Chapter 131 Suspicion, Pei Yuan Protects Shen Chu
After Shen Chu left, Zhou Jun comforted Princess Qinghe, "Mother, don't worry, Brother A Chu keeps his word."
Since he promised to ask the Sixth Prince for help, he can definitely help us get the jade pendant back.
Princess Qinghe hesitated, "Ah Jun, do you think Lord Shen might think our gifts are too meager?"
Why would Mother say that?
"When you first went to ask for the jade pendant, Lord Shen said that the jade pendant was with the Marquis, but later he said that the Marquis gave it to an old friend to admire."
Today they said the jade pendant was sold to the Green Jade Pavilion by the Marquis, and I'm starting to think something's not right.
"Do you think it's possible that Lord Shen thought our reward was too meager, so he used the Marquis as an excuse to sell the jade pendant?"
Zhou Jun shook his head, "Brother Achu is a warm-hearted and righteous person, he would never do such a thing."
Besides, this jade pendant wasn't even on the gift list. If he wanted to keep it, he could have simply said he didn't see it. Why use the Marquis as an excuse?
Princess Qinghe sighed, "Isn't it too obvious to just say that you didn't see the jade pendant?"
Instead, he used the Marquis as an excuse to sell the jade pendant to the Green Jade Pavilion, and then pretended to go to the Green Jade Pavilion.
In this way, he got the silver without suffering the stigma of coveting his friend's jade pendant—a win-win situation.
Zhou Jun frowned. "Mother, Brother Achu isn't that kind of person. I've heard all about it. Last night, Brother Achu and the Sixth Prince were bidding fiercely."
Princess Qinghe tapped his forehead. "You're just too naive. You only see the fierce bidding between him and the Sixth Prince, but what was the result?"
Everyone in the capital knows the Sixth Prince's temperament; how could he possibly give away something he has his eye on?
Perhaps Shen Chu had a firm grasp on the Sixth Prince's personality and deliberately put on an act.
After hearing what Princess Qinghe said, Zhou Jun also wavered a bit, "Mother, don't you think too badly of Brother Achu?"
I still don't think Brother Chu is the kind of person who is insatiable.
Princess Qinghe felt more and more that her guess made sense as she spoke, "How many greedy people have we seen over the years?"
Besides, that's a priceless jade pendant with ice-flower hibiscus patterns; who wouldn't be tempted by it?
"The jade pendant saved your father's life; you must get it back."
Zhou Jun suggested in a low voice, "Why don't we go and beg the Sixth Prince?"
Princess Qinghe disagreed, "How could someone like the Sixth Prince possibly give us the jade pendant?"
Besides, if the Sixth Prince asks us to pay, do we even have any money left in our family?
"This matter requires Shen Chu's intervention. Let's wait another day. If he can't retrieve the jade pendant, I'll kneel down at the gate of the Marquis of Changning's residence."
Zhou Jun panicked, "This...this isn't a good idea, is it? If things get out of hand, it won't be good for Brother Chu either, since he saved me after all."
Princess Qinghe pursed her lips. "Now that things have blown up, Shen Chu, mindful of his official reputation, will definitely do everything in his power to get the jade pendant back."
Zhou Jun felt that his mother's actions were inappropriate, but he didn't know how to persuade her to change her mind. Just as he was getting anxious, a cold sneer came from behind him.
"It seems that the princess has seen quite a few greedy people over the years, and actually thinks she has developed a pair of eyes that can judge people."
Princess Qinghe was startled and looked up to see Pei Yuan striding into the pavilion with his hands behind his back.
Her expression changed slightly, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in her eyes.
The Sixth Prince was mocking her for being blind. She understood, but dared not refute him. She could only scold the servants with a dark face, "Blind and tongue-tied lowly things, how dare you not announce the arrival of His Highness the Sixth Prince?"
The servants who followed behind knelt on the ground, trembling.
Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Is the princess making a veiled attack?"
Princess Qinghe's expression froze. "Your Highness has misunderstood. I didn't mean that."
Pei Yuan chuckled, "It's best if there isn't. I think your servants are quite good; they've really learned from the princess."
Princess Qinghe was so embarrassed that her face turned red and purple. Pei Yuan was implying that she was also blind and had her tongue cut out.
Pei Yuan's sharp gaze fell on Zhou Jun, and he sneered, "A life-saving grace should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. A gentleman does not speak ill of others behind their backs. Even seven-year-old children understand this principle. Do I, the prince, need to teach you?"
Zhou Jun looked ashamed. "Your Highness, I was wrong. I shouldn't have suspected Brother A Chu behind his back."
"You can't speak up for your brothers, and you can't advise your mother to act prudently. I think you've wasted more than ten years of your life eating food."
Zhou Jun's face turned red to the roots of his ears, and his eyes were filled with tears, but he dared not cry.
He stammered as he explained, "I...I also think Brother Achu isn't that kind of person."
"Ha, at least that's human language."
Princess Qinghe felt sorry for her son's timid and hesitant manner, and couldn't help but defend him, "As the saying goes, you can know a person's face but not their heart. Your Highness is not Lord Shen, so how do you know that he doesn't want to steal our family's jade pendant?"
Pei Yuan scoffed, "Shen Chu isn't that kind of person. Let alone one piece of ice flower hibiscus jade pendant, even if there were ten, Shen Chu wouldn't covet something that doesn't belong to him."
Besides, with his intelligence, he has plenty of ways to get a jade pendant; he wouldn't need to resort to such a despicable method.
Princess Qinghe was still unconvinced, but dared not argue with Pei Yuan any further.
She wanted to ask Pei Yuan to give them the jade pendant, but she was also afraid that Pei Yuan would ask them to buy it, so her expression kept changing.
At this moment, Zhou Jun looked up and saw a figure standing outside the pavilion, exclaiming, "Brother Achu!"
It turned out to be Shen Chu, who had returned, standing outside the pavilion at some unknown time.
Pei Yuan was slightly taken aback. He had been focused on reprimanding Zhou Jun and hadn't even turned around when he heard footsteps approaching. He hadn't expected it to be Shen Chu.
Didn't they hear all the praise I just gave him?
He turned around somewhat awkwardly, pretending to admire the artificial hill opposite.
Shen Chu's gaze swept over Pei Yuan, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.
Unexpectedly, Pei Yuan, who usually despises her from head to toe, actually stood up for her when others were suspicious of her.
My heart felt warm, and I was touched.
Zhou Jun, head drooping, interrupted her thoughts in a muffled voice, "Achu, I'm sorry, I..."
Shen Chu waved to him, looked at Princess Qinghe, her voice calm but unable to hide a hint of arrogance.
"The jade pendant is related to the health of the prince consort. I can understand that the princess spoke carelessly out of concern, but I cannot accept the princess's suspicion of me."
Princess, you not only look down on me, Chen Chu, but also on your son, Zhou Jun, and even more so on the brotherhood between us.
Does the princess believe that her son associates with only greedy and shameless people?
Princess Qinghe looked embarrassed, her face ashen. "I... I just blurted it out in a moment of panic. Please don't mind, Lord Shen, about the jade pendant..."
"Mother!" Zhou Jun jumped up anxiously. "Brother Achu, the jade pendant isn't urgent. My father still needs medication to recuperate."
“Ah Jun!” Princess Qinghe interrupted Zhou Jun sharply.
Zhou Jun pursed his lips, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Shen Chu took a deep breath. "Princess, rest assured, I, Shen Chu, always keep my word and do what I say."
But when the jade pendant is returned, I also hope that the princess will apologize to me for her suspicions today.
Princess Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Okay."
As long as the jade pendant can be retrieved, what does an apology matter?
Shen Chu turned to Pei Yuan, who had been staring at the sky, the ground, and the air, and asked, "Sixth Prince, shall we have a talk?"
Pei Yuan turned around, his gaze sweeping over Shen Chu's face. Jin Bao's words from last night flashed through his mind again, "You two were both drugged. What could you have done in that situation?"
We must find out exactly what happened at Jingguo Temple that night.
"Okay, let's go outside and talk."
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