Chapter 118 None of you will get away with this.
Lady Dingguo smiled and said, "A banquet has already been set up in the garden. Third Princess, please take your guests to sit down. Lady Chu and I will stay here to have a chat."
Yan Xiyue agreed.
Chu Yunjin and Yan Jinyue were surrounded by a group of people as they headed to the garden, all of whom were very enthusiastic.
Yan Xiyue went out and turned to instruct the servants: "Princess Yan has always loved lotus flowers. The lotus flowers in the lake have just bloomed. Zhilan, take Princess Yan to see them."
Pei Zhilan nodded: "Yes."
This was clearly intended to allow Pei Zhilan to have a private conversation with Chu Yunjin, and everyone present understood the purpose.
After all, nobody is stupid.
Too many things have happened in the capital recently, and the one that is related to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and Pei Zhilan is naturally Pei Yi'an being imprisoned.
Chu Yunjin did not refuse.
“I’ll go too,” Yan Jinyue said, “I love lotus flowers the most.”
Yan Xiyue's expression changed, as if she wanted to speak up to stop her, but she didn't have a suitable reason. She could only give Pei Zhilan a look, telling her to act according to the situation.
The others were led to the flower hall by the Third Princess and sat down, while Chu Yunjin, accompanied by Pei Zhilan, went to the back lake to see the lotus flowers.
Everywhere you look in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion is a scenic view, and every plant and tree exudes the wealth and power of a noble residence.
Passing through a moon gate, you are greeted by an elegant courtyard. Walking on the bluestone slabs, up the corridor, and into the courtyard, you can see lotus flowers blooming all over the lake. The huge lotus leaves float on the water, reflecting the lotus flowers glistening with water droplets. The scenery is as beautiful as a landscape painting.
Chu Yunjin and Yan Jinyue stood on the corridor, followed by Ade and the others.
"The scenery here is truly beautiful," Chu Yunjin said, gazing at the lake full of lotus flowers. "If it were to rain again, the atmosphere would be even more—"
Before she could finish speaking, Pei Zhilan suddenly knelt down: "Please, Your Highness, save my life."
Chu Yunjin frowned and subconsciously took a step back: "Second Madam Su, what are you doing?"
Yan Jinyue pushed Chu Yunjin back, looking at Pei Zhilan warily: "Don't do anything rash."
Although I know that the Duke of Dingguo’s mansion must have ulterior motives for holding a flower-viewing banquet at this time, isn’t Pei Zhilan being a little too hasty?
Pei Zhilan's eyes suddenly reddened as she looked up at Chu Yunjin: "I really have no other choice! My elder brother has been thrown into prison, and I... I don't know if he has committed treason, but I... I..."
Chu Yunjin said calmly, "Your elder brother has been thrown into prison. It's no use begging me. This isn't something I can decide."
"I just want to know, will my elder brother's matter implicate the Duke's mansion?" Pei Zhilan lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs. "These past few days have been a living hell. My mother-in-law treats me like dirt, afraid that my elder brother's situation will affect my husband... Your Highness, Sixth Princess, please save me—"
Yan Jinyue said in an unhappy tone, "How do you expect your sister-in-law to save you? By pleading with Father? Pei Zhilan, aren't you overestimating yourself? Even the Emperor's harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. Fourth Sister-in-law is just Father's daughter-in-law. What right does she have to interfere with Father's decisions? Do you really think that just because Fourth Brother dotes on Fourth Sister-in-law, she has many privileges?"
Pei Zhilan remained silent, only weeping, weeping with heart-wrenching pain.
"It's no use crying," Yan Jinyue said coldly.
"If it weren't for the Sixth Princess's annulment of the engagement, things wouldn't have come to this." Pei Zhilan's face suddenly showed a hint of hatred, and her reddened eyes were alarming. "If it weren't for the Sixth Princess, the Prince of Yan wouldn't have suspected my elder brother of treason. My elder brother fought desperately on the battlefield; even if he didn't achieve great feats, he certainly endured hardship. Why are you treating him like this? Why?!"
Chu Yunjin narrowed her eyes: "Pei Zhilan, you'd better calm down."
"I can't calm down!" Pei Zhilan stood up, looking at them angrily. "My mother-in-law only asked me one straightforward question: if my elder brother's crime is already proven and there is no room for maneuver, she only wants me to take a letter of divorce and leave the Duke of Dingguo's mansion! Chu Yunjin, if it were you, could you calm down?"
Chu Yunjin thought for a moment: "If this happened to me, I certainly wouldn't be able to stay calm, but I wouldn't blame anyone, because your elder brother's crime of treason is real, and the woman he brought back is a princess from an enemy country—"
"I don't want to hear any of this!" Pei Zhilan interrupted her fiercely. "You've pushed me too far, and my mother-in-law is pushing me too. Since that's the case, none of you will have an easy time!"
After saying that, she wiped away her tears, turned around and left without looking back.
Chu Yunjin and Yan Jinyue looked at each other in bewilderment.
"No matter how beautiful the lotus flowers are, it's not a place to linger," Chu Yunjin said. "Let's leave this place first to avoid getting into trouble."
Just as Yan Jinyue was about to turn and leave, a group of people suddenly appeared in the corridor.
A group of men dressed in black and masked.
Yan Jinyue panicked: "What are you planning to do—"
Two men in black raised their hands and sprinkled out a handful of sleeping pills.
The fragrance enters the nose.
Chu Yunjin and Yan Jinyue both fainted.
When Chu Yunjin woke up again, she found herself lying on a hard wooden bed. She opened her eyes and was greeted by blinding sunlight. She turned her head to look at the source of the light, covered her eyes with her hand, and tried to move her body, finding no discomfort.
"Don't worry, I didn't do anything to you." A cold yet familiar voice rang in her ears, causing Chu Yunjin to shiver unexpectedly.
She sat up and looked at Prince Jin standing not far away: "What...what do you want to do?"
"Chu Yunjin, you've caused me so much suffering, what do you think I want to do?" Prince Jin approached her step by step, his eyes filled with vicious resentment. "I wish I could tear you to pieces!"
Although Chu Yunjin knew she would be alright, she still felt a pang of fear when she looked into the eyes of the Prince of Jin.
She forced herself to remain calm and asked, "How is Jin Yue?"
"You can't even protect yourself, and you're still thinking about her?" Prince Jin raised his hand and grabbed Chu Yunjin's neck, his strength so great it seemed he wanted to strangle her to death immediately. "Chu Yunjin, you bitch! If it weren't for you, how could I have ended up like this today?"
"Ouch—" Chu Yunjin was choked so hard she couldn't breathe. She pried his hand off tightly, and her face quickly turned blue.
Suddenly, a sound of breaking window rang out. Startled, the Prince of Jin turned around and asked, "Who is it?"
Bang!
With a powerful blow to the back of his head, Prince Jin's vision went black, his grip on Chu Yunjin's neck loosened involuntarily, and he fainted without warning.
Chu Yunjin sat up and coughed, clutching her aching throat.
"Your Highness." Adele hurried to the bedside and helped Chu Yunjin up. "Are you alright? This plan was too risky. You must never do this again."
Chu Yunjin bent down and said with some difficulty, "No... there won't be a next time."
Her voice was a little hoarse, and she seemed to be in pain when she spoke.
Adele said, "Let's quickly go and fetch a royal physician to take a look."
"No," Chu Yunjin shook her head. "Has the Eldest Princess arrived?"
"Just arrived."
Chu Yunjin stood up, pointed at the Prince of Jin on the ground: "Find a sack, cover him up, give him a good beating, and then I'm going to the palace with the Princess to meet the Emperor."
This is the best opportunity to eliminate the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and the Prince of Jin in one fell swoop.
She'd be a fool to let them go.
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