Jiaojiao is getting married, and the male leads fall for her and fight over her.

Chapter 168: I Fell for My Cousin
A dark undercurrent surged in Pei Dongzhou's eyes. He slowly walked up to Shen Shuyi, his voice slightly hoarse: "Cousin..."

Shen Shuyi was trying to build up her emotions and make herself look pitiful, but when she met Pei Dongzhou's pitying gaze, she blinked and instantly forgot that she was acting.

The next moment, Prince Pei pulled her into his arms and awkwardly patted her back: "Don't be afraid, it's alright now."

Shen Shuyi wondered to herself if she had acted too well, and if she had gone too far.
The one who bullied her was Pei Nanzhou. This was a grudge between her and Pei Nanzhou, and she felt inexplicably guilty for dragging Pei Shizi into it.

She originally wanted to complain to Prince Pei again, but given his reaction, she worried that it might backfire, so she decided to give up.

She wriggled out of Pei Shizi's arms: "I'm not scared at all. I was just a little dazed. Luckily, A-Jian was quick-witted and drugged my second cousin, so he didn't have time to do anything to me."

When Pei Dongzhou's gaze fell on the ambiguous mark on Shen Shuyi's neck, a dark look flashed in his eyes.

Shen Shu noticed that Prince Pei was staring intently at her neck. She remembered that it was left by A-Jian, and now she really couldn't explain it. She couldn't very well tell Prince Pei that she had done it herself.

Fine, since Pei Er treated her like this, he should also experience what it feels like to be wronged by Pei Shizi.

"I'm really fine, cousin, don't worry. I won't be sad for someone like my second cousin," Shen Shuyi said with a smile.

Pei Dongzhou pinched her cheek: "Nanzhou was in the wrong. He should apologize to his cousin."

“There’s no need for an apology that isn’t sincere. Second cousin won’t think he’s done anything wrong. Anyway, I don’t want to see second cousin. Cousin, take him away.” Shen Shuyi looked at Pei Nanzhou lying on the ground.

Pei Dongzhou said, "He won't wake up anytime soon, so why don't I take my cousin out of the Marquis's residence for a good meal?"

Shen Shuyi knew that Prince Pei thought she had really been taken advantage of by Pei Nanzhou and was in a bad mood, so he wanted to take her out to relax.

"I'm really fine, Cousin Prince, you can rest assured. I'm not the kind of person who keeps things bottled up. Just take Second Cousin with you, Cousin Prince, you don't need to worry about me." Shen Shuyi didn't want to leave the Marquis's residence with Prince Pei.

The fact that she and Prince Pei were to be betrothed was already common knowledge throughout the capital. If she and Prince Pei were to appear on the street together, who knows how many people would stare at them.

If she goes out and wanders around now, wouldn't that just be letting everyone see her and Prince Pei's embarrassing situation?

Seeing that Shen Shuyi was unwilling, Pei Dongzhou did not insist any further.

He stayed with Shen Shuyi for another half an hour to make sure she was really alright before taking Pei Nanzhou away.

Pei Nanzhou had no idea how long he had been asleep. When he opened his eyes, he found himself completely soaked. And since it was winter, he was shivering with cold.

The culprit was none other than Prince Pei, who was sitting to the side.

He struggled to his feet and sneered, "Brother, are you going to ruin our brotherhood for your cousin's sake?"

Pei Dongzhou's expression was cold: "Do you know how important a woman's reputation is? You did such a despicable thing to your cousin, and you don't even have the slightest remorse?! Nanzhou, you've always been aloof, how did you become like this?"

Pei Nanzhou used the same old excuse: "My cousin is restless; she seduced Xizhou and now she's seducing my older brother. I just can't stand it..."

"It was my idea to get engaged to my cousin, and it's also because I like her."

Pei Dongzhou's words made Pei Nanzhou's pupils shrink. He looked at Pei Dongzhou in disbelief: "Big brother likes his cousin?!"

“It is I who want to marry my cousin, and it is I who love my cousin. My cousin did not seduce me; it was I who was bewitched. Now what do you have to say?” Pei Dongzhou looked coldly at Pei Nanzhou.

Pei Nanzhou took a while to find his voice: "That's because my cousin seduced my older brother first, so my older brother..."

"You're just being unreasonable. I've said it before, my cousin didn't seduce me. I'm the one who gradually fell for her charms." Pei Dongzhou interrupted Pei Nanzhou's reckless words. "I don't know where your hostility towards my cousin comes from, but she really didn't seduce me. All along, you've been the one in the wrong."

Pei Nanzhou was speechless for a moment.

He couldn't understand why someone like Prince Pei would actually fall for a woman like his cousin. He always thought that his cousin was seducing Prince Pei, and that Prince Pei's irrational behavior was all because he was bewitched by his cousin.

After a long pause, he finally said, "Is it possible that my cousin is too skilled, and I was unconsciously seduced by her...?"

“You have too much prejudice against your cousin! There’s something I want to ask you: why did you take liberties with her? Even if you don’t like her and don’t want her to be involved with me, why did you touch her?!” Pei Dongzhou had been thinking about this question for a while.

It's no wonder he overthinks things. Pei Nanzhou never gets close to women, but today he's acting out of character, trying to force himself on his cousin. This is unlike his usual indifferent nature.

“I thought that if she were tainted, my elder brother wouldn’t marry her,” Pei Nanzhou replied calmly.

"Really?!" Pei Dongzhou scrutinized Pei Nanzhou's expression.

Pei Nanzhou didn't understand why Pei Dongzhou was using such a questioning tone; otherwise, what other reason could there be?

“I have no reason to lie!” Pei Nanzhou said dismissively.

Pei Dongzhou didn't dwell on the topic any longer. He said calmly, "Pei Nanzhou, listen carefully. My cousin is my woman, and from now on she will be your sister-in-law. You are not allowed to disrespect her again. If you dare to treat my cousin lightly again, I won't forgive you!"

Pei Nanzhou sneered upon hearing this: "She's not even married yet, and she's already protecting him? Does Big Brother really think Mother would agree to let his cousin into our Pei family?!"

"The wife I marry is someone I'll live with. What does it have to do with my mother? I'll marry whoever I like without my mother's permission," Pei Dongzhou said, looking at Qingzhu.

Qingzhu understood and brought a bucket of ice water to Pei Nanzhou: "Second Young Master, please forgive me."

Before Pei Nanzhou could react, a bucket of ice water was poured over him, chilling him to the bone.

Pei Dongzhou walked slowly to Pei Nanzhou, his tone icy: "This is your punishment for disrespecting your cousin. If you dare to disrespect her again, a bucket of ice water won't be enough."

Pei Nanzhou found it hard to believe that Pei Dongzhou would treat his own brother like this for the sake of Shen Shuyi.

He struggled to his feet: "What kind of bewitching drug did my cousin give my brother that made him betray his own brother for a woman?!"

“Anyone who does something wrong must be punished, even brothers. This is the first and last time. You are not allowed to disrespect your cousin again! Go back now.” Pei Dongzhou said, dismissing him.

Pei Nanzhou smiled instead of getting angry: "Brother, you can rest assured. I will definitely treat my cousin well from now on."

(End of this chapter)