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

Chapter 252 A Plea for a Marriage
"Zhichun caused you and your husband to miss out on your own child for many years. Don't you hate him?" Emperor Jinglong said sarcastically.

Marquis Pingyang quickly put on a smiling face: "Of course not! It is the duty of a subject to raise the imperial heir for Your Majesty. I am overjoyed."

As he spoke, he stabbed Zhang.

Zhang felt bitter inside, but she still replied against her conscience, "What the Marquis says is true. It is my honor to raise the imperial heir."

The old lady promptly chimed in, "Indeed! Nanzhou has been well-behaved and sensible since childhood, never causing us any worry. I love this child from the bottom of my heart, and I hope Your Majesty will understand!"

Aside from the recent chaos that has caused everyone to overlook Nan Zhou's feelings, the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion has never mistreated Nan Ge'er.

Emperor Jinglong was not an unreasonable person. After reprimanding everyone in the Marquis's residence, he calmly said, "Since Nanzhou is the heir to the throne, he must be recognized as a member of the royal family. It is not appropriate for him to continue living in the Marquis's residence. Since his residence has not yet been decided, he will temporarily stay at the Li residence for a while."

Upon hearing this, Pei Xizhou was so shocked that he blurted out, "Second brother is going to stay at his cousin's house?!"

In an instant, everyone looked at Pei Nanzhou.

Emperor Jinglong immediately sensed something was amiss: "Is there something wrong with this?"

Everyone in the Hou family felt this was inappropriate. Pei Nanzhou had clearly gone to live in the Li family because of Yi-jie'er; he was trying to take advantage of his proximity.

But he's the emperor's son, and his status is different now. It's no use if they don't approve of Pei Nanzhou's actions.

Zhang looked at Pei Nanzhou with a scrutinizing gaze.

Now that she knows Pei Nanzhou is Pei Zhichun's child, she will definitely side with her own flesh and blood and hope that Dongge'er and Yijie'er can get married.

Yi Jie'er was originally Dong Ge'er's fiancée. It's not right to steal her son's wife just because Nan Ge'er became the emperor's son.

This is not possible.

She blurted out, "May Your Majesty grant me this marriage?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Nanzhou looked at Zhang Shi and instantly understood what she wanted to do.

Emperor Jinglong was somewhat surprised: "What kind of bestowed marriage?"

"It's like this: back then, Zhichun switched three children, changing their fates. Now, Lord Li holds a grudge against the Pei family and doesn't want Yi'er to marry Dong'er. But Dong'er is innocent; he loves Yi'er and they were about to get married, but because of Yi'er's background, the marriage is on hold. Zhichun was the one who switched the children, yet Lord Li blames Dong'er—how can this be? Furthermore, Dong'er and Yi'er are in love; could Your Majesty grant this couple their wish?"

Emperor Jinglong recalled the image of Shen Shuyi and Pei Dongzhou standing together and felt that they were indeed a perfect match.

Moreover, Pei Dongzhou had told him about Shen Shuyi's elopement last time. Now that she's been found and the marriage is in jeopardy again, Pei Dongzhou must be the one who suffers the most.

Given that the Pei family helped him raise Zhichun and his child, this favor could be granted.

Just as he was about to agree to the marriage decree, Pei Nanzhou suddenly knelt down in front of him: "Your subject also wishes to have the Emperor grant you a marriage decree!"

Emperor Jinglong looked at Pei Nanzhou with puzzlement: "Which family's girl have you taken a fancy to?"

Everyone in the Pei family looked at Pei Nanzhou, thinking he was incredibly cunning.

Yes, recently the whole capital has been buzzing about Pei Zhichun switching three children. Could it be that Pei Nanzhou was behind it?
They felt that this was very much in line with Pei Nanzhou's style of doing things, and that Pei Nanzhou also had such a motive.

The premise is that Pei Nanzhou knows he is the emperor's child.

Ziyu, being someone in the know, must have told Pei Nanzhou about this. Everyone looked at Pei Nanzhou, who calmly said, "Your Majesty, I love my cousin and wish to marry her. I hope you will grant my request!"

He didn't want to rush things and wanted to bring it up again in a few days.

But Zhang was ruthless; she suddenly arranged for the emperor to bestow a marriage upon him. How could he possibly be content to lag behind?

He returned to his ancestral home so he could marry his cousin; he couldn't let Pei Dongzhou beat him to it.

"Who is this cousin you're talking about?" Emperor Jinglong told himself he was overthinking it.

But the expressions on everyone's faces in the Pei family told him that it was just as he had guessed.

"Your subject wishes to marry Cousin Shen!" Pei Nanzhou said resolutely.

Emperor Jinglong was speechless for a moment, never expecting that his newly found son would actually try to steal a woman from Pei Dongzhou.

Speaking of which, he was deeply impressed by Shen Shuyi. She was indeed a very likable girl. But there are so many girls in the world, why is he fixated on the same one?
"The marriage between Dongge'er and Yijie'er has caused quite a stir, and many people have attended their engagement banquet. Everyone knows that Yijie'er and Dongge'er are a perfect match. I hope Your Majesty will see the truth!" Zhang Shi said to Emperor Jinglong immediately upon hearing Pei Nanzhou's shameless words.

Dongge works in the yamen. If Nange were to snatch Yijie away, who knows what kind of madness he would go through.

Even though Pei Nanzhou is the emperor's son, she will definitely help Dongge'er in this matter.

Even though Dongge'er isn't here, she, as his mother, will fight for him to the very end.

She raised Pei Nanzhou for so many years, and this is how he repays her kindness? He wants to steal her son's wife? She won't allow it!
Emperor Jinglong now knows why Pei Nanzhou wanted to move into Li Yun's residence; it turns out it was for Shen Shuyi.

He remembered that Li Yi, that good-for-nothing, was also interested in Shen Shuyi, but things calmed down later because Pei Dongzhou and Shen Shuyi were getting married.

Now, even the child he just found is interested in Shen Shuyi.

What kind of magic does Shen Shuyi possess?
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Emperor Jinglong naturally knew that this matter required careful consideration.

"I will not interfere in this matter. Whoever can marry Miss Shen will have the ability to do so," Emperor Jinglong said calmly.

He couldn't possibly steal a minister's fiancée just to help his son, could he? Although he was old, he wasn't so senile as to be that senile.

Pei Nanzhou lowered his eyelids; it would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed.

He had even wondered if it would be easier for him to snatch his cousin away from Pei Dongzhou if he were a prince. Now it seems that the emperor treats even his own son no differently.

The so-called guilt is worthless.

Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. Dong-ge'er and Yi-jie'er had a good relationship, so it wouldn't be so easy for Pei Nanzhou to take them away.

As long as the emperor doesn't grant the marriage, given Dongge'er's abilities, his chances of marrying Yijie'er are definitely greater than Pei Nanzhou's.

Before leaving the Marquis's residence, Pei Nanzhou knelt before the Marquis of Pingyang and Madam Zhang, and solemnly kowtowed several times: "Your son thanks Father and Mother for raising you all these years!"

Marquis Pingyang dared not let Prince Pei Nanzhou kneel before him. He quickly stepped forward to help Pei Nanzhou up, saying, "Even if you no longer live in the Marquis's residence, you can always come back to visit. The Marquis's residence will always be your home."

He had raised the child to adulthood, only to find out in the end that the child was being raised for His Majesty. He felt deeply saddened.

(End of this chapter)