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

Chapter 299 The Incident Reached the Emperor
“Nanzhou is just trying to ruin the relationship between my wife and me. Don’t fall for it, my wife.” Pei Dongzhou took Shen Shuyi’s hand and said to Qingyun, “Take the people that Nanzhou sent over back to his palace.”

Qingyun whispered back, "The two palace maids said that when the Second Young Master sent the person over, he said that if the Young Master didn't accept him, they would also lose their lives when they returned."

"This is a matter for Nanzhou. They are also people of Nanzhou. Their deaths are their deaths. What does it have to do with me?!" Pei Dongzhou said with a sneer. "It would be perfect to let His Majesty see how Nanzhou operates. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Shen Shuyi frowned upon hearing this.

Although she felt that human life was cheap in ancient times, she was not a saint and naturally would not protect the two palace maids.

Just as Qingyun was about to leave, Shen Shuyi suddenly spoke up: "Qingyun, wait a moment!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Dongzhou looked at Shen Shuyi and asked, "What does my cousin want to do?"

Could it be that she wants those two palace maids to stay?

If that's the case, he'll definitely... make a scene with her!

Qingyun also assumed that Shen Shuyi had the same idea, and subconsciously glanced at the young master's gloomy face.

“I have a feeling that my second cousin’s sudden sending of two palace maids is not simple. We should be careful. Speaking of which, my second cousin knows the young master’s temperament. Why did he go to the trouble of sending them here? In any case, we should be careful when sending them away and not let them die in our Marquis’s mansion,” Shen Shuyi said solemnly.

Pei Dongzhou was taken aback upon hearing this, and felt that his cousin's words made a lot of sense.

We can't look at Pei Nanzhou with the same mindset as before. Perhaps Pei Nanzhou's intentions are not just to annoy him.

“I will go with you,” Pei Dongzhou said solemnly.

Shen Shuyi also said, "I'll go take a look too."

Pei Dongzhou, of course, did not stop them, and the couple followed behind Qingyun, intending to spy on him secretly.

Qingyun went to the two palace maids and conveyed Pei Dongzhou's message. The two maids seemed to realize something, and their expressions suddenly changed.

One of the palace maids suddenly went mad and tried to crash into the stone pillar.

Qingyun was prepared and stopped him in time, but unexpectedly, the other one also suddenly committed suicide. This time, it was Pei Dongzhou who stopped him.

After stopping the two palace maids from taking any drastic action, Shen Shuyi walked up to them and asked, "Why did you want to kill yourselves?"

One of the palace maids with a pointed face sobbed uncontrollably: "If we are sent back, we will be pushed into a snake pit. It would be better to just kill ourselves and die a quick death."

Shen Shuyi's eyes flickered slightly, and she suddenly looked at Pei Dongzhou.

The couple seemed to understand each other perfectly. Pei Dongzhou said, "I can save you from such a tragic end, but you need to have enough courage. Of course, you also have the freedom to choose."

The two palace maids replied in unison, "We will obey the young master's orders."

Shen Shuyi pulled Pei Dongzhou aside, saying, "Could this be a scheme within a scheme? What if they change their minds at the last minute before the Emperor and turn around and accuse the Crown Prince's cousin..."

Pei Dongzhou smiled in a deep voice upon hearing this.

Shen Shuyi punched him: "I know I'm paranoid, what's so funny?"

Pei Dongzhou stared at her intently for a long while before saying, "I just think my wife is very intelligent, with a very clever and insightful mind." What his cousin thought of, he naturally thought of as well; the two of them were of one mind, and he was simply happy.

"Don't worry, my lady. I know what I'm doing and I'm mentally prepared." Pei Dongzhou squeezed Shen Shuyi's hand and then led two palace maids into the palace.

Emperor Jinglong had indeed been neglecting Pei Dongzhou recently. Upon hearing that Pei Dongzhou was requesting an audience, his eyes flickered slightly, but he still allowed Pei Dongzhou into the Southern Study.

After Pei Dongzhou entered with two palace maids, he went straight to the point, adding at the end: "This humble subject truly does not know how to handle this matter, which is why I came to the palace. I hope Your Majesty can make a decision for this humble subject."

Emperor Jinglong's expression darkened as he glanced at the two palace maids: "Is what Minister Pei said true?"

The sharp-faced palace maid suddenly retorted, "This is baseless. The prince sent us to the Marquis's residence only because the young master didn't have any capable maids to serve him. It was a kind gesture, but the young master made a big fuss about it and falsely accused the prince."

Upon witnessing this scene, Emperor Jinglong glared at Pei Dongzhou and demanded, "Minister Pei, what exactly is going on?!"

Pei Dongzhou also looked astonished. He knelt before the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, every word I have said is true. These two palace maids clearly tried to kill themselves when they were at the Marquis's residence. I took pity on them and wanted to save their lives, but who knew that they would turn around and accuse me when they arrived before the emperor. There is only one possibility left: this is a scheme within a scheme by the Prince of Zhao!"

Emperor Jinglong's eyes flickered slightly.

In the past, he probably wouldn't have believed Pei Dongzhou's words, but things are different now.

Ever since he started to suspect Pei Nanzhou, he has been able to think of everything in a complicated way.

At this moment, two palace maids also knelt down before the emperor and said, "It is clearly the young master who has framed the prince. We beg Your Majesty to make a wise judgment."

Pei Dongzhou sneered, "You accuse me of framing Prince Zhao. May I ask why I would do such a thankless task? Since you were given to me by Prince Zhao, I could have simply sent you away from the Marquis's residence. Why bring you into the palace? If it weren't for my kind-hearted cousin's reluctance to see you die unjustly, I wouldn't have needed to bring you into the palace. Who knew that my good intentions would be repaid with such kindness, that you would actually join forces with Prince Zhao to frame me!"

At this point, he turned to Emperor Jinglong and said, "Your Majesty is wise; please grant me this humble servant's request!"

What does it matter what the truth is?

Even though this was a scheme within a scheme by Pei Nanzhou, it had already brought them to Emperor Jinglong's side.

Emperor Jinglong's paranoia was so deep that, regardless of who was right or wrong in this matter, he would ultimately only suspect Pei Nanzhou. As for Pei Nanzhou, this unfavored minister, he would not gain anything from this matter, and Emperor Jinglong would not risk his life for such an unresolved case. That was enough.

This battle will only make Emperor Jinglong more suspicious of Pei Nanzhou's deep scheming and ambition for the throne.

Emperor Jinglong remained expressionless and said calmly, "Minister Pei is still too young and acts too rashly. You may step down."

Pei Dongzhou opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end he pretended to swallow his anger and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."

As he passed by the two palace attendants, he said calmly, "Go back and tell King Zhao that there's no point in making things difficult for me like this."

These words were deliberately said for Emperor Jinglong to hear.

Without waiting for the two palace maids to speak again, he quickly walked away.

Shen Shuyi was waiting in the Marquis's residence when she saw Pei Dongzhou return. She quickly went up to him and asked, "How did it go?"

“My cousin is intelligent, and I think the same way as her. However, Nanzhou has done too much. I think His Majesty suspects Nanzhou, but on the surface he still protects Nanzhou and reprimands me for being reckless,” Pei Dongzhou replied cheerfully.

(End of this chapter)