Princess Fu’an also lifted her veil and glanced sideways at Qin Shuying: “I wondered who it was—turns out it’s something no one wants. Jiang’er, I petitioned Father Emperor, and she’ll never be able to marry in this lifetime. How dare she speak to you? Let’s go—we mustn’t dirty our eyes.”
Upon hearing this, Ziteng and Lu Ye became anxious. No wonder there had been no movement from Young Master Liang’s side for so many days, with messages only telling them to wait and not worry. It turned out Princess Fu’an had been causing trouble before Emperor Delong.
Ziteng and Lu Ye glared angrily. Liu Sujiang laughed happily—it was these two little hussies who had caused trouble at Hongman Tower, making her and her mother lose such face.
This was also Princess Fu’an’s first time seeing Ziteng since the drowning incident, so she glared fiercely at her. She hadn’t had time to take revenge yet!
Then Princess Fu’an looked triumphantly at Qin Shuying, her provocative attitude very obvious.
Seeing that Qin Shuying remained as calm as still water, showing no fear of herself and Princess Fu’an, Liu Sujiang’s anger flared: “Impudent! You don’t bow when seeing Her Highness!”
Qin Shuying slowly lifted her veil and sighed softly: “Ah, so His Majesty listens to everything Consort Kang says. Is this realm Consort Kang’s realm? Whatever Princess Fu’an says, Consort Kang says, and His Majesty does. Sigh… I wonder if this realm truly belongs to the Zhou family or the Mu family.”
Princess Fu’an’s heart jumped. This Qin Shuying—why did she always speak so recklessly? She widened her already very large eyes and angrily rebuked: “You, what nonsense are you spouting!”
“Wasn’t it Your Highness who just said so? That whatever you say, His Majesty listens to. Your Highness is so pure and kind—how could you secretly trip up a minister’s daughter? These ideas must be from Consort Kang and Seventh Prince, right? So it seems that whatever Consort Kang and Seventh Prince say, His Majesty does? In this subject’s opinion, His Majesty is extremely wise and certainly not confused. I don’t know if it’s Your Highness slandering His Majesty’s wisdom, or…”
Qin Shuying spoke quickly but not loudly, yet Princess Fu’an’s expression changed dramatically.
There were quite a few people drinking tea in the teahouse. Everyone’s gazes turned over, each wishing they could prick up their ears to know what Qin Shuying had said to make Princess Fu’an’s expression change so drastically.
Princess Fu’an wanted nothing more than to slap Qin Shuying’s mouth crooked.
Liu Sujiang also became anxious: “What nonsense are you babbling!”
Of course the realm belonged to the Zhou family—how could it belong to the Mu family? If these words reached Emperor Delong’s ears, Princess Fu’an would definitely be in trouble!
Qin Shuying smiled and raised her voice: “Good sister, why are you so anxious? If you hadn’t been sowing discord, how would Her Highness have leaked such confidential matters in broad daylight? Could it be that His Majesty just listens to whatever a thirteen-year-old girl says? In my opinion, tomorrow there will probably be censors impeaching Uncle Liu, saying Uncle Liu failed to educate his daughter properly and used petty tactics to incite Princess to bully an orphaned girl!”
Liu Sujiang watched as Qin Shuying finished in moments what would take others three times as long to say, immediately stunned. When had Qin Shuying become so formidable?
Every sentence struck at what they feared most—it was practically fatal.
Moreover, why were the gazes of the surrounding people so strange?
“You, you, you…”
Qin Shuying sighed: “Sister Liu, Her Highness is clearly ill, yet you drag her out to the streets to be exposed to the sun. Aren’t you afraid Her Highness’s facial injuries will flare up again? You only care about your own happiness, about showing off your status so you can lord it over your sisters in the future, without any consideration for Her Highness’s difficulties. Sister Liu, what can I say about you? Miss Yun will eventually enter the residence too. You were already close with Miss Yun when you were in the south. In the future, could it be that you’re doing this deliberately to vent anger for Miss Yun?”
Regardless of whether what she said was right or wrong, pleasant or unpleasant, Qin Shuying spoke loudly and clearly in a long string, giving Liu Sujiang no chance to interject. Liu Sujiang swayed unsteadily while constantly checking Princess Fu’an’s expression.
After speaking, Qin Shuying put on her veil, turned and left: “I should check the almanac before going out in the future!”
By the time Princess Fu’an had calmed her emotions, Qin Shuying had already reached the first floor.
“Stop!”
Princess Fu’an roared, but Qin Shuying acted as if she hadn’t heard, gracefully walking out the door.
Liu Sujiang shouted: “Qin Shuying, Her Highness told you to stop! Did you hear?”
Since Qin Shuying ignored even Princess Fu’an, how would she pay attention to her?
Suddenly—”Slap!”
Liu Sujiang covered her face, instantly bewildered.
Why had Princess Fu’an slapped her? She should have hit Qin Shuying!
“You fool!”
Princess Fu’an glared angrily at Liu Sujiang. Remembering her mother consort’s words, her anger reached its peak.
She had finally learned to disguise her emotions, yet unexpectedly, she had been undone by Liu Sujiang’s instigation!
Liu Sujiang had written to her, saying she would watch for when her brother went out and invite her to come, then arrange a chance encounter with her brother.
So they had come to this teahouse.
They hadn’t seen Liu Junqing, but had been toyed with by Qin Shuying!
It was all because Liu Sujiang wanted to show off that the Liu family had attached themselves to Princess Fu’an, so from now on Liu Sujiang’s status would be different. She dared to use herself to gain face for Liu Sujiang!
Moreover, Liu Sujiang was so stupid. When the Liu family broke off the engagement with Qin Shuying, she should have pretended to comfort Qin Shuying—that would have disgusted Qin Shuying beyond words. Instead, she immediately created conflict between Qin Shuying and herself, directing Qin Shuying’s hostility toward herself and even dragging the imperial brother into it!
As for Yun Jingshu being close friends with Liu Sujiang… hmph!
“How can you be so stupid, making me lose face in front of so many people!”
Princess Fu’an was nearly mad with rage, pressing her face close to Liu Sujiang’s viciously, wishing she could kill her with one stroke.
Liu Sujiang was frightened pale and couldn’t speak. Your Highness, why was Your Highness so terrifying?
“Jiang’er!”
Suddenly, a voice as gentle as a clear breeze rescued Liu Sujiang—Liu Junqing had arrived!
“Brother!”
Liu Sujiang grabbed onto him like a lifeline, almost fleeing to Liu Junqing’s side.
Liu Junqing frowned, seeing the bright red finger marks on her face: “Jiang’er, what happened? Who hit you?”
“Prin…”
She had just begun when Princess Fu’an coughed once, and Liu Sujiang immediately fell silent as a cicada in winter.
Liu Junqing also saw Princess Fu’an approaching gracefully and said indifferently: “Princess Fu’an.”
Princess Fu’an suppressed the joy in her heart, her eyes gazing longingly at Liu Junqing. She hadn’t seen him for many days.
He was elegant and distinguished, wearing a white robe that made his already pine-like figure even more extraordinary. His features were like a painting, gentle and refined—countless young ladies were infatuated with him.
“Young Master Liu, Fu’an pays her respects.”
Liu Junqing didn’t let her complete this bow, immediately bowing himself: “Your Highness honors this humble minister!”