“Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

Qin Shuying’s face was full of confusion and concern, but the mockery and disdain in her eyes fell unmistakably into Princess Fu’an’s sight.

Princess Fu’an stared at her fixedly, her hands trembling slightly under her sleeves, habitually opening her mouth: “Someone come…”

Someone come and seize Qin Shuying?

Since she was so bold, how could she still be carrying those harmful things on her person?

Princess Fu’an hesitated.

Qin Shuying smiled, and that smile struck Princess Fu’an as indescribably eerie.

“Your Highness, earlier Sister Liu and I got our dresses wet and changed clothes in this room. At that time, there was no dead person on the ground. Sister Liu, isn’t that right?”

Liu Sujiang was suddenly called upon and, still shaken, responded with an “mm.”

Princess Fu’an frowned at her as Qin Shuying continued: “The clothes I’m wearing now are not the same ones I wore when I first arrived.”

Princess Fu’an’s eyes suddenly widened as she pointed at Qin Shuying, “You, you…”

This was plainly telling her that the fake palace maid on the ground was killed by her, Qin Shuying! Moreover, she had already changed clothes and destroyed any suspicious evidence long ago!

Looking at Qin Shuying’s bright and charming smile, Princess Fu’an almost spurted blood.

Just then, Qin Shuying whispered again: “Your Highness, the powder on your face has fallen off—the scars can’t be hidden!”

Princess Fu’an instinctively covered her face with her hands, stumbled, and fell into the arms of Nanny Cao, who had come at her earlier call.

Nanny Cao angrily scolded Qin Shuying: “Seventh Miss Qin, what exactly did you say to Her Highness? How did you make Her Highness like this? In front of so many princes and nobles, you dare to mock Her Highness—you have such audacity!”

Qin Shuying replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Nanny Cao speaks too harshly. This subject was merely worried that Her Highness was being deceived by those villains and reminded Her Highness a few words. Her Highness was too focused on this subject’s words and momentarily lost her composure. Nanny Cao, since I receive Her Highness’s favor, how could I be so ungrateful as to mock Her Highness? Nanny Cao worries too much! Your Highness, don’t you agree?”

Princess Fu’an was so angry she saw stars, but she couldn’t say a word.

What favor? Wasn’t it all her own doing?

At this moment, without evidence, how could she make people believe that the fake palace maid was killed by Qin Shuying?

Even if she said it, no one would believe her!

How could Qin Shuying, a weak woman, possibly have such deadly poison?

—Indeed, seeing how the fake palace maid had died, even a fool could guess he had been poisoned.

Since Qin Shuying could silently poison the fake palace maid to death in such a short time, wouldn’t it be easy for her to poison herself as well?

No wonder she had stayed by her side ever since entering, even touching her dress…

Thinking of this, Princess Fu’an reacted as if burned by tongs, almost panicking as she circled behind Nanny Cao, “Nanny…”

Nanny Cao was startled. When had she ever seen the princess so flustered? That time falling into water counted as one, and today counted as another—both times because of Qin Shuying.

“Your Highness, although today’s birthday banquet was organized by you, that dead person has nothing to do with you. Your Highness need not be so afraid.”

Qin Shuying looked at Princess Fu’an with concern and said softly.

In others’ eyes, this scene looked like Princess Fu’an was afraid and Qin Shuying, as her close friend, was comforting her.

Liu Sujiang stared with wide eyes.

This… shouldn’t be like this, should it?

What exactly was going on?

“Nanny Cao, today Her Highness is hosting guests after all. With such an incident occurring, it’s natural for Her Highness to feel uneasy. Lord Lü is questioning people, and though His Highness the Seventh Prince accompanies him, Her Highness also bears responsibility. This subject is dull-witted with shallow knowledge and dares not delay Her Highness’s important matters, so I’ll rest aside. Should Her Highness need anything, this subject will certainly do my utmost without declining.”

After speaking, Qin Shuying performed a courtesy bow and was about to head toward the partitioned rest area.

Princess Fu’an breathed a sigh of relief. Being with such a venomous creature and being repeatedly mocked and ridiculed by her, she had nearly lost her mind.

Nanny Cao was so angry her back teeth ached, but this was not the time to argue with Qin Shuying. She snorted and was about to help Princess Fu’an to a quiet place to sit when she heard Qin Shuying’s voice again: “Miss Yun, earlier in the main hall you were following closely behind Her Highness. How is it that once trouble arose, you’re hiding far away? Was all your usual respect for Her Highness fake? Getting close when there are benefits, hiding far away when there’s trouble?”

Nanny Cao and Princess Fu’an looked in the direction of the voice and indeed saw Yun Jingshu. She had apparently been following behind Princess Fu’an, Qin Shuying, and Liu Sujiang, but with so many people around, she hadn’t managed to get to the front.

Hearing Qin Shuying say this and seeing Princess Fu’an’s gloomy expression, Yun Jingshu immediately became anxious and hurriedly defended herself: “You’re talking nonsense! I was always following behind Her Highness—you just didn’t see me! Your Highness, I…”

Qin Shuying interrupted her: “If that’s so, where were you when I was speaking with Her Highness just now? I only saw Sister Liu, but didn’t see Miss Yun. Did you take Her Highness’s instructions to heart or not?”

Liu Sujiang was caught off guard by being mentioned again. Her heart inexplicably raced, but since this was putting in a good word for her in front of Princess Fu’an, Liu Sujiang unconsciously responded with another “mm.”

Yun Jingshu became anxious and raised her voice: “Of course I took them to heart! Your Highness, I did everything you told me to do…”

Princess Fu’an’s originally gloomy expression suddenly turned furious upon hearing her words. Yun Jingshu looked at Qin Shuying in sudden terror—how did Qin Shuying know what Princess Fu’an had instructed her to do?

No, this was falling into Qin Shuying’s trap!

Sure enough—

Princess Fu’an roared: “What are you? Would I need to instruct you to do anything? Are all the people around me dead?!”

The Great Zhou Dynasty strictly forbade palace consorts, princes, and princesses from associating too closely with court officials, and naturally also prohibited them from associating too closely with officials’ female family members. Officials’ female relatives could occasionally visit the palace, but were strictly forbidden from handling affairs for palace consorts, princes, or princesses.

This was a lesson learned from the previous dynasty’s downfall—the previous dynasty fell precisely because palace consorts colluded with court officials.

Later, after Princess Yongjia’s selection of a consort was exploited by others, requirements for this rule became even stricter.

If not for those with ulterior motives colluding with palace attendants, how could a sickly person have become a consort? Even someone as noble as the Princess Imperial was ruined by such entanglements.

Therefore, while palace consorts occasionally inviting people into the palace for conversation once or twice a year was acceptable—for instance, Madam Liu had been familiar with Consort Kang since their maiden days, so Consort Kang occasionally speaking with her wasn’t too excessive and was permitted by the Empress.

But more extensive interactions weren’t dared.

Looking at everyone’s discussions, I’m very grateful that everyone reads carefully. Whether praise or criticism, this author welcomes it all. The reason is simple—because this author also loves reading. After reading a lot, you develop your own thoughts, feeling some parts are written well by others, and wondering if changing the approach in some places might be better, so I try writing stories. This novel’s female protagonist is not a particularly likeable heroine. She’s skilled at scheming, ruthless and heartless. When seeking revenge, she places those around her in danger to some degree, and when facing opponents, she sometimes lacks grace. She’s not perfect and even has many flaws. This is perhaps this author’s setting—like myself, having many flaws but still living life with enthusiasm and effort, haha. Finally, I still appeal for supporting legitimate versions. On hot summer nights when others go out to enjoy themselves, staying home to write is quite hard work.