Chapter 35: Zijuan outwits her aunt, Fourth Miss defeats her aunt

  Zi Yun's heart sank and she hastily kowtowed, saying: "Your servant did not, your servant would never dare to do such a thing!"

  Pei Yuansong suddenly looked up and said timidly: "Father, it can't be Zi Yun."

  If Pei Yuange didn't plead for Zi Yun, then Zi Yun would be dead for sure, and it would be like cutting off her arm. But now that Pei Yuange is pleading for Zi Yun, it's even more to Zhang Yun's advantage. A faint smile curled up at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were filled with doubt as he asked: "Fourth Miss, why are you so certain?"

  "When the daughter was distributing the ice brocade to everyone, Zi Yun had not yet arrived at Jing Shu's quarters. Moreover, today Zi Yun has been by the daughter's side all along and never left, but this earth mark is very new and should have been dug up just today, Zi Yun did not have the opportunity to do so." Pei Yuange's sweet voice still trembled slightly, but her words were very logical.

  "Although Zi Yun arrived late, she might still be able to get the ice brocade from another maid. Although she has been attending to Fourth Miss all day, she can have someone else bury these things and use them as evidence for her instead. Fourth Miss, you're still young and don't understand these cunning and despicable ways, so don't let yourself be deceived by petty people. Let's leave this matter for Master to decide!" Zhang Yun said gently, because he knew that if Pei Zhucheng were to handle this matter, Zi Yun would undoubtedly be dead."

  "No, Father!" Pei Yuange insisted, not giving an inch, "It won't be Ziyuan!"

  Seeing that the timing was right, Zhang Yun finally pretended to be puzzled and said: "I remember that Fourth Miss didn't like the people of Qingtian Institute before, so why is she defending Zi Yun so much? I heard that from the moment Zi Yun arrived at Jingci Hall, she had won Fourth Miss's favor, and all important matters were entrusted to her. Moreover, a few days ago, under Zi Yun's escort, Fourth Miss even went to Qingtian Institute and met with Madame... What exactly did Zi Yun do to win Fourth Miss's favor, making her value a maid from Qingtian Institute so much?" She knew what would most attract Pei Zhoucheng's attention, so she emphasized the words "Madame" and "Qingtian Institute".

  Pei Zhucheng's face indeed showed a suspicious expression. At first, when Zi Yun came to Jing Shu Zhai, it was his arrangement, but Song Er actually valued her so much that even the original maidservants retreated, which was a bit strange. Moreover, Song Er had also gone to Jing Wei Yuan... It was too strange! "Song Er, this Zi Yun can't stay any longer, Father will find you a better maid!"

  Pei Yuange also knew that the Reed Pavilion was Pei Zhucheng's heart disease, but she had to turn this situation around, otherwise, Shu Xueyu would have no hope of leaving the pavilion.

  "Dad, no way!"

  "What's wrong with you, Song Er?" Pei Zhucheng felt even more uneasy, his expression somewhat annoyed. "You won't even listen to your father's words? Why are you so determined to protect this maid? She's only been in Qingxuan Hall for a few days, and you already trust her so deeply? The other day, why did you want to go to Jingji Yard? Was it because of this maid's instigation?"

  A cold smile burst forth in Zhang Yun's eyes.

  The death of Ming Jin left Old Master with a lingering resentment towards Shu Xueyu, and yet Pei Yuange, as Ming Jin's daughter, was so protective of the maid from Jing Ji Yard. It would be interesting to hear how she planned to spin this lie. If she found it difficult to talk her way out of it, Old Master would surely become suspicious. Even if he couldn't think of the fact that Pei Yuange was fake for the time being, having planted this seed, he could naturally let it grow and flourish until it bloomed and bore fruit.

  "Father, Ziyun didn't coax me." Pei Yuange bit her lip and said, "Now that things have come to this, I don't dare hide it anymore. Actually, when I pretended not to eat back then, it was all because I wanted Father to give Ziyun to me." Although the matter seemed flawless at the time, she had been so fond of Ziyun afterwards that it would eventually arouse suspicion. It's better for her to admit it first and clear up the misunderstanding. "Father, didn't you notice any difference in me this time when you came back?"

  This was what Zhang Yun wanted to say but didn't dare to, fearing it would arouse Pei Zhoucheng's suspicion. Unexpectedly, it came out of Pei Yuange's mouth instead. Things that are hard to control often aren't good things; Zhang Yun slightly furrowed her brow, and a hint of unease began in her heart.

  Bai Zhucheng naturally sensed her abnormality, but didn't mind: "You've grown up, so you should understand."

  But she was close to Zi Yun of Qing Jiang Yuan, and this matter could not be justified no matter what.

  "No, Father. In fact, before my daughter woke up from her serious illness, she was still the same disobedient child." Pei Yuange said, with a face full of shame and a sorrowful expression, all of which could be investigated, and it just so happened that this opportunity could be used to round things off. "The reason why my daughter changed so greatly is because of Mother. Because when my daughter was seriously ill and unconscious, she saw Mother. She hugged her and cried, blaming her for being disobedient, slandering Father, saying that she had been watching from the underworld, feeling very sad, and because of this sadness and longing, she did not go to reincarnate. After hearing this, my daughter felt ashamed and realized the absurdity of her past behavior, so after waking up, she began to understand how to respect Father."

  Pei Zhucheng's face was pale and his voice trembled as he said, "You... saw Jin'er? She told you to... take good care of me?"

  Suddenly hearing Song Er mention Ming Jin, for a moment his heart was moved, and he only felt tears welling up in his eyes. He hastily lifted his head, not wanting others to see him like this.

  It was Jin'er after all... For ten years, he thought Jin'er had already been reincarnated, but unexpectedly she still remembered him and knew how much he valued this daughter, so she came to awaken her. Since that's the case, Jin'er, your spirit is aware, why won't you meet me in a dream?

  Zhang Yun called out, "Not good!" Ming Jin was actually the Achilles' heel of Pei Zhuo Cheng. As long as she was mentioned, Master would completely lose his judgment. If not for this, how could she dare to slander Su Xueyu without any evidence, relying solely on speculation? It's just that I didn't expect Pei Yuange to be so cunning, actually understanding how to use Ming Jin, using the excuse of ghosts and gods to cover up her own inconsistencies.

  In this way, even if she raises this question again in the future, Master will think it is Ming Jin's ability and will not suspect that Pei Yuange is fake!

  Too cunning!

  "Zi Yun was the maid left by Mother to her daughter. Five years ago, Gui Ya said Zi Yun stole and the daughter drove her out of Jing Xiu Zhai. This time in a dream, Mother said to treat Zi Yun well, the daughter was also very suspicious, didn't expect that after waking up, she found out that Gui Ya had ill intentions towards the daughter, but instead Zi Yun saved the daughter's life, only then did she realize that it was the daughter who was deceived by a villain in the past." Pei Yuan Ge said with great sincerity, her eyes brimming with tears. "The daughter believes Mother, so the daughter believes Zi Yun, this matter will absolutely not be done by Zi Yun!"

  Since Zhang Yun can use her mother to slander Zi Yun, she can also use the same method to save Zi Yun in the name of her mother.

  After all, she is Ming Jin's daughter, this is her unique advantage, no reason not to use it.

  And this remark also laid the groundwork for her and Shu Xueyu's future collaboration: since Mother asked her to treat Zi Yun well, and Shu Xueyu had taken in Zi Yun before, wasn't that in line with Mother's intentions? This point would also become a key factor in moving Pei Zhucheng to allow the unsealing of the Qianji Yard.

  As expected, Bae Jooyoung said somewhat despondently: "So you're the maid left behind by Jin'er, no wonder..."

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun immediately knew that the situation was already beyond salvation, and that it would be impossible to get rid of Zi Yun this time. On the other hand, her spies planted in Jing Shu's residence were likely to be thoroughly eliminated. Just as she felt anxious, a sharp and unrefined female voice reached her ears, making her even more frightened; "Lord Pei, the matter of the demonic town is indeed urgent, but earlier, Zhang Niang's maid accused Fourth Miss of having an illicit affair with someone, can this matter be easily dropped?"

  Madam Wen's mouth was slightly smiling, but her beautiful eyes were icy and sharp, pointing directly at Zhang Yun.