The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 224 Night Falls

When they told Qin Shiwen, he didn't suspect anything, which is why they were able to send the ships here.

"We're bound to run into this flower boat; there's no way to avoid it. Let's see what it's up to."

Li Huaijiang spoke casually, as she had made preparations in advance thanks to Shen Hanyu's reminder.

Shen Hanyu thought that this way, the same mistake wouldn't happen again.

Li Huaijiang has her own opinions, and Shen Hanyu chatted with her for a while before they parted ways.

Zhao Yu, sitting at the table, looked at the wine in his cup. Li Huaijiang must have noticed, but since they were already on the pleasure boat, he could only bite the bullet and try to make the matter succeed.

Li Jun was watching the musicians perform when she caught a glimpse of Zhao Yu's expression, which she couldn't help but be secretly surprised by.

He looked away, certain he hadn't misread it; he'd never known his sister-in-law had this side to her.

Li Jun looked at Princess Yongning and found an excuse to call her away.

"Sister Royal."

Li Jun told Princess Yongning what she had seen, and Princess Yongning looked around.

"Don't get involved in their fight."

Princess Yongning knew about the discord between Li Huaijiang and Zhao Yu, and she really didn't want to get involved and get herself into trouble.

The girls' school had finally started to improve, so why should she let those things get entangled in her life again?

Li Jun hesitated, "We are brothers after all, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

“Sometimes standing by isn’t necessarily wrong. This isn’t something we should be involved in. Do you want to offend your brother?”

Having offended Li Jing, Li Jun bowed his head, as he certainly didn't want his relationship with Li Jing to deteriorate too much.

"I see."

Princess Yongning knew her words were too cold, but there was nothing she could do. All she could do was protect herself and Li Jun, or she would suffer the same fate as Li Sheng.

Recalling Li Huaijiang's erratic behavior back then, Princess Yongning took a deep breath, her heart also stirred.

Li Huaijiang returned to her seat as usual. She was a picky eater and ate whatever she could find to fill her stomach.

At the next table, Liang Ruochu wiped her mouth and got up to digest her food.

"Where did the young master go?"

Liang Ruochu hadn't seen Pei Xingzhi for a while, so she casually asked him a question.

"The young master is with his colleagues. Would you like to go and see him, Madam?"

Liang Ruochu shook her head. Pei Xingzhi definitely didn't want her to disturb him at this moment, so she didn't go over.

Apart from her, no one from the Marquis of Anping's residence came to participate in this cruise. Liang Ruochu felt relaxed and refreshed, no longer having to face those faces.

She suddenly remembered something, curled her lips into a smile, and turned to find Shen Hanyu.

When Shen Hanyu saw Liang Ruochu walking towards her, she knew it was no good news.

"cousin."

Liang Ruochu moved closer to Shen Hanyu in an intimate manner. Shen Hanyu only had Miaocui with her, and no one else.

"What's the matter?"

Liang Ruochu smiled and said, "Aren't you curious about how Aunt is doing in the Marquis's mansion, cousin?"

Shen Hanyu looked at her. Liang Ruochu was clearly up to something, but using Liang Fangrong's matter as a breakthrough point was a mistake on Liang Ruochu's part.

“That’s none of my business. Now that I’ve moved out, I won’t have any further dealings with the Marquis’s mansion. Even if something happens, I won’t go to the Marquis’s mansion for help.”

After listening to Shen Hanyu finish speaking, Liang Ruochu looked her over.

"Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important. Now that my cousin has started her own household, does she no longer care about filial piety?"

Filial piety?

Blindly obeying one's parents is unacceptable.

"If you're thinking of using my mother to stab me, you'd better give up that idea."

Shen Hanyu no longer wanted to get entangled with the people from the Marquis's mansion. Sooner or later, Liang Ruochu would pay the price for her desires.

"Cousin, you really don't want to know?"

Liang Ruochu's attitude was aggressive, a far cry from her previous timid and cowardly demeanor.

"Do not want to."

Shen Hanyu pushed her away.

Liang Ruochu stared at Shen Hanyu's back as if she wanted to expose him. When Shen Hanyu first came to the Marquis's mansion, he didn't seem like such an unfaithful and unfilial person. How did he become like this now?

"What if I said she was going to die soon?"

Shen Hanyu stopped as expected, a fleeting emotion passing through her eyes.

"You're the one who caused this?"

Liang Ruochu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Don't throw all sorts of mud at me, Shen Hanyu. You still care, right? You were just pretending all along, weren't you?"

She became more and more certain as she spoke, but Shen Hanyu did not answer her.

"If you want to know the specifics of your aunt's condition, I can mercifully tell you."

Shen Hanyu didn't believe Liang Ruochu was being so kind, so Miaocui whispered a few words to her, and Shen Hanyu nodded.

"unnecessary."

After saying that, Shen Hanyu left, not wanting to waste any more words with Liang Ruochu.

If she wanted to know, that would be easy; Liang Ruochu must have other motives.

"There was indeed news from the Marquis's residence that the lady was not in good health and had been recuperating for a long time. Now there has indeed been no news for a long time."

Miao Cui talked as she walked.

Shen Hanyu spoke only when they reached the corner: "When you have time, summon Xia Lai and ask him what exactly the Marquis's mansion has been doing."

Liang Fangrong was nearing the end of her life, and it shouldn't have happened at this time. Could it be that her departure indirectly changed Liang Fangrong's fate?

Regardless, this matter still needs to be investigated thoroughly. We'll find out when we meet Xia Lai.

Shen Hanyu returned to her cabin with a heavy heart. She wasn't interested in the singing and dancing performances outside, and was just waiting for the hidden crisis to unfold.

As darkness fell, Qin Shiwen, feeling the wind, glanced at the water.

"General Pei, what are you up to?"

Qin Shiwen turned around, revealing Pei Du standing behind him.

Pei Du stepped forward: "Tonight is not peaceful, you should go back early."

Qin Shiwen shrugged. He had already arranged for someone to go back, so there was no need to worry about that.

"Who dares to provoke the Qin family?"

Pei Du glanced at him. If he were the Crown Prince, he could indeed stomp on the Qin family's head.

Moreover, the Qin family is not on the Crown Prince's side; they have always been neutral and loyal only to the Emperor, which is a headache for Li Jing.

Pei Du didn't answer, but his attitude said it all.

Qin Shiwen said casually, "With so many distinguished guests on the ship, if something really happens, Father will definitely beat me to death."

While that's a bit of an exaggeration, and it's unlikely to be fatal, there's still a high probability that he'll be put in solitary confinement.

The thought of the consequences sent a shiver down Qin Shiwen's spine.

"I'll keep an eye on some things for you."

Pei Du took the initiative to speak.

Qin Shiwen said helplessly, "We've done all the necessary checks. If something else goes wrong, there's nothing I can do."

Pei Du indicated that he understood.

Seeing the boat begin to row back, Zhao Yu took a deep breath and instructed the palace maid beside him to do a few things.

We need to make things bigger tonight before we dock.

"Your Majesty, the kerosene is ready."

Zhao Yu stood up: "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain. There's always a way. At worst, we'll both suffer heavy losses."