Princess Fu’an had come specifically to cause trouble for Qin Shuying today – how could she let her leave so easily?

“Qin Shuying, you stop right there!”

Qin Shuying had already walked far away.

Princess Fu’an was so angry her chest hurt. She raised her foot and stomped down hard, viciously stepping on Yun Jingshu’s foot. Yun Jingshu was in terrible pain but only let out a muffled groan, not daring to show any expression of suffering on her face.

Princess Fu’an gritted her teeth and said in a low voice: “You slut, you really know how to pretend!”

Though Liu Junqing treated both Yun Jingshu and Luo Jinniang equally, he had still been intimate with them.

This made Princess Fu’an extremely jealous and resentful.

After several months of marriage, though Princess Fu’an made them drink contraceptive soup every time, such things were never one hundred percent accurate.

So Princess Fu’an often made the two women follow rules in front of her, tormenting them in various ways.

However, she didn’t want Liu Junqing to know about her behavior, so she came up with many incredible methods – like secretly stomping on their feet while hidden by her skirts, and stipulating they weren’t allowed to cry out.

Yun Jingshu hated Qin Shuying to death. She wasn’t pregnant at all, yet Qin Shuying’s casual remark had brought Princess Fu’an’s fury down on her.

Pregnant? How would she dare!

Besides, with Nanny Cao around, what tricks could escape Nanny Cao’s sharp eyes?

Before Yun Jingshu could explain, Princess Fu’an was burning with rage: “You even deceived Nanny Cao – how impressive!”

Princess Fu’an wasn’t satisfied yet and ground her foot several more times on Yun Jingshu’s foot, causing such pain that Yun Jingshu nearly fainted.

The shoes Princess Fu’an wore weren’t embroidered slippers but exquisite little suede boots, quite rare.

The boots had hard leather soles – stepping on someone’s foot with them was torture, pain that reached the five organs and six viscera.

Yun Jingshu couldn’t bear it anymore and pleaded in a small voice: “Princess, Princess, please, please… this concubine had no idea, Qin Shuying was deliberately talking nonsense…”

This reminder immediately made Princess Fu’an alert. What Yun Jingshu said made sense – Qin Shuying must have deliberately tried to stir up conflict between herself and Yun Jingshu.

“Then why did you touch your belly just now?”

“This concubine, this concubine’s stomach hurt a little…”

Yun Jingshu wasn’t telling the truth. Her monthly courses hadn’t come this month, and when Qin Shuying spoke like that, a flash of doubt had crossed her mind, which was why she had acted that way.

“Your Highness…”

Nanny Cao shook her head disapprovingly from the side. Only then did Princess Fu’an let Yun Jingshu go: “Hmph, I suppose you wouldn’t dare! If you dare play tricks under this princess’s nose, I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

Watching Princess Fu’an walk past her, Yun Jingshu felt as if she’d received a great pardon, and even looked at Nanny Cao with some gratitude.

She had truly been too naive, thinking that marrying Liu Junqing would bring her happiness.

But now her very life was in Princess Fu’an’s hands. As for Liu Junqing, she could only see him those few days each month – the rest of the time she couldn’t even see him.

Even during those few nights, Liu Junqing often left immediately after finishing his business, not even sleeping in her room.

Her dignity and tenderness had completely vanished.

If not for Luo Jinniang receiving the same treatment, she would think she had committed some grave sin to fall to such a state!

But now she couldn’t even return to her natal home. Though Madam Yun was in the capital, they couldn’t even speak to each other. Today, she had finally begged Princess Fu’an to bring her here, just wanting to see her mother.

Meanwhile, Qin Shuying and Dong Shi took their seats, with Qin Shuying sitting among a group of young wives.

Duchess Chu was in robust health, talking and laughing without showing any fatigue. Everyone spoke of joyful and festive matters, and before long, they heard that the bride was entering.

The female guests all rose to observe the ceremony.

Amid the lively music, Mo Yiting and Mingxuan bowed to heaven, earth, and parents, then were escorted to the bridal chamber.

The entire process lasted about half an hour with noisy sounds. Qin Shuying, Dong Shi, and Qin Yue calmly observed the ceremony without further disturbance.

After the ceremony, the female guests remained in the inner courtyard, gathering in twos and threes to chat while waiting to be seated for the banquet. After eating, they could take their leave and return home.

Only Qin Shuying had come as a female guest from Pingxi Marquis’s mansion, so she sat together with Dong Shi and her daughter.

This table wasn’t full yet. Just as Qin Shuying and the other two sat down, they saw Princess Fu’an approaching with Yun Jingshu, Liu Sujiang, and Lu Ruyang.

Surely these four wouldn’t be sitting at the same table as herself?

An ominous feeling flashed through Dong Shi’s mind.

Indeed, Princess Fu’an walked over and stopped: “Pingxi Marquis’s eldest young mistress, the banquet hasn’t started yet. I’ll sit here and have some tea – you don’t mind, do you?”

Having said this, Princess Fu’an leisurely chose a seat and sat down.

A herd of strange animals galloped through Dong Shi’s mind.

Qin Shuying and Dong Shi stood up to curtsy. After finishing, Dong Shi felt somewhat troubled because according to protocol, Princess Fu’an was a princess after all. With her sitting, Dong Shi, being of very low rank, could only stand.

So Princess Fu’an must have other seating arrangements, yet for some unknown reason, she insisted on sitting here.

But then she heard Qin Shuying say: “Your Highness, you’re truly approachable. This subject’s wife knows that after a princess marries, all rules and etiquette are no different from noble ladies. Your ability to set such an example is truly admirable.”

Having said this, Qin Shuying also leisurely sat down.

Princess Fu’an smiled charmingly: “Young Mistress Liang, your words are incorrect. The rules do say this, but they don’t say that because princesses are no different from noble ladies, noble ladies can be the same as princesses. You don’t even have a rank now – while this princess dines, you should stand and serve.”

Qin Shuying still smiled warmly, softly said “Oh,” then stood up: “Your Highness is right, thanks for the reminder. Elder sister-in-law, Sister Yue, you mentioned having stomach aches earlier. I also have a stomach ache – let’s go relieve ourselves together.”

Dong Shi was dumbfounded – this was allowed?

Princess Fu’an immediately blocked them: “Qin Shuying, did I say you could leave?”

But Qin Shuying smiled lightly at Liu Sujiang: “Sister Liu, do you think I can leave?”

Liu Sujiang most detested Qin Shuying’s expression. Every time she called her “Sister Liu” so sweetly, there was always some dark scheme behind it.

Liu Sujiang darkened her face: “Young Mistress Liang, Princess is here – you mustn’t be disrespectful.”

But Qin Shuying lowered her voice and laughed softly: “I’m being disrespectful – so what?”

Having said this, she took Dong Shi’s hand with one hand and Qin Yue’s with the other, preparing to leave.

Princess Fu’an was burning with rage but didn’t speak out. Instead, she gave a meaningful look, and Lu Ruyang blocked Qin Shuying’s path with a kind, attractive expression: “Young mistress, this is the first time we’ve met since your marriage. Let’s chat before you go.”

Qin Shuying glanced at her sideways and said indifferently: “So it’s Miss Lu. I wonder what business you have?”

Lu Ruyang said with a grin: “We’re all relatives – we can chat even without business. Don’t you think so, young mistress?”