Qin Shuying watched coldly as Dong Shi’s barely suppressed excitement and expression, casually toying with the fruit in her hand.

Interests – what people pursue…

Qin Lulu asked, “Seventh Sister, will you participate in the guessing game later?”

“I won’t participate.”

Qin Lulu felt quite regretful, but she knew Qin Shuying had a resolute temperament and wouldn’t easily change her mind once it was made up. So she just expressed her regret briefly and said no more.

Before long, they saw Ziyuan hurrying over.

She came before Qin Shuying, bowed, and said, “Seventh Miss Qin, Her Highness Princess Yongjia summons Seventh Miss at Rose Pavilion ahead. Please follow this servant there.”

Her voice was loud, and many people around heard it.

Qin Shuying looked at her and said, “May I ask what matter this concerns?”

Ziyuan said, “This servant is merely following orders.”

Qin Shuying said, “It’s almost lunchtime now. Going there at this moment, I wonder if it would disturb Her Highness’s meal? Would that be very impolite?”

Ziyuan said, “It would not.”

Qin Shuying smiled gracefully. This meant they absolutely wouldn’t let her escape, and she absolutely had to go give an explanation. Now she was somewhat curious – Princess Yongjia was the Emperor’s only sister, and in terms of nobility, she wasn’t much inferior to the Empress. How could she be willing to run errands for Consort Kang?

Rose Pavilion – Qin Shuying knew of it.

Located on a hillside in the middle of the rose garden, it had three floors with an expansive view.

Princess Yongjia asking her to go there made her meaning very clear – she was telling her not to worry about Princess Yongjia doing anything to her.

Very thoughtful consideration indeed.

She had already declined the noble Princess’s invitation three times. If she didn’t go now, it would really be difficult to justify. Especially now, with Ziyuan standing before everyone to invite her, she wasn’t given any possibility to refuse.

Qin Shuying rose and followed Ziyuan.

Luo Jinniang, Yun Jingshu, and others all changed color, only Liang Qiong remained smiling as before.

Arriving at the highest floor of Rose Pavilion, Princess Yongjia sat alone inside, with two serving maids standing beside her.

Qin Shuying paid her respects. Princess Yongjia’s body, which had been reclining in the chair, moved slightly as she said lazily, “Seventh Miss Qin, was the brown sugar water this princess provided to your taste?”

If it were someone else, they would merely think Princess Yongjia was being casually friendly. But from her languid demeanor, Qin Shuying detected something different, because she was no longer truly just a fourteen-year-old girl, but someone who had been married.

Princess Yongjia had… indulged excessively…

“In reply to Your Highness, it was very much to my taste.”

“That’s good.” Saying this, she turned her head and casually pointed to an embroidered stool nearby. “Sit.”

Qin Shuying bowed and sat where she indicated.

From this elevated position, one could see most of the scenery of the Princess’s residence. The gentle breeze on her face and the penetrating flower fragrance made it quite pleasant. However, given the current season with lush trees and grass screens providing shade all around, it would be impossible for others to see them.

“Speak. Why did you have people spread news about Old Madam Mu’s affairs?”

Princess Yongjia looked languidly into the distance while casually playing with something in her hands, her expression quite casual.

Qin Shuying said, “Your Highness, many people already knew about this matter. This subject merely added fuel to the fire.”

“You’re quite straightforward, admitting so readily that you did it. So then, what benefit does this bring you?”

“This subject merely sought satisfaction. Your Highness, people live but one life, with fate beyond their control. Especially women, who are constrained everywhere and cannot have their own way in anything. The marriage with the Liu family was arranged by my father. Since Princess Fu’an has taken a fancy to Liu Junqing, she could have openly and honorably proposed canceling the engagement. She dared not do so, instead choosing to make things difficult for this subject, attempting to ruin this subject’s reputation to achieve the goal of canceling the engagement. This subject is without talent, but also doesn’t wish to be manipulated like a puppet. Taking a step back means death, taking a step forward also means death – why not die more satisfyingly? Why not let them also taste what it’s like to have their reputations completely ruined?”

Only then did Princess Yongjia withdraw her gaze, fixing it on her and smiling. “You are indeed perceptive.”

“This subject doesn’t dare accept Your Highness’s praise.”

“What wouldn’t you dare? You dared not only to embarrass the Mu family but also to leave this princess speechless before others. This princess has schemed against you three times, and you’ve evaded all three times. This princess has lived forty years and has only now met the second person as interesting as you. Since you know about that matter, would you be willing to stay by this princess’s side?”

Qin Shuying said, “Your Highness, since there can be a Madam Ji, why can’t there be a Qin Shuying?”

Princess Yongjia let out a faint sigh through her nose and said, “You just said that life should be about seeking satisfaction. You think this way, and how could this princess not want the same? In this princess’s view, Liu Junqing is not a good son-in-law, and you don’t treasure him that much either. As for the men under heaven, not one of them is good. Since that’s the case, why not come to this princess’s side? At least, this princess can protect you completely.”

“Though Your Highness does not abandon me, Shuying dares not agree to Your Highness.”

“Why is this?”

“Your Highness, do you think Princess Yongxing is living well now?”

Princess Yongjia straightened in her seat. Her gaze was now serious and earnest, no longer languid and indifferent as before.

“Why do you say this?”

Qin Shuying said, “Before Princess Yongxing married, she was always on good terms with Your Highness. This subject is merely curious – do you still exchange letters with Princess Yongxing now?”

Princess Yongjia’s complexion changed, and for a long while she said nothing.

Princess Yongxing wasn’t truly a princess – it would be more appropriate to call her a county princess. She was Prince Liang’s legitimate daughter and was now twenty-seven years old. Prince Liang was an idle prince, the Emperor’s half-brother from a different mother. When Yongxing was still a county princess, she frequently visited the Princess’s residence. Everyone in the capital knew she and Yongjia had a good relationship.

Six years ago, the Emperor personally led a campaign to the northwest. Although they ultimately established a covenant at the border for mutual non-aggression and opened trade routes for mutual exchange, that war had consumed the entire Great Zhou’s financial and military resources. Great Zhou had also relied on the support of several northwestern tribes to win that war.

To appease the tribal chiefs, the Emperor sent a princess to marry the tribal leader.

This princess was County Princess Yongxing, who married under the title of princess.

When it was said that a princess needed to be sent, although the Emperor had five or six daughters, none were of marriageable age at the time, so they had to select from among the imperial relatives.

No imperial relative family was willing to do such a thing – they would avoid it as far as possible. Therefore, sometimes they might also select from among high officials’ daughters.

For a time, all marriageable young ladies in the capital were suddenly betrothed overnight.

No one knew that just when the entire city was in panic, the then twenty-two-year-old Yongxing stepped forward and volunteered to marry far away.

Yongxing had already been the focus of discussion among the capital’s inner quarters. A twenty-two-year-old daughter of an imperial relative, outstanding in both appearance and talent, yet reaching twenty-two without an engagement – this truly shocked all the noble ladies of the capital.