CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 241: EACH IN THEIR OWN CHAOS

"Your humble servant truly realizes his error, but was left with no choice. I beg your majesty to spare my life!"

The villager, appearing before the imperial countenance, had long been scared out of his wits, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy incessantly.

"I never thought the Pei Family would have such dirty dealings."

The Empress sighed deeply, looking at Yu Nianzhao with pity and compassion, "Poor Zhaozhao, to encounter such scum. A well-born daughter of a marquis household, discarded like this, what a tragedy."

Emperor Anqing also slammed the table, exclaiming angrily, "A dignified Marquis, deceived to such an extent? How can you even call yourselves parents?"

"Wahhh!"

Ms. Lien, upon hearing these words, understood all too well, and burst into tears, "Zhaozhao, it’s your mother’s fault for failing you. The person who brought such misery to your life was by my side all along. I respected her as always, never dreaming that Mrs. Pei could be so heartless."

Pei Yuncheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he murmured in a daze, "The sister I’ve loved for over ten years, is actually Grandmother’s granddaughter? And my real sister was mercilessly swapped and thrown out by my Grandmother? My God, what am I even doing?"

Pei Yunqing clenched his fists and said, "From beginning to end, we’ve been hurting our closest family. Grandmother... no, Mrs. Pei, has really played everyone skillfully."

"No, Yunzhi did not do it on purpose; she never knew any of this!"

Pei Yuncheng lifted his head, his eyes splitting with rage, his heart swaying as he wanted to defend Pei Yunzhi.

"How could she not know?"

Yu Nianzhao gave a wry smile, "The Pei Yunzhi you think of as pure and kind? In fact, she knew long ago that the housekeeper lady is her real mother. Let me think... when did she find out? Could it have been six years ago when I first returned to the Pei Family? Or perhaps even earlier?"

Ms. Lien nearly bit through her teeth, shaking Pei Yunzhi’s shoulders as she rushed in front of her, asking, "Yunzhi, is what Zhaozhao said true? Have you known for a long time that you’re not my real daughter?"

Pei Yunzhi’s beautiful face remained expressionless as she coldly brushed off Ms. Lien’s hand, "Does it matter now, speaking of this?"

Ms. Lien stared at her in shock, her heart ice-cold, "Matter? My real daughter has wandered outside for so many years, and you tell me it doesn’t matter anymore?"

Pei Yunzhi’s lips curled into an enchanting smile, taunting, "Wasn’t Yu Nianzhao found and brought back? But how did you treat her? Wasn’t she sent into Tomb Guard City? All I have to do is cry a little, and you all favored me. It’s not like I purposely taught you all to do that; it was your own cruel intentions, how can you blame me for this?"

Seeing Pei Yunzhi’s venomous expression made Ms. Lien shudder, retreating repeatedly as if she had never truly known her, "Yunzhi, I treated you as my own daughter, and never wronged you for not being my real child, yet your heart is so dark. Even Zhaozhao being sent to Tomb Guard City was orchestrated by Mrs. Pei. You two teamed up to harm my child, truly heartless."

She glared at Mrs. Pei with eyes full of rage, wishing she could tear her apart, "No wonder you always looked down on the Marquis. If not for Old Marquis giving the title to my husband early on, you probably wanted the second or third son to inherit, just to have more control."

Mrs. Pei huffed angrily, "Do not slander this old lady so recklessly!"

Then she glared at Pei Yuanzheng, "Look at your daughter and wife. Are they always so disrespectful to elders? Such a lack of upbringing."

Pei Yuanzheng’s eyes were filled with disappointment as he retorted firmly, "If Mrs. Pei truly committed such heartless and immoral acts, the one lacking upbringing is you!"

"You, you, you..."

"With evidence so conclusive, what more is there to say?"

Xie Jiuxiao said, "Imperial Brother, what punishment should be given for the Marquis Household’s old lady’s heartless actions?"

Emperor Anqing slammed the table, declaring loudly, "Unethical behavior, bringing chaos to a Marquis Household, morally depraved, truly unworthy of holding the status of the Old Marquis’s wife! Still, considering she raised the Pei Family members, I will spare you from death. From now on, strip her of her status and send her out of the mansion to live with her biological daughter."

Mrs. Pei finally became anxious, kneeling on the ground, sobbing, "Your Majesty, this old lady didn’t intentionally conceal all of this. Old Marquis... he knew about this matter, and he allowed me to raise the child outside."

To her, being deprived of identity and status was more painful than death!

"Lying on the Jinluan Hall?"

Pei Yuanzheng was completely enraged, "Father would never know about your disgraceful affair, otherwise he would never have married a woman like you!"

"No, Yuanzheng, I’m your mother. It was I who raised you all."

"When you entered the household, we brothers were already self-sufficient. We foolishly sought a mother’s love, only to find your venomous heart instead."

Pei Yuanzheng closed his eyes, unwilling to look at her poisonous face any longer.

Prince An Nan remarked as if enjoying the drama, "Tsk, I didn’t expect the Pei Family to be in such disarray?"

Xie Jiuxiao sneered coldly, "The An Nan Royal Mansion isn’t much better off."

Prince An Nan touched his nose and silently closed his mouth.

"Yunzhi, say something! If this continues, Father might drive you out too."

Pei Yuncheng’s mind was in turmoil, instinctively driven to support Pei Yunzhi.

Pei Yunzhi gave him a wooden glance, then got up and walked toward Prince An Nan.

Prince An Nan’s hair stood on end. Facing the woman who was supposed to be his daughter-in-law, he couldn’t utter any harsh words.

"Prince!"

Pei Yunzhi flung herself into Prince An Nan’s arms, startling him so much that he didn’t know how to react for a moment, lifting his arms in confusion.

"Hiss..."

The others gasped in shock, never expecting Pei Yunzhi to do such a thing at this time.

"Prince, at the spring boating banquet, you ruined my reputation and must take responsibility for it. Whether as a concubine or a lesser wife, I don’t care anymore. As long as you take me into the mansion and provide a place for me."

Pei Yunzhi buried her face in his chest, pleading as she rubbed up and down, making Prince An Nan feel lightheaded.

"Yunzhi, have you gone mad?"

Pei Yuncheng’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

Ignoring them, Pei Yunzhi, with eyes brimming with tears, said in front of everyone, "If even the Prince doesn’t pity me, I’m afraid death is my only option. The Pei Family won’t have me, society won’t accept me, then I will..."

She glanced at the pillar nearby, ready to crash into it in despair, only to be pulled back by Prince An Nan in time.

"I’ll take you! Would that suffice?"

Prince An Nan broke out in a cold sweat, looking down at Pei Yunzhi’s fair and lovely face, feeling his heart waver uncontrollably.

With a young and beautiful woman eager to be his concubine, what reason did he have to refuse?

"Father!"

Xie Yunzhe gritted his teeth, never expecting that Prince An Nan’s lust would lead him to take even his former fiancée.