Qin Shuying’s expression remained calm as she looked toward Princess Fuping.

Princess Fuping’s face showed displeasure as she said: “This princess has no time to listen to your idle chatter. Only you two have entered this greenhouse. I only ask you for the Yao Huang.”

Han Dan said to Qin Shuying with the frustration of one whose iron won’t become steel: “Seventh Miss, Her Highness the Princess is most benevolent. As long as you admit your mistake, Her Highness may not punish you severely. Why don’t you quickly apologize and admit your error?”

Qin Shuying’s eyes were clear and bright as she looked at Han Dan, yet they seemed to flash with a trace of ruthlessness.

Just then, a voice came from outside—

“Lianpin arrives—”

A fragrant breeze wafted over as Lianpin arrived quickly. Seeing the situation before her, she was naturally startled: “Fuping, Shuying… what’s happening here?”

The palace maid beside Princess Fuping said: “Your Highness, our princess came to pick Yao Huang to show to Consort De—these are this year’s first batch of flowers. Who would have thought that the most beautifully bloomed Yao Huang we selected yesterday was picked by someone. In this greenhouse, only Auntie Han Dan and your cousin have entered today. Auntie Han Dan says your cousin picked it, but your cousin won’t say a word. Your Highness, you’ve come at the right time. Please tell us what exactly happened here.”

Lianpin’s beautiful eyes blinked as if she couldn’t believe it, then she sighed and said: “This cousin of mine originally grew up in the south. Three years ago, when my third uncle and his wife both died, my cousin returned to the capital and devoted herself to mourning her parents. For three years, she never stepped outside the Qin residence gates. Today’s palace visit is her second time out. During these three years, with her parents busy and my cousin in mourning, etiquette and proper conduct were neglected. I’m afraid this has made the princess laugh at us. I apologize to the princess on my cousin’s behalf.”

As she spoke, she gracefully curtsied in apology.

Her words were truly beautiful.

In just a few sentences, she had labeled Qin Shuying as someone who didn’t understand propriety and pinned the flower-picking incident on her.

Princess Fuping naturally wouldn’t accept Lianpin’s courtesy, turning aside and saying: “Why must Your Highness perform such grand ceremony?”

Lianpin smiled gracefully: “With my third uncle and his wife deceased, if I don’t worry about Seventh Sister, who will? Your Highness can rest assured—even though she’s my sister, I absolutely won’t cover for her. If she’s done wrong, she should be punished. Seventh Sister, Her Highness the Princess holds noble status, and Consort De is first among the four consorts. You picked Consort De’s favorite Yao Huang without permission. According to palace rules, you should receive thirty lashes.”

At this point, Lianpin deliberately paused. Indeed, she saw that Qin Shuying’s previously calm expression changed, her face showing fear and alarm.

For a sheltered young lady to receive thirty lashes in the palace would certainly mean she had angered a noble person. After leaving, what face would she have to continue living? And who would dare to marry her?

Lianpin was satisfied in her heart, expecting to see Qin Shuying’s panicked expression and pleas next. Then she could play the good person and intercede for Qin Shuying.

Princess Fuping was still young, innocent and lively, different from Consort De’s shrewd severity. Moreover, she had some standing with Consort De and had always treated Fuping well. If she interceded, Fuping probably wouldn’t insist too strongly. As for the flower, it wasn’t the only one—weren’t there still two more blooming over there?

However, the expected scene didn’t occur. She only heard Qin Shuying say: “Your Highness, I did not pick that Yao Huang.”

Lianpin naturally didn’t believe her. Though she had some doubts earlier about why she hadn’t seen the Yao Huang in Qin Shuying’s hair ornament, Han Dan had personally told her that the flower was pinned in Qin Shuying’s hair. So she was certain that even if the flower had fallen, it must be somewhere nearby. Only Qin Shuying and Han Dan had entered the greenhouse—the flower could only have been picked by Qin Shuying.

Lianpin patiently persuaded: “Seventh Sister, don’t be afraid. If you admit your mistake now, Her Highness the Princess is benevolent and might show mercy. If you persist in your stubbornness, that would be the crime of deceiving royalty. Thirty lashes would be getting off lightly.”

Without even asking, she kept insisting that Qin Shuying had picked the flower.

Such eagerness—even acting shouldn’t be performed this way.

Qin Shuying looked toward Princess Fuping, who gazed back at her steadily, a meaningful gleam flashing in her eyes.

Princess Fuping was so intelligent that she had naturally seen through the trickery involved.

Qin Shuying looked at Lianpin standing there, then at Han Dan, her expression extremely conflicted, as if wanting to say something but unsure whether she should.

Lianpin sighed: “Seventh Sister, Her Highness the Princess is kindhearted. If you can sincerely apologize and make amends afterward, I will certainly intercede with Her Highness on your behalf. But if you continue to be obstinate and refuse to admit your mistake, I’ll have no face to cover for you before Consort De.”

A cold gleam flashed in Qin Shuying’s eyes.

She had already given her a chance, yet she was so eager to make her despised by all the noble people in the capital? So eager to leave her with no place to be buried?

After hesitating for a moment, Qin Shuying pointed at Han Dan’s clothing: “Your… Your Highness, that, that Yao Huang—isn’t it in Auntie Han Dan’s sleeve?”

This statement was earth-shattering. Everyone looked toward Han Dan’s sleeves in unison, but didn’t see anything unusual at first. Upon closer inspection, they indeed noticed something different—Han Dan’s wide right sleeve was bulging unusually high.

The palace maid beside Princess Fuping quickly lifted her sleeve, and her eyes lit up: “Your Highness, the Yao Huang!”

The Yao Huang was retrieved, but it was only half a flower and had been crushed beyond recognition.

Han Dan couldn’t believe what was happening before her eyes: “Impossible, impossible! I clearly pinned it in Seventh Miss’s hair… how could this…”

Both Princess Fuping and Lianpin naturally understood.

Princess Fuping’s expression was very ugly.

Qin Shuying kept her head lowered and said nothing.

When helping Han Dan brush off the mud, she had quickly torn the Yao Huang apart, stuffing half of it along with the pistil into Han Dan’s sleeve. The other half, after Han Dan left, she had quickly swallowed. A whole flower was too large and would be easily discovered if placed in Han Dan’s sleeve.

“This… Seventh Sister, how did you know this flower was in Han Dan’s sleeve? Don’t tell me you put it there?”

Lianpin’s mind raced like lightning, and she regretted not taking Xu Shi’s words to heart.

Xu Shi had said this Qin Shuying girl was very cunning—several attempts at scheming had failed, instead putting herself at a disadvantage. She hadn’t believed it at the time, thinking her mother was exaggerating. How capable could a sheltered young girl be? If she took action, a simple scheme would make her obediently submit.

Qin Shuying’s clear, bright eyes looked at Lianpin, composed and calm, without the slightest trace of panic: “Your Highness, why are you so certain I put this Yao Huang there? Did you see it with your own eyes?”

Lianpin was rendered speechless by the question. Seeing Princess Fuping’s expression as calm as a lake surface, Lianpin inwardly groaned and felt puzzled, having to immediately change her tune: “This… I was too hasty, hearing Han Dan’s words without careful consideration…”