me. Do you have a picture of that person?"

"Here it is." The maid handed the man another folded portrait.

The man put the portrait and the money bag into his pocket.

"All done, Master, just wait for news."

"Remember, if you are caught, you must not reveal a single thing about your master." After giving the man these instructions, the maid left the alley.

After the man left, Pei Suisui slowly emerged from behind the bamboo basket.

She vaguely remembered that the girl who deliberately dressed as an ordinary maidservant seemed to be Man'er, the maidservant of the Fourth Princess. Because at the last spring banquet, it was Man'er who stood in the corridor watching the Fourth Princess and the Thirteenth Princess argue.

"Is the Fourth Princess planning something?" she muttered to herself.

"Miss, why don't we go back first?" As Aru hesitated, a familiar carriage stopped in front of them. She hurriedly said, "Miss...it's the eldest young lady!"

Before Aru could finish speaking clearly, she knelt down straight down and said, "Greetings, Miss."

Before Pei Suisui could think about the maid from earlier, she saw the curtain of the carriage in front of her being lifted by a corner by the maid accompanying the carriage.

"Sui Sui, what are you doing here? Didn't I say you weren't allowed to leave the manor these days?"

A gentle voice completely disrupted Pei Suisui's thoughts, and her little face turned pale with fright. "Sister... I... I heard that Fengya Zhai had released new pastries, and I wanted to buy some for you, so I sneaked out."

Her voice trailed off, lacking confidence, and she lowered her head guiltily.

She lost her mother at a young age and was raised by her older sister and father. She was never afraid of her father, but she was afraid of her own older sister, Pei Nanyue, the eldest daughter of the Pei family.

"I didn't see you at Fengyazhai just now."

"Ah...I...I was just about to go, so of course my sister didn't see me." Pei Suisui lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes in her hands. Whenever she saw Pei Nanyue, she was like a mouse seeing a cat.

“Sui Sui, you’re getting bolder and bolder. Come up here.” Pei Nan Yue’s voice was tinged with seriousness, clearly indicating that she had realized Pei Sui Sui was lying.

"Yes……"

Pei Suisui stammered softly and hesitantly got into the carriage.

The carriage moved slowly forward, and Pei Suisui sat on the far side inside, being careful not to make a sound and invite her sister's scolding.

Unexpectedly, the carriage suddenly lurched forward, almost throwing her out of the carriage.

Sitting upright in the car, Pei Nanyue slowly opened her eyes. "What happened outside?"

"Miss, the road is blocked," the coachman outside replied.

Meanwhile, a man dressed in unusual clothes alighted from the carriage blocking the way for the Pei family's carriage. The man was about to speak when he noticed the insignia on the other carriage that represented the Pei family's status and paused slightly.

Unlike the people of Nanyang who tie their hair up, he let his long, black hair fall down his back. The spring sunlight shone on the man's tall and upright figure, and his dark skin made him look like a fierce god, which was somewhat incongruous with his handsome and cold appearance.

Helian Nash strode up to the Pei family carriage, placed his right hand on his left shoulder, and nodded, asking, "Is that Lord Pei in the carriage?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Nanyue glanced at Pei Suisui by the car, assuming that Pei Suisui had gotten into trouble again, and then lazily lifted the car curtain to look outside.

Herlian Nash looked up, and their eyes met. The girl behind the carriage curtain had a cold expression, and her eyes, as cold as the night, radiated a chilling aura, while her fair, snow-white face showed no sign of coldness.

But just one glance was like a sharp arrow piercing his heart.

"Young master, you've come to the wrong place. My father isn't in the carriage." Pei Nanyue's icy voice pulled him back to reality.

"It was my abruptness; I'll make way for you, young lady." Helian Nash composed himself and quickly ordered his men to clear the way for her.

"Thank you." Pei Nanyue lowered the curtain. Helian Nash watched the carriage gradually disappear from his sight, but his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was trying to sort out the complicated and chaotic thoughts in his mind.

Is she her father, Pei Zhiheng's daughter?

Helian Nash could not hide the disappointment in his eyes. He had come to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor of Nanyang with tribute.

The assassin who caused such a stir in Nanyang was said to have come from the Western Regions. He was there to appease the Nanyang emperor's suspicions and to express the Western Regions' sincerity to Nanyang.

After all, before seeking peace, the Western Regions and Nanyang had fought for decades without gaining any advantage, and their strength was far from what it used to be.

"Young Master Helian? What are you doing here?"