Amid the laughter and conversation, Imperial Consort De spoke up, mainly introducing today’s musical and dance performers for entertainment. Actually, without her saying so, everyone knew that those who could perform for imperial consorts were certainly not ordinary people.

It wasn’t easy to see such excellent song and dance performances, so everyone was very focused.

After watching for quite a while, Princess Yongjia said to Qin Shuying: “I must leave now. If you encounter anything you cannot resolve, have someone take this jade pendant and come directly to the front palace to find me.”

With that, Princess Yongjia stood up and, amid everyone’s respectful bows, boarded a boat that had been waiting by the lake and departed.

Once she left, everyone stared at and discussed Qin Shuying even more unabashedly. Qin Shuying neither avoided nor hid, remaining gracious and composed, allowing others to observe and discuss her as they pleased.

Suddenly, Kangpin said to Imperial Consort De and Lianpin: “Two elder sisters, I’ve heard that Seventh Miss Qin is extraordinarily intelligent and accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—excelling in all and mastering everything. Otherwise, the Princess Imperial wouldn’t regard her so highly. What do you think?”

Imperial Consort De smiled faintly without comment.

Lianpin spoke in her exceptionally pleasant voice: “Sister Kangpin, you speak truly. Shuying, come over to me.”

Qin Shuying walked over and stood beside Lianpin.

Kangpin smiled: “Seventh Miss Qin, what were you saying to the Princess Imperial just now? The Princess Imperial seemed very happy. Tell us so we can all be happy too.”

She wasn’t there specifically to entertain others. Qin Shuying said: “Your Majesty, without the Princess Imperial’s permission, please forgive me for not being able to speak of it.”

Kangpin’s words were half meant to find fault and half genuine curiosity about what Qin Shuying had said to make Princess Yongjia appear so pleased.

Kangpin hadn’t forgotten that at the Hairpin Flower Banquet, Princess Yongjia had clearly tacitly approved some of her actions, so why had she later become friendly with Qin Shuying?

Yet Kangpin didn’t dare ask Princess Yongjia directly.

Kangpin’s face became awkwardly embarrassed at being rebuffed, but she forced an intimate tone: “You child, now that you’ve gained the Princess Imperial’s favor, you don’t even regard me with respect.”

Qin Shuying still shook her head: “Your Majesty, I have not curried favor with the Princess Imperial. The Princess Imperial is magnanimous and bright, and has always looked down upon others’ flattery and favor-seeking. I simply happen to have things to discuss with the Princess Imperial—it cannot be called currying favor.”

If she continued saying Qin Shuying was currying favor with Princess Yongjia, it would imply that Princess Yongjia enjoyed being flattered and having her favor sought.

Although Kangpin had dealt with Qin Shuying twice before and knew this was her temperament, being refuted by Qin Shuying in front of so many people still made her lose face.

She wanted to scold Qin Shuying, but with Imperial Consort De present, the Emperor in the front palace, and Princess Yongjia having just left, she didn’t dare go too far.

Lianpin secretly sneered but said: “Sister Kangpin was just joking with you. You child, why be so serious? Those iced grapes over there are deliciously sweet and sour. Sister Kangpin loves eating them, but her nails are too long to be convenient—you peel a few for her.”

Qin Shuying looked at Kangpin, who raised her eyebrows, meaning she truly loved eating them and Qin Shuying should hurry and peel them.

Seeing Qin Shuying standing motionless, Lianpin urged gently: “Shuying, quickly peel the grapes. These grapes taste wonderful.”

Qin Shuying looked at Lianpin again. Lianpin’s smiling face appeared even more lustrous and beautiful in the abundant light.

Qin Shuying suddenly smiled, agreed with a word, took a bunch of grapes to a nearby plate, and began peeling them.

Kangpin smiled mockingly. Once she finished peeling the grapes, Kangpin had plenty of ways to torment Qin Shuying.

After all, no matter how proud Qin Shuying was, didn’t she still have to obediently serve them?

Qin Shuying slowly peeled the grapes. Soon, three skinned grape flesh lay in the plate, crystal clear and perfectly round.

Everyone’s attention shifted from the exciting performance in the center to Qin Shuying. As a subject’s daughter peeling grapes for an imperial consort, it couldn’t be considered lacking in backbone. However, it depended on the circumstances and the target.

Knowing that Kangpin disliked her yet still peeling grapes for her—that lacked backbone!

Qin Shuying stood gracefully, carefully and slowly peeling the grape skins, as if completely unaware that peeling grapes for Kangpin was something shameful.

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes widened—Qin Shuying put the peeled grapes into her own mouth, one after another.

Lianpin acted as if she hadn’t seen her behavior at all, continuing to smile at the singers in the dance area.

Everyone in the venue saw it, except Lianpin.

Finally, just as Qin Shuying was about to eat the last grape, Princess Fu’an couldn’t help but click her tongue and raise her voice: “Seventh Miss Qin, how can you be so ignorant of propriety, eating them yourself?”

Qin Shuying slowly chewed and swallowed the grape in her mouth. Under everyone’s astonished expressions, she looked at Princess Fu’an’s gloomy face and said: “Your Highness, what’s inappropriate about this?”

Princess Fu’an lifted her chin: “Lianpin told you to peel them, but didn’t tell you to eat them!”

“If I’m told to peel but not to eat, then what’s the point of peeling grapes?”

“To peel them for my imperial mother to eat!”

“Just now, Lianpin only said that Kangpin’s nails were too long to be convenient and asked me to peel grapes. She didn’t say that after I peeled them, they were for Kangpin to eat. Am I correct, Lianpin?”

Only then did Lianpin seem to realize belatedly: “Oh! It’s all my fault for not speaking clearly. Shuying, it’s quite hot—you should return to your previous seat.”

Qin Shuying smiled slightly: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Princess Fu’an’s face contorted with anger, and Kangpin secretly dug her nails into her palms in pain. That wretch Qin Lianlian—this cooperation had lasted only a few days, yet she dared to dig a pit for her in front of so many people!

Imperial Consort De seemed not to notice the rivalry between Lianpin and Kangpin at all, watching the song and dance performance with great interest. They were all lowly people unworthy of attention. Lianpin simply saw that Qin Shuying had value now, so she immediately turned her spear around to deal with Kangpin instead.

Let them fight like dogs.

Kangpin secretly signaled to Madam Liu with her eyes. Madam Liu understood and, taking advantage of the quiet moment when the dancers had left the stage, addressed Lianpin: “Lianpin, seeing Seventh Miss Qin reminds me of her father and mother. When Third Master Qin passed away, he entrusted my husband and me to look after Seventh Miss Qin, and we agreed. Who would have known that now our families cannot form a marriage alliance, and I cannot care for Seventh Miss Qin? I feel deeply guilty toward Third Master Qin and his wife. Your Majesty, I wish to acknowledge Seventh Miss Qin as my adopted daughter, so I can fulfill the promise I made before Third Master Qin and his wife.”

As she spoke, Madam Liu gently pressed the corner of her eye, appearing very sad and distressed.

Lianpin listened to Madam Liu’s words without expression, while Qin Shuying watched the performance calmly and without emotion.

“Your Majesty, Seventh Miss Qin is intelligent and generous. I know this request is somewhat presumptuous, but with Your Majesty present today—you are her cousin, and you were present when my son and Seventh Miss Qin broke their engagement. That’s why I dare to shamelessly ask for your advice. Your Majesty can rest assured—I will certainly care for Seventh Miss Qin like her birth mother.”