Qin Shuying feigned shock, appearing too frightened to speak.

Actually, she somewhat admired Liu Sujiang. From entering the room until now, in just a few exchanges, she had quickly devised a scheme against her and immediately put it into practice.

It had to be said that Qin Shuying even admired her decisiveness a bit.

However, as Lin Zilan had said, she was clever indeed, but she hadn’t put her cleverness where it belonged.

Being so close, Qin Shuying’s dress was inevitably splashed with much tea water. Combined with Qin Shuying’s deliberate dawdling, her beige long dress was also soaking wet, as if she had been doused with water.

Those unaware of the truth would only think she had been scalded by hot water just like Liu Sujiang.

“Sister Liu, someone come help Sister Liu…”

Qin Shuying supported Liu Sujiang, frantically calling for the serving maids. After brief surprise, the maids immediately came to help Liu Sujiang.

Liu Sujiang violently shook off Qin Shuying’s arm. She wasn’t a fool—how could she not understand that this was all intentional on Qin Shuying’s part, intentional!

Qin Shuying was shaken by her actions and stumbled backward several steps before sitting down in a chair, asking with concern, “Sister Liu, you should quickly go with the serving maids here to change clothes.”

Liu Sujiang endured the severe pain and shrieked, “Don’t be so hypocritical!”

“Sister Liu, don’t feel guilty anymore. I won’t blame you. You should hurry and go. Although the weather is nice, your dress and shoes are completely soaked. If you don’t change, you’ll get sick.”

Liu Sujiang was nearly furious enough to see fire in her eyes. She wouldn’t blame her? Did she even have the right to say that? No, the point wasn’t that her clothes were soaked through—it was that her foot was scalded!

“You, what did you say? You won’t blame me?”

Qin Shuying stood up, letting everyone see her wet dress, saying with great difficulty, “Yes, Sister Liu, it’s all because you didn’t hold the teapot steady that this happened. I didn’t even bring a spare dress today. Look, what should I do now?”

Liu Sujiang was almost faint with anger. She was injured and in such pain she could barely stand, yet here Qin Shuying was chattering on about her wet dress.

“You… you…”

Qin Shuying waved her hand and said good-naturedly, “However, you’ve always been clumsy since childhood, and I’ve grown accustomed to it, so I won’t blame you. Go with them to change clothes. I’ll go find Sister Lin to see if she brought a spare dress.”

Liu Sujiang pointed at Qin Shuying, both pained and hateful, but couldn’t say a word.

In others’ eyes, it looked as if Qin Shuying had truly hit the mark about Liu Sujiang being a clumsy person.

Qin Shuying seemed not to see her expression of shame and anger mixed together. She stood up and walked to the doorway. Just as she was about to step out, she seemed to think of something and turned back to say, “Looking like this, I’m afraid I can’t go out. I’ll have to trouble this sister to help me get word to Sister Lin to bring me a spare dress.”

Qin Shuying was speaking to a serving maid.

Liu Sujiang had come with a plan—how could she let Qin Shuying leave? Enduring the pain, she immediately said, “No need to trouble yourself so much. Aren’t there people coming? Just send word through them.”

Indeed, two palace maids hurried over, curtsied to everyone, and said, “Because someone screamed here just now, Her Highness doesn’t know what happened, so she sent us to take a look.”

Liu Sujiang said, “It’s all my fault for making Her Highness worry. It’s nothing really—I just accidentally got my dress wet while pouring tea and couldn’t help crying out.”

Having hot water spilled on her foot, with dress and shoes providing some protection, her foot would at most be reddened but wouldn’t have obvious injuries.

Even if she saw a physician, it would just be a matter of applying some ointment.

Moreover, Qin Shuying had deliberately made herself look that way. Speaking of it, others would also think she was at fault.

The few people who had entered with her earlier were all keeping silent, weren’t they? Because they had clearly seen that Qin Shuying had also been splashed with hot water.

She was definitely taking this loss. Qin Shuying was truly vicious! However, the current plan was to quickly get her into the trap she and Princess Fu’an had designed, not to seek justice.

This justice would be settled slowly later!

The palace maid looked at both of them and said, “It seems both young ladies need to change their dresses.”

Liu Sujiang said, “Exactly so.”

The palace maid said, “Guangbin Tower has a place for changing clothes. Please follow me, young ladies. Ah Yuan, go tell Her Highness so she won’t worry.”

The other palace maid nodded and left.

Liu Sujiang endured the pain and walked toward the door. Qin Shuying looked at her, smiled charmingly, and followed behind the palace maid with her.

After walking a few steps, the palace maid pointed to the stairs and explained, “The first floor of this building has separate rooms. Her Highness was thoughtful and had the situation here investigated beforehand. If any noble lady needs to change clothes, she can go there. Inside are clothes that Guangbin Tower keeps ready. It’s said that after each use, they’re promptly washed. Young ladies, if you’re willing, you can use these. If not, this servant will have someone call your people to bring your own clothes.”

Seeing no objection from either, the palace maid led the way downstairs. Qin Shuying and the other exchanged glances and followed.

Liu Sujiang was already impatient with acting sisterly with Qin Shuying and was anxious to draw her into the scheme. Seeing the plan about to succeed, she was even less inclined to say anything.

Qin Shuying understood perfectly well, which conveniently saved her from this pretense of sisterly affection, so she also remained silent.

There were indeed several rooms downstairs with open doors, allowing a general view inside. However, because screens were placed inside, one couldn’t see very clearly.

Guangbin Tower had lush vegetation. Several locust trees, willow trees, and some low shrubs were planted here, almost completely concealing the first floor.

Even standing on the second floor, it was difficult to see clearly what the first floor looked like. Standing in the courtyard of the first floor, one also couldn’t see the situation on the second floor clearly. With the constant sound of cicadas, the second and first floors were more like two different worlds.

Now entering summer with blazing sun, there was tree shade above, and under the trees it was surprisingly cool and pleasant, showing how thick the canopy was.

The palace maid looked around the courtyard for a moment, then pointed to one of the doors, saying, “This is the place. Please follow me in, young ladies. There are clothes inside for changing.”

Liu Sujiang lifted her foot and walked toward that room.

Qin Shuying touched a small pouch in her sleeve, then seemingly casually patted her arm.

The palace maid seemed to know her concerns, or perhaps hadn’t thought that much about it. She smiled slightly and also stepped inside, introducing to Liu Sujiang, “…Everything is ready-made. Miss, please look—that one’s color is quite similar to what you’re wearing…”

Liu Sujiang had already turned around the screen. Whether or not she saw the neatly arranged clothes throughout the room was unclear, but she was heard to exclaim “Ah!” in apparent surprise.

After that, no more sounds were heard.

Qin Shuying still stood at the doorway without entering. She looked around, touched her sleeves and arms, and even touched the golden hairpin at the back of her head.