Although Lu Xiuyuan felt somewhat desolate.
Pei Zhi wasn't forced into it, which means she was willing.
But it's still better than Pei Zhi being forced into it.
Today, when Pei Minxue went to the Eastern Palace to deliver memorials, he would often encounter a group of men with a somewhat effeminate air.
Using the word "feminine" to describe a man is inappropriate.
Pei Minxue could smell the perfume on these men whenever she passed by.
Moreover, these men, with their behavior and flirtatious eyes, didn't seem like proper scholars at all.
If Pei Minxue hadn't come to the Eastern Palace, he would have thought he had gone to some secluded mansion where only women liked to go.
"Please wait a moment, Your Highness has guests inside."
Pei Minxue frowned. "Who are they this time?"
De Shun nodded with a somewhat strange expression.
"I don't know why Your Highness spends so much time in the house with these men every day."
"Moreover, the servants are not allowed to go in to serve; the doors and windows must be kept tightly closed every time."
Pei Minxue frowned even more deeply after hearing Deshun's words.
Every word and action of the Crown Prince will be magnified.
When a group of effeminate men suddenly appeared in Xiao Chengci's Eastern Palace, rumors inevitably began to circulate outside.
For example, His Highness the Crown Prince has not married for a long time.
There wasn't even a single concubine in the Eastern Palace. It turned out that His Highness was a homosexual.
Pei Minxue took this as a joke.
Pei Minxue knew all about the details between His Highness the Crown Prince and Pei Zhi.
If His Highness the Crown Prince were homosexual, how could so many things have happened?
De Shun lowered his voice, "Moreover, His Highness always orders water after each session."
Pei Minxue met Deshun's gaze; clearly, both of them were thinking about things they shouldn't be thinking.
Pei Minxue shook his head, "No, His Highness would not do that."
Was Xiao Chengci hurt too deeply by Pei Zhi? So, he lost interest in women from then on?
Can Xiao Chengci, in this state, still ascend the throne?
Pei Minxue pressed on, still somewhat uneasy, "Have you inquired about the identities of these people?"
"I have inquired, and they are privately kept, intended to be given to women in secluded mansions."
De Shun said with a worried look, "I don't know where Your Highness found these people."
Pei Minxue did know that women of noble status, like Princess Duanyang, were important figures.
In private, she would keep several men around to serve her.
In the capital, besides the eldest princess, there were many other women of noble status.
As the two were talking, the door opened.
Pei Minxue took two steps back after smelling the nauseating aroma.
A man dressed in pink came out, bowed to Pei Minxue, and then spoke to Deshun.
"Please lead the way, Father-in-law."
Deshun forced a smile and led the way.
Inside the room, Xiao Chengci was opening the window.
"You've arrived? Take the memorial directly to the study, and I'll change my clothes before coming to see you."
Pei Minxue bowed his head in agreement, but couldn't help looking up to sized him up.
His Highness's clothes seem a little wrinkled, but other than that, there seems to be nothing wrong.
Pei Minxue really couldn't understand what could be so important that could keep His Highness the Crown Prince and a man with such behavior locked in a room for most of the day.
How could His Highness the Crown Prince possibly have anything in common with a man like that?
Pei Minxue waited in the study for a while before Xiao Chengci came over, dressed in a black python robe.
"Once we're done dealing with this, shall we invite Zhizhi out for some fun? The third brother just opened a new restaurant; let's go support him."
Pei Minxue naturally nodded in agreement, "Shang Huai has been very well-behaved these days, he hasn't even left the house much."
When Shang Huai returned to the capital, Xiao Chengci asked Pei Minxue to find some people to keep an eye on him.
Firstly, I'm worried.
Secondly, it also allows us to keep an eye on Shang Huai, lest Shang Huai seize the initiative again this time.
Otherwise, Xiao Chengci would be furious.
Xiao Chengci raised an eyebrow slightly: "This doesn't seem like him."
Pei Minxue pursed his lips, but remained silent for a long time.
Your Highness, please refrain from speaking ill of others. Your Highness has also been acting very strangely lately.
No, it's not just His Highness the Crown Prince who's been acting strangely lately.
Lu Xiuyuan has been acting rather strangely lately.
Although Pei Minxue was not Lu Xiuyuan's direct superior, he had heard that Lu Xiuyuan had been scolded a lot in the government office.
It simply means that Lu Xiuyuan was not careful or conscientious enough in his work.
Pei Minxue checked and found that Lu Xiuyuan's superior had not wronged him. Lu Xiuyuan had handled his duties carelessly, which explained why he was scolded.
Lu Xiuyuan wasn't like this before; I don't know what's wrong with him lately.
Pei Minxue was thinking that when he had some free time, he should have a good chat with Lu Xiuyuan to see if Lu Xiuyuan had encountered any problems.
Xiao Chengci quickly finished his business and asked Deshun to bring him a jar of fine wine that he had treasured for many years.
Pei Minxue went to pick up Pei Zhi, while Xiao Chengci went directly to the restaurant.
Pei Zhi became interested when she heard that it was the opening of a prince's restaurant and that there would be many performances that evening.
Life in ancient times was so boring that people went to bed early in the evening.
"I won't go; I still have a lot of official business to finish."
Lu Xiuyuan bowed to Pei Minxue, "I'll trouble you, Brother Pei, to bring Zhizhi back later."
Lu Xiuyuan seemed to remember something and continued, "If you get tired of playing and don't come back, please send a message so I won't worry."
Pei Minxue thought that Lu Xiuyuan had indeed been somewhat lax in his official duties these days, so he did not force Lu Xiuyuan to go with them.
Pei Minxue helped Pei Zhi into the carriage, and Lu Xiuyuan saw them off at the door.
Pei Zhi hesitated and said, "How about I don't go either? I'll stay home and keep him company."
Pei Minxue pressed down on Pei Zhi's shoulder, "Since he's already here, let him handle official business at home by himself."
Pei Zhi noticed something was off about Pei Minxue's tone, "Has Xiu Yuan gotten into trouble with his official duties these past few days?"
Pei Minxue didn't intend to hide anything from Pei Zhi, "Zhizhi, do you think Xiu Yuan has started neglecting his duties because he has a powerful backer?"
Pei Zhi didn't quite understand: "What do you mean by that?"
“Previously, Xiu Yuan handled official business with great care and diligence. He encountered many difficulties, but he completed them all one by one.”
"As a result, after I got to know him, he became much more lax. I was worried that his superior was deliberately making things difficult for him. I specifically checked and it was indeed Xiu Yuan's fault."
Pei Minxue wasn't being overly pessimistic; he was simply worried that Lu Xiuyuan, having gained a powerful backer, would no longer work diligently.
If that's the case, then it'll be troublesome.
Pei Minxue was not the type to engage in favoritism or corruption, but Lu Xiuyuan was Pei Zhi's husband, so Pei Minxue couldn't completely disregard him.
Pei Zhi immediately rejected the idea: "He is not that kind of person."
Pei Zhi recalled that Lu Xiuyuan had indeed been acting strangely these past few days.
Pei Zhi stated, "I will go back today and have a good talk with him. I won't make things difficult for my elder brother."
Having heard Pei Zhi say this, Pei Minxue could say no more.
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