Chapter 118 Shen Zhixue! In Peril!

Chapter 118 Shen Zhixue! In Peril!

The following day, Shen Zhixue readied himself to attend the banquet solo.

Prior to his departure, the Duchess rapped on his door. She lingered at the threshold, her gentle smile unwavering, yet Shen Zhixue found himself growing increasingly wary.

The medicine's arrival was far too abrupt. Though he loathed to harbor the darkest suspicions, the situation had now reached a critical juncture, and the safety of both himself and Jiang Huizhou hinged solely on his actions.

Shen Zhixue appeared to grasp Jiang Huizhou's sense of entrapment, for what loomed behind him might outweigh his very existence.

"Madam," Shen Zhixue inquired, "what brings you here?"

"I wished to see you. Are you off to Princess Sith's palace banquet? Will the banquet boast delectable fare? Perhaps some scrumptious candies? My Young Fedel is surely frail after childbirth. I, too, desire to attend the banquet, to fetch him an abundance of savory treats." The Duchess beamed with sweetness. Her madness ensured her automatic exclusion from all Federation banquets, grand or minor, for none wished a madwoman to mar the occasion.

Shen Zhixue hesitated briefly before uttering, "Would you... care to accompany me?"

The Duchess's eyes sparkled, "May I? Truly?"

Bringing the Duchess along might offer a lifeline, yet... it would be plunging her into the abyss alongside him.

The Shen Zhixue of yore would never entangle an innocent soul, but now, gazing into the Duchess's hopeful eyes, he murmured, "Should you wish to join me, it's feasible, but you must heed my words."

The Duchess nodded vigorously, "Indeed, indeed! I shall behave. I yearn to bring Young Fedel a bounty of delectable delights!"

Shen Zhixue exhaled, "The Duke will surely disapprove of your accompanying me."

"It's okay, we just won't tell him." The Duchess twirled her skirt, "He won't know. I'll go change now. I want to look beautiful!"

After saying that, she ran out with a clatter.

Shen Zhixue patted his face, self-reproaching, "Isn't this too bad? Shen Zhixue, how is this behavior any different from a villain?! But if I bring the Duchess along, things might not get so tricky. Even if it fails, the Duke won't let the Duchess die with me... Forget it, life is more important."

Soon, the Duchess changed into a proper dress, wearing six-centimeter high heels, and clattered back to Shen Zhixue's room, twirling in front of him, "How do I look? Am I pretty?"

Shen Zhixue nodded, "You look beautiful, Madam."

"Thank you, you're also very pretty." The Duchess smiled and took Shen Zhixue's arm, "Let's go quickly, Fidel will be back soon."

Suppressing the guilt in his heart, Shen Zhixue took the Duchess onto the magnetic long-distance vehicle and headed towards the palace.

After arriving at the palace, Shen Zhixue helped the Duchess out of the vehicle. The guards checked Shen Zhixue's invitation and let them in.

This banquet had invited almost all the omegas in the capital star of the Federation. They sat in their seats, watching Shen Zhixue enter with the Duchess.

A male omega with black curly hair sneered, "That's the one from the Duke's residence, right? I heard he's deeply loved by Young Fedel. He moved into the Duke's residence before even getting married. What a big deal!"

"Stop talking," a female omega beside him laughed, "I heard that Imperial omegas like to use such lowly methods to seduce Alphas into bed, then use the mark to threaten the Alpha into taking them home."

"Are you saying the young Duke was forced?"

"It's not impossible. After all, the young Duke's fiancée is our beautiful and noble Princess Sith. If he wasn't threatened, who would throw away a pearl for a plain stone?"

The Duchess looked at the speaking omega, walked up to her with a fierce expression, and pointed at her, "You're lying! Our Zhi Zhi is not a plain stone!"

Shen Zhixue looked at the Duchess's back, and the guilt in his heart deepened!

The Duchess was defending him, while he was thinking of how to use her to save his own life!

He really deserved to die!

"Our Zhi Zhi is a real gem! The prettiest one in the whole river!"

Shen Zhixue: "..."

Never mind, he should just keep his head down.

The omega burst into laughter: "A fool’s a fool. Even the prettiest stone is still just a rock."

"What’s wrong with stones? You got something against rocks?" The Duchess frowned, arguing loudly with her: "Do you know how much..."

Shen Zhixue quickly pulled her back: "Madam, let it go."

The Duchess was still angry: "None of them hold a candle to you! Why do they even bother insulting you?"

"Yes, yes," Shen Zhixue nodded quickly: "They’re just jealous because they’re not as good-looking as me. It’s just envy, plain and simple."

The Duchess nodded: "Oh! So when they insult you, you just brush it off?"

"Huh? Didn’t I say it before? If someone’s beneath you in every way, why bother? Whatever they say is just hot air."

This sentence somehow struck a funny chord with the Duchess. She covered her mouth and laughed, imitating Shen Zhixue’s tone: "Hot air!"

The mocked omega stood up abruptly: "Shen Zhixue, what do you mean? With your status, you’re not fit to shine my shoes! You’re lucky Her Majesty even let you in here, and yet you have the nerve to insult me, the daughter of a cabinet general, right to my face?!"

"You said it yourself, it’s Her Majesty’s grace, what does it have to do with you?" Shen Zhixue sat in his seat, glancing coldly: "What, are you the Empress of the Federation now?"

This accusation made the person turn pale instantly: "That’s a lie! I never said that!"

"Just now," Shen Zhixue smiled: "I heard it, and so did the Duchess, didn’t you?"

The Duchess obediently nodded: "I heard it, I heard it, Her Majesty!"

"Don’t you dare call her that!" The person panicked completely, stepping down from their seat to try and cover the Duchess’s mouth.

The Duchess hid behind Shen Zhixue, wrinkling her nose: "So mean! Ugly people are always so nasty, nothing like our Zhi Zhi!"

"You idiot, what did you just say? You want me to rip that filthy mouth of yours apart?!"

Shen Zhixue stood in front of the Duchess, speaking in a deep voice: "How dare you disrespect the Duchess of Fidel?"

"She’s just a fool, who cares if she’s the Duchess?" The person sneered: "Besides, if I don’t admit it, who can prove I hit her? Her words as a fool are not credible. Maybe you’re just putting on a nice face, but deep down you’re seething with resentment? Today, I’ll rip her mouth apart and show her how the Federation’s royal family operates!"

Shen Zhixue’s eyes turned cold: "You wouldn’t dare."

The omega’s pheromones instantly overflowed, a cool tea scent intertwined with a hint of sandalwood, forcing the omega to step back several steps, their face instantly pale: "Your pheromones... how are they so strong? Only... only that person’s pheromones are this strong. You can’t be..."

Shen Zhixue blinked, realizing this was trouble.

Only Alpha pheromones can be aggressive, while omega pheromones are just for calming and attracting. Alpha pheromones might clash, but omegas don’t have that kind of power!

And Shen Zhixue’s pheromones had never leaked before. He had only released pheromones when he was with Jiang Huizhou... but obviously, his pheromone pressure was like a small stream entering the ocean compared to Jiang Huizhou’s, so he never felt anything unusual.

Shen Zhixue had seen Jiang Huizhou’s pheromones cause offensive effects and thought he would try it too.

So, omega pheromones can’t be used the same way as alpha pheromones?

Isn’t this book’s world-building a bit over the top?

Just as the omega was shocked, the main character of the banquet finally arrived on the scene.

Xisi, adorned in an elaborate gown, trailed behind a tall, slender woman.

The woman wore a delicate crown, her features exquisite and well-maintained, hardly looking like someone who had given birth. Standing next to Xisi, they could easily be mistaken for sisters.

Shen Zhixue marveled at the Empress's youthfulness. Facing such a youthful visage, calling her "mom" felt a bit off.

"So you are Shen Zhixue?" The Empress stepped before him, looking down at him from her commanding height.

Shen Zhixue's hands gripped the armrests of his chair, a chill running down his spine. His instincts warned him that the woman before him was not one to be easily deceived.

"What, first time seeing Her Majesty and you’re already speechless?" Xisi sneered with a contemptuous laugh. "Country folks just can’t cut it in the big leagues."

The Empress raised her hand, casting a glance at Xisi behind her.

Xisi instantly shut her mouth, her face flickering with fear as she averted her gaze.

The Empress smiled. "You must be worth the huge risk he took for you. Unfortunately, I am no fool."

Shen Zhixue's pupils dilated, a cold sweat drenching his entire body!

What did this mean? Could it be that the Empress already knew all of Jiang Huizhou's plans?!

Then coming here was like walking straight into the lion’s den?!

The Empress chuckled lightly, turning to walk towards her throne.

Shen Zhixue’s hands shook nervously, his mind spinning as he scrambled to figure out an escape plan.

The Duchess reached over, gently taking his hand. "You feeling cold, Zhi Zhi?"

Shen Zhixue glanced at her, whispering into her ear, "Sorry, but we might be screwed. If the Empress asks later, just play dumb and say you only tagged along for the banquet."

The Duchess replied earnestly, "That’s exactly what happened."

Shen Zhixue: "..."

He’d said too much—why would the Duchess ever back him up?

The Empress sat on her throne, her slender hand resting under her chin, watching Shen Zhixue with amusement. "Your name is Shen Zhixue?"

Shen Zhixue nodded. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Then what have you come to show me today?" The Empress extended her hand, inspecting her own dazzling, manicured nails, drawling. "Like, say, a paternity test?"

Shen Zhixue: "...Heh, hehe, you’re kidding, right? Paternity test? No idea, never seen it, never heard of it."