“I think the Empress Dowager has been in the palace too long—she’s gone mad!” Every word Bingtang spoke was squeezed out through gritted teeth.

Qin Yining smiled slightly, enduring the pain as she said, “Only despicable people try to show their nobility by humiliating others. True nobility comes from breeding and kindness that radiates from one’s bones. Without these two qualities, no amount of pretense can erase the viciousness that permeates one’s very marrow.”

“Princess Consort, don’t take it to heart. Endure this moment—the Prince won’t let them off.” Ji Yun supported Qin Yining’s arm comfortingly.

Qin Yining nodded, trying to walk with dignity, “I just find it strange that the Empress Dowager suddenly changed her previous attitude toward me, becoming difficult at every turn, constantly finding fault. She wasn’t like this a few days ago.”

“Yes, before she always showed some wariness of the Prince, obviously intending to win you over.”

“How could someone change so quickly?” Qin Yining’s delicate eyebrows furrowed. Carelessly, she kicked the gap between floor tiles and stumbled, nearly dropping the food box in her hands.

“Princess Consort!”

Ji Yun and Bingtang hurriedly supported her.

Qin Yining steadied herself, shaking her head, “Fortunately the bird’s nest is fine. Let’s quickly deliver it to the First Prince and hurry back.”

“Princess Consort, let’s find an opportunity for this servant to examine your knees.” Bingtang knew that if Qin Yining’s leg injuries weren’t severe, she wouldn’t stumble over brick gaps while walking.

Qin Yining shook her head, “Let’s wait until we’re free to go back. Having endured this long, I don’t mind a little longer. Let’s not give the Empress Dowager more ammunition against us.”

“Yes.” Hearing this, Bingtang could only temporarily let the matter rest.

The three turned past a peach blossom grove, choosing the shortest route to Kunning Palace. Qin Yining pressed her lips together—the more she walked, the more her knees hurt. Each step felt like torture, requiring great effort to maintain balance while keeping proper etiquette and not walking ungracefully. It was truly agonizing.

Qin Yining smiled self-mockingly. Having lived in the palace so long before being targeted, should she thank heaven for its protection?

If this had happened on her first day in the palace, she probably would have lost her life long ago. Under the imperial family’s nose, could she resist? Without being able to grasp reason, she could only endure.

While thinking this, a green figure suddenly burst from the bushes, rushing straight toward her.

Qin Yining’s legs already hurt, and though she noticed someone approaching, her inconvenient movement prevented successful evasion. She collided solidly with this person. The food box in her hands fell to the ground with a “clang,” the white porcelain bowl containing bird’s nest tumbled out and broke in half, spilling milk bird’s nest all over the ground.

“Oh my! What’s wrong with you! How dare you crash into me! Which palace are you from!”

The other person was a beautiful woman around twenty, her hair in a high chignon with golden hairpins, face like peach petals and eyes like spring water. From her attire, she appeared to be some concubine from the rear palace.

Some milk bird’s nest had splashed onto her shoes, and she was angrily stamping her feet.

Before Qin Yining could speak, a nanny in a dark green jacket came running over, holding a snow-white furry ball in her arms. Looking closer, it was a beautiful white Pekingese.

“Oh my, Consort Yu, what happened to you? Oh dear! Who’s so blind as to crash into our Consort Yu!”

The nanny put the Pekingese on the ground and busily crouched to wipe Consort Yu’s shoes with a handkerchief.

Consort Yu pointed at Qin Yining with furrowed brows, “Who are you! Still not kneeling!”

Qin Yining frowned, that feeling of unease and suspicion returning.

“This subject’s wife is Princess Consort Zhongshun, née Qin. Following the Empress Dowager’s instructions to deliver bird’s nest to His Highness the First Prince, I didn’t expect Consort Yu to suddenly emerge from the bushes. This subject’s wife has caused offense—please forgive me, Consort Yu.”

“What do you mean! What do you mean I emerged from the bushes? Am I a cat or dog?” Consort Yu grabbed Qin Yining’s arm, “You deliberately crashed into me and knocked over what the Empress Dowager sent to the First Prince. Come, let’s go settle this!”

Qin Yining’s brow nearly knotted. She applied force to her wrist, shaking off Consort Yu’s tight grip.

Suddenly, several small animal whimpers came from underfoot.

Looking down, the snow-white Pekingese lay on the ground, tongue extended and foaming at the mouth as it gasped! Remnants of the spilled milk bird’s nest remained around its mouth—it had obviously just licked some!

Qin Yining’s heart shook violently, and she instinctively stepped back.

Consort Yu’s almond eyes widened in shock as she shrieked, “My Snowball! My Snowball! You, how could you poison my Snowball to death! Someone, help!”

At Consort Yu’s cry, the elderly nanny immediately rose and lunged at Qin Yining, trying to restrain her.

Qin Yining quickly stepped back, pushing the woman away, then urgently whispered to Bingtang, “Gather evidence!”

Bingtang was stunned by this scene, but hearing Qin Yining’s words, immediately reacted. She pushed past Consort Yu, took out her handkerchief to wrap some of the bird’s nest from the ground, and used another corner to collect the white foam from the dog’s mouth.

Seeing this, Consort Yu screamed even louder, lunging forward with the nanny to grab Qin Yining.

Qin Yining pulled Ji Yun and Bingtang along as they turned and ran.

Consort Yu and the old nanny, both with bound feet, couldn’t match Qin Yining’s speed.

By this time, palace guards were already rushing over.

Consort Yu pointed in the direction Qin Yining had fled, shouting, “Someone poisoned! Someone’s assassinating! Quick, hurry!”

“Yes!” The guards acknowledged and immediately gave chase.

Qin Yining pulled Bingtang and Ji Yun as they ran, specifically choosing secluded corners and diving into artificial hills when they encountered them.

With pursuers behind them and connecting today’s events, how could Qin Yining not understand?

“Princess Consort, what, what do we do?”

“Someone wants to frame me for murdering the Prince! Ji Yun, you and Bingtang find Jiang Yuan. When you find him, tell him what happened, then have him find a way to get you out and somehow get word to the Prince. Bingtang, remember to analyze what poison is in the bird’s nest.”

Ji Yun and Bingtang were both disheveled from running, covered in cold sweat, and nodded repeatedly.

“But Princess Consort, what about you?”

“I can’t escape.” Qin Yining said calmly, “There’s a fork ahead. You go left, quickly. My hope rests with you—you absolutely cannot be caught!”

Ji Yun choked back a sob, “No, no, Princess Consort…”

“There’s no time. Listen to me. Otherwise, none of us will have hope!”

“Princess Consort, let me stay. We’ll switch clothes—you and Ji Yun go quickly!” Bingtang anxiously gripped Qin Yining’s hand tightly.

“No! Whoever stays in my place will die! You must listen to me! Quickly!”

Reaching the fork, Qin Yining pushed the two maids forcefully to the left while running in the other direction herself.

Bingtang sobbed, “What do we do, what do we do?”

Ji Yun roughly wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, her eyes red as she pulled Bingtang along, “Listen to the Princess Consort. She’s smarter than both of us—we can’t ruin her plans.”

“But poison! The bird’s nest for the First Prince was poisoned! If the Princess Consort is caught, can she survive!” Bingtang sobbed.

Ji Yun gritted her teeth, “She will. If anything happens to the Princess Consort… I’ll kill that old witch and then join the Princess Consort below!”

With bloodshot eyes, Ji Yun pulled Bingtang through the artificial hills, listening carefully for sounds. Finding a concealed cave opening, she immediately led Bingtang inside.

“Quick, there’s an assassin, this way!” Outside the artificial hill, a squad of guards’ footsteps ran in the opposite direction.

Bingtang and Ji Yun squeezed in the narrow cave, eyes wide with terror, biting their teeth to avoid making any sound.

Qin Yining could no longer run. Her knees hurt so much her legs felt disconnected from her body. Moreover, she understood that in this heavily guarded palace, even without injured knees, she absolutely couldn’t escape. Her current struggle was only to buy time for Ji Yun and Bingtang, leading pursuers further away.

“There she is!”

“Stop!”

The imperial guards had spotted Qin Yining, and a crowd rushed toward her.

Qin Yining gradually stopped, one hand supporting herself against a sturdy plum tree branch, the other rubbing her agonizing knees. The full branches of plum blossoms shook, scattering pink-white petals that covered her head and shoulders.

The guards stopped and surrounded Qin Yining.

“Still dare to flee! Surrender now!” The guard captain stepped forward and shouted.

Qin Yining slowly straightened her body, turning to face the guards.

The guards were momentarily stunned seeing Qin Yining’s face, but then the captain stepped forward, staring at Qin Yining with intimidating authority, making a gesture of invitation.

In the Imperial Garden, the Empress Dowager was talking with Li Helan, Consort Yun, and Princess Tana. Without Qin Yining to mock and toy with, their conversation had become boring.

Just then, commotion arose outside.

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, saying calmly, “What’s happening?”

“Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Consort Yu has urgent business and requests an audience.”

“Let her in.”

Everyone sat properly. Soon, Consort Yu entered the warm pavilion, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in rain. Behind her followed the nanny carrying the food box and broken bird’s nest bowl, and a eunuch holding a dead dog.

Seeing someone carrying a dead dog, Li Helan frowned in disgust, “What is this! Take that filthy thing away!”

Consort Yu quickly knelt gracefully, sobbing, “Empress Dowager, you must give this subject justice!”

Consort Yun and Princess Tana both looked confused and curious.

Li Helan pursed her lips but didn’t speak further.

The Empress Dowager said, “Speak. Who gave you the audacity to bring a dead dog for me to see? If you don’t give me a perfect reason, I’ll punish you!”

“Empress Dowager! This subject was just playing with Snowball in the Imperial Garden when I encountered Princess Consort Zhongshun. She didn’t hold her food box steady and dropped it, spilling the bird’s nest on the ground. Snowball was greedy and licked a few mouthfuls, then… then died!” Consort Yu wailed, “This subject doesn’t know how I offended Princess Consort Zhongshun that she would poison my beloved dog to death! Please give this subject justice, Empress Dowager!”

These words sent shockwaves through everyone present.

Consort Yun stared wide-eyed in astonishment, instinctively looking toward the Empress Dowager.