Jia Ling felt embarrassed because he flattered the wrong person, and hurriedly tried to make amends: "Your Highness and the Crown Princess are in harmony, and they will have children sooner or later."

Pei Xiao smiled and said, "Your Highness knows that the harmony between husband and wife is for outsiders to see. Hasn't there been any scandal in the Prince's house?"

"That's true." Jia Ling sighed, "We just get by, and it doesn't matter if we don't get along. We don't need a woman. Speaking of which, I have recently adopted a girl in Qingluofang. She has a nice waist and can sing songs, as beautiful as a lark."

Jia Ling laughed and said, "If Your Highness likes it, why don't we move to Qingluofang at night and give it a try?"

"Doing business with our family?" Over there, Wei Meng almost spit out a mouthful of tea, and whispered, "I really didn't expect that the prince of Chongyuan Marquis has such a habit. He has to go to prostitutes in groups of three or five. Isn't it disgusting?"

Pei Yuan kicked him and raised his chin slightly, indicating that he should continue to listen.

Pei Xiao politely rejected Jia Ling and said in a low voice: "Prince, just enjoy yourself. I will not participate."

Jia Ling nodded regretfully, but did not want to miss the opportunity to please Pei Xiao. If you want to please a man, you either give him money or women. Which man is not lustful? Otherwise, why would the emperor have a harem?

Jia Ling thought for a moment, then approached Pei Xiao and said, "What kind of women does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince like? You've been feeling tired lately, do you want to relax? I'm not bragging, I know seven out of ten beautiful girls in the capital, whether they're fat or thin, Diao Chan or Xi Shi, no matter what the Crown Prince likes, I can find her for you!"

Pei Xiao lowered his head to drink tea, and when he heard his words, a face suddenly appeared in his mind.

That day, beside the broken bridge of Xiaoling River, a beautiful and simple girl stood on tiptoe and blew leaves into the river. After blowing, she turned around and smiled with her eyes tilted. It was just an ordinary picture, but he remembered it for a long time and couldn't forget it even if he wanted to. And that night in the Crown Prince's Mansion, she sat on the ground blankly, not wanting to cry or not, looking at him with tears in her eyes. I can't find a reason, but I just can't forget it.

The impression was already very faint, but when Jia Ling mentioned it, Pei Xiao remembered it again. He clenched the handle of the teacup with his fingers.

Jia Ling waited for his answer, and was silent for a long time. He thought he wouldn't get an answer, and was racking his brains to change the subject, when he suddenly heard Pei Xiao speak: "It's very tiring to run around outside every day."

He put down the teacup: "I like girls who are more relaxed. After returning home, I hope I can feel comfortable."

Jia Ling smiled stiffly: "Your Highness is joking. I'm afraid I can't find what you are describing."

Pei Xiao paused for a moment, put his fist to his lips, coughed twice, and looked out the window.

"It doesn't matter."

Jia Ling felt that this prince was really difficult to get along with. He was taciturn and cold. He didn't know what he was thinking, and he couldn't find the direction to flatter him.

He paused for a moment, then raised his glass with a big laugh: "Your Highness, don't worry about this. When you are in power in the future, beauties will naturally come to you. I will offer tea instead of wine. I wish your Highness all the best!"

...

"There must be something wrong with his brain."

After Pei Xiao and Jia Ling left one after another, and the guards that Pei Xiao left in the teahouse also left, Pei Yuan and Wei Meng walked out from the back door, frowning and saying: "What nonsense is he talking about? It makes me sick."

Wei Meng asked: "Young general, are you talking about Jia Ling or Pei Xiao?"

"Birds of a feather, all the same." Pei Yuan tugged at his clothes and asked, "Did you take the pig's trotters you ordered later? Don't leave them behind. I have to take home those plates of osmanthus cakes, small sweet dumplings and so on."

Wei Meng patted the bulging bag in his hand: "Don't worry, I've taken them all!"

Pei Yuan nodded, remembered something, and said: "You said that Pei Xiao, is he dying? He talked for half an hour, and I heard him cough no less than seven times. When the incident happened, it was Pei Xiao who saved the emperor by testing the poison himself. Could it be that the poison was not eradicated?"

Wei Meng thought for a moment: "No way? The poison was from Gongsun Zhu, and the antidote must be in his hand. Pei Xiao is not a fool, how could he risk drinking the poison without the antidote? Poison."

Pei Yuan sneered, "Not necessarily. With his personality, he would climb to a high position even if he dies. Who knows whether he will die or not? Besides, Gong Sunzhu may not be willing to give him all the antidotes. Pei Xiao threatened him with Sun Zi, but he is not someone who can be slaughtered by others. He might be planning to kill him."

Wei Meng said, "I'm really curious, where did Pei Xiao hide this Sun Zi? After all, he is a living person, and he is amazing for not revealing any news."

Pei Yuan said, "Don't worry, look for it slowly, and you will find it eventually."

Wei Meng didn't mention this. He looked up at the sky and smiled, "It's still early, let's find a place to drink some wine? You are usually strictly controlled, and it's time to be happy. I'll treat you this time."

"You're in a hurry to go home, go by yourself." Pei Yuan went to the stable to lead the horse. Seeing that Sifeng's mane was tangled, he stroked it and thought to himself that it was time to give it a bath.

Wei Meng whistled and said sarcastically, "Married people are different. Before, didn't you beg me to go drink? Because of this, it seems that you had a quarrel with your eldest brother and threw the blood coral given by Yu Ci. Now you have turned over a new leaf."

When he mentioned Pei Che, Pei Yuan paused in his action of getting on the horse.

Wei Meng knew he had said something wrong and touched his nose: "Speaking of which, the disappearance of the former crown prince is also a mystery. Where did he go? But according to my guess, the former crown prince must still be alive. He is not a person who can die easily. He did not contact you because he was forced by the situation. Young general, you don't have to worry too much."

Pei Yuan pulled the reins and jumped on the horse: "I know."

Wei Meng was embarrassed to go drink alone, so he pulled his horse over: "I will go back with you."

Pei Yuan nodded, Wei Meng got on the horse, and the two set off side by side.

On the way out of the city, Wei Meng was thinking about Pei Che in his heart.

Unlike Pei Yuan, Pei Che has been a well-behaved and polite person since he was a child. He looks like a proper prince, treats people gently and elegantly, and is also very resourceful. However, Pei Che's political views were different from those of the emperor. The emperor was known for his iron fist and strict laws, while Pei Che preferred to rule by inaction and educate the people with culture and etiquette. Therefore, the emperor was always dissatisfied with him. Pei Che was once banished to Shu for three years because of a quarrel with the emperor due to their different political views.

Wei Meng suddenly thought of something and said, "The former crown prince has been missing for more than half a year. His mansion was sealed and should be overgrown with grass by now. I wonder where his former female relatives in the backyard have gone."

Pei Yuan stared at the city gate not far away: "They must have been sold."

"What about the former crown princess?" Wei Meng said, "I heard that the former crown princess went to her parents' home after the incident, but she was driven out after a few days. Minister Su was so stubborn that he directly announced that he would sever ties with her. Now I don't know where she is. She may be sleeping on the street."

Pei Yuan tilted his head: "Why was she driven out?"

"How should I know? Anyway, it's out." Wei Meng sneered: "The Crown Princess and the former Crown Prince still have a good relationship. If the former Crown Prince returns to the capital in the future and sees that the women who followed him have become like this, he will be very sad."

Pei Yuan didn't say anything. The city gate was just in front of him. There were many beggars begging for food on the street in the corner. Their clothes were tattered and smelled bad. You could smell the stench when you got closer.

The soldiers guarding the city were annoyed and drove people away with spears.

Some women screamed so badly that Wei Meng turned his head to look over. He just glanced casually, but when he saw a certain face, his eyes widened.

Pei Yuan had no idea. He clamped his legs and tightened the horse's belly. He was about to speed up and leave when he was suddenly pulled by Wei Meng behind him.

Pei Yuan gasped: "What's wrong with you?"

Wei Meng pointed at one of the pregnant women who was thrown to the ground and asked in disbelief: "Why does that person look like the former Crown Princess?"

Pei Yuan looked in the direction of his finger, and his pupils shrank.

...

When Pei Yuan brought Su Mingyue back to the manor in Lihu, it was already dusk.

Su Mingyue was pregnant with an eight-month-old belly. According to the time, she was pregnant when Pei Che was just imprisoned. In order to take care of her, the carriage moved very slowly.

Pei Yuan rode a horse beside the carriage, listening to Su Mingyue crying all the way, with a stern face.

Pei Yuan had not seen this sister-in-law many times. He only vaguely remembered her face and knew that she came from a scholarly family and was chosen as the Crown Princess because of her appearance and demeanor. The rest of his impression was gone. It

was really a coincidence that they met on the road. Wei Meng's mouth seemed to have been blessed, but it was a good thing after all. Pei Che didn't know where he was. To put it bluntly, if he didn't come back in the future, the child born by this sister-in-law would be Pei Che's only bloodline. He should take care of it and feel happy.

Su Mingyue was a little bit wolfish. After a brief conversation with her, he learned that after being driven out by the Su family, she went to the south of the Yangtze River to seek refuge with her sister who married far away, but was still driven out. She was a weak woman, and she spent all her money on the road, and her life was not as expected later. About last month, she returned to Beijing with a bulging belly. She wanted to try her luck and go back to the Su family, but was driven out again. Pei Yuan met him at the city gate.

Pei Yuan was a little suspicious. The Su Shangshu family was kind and honest. Even if they thought Su Mingyou's identity was special and might bring trouble to the family, they shouldn't be so heartless.

"Sister-in-law, don't hide anything from me."

When they arrived at the gate of the manor, they saw the servants helping Su Mingyou get off the car. Pei Yuan stood aside holding the horse whip. After a moment of hesitation, he still spoke with a cold face.

"If you hide it from me, don't blame me for being rude."

This fourth brother was just like what Pei Che said, without mercy, and when he was angry, he didn't recognize his relatives. Su Mingyou had heard about it before, but when he met his scrutinizing eyes, his heart trembled.

But Su Mingyou quickly calmed down. She had never done anything to let Pei Yuan down. She had no guilt and no need to be afraid.

She bowed, her tone was tired, and she smiled faintly: "Fourth brother, you are joking. How could I hide anything from you? My past experiences were embarrassing, but I have told you the truth. You can rest assured. If you have any doubts, just check it out."

Pei Yuan nodded and said, "I will check it out."

Su Mingyou was choked by his straightforward answer.

Pei Yuan asked a servant to arrange a room for her. He was one step away from Su Mingyou and led the way: "Sister-in-law, you are tired. Go to the room to rest first. Hot water and food will be ready soon. You can live in the manor with peace of mind in the future. When sister-in-law has rested well tomorrow, I will bring my wife to see you again."

Su Mingyou agreed, and the group slowly walked into the manor.

The child who was brought back was hungry, but he was very picky about food and refused to eat. Chen Jia was ordered by Bao Ning to squat in the vegetable garden to pick leeks, and then go back to the yard to roast the leeks. He saw Pei Yuan leading a woman over from a distance, and was puzzled.

Pei Yuan also saw him, stopped, let Su Mingyou go first, waved to Chen Jia to come over, and asked: "Why are you here alone, not guarding the lady? What is the lady doing, is she sleeping?"

Chen Jia said: "The lady is taking care of the child."

Pei Yuan was stunned: "Child, where did the child come from, whose child is it?"

Chen Jia said: "I picked him up on the street."

Pei Yuan frowned: "Which street?"

Chen Jia replied: "I don't know, I don't know the way, I don't know."

Pei Yuan thought he was simply a fool. At first, he was chosen because he was dumb and could not speak. Now, it seems that he is too dumb.

Pei Yuan looked back in the direction of Baoning's yard, waved his hand and hurried Chen Jia away: "Tell the lady that I will be back in a quarter of an hour."

Chen Jia went back with a bunch of leeks.

In the yard, the child was bathed by Aunt Liu. He was still listless and silent, sitting on the pony in the yard in a daze.

Baoning leaned against the wall and looked at him, complaining to Nanny Liu: "The Fourth Prince hasn't come back yet. He promised to come early, and it's almost time for dinner. I'm worried that he has met with something."

Chen Jia heard it and handed the leeks to Baoning respectfully: "The Fourth Prince has come back."

Baoning stood up in surprise: "Did you see him? When did he come back?"

"Just now, he said he would be in the courtyard in a quarter of an hour." Chen Jia told everything he saw, "And he brought a woman with him."

Baoning paused: "Where did the woman come from?"

Chen Jia recalled the tattered and dirty clothes Su Mingyu wore, analyzed it briefly, and replied: "Maybe she was picked up."