The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Pei Du nodded. He had been busy with these matters since returning to Chang'an, so he naturally had the manpower.

"Could we send someone back to the Shen family in Suzhou to take a look?"

Pei Du assumed something had happened to Shen Hanyu's hometown in Suzhou, so he nodded in agreement without asking any further questions.

"If possible, please investigate Yu Qi for me."

Pei Du's brows relaxed. "Okay, I do know some basic information about Yu Qi, because I'm currently at Fuyao Academy. The dean thinks highly of Yu Qi, but his family background is really mysterious. Some people say he comes from a poor family, while others say his family holds official positions, just at a low level."

Shen Hanyu had heard the same information in her previous life. She couldn't leave the suspicious points about Yu Qi uninvestigated. If it was something bad for her, she could be prepared if she knew in advance.

Pei Du agreed to both of them.

Shen Hanyu thanked her and then returned to the girls' school.

Just as I sat down, Liang Ruoxue came over.

"I'm still looking for you, where did you go?"

Shen Hanyu looked at her and asked, "Go out and take a look. What happened?"

Liang Ruoxue leaned closer and whispered, "You did a good job this time. I peeked inside just now and I think it's going to work."

Shen Hanyu twitched the corners of her lips, using a retreat as a tactic to advance. In addition, Liang Ruoxue did not show a strong sense of purpose like Liang Ruoyan, so there was definitely a chance.

This method works as long as Li Jun doesn't despise Liang Ruoxue to the extreme.

"Tell me, what do you want me to give you as a thank you gift?"

Liang Ruoxue raised her chin and used that condescending tone again.

"I don't want anything. As long as you succeed, my status will naturally rise along with yours."

Liang Ruoxue was very pleased with these words and stopped worrying about what to give Shen Hanyu.

She returned home happily, while Li Jun's servant had already found out who had snapped Liang Ruoxue's zither strings.

"It's her." Li Jun looked in one direction, lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then went to find Liang Ruoyan.

When Liang Ruoyan saw Li Jun coming over, her face was filled with undisguised joy.

"Your Highness, why are you here?"

She smiled shyly.

Li Jun never expected that beneath that gentle and kind exterior lay a vicious heart.

"Did you have the maid cut the strings of Miss Liang's zither?"

Liang Ruoyan subconsciously clenched her fists, feeling a moment of guilt.

"Your Highness, I didn't. I'm always very good to my sisters at home. How could I do such a thing?"

Li Jun waved his hand; he had seen the change in Liang Ruoyan's expression just now.

"Enough. Before, I only felt that you were scheming against me, but now you've even started scheming against my younger sister. You even dared to lay a hand on my cousin who had just arrived in Chang'an when we were at the Princess's residence. I'm really disappointed in you."

Liang Ruoyan felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She stammered, "Your Highness, it really wasn't me..."

Li Jun didn't want to listen, so she warned Liang Ruoyan a few times and left.

Liang Ruoyan's knees buckled, but fortunately, the maid behind her supported her.

Li Jun actually taught her a lesson for Liang Ruoxue's sake.

Liang Ruoyan closed her eyes. What a fine Liang Ruoxue, what a fine Shen Hanyu, these two people.

Liang Ruoxue was unaware that Li Jun had warned Liang Ruoyan on her behalf.

The competition at Fuyou Academy is almost over.

After glancing at the time, Princess Yongning felt it was about time and that she could go back now.

Spending most of the day at Fuyou Academy isn't good for those who are going to take the preliminary examinations; they'll have to find another time to make up for it.

The dean walked side by side with Princess Yongning and couldn't help but sigh.

"Your Highness, the road ahead is fraught with difficulties. If you make even the slightest mistake, this girls' school could be shut down at any time. Your Highness must think twice before acting."

Princess Yongning understood this better than anyone else. Those who had opposed the girls' school earlier had only temporarily missed their point. Once she made a mistake, those people would launch a fierce counterattack.

For example, the children's examination a few months later.

"The first imperial examination is especially important, as it will determine whether you can continue on this path. Your Highness, can you trust the people you have chosen?"

Princess Yongning walked ahead without looking back.

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; I naturally trust them."

The dean nodded and said no more.

Back at the Chang'an Girls' School, they left school early today to go home.

As soon as Liang Ruoyan returned to the manor, she went to find Xu Ying. She had suppressed her grievances all the way, and when she saw Xu Ying, she completely broke down.

"Auntie."

Xu Ying had just finished dealing with the accounts when she saw Liang Ruoyan with red eyes, sobbing against her.

She patted Liang Ruoyan on the back.

"what happened?"

Liang Ruoyan repeated what Li Jun had told her, and then talked about what Liang Ruoxue had done.

"With Liang Ruoxue's brain, she definitely wouldn't have thought of telling the Third Prince about that. It's most likely that Shen Hanyu helped her. Mother, that damned Shen Hanyu, we can't let her continue to help Liang Ruoxue."

Liang Ruoyan swallowed the words she wanted Shen Hanyu dead and didn't tell Xu Ying.

But how could Xu Ying not see what her daughter was thinking?

"Don't worry, there will be opportunities. Liang Ruoxue really doesn't have much brains. She's only doing so well now because she has a behind-the-scenes strategist. But Yan'er, you also need to think about what to do if this doesn't work out."

Liang Ruoyan was taken aback. In her opinion, the best of all the marriages was to become the Third Prince's principal wife; she looked down on the others.

"For example, becoming a concubine of the Crown Prince, if you want, it's not impossible."

Liang Ruoyan lowered her head, her tone revealing her unwillingness.

"But that was just a concubine. There is a big difference between a principal wife and a concubine."

Moreover, Zhao Yu's father is the Prime Minister, someone the Emperor trusts greatly. Because of this, Liang Ruoyan knows that even if she marries into the family, she will never become the Empress.

Liang Ruoyan found it hard to accept being chosen as a concubine rather than a wife.

She held onto Xu Ying's arm.

“Mother, I am no match for Zhao Yu. If I go there, I will only be a concubine for the rest of my life, and I will always be overshadowed by her.”

Although she wasn't as arrogant as Liang Ruoxue at home, her inherent haughtiness remained unchanged.

Xu Ying sighed. It wouldn't be easy for Liang Ruoyan to change her mind so quickly.

"Mother, could you ask Father to go and ask him to help me?"

Liang Ruoyan couldn't think of any other way. Her good marriage was snatched away by Liang Ruoxue halfway. Even if she couldn't get it in the end, she didn't want Liang Ruoxue to succeed.

"No, I can't tell your father."

To Liang Ruoyan's surprise, Xu Ying refused almost without hesitation.

"why?"

She sat up and asked in confusion, not understanding why Xu Ying suddenly reacted so strongly.

Xu Ying whispered, "If your father knew that we used these methods to contact the Third Prince, I'm afraid you would never think about such things again. He is always very strict in these situations."

Liang Chengxuan strives for strict family traditions and would never allow such a thing to happen.

So at that time, all the things Liang Ruoyan caused were suppressed by her. She asked Liang Chengxuan for help, and Liang Chengxuan would definitely investigate thoroughly. After sharing a bed for so many years, she knew she couldn't hide it from Liang Chengxuan.