Chapter 264

Chapter 264 Being Implicated and Discredited

The assassins had yet to be found out. Everyone in the capital was trying to find out who launched the assassination, but it was too difficult.

The assassins had all escaped unscathed. Just as the guards were about to attack them with all their might, they all escaped.

The Crown Prince and Lord Jing were both safe and sound, so many people thought that there was something strange about the assassination. Some people even thought that it was related to the Crown Prince and Lord Jing.

After all, the previous assassination involved Lord Yun, so it was possible that the Crown Prince and Lord Jing planned this assassination to purge themselves of suspicion regarding the previous assassination.

Otherwise, why couldn’t an assassin be caught? The injured assassin was taken away. The only one who was hurt was a woman in the Crown Prince Mansion. The one in Lord Jing Mansion did not even have a title.

Because of the assassination, the fact that Qu Caiyue had entered Lord Jing Mansion was publicized. Previously, in order to keep a low profile, she was carried into Lord Jing Mansion by a small sedan. Now, most people knew about it.

Qu Mansion was being discussed again. Some aristocratic madams secretly despised Qu Mansion, thinking that Qu Mansion’s ladies were really not up to much.

Later, there were rumors spread from the Ji Family’s servants and some pilgrims, saying that Third Lady Qu, who was close to Lord Jing, colluded with a group of scoundrels to harm Fourth Lady Qu in Dabei Temple and that Third Lady Qu was so frivolous that she met a man outside in the middle of the night.

The more the rumor spread, the worse it became.

The reputation of Qu Mansion’s ladies was almost ruined. People thought Qu Qiuyan was not a decent lady, and neither was Qu Moying. Otherwise, how could Qu Moying always be involved in Qu Qiuyan’s matters?

Members of a noble family were always interrelated. Whoever surnamed Qu was considered ill-bred, no matter whether she was innocent or not.

Thus, some people said that it was lucky for Marquis Yongning’s Mansion to cancel the marriage with Qu Moying because it was not a good thing to marry someone from Qu Mansion.

Noble families didn’t want their sons to marry women from Qu Mansion.

Qu Xuexin’s reputation was also implicated. It was even more difficult for her to get married. In the past, she went on a blind date from time to time, but now, she didn’t go out. Every time when people saw her in the Old Lady’s place, she had a sad face.

The older she was, the harder it was for her to get married.

Apart from this, Qu Mansion had been very peaceful recently. Ever since Yu’s incident, Aunty Hai Lan had not appeared in front of anyone. As for what Yu had done before, everyone took it as a farce. Yu said that Qu Moying made her miscarry, but it was obviously fake, and no one bought her story.

Qu Qiuyan was grounded. She had been copying Buddhist scriptures, and she had been quiet recently.

Qu Mansion seemed to have suddenly quieted down. Qu Mansion’s ladies had a bad reputation, and none of the masters in the mansion looked happy.

Qu Moying had been living a peaceful and leisurely life these days.

Yu and Qu Qiuyan had stopped plotting against her, and Qu Zhizhen rarely appeared. Only Qu Moying and the Old Lady were in West Mansion, so West Mansion became peaceful.

The outside world was in chaos. Everyone was searching for the assassins. The officials were really busy. However, the inner yard was peaceful.

“Since you have taken a fancy to that woman, you can just get her into your mansion. Why didn’t you do anything?” The emperor walked with his hands behind his back. He casually asked Pei Yuanjun, who was next to him. Pei Luo’an, the Crown Prince, was on his other side. Pei Luo’an just smiled quietly and did not speak. He looked warm and kind as usual.

“Your Majesty, I want to wait a little longer.” Pei Yuanjun said indifferently. He smiled gently, but there was a hint of coldness in his smile.

“What are you waiting for? That woman is not young. I think you can marry her now.” The emperor advised. If Pei Yuanjun did not get married, he couldn’t let go of his worries.

“Your Majesty, there’s no hurry. I want to see who else wants to harm her. I’m afraid there are many people who don’t want her to enter my mansion.” Pei Yuanjun said with a faint smile. His indifferent attitude made the emperor speechless.

“You are going to marry her, not to make her a target of your enemies.”

“Your Majesty, there’s no hurry. Since she is my woman, I naturally won’t let others scheme against her. I will watch out for her.”

Pei Yuanjun’s words sounded somewhat affectionate. But looking at his cold eyes, one could tell that he didn’t really mean it.

“She’s the first woman you like. I heard that she has had a sad life. You can’t just leave her there. Vice Minister Qu’s Mansion doesn’t seem to be peaceful.” The emperor was still persuading him with a gentle voice. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

His gentle smile was only for Pei Yuanjun. Pei Luo’an looked up at the emperor, and then immediately lowered his head, feeling a bit angry.

He was the Crown Prince, son of the emperor. Pei Yuanjun was not the son of the emperor. However, the emperor was so good to Pei Yuanjun.

But he did not dare to say anything.

“Your Majesty, I just happened to see a woman whom I’m willing to be with, but she doesn’t have much to do with me now. If she really can’t enter my mansion, or if she is killed because of me, I will definitely seek justice for her. Don’t worry, Your Majesty.”

Pei Yuanjun said indifferently, shaking his long sleeves. He looked at Pei Luo’an and said lazily, “The Crown Princess has passed away. Eastern Palace should have someone to manage the palace. It is better to choose a Crown Princess first.”

Looking at Pei Yuanjun, who deliberately changed the topic and didn’t take what he said to heart, the emperor sighed silently. Pei Yuanjun was no longer a young man, but he was not keen on women, which made the emperor worried. He could understand why there was no woman in charge of Lord Yun Mansion’s inner yard.

Since Pei Yuanjun had finally found a woman he liked, the emperor wanted Pei Yuanjun to get her into his mansion first. After that, he would urge Pei Yuanjun to take a Princess Consort. As long as Pei Yuanjun started to have a woman, the following things would be easy.

Unexpectedly, Pei Yuanjun just casually used the woman as an excuse.

Thinking of this Qu Mansion’s lady being framed and the reputation of Qu Mansion’s ladies in the capital recently, the emperor snorted, and a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes. There was actually someone who cared so much about Lord Yun’s marriage and did not want him to have descendants. He had to investigate this matter thoroughly.

Recently, there were rumors about Qu Mansion’s ladies everywhere in the capital. The emperor had inquired about the reason behind the matter. It seemed that Qu Moying was innocent, but her reputation was implicated. Everyone was saying that Qu Mansion’s ladies were not virtuous.

Was there really not someone who added fuel to the fire on purpose? He could not help but feel a little annoyed.

Although he doted on Pei Yuanjun, Pei Yuanjun did not have any improper thought. Could it be that these people really could not tolerate Pei Yuanjun?

Hearing that he was mentioned, Pei Luo’an hurriedly shook his head and smiled gently. “Uncle Yun’s marriage is important. I still want to be in mourning for the ex-Crown Princess for a while.”

“I’m not in a hurry anyway. I’ve heard that Princess Ji was injured, and no one is in charge of affairs in your mansion now.” Pei Yuanjun said indifferently.

He glanced sideways at Pei Luo’an and continued, “You can’t just let any concubine with a low status manage the inner yard, right?”

Pei Luo’an had always pretended to be affectionate to the ex-Crown Princess, Ji Hanyue, but actually, there were many concubines in his mansion. It was just that they did not have a formal status. Previously, two women dancers almost fought with Ji Youran in Ji Hanyue’s mourning hall. Others did not know about it, but Pei Yuanjun knew it.

As for Ji Youran, it was said that she entered Eastern Palace to serve the ex-Crown Princess. But it didn’t seem to be true. Pei Yuanjun tended to believe that Pei Luo’an had an affair with Ji Youran a long time ago, and the ex-Crown Princess probably could do nothing about it, which was why they got together.

Pei Luo’an pretended to be affectionate to Ji Hanyue, and Ji Youran pretended to be Ji Hanyue’s considerate sister. What an interesting couple! Pei Yuanjun raised his eyes, implying something.

Being ridiculed by Pei Yuanjun, Pei Luo’an blushed. He could not retort but only swallow his anger. He lowered his head and said, “I will wait. I’ll wait a little longer.”

When he said this, he looked sad, and his eyes were red. Whoever looked at him would think that he was affectionate. Who would believe that Pei Luo’an had killed Ji Hanyue?

“Alright, the empress will take care of your matter. She will choose a new Crown Princess for you. As the Crown Prince, how can you have no official wife all the time?” The emperor scolded Pei Luo’an in a low voice.

“Yes, father. It’s all up to you.” Pei Luo’an nodded, no longer trying to explain or refuse.

“Since your Side Princess is injured, haven’t you investigated your mansion? This kind of thing has happened again and again. Have you never thought that there might be assassins in your mansion?” The emperor said as he walked, and he grunted coldly with extreme displeasure.

Pei Luo’an was the Crown Prince, but the Crown Princess died, and his Side Princess was injured now. It was not a good thing. The emperor did not know if it was because the Crown Prince was incompetent or because someone had been targeting him all the time.

“Father, I will do my best to investigate this matter.” Pei Luo’an lowered his head, his back covered in a cold sweat.

“Crown Prince, it is true that you should investigate this matter thoroughly. There was an accident in Lord Jing Mansion, too. A woman accidentally fell into the lake, but it was nothing serious. On the other hand, your mansion made a big fuss over the accident. It’s really worrying. Crown Prince, if you need help, let me know. I will let West Prison investigate. Maybe they can find out something.” Pei Yuanjun said lazily.

West Prison’s people were executioners and Pei Yuanjun’s subordinates. How could Pei Luo’an dare to let them enter the mansion to investigate?

“Thank you very much, Uncle Yun. I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Don’t worry about me.” Pei Luo’an answered carefully, afraid to sound improper in front of Pei Yuanjun.

Fortunately, Pei Yuanjun did not pursue the matter any further. He only smiled and nodded at Pei Luo’an. “Crown Prince, if you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you, Uncle Yun.” Pei Luo’an said hurriedly.

While they were talking, they had arrived at the empress’ Pepper House Hall. Pei Yuanjun stopped and said, “Your Majesty, I will stop here.”

“Are you leaving the palace now?” The emperor frowned.

“I’m not in a hurry to leave. I just want to take a walk in the palace and see if there are any familiar things.” Pei Yuanjun said with a smile.

The emperor had liked Pei Yuanjun since Pei Yuanjun was a kid. He let Pei Yuanjun live in a hall that was almost the same as the other princes’ halls and raised him up in the palace. After Pei Yuanjun grew up, he left the palace and returned to his own mansion, never coming back to live in the palace again.

“Alright, since you want to go take a look, just do it!” The emperor waved his hand.

Pei Yuanjun bowed to the emperor, turned around, and left with his hands behind his back.

The emperor brought Pei Luo’an to Pepper House Hall. The empress had already been informed that they were coming, so she brought palace servants out early to welcome them…