Shuse Jinjia

Pei Yu paused for a moment, then subconsciously shook his head: "There's no grudge between us, why does Bei Yu ask that?"

Huo Beiyu stared at Pei Yu's face from the moment he asked the question. He had been in the army for many years and had interrogated many spies. He could tell that Pei Yu's surprised expression was not feigned.

Duan Chengyu also looked at Huo Beiyu in confusion. What had happened?

Huo Beiyu's intention was to find out the truth, so he told her about Xie Zhaotang's encounter with robbers three days ago.

He concluded, "Pei Yu, I've investigated. The mastermind behind these two beggars is your servant, Shuncheng. I know you; you wouldn't use such methods against a woman without a reason. Isn't there some misunderstanding? That's why I asked you to come to my residence to inquire..."

Pei Yu's face turned ugly. He stood up abruptly, walked to the door, and called out, "Shuncheng, come in."

Shuncheng and Duan Chengyu's servants were chatting outside when they heard their master calling them, so they quickly ran inside.

As soon as he entered the door, Pei Yu kicked him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"You dog of a servant, what have you done? Tell the young marquis everything!"

Pei Yu roared in uncontrollable rage. He knew nothing about this matter, and Shuncheng did it without telling him. This was deceiving his master.

"Young master, what do you want me to explain?"

Shuncheng, unaware that his actions had been exposed, cried out in injustice.

Pei Yu thought he was making excuses, which made him even angrier. He stomped on his waist and abdomen and said fiercely.

"Do I need to remind you about Xie Zhaotang's matter? Tell me honestly, who ordered you to do this? Otherwise, I'll personally take you to the authorities..."

Shuncheng's face turned pale instantly, and he looked at Huo Beiyu in astonishment.

He had already disguised himself, and he escaped in time when the two beggars failed to steal anything. How did they manage to trace it back to him?

Can you deny it?

Huo Beiyu noticed his shifty eyes and guessed what he was thinking, then said coldly.

"Do you think you can deny it just because you've concealed it well enough that the two beggars don't recognize you?"

"If you think that way, you're wrong. The city gate guards remember you when you escaped back to the city... The leather shoes you were wearing were a gift from Pei Yu, and the beggar said that the saddle on your horse was damaged..."

Upon hearing that there was so much evidence proving Huo Beiyu had not wronged Shuncheng, Pei Yu flew into a rage and roared, "Why don't you just confess honestly? Do you really want to be tortured in the government office before you'll talk?"

"You're not afraid of death? Fine, then think of your family. If you die, I'll sell your entire family!"

When Shuncheng saw that Pei Yu was really angry and was about to implicate his family, he panicked and shouted.

"It was the Fourth Miss who instructed me... The Fourth Miss said that Xie Zhaotang was seducing Prince Duan and also you, so she asked me to find two beggars to ruin her reputation and make you all resent her..."

Pei Yu was stunned. It was actually his own sister who instigated it?

He subconsciously looked at Duan Chengyu.

Duan Chengyu was also dumbfounded. Pei Yun was always gentle and virtuous, how could she do such a thing?

"Nonsense! You lackey, you'll really go to great lengths to fabricate stories just to get yourself off the hook!"

Duan Chengyu was stunned for a moment, then angrily retorted, "How could Fourth Miss do such a thing? Don't spout nonsense to get yourself off the hook!"

Pei Yu kicked Shuncheng to the ground and shouted sternly, "Who ordered you to slander the Fourth Miss, you dog slave? Confess who's behind this, or I'll beat you to death!"

Hearing Shuncheng's words, Xie Zhaotang, who was behind the screen, was certain that Pei Yu was unaware of the truth and that Pei Yun was the one behind it all.

Hearing Duan Chengyu and Pei Yu still covering for Pei Yun, she gave a mocking laugh and walked straight out from behind the screen.

"Young Master Duan, Young Master Pei, please don't rush to kill him. I am the aggrieved party. May I ask him a few questions?"

Xie Zhaotang was only being polite verbally; before the two could agree, she stood in front of Shuncheng.

"Shuncheng, putting aside who instigated you, I just want to ask you, why did your fourth young lady accuse me of seducing Prince Duan and Young Master Pei?"

Shuncheng was kicked in the chest by Pei Yu. His internal organs ached, but his heart ached the most. He could tell from Pei Yu's expression that if he didn't explain things clearly today, death would be waiting for him.

He was furious at Pei Yu's heartlessness. When Xie Zhaotang asked him, he angrily said, "Do I need to tell you what sordid things you and Prince Duan did in the carriage that day? Fourth Miss saw it all... She was worried that Prince Duan would take you as a concubine because of this, so she resorted to this drastic measure!"

Huo Beiyu was unaware of this matter. Upon hearing this, he looked at Duan Chengyu and then at Xie Zhaotang with a puzzled expression.

Before Xie Zhaotang could react, Duan Chengyu had already reacted and angrily cursed.

"Nonsense! The Fourth Miss and I were discussing building a pharmaceutical factory in the carriage that day. There was absolutely nothing inappropriate between us. How could Pei Yun make baseless accusations that Xie Zhaotang seduced me!"

"If you, you scoundrel, spout any more nonsense, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!"

Pei Yu added a threat, "Shuncheng, think of your family! How dare you spout such nonsense? I will never let them get away with this!"

Shuncheng clenched his teeth and remained silent.

Xie Zhaotang looked at Pei Yu and Duan Chengyu with a mocking expression and asked, "Are you two determined to protect Pei Yun by threatening a witness in front of me, the aggrieved party?"

"You have power and influence, and I can't fight you head-on, but at least let me die knowing why!"

Huo Ling saw Xie Zhaotang walk out and followed her out. She had already understood and did not want Xie Zhaotang to face it alone.

Seeing that the two of them had come out, Huo Jing followed them out.

Huo Ling sneered, "Young Master Pei, Young Master Duan, I heard them too. Should we silence me as well?"

Duan Chengyu smiled wryly: "Fourth Miss, Xiao Ling, I didn't mean that. I just don't believe Pei Yun would do such a thing. Isn't this confirmation?"

When Pei Yu saw that besides them, Huo Ling, Huo Jing, and Xie Zhaotang were also in the room, he knew that this matter could not be resolved peacefully without clarifying things.

He simply couldn't believe that his gentle and virtuous sister would do such a thing.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and asked, "Shuncheng, I'll give you one more chance. Tell me clearly, who instructed you to harm Fourth Miss? As long as you tell the truth, I won't implicate your family!"

Shuncheng was afraid of dying and blurted out Pei Yun's name in his haste, which was already irreversible. Now, hearing Pei Yu's words, he couldn't believe it.

He looked directly at Huo Beiyu.

Duan Chengyu's heart sank when he saw the look in his eyes. Could it really be Pei Yun who instructed him?

Shuncheng said directly, "Young Marquis, Young Master Duan, you both heard what the young master said. This servant did something wrong, but I was only following orders. My family should not be implicated. This servant hopes to tell the truth so that the Young Marquis and Young Master Duan can ensure the safety of my family..."

Huo Beiyu glanced at Pei Yu and said in a deep voice, "I believe in your young master's character. If he says he won't implicate them, then he won't!"

Shuncheng was relieved. As long as Pei Yu still wanted to be friends with the young marquis, even if he hated him to death, he would not lay a hand on his family again.

"This servant swears that everything I just said is true. It was indeed Fourth Miss Pei Yun who instructed me to do this! Otherwise, why would this servant do this when I have no grudge against Fourth Miss?"

Shuncheng looked at Pei Yu and said excitedly, "Young Master, since I started serving you, I have never had any selfish motives. It was only because the Fourth Miss said she didn't want you and Prince Duan to have a falling out over a woman that I obeyed her orders, thinking of you..."

Pei Yu looked at Shuncheng, speechless.

Shuncheng has been with him since he was seven years old, and he can be sure that Shuncheng is indeed loyal to him. So, was this really something Pei Yun instructed him to do?