The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 66 is related to the Crown Prince

The two walked together for an unknown amount of time before stopping, where Shen Hanyu found a relatively clean spot.

Her clothes were still wet, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves. Pei Du didn't look too well. Shen Hanyu crushed the herbs she had picked in her palm and applied them to Pei Du's wounds.

Pei Du tore off a piece of his clothing and tied it to his wound. He didn't know if those people had come down yet, and this place wasn't very safe.

Do you know how to get out of here?

Shen Hanyu looked around; she was completely unfamiliar with this place, so she could only ask Pei Du.

Pei Du shook his head. "I don't know either. Let's keep going up. Once this is over, the Emperor will definitely send the Imperial Guards to find us. As long as we're still in the hunting grounds, it's fine."

Hearing Pei Du's words, Shen Hanyu felt a little relieved.

"The person who just tried to kill you, was sent by your stepmother?"

Looking at Pei Du's expression, Shen Hanyu wondered if her words would displease him.

Pei Du couldn't help but laugh at her cautious demeanor. "You can ask me anything you want to know. If I'm not mistaken, those people were sent by my stepmother."

Shen Hanyu thought to herself that it made sense; apart from the mother and son in the Duke's mansion, no one else was so eager for Pei Du to die.

However, Pei Du seemed even more approachable than the rumors suggested, which reassured Shen Hanyu somewhat.

They stopped to rest in the sun, both to ease the pain from their wounds and to dry their clothes.

Her shoes and socks were soaked with water, making it very uncomfortable for Shen Hanyu to walk, but with Pei Du there, she felt embarrassed to take them off.

As if sensing Shen Hanyu's predicament, Pei Du turned his back to her.

"Let's air out the shoes too, otherwise the road ahead will be difficult to walk on, and if they catch up, it will be hard to escape."

As he spoke, Pei Du lowered his head and took off his shoes as well.

Shen Hanyu no longer had any reservations, and the two of them turned their backs to each other to dry their clothes that had been soaked by the lake.

Recalling the things he had investigated before, Pei Du's brows furrowed with a hint of hesitation, but he still spoke up.

"I investigated the thief you encountered at Hantai Temple carefully, and I never expected that the investigation would lead back to the Crown Prince."

Shen Hanyu was startled. She turned around abruptly, still holding the socks she had just taken off in her hand. Pei Du looked away.

"His Royal Highness?"

Shen Hanyu didn't pay attention to much else; her mind was filled with the events at Hantai Temple and everything that had just happened.

Ji Yuxiu was originally going to protect them, but Li Jing came over and sent Ji Yuxiu away, leaving a few people to escort them.

However, they ended up being escorted to a dangerous place. This might not have been intentional, but Shen Hanyu cared a lot about it. In addition, Pei Du said that the thief who wanted to kill her at Hantai Temple was related to Li Jing.

"Yes, those people did want to kill you, and they were connected to the Crown Prince. But I don't know if the Crown Prince gave the order. As soon as I found out, I stopped immediately and didn't touch it again."

The Crown Prince's intelligence network is extensive, and Pei Du's power is currently limited. Further investigation would expose him and Xu Zhun, and he did not want to drag Xu Zhun into it, so he stopped in time.

He also found it strange that the Crown Prince would target Shen Hanyu.

Shen Hanyu didn't seem to have anything to scheme about. Her family background was impeccable. Anyone with eyes could see the attitude of the Marquis of Anping towards her and her mother.

Pei Du was completely baffled, but Shen Hanyu turned her back and pieced together all the events.

The sunlight shone on her body, but Shen Hanyu felt a chill run down her spine. She finally caught the thought that had flashed through her mind while she was being chased.

It seems she really is being targeted, and that person is very likely the very kind Crown Prince Li Jing.

Shen Hanyu swallowed hard. If it really was Li Jing, then the situation was terrible.

However, she currently has no evidence to prove it.

Pei Du turned his head and saw Shen Hanyu's slightly trembling shoulders.

"I will help you find out the truth about this, so don't worry."

Once he has enough power to cover things up from Li Jing, he can then investigate the reasons behind this matter.

Upon hearing Pei Du's voice, Shen Hanyu's thoughts returned, and she nodded heavily.

"Thank you, Young Master Pei."

"I should be the one thanking you. I already owe Miss Shen two life-saving favors from the time in the lake and in Suzhou, and I haven't been able to repay them yet."

Shen Hanyu was speechless. In fact, Pei Du had helped her a lot. She secretly lamented that if she had known that Pei Du was such a person who valued gratitude, she shouldn't have been afraid of his reputation in her previous life and should have agreed to his conversation at the flower viewing banquet.

Fortunately, fate gave her a second chance.

After thinking it over, Shen Hanyu asked hesitantly, "Wouldn't this cause you some trouble at the Duke's mansion?"

She knew that the Duke looked down on her status, and if he found out that she had become involved with Pei Du again, Pei Du would probably have a hard time over there.

"I'll be moving out soon, and then I'll finally have some peace and quiet."

Shen Hanyu stared blankly, seemingly not expecting Pei Du to be so direct about his family affairs.

Even without seeing the expression on Shen Hanyu's face, Pei Du knew what she was thinking.

"In a while, this matter will become a big deal, and there will be no need to hide it. If I stay in the Duke's mansion, I'm afraid I'll have to use a silver needle to check every meal before I can feel at ease."

Shen Hanyu thought to herself that it made sense. However, Pei Du's departure was tantamount to abandoning his status as a founding duke. In this respect, Pei Du was much more carefree than her. Although she was also planning to leave, she did not dare to show it so openly.

The two chatted back and forth, and their relationship had improved considerably compared to before.

Their shoes and socks were half-dry, so the two put them on and quickly continued walking.

Pei Du told Shen Hanyu to leave a few footprints on the other side, so that if anyone came chasing after them, they would be temporarily confused.

"I wonder how Wei Ming and Miao Cui are doing."

Shen Hanyu had a bitter face. Wei Ming had been shot with an arrow, and Miao Cui had been kicked unconscious. She had been dragged along by her hair for a long time and then didn't see anything else.

Pei Du had just noticed Shen Hanyu's disheveled hair and faint traces of blood on her scalp, but Shen Hanyu seemed oblivious to the pain.

“I will take you back,” Pei Du said firmly.

Shen Hanyu never doubted what Pei Du said, perhaps because of her memories of her past and present lives, as well as the few times she had interacted with him.

The two quickened their pace. Shen Hanyu was still concerned about Pei Du's injuries, but Pei Du acted as if nothing was wrong and instead urged Shen Hanyu to hurry up.

As darkness fell, all was quiet, and the sound of the Imperial Guards could not be heard. Shen Hanyu sat down heavily, rubbing her aching ankle.

My stomach is churning; I'm hungry.

She gently rubbed her abdomen, and then she saw Pei Du walk over, carrying a gourd split in half and some wild fruits.

The gourd was filled with water, and the wild fruits were picked along the way.

"To fill your stomach."

Shen Hanyu held half a gourd, not caring about its cleanliness at the moment; quenching her thirst was the most important thing.

She closed her eyes tightly and swallowed in one gulp, then quickly stuffed a wild fruit into her mouth.

With the sweet and sour juice filling her mouth, Shen Hanyu finally felt a little better.

Pei Du also ate and drank some water. Although they hadn't been able to return yet, thankfully no one caught up with them.