Chapter 200 What's a blood oath of brotherhood compared to our night of passion?

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Pei Yuan's eyes as he frowned and looked at Chen Chu.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Shen Chu twitched the corner of her mouth.

"Your Highness has been staring at me for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Isn't that because you like me?"

Pei Yuan's eyes flickered slightly, then he suddenly leaned forward, his eyes squinting upwards, and smiled in a meaningful way.

"If you weren't watching me, how would you know I've been watching you for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?"

"Why are you paying so much attention to my behavior? Is it because you like me?"

Shen Chu blushed slightly and defended herself:

"No, you're a grown man standing right here, it would be hard for me not to see you."

"Is that so? It seems that Lord Shen's self-control is not strong enough."

Chen Chu...

She paused for a moment, then suddenly realized something.

Pei Yuan didn't deny her question just now.

Could he... he really have fallen for me?

This realization startled Shen Chu, and she quickly said:

"Just kidding, Your Highness, please don't take it seriously. I do remember what Your Highness said."

His Highness said he is absolutely not gay and would never be interested in me, right?

Pei Yuan's expression stiffened slightly, and a dark undercurrent flashed in his eyes.

"Chen Chu, you've reminded me time and time again. Are you that afraid that I'll fall for you?"

Or are you constantly reminding yourself that you're afraid you'll develop feelings for me that you shouldn't?

Shen Chu's heart trembled slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm and looked up at Pei Yuan.

"Of course, if I were to harbor inappropriate thoughts towards you, wouldn't Your Highness be afraid?"

Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly, remaining silent.

He fell silent.

Shen Chu was initially frightened.

What's the meaning?

Was he hoping that she had feelings for him?

She rubbed her fingers together, feeling a pang of sadness.

From the time she left Beijing for Changsha, she was not unaware that Pei Yuan's concern for her was growing day by day.

But she never dared to think too much about it, much less get too involved with Pei Yuan.

She sighed softly, "Your Highness is a prince. Even if you do something outrageous, you'll only be criticized a few times."

But I am different. Although I was born into the Changning Marquis's family, I was exiled to Huzhou from a young age.

He relied on the pent-up frustration he had held in his heart for over a decade, studying diligently day and night, and finally rose to the position of a fifth-rank censor.

I still have many plans to implement and important things to do. Any rumor could bring me to ruin and destroy my hard work of the past ten years.

That's why I keep reminding myself, and Your Highness, because.....

She paused, then slowly uttered five words, "This humble subject cannot afford to gamble!"

Pei Yuan tightened his grip on the dossier, staring at him for a long time before speaking, word by word:

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in you."

It was just a few words, but it felt as if they were being squeezed out of the chest with great effort.

Pei Yuan lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions within them.

Chen Chu breathed a sigh of relief, but then a silent sadness spread through her heart.

She has already discovered Jiang Hongzhi's existence and touched upon part of the truth behind the Ning'an Marquis's wrongful conviction case.

We cannot give up now.

Her hand, which was hanging under the table, couldn't help but gently touch her lower abdomen.

I'm sorry, child.

Mother has very, very important things to do, so she can't tell Father about your existence.

Wait a little longer.

When the day comes that Mother has cleared the name of the entire Ning'an Marquis's family, Mother will definitely dress up as a woman and go to Father to tell him of your existence.

She suppressed the stinging in her eyes and picked up the ledger she had just finished calculating.

"These are the private accounts that were found in the Feng family's records, and they are different from the account books that Feng Guojiu gave you before."

The salt that the Feng family claimed to distribute to the people in the mountainous areas accounted for less than 30% of their smuggled salt sales; the remaining 70% was transported to various places for sale.

Some of the salt was even sold to the Northern Rong and Miao regions. With this ledger, the Feng family's crime of smuggling salt is beyond doubt.

Pei Yuan gave Chen Chu a deep look before turning his attention back to the case.

"So the Changsha Salt Administration has now been thoroughly investigated. The Feng family was the mastermind, and Yao Sihai, Jiang Hongzhi, and Lei Ying were accomplices. We can now escort the prisoners back to the capital."

After a slight hesitation, Shen Chu said, "I have something else I would like to discuss with Your Highness."

"explain."

"After returning to the capital, I intend to use Jiang Hongzhi's testimony and the letters he hid as evidence to request His Majesty to reopen the case of the Ning'an Marquis's family's treason and collusion with the enemy."

Pei Yuan wasn't surprised. "What do you need me to do?"

Shen Chu was somewhat surprised, "Does Your Highness believe that the Ning'an Marquis's family is innocent?"

"I still stand by what I said: I only believe in evidence. The things Jiang Hongzhi confessed show that there are indeed suspicious things in the Ning'an Marquis's case, and I don't deny that."

This time, Shen Chu wasn't angry.

After her initial excitement subsided, she knew that, given Pei Yuan's character, for him to say such a thing meant that he also suspected the case of the Marquis of Ning'an's residence.

She took a deep breath. "I will definitely find the evidence."

Pei Yuan's gaze swept across her face. "So what do you need me to do?"

Shen Chu said, "I'm thinking about this case. Feng Guojiu has never served as an official in the court. He wants to frame Prefect Shen for treason and collusion with the enemy. His only motive is to target Chief Minister Feng, the Empress, and the Crown Prince."

Once news of Feng Guojiu's arrest reaches the capital, Chief Minister Feng will certainly take action.

The best course of action is to get rid of Jiang Hongzhi. Once Jiang Hongzhi is dead, it will not be easy for His Majesty to reopen the case of the Marquis of Ning'an's mansion based on just a few letters.

So I was thinking, could we use a feint to secretly advance our own route while escorting the prisoners back to the capital?

Pei Yuan frowned slightly.

"You want to escort him alone?"

Shen Chu shook her head. "No, I openly left Anhua with His Highness and the Flying Eagle Guards, and then sneaked back at night with a team of Flying Eagle Guards."

Then I'll return to Beijing with Jiang Hongzhi and Brother Luo's caravan. The Feng family would never expect me to travel with the Luo family's caravan.

Pei Yuan's face darkened. "No."

Why not?

Pei Yuan frowned. "Is Luo Heng really that trustworthy? You even dare to entrust him with the escort of prisoners?"

Shen Chu: "Brother Luo is my sworn brother. He has saved me twice. What is there to doubt?"

"Well, that's hard to say. You can know a person's face but not their heart."

Shen Chu felt that he was prejudiced against Luo Heng.

"It wasn't him escorting the goods; it was me leading a team of Flying Eagle Guards."

If Your Highness doesn't trust Luo Heng, do you not trust the Flying Eagle Guards that you personally trained?

I've thought it over, and this is the safest method.

Pei Yuan still disagreed.

"Where are you safe? Putting you and the prisoner in a strange caravan is inherently unsafe, with so many people and eyes looking around. We're going together, there's no room for discussion."

Shen Chu insisted, "Does following Your Highness guarantee safety? Don't forget there's still a group of assassins trying to kill you, and we haven't found the mastermind yet."

Besides, Brother Luo's caravan consists of carefully selected, highly skilled men whom he trusts implicitly.

Pei Yuan's face darkened.

"Brother Luo, Brother Luo! What kind of brother is he to you? Do you really prefer to believe him rather than me?"

Shen Chu felt that his anger came out of nowhere.

"Your Highness, please be rational. It's not that we don't trust you, but we need to take a safer and more reliable approach."

"So you think it's unsafe for you to return to Beijing with me? You think your Brother Luo can definitely protect you?"

Pei Yuan couldn't help but slam his hand on the table and growl:

"Chen Chu, how long have you known him? Do you know his past? Do you understand his character?"

"You keep calling him 'Big Brother,' don't you have a brain?"

Dare to call her brainless?

Shen Chu also got angry and, imitating him, slammed her fist on the table.

"Who I choose to believe and who I choose to be my brother is my private matter. What right do you have to interfere in my private affairs?"

"Because our relationship is different."

“What’s the difference? Brother Luo and I are sworn brothers who have sworn blood oaths, but you and I have never done so.”

Pei Yuan was so angry that he blurted out:

"What's so great about swearing an oath of brotherhood by blood? We even spent a night together, is that any less meaningful than a blood oath?"