Finally finishing lunch, Princess Yongjia and the others had long since left to rest.

Naturally, some ladies of noble status also had places to rest.

Many young ladies didn’t rest, though. After all, such occasions only came once a year, and everyone was very excited—how could they waste time sleeping? After the meal, using the excuse of taking a walk to aid digestion, they strolled around the garden.

Fourth Miss Lin had no familiar companions, or rather, the people she considered familiar were unwilling to accompany her. She was also unwilling to follow Lin Zilan, so she remained sitting in the flower hall. Madam Lin didn’t dare leave either, fearing she might cause some trouble.

Dong Shi rarely had the opportunity to associate with such a lady, so she also stayed to sit and chat together.

The calligraphy and painting gathering was at the hour of the Sheep. It was only a little over half an hour until then, so it wasn’t difficult to endure.

Therefore, it was still the four of them—Qin Shuying and the others—traveling together.

They encountered quite a few people on the road. Some greeted them, others carried mockery—all sorts of reactions.

Just as they were chatting and laughing, a palace maid hurried over, curtsied, and said, “Seventh Miss Qin, Princess Fu’an requests your presence.”

Qin Lulu and the others were stunned. Then Qin Lulu showed a puzzled expression and asked, “Sister, does the princess have some matter in requesting Seventh Sister?”

Regarding the earlier incident, she had also figured out later that Princess Fu’an probably had an unpleasant encounter with Qin Shuying—it wasn’t really about Qin Shuying telling stories well.

Qin Shuying glanced at Qin Lulu and heard the palace maid say, “Her Highness the Princess is boating on the lake, along with Fifth Miss Lu and others. Seventh Miss Qin tells stories well, and everyone wants to hear more. Please come along, Seventh Miss Qin.”

Without thinking, Qin Lulu said, “My seventh sister isn’t an entertainer…”

Qin Shuying grasped her hand and said, “Fifth Sister, to receive Her Highness the Princess’s favor is my honor. I’ll go and return shortly. When the calligraphy and painting gathering begins, I’ll return on time.”

“But…”

Qin Shuying patted her hand comfortingly and said, “You all go ahead.”

Her gaze was firm, her expression brooked no argument. Qin Lulu could only watch helplessly as she departed.

After walking a few steps, Qin Shuying turned back to see Qin Yue and Lin Zilan both wearing worried expressions, warming her heart.

Ziteng followed closely beside Qin Shuying, exchanging a meaningful glance with her.

After walking for a short while, they saw a dock with a painted pleasure boat moored beside it. This boat had two stories, and Princess Fu’an and her group were on the second floor.

Qin Shuying followed the palace maid onto the boat and up the stairs. Princess Fu’an sat in a chair, listlessly eating fruit. Around her were two young ladies, a matron, and several palace maids and servant girls.

One of the two young ladies was Fifth Miss Lu, and she didn’t know who the other was.

Fifth Miss Lu was Fourth Miss Lin’s so-called handkerchief friend, but now it seemed she was actually someone close to Princess Fu’an, counting as the princess’s good friend. So today her position had always been in front, while Fourth Miss Lin was placed behind. Later, when Fifth Miss Lu kept wanting to follow the princess, Fourth Miss Lin had no choice but to not play with her.

Qin Shuying recalled the genealogies of the capital’s noble families in her mind and roughly understood who this Fifth Miss Lu was.

As for the young lady beside her in light red clothing with a calm expression, Qin Shuying had a vague impression in her mind but couldn’t remember who she was.

“Greetings to Your Highness the Princess!”

Qin Shuying half-bent her body to pay respects to Princess Fu’an.

Princess Fu’an neither spoke nor looked at Qin Shuying. Her gaze only drifted outside the boat, as if she hadn’t seen Qin Shuying at all.

After performing her courtesy, Qin Shuying seemed oblivious to Princess Fu’an’s expression and calmly straightened her body.

“Insolent!” the matron behind Princess Fu’an scolded. “Her Highness hasn’t told you to rise, yet you dare to be disrespectful?”

Qin Shuying looked calmly at the matron, the corner of her lips curving in a barely perceptible smile. She knew Princess Fu’an was waiting for her here.

Matron Cao said, “Kneel down immediately!”

But Qin Shuying looked at Fifth Miss Lu and the young lady in red, saying, “Since the matron speaks of propriety, seeing the matron being so improper, I must consider Her Highness the Princess’s reputation and offer the matron some guidance. When my father passed away, he held the rank of third grade. The father and brothers of Fifth Miss Lu here haven’t exceeded third grade either, have they? It’s nothing for me to kneel to Her Highness the Princess. Now, with Fifth Miss Lu right beside the princess, if I kneel to Her Highness, I’d also be kneeling to Fifth Miss Lu. I wonder which rule of propriety this follows, according to the matron?”

Matron Cao couldn’t help but slightly contract her pupils. Experienced as she was, she had never seen such a young lady with such quick wit and rapid speech. She hadn’t been on the platform earlier, and when palace maids said Qin Shuying was very sharp-tongued, she had been somewhat dismissive. Seeing her now, it was indeed true.

Matron Cao shouted, “Insolent…”

Qin Shuying smiled and seized the conversation, “Matron, you are indeed too insolent! You don’t even respect court precedent. If this gets out, it will damage the princess’s reputation. In the future, please don’t act this way.”

Was this some boudoir maiden? This was probably a street ruffian and smooth operator!

Except for Princess Fu’an, Matron Cao, Fifth Miss Lu, and the young lady in red all widened their eyes.

Just as Matron Cao was about to say something more, Princess Fu’an turned her head to look at Qin Shuying, raised an eyebrow, and said to the young lady in red beside her, “Jingshu, what crime do you think I should charge her with?”

The young lady called Jingshu collected her earlier surprise and said, “Your Highness the Princess, why not punish her by copying the ‘Admonitions for Women’ one hundred times, so she knows a woman’s proper duties.”

Princess Fu’an smiled and asked Fifth Miss Lu, “Ruyang, she mocked your father and brothers for not even achieving third rank. What do you say—how should we punish her?”

Lu Ruyang had also been shocked by Qin Shuying’s words earlier. Now, with Princess Fu’an’s instigation, indignation showed clearly on her face as she said, “In this subject’s opinion, this woman is sharp-tongued and has lost feminine virtue. Her tongue should be cut out.”

“Oh?” Princess Fu’an looked at Qin Shuying like a cat toying with a mouse. “Seventh Miss Qin, you see, we all think you’ve been disrespectful, so you must be punished.”

Qin Shuying smiled faintly, saying nothing, just looking straight at Princess Fu’an. Fearless and unawed, without the slightest respect, full of mockery.

Anger flared up in Princess Fu’an’s heart. She had originally wanted to maintain a composed demeanor in front of Qin Shuying, but now she found her rage uncontrollable, even her hands trembling.

What right did she have? What right did she have to look at her like that?

It was only because—

Princess Fu’an almost shouted out that person’s name.

But just as her mind suddenly cleared and she swallowed the words that had reached her lips, she heard Qin Shuying say, “Your Highness the Princess, I wonder—did Madam Liu promise you the position of concubine, or noble concubine?”