The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 103 My Thoughts Have Been Thoroughly Understood

Zhao Jing'er had always been honest and well-behaved in the mansion, but today she appeared here and did something absurd. Li Jun knew he had suspicions, but he couldn't disregard Zhao Jing'er's life.

She was a respectable woman, and Zhao Jing'er was needed to investigate the matter thoroughly. After a moment's thought, Li Jun understood.

"Father, I wish to spare her life and allow her to continue serving in the mansion. I will not let her leave the Third Prince's residence."

Li Jiangui nodded: "Okay."

Empress Wang sighed, wondering how such an absurd thing could have happened during the Dragon Boat Festival banquet.

Li Jiangui had already given Li Jun the utmost respect, and seeing that Li Jun wasn't truly confused, he didn't say anything.

"Pack your things and get out of here. Think carefully about how to explain this to the girl you just betrothed."

Li Jiangui got up and left, and Empress Wang looked at Li Jun.

“You have always been the most polite person, yet you have committed such an absurd act. You should reflect on your actions.”

Li Jun repeatedly said yes.

After everyone left and the outside quieted down, Li Jun looked at Zhao Jing'er on the bed.

"Go back with my servant. I will settle this matter after we return to the manor."

Zhao Jing'er gave a soft "hmm".

Outside the door, Li Jun ran into Liang Ruoxue, whose eyes were filled with tears.

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"

Li Jun stepped forward and took Liang Ruoxue's hand.

"I'm sorry for what happened. I was framed. Once the truth is found, I will tell you the truth. Don't worry, our engagement will not be affected. Father Emperor did not blame me for this."

While Liang Ruoxue breathed a sigh of relief, she also harbored resentment towards the concubine.

Upon hearing that Li Jun had been framed, Liang Ruoxue immediately thought of Liang Ruoyan.

"Why is Your Highness here?"

Li Jun rubbed her temples: "Your maid came to call me then, saying you and I had something to say..."

Li Jun stopped talking because he noticed Liang Ruoxue's expression.

"Isn't that your maid?"

Liang Ruoxue was even more certain that it was Liang Ruoyan who did it.

“I did not ask the maid to call you out.”

Li Jun roughly understood, but she didn't know who did it.

"Go back to the main hall first, I will handle things."

Liang Ruoxue wanted to say that it might be related to Liang Ruoyan, but she had no evidence and was afraid of ruining her image with Li Jun. Li Jun was currently feeling guilty towards her, so she simply kept quiet.

Just then, Zhao Jing'er came out, and the two women's eyes met. Liang Ruoxue snorted coldly, thinking that she would teach this woman a lesson once she married into the Third Prince's mansion.

She turned and left first, while Zhao Jing'er was put into a carriage and taken back to the mansion.

Pei Du was summoned to the Imperial Study by Li Jiangui. With Empress Wang in charge in the main hall, nothing serious was expected.

A memorial was tossed at Pei Du's feet. Pei Du picked it up and met Li Jiangui's gaze.

"You brat, how dare you put on such a show right under my nose, trying to make me lose face in front of my ministers?"

Although he complained, his expression didn't reflect it at all.

Pei Du knelt down and explained with a grin: "Your Majesty, you should know what was originally going to happen. Miss Liang was caught having an affair with the Third Prince in the side hall. As a result, Miss Liang would have to marry into the Third Prince's household. The sisters would be marrying together because of such a scandal."

Pei Du paused for a moment.

"Most importantly, both young ladies come from the Marquis of Anping's family, which is of high status. They are both marrying into the Third Prince's household. I'm afraid the Crown Prince might harbor resentment. Even if he doesn't say it, anyone would feel uncomfortable, including those who support the Crown Prince. The Emperor certainly doesn't want to see his brothers turn against each other, does he?"

Lee Geon-kyu's lips curled up slightly.

"You little rascal, you've really figured out my thoughts."

"Right now, this is just a romantic affair of the Third Prince. He was drunk and slept with one of his concubines. He's not some scoundrel. I've already done quite well."

Li Jiangui spat. He knew Pei Du had ulterior motives, but he didn't point them out. However, the matter had indeed been resolved fairly decently.

That Miss Liang is capable of anything; she's vicious and full of scheming.

Li Jiangui had a very bad impression of Liang Ruoyan.

Pei Du cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, may I return to my seat?"

"roll roll roll."

Li Jiangui told him to leave quickly and not get in his way.

As Pei Du was about to leave, Li Jiangui asked again, "That concubine, you brought her over, didn't you?"

Pei Du remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.

Li Jun's affair did not cause much of a stir, and the maids and eunuchs involved have been secretly dealt with.

Shen Hanyu sat in her seat, listening to Wei Ming recount what had just happened.

“The Third Prince is not such a disrespectful person. How could he have become drunk after a few drinks and then favored a concubine? There must be something fishy about this.”

Wei Ming stroked her chin and then turned to ask Ji Yuxiu if she knew anything.

Ji Yuxiu shook her head: "This matter happened so suddenly that even the Emperor was unaware of it, so naturally I couldn't possibly know."

Shen Hanyu put down her teacup: "This concerns the reputation of the royal family, so let's not make any rash comments, or we'll only bring trouble upon ourselves."

Wei Ming nodded, realizing she couldn't say anything more, but she was just very curious.

Today, Liang Ruoyan failed, and Liang Ruoxue lost face. If Liang Ruoxue isn't stupid, she'll probably be able to connect it to Liang Ruoyan. Let's see how these two fight it out.

Liang Ruoxue returned with a dark face and the first thing she saw was Liang Ruoyan.

Liang Ruoyan had just been scolded by Xu Ying and was somewhat absent-minded. Her wrist was grabbed, and Liang Ruoxue lowered her voice, looking at her intently.

"Liang Ruoyan, you did it, didn't you?"

Liang Ruoyan's eyelashes trembled. "What is my sister saying?"

"Stop pretending. You must be jealous of my engagement to the Third Prince, so you came up with this scheme, right?"

Liang Ruoyan tidied her hair: "Sister, you've already won the Third Prince's heart and taken everything from me. Now you still want to slander me?"

Liang Ruoxue was even angrier. Liang Ruoyan refused to admit it no matter what. Who else but Liang Ruoyan could have done such an absurd thing?

“Sister, I know that your marriage to the Third Prince was thanks to Shen Hanyu, but why would Shen Hanyu help you? She comes from a humble background and was betrothed to him, but what if she just can’t stand seeing you living a good life? After all, you’re not sisters. Doesn’t she have her own interests?”

Liang Ruoyan whispered, pulling Shen Hanyu down with her.

"And don't forget how you treated Shen Hanyu back then. Weren't you planning to get back at Shen Hanyu after becoming the Third Prince's consort?"

Liang Ruoxue let go of her hand and sat on the cushion. Who exactly is Liang Ruoyan and Shen Hanyu?

Liang Ruoyan returned to Xu Ying's side. Although today's matter did not succeed, at least she preserved her reputation.

She was still feeling fortunate at that moment.

Princess Yongning and Li Huaijiang heard about what had happened. Li Huaijiang was not interested, but Princess Yongning was very concerned because Li Jun was her younger brother.

Such an incident at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet could not possibly have been done by Li Jun; someone is framing her.

When Li Jun returned, Princess Yongning pulled her aside.

"What exactly is going on between you and that concubine?"