Chapter 208 His Highness must be suffering.

Upon returning to the capital, Pei Yuan changed back into his bright red flying fish robe.

It exudes an air of noble aloofness that keeps people at arm's length.

At this moment, he was sitting on a stone chair with an air of superiority, looking around at four beautiful girls with very different styles.

Four!

Oh.

Goodness.

While others have women on their left and right, he has women on his left and right, pounce on them and lie on top of them.

That's simply... simply indecent.

Shen Chu felt a pang of sadness for no reason and said loudly, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Pei Yuan held the wine glass, his long eyebrows slightly raised.

"Tsk, you came pretty quickly. You were so tired last night, doesn't your back ache? Don't your legs hurt?"

That tone sounds a bit crazy.

Shen Chu recalled Sun Yan saying that he had been cutting potato shreds all night, and couldn't help but think about it seriously.

Last time she ventured into the bandits' den alone, this guy went berserk on her.

What did she do to offend him this time?

Pei Yuan finished the wine in his cup, frowned, and glanced at the person behind him.

"Don't stop, keep going."

The woman standing behind him had a graceful figure and was almost leaning on his shoulder.

Her pale hands massaged Pei Yuan's shoulders as she asked softly:

"Your Highness, let me massage your shoulders. Does it feel good?"

Pei Yuan closed his eyes slightly and said, "Mm."

The woman kneeling on the left peeled a grape with her hands stained with bright red nail polish and fed it to Pei Yuan, giggling sweetly.

"Your Highness, are the grapes I peeled myself sweet?"

Pei Yuan laughed freely, "Of course it's sweet."

Shen Chu felt even more bittersweet; it was so sweet it almost killed her.

Pei Yuan glanced at him, then looked down at the woman kneeling at his feet, "What are you standing there for? Do you even know how to massage feet?"

The woman kneeling at his feet was obedient and gentle, and reached out to take off Pei Yuan's boots.

"Your Highness, this servant is most skilled at foot massage."

The woman standing to the side was voluptuous, her entire body pressed against Pei Yuan, and she smiled charmingly.

"This servant is most skilled at relieving people's muscles and bones. Would Your Highness like to give it a try?"

When Shen Chu saw her ample chest brushing against Pei Yuan's front, intentionally or unintentionally, her eyes widened in surprise.

Wow, how did they grow up like that?

etc.

Wait, why does this scene feel so familiar?

Shoulder massage, foot massage, muscle relaxation?

Wasn't this the place where Xiangyu and Wanqiu entertained him last night?

Shen Chu's eyes flickered, and she remembered that Emperor Longqing had said that Pei Yuan had only arrived at Qinghe Palace early this morning.

A brilliant idea flashed in her mind.

Could Pei Yuan have sneaked into the East Palace last night?

Then, by chance, I overheard the noises she made while "messing around" with Xiangyu and Wanqiu.

She clearly left him a letter, telling him to go directly to Qinghe Palace.

Why did he still make the trip to the Eastern Palace?

Her gaze shifted slightly, and she suddenly met Pei Yuan's sidelong glance.

She smiled slightly, "Your Highness, with one woman on each arm, is this a reward for yourself after your hard work inspecting the salt in Changsha?"

Pei Yuan narrowed his peach blossom eyes, glanced at the smile on his lips, and snorted coldly.

"I can't compare to Lord Shen, who has someone specially arranged for him to enjoy his romantic encounters. What? Can't this prince reward himself?"

Shen Chu sighed inwardly.

really.

She guessed right.

Pei Yuan heard that he already had two women serving him, so he specially found four women to serve him today.

Is this just hypocritical competition or malicious provocation?

Or perhaps it's a strange, inexplicable soreness, like hers?

Shen Chu refused to consider the last possibility, yet she felt both annoyed and amused.

This man can be so childish.

She deliberately kept a straight face and asked in a serious tone:

"Your Highness, I have come to inquire about the whereabouts of the physical evidence that was escorted from Changsha Prefecture."

Pei Yuan's face darkened.

"You came to me just to ask this?"

Shen Chu looked completely innocent. "Otherwise what?"

Pei Yuan gritted his teeth.

Doesn't he react at all to being surrounded by women on both sides?

"Your Highness, I'd like to ask you about the physical evidence."

Pei Yuan's face was grim. "They're with Sun Yan."

"Your humble servant is going to see Commander Sun."

Shen Chu turned and left.

After taking a few steps, she stopped and turned to look at Pei Yuan intently.

Pei Yuan suddenly sat up straight.

I knew it! How could Shen Chu not have any reaction at all?

Shen Chu waved her hand with a smile, "Your Highness has indeed worked hard, please enjoy yourself."

Pei Yuan's face suddenly darkened.

"Furthermore, lust is like a steel knife that scrapes your bones; you should know when to stop, for excessive indulgence will shorten your life."

Pei Yuan's lips curled slightly.

He put it so tactfully, but he probably still cares a little, doesn't he?

"Oh, those words were spoken by Commander Sun. Your Highness, I will pass them on."

Shen Chu smiled and cupped his hands in greeting before turning to leave.

Pei Yuan...

"Your Highness~" the palace maid who was massaging her shoulders called out in a high-pitched voice.

"Your Highness what?" Pei Yuan said irritably, shaking off the maid's hand. "Get out of my way."

The palace maid peeling grapes trembled as she held them up.

"Would Your Highness like another grape?"

"It's so bitter, anyone who wants some can take it."

The palace maid looked bewildered.

How could grapes be bitter?

Your Highness must be suffering.

Pei Yuan got up and left with a sullen face, suddenly feeling extremely bored.

Shen Chu truly didn't care about him at all.

He clearly didn't want to be a homosexual, and Shen Chu's rejection that day was very clear.

Why did he inexplicably go and test the waters?

-----

Shen Chu obtained Jiang Hongzhi's written confession and letters from Sun Yan and immediately began to organize the memorials.

She had long since memorized her father's case files, and she wrote the memorial to the throne in one go.

After carefully reading through the memorial, she was deeply moved.

If His Majesty approves his memorial, the investigation into his father's treason can be reopened.

Ten years have passed.

For the past ten years, she has completely identified herself as a boy.

She diligently did everything that boys should do and should know, including studying and practicing martial arts.

She avoided everything that girls were supposed to learn or be able to do, only seeking to avoid revealing any flaws in herself.

All her efforts were for this one thing.

Now we've finally taken the first step.

Suppressing the turbulent emotions in her heart, Shen Chu took the memorial and went to the Hall of Diligent Governance again.

The Longqing Emperor asked curiously, "Why have you returned again? Is there something you haven't finished reporting?"

Shen Chu knelt down, took out the memorial, and told them about Jiang Hongzhi.

"...Jiang Hongzhi has personally admitted that ten years ago, at the request of Master Feng, he imitated Prefect Shen's handwriting to write a letter to the Northern Rong.

I saw Prefect Shen's case file at the Censorate, and the handwriting on the attached letters was exactly the same as the letters confessed by Jiang Hongzhi.

Therefore, it is evident that there are many doubts surrounding the case of Prefect Shen's treason and collusion with the enemy. I request a reinvestigation of this case.

Emperor Longqing was so startled that he suddenly stood up.

"What did you say? Shen Zhixing's letter of treason was written by someone commissioned by Feng Er?"

"That's what Jiang Hongzhi confessed."

The Longqing Emperor frowned and paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back.

Shen Chu was filled with trepidation. "Your Majesty, please allow me to reinvestigate the case of Prefect Shen's treason and collusion with the enemy."

Emperor Longqing suddenly turned around and stared intently at Shen Chu.

"Chen Chu, do you know what you're saying?"

If Jiang Hongzhi's confession is true, it means that the Feng family may have framed Shen Zhixing.

The Feng family isn't just about the Chief Minister Feng; that's the Crown Prince's maternal family.

Shen Chu pursed her lips. "Didn't His Majesty just say that the Feng family was involved in the salt administration case and would not be let off lightly? Why is it that when it comes to Prefect Shen's case..."

The Longqing Emperor looked sullen and said, "How can they be the same?"

Shen Chu's heart sank.

Just then, a terrified voice rang out from outside the door.