The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 432: Chapter 432: Knew All Along

Xiao Jiayi had been waiting here for a long time.

When she heard something had happened to Xiao Chengxuan, her first instinct was to go to the palace and plead with her father, the Emperor, but Xie Anjun stopped her.

He told her that at a time like this, it would be useless for anyone to go. It would only bring more trouble upon themselves.

Xiao Jiayi was persuaded and managed to suppress her anxiety. She secretly sent people to inquire about Xiao Chengxuan and her mother’s condition while waiting at the mansion for Xie Pei to return.

Xie Pei sidestepped her kneel, frowning as he shot a warning glance at the servants behind her.

”Is this how you’re supposed to be looking after her?!”

The servants hurried forward to help Xiao Jiayi up.

”My lady, the floor is cold. You should get up first! What will we do if you catch a chill?”

But Xiao Jiayi refused to move, her face streaked with tears as she looked up.

”Father, you’re the only one who can help him now. Are you saying even you refuse to?”

Xie Pei was also feeling incredibly frustrated.

”The imperial decree has already been issued. Besides, even Mr. Jiang couldn’t persuade the Emperor today, so what chance does anyone else have?”

Xiao Jiayi, of course, knew who he meant by ”Mr. Jiang.”

She bit her lip, a desolate sense of despair filling her heart.

”Cheng Xuan has always been so measured in his actions. How—how could he have made such a foolish mistake? It must be a mistake. Someone must have framed him!”

Xie Pei was already in a foul mood, and her words only irritated him further.

He spoke coldly, ”In front of Your Majesty and all the court officials, with multiple witnesses and conclusive evidence, you claim he was framed. Are you questioning the Ministry of Justice, or the Imperial Supervision Office?!”

Xiao Jiayi snapped back to her senses.

”I... I didn’t...”

Even though she was a princess, she didn’t dare say such things openly.

Besides, with even Xiao Chengxuan being punished, who knew if she would be next?

But he was her own brother. It was impossible for her to simply ignore his plight.

If that weren’t the case, she wouldn’t have swallowed her pride and waited here for so long.

”I just... I just want to know if there’s been some kind of misunderstanding...”

”The case will be investigated by the proper authorities. It’s not something I can influence with a word or two,” Xie Pei interrupted, his impatience clear.

In truth, he had long been dissatisfied with this precious, coddled princess.

’If she hadn’t secretly goaded him, Xie Anjun would never have tried to send someone to contact Xu Jie and get involved with Xiao Chengxuan.’

’Today, Xu Fengchi submitted a thick stack of testimony from Xu Jie. I have no idea if Xie Anjun is implicated...’

In the imperial court, everyone’s attention was on Xiao Chengxuan, but Xie Pei knew that a man like Xu Jie would not have clean hands.

’Heaven knows how many other people Xu Jie will drag into this!’

Now, everyone was scrambling to cut ties with Xiao Chengxuan, and Xie Pei was no exception.

’Unfortunately, with a princess living in the mansion, it seems impossible to get away from this mess...’

Xie Pei had already made up his mind, but he couldn’t be too ruthless in front of all these people.

He took a deep breath and softened his tone. ”Don’t worry for now. I’ll think of something.”

Receiving this promise, Xiao Jiayi’s spirits lifted, even though she knew there was little hope.

”Thank you, Father!”

Xie Pei waved his hand. ”All right, you should head back now. Just stay quietly in the mansion for the next few days and spend more time with Lin’er.”

’She’s just a woman, after all. As long as she wasn’t involved in Xiao Chengxuan’s affairs, there’s still room to maneuver.’

Xiao Jiayi finally left, her eyes red from crying.

Xie Pei turned, his brow furrowed, and asked, ”Where is An Jun?”

A servant answered timidly, ”Ever... ever since you reprimanded him the day before yesterday, he has shut himself in his room to reflect and hasn’t come out.”

Xie Pei’s anger flared.

’Reflect? What a joke!’

’He’s just afraid of getting another scolding from me!’

’Some nerve, making his own wife come and beg me on his behalf!’

’So utterly spineless. He’s a true disappointment!’

The more Xie Pei thought about it, the angrier he became. He took a few steps, then stopped abruptly.

”And the second son? Where the hell has he run off to this time?!”

...

”ACHOO—!”

Xie Anbai let out a sudden sneeze.

”Who could be talking about me now?”

He lamented, ”It’s true, I haven’t been to Chunfeng Lou in a long time. It’s my fault for leaving the ladies to pine away... After being gone for so long, they’ve probably all forgotten about me!”

Shen Yanchuan didn’t even look up. ”Look on the bright side. Perhaps the Marquis Zhongyong is looking for you.”

Xie Anbai: ”...”

He gave Shen Yanchuan a complicated look. ”What was I thinking, becoming friends with someone like you?”

Shen Yanchuan finally set down his brush and looked up. ”If you want to end our friendship right now, I can accommodate you.”

Xie Anbai: ”...”

’Sometimes a man just has to accept his fate, or else he’ll drive himself crazy.’

He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and huffed.

”I should just do whatever you want? Wouldn’t that mean I have no pride at all?”

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow.

With Xie Anbai’s temper, he would usually have left after a line like that, but today he didn’t move.

’Is he determined... not to go back to the Duke Zhongyong Mansion?’

”The court may be in chaos today, but the Marquis Zhongyong isn’t deeply involved. He probably won’t be affected much. What are you worried about?”

Xie Anbai paused, his cavalier expression gradually fading.

A moment later, he composed himself and waved his hand dismissively.

”I can’t be bothered to go back. I can just imagine that ’golden branch and jade leaf’ making a scene. It’s a pain to listen to.”

Although that’s what he said, Shen Yanchuan caught the fleeting change in his expression.

Shen Yanchuan’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

’Xie Anbai has never been fond of his sister-in-law, but his reaction today is still a little off...’

”What did you find out?”

Xie Anbai feigned ignorance. ”Hm?”

Shen Yanchuan’s gaze swept impassively over his face. Out of nervousness, Xie Anbai had already tightened his grip on his bone fan, his knuckles turning slightly white.

A brief silence fell.

Shen Yanchuan watched him quietly.

”Xie Anjun is also involved in this matter.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.

Xie Anbai’s heart was suddenly seized by an invisible hand, tossed high into the air, and then dropped just as quickly.

After a long moment, as if he had finally lost all his strength, he let out a long breath.

”Nothing ever gets past you.”

Shen Yanchuan’s expression didn’t change. ”You came here so suddenly today. You weren’t planning to hide it from me anyway, were you?”

Xie Anbai pressed his lips together, not denying it.

He and Shen Yanchuan had been friends for years; a single glance was all it took for them to know what the other was thinking.

He had indeed chosen this specific time to visit for his own reasons.

After a while, Xie Anbai finally spoke slowly:

”Xiao Chengxuan tried to assassinate you multiple times. That’s an irreconcilable grudge. Anyone involved in that is by no means innocent, and I have nothing to say about that. I came today just to tell you one thing: whatever Xie Anjun has done, it has nothing to do with the old man.”

Shen Yanchuan was quiet for a moment, then gave a faint smile.

”I know.”

Hearing this, Xie Anbai suddenly realized something and looked up in shock.

”You—you knew all along!?”