While the Shen siblings were talking inside the house, Pei Zhixuan had just returned to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.

After sending Shen Yunjiao back to her room yesterday, he turned around and went to find Fang Ziyu.

Unexpectedly, Fang Ziyu disappeared without a trace in just a short while.

Pei Zhixuan searched all night and finally found Fang Ziyu, who was in tears, in an abandoned temple by the river at dawn.

He brought Fang Ziyu back to his residence, and only then did he have a moment to close his eyes and rest for a while.

Just as they had rested for a short while, Ping An rushed over to report: "Your Highness, the young mistress's brother, Lord Shen, has arrived. From what I can hear, he seems to be preparing to take the young mistress back to the Shen residence for a short stay."

"She wants to go back to the Shen family?" Pei Zhixuan's eyes turned cold, and he was instantly wide awake.

—

Shen Yunjiao packed a few pieces of seasonal clothing, some medical books she usually read, and some of her favorite snacks.

There were three or four wooden crates.

Shen Qinghuai teased her, "Why don't you just move your whole courtyard away?"

Fu Xia and Granny Lin, who were standing nearby, covered their mouths and chuckled upon hearing this. Granny Lin even said, "Young master doesn't know, Miss is becoming more and more spoiled."

"It's alright. Even if she wants mountains of gold and silver, our Shen family has plenty." Shen Qinghuai displayed the domineering demeanor typical of an elder brother.

These words happened to fall into the ears of Pei Zhixuan, who had just stepped into the inner room of Chunhe Hall.

Pei Zhixuan was very unhappy.

The Shen family spoiled Shen Yunjiao, which is why she was raised in such a luxurious and extravagant manner.

"Brother-in-law, it's been a long time." Pei Zhixuan's cool voice came from the doorway.

He was dressed in a long blue robe, with a white jade pendant of mandarin ducks hanging at his waist. His figure was as upright as a pine tree, and his features were exquisite. He exuded an air of nobility and elegance.

When Pei Zhixuan stepped into the house, the first thing he saw was Shen Yunjiao's overflowing luggage.

The entire house was clean and spacious, indicating that Shen Yunjiao likely intended to leave for a long time.

Pei Zhixuan tried his best to suppress the gloom in his heart.

When Shen Qinghuai saw Pei Zhixuan, he was first stunned, and then his expression became somewhat indifferent. "Your Highness, it has been two years since we last met, since you married my sister."

Pei Zhixuan could sense the anger hidden in Shen Qinghuai's words.

He frowned, ignoring Shen Qinghuai, and instead said to Shen Yunjiao beside him, "I heard from the servants that you are planning to leave the Shen residence?"

Shen Yunjiao also expected that Pei Zhixuan had come for this matter.

She nodded. "I plan to go back to my residence today to visit my father."

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhixuan pursed his thin lips.

But he didn't move an inch, as if blocking their way and preventing them from leaving.

Shen Qinghuai was furious at his cold attitude.

He couldn't help but loudly rebuke Pei Zhixuan, "Since Your Highness doesn't take care of my sister, I naturally have to take her home."

When Shen Yunjiao saw it, she noticed that Shen Qinghuai's forehead veins were about to burst.

Shen Qinghuai, a composed and calm young master from a prestigious family, got so angry over his younger sister.

A warm feeling welled up in her heart, and for the first time, Shen Yunjiao experienced the feeling of someone standing up for her.

However, Shen Qinghuai angered Pei Zhixuan because of this, which was not worth it.

Let me explain it myself.

So Shen Yunjiao said, "I'll be back in two or three days."

"No way." Pei Zhixuan refused coldly without even thinking.

Shen Qinghuai pulled Shen Yunjiao aside and raised an eyebrow at Pei Zhixuan.

"Does our Shen family need your approval, a mere censor from the Censorate, to bring people here? Don't forget, my father is the Grand Secretary of Dayong!"

“That’s exactly why I disagree.” Pei Zhixuan smiled sarcastically upon hearing this. “The Prime Minister has a great reputation. If his daughter keeps wanting to go back to her parents’ home, what do you think the officials of the court will think?”

Pei Zhixuan's tone was so cold it sent chills down one's spine.

But what he said was true. Women from Dayong were generally not allowed to return to their parents' home casually, except during festivals or when there was an emergency.

Shen Qinghuai looked at him with a deep gaze: "Are you threatening me? Let me tell you, when has our Shen family ever been afraid of other people's opinions? My sister has been wronged in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, and as her elder brother, I will definitely bring her home today."

Pei Zhixuan's dark eyes remained completely unmoved.

He looked directly at Shen Qinghuai and said, "If Shen Yunjiao wants to go back, I can wait until the Dragon Boat Festival when she returns to her parents' home, and then I will go back with her."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao almost laughed in anger.

Just kidding, it's only the end of March!

"Pei Zhixuan, wouldn't it be better to let me go back for a few days? Don't you have Miss Fang with you?"

Song Qinghuai chuckled softly, his voice tinged with coldness. "It seems the young master already has a beautiful woman by his side. How about this: you petition the Emperor for a divorce, and my sister will leave the Duke's mansion immediately."

Let's all part ways amicably.

Shen Yunjiao secretly gave her elder brother a thumbs up, and then looked at Pei Zhixuan: "My brother is right. You're going to marry Miss Fang next month, so why don't you divorce me this month?"

Pei Zhixuan looked at the brother and sister who were playing along and sneered, "I've already said that I won't bring up the matter of divorce."

Shen Yunjiao was also furious, "Then you have the heart to see Miss Fang heartbroken?"

Pei Zhixuan paused for a moment and then said, "I already comforted her last night."

"It is perfectly normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines."

Pei Zhixuan stared intently at Shen Yunjiao and deliberately uttered those words.

He didn't know why, but he just wanted to see her jealous and fighting for him.

But it was obvious that Shen Yunjiao was not saddened when she heard him say that; her eyes only showed disdain.

Shen Yunjiao's lips twitched slightly.

Anyone who can say that is a complete scumbag. Shen Yunjiao felt sorry for the original owner of this body. How could she have wasted her youth and life on such a scumbag?

At this moment, Chen lost her patience and tried to walk past Pei Zhixuan to leave, but he grabbed her arm.

Upon seeing this scene, Shen Qinghuai shouted, "How dare you lay a hand on my sister?"

He clenched his fist, as if he was about to smash it into Pei Zhixuan's face at any moment.

However, Pei Zhixuan's handsome face showed no sign of fear.

He didn't care about Shen Qinghuai, but turned his head slightly and his gaze fell on Shen Yunjiao's small face.

"You can't leave."

Shen Yunjiao was so annoyed that she didn't even lift her eyelids. She casually said, "You can stay, but don't marry Fang Ziyu."

"I—" Pei Zhixuan was about to speak when she interrupted him, "I know without you saying that His Highness cannot do it."

"Your Highness, when you were thinking about Miss Fang yesterday, you probably didn't care at all whether I fell into the water or not, or whether I felt unwell or not."

“But you said I could leave,” Pei Zhixuan said slowly.

A flicker of fire seemed to dance in Shen Yun's eyes, and her words sounded somewhat intense, "I told you I was fine, and you immediately rushed to find Fang Ziyu. Do you know that I developed a high fever in the middle of the night and couldn't even find a doctor..."

"May I ask where Your Highness was at that time? I waited all night, but I couldn't see a trace of Your Highness."

"Your Highness, do you know that last night I truly experienced the feeling of utter despair, the greatest sorrow is a broken heart?"

Pei Zhixuan's expression changed drastically.

What was he doing last night?

He was gently comforting Fang Ziyu at the time, and of course he did not expect that Shen Yunjiao, who was weak, would be triggered by the ice water and develop a high fever.

He never expected that Shen Yunjiao would wait for him all night, just like on their wedding day.

A dull pain came from my chest.

Pei Zhixuan opened his mouth, but found that he could not explain anything, so he could only let go of Shen Yunjiao's arm.

Shen Yunjiao was faking it, of course. Although she had a fever last night, she slept like a log.

Seeing Pei Zhixuan's heartbroken expression, Shen Yunjiao gave him a subtle look, and Shen Qinghuai pushed Pei Zhixuan's shoulder away.

Pei Zhixuan remained silent, but did not stop him further.

Just as Shen Yunjiao was secretly excited about finally being able to escape the Pei family, a flustered maid suddenly rushed into the courtyard to deliver a message.

"It's terrible! Your Highness, the Young Madam, and the Duchess have all fainted!"