Did Miss become a nun today?

As soon as Xie Yun Chu entered the manor and stepped off the carriage, someone came from the main courtyard. "Miss, you're back! We had guests visiting a few days ago."

"What kind of guest?"

"The wife of the former Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has come to visit today and is currently speaking with the lady in the main courtyard."

"Madam Du inquired about Miss, and she sent me to ask if Miss wishes to see her?"

"Then let's meet."

Upon entering the main courtyard, as soon as she lifted the curtain, Madam Du immediately smiled and rose to greet her, "This must be your cousin, right?"

"I had long heard that the cousin of the Marquis of Zhaoping was beautiful, intelligent, and well-mannered. Seeing her today, she is even more beautiful than a fairy in a painting."

Xie Yunchu was taken aback, but this Madam Du was very outgoing and took her arm, talking to herself.

She nodded occasionally in agreement, and Madam Du's smile grew even wider.

She looked at her aunt, Cen Jingyan shook her head. This Madam Du had come to see Yun Chu today, and judging from her appearance, her intention to curry favor was even stronger.

The three chatted casually for a while before finally getting to the point about why they had come.

"Last time, Miss Xie came to my residence for a banquet, but unfortunately I was entertaining guests and missed the opportunity to meet her, which was truly a pity."

"Today, I want to apologize to Miss Xie."

As he spoke, he even tried to bow to her.

Xie Yun Chu didn't have a good impression of this Madam Du, and only said, "Madam Du is joking, it's all a small matter."

She really didn't take it to heart; it was irrelevant people and things, and not seeing them saved her energy.

But this Madam Du seemed to hold Du Shaoqing's demotion against her and insisted on apologizing to her.

She comforted her for a while before she stopped, but then she started crying again.

"Miss Xie, it's all my fault. I've been negligent towards you. If you're angry, I'll kowtow to you."

Her husband had finally managed to become the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review after so many years, but because of her demotion, her mother-in-law had been criticizing her constantly, and her husband looked very worried. She was really feeling terrible.

After much thought, I realized I hadn't offended anyone that day, and the only possible culprit was this cousin from the Zhaoping Marquis's household.

At that time, she was talking to Madam Lu. They hadn't seen each other for a long time, so they had a lot to talk about. Madam Lu was talking about this cousin.

She and Madam Lu were from the same hometown and had been friends since they were young, so she had naturally heard about the Lu family's past.

She knew about her friend's hardships in the Lu family over the years, knew that Grand Tutor Lu had someone he admired back then, and knew that the couple had treated each other with respect but had grown distant over the years.

Even if she had someone she liked back then and they had been married for many years, what exactly was Xie Yun Chu's intention when she appeared at this time?

Seeing his friend's eyes red from crying, he immediately felt disgusted with this Miss Xie.

Hearing that the person was waiting outside, he didn't ask any questions. When he came out, he was told by his servant that the person had already left, which made him feel even more that the person was impolite.

Unexpectedly, this incident ended the master's career.

She truly regretted her actions; how could she have offended someone in the first place?

After Madam Du repeatedly apologized, Xie Yun Chu had no choice but to take her back to Shi Fang Courtyard.

"Miss Xie, I was wrong. I shouldn't have slighted you that day. Please, have mercy on the Du family."

"Please have a seat, Madam Du."

Xie Yun Chu poured her a cup of tea. "Madam Du, there's something I'd like to ask you."

"Miss Xie, may I ask?"

"That day at the Du residence, a maid soiled my clothes and said she would take me to change, but instead she took me to a room where there was a man."

"Shortly afterward, several ladies entered..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Madam Du understood, her face turned even uglier, and her voice trembled.

"What? What did you say? How could such a thing happen?"

Such a despicable act is shameful no matter where it happens.

But judging from Madam Du's appearance, it seemed like she knew nothing at all.

"If His Highness Prince Su had known about this matter when he visited that day, it would have been normal for Lord Du to have been demoted."

People in the capital, especially officials, feared most that their private quarters would be unsettled. There were laws in the court, and the conduct of officials in their private quarters was also a necessary condition for evaluation.

Although Du Shaoqing was unlucky enough to be affected, if Madam Du had been able to eliminate the hidden dangers in time, that incident would not have happened.

However, if that person really came for her, she also bears responsibility for this matter, so she said, "Madam Du can go back and investigate thoroughly to see if anyone has infiltrated the house. The court has laws, and if the culprit can be found, Du Shaoqing can be cleared of his crimes."

Madam Du assumed that Xie Yun Chu had climbed up to some powerful figure or the eldest son of the Zhaoping Marquis's mansion to suppress the Du family. Hearing this today, she broke out in a cold sweat.

Who on earth was the bastard who did such a despicable thing in the Du family?

After drinking a cup of tea, Madam Du couldn't sit still any longer, so she got up, thanked her, and left.

Pei Changyu had just returned to the manor when he saw a maid leading Madam Du away from afar.

"Did you have guests at home today?" he asked casually.

"Reporting to the eldest son, Madam Du came to visit today."

"She went to see Miss Biao?" Pei Changyu asked indifferently.

"Miss Biao took Madam Du to Shifang Courtyard for a while."

Pei Changyu stood under the eaves, watching Madam Du's hurried departure. His eyes darkened for a moment before he looked away.

He first went back to Songhe Courtyard to change his clothes before leisurely heading to Xie Yun Chu's Shifang Courtyard.

When they arrived at the courtyard gate, Lan Yue happened to come out of the house. She looked up and saw him, and quickly curtsied.

Is my cousin available?

"Young Master, Miss is reading inside." Lan Yue stepped aside.

Hearing the noise, Xie Yun Chu quickly closed the scripture and got up to greet him, "Cousin."

"Hmm," Pei Changyu responded and stepped inside.

She was wondering why her eldest cousin had come again when she heard him ask, "Did Madam Du come today?"

"Yes."

"What is she here for?" Pei Changyu asked casually.

"They felt they had slighted me during what happened at the Du residence last time, so they came here specifically to apologize."

Pei Changyu nodded, unsurprised, but remained silent for a moment, his gaze seemingly scrutinizing her face.

"Doesn't your cousin have anything to say to me?" he suddenly asked.

Xie Yun Chu shook her head. "No."

"Really not?" The voice was the same, but the tone had deepened.

Just as she was about to deny it, he suddenly leaned in and trapped her in a small space, looking down at her. "Cousin, I told you, you're not good at lying."

He leaned down, gently stroking her cheek, his gaze finally settling on her eyes and brows. As if at a loss, he sighed softly, "Yun Chu, why won't you believe me?"

"No matter what happens, I will help you sort it out, but I hope that in the future, whatever you encounter, the first person you will think of is me." He drew out the last syllable, as if he were aggrieved.

"Ten years, you've given your heart to Changfeng for ten years, why won't you give it to me even for a single day?"

His dark eyes were now fully revealed to her, as he wanted to tell her all the grievances in his heart.

"Yun Chu, why won't you look at me? Just once would be enough."

His forehead rested on her shoulder, and his breath trembled.

Xie Yun Chu's fingertips trembled. The weight on her shoulders wasn't heavy, but it made her chest feel tight.

The setting sun streaming in through the window cast a warm, golden glow, a stark contrast to his usual aloof demeanor.

"Changfeng has monopolized you for ten years, can't I even have one day?"

The voice was incredibly alluring, tender and lingering.

His thin lips brushed against her neck, and Xie Yun Chu finally understood how those weak-willed monks in the storybooks could not resist such beauty.

She used to always complain that monks lacked willpower and would blame others for seducing them, but now that she has encountered such an absurd situation, she understands it now.

But all that time spent chanting Buddhist scriptures and reciting mantras wasn't for nothing.

She raised her hand and pushed him on the shoulder, "Cousin, get up first."

"Does my cousin really hate me? Am I really so unworthy of your attention?"

"no......"

"Then why can Changfeng, but I can't?" Pei Changyu lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "I have no one else by my side, only you."

Xie Yun Chu took a deep breath and tried to push the person away, but he couldn't budge him.

"Big cousin, get up first, let's talk this out."

The person buried in the crook of her neck didn't move; where she couldn't see, how could there be any grievance? And how could there be any vulnerability?

The slight upturn of his lips clearly showed the smugness of a successful scheme.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't care; he has plenty of patience.

"Young Master!"

The urgent shouts shattered the enchanting atmosphere of the room.

Guan Yun rushed in, still breathless, "Young Master, something's happened!"

Xie Yun Chu panicked and pushed the person away abruptly, "Big Cousin, if you have important business to attend to, go ahead and do it."

Pei Changyu was pushed so hard he swayed slightly. Before he could even wipe the smug look off his lips, Guan Yun burst through the door and was met with her young master's face, which was so gloomy it could drip water.

Guan Yun's gaze darted quickly between the two men, and her heart skipped a beat—oh no, she had ruined the young master's good time.

But since things had already come to this, and the door had been opened and the words had been spoken, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and finish his sentence: "Young master... something has happened to the canal transport."