Princess Fu’an nodded: “Junqing saw right through it all. Before leaving, he specifically warned me not to have any entanglements with this Prince Huo Luo. Mother Consort, you see, when someone as clever as Junqing says such things, we should definitely pay attention.”

Consort Kang looked at Princess Fu’an and sat down. “What exactly does this Prince Huo Luo want?”

“Mother Consort, since there are already rumors in the traveling palace, why don’t we go with the flow?”

Consort Kang immediately became alert: “What do you mean?”

Princess Fu’an said: “Mother Consort, if Prince Huo Luo truly harbors some intentions, what should we do?”

Consort Kang fell into deep thought. “No, Mother Consort needs to meet with your grandfather.”

“Mother Consort, grandfather has already incurred Father Emperor’s displeasure because of me. I don’t want him to worry about me anymore.”

Consort Kang felt somewhat troubled. “Then what do you suggest we do?”

“If I marry quickly, even if Prince Huo Luo has any ideas, they won’t come to fruition. Mother Consort, don’t you think so?”

Consort Kang was stunned. “You’re only thirteen years old!”

“Mother Consort…” Princess Fu’an was also very shy. How could she, a thirteen-year-old girl, speak of such things? But she truly loved Liu Junqing so much!

“Mother Consort, let’s get married first and then discuss!”

Consort Kang’s eyes lit up. Yes, they could marry first without consummating the marriage, couldn’t they?

Exactly!

“I still need to discuss this with your brother first.”

Princess Fu’an lowered her head and smiled. This matter was nine-tenths certain to succeed.

In Luo Meixiang’s room.

“Enough, get out! You can’t accomplish anything!”

Luo Meixiang could no longer maintain her virtuous and gentle aunt facade in front of Luo Jinniang, scolding her harshly with vicious fury.

Luo Jinniang retreated anxiously, having botched things again!

What on earth was happening?

Hadn’t Princess Fu’an gone there?

Hadn’t Prince Huo Luo also gone?

She hadn’t actually sent word for Liu Junqing to go—why did Liu Junqing join in the commotion?

Who exactly had told Liu Junqing to go?

Luo Meixiang was equally puzzled. She said to Liang Qiong, who appeared much better: “I only had Jinniang falsely relay information to Prince Huo Luo, and had someone falsely relay information to Princess Fu’an. They both went, that’s true. But how did Liu Junqing and Qin Shuying also go? Who exactly is interfering from behind the scenes?”

Liang Qiong could now speak, though her words weren’t entirely clear: “Mother, could it be that Qin Shuying and Liang Zhe discovered our plan?”

“How is that possible? Jinniang was the one who relayed the message to Prince Huo Luo, and my trusted confidant was the one who falsely relayed information to Princess Fu’an. Moreover, they left almost simultaneously—there was absolutely no possibility of information leaking.”

Liang Qiong was also completely baffled.

At this moment, Qin Shuying was sitting by the lake with Lin Zilan, admiring the lotus flowers. The lotus leaves stretched endlessly to meet the sky—truly beautiful scenery.

She had spent a considerable sum to bribe Luo Jinniang’s maid, and this investment had proven useful once again.

Learning that Luo Jinniang was going to relay a message to Prince Huo Luo, Qin Shuying figured out Luo Meixiang’s chain of schemes and had Ziteng personally go relay a message to Liu Junqing, arranging to meet him.

This could not only disrupt Luo Meixiang’s chain of schemes but also promote Princess Fu’an’s early marriage into the Liu family.

Since Madam Liu was so eager to make her an adopted daughter, why not give her a grand gift by letting the princess marry in early?

Qin Shuying looked forward to how lively the Liu household would become after Princess Fu’an married in, followed by Yun Jingshu and Luo Jinniang entering the family.

Would Madam Liu still have time to concern herself with her then?

She hadn’t originally planned to devise a strategy to check Madam Liu so quickly, but Luo Meixiang had impatiently provided such a perfect opportunity—it would be impossible not to take advantage of it.

After making the arrangements, Qin Shuying was still somewhat uneasy. After all, if no one witnessed Princess Fu’an and Liu Junqing’s rendezvous, and no news spread, her plan would essentially yield no results.

Therefore, she personally went there.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qin was actually there with Prince Huo Luo.

Had Liang Zhe actually persuaded Zhou Qin and Prince Huo Luo?

Prince Huo Luo hadn’t rushed over to keep Liang Qiong’s appointment?

This Prince Huo Luo also seemed quite extraordinary!

With Zhou Qin and Prince Huo Luo present, she didn’t need to continue with the subsequent steps—spreading the news.

Indeed, news of Princess Fu’an and Liu Junqing’s rendezvous spread like wildfire.

However, recalling that backward glance as she left, Qin Shuying felt somewhat conflicted—she had understood Liu Junqing’s expression.

But what did that have to do with her? If he truly cared, why had he remained unmoved before, allowing Madam Liu and Liu Sujiang to repeatedly frame her?

Using him this time could be considered collecting interest on the repeated persecution she had suffered from his family members.

Since their engagement was dissolved, she and he were destined never to belong to the same world again.

“Shuying, I really wish I could lie in the sun every day, basking in the sunshine, smelling the flowers, without having to watch others’ pretentious acts or their affected posturing. Ah, such a life—the more I think about it, the better it seems.”

Lin Zilan lounged lazily in her chair, without a trace of proper young lady deportment.

Qin Shuying was also in good spirits. Looking at the flourishing flowers before her, she closed her eyes to enjoy this rare moment of tranquility, then listened to Lin Zilan talk about how impressive her mechanical devices were.

Once they left this traveling palace, such peace would likely become unattainable.

“Miss Lin, Seventh Miss Qin, what a coincidence.”

A young lady approached with a gentle smile—Mu Tianxiang.

Ziteng watched Mu Tianxiang warily. Qin Shuying had mentioned that Mu Tianxiang was Princess Fu’an’s cousin. Logically, since her grandmother’s incense business had been exposed by Qin Shuying, Mu Tianxiang had remained inactive for so long, which was certainly suspicious.

Moreover, as Princess Fu’an’s cousin, Mu Tianxiang surprisingly wasn’t often by her side, while Yun Jingshu followed her around constantly—this was also thought-provoking.

“Miss Mu.”

Lin Zilan and Qin Shuying also exchanged greetings.

Mu Tianxiang looked at Qin Shuying: “Speaking of which, I haven’t had the chance to congratulate Seventh Miss Qin on receiving an imperial marriage decree!”

Qin Shuying smiled: “Then I thank Miss Mu.”

“Seventh Miss Qin, having just dissolved her engagement with the Liu family, was able to receive His Majesty’s marriage decree—truly remarkable! I think, looking across the entire Great Zhou, there are few people who could have Seventh Miss Qin’s good fortune, or rather, good methods. Miss Lin, don’t you think so?”

Lin Zilan thought seriously and said: “Miss Mu is right. Or perhaps you could use different words—looking across the entire Great Zhou, there are few people with Shuying’s intelligence and charm. Otherwise, who is His Majesty? How could he be easily deceived? Don’t you think so?”

Mu Tianxiang remained smiling: “Miss Lin truly has a discerning eye. No wonder you can be so close to Seventh Miss Qin.”

Lin Zilan giggled: “Clever people speak with clever people, clever people associate with clever people. Since Miss Mu understands this, I needn’t say more.”

Mu Tianxiang’s expression remained unchanged: “Then I wish Miss Lin and Seventh Miss Qin eternal sisterly affection.”

Lin Zilan nodded: “Thank you.”

After Mu Tianxiang left, Lin Zilan’s face fell: “We finally found a quiet place to relax here, and she won’t even leave us alone. She had to come make a few barbed remarks—how boring!”