This Scheme Is Really Quite Ingenious

Chloe Zhu poured the wine, Kevin Zhuo did the drinking, and when Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu and Minister Zhuo saw the siblings getting along so well, their faces were full of relief.

But only Chloe Zhu knew what kind of scheme was brewing beneath the surface.

That wine jug was rigged with a hidden mechanism.

The trick was hidden in a hollowed-out flower on the jug's body.

If you gently lifted one of the petals, nothing seemed amiss, but another substance could be poured into the wine.

For example, a drug.

Back in her previous life, Chloe wouldn’t have understood tricks like this at her age.

But after all the drama in the Vermilion Kingdom, she’d seen every nasty trick in the book.

After she started suspecting Kevin Zhuo, it only took a quick glance for her to spot the setup.

After toasting the elders, it was time to move on to her peers.

Kevin Zhuo led Chloe Zhu straight over to Jason Zhuo.

Then, pretending to greet Chloe Zhu, he brushed his hand over the wine jug and said, "Chloe Zhu, pour some wine for your big brother."

Chloe Zhu picked up the jug, her gaze flicking to the flower—one petal was now at a different angle...

She smiled and poured wine for Jason Zhuo.

Just looking at the wine, you wouldn’t notice anything off. It was clear, crisp, and smelled amazing.

But after she set down the jug, Grace pretended her nose was itchy, hid her face with her sleeve, and licked the finger that had just touched the wine on purpose.

Sure enough, the wine had been drugged.

And it was a pretty potent aphrodisiac.

Same old tricks as last lifetime, huh!

Next, they’d probably try to lure him over to Bella Wan and make sure the two of them got together...

And in the end, the one left holding the blame would be her—Chloe Zhu.

What a perfectly devious plan...

"Big Brother, you really shouldn’t worry so much about your position in the army. So what if you lose your rank? You can always come back to Father’s side." Kevin Zhuo was acting like a whole new person tonight.

Jason Zhuo looked at him in surprise, then nodded and said, "My conscience is clear. I trust the truth will come out."

"From now on, I’ll make sure the household gives Big Brother more money," Kevin Zhuo added. "As your little brother, I won’t let you worry about silver ever again!"

"Kevin, what are you talking about?" Minister Zhuo cut in, clearly displeased. "That was absolutely not your brother’s doing!"

A flash of jealousy flickered in Kevin Zhuo’s eyes, but he quickly hid it and apologized, "Oh! Yes, yes! I must’ve had too much to drink tonight! It’s Jason’s birthday, I’m just happy! Please don’t take it to heart, Big Brother."

Jason Zhuo smiled faintly and said nothing.

"Come on, Big Brother, let me toast you!" Kevin Zhuo said again. "Chloe Zhu, pour your second brother a drink!"

Chloe Zhu raised an eyebrow, picked up the jug, and poured Kevin Zhuo a drink too.

Kevin Zhuo downed his drink in one gulp.

He actually drank the drugged wine too?

Maybe he took the antidote ahead of time?

After the brothers finished their drinks, Kevin Zhuo tried to drag Chloe Zhu away again.

Chloe Zhu said, "Wait a second, Second Brother!"

Kevin Zhuo looked at her, confused.

"I don’t drink, so you can help me out with the others, but since it’s Big Brother’s birthday, even if I can’t drink, I have to toast him!"

Kevin Zhuo hesitated, then said, "You’d better not drink! Use tea instead—Big Brother won’t mind."

If she got drugged too, who’d be left to take the fall?

"Mm." Jason Zhuo handed her a cup of tea. "Just drink tea."

Chloe Zhu didn’t argue. She poured Jason Zhuo another drink, accepted the tea, offered a few words of good luck, and downed it in one go.