“No!” Liu Junqing hurriedly spoke out to stop her, his voice so loud that everyone turned to look at him. “Sister from the Qin family, you cannot! Young Master Liang only saved your life in an emergency – I won’t hold it against you!”

Qin Shuying was stunned.

She had naturally heard Liu Junqing’s earlier anxiety, and he looked extremely anxious now too. Did he truly care about her?

Did he know about Concubine Kang and Princess Fu’an’s scheme or not?

Liu Junqing looked at Qin Shuying, his voice carrying some anxiety as he said: “Sister from the Qin family, quickly go back and change your clothes so you don’t catch an illness. Don’t think too much about other matters.”

Qin Shuying looked at him. Was this genuine concern or was he putting on an act?

Liang Zhe had been standing outside the crowd, but hearing Liu Junqing speak this way, he only felt it was unspeakably grating. He said coldly: “Scholar Liu, I am at least Seventh Miss Qin’s life-saving benefactor. Let me ask one more question – do you want Seventh Miss Qin to go back as your principal wife, or as a concubine?”

“This…”

Liu Junqing hesitated.

Qin Shuying had already lost her chastity – his mother could use this opportunity to make her a concubine.

But for some reason, after Qin Shuying had spoken of breaking the engagement earlier, Liu Junqing felt inexplicably sad. Now he didn’t want Qin Shuying to be his concubine at all – he wanted her to be his wife.

In that moment of hesitation, Luo Huan interjected: “Of course as a concubine! That way, Jinniang will be the principal wife!”

Just as Liu Junqing was about to refute this, they heard the long singing voice of a eunuch from that direction: “His Majesty arrives! Her Ladyship Concubine De arrives! Her Ladyship Lianpin arrives! Her Ladyship Concubine Kang arrives!”

On the path not far away, a large group of palace servants carrying palace lanterns surrounded the Emperor and numerous consorts as they approached.

Except for the princes, everyone else knelt down. After paying respects, Emperor Delong said: “Rise.”

Qin Shuying was at the back of the crowd, carefully observing Emperor Delong. He appeared to be in his fifties, naturally imposing and very majestic.

“Just now someone came in a panic saying something had happened here, but couldn’t speak clearly. I thought something had happened to one of you princes, but now I see you’re all fine. What exactly happened?”

Fifth Prince was the eldest, so he replied: “Father Emperor, the situation was like this…”

Fifth Prince briefly recounted what had occurred.

It turned out that today was the day for the martial arts examination to select the top military scholar. The Emperor held a grand banquet at Qionglin, with princes, ministers, and sons of wealthy families all participating. After the meal, Fifth Prince and his two brothers, along with Luo Huan, Liang Zhe and others, had drunk some wine. Finding the weather hot, they strolled along the Hu River to cool off, and then the drowning and rescue incident occurred.

Concubine De had accompanied Emperor Delong in entertaining the officials today. When Emperor Delong received the news and rushed over, Concubine De naturally came too.

Lianpin and Concubine Kang weren’t qualified to participate, but one was looking for her younger sister while the other was looking for Princess Fu’an’s close friend, and they happened to meet on the way.

After hearing Fifth Prince’s account, Lianpin’s face turned pale with alarm. She said to Emperor Delong: “Your Majesty, that is this subject’s cousin. This subject kept her at Shuangyun Palace for dinner and let her return with Concubine Kang’s palace maid. This is only her second time in the palace – how could she have walked to this place without someone leading her?”

The implication was that Qin Shuying’s incident was connected to Concubine Kang.

Concubine Kang hurriedly cleared herself: “Your Majesty, Seventh Miss Qin spent the entire afternoon at Shuangyun Palace and hadn’t returned even after dark. This subject was worried and sent people to look several times without seeing any trace of her. Unable to wait any longer, this subject came out personally. I never expected to encounter Your Majesty and only then learned they had taken this route. If Lianpin hadn’t kept her for dinner, how would it have gotten so late? If it hadn’t been so late, how would they have taken this shortcut? Fortunately Seventh Miss Qin’s life is safe – otherwise with what Lianpin is saying, I couldn’t clear my name…”

Both openly and subtly, she was saying this matter had nothing to do with her – if anyone was involved, it was Lianpin.

Lianpin became anxious and said: “Concubine Kang, what you’re saying is wrong. The one who led Shuying was your palace maid – without her, Shuying couldn’t have walked to this place. You say everything’s fine since her life isn’t in danger, but how important is a woman’s reputation? How can you say it doesn’t matter?”

As she spoke, Lianpin’s eyes filled with tears and she covered her mouth while weeping.

Emperor Delong’s expression remained unchanged. He seemed to completely ignore both Concubine Kang’s eagerness to clear herself and Lianpin’s tears.

Concubine Kang was immediately silenced. When it concerned a woman’s reputation, she indeed couldn’t speak carelessly. No matter what she said, it would be difficult to gain any advantage.

At this moment, a gentle female voice said: “Your Majesty, may this subject say a few words?”

Emperor Delong nodded slightly.

“Lianpin, Concubine Kang, since this concerns Seventh Miss Qin, why don’t we listen to what she has to say?” A palace-dressed beauty entered Qin Shuying’s field of vision.

She was extremely beautiful.

Her beauty carried a breathtaking, captivating radiance and natural nobility that commanded respect without anger. Among all the people Qin Shuying had ever seen, no one could match her beauty and brilliance.

Her makeup was very casual, with only lightly rouged lips. Her clothing was simple and her jewelry minimal, yet even so, no one could ignore her radiance.

Qin Shuying knew that this beautiful woman who spoke was Concubine De, who held the Emperor’s supreme favor in the harem.

Lianpin looked at Concubine De with some excitement and spoke first to block whatever Qin Shuying might say: “Your Ladyship, this subject’s cousin is young and even brought up breaking the engagement – this subject thinks it’s inappropriate. This is a marriage arranged by parents and matchmakers – this engagement was made when this subject’s third uncle and aunt were alive. How can it be easily broken? Shuying, you must not be confused!”

Concubine De smiled gently and said: “Why are you so anxious? The matter must be resolved. Seventh Miss Qin, tell us what you think.”

Fuping had said this Qin Shuying was particularly clever. Concubine De was very curious to see just how clever someone praised by her own daughter could be.

The crowd parted to make way, and the completely soaked Qin Shuying thus came before the imperial presence. She first paid respects to Emperor Delong, then spoke: “Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, what Concubine Kang and Lianpin said is all correct. It’s just that this subject has poor fortune – the night was too dark and I carelessly fell into the water here. This subject’s chastity is completely lost. I dare not let Brother Liu suffer shame, so I request to break the engagement myself.”

Emperor Delong said nothing, turning two beads in his hand while completely ignoring Qin Shuying’s words.

Concubine De waved her hand to stop Lianpin from interjecting and said: “Seventh Miss Qin, have you thought this through? You should know that Scholar Liu is the youngest top scholar our Great Zhou has produced in fifty years. Now, with His Majesty present, you should know that once these words are spoken, there will be absolutely no room for reconsideration.”

Qin Shuying nodded, “This subject…”

“Your Majesty, Your Ladyship, this humble minister has something to say!”

Liu Junqing urgently spoke up, interrupting Qin Shuying’s words. His expression was extremely anxious. Having now entered the Hanlin Academy as a ninth-rank scholar, he could be considered a court official.

“Oh?” Emperor Delong finally spoke. After all, this was the top scholar he had personally selected, so he still cared about Liu Junqing’s attitude. He said: “Speak.”

Liu Junqing spoke with great determination: “This humble minister, this humble minister does not wish to break the engagement! This humble minister is willing to marry Seventh Miss Qin as my principal wife!”