Disguised as a man, she became the biggest villain in the book.

Chapter 226 Can I Trust You?

After listening to Pei Wenyu's words, Chen Xianlin shook her head and said, "Cousin, you've misunderstood me. Of course I believe Wenxuan is innocent, but think about it, how did Wenxuan know where my brother lives? What if someone murdered my brother and then framed Wenxuan to ruin the relationship between our Chen and Pei families?"

Chen Tongyu and Chen Xianlin had already found out that Pei Wenxuan had been lured to the young master Chen's residence. The person who led Pei Wenxuan there was from the Lin family. As for whether Pei Wenxuan had killed him, Chen Tongyu had no idea.

After the incident at the Lin family, Chen Tongyu interrogated Lin Zifeng alone. Lin Zifeng denied that he killed the person. Lin Zifeng only admitted that when he found Young Master Chen, Young Master Chen was already dead. At that time, Lin Zifeng only wanted Yu Yifei to take the blame, but he did not expect that Pei Wenxuan would become the scapegoat in the end.

"Cousin, what do you mean...?" Pei Wenyu asked with a suspicious look on his face, his eyebrows slightly furrowed and his eyes fixed on the woman in front of him.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Xianlin slowly said, "Cousin, to be honest, the day my cousin had the accident, I secretly sent people to investigate. On the day of the banquet, someone did deliberately lead my cousin to my brother's residence... That person was Lin Zifeng's subordinate..." Her voice was not loud, but every word clearly reached Pei Wenyu's ears.

Upon hearing this, Pei Wenyu lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

After a while, Pei Wenyu finally raised his head, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and said to Chen Xianlin, "I see, thank you for telling me this, cousin!" After saying that, he once again cast a grateful look at Chen Xianlin.

However, at this moment, Pei Wenyu's gaze began to slowly move throughout the hall. His eyes seemed casual, but in fact, he seemed to be searching for something.

After Pei Wenyu's gaze swept over the faces of every servant in the hall, he finally lowered his head, looking somewhat preoccupied.

Chen Xianlin, who had been observing his every move, naturally noticed this as well.

After a moment of silence, Pei Wenyu picked up the teacup in front of him and took a few more sips of tea. Then, he stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Chen Xianlin, and said, "Cousin, I am truly ashamed to have troubled you for so long today."

"I have some matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer, so I will take my leave now. I hope my cousin will not take offense." After saying this, without waiting for Chen Xianlin's response, he turned around, bowed to Chen Tongyu, and hurriedly left, leaving only a slightly rushed figure behind.

The moment Pei Wenyu turned around, his originally calm face seemed to be shrouded in a shadow, and in an instant it became extremely gloomy: Cousin, should I believe you?

Pei Wenyu knew that the person who led Pei Wenxuan there was Lin Zifeng's subordinate. If Chen Xianlin could find out, so could Pei Wenyu.

However, based on his understanding of Lin Zifeng, he didn't think Lin Zifeng would gain anything from killing Young Master Chen. If the Lin family wanted to damage the relationship between the Chen and Pei families, they wouldn't directly kill Young Master Chen. Doing so would obviously do more harm than good, and Lin Zifeng wouldn't take such a risky thing.

Moreover, during the full moon banquet, the Lin family and the Chen family were vying for the Empress's position. No matter which family was in trouble, the first thing they would think of was the other. Lin Changsheng wouldn't be that stupid. Perhaps the Lin family was also being used.

As for why Pei Wenyu felt that Chen Xianlin had a problem, it all started with the incident where Pei Wenxuan and He Jinyu were caught cheating. At that time, he was on the frontier and did not know the truth. Pei Wenyu thought that Zheng Luoqi was the one who did it.

Thinking about it later, it wouldn't benefit Zheng Luoqi either, so it was ruled out. When Pei Wenyu first returned to Beijing, Pei Wenzhao told him that Pei Wenxuan and He Jinyu had met with Chen Xianlin before their accident.

Pei Wenyu later visited Pei Wenxuan, who had changed a lot and become more mature. However, the topic of conversation was mostly about Chen Xianlin.

From Pei Wenxuan's words, it's clear that she really likes Chen Xianlin and even has a kind of blind admiration for her, saying that she wants to make a name for herself.

Not long after, rumors of Pei Wenxuan's mental illness spread in the capital, followed by her being inexplicably framed and murdered. These events seemed unrelated, but Chen Xianlin's presence was everywhere, including the fact that Chen Xianlin's people were also involved in Pei Wenxuan's framing.

Although Pei Wenyu didn't want to believe that this matter had anything to do with Chen Xianlin, the reality was right in front of him.

There's also Hailan. Hailan was Chen Xianlin's former subordinate, and she is very likely the murderer who killed Young Master Chen. But now Hailan has disappeared without a trace, and she has most likely been silenced. Thinking of this, Pei Wenyu frowned even more deeply.

The current Chen Xianlin is completely different from how she was when she was still in the Chen family mansion. When Pei Wenyu visited Chen Xianlin at the Chen family mansion, the servants around Chen Xianlin were not like they are today... Now their faces are filled with fear; they are afraid of Chen Xianlin.

Thinking of this, Pei Wenyu couldn't help but sigh, "The palace really is a place that devours people..."

Prime Minister's Mansion

Zheng Luoqi was leisurely enjoying tea and the scenery in the courtyard when she suddenly heard a servant come to deliver a message, saying that the master wanted her to go to the study immediately to discuss important matters.

Zheng Luoqi's heart tightened. He wondered what had happened to warrant his father's urgent summons. He quickly put down his teacup, got up, and hurried to the study.

Arriving at the study door, Zheng Luoqi gently knocked, and upon receiving permission, pushed the door open and entered. There stood Zheng Yuxiang, looking grave, holding a letter in his hand.

"Father, is there something urgent you need to discuss?" Zheng Luoqi asked, a hint of doubt and worry in her eyes.

Zheng Yuxiang looked up at Zheng Luoqi and said slowly, "General Pei has passed away!" He then handed the letter to Zheng Luoqi.

Zheng Luoqi took the letter and read it, his face full of astonishment. He really did not expect that General Pei would leave so quickly.

Zheng Yuxiang continued, "This is a message sent urgently from the border by the Crown Prince. The soldiers on the border are currently unaware of it, and even the Pei family and the Emperor are unaware of it! Apart from General Pei's few trusted confidants, only the Crown Prince and we know about it." After saying this, he sighed deeply.

"It's a pity about Elder Pei, but the matter of the Prince of Huainan can be put on the agenda!" Zheng Yuxiang said.

"With the Pei family down, the Chen family has lost the Pei family's support, so the Chen family can't cause any trouble at all. Moreover, because of Pei Wenxuan's matter, a rift has already formed between the two families! When the news of General Pei's death comes back, that will be the day the Pei family collapses. Xue Huaiyu will definitely not miss such a good opportunity to regain military power." Zheng Yuxiang continued to analyze the situation.

At this moment, Zheng Luoqi interjected, "Father, don't you see that Pei Wenyu is still investigating Pei Wenxuan's matter? Shouldn't we make this fire burn even brighter?"

Zheng Yuxiang looked at his daughter with great interest and asked, "Oh? Then tell me, what are your specific plans?"

"Father, do you still remember the five-year agreement I made with Pei Wenyu, in which he was to kill Chen Xianlin within five years? Why don't we find a suitable opportunity to deliberately let Chen Xianlin know that Pei Wenyu has always harbored the intention to kill her? Wouldn't that be..." Zheng Luoqi finished speaking, and Zheng Yuxiang, being such a shrewd man, certainly understood the deeper meaning behind her words.

Zheng Yuxiang smiled and replied, "The coronation ceremony is almost here!"

Zheng Luoqi immediately understood the meaning behind Zheng Yuxiang's words...