The pregnant woman pressed down on the wife, and the cousin collapsed into the prince's arms.

Seeing that Su Wanrou was still pretending to be stupid, Pei Jingnian's anger was raging. He looked coldly at Zhou Mama beside him, his gaze icy and piercing. Zhou Mama trembled in fear, her face turning deathly pale. She knelt down with a thud and pleaded, "Your Highness, please do not listen to the ramblings of a lowly person..."

Pei Jingnian suddenly let out a cold laugh. He looked at the two hypocritical masters and servants in front of him, his narrow eyes full of mockery: "So you really won't shed tears until you see the coffin? Zhou Tianchuan, he's your nephew, isn't he?"

The short sentence struck Zhou's mother like a thunderbolt.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, and only a cold despair remained in her heart. Since the young master knew about her nephew, he must have already investigated everything thoroughly.

She never married in her life. Zhou Tianchuan said he was her nephew, but he was actually like her son, and the only son of the Zhou family!

She absolutely could not let Zhou Tianchuan fail because of this.

And then there's her mistress. She turned to look at Su Wanrou, the mistress who had been serving her since she was a few years old!

If Zhou Tianchuan was her son, then Su Wanrou was no different from her daughter!

Her young lady had a smooth life from childhood, which led to her becoming spoiled. After marrying the young master, she devoted herself entirely to him. However, too much of a good thing can be bad, and deep affection is often short-lived. Her overly ardent love ultimately became a shackle that trapped her.

Looking at Su Wanrou, who was standing not far away, completely lost and dazed, she felt an overwhelming pang of heartache and reluctance. She knew that she could not escape unscathed today, but she was willing to risk her own life to protect her mistress.

Having made her decision, Madam Zhou appeared quite calm. She gave a proper bow and said, "Your Highness, all of these things were done by me alone. My nephew was acting under my orders, and the Princess Consort was completely unaware of them. Ever since she married into the Marquis's mansion, her heart has been with you. Please consider our marital relationship and Miss Rao's innocence. I am willing to bear all the blame myself."

The atmosphere inside the room was deathly still and stagnant.

Because Pei Jingnian had been so intimidating, Su Wanrou was already flustered and unsettled, unable to regain her composure for a long time.

Hearing Zhou's mother take all the blame, Su Wanrou suddenly looked up, her throat tightening and choking. She wanted to say something, but suddenly couldn't utter a word.

Isn't it good that Zhou's mother took all the blame?

In this way, she can shed all her grievances and remain the virtuous Crown Princess.

That way, Pei Jingnian wouldn't dislike her so much.

Su Wanrou has spent her whole life pursuing nothing more than Pei Jingnian's favoritism and affection. If he continues to look at her with that disgusted gaze, she will really go crazy!

But why is pain and despair spreading wildly in my heart?

Su Wanrou's eyes flickered, but she ultimately kept quiet and didn't utter a single word.

Pei Jingnian had been wanting to deal with Zhou's mother for a long time!

She was Su Wanrou's sharpest blade, and also her most poisonous knife!

Thinking of this wicked woman, who, relying on her medical skills, first put musk in the concubine's body, and then tried to use heavy tonics to make Shuang'er's pregnancy difficult to deliver.

All these insidious methods are aimed at his offspring and his people!

She's nothing but a lowly servant girl!

How could Pei Jingnian not hate him?!

Pei Jingqing parted his thin lips, his voice cold and utterly emotionless: "Drag him away and beat him to death!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a guard stepped forward, gagged Zhou's mother, and dragged her away.

"Beating to death..." Upon hearing such a severe punishment, Shen Yunshuang couldn't hold back any longer. She practically knelt at Pei Jingnian's feet, grabbing his robes and pleading, "Your Highness, although Mother Zhou is at fault, she has served me for many years. I beg you, please spare her life!"

Looking at Su Wanrou, who was standing in front of him with tears streaming down her face, Pei Jingnian suddenly felt very unfamiliar with her.

They had been married for three years and had the most tender moments. He thought she was just a little jealous, but he never expected that she would treat human life so lightly in order to achieve her own goals.

Lily of the valley, rouge, cloud frost.

No one escaped her wickedness!

Even her closest confidante, Mother Zhou, was completely pushed away by her at this moment.

This is her—calculating every step, ruthless and vicious.

He leaned down, lifted her chin, and a fierce glint flashed in his narrow eyes: "Do you think I would believe you know nothing?"

He stared intently into her eyes and saw panic and evasion: "She deserves to die, and you..."

An overwhelming fear gripped her, Su Wanrou's pupils constricted, and she said in disbelief, "Are you going to kill me? No... you can't kill me, Pei Jingnian, your life was saved by my maternal grandfather, you owe us a life!"

The long-buried past is revealed: Pei Jingnian's childhood illness was indeed saved by Su Wanrou's maternal grandfather.

Pei Jingnian closed his eyes briefly: "I will spare your life and do nothing to repay the kindness shown to the Su family. However, if anything happens to Shuang'er or the child in her womb, don't blame me, Pei Jingnian, for being ungrateful."

Pei Jingnian left

Zhou's mother... is dead.

Su Wanrou felt as if she had lost half her life. She slumped onto the cold ground, utterly exhausted, tears streaming silently down her face. Remembering what Pei Jingnian had just said—that he wouldn't touch her…

She suddenly started laughing hysterically. Did she not move her, but had she already completely abandoned her?

All she wanted was him!

_

In the other courtyard, Shen Yunshuang sat on a soft couch, her expression serene. With Zhou Mama dead, Su Wanrou had lost her most powerful assistant. Hearing that Su Wanrou was also ill, she had been filled with fear and anxiety ever since, her mind collapsing, and she had been bedridden ever since.

Pei Jingnian felt very guilty towards her. He told her honestly that because of the kindness the Su family had shown him, he could not divorce his wife yet, even though Su Wanrou had committed many evil deeds.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunshuang showed no resentment whatsoever. Instead, she was very understanding and gently advised him to consider their marital bond and visit the ailing Su Wanrou more often.

I saw the undisguised disgust in Pei Jingnian's eyes when he heard about Su Wanrou.

Shen Yunshuang laughed. What did a mere title matter? What she wanted to take away was what Su Wanrou considered the most precious thing.

Titles are meaningless; people's hearts are what truly matter.

To lose the emperor's heart is the cruelest punishment.

However, the real show has only just begun.