"ah!"

Pei Yin was caught off guard and kicked by Xiao Chengci, falling hard to the ground and nearly gagging in pain.

Pei Yin didn't understand why His Highness the Crown Prince had suddenly become angry.

The commotion inside was so loud that De Shun, who was waiting outside the door, rushed in out of concern.

To De Shun's surprise, there was an extra woman in His Highness's bedchamber.

"Your Highness, I will have her taken away immediately."

This is in a temple, and there's a woman in His Highness's room. What if someone catches them red-handed?

De Shun didn't even dare to think about it before breaking out in a cold sweat.

Xiao Chengci's voice was hoarse, but his eyes were clear: "No need."

De Shun asked with concern, "Your Highness, are you alright?"

"I have nothing to do."

At first, Xiao Chengci really thought he had met Pei Zhi.

But wait for this imposter in front of you to say something like, "Zhizhi will serve you."

Xiao Chengci immediately regained his senses.

Pei Zhi hated him to death. Every time he forced her to serve him before, she was always unwilling.

How could Pei Zhi possibly say such a thing on her own initiative?

"Bring me my sword."

"Your Highness, please reconsider. This is a temple; bloodshed is not a good thing."

Xiao Chengci said sinisterly, "Don't worry, I won't kill her. I'll just cut off her hands and feet and see if she dares to imitate others."

De Shun dared not disobey His Highness's wishes and could only go to retrieve the sword.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yin disregarded the pain in her chest and immediately knelt down on the ground.

"Your Highness, spare my life! I am innocent. It was Consort Shu who arranged for me to come here."

Without a second thought, Pei Yin betrayed Consort Shu.

Xiao Chengci ignored it. To him, it didn't matter who arranged it; the person in front of him had to die.

Xiao Chengci remained silent, which only amplified the pressure on Pei Yin.

She cannot die; she cannot have her hands and feet cut off.

Without her hands and feet, she might as well be dead.

"Your Highness, actually, I am Pei Zhi's older sister. I am Pei Yin from the Duke's Mansion, and I am a member of the Second Prince's harem."

Pei Yin thought, since the Crown Prince is so attached to Pei Zhi.

So, if she reveals her true identity, perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince will show her mercy.

Xiao Chengci scoffed: "So you're the one who, by some twist of fate, has been occupying her identity for over a decade?"

"Your Highness, please see the truth. My daughter is innocent. She was just an infant when things happened."

"You don't need to say these things in front of me; I can't stand hearing them."

Xiao Chengci sat down in a chair and poured himself a cup of tea. "Why don't you tell me what Zhizhi is like in the manor?"

"If it pleases me, I might spare your life."

Pei Yin trembled uncontrollably, "Zhizhi is in the manor...she..."

Pei Yin wanted to tell some interesting stories about Pei Zhi in the mansion, but she found that Pei Zhi was very low-key in her actions.

Except for necessary daily greetings and family dinners.

Pei Zhi usually stays in her own courtyard.

"Zhizhi usually keeps a low profile and likes quiet. Unless necessary, she always stays in the courtyard."

"Liar." Xiao Chengci didn't believe Pei Zhi was being discreet.

If Pei Zhi truly preferred quiet, she wouldn't have gone horseback riding and hunting with Shang Huai.

Pei Zhi disliked life in the Duke's mansion.

Although Pei Zhi was the daughter of the Duke's family, she had lived outside for many years.

Once she was found, she had to keep a low profile and not cause trouble for anyone.

Xiao Chengci held the teacup, but he had never had this thought before.

Regarding Pei Zhi's background, Xiao Chengci felt more regret than anything else, as Pei Zhi was not a legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion.

Otherwise, Pei Zhi would be qualified to be his concubine, and he wouldn't need to ask her to do anything.

But no one ever considered that Pei Zhi would be brought back halfway and that life in the Duke's mansion would be difficult.

"As soon as Zhizhi came back, her mother arranged for her to learn chess from Mr. Yuan. She was very happy and often held the chess manual tightly."

"Tch." Xiao Chengci was no longer willing to listen.

Pei Zhi didn't like learning to play chess at all.

Pei Zhi was unwilling to resist the arrangements made by her family.

She often carried a chess manual in her hand because she didn't study properly, and Mr. Yuan would severely reprimand her.

Thinking about it this way, Mr. Yuan is really going too far. Why is he being so harsh on Pei Zhi?

"Your Highness, where did the sword come from?"

Xiao Chengci took the sword, rubbed it against his hand, and then squatted down. "I will allow you to choose: do you want to cut off the hand first, or the foot first?"

Xiao Chengci's tone suggested it was a bestowal of favor.

But these words, when they reached Pei Yin's ears, were like a death knell.

"Your Highness, spare me! I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong."

Pei Yin lay on the ground, kowtowing frantically, hoping that this would make the Crown Prince show her mercy.

"Since you won't tell me, I'll start with your right hand."

"I heard from Zhizhi that you have beautiful handwriting, so Madam Pei even hired a tutor for you to force you to practice calligraphy."

Xiao Chengci raised his hand, but Pei Yin suddenly screamed.

"Your Highness, I have something else to say!"

Xiao Chengci was no longer willing to waste time on the person in front of him. "I don't have the patience to listen."

Pei Yin hurriedly said, "It's about Pei Zhi!"

Upon hearing Pei Zhi's name, Xiao Chengci put down his sword.

"You'd better tell me something that will interest me."

“I saw a letter His Highness wrote to His Majesty at Consort Shu’s place, in which he wanted to reserve the Empress’s position for Zhizhi.”

“My daughter is Zhizhi’s nominal older sister. If she dies at His Highness’s hands, His Majesty will probably investigate.”

Xiao Chengci didn't understand what Pei Yin was trying to say.

"If His Majesty knew what my daughter had done, he would be utterly disgusted. His Majesty would harbor resentment towards the Duke's Mansion and would certainly not grant Your Highness's request."

De Shun, who was standing to the side, stared wide-eyed. He had been serving the Crown Prince for quite some years.

I met all sorts of people, all kinds of people.

This was the first time De Shun had ever seen someone so suicidal as the girl in front of him.

Pei Yin actually threatened His Highness the Crown Prince.

They still dare to use Pei Zhi to threaten His Highness the Crown Prince; they really have guts.

Fearing the Crown Prince wouldn't believe her, Pei Yin continued, "Your Highness, think about it. Pei Zhi has an older sister like me. How could His Majesty allow Pei Zhi to be buried in the imperial mausoleum? And even let her be remembered in history?"

Xiao Chengci dropped his sword. "Yes, what you said makes a lot of sense. I've really been threatened by you."

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Pei Yin quickly said, "Your Highness, once we're out of this door, I will absolutely not say another word."

"If Your Highness requires it, I am willing to identify Consort Shu for Your Highness's sake. I also know quite a bit about Consort Shu and the Second Prince."

Xiao Chengci feigned surprise, "I didn't expect you to be so useful?"

"If Your Highness needs me, I am willing to go through fire and water for you."

De Shun silently lowered his head. He hadn't seen such a stupid person in a long time. This person was really asking for trouble.