It's all ruined, who cares about the chastity arch

The eldest princess stood up to protect Miss Pei Liu. Her tone was stern and did not allow for any contempt: "Pei, how dare you be so presumptuous in my princess's mansion!"

The princess's rare anger was not only due to Su Wanyu's intervention, but more because of her deep sympathy for Pei Yuxi's tragic experience.

"Somebody come!"

Upon hearing the voice, Nanny Xia came over quickly and replied respectfully, "Your Highness."

The princess's eyes were as sharp as a sword, fixed sternly on Yuan, and every word she said was powerful and full of authority that could not be refuted: "Slap me in the face!"

Yuan was terrified and quickly knelt down to beg for mercy: "Your Highness, I know I was wrong. Please have mercy on me and forgive me this time!"

However, the eldest princess had made up her mind. Her vigorous and resolute style coincided with Su Wanyu's fatherly determination. She gave the order again: "Execute!"

Nanny Xia led two palace maids forward, ignored Yuan's pleading, forcibly held down her shoulders, pinched her chin, and two crisp slaps echoed in the air. The sound seemed to hit everyone's heart, making everyone present shudder.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

Yuan was beaten so hard that she felt dizzy and barely raised her head. In addition to anger, her eyes were filled with deep hatred and confusion towards Pei Yuxi.

She never dreamed that all of this was Su Wanyu's careful planning, and thought it was just a momentary impulse of revenge by a concubine.

She planned in her heart that after returning to Pei Mansion, she would punish Pei Yuxi severely and let her know how powerful she was.

But the princess' next words completely shattered her fantasy: "Since you dislike this daughter so much, then it's just right. Send her to the remote Chenyang. I'm in need of manpower to manage the other courtyard."

Yuan was so shocked that she was speechless. She had never expected that the eldest princess would choose to protect such a lowly daughter.

For Pei Yuxi, the trip to Chenyang means that her life is safe. It also allows her to stay away from this place of trouble and the infatuated Gu Linjun. It would be harder than climbing to the sky for them to meet again in the future.

The eldest princess's move was like a chess master's move, which caused a thousand ripples with one stone. It was so ingenious that it not only shocked Yuan in front of her, but also contained an implicit warning that reached the ears of Lord Pei who was far away in the court.

Yuan suddenly felt as if something was stuck in her throat and she dared not make any more rebuttals. She only felt the burning sensation on her cheeks had not yet dissipated, and her heart was filled with even more trepidation, fearing that if she was not careful, she would once again incur the eldest princess's dreaded punishment.

"Immediately arrange for Yuan to return to the mansion, and tell Lord Pei on my behalf that the family turmoil has not yet been resolved, so do not discuss state affairs."

The eldest princess' voice was as cold as the winter wind, piercing Yuan's heart. It was not only a stern warning to her, but also indirectly sounded the alarm for the internal turmoil in the Pei family.

Yuan seemed to wake up from a nightmare and suddenly realized the huge crisis that her impulse might bring to the entire family.

However, the teasing of fate does not seem to stop so easily.

Just as Yuan was struggling to get up, intending to escape from the center of the storm as soon as possible, a maid rushed into the room panting, looking panicked: "Madam, something terrible has happened!"

Yuan was upset and dissatisfied with the maid's misbehavior. She scolded her, "Pay attention to etiquette in front of the princess and don't lose your composure!"

The maid obviously didn't care about Yuan's reproach, her face was full of anxiety, and she almost whispered in Yuan's ear: "Madam, it's the second young lady, she...

She returned to Beijing."

"Which lady?"

Yuan's heart suddenly shook, as if she had a premonition of something ominous.

The maid frowned and responded in a low voice: "It's the second young lady, Qingzhi."

When Yuan heard this, her face turned pale instantly. All her considerations about Pei Yuxi were instantly thrown out of her mind. The most urgent thing now was to resign to the princess immediately.

Seeing that she looked nervous, the princess did not stop her. After getting the consent of her confidante Su Wanyu, she allowed Yuan to leave in a hurry.

On the carriage leaving the palace, Yuan couldn't wait to ask the maid: "Are you sure Qingzhi is really back?"

The maid replied with a firm expression, "Yes, the young lady has returned safely, there is no doubt about it."

Yuan was shocked: "Shouldn't she be taking refuge in the countryside? Why did she suddenly appear in the capital?"

Everyone knows that Pei Qingzhi committed suicide at home to prove his innocence. His return now has undoubtedly added another indelible scar to the Pei family's already shaky reputation!

The maid also looked confused: "I don't know the details, but I heard that someone in the mansion witnessed the return of the second young lady."

"Where is my daughter now?"

Yuan's voice revealed an anxiety that was difficult to conceal.

The maid hesitated for a while, and finally spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "The young lady has not returned home yet. It is said that she is in Ziyan Pavilion now."

"Zi Yan Pavilion?!"

Yuan put her hand on her forehead and almost fainted.

The maid quickly asked with concern: "Madam, are you okay?"

Yuan leaned against the wall of the carriage, her face looking even heavier. This sudden blow seemed to be more heartbreaking than the humiliation she had just suffered in front of the eldest princess.

"Why is she there? If she's back, why doesn't she just go home?"

Yuan was puzzled.

The maid lowered her head in shame and said in a weak voice: "Miss... you are now the oiran of Ziyan Pavilion..."

This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, making Yuan dizzy again.

Her daughter, who was born into a noble family and should have enjoyed honor, had fallen to become the leader of a brothel.

It turned out that although Pei Qingzhi was arranged to go to the countryside, she never expected to be secretly replaced by Su Wanyu and stayed in the capital.

These days, Su Wanyu imprisoned her in a remote manor, trying to use it as a bargaining chip to control the overall situation of the Pei family.

However, Yuan's unwise behavior gave her a reason to take action.

Overnight, Pei Qingzhi was sent to Zi Yan Pavilion and became the most popular courtesan there. The news spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

People were talking about it, saying that this new courtesan looked like the second young lady of the Pei family.

When the Pei family learned the news, they naturally sent people to investigate urgently.

Pei Qingzhi mistakenly thought that it was her family members coming to rescue her, and revealed her identity without hesitation.

When the maid learned of this incident, she hurriedly informed Yuan of the news.

Now, the Pei family is faced with a dilemma: either publicly acknowledge Pei Qingzhi's identity and take her home, or completely deny it and let her be trapped in the abyss of Zi Yan Pavilion forever.

For Yuan, who loved her daughter deeply, no matter which choice she made, it would be like stabbing her in the heart.

Yuan's heart was broken. She tightly grasped the maid's hand and said in a trembling voice, "Has the master already known about this?"

The maid nodded gently: "Yes, the master already knows."

Yuan asked, "What did the master say?"

The maid remained silent.

According to Mr. Pei's usual style, for the sake of the family's reputation, he would never easily acknowledge this daughter who brought him trouble.

Yuan Shi didn't care about so many things. At this moment, she had only one thought in her mind - to bring her daughter home no matter what: "Let's go, head to Ziyan Pavilion immediately!"

The maid tried to dissuade him: "Madam, you must not act rashly on this matter!"

Yuan was no longer in the mood to listen to advice. She waved her hand and slapped the maid in the face: "Just go when I told you to. Why are you talking so much nonsense!"

The maid covered her burning face and had no choice but to order the coachman to speed up and rush to Zi Yan Pavilion.