Chapter 139 Couldn't you say something nice to comfort me?

"Who's better than whose finger?" Pei Yuan strode in with his hands behind his back, his charming eyes, which seemed to be smiling, sweeping across the entire hall.

The lobby fell into a deathly silence.

The person who had just spoken looked embarrassed and shrank back, not daring to respond.

Xie Qingqiu's expression changed slightly, then he smiled and greeted him, "Your Highness, weren't the Flying Eagle Guards supposed to be busy today? Why are you here at this hour?"

Pei Yuan turned his head and glanced at her, his gaze then falling on the wooden box on the table.

The wooden box contained the Ice Flower Hibiscus Jade Pendant.

He stepped forward, picked up the jade pendant, examined it carefully, then put it in the box and handed it to Chen Chu along with the box.

"This time it's for real. Take it, and don't say I'm lying to you again."

There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, and upon closer listening, there seemed to be a trace of grievance.

A collective gasp filled the hall, and everyone stared at Chen Chu in disbelief.

Shen Chu suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. After hesitating for a moment, she still took the wooden box.

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Xie Qingqiu's eyes. She clenched the handkerchief in her hand to suppress the grievance in her heart, and said with a smile:

"Young Master Shen has asked for the jade pendant several times, which shows that he really has something urgent to attend to. If that's the case, why didn't you explain it to Qingqiu earlier?"

Although His Highness agreed to give the jade pendant as the requested birthday gift, if Lord Shen needs it urgently, His Highness and Qingqiu are both willing to grant his request.

His words were perfectly watertight.

The people in the lobby looked at Chen Chu with a subtle glint in their eyes, and some even whispered among themselves:

"Knowing full well that this is a birthday gift from His Highness to Miss Qingqiu, how dare you, Lord Shen, ask for it back?"

"Young Master Shen seems to be a gentleman, but I never expected him to do something so unbecoming."

Shen Chu tightened her grip on the wooden box and subconsciously looked at Pei Yuan.

This whole thing was a misunderstanding, but while she could explain that the Qinghe Princess's residence had sent the wrong gift and that the Marquis of Changning had taken the jade pendant and sold it privately, the fact remained that she had come to Pei Yuan to ask for the jade pendant back.

If Pei Yuan really agrees to give the jade pendant to Xie Qingqiu, then she will indeed be competing with Xie Qingqiu for the jade pendant.

Pei Yuan frowned slightly, as if he had somehow read Pei Yuan's mind.

This guy still doesn't trust him.

His sharp gaze swept over everyone, and wherever his gaze fell, you could hear a pin drop.

"A tongue is a good thing, but if it grows too long, it will inevitably be annoying. I, the prince, would not mind cutting it off for you all."

A chill ran down everyone's spine, and they all retreated in fright, their hearts filled with even more doubt and unease.

Is the Sixth Prince protecting Lord Shen?

"You said I was going to give the Ice Flower Hibiscus Jade Pendant to Xie Qingqiu as a birthday gift. Did you see me give it to him with your own eyes, or did you hear it with your own ears?"

The crowd exchanged glances, realizing that the Sixth Prince was indeed protecting Lord Shen.

Good heavens, they were just saying that Master Shen is no match for Miss Xie's finger.

Everyone's face turned pale, and someone couldn't help but whisper, "It was Miss Xie who said it herself."

Besides, the Ice Flower Hibiscus Jade Pendant is now in Miss Xie's hands. Could it be that Xie Qingqiu is lying?

Xie Qingqiu's face paled, and she said in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, didn't you promise Qingqiu...?"

Pei Yuan frowned, his voice as cold as frost, "This prince did promise to give you a jade pendant as a birthday gift, but I never said I would give you an ice flower hibiscus jade pendant."

Xie Qingqiu's hand trembled, and she looked at Pei Yuan in disbelief.

The Sixth Prince never agreed to give her the Ice Flower Hibiscus Jade Pendant, but that night at the Green Jade Pavilion, she said she wanted the Ice Flower Hibiscus Jade Pendant, and the Sixth Prince bought it for a high price.

Isn't this meant to be given to her?

Moreover, after she spread the news that the Sixth Prince was going to give her the Ice Flower Hibiscus Jade Pendant as a birthday gift, the Sixth Prince never denied it.

But that wasn't what bothered her the most. What bothered her the most was that she couldn't believe the Sixth Prince would reveal this in public, putting her in such an embarrassing situation.

She had been with the Sixth Prince for more than three years, and everyone in the capital knew that she was the Sixth Prince's favorite. The Sixth Prince had never embarrassed her in front of outsiders.

But today's events were a slap in the face for her.

She didn't understand why Pei Yuan would say this in public, just because of Shen Chu?

What magic does Shen Chu possess that makes the Sixth Prince make exceptions for him time and time again?

Xie Qingqiu clenched her fists, a surge of intense jealousy rising within her, but her face betrayed her grievance. "It seems I misunderstood Your Highness's meaning, and now I've made a fool of myself in front of everyone."

Two tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall but not quite, her expression one of grievance and forbearance, which made everyone feel extremely sorry for her.

Pei Yuan's expression was inscrutable, his gaze cold. "Is it just a misunderstanding? Lord Shen is looking for the jade pendant because he urgently needs it to save someone."

Yesterday, the prince had someone bring him the jade pendant, only to discover that it was a fake.

"The real jade pendant is actually with you. How do you explain this?"

Xie Qingqiu met Pei Yuan's icy gaze, her heart trembled, and she couldn't help but stammer, "Is Your Highness going to publicly interrogate Qingqiu?"

Pei Yuan's expression was extremely cold and hard. "If you dare to do it, you must dare to admit it. Replacing the real jade pendant with a fake one not only makes me, the prince, lose my trust, but also disregards the lives of those who are waiting for the jade pendant to save them."

Xie Qingqiu, you have greatly disappointed me. Did you think such a petty trick could fool me?

Xie Qingqiu's body went limp, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

She never expected that Pei Yuan wouldn't even give her a chance to explain, but instead directly exposed what she had done to the public.

How will she be able to maintain her position at Qingfeng Tower after this?

Especially when she saw those young masters who once worshipped her and the courtesans who adored her looking at her with either shock or disdain, Xie Qingqiu wished she could just close her eyes and faint.

At that moment, she truly regretted it; she shouldn't have impulsively switched the jade pendant yesterday.

She frantically shed two streams of tears, "Your Highness, please let me explain..."

"You'd better watch yourself. I won't allow this to happen again." Pei Yuan glanced at her coldly, then turned to Shen Chu and said, "Let's go."

"Huh?" Shen Chu was stunned for a moment. He just left like that?

Isn't Xie Qingqiu the person he cherishes most?

The person was crying their eyes out, and you just left without offering any comfort?

He hesitated for a moment, but saw Pei Yuan already striding away.

She quickly chased after him.

On the way back in the carriage, she stroked the wooden box, her expression somewhat complicated.

She never expected that Pei Yuan would bring her directly to Qingfeng Tower, not only embarrassing Xie Qingqiu in front of everyone and exposing her switching of the jade pendant, but also taking back the jade pendant directly.

It turns out she really misunderstood Pei Yuan.

She pursed her lips and whispered, "Thank you, Your Highness, and... I'm sorry."

Pei Yuan crossed his arms and glared at him coldly, looking like a very angry prince.

"You've misunderstood my character, is an apology all you need?"

Shen Chu nervously twisted her fingers, "How about I treat Your Highness to a meal to apologize?"

"You think you can just get rid of me with one meal?"

Chen Chu blinked, observing his expression, and suggested softly, "How about two meals?"

Pei Yuan raised his hand in annoyance and gently tapped her head with his jade fan. "This prince got the real jade pendant back for you and reprimanded everyone who doubted you."

"And you, when something goes wrong, you immediately doubt me. Now that it's resolved, can't you at least say something nice to comfort me?"