"Mm, thank you."
These simple words warmed Pei Lie’s heart.
After their father, the King, passed away, their mother and third brother were devastated and fell into despair. His second brother did not have as deep a bond with their father, so he was not too worried about him.
But as the eldest son, he had to appear calm and strong.
"Summon the person who provided you with the information. I have some things I need to ask in detail," Shen Qingqing said.
Pei Lie nodded and turned to make arrangements.
While Shen Qingqing sat in the living room waiting for the attendant, an unexpected guest arrived.
"Did you bring my father here?!"
Nicole rushed home only to learn that her father had been brought to the palace. Her mother had said that Pei Lie, along with several guards, had taken her father away.
If it was an invitation, there would be no need for guards.
Moreover, her father had not returned home for a long time, and she was extremely worried. She couldn't bother with formalities and hurried to the palace alone to demand his release.
"It wasn't me," Shen Qingqing said calmly.
"Where is His Highness the Crown Prince?" Nicole had no time to bother with Shen Qingqing. Finding her father was more important. She looked around the hall but couldn't find Pei Lie.
"I don't know."
"You're lying!" Nicole didn't believe Shen Qingqing at all. "How could you not know?"
"Why should I know?" Shen Qingqing looked at her, perplexed. "I'm not his parents, nor am I his wife. Instead, you should go and ask the guards or attendants. Don't bother me."
"You're lying and you don't want to tell me!"
Nicole hadn't expected her father to be suffering somewhere, and this woman in front of her refused to tell her, making her anxious and angry.
Her eyes turned red.
Shen Qingqing felt a bit speechless. "If others see you like this, they'll think I'm bullying you. I truly don't know. You should go and ask the attendants, or you can wait here."
"You're just trying to fool me!" Nicole's eyes showed hatred.
Shen Qingqing was very exasperated.
She had initially felt this woman was quite pitiful, but seeing her now, unable to distinguish friend from foe, and bothering her when her father was already out in the open...
She didn't know what to say.
If she called her unfilial, she was worried about her father and went to the palace to question them. But if she was filial, shouldn't she be looking for Pei Lie right now?
She shook her head, unwilling to waste any more time with her.
"I don't know. Ask someone else."
Nicole bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. She had no other choice. She had already asked many people before entering the hall.
However, she was an outsider, and these people would not tell her where His Highness the Crown Prince had gone.
Just then, footsteps sounded from behind.
It was Pei Lie.
Nicole's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she immediately rushed towards him. But she remembered his status and stopped some distance away.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, why did you summon my father to the palace? And why won't you let him go home? Where is he now?"
"He was summoned because there was something to discuss."
Pei Lie was a gentleman.
But after going through so much, he was truly exhausted and had no time for delicate courtesies towards women. He spoke concisely, his face filled with indifference.
Nicole felt a little timid, but thinking of her father’s unknown whereabouts gave her courage. "Then, have you finished your business? Can my father go home now?"
Pei Lie's voice was somewhat cold. "Since he hasn't gone back, it means he can't go back yet."
"But our family is very happy!" Nicole’s face was full of urgency. "And my father is a Duke. You have no right to detain him. You must give me a valid reason!"
Shen Qingqing looked at her with a hint of surprise.
She didn't expect this woman to have such a clever side.
Simply demanding his release was clearly not going to work, but demanding a complete reason was feasible. This request could be considered very reasonable.
"Your father is suspected of being involved in a murder case."
Pei Lie's words struck Nicole like lightning, leaving her stunned.
"That's impossible!"
Her first reaction was denial. She believed in her father.
Pei Lie’s expression was impassive. "Whether it's possible or not requires our investigation."
In other words, your words are useless.
Seeing that Pei Lie was about to leave after speaking, Nicole became anxious and, disregarding the difference in their status, rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
"You can't leave!"
Pei Lie shook off her hand without hesitation. "This matter has already been decided. If you continue to pester me, I will suspect that you are also involved in the murder case."
Nicole broke out in a cold sweat, truly frightened. She dared not pester him further and watched helplessly as he walked towards the sofa.
Pei Lie looked at Shen Qingqing. "I've already sent someone to summon the attendant. He'll be here soon."
"Okay."
Shen Qingqing poured him a glass of water. "You don't look well. Have some water."
Pei Lie held the hot water cup but did not drink. "I'm fine. It's just that I've had a lot of things to deal with these past two days, and I haven't slept well at night. I'm a bit tired now."
Shen Qingqing could understand his hardship. "It will get better after this period."
"Mm."
Pei Lie rubbed his tired temples.
Nicole, who had been ignored, became unhappy. She was worried about her father, but these two were chatting as if nothing had happened.
A sudden surge of anger clouded her judgment, and she rushed forward to question them, "Did you two conspire to detain my father?!"
Shen Qingqing stared in disbelief. "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Then why did you arrest my father?!" Nicole’s voice was laced with tears. She was truly desperate. Her father, who had always been like the sky, an unshakeable pillar, had been taken into the palace and disappeared.
She was extremely frightened.
Seeing her rare vulnerability, Shen Qingqing couldn't help but sigh. "Didn't Pei Lie just say that your father is involved in a murder case and needs to be investigated? Keeping him here is for his own good. Once it's clear, if he didn't commit murder, he'll naturally return home."
Nicole had always been pampered and admired when entering the palace, but today she was ignored by many.
Now, the person patiently explaining to her was Shen Qingqing.
She couldn't hold back her tears any longer. "I'm really worried about my father. Can you tell me the truth? What murder case is he involved in? Who died?"
Shen Qingqing and Pei Lie exchanged a look. If she had continued to be unreasonable, they could have coldly dismissed her.
But seeing a young girl cry so pitifully, neither of them could remain completely cold-hearted.
Shen Qingqing said softly, "This murder case is still a secret and cannot be leaked. The reason we're telling you the truth is to put your mind at ease. As long as your father didn't do it, he'll be fine."
"Then when can he go home?"
"When we finish our investigation."
"My father would never kill anyone!" Nicole bit her lip, tears falling like pearls. She cried pitifully. "Please investigate thoroughly and don't wrongly accuse him!"
Shen Qingqing let out a soft sound. "Don't worry, we will investigate clearly and will not make any misjudgments."