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

Chapter 279 That Refined Scoundrel's Demeanor
Worried that someone might overhear, Shen Shuyi quickly covered Pei Dongzhou's mouth: "Ancestor, please keep your voice down. If others hear this and it gets back to His Majesty, things will get complicated!"

How could a mere subject like himself discuss the emperor's private affairs?

The moment Shen Shuyi covered Pei Dongzhou's mouth, he felt the fragrance of his wife's delicate hands. He couldn't help but pull her into his arms and said in a muffled voice, "I'm angry, my wife, please coax me."

Unable to bear Pei Shizi's persistent pestering, Shen Shuyi gently pushed him away, saying, "Can't you be serious for once? We're outside right now."

Still in the carriage, surrounded by people.

This wasn't the style just now. How did Prince Pei manage to act coquettishly towards a woman without changing his expression?

"Can't you coax your husband a little, my wife?" Pei Dongzhou brought his face close to Shen Shuyi's.

Shen Shuyi had no choice but to give him a perfunctory kiss on the cheek: "There's still a long way to go to the hunting grounds. You know I'm delicate, can you let me sleep for a while?"

Although Pei Dongzhou was dissatisfied with his cousin's lack of genuine affection for him, he still decided to respect his wife's wishes and put her back in her original position.

Shen Shuyi lay back on the bed, sighed contentedly, but then met Pei Dongzhou's resentful little eyes.

She had wanted to ask him if he wanted to sleep together for a while, but the space in the carriage was limited no matter how big it was, so she gave up on the idea.

Pei Dongzhou watched as Shen Shuyi drifted off to sleep, completely ignoring her husband's life or death, and finally resigned himself to his fate.

He realized that while his cousin did have a place for him in her heart, it wasn't much. Furthermore, with Pei Nanzhou still eyeing him covetously, he felt he had to be extremely vigilant and absolutely couldn't let Pei Nanzhou have the chance to steal her away.

By the way, His Highness the Crown Prince's carriage seemed to be very close to them just now.

Thinking of this, Pei Dongzhou lifted the curtain, only to meet Pei Nanzhou's eyes.

The other party was staring intently at their carriage.

Upon seeing him, Pei Nanzhou took the initiative to greet him: "How about I switch carriages with my elder brother?"

Pei Dongzhou cursed his bad luck, lowered the curtain, and ignored it.

He glanced at Shen Shuyi, who was fast asleep, and wondered why he had brought his cousin out. It would only give Pei Nanzhou a chance to get close to her.

The hunting grounds are different from other occasions, and he can't keep an eye on his cousin all the time. What if Pei Nanzhou takes advantage of the situation and takes his cousin away?

Shen Shuyi was fast asleep and unaware of Pei Dongzhou's worries.

When she woke up, she was already in the hunting grounds.

As she stepped off the carriage, looking refreshed, Xia Nianchu was just getting off Li's carriage, looking quite tired.

The moment Xia Nianchu saw Shen Shuyi, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

She is clearly the favored concubine, and the best things should be given to her. Why is it so difficult for her to get a carriage?
Shen Shuyi was merely the wife of the heir apparent, yet the carriage she rode in was even more luxurious than that of her, a favored concubine, which greatly displeased her.

Shen Shuyi certainly sensed the female lead's resentful gaze, but she pretended not to see it.

She couldn't understand it either. Since the female lead had become a favored concubine, had the emperor's love, and the support of the masses, what more could she want?

Surely the female lead can't possibly still have designs on her man, right?
Thinking of this, she looked at Pei Dongzhou, who had broad shoulders and long legs.

To be honest, her man was indeed outstanding. His face, his physique, and especially that refined yet roguish charm in bed—it was incredibly alluring. Even now, with his gentle and gentlemanly demeanor, it made one want to rip his clothes off…

Sensing the strange look in Shen Shuyi's eyes, Pei Dongzhou asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Why are you looking at him like that, as if he were a scoundrel? What despicable thing has he done that makes your cousin dislike him?

Shen Shuyi clicked her tongue lightly and shook her head secretly: "It's nothing."

When a man is too outstanding, he is more likely to attract unwanted attention.

The female lead initially had many designs on the Pei brothers, with the heir apparent being her primary target. However, the heir apparent proved too difficult to deal with, so she later opted to target the other Pei brothers instead.

Even though the female lead has now become the emperor's woman, and the emperor was undoubtedly a handsome man in his youth, he is still getting old. It is understandable that the female lead still desires the young and handsome male lead.

“My lady, please explain yourself. Why are you looking at me with such strange eyes?” Pei Dongzhou couldn’t understand the way Shen Shuyi was looking at him.

He's not a jerk; he's never done anything to wrong her.

"Your Highness, be careful. It seems Consort Li has designs on you," Shen Shuyi said in a low voice.

She suddenly remembered the time when she and the female lead conspired to get close to Pei Dongzhou, and now she felt that she had gone a bit too far.

Unexpectedly, she even managed to seduce Prince Pei.

Pei Dongzhou was shocked to hear this from Shen Shuyi, and his expression faltered: "Madam is overthinking things!!!"

“Your Highness, you’re right to believe me. Consort Li is clearly jealous of me, which is why she’s targeting me at every turn.” As she spoke, Shen Shuyi deliberately took Pei Dongzhou’s arm under the heroine’s watchful gaze.

Since the female lead is jealous of her, let the female lead be even more jealous.

Madam Li also noticed Xia Nianchu's unusual behavior. She earnestly advised, "Consort Li is now a favored concubine, doted on by His Majesty. Yi'er is now the Heir Apparent's wife, and Dong'er is very happy. The situation at the Marquis of Pingyang's residence is very favorable. Consort Li should cultivate good relations with the Marquis of Pingyang's residence and get along peacefully with Yi'er..."

"Do I need my aunt to teach me how to do things?!" Xia Nianchu impatiently interrupted Li Shi's lecture.

Li was immediately displeased when Xia Nianchu scolded her.

Back then, Xia Nianchu came to her seeking refuge, simply wanting to marry into a good family. Later, when she set her sights on the Pei brothers, wasn't she always helping them?

Now that she's become a favored concubine, she still wants to oppose the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, even coveting Dong-ge'er and opposing Yi-jie'er. Such a person forgets her roots once she gains power.

Being a favored concubine now is alright, at least it won't implicate the Li family.

I fear that if I act improperly in the future, I will be disliked by His Majesty, and the Li family will also be implicated.

She was a married woman, but she still cared about her family and naturally didn't want the Li family to be implicated by Xia Nianchu one day.

"Your Majesty must remember one thing: serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. Your Majesty's rise to prominence is due to your own abilities, and I do not expect to benefit from it. But if Your Majesty were to fall from grace one day, please do not implicate the Li family." Madam Li spoke gently and softly.

Xia Nianchu's expression changed drastically upon hearing this: "Is my aunt really so materialistic?"

"What I've said is merely the truth, and I hope Your Majesty can heed it. Your Majesty should know that nothing lasts forever, and it's best to act with caution," Lady Li continued, disregarding everything else.

(End of this chapter)