At this moment, Princess Yongjia was the first to recover from her shock, saying indifferently: “Seventh Miss Qin, do you know that spreading rumors and causing trouble is punishable by having one’s tongue cut out?”

Qin Shuying replied with a bright smile: “Princess Imperial speaks truly. Speaking carelessly and falsely is indeed punishable by tongue removal, and if the offender is a woman, the punishment should be even more severe. Your subject has followed her father in reading and writing since childhood, so naturally understands this principle. Thank you for Princess Imperial’s guidance.”

“Since this is so, why did you speak of Old Madam Mu violating imperial edicts?”

Qin Shuying smiled serenely and said: “There are several madams present who likely know about this matter, but everyone simply chooses not to speak of it. Princess Imperial, would you like me to invite them up to testify?”

Princess Yongjia fell silent for a moment.

Looking at Princess Fu’an’s expression, since Qin Shuying could even mention such specific details about foreign spices, Old Madam Mu’s participation in the foreign spice trade was most likely true.

Only then did Princess Fu’an come to her senses, scolding in terror: “What nonsense are you spouting! Who told you to call people up here?”

Qin Shuying replied respectfully: “Then I shall respect Princess Fu’an’s wishes. Regarding Old Madam Mu violating imperial edicts, your subject will mention it no more, and Your Highness must also not use this to consider Old Madam Mu as lacking in feminine virtue. Although Your Highness is the sovereign and Old Madam Mu is a subject, if Your Highness insists on focusing on Old Madam Mu showing her face in public to conduct business while disregarding the fact that she is Your Highness’s maternal grandmother, your subject believes this also violates human relationships and filial piety.”

“You…”

Princess Fu’an trembled with rage. When had she ever suffered such a loss? This Qin Shuying was just like a shrew, her mouth flying so rapidly that she could instantly say what would take others three times as long to express.

“Your Highness, is there anything else? If not, your subject will take her leave first.”

Princess Fu’an pointed at her, too angry to speak.

After a long while, she finally spat out one word: “Scram!”

Princess Fu’an thought that with her command, Qin Shuying would surely breathe a sigh of relief and obediently scurry away.

Who would have known that Qin Shuying smiled slightly and said: “Your Highness, you just invited your subject up, but now you’re telling your subject to scram down – I’m afraid this will cause many people to misunderstand. It doesn’t matter if they misunderstand your subject, but if they misunderstand Your Highness, your subject would have to explain that Your Highness told your subject to scram because Your Highness was angry about your own grandmother’s lack of feminine virtue. Your Highness, your subject humbly believes this would be quite harmful to Your Highness’s reputation.”

Indeed, because Princess Fu’an’s voice was quite loud, more than half the people below had already heard.

“You…”

Princess Fu’an’s face turned purple with rage, yet she couldn’t utter a single word.

Now she understood the situation.

She knew something about her grandmother’s affairs – what Qin Shuying said wasn’t wrong. However, the current maritime ban was much more relaxed than in earlier years. In the past, anyone participating in such activities would face execution and family extermination.

Over the past ten years or so, the court had gradually adjusted its policy of strictly prohibiting private overseas trade. As long as private overseas trade followed the court’s management restrictions, it was considered legal business. Therefore, many foreigners also came to visit Great Zhou. However, their commerce was still subject to many restrictions.

But this did not include officials, especially high-ranking ones.

Because the Emperor believed that officials’ participation was the root cause of “collusion between officials and bandits.” In the past, such “collusion between officials and bandits” had caused coastal residents to live in misery and threatened national stability.

However, overseas commerce was indeed alluringly profitable. Therefore, in recent years, some officials had privately participated, and everyone turned a blind eye as long as no one reported it and no one investigated.

But once investigated and relentlessly pursued, the consequences were not something an official like Grand Master Mu could bear.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that no one could bear such consequences.

Over ten years ago, because a Grand Secretary’s family members participated in such activities and were relentlessly pursued by political enemies, an entire clan of over four hundred people was executed.

Princess Fu’an was a princess, so naturally someone had taught her about these matters. A chill rose in her heart as she stared intensely at Qin Shuying, wondering how this sheltered young lady had learned about her grandmother’s affairs.

Or perhaps she was just bluffing.

Princess Fu’an’s mind raced, but she couldn’t think of a better solution.

Qin Shuying stood like a winter plum blossom – graceful and upright, yet solitary and independent. This demeanor in Princess Fu’an’s eyes became increasingly detestable, making her want to bite Qin Shuying to death.

Qin Shuying smiled as she looked directly at Princess Fu’an, waiting for her response.

Princess Fuping slowly sipped her tea, her understanding of Qin Shuying deepening further. Such a woman was truly rare.

Madam Rong looked meaningfully at Qin Shuying, trying to discern something from her. But looking at her, Qin Shuying appeared to be just an ordinary noble young lady. Though quite beautiful, she wasn’t the stunning type.

Princess Yongjia also abandoned her previous dismissive attitude. To so quickly identify Princess Fu’an’s weakness, the young lady before them was not as pure and kind as she appeared.

“Your Highness, your subject is still waiting for your words. If I wait too long, I’m afraid all the female relatives in the capital will know that Old Madam Mu…”

“You, you…” Princess Fu’an looked at her, her eyes seeming ready to breathe fire. She took a deep breath, drank some tea, and managed to suppress her panic and fear by a fraction.

“Seventh Miss Qin…” Princess Fu’an raised her voice, and the female relatives all looked at her, waiting for her next words.

“Your Highness, your subject is here.”

Princess Fu’an gritted her teeth and said: “The story you told… is truly infuriating… This princess is thoroughly angered. To think such people exist in this world – it has opened this princess’s eyes. You, you may go down.”

But Qin Shuying didn’t leave. She lowered her voice and said rapidly: “Your Highness, since your subject told such a good story, there should be some reward.”

Princess Fu’an’s expression changed, but seeing Qin Shuying’s half-smiling expression, she could only swallow her anger and said to the maid beside her: “Seventh Miss Qin told her story well – reward her!”

Only then did Qin Shuying express her gratitude: “Thank you for Your Highness’s gracious reward!”

Having said this, she stood in place to receive the reward, meticulously bowed to all three princesses, and only then properly descended.

Princess Yongjia watched her enter the crowd and chat with her female companions before withdrawing her gaze. She smiled lightly, her voice somewhat lazy: “You see, now you know why I hold the Hairpin Flower Gathering, don’t you? Such unforgettable women come along only once every few years. Without the Hairpin Flower Gathering, how would you have the chance to see them?”

Madam Rong’s expression paused slightly. Not knowing what she was thinking, she said: “Princess Imperial speaks truly.”

Princess Yongjia glanced at her with a half-smile that carried an indescribable meaning. Madam Rong’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly averted her gaze.