Many of the ladies present were aware of the Red Mansions incident, and they were immediately stunned by Madam Liu’s shamelessness.

They had seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless.

The Red Mansions affair had caused an uproar throughout the capital. Everyone wasn’t stupid—who couldn’t see the strangeness in all of this?

First, they didn’t want her as a daughter-in-law, and now they wanted to put on this act. Could there be anything more shameless than this?

However, this was their family matter. They would just watch how Qin Shuying responded. Moreover, with Lianpin as the elder sister present, it wasn’t others’ place to be indignantly righteous.

Qin Shuying continued watching the performance in the venue, as if she hadn’t heard Madam Liu’s deeply emotional words at all.

Lianpin smiled. Having received her son Zhou Qin’s words, she now wanted to desperately draw closer to Qin Shuying.

Kangpin laughed out loud and said, “Sister Lianpin, this truly is a wonderful thing! Madam Liu and Seventh Miss Qin becoming adoptive mother and daughter—Madam Liu can make up for the guilt in her heart, and Seventh Miss Qin also has a mother to care for her. Having one more person to care for her always means one more share of warmth. Sister Lianpin, in my younger sister’s opinion, you’ve always been concerned about Seventh Miss Qin, but being in the palace, your reach has been limited. Now with Madam Liu as such an adoptive mother, it can both relieve your worries and give Seventh Miss Qin one more place to go. This couldn’t be better. In my younger sister’s view, you should agree to it.”

Lianpin’s eyes sparkled as she glanced sideways at Imperial Consort De. Imperial Consort De still showed no interest in their conversation, remaining fully focused on watching the performance.

Lianpin smiled and said, “Sister Kangpin, what you’re saying is wrong. Although I am Shuying’s cousin, I cannot make decisions about such matters. Though Third Uncle and Third Aunt have passed away, they didn’t leave behind any last words asking Shuying to acknowledge someone else as her mother. Shuying, don’t you agree?”

Qin Shuying smiled slightly. Ah, eldest cousin sister, when I was fighting against Kangpin and Princess Fu’an outside the palace for so long, I didn’t see you provide even the slightest assistance. Instead, you held me back. Now, just because the Emperor granted a marriage, your attitude immediately changed.

Absolute power and imperial favor—these are the primary reasons that make people submit.

Since you, eldest cousin sister, are here today, I’ll leave everything to you!

Qin Shuying said, “This subject will follow Your Ladyship’s wishes entirely.”

Lianpin felt annoyed at Qin Shuying’s cunning in her heart, but since she hadn’t planned on cooperating with Kangpin long-term anyway, she wouldn’t worry about much today.

—That one time they cooperated, not only did they fail to trap Qin Shuying or help her father, but they actually let Qin Shuying obtain such a good marriage. Lianpin had been furious for quite some time.

But she was someone who pursued profit. Since things had already turned out this way, she might as well follow her son’s suggestion and quickly win over Qin Shuying. This was the best way to minimize losses.

Madam Liu covered her face and said sadly, “Shuying, you were still young then. Your mother personally told me to treat you like my own daughter. I made a vow at your mother’s deathbed.”

Seeing that Qin Shuying remained silent, Lianpin knew this cousin was determined to rely on her today. To salvage their relationship, she had no choice but to shoulder this burden and declined, saying, “Madam Liu, this matter is of great importance and requires the grandmother at home to know about it, with the old lady making the decision.”

Madam Liu then said, “Your Ladyship speaks correctly. Then I shall visit the old lady another day. The old lady will surely agree—she would naturally be delighted to see Seventh Miss Qin have one more person to love her. Shuying, when your aunt was close friends with your mother, having promised your mother, I will certainly fulfill that promise. You must understand your aunt’s sincere intentions and not let your aunt become someone who breaks her word…”

What Madam Liu wanted to do, Qin Shuying understood all too clearly. Qin Shuying wasn’t afraid of her, but Madam Liu was like a fly buzzing around, deliberately making disgusting remarks that were unbearably annoying.

It was time to find something for her to do, so she wouldn’t spend all day staring at herself.

Qin Shuying looked toward Lianpin. “Your Ladyship, this subject has heard that several days ago, the chief of the Huerhan tribe entered the capital, and just yesterday also arrived at the traveling palace.”

Lianpin didn’t know what she intended to do and simply followed her words, “Yes, that’s right.”

“When the Huerhan tribe enters the capital, might they also want a princess for marriage alliance, like last time?”

Lianpin was stunned. What?

How did she not know about this?

Lianpin involuntarily looked toward Imperial Consort De and Kangpin.

Imperial Consort De had been watching the performance with apparent indifference, but Qin Shuying’s words suddenly stirred up tremendous waves in her heart. She heard Qin Shuying continue, “This subject has heard that people of the Huerhan tribe marry very early—women marry at thirteen years old. And they don’t care whether the woman is already betrothed; as long as they take a liking to someone, they will demand her.”

Kangpin’s eyes widened.

Though Imperial Consort De’s expression remained calm, her heart was far from peaceful.

Those two foolish women Kangpin and Lianpin might not know, but how could she, Imperial Consort De, not know the purpose of the Huerhan tribe chief’s visit to the capital this time?

He had come for a princess!

According to this tribe’s customs, both Princess Fuping and Princess Fu’an were of marriageable age!

So what if Princess Fu’an was betrothed? As Qin Shuying said, if they took a liking to her, the Emperor would also cancel the engagement. Then he would marry another noble lady to Liu Junqing—the Liu family certainly couldn’t object. Sharing the sovereign’s burdens was within a minister’s duties.

Such things—how common they had been throughout dynasties!

Imperial Consort De’s relative silence today wasn’t entirely because she didn’t want to stand on the same level as Kangpin and Lianpin doing boring things; more importantly, she had matters weighing on her mind.

If His Majesty wanted Princess Fuping to marry into the alliance, what should be done?

Imperial Consort De had been pondering this question constantly, thinking until her head ached.

At this moment, she couldn’t help but glance at her daughter standing beside her. Princess Fuping wasn’t as pale-faced as she had imagined—she was just somewhat dazed.

Princess Fu’an wasn’t so calm. She immediately stood up. “What are you saying? How do you know this? You must be talking nonsense!”

Kangpin glared at her with disappointment—truly unable to keep her composure! Even though she had a marriage contract, when His Majesty considered candidates, he would ultimately take this into account. After all, there was still Princess Fuping, her elder sister, ahead of her.

After Kangpin’s glare, Princess Fu’an realized her reaction had been too extreme. She involuntarily glanced at Princess Fuping, but saw that she had lowered her head slightly, her expression very calm.

Princess Fu’an became even more irritated and glared at Qin Shuying. It was all because of Qin Shuying, this troublemaker, that she had lost her composure and embarrassed herself in front of Fuping again.

Princess Fu’an ultimately couldn’t swallow this grievance. “Qin Shuying, you’re a young lady about to marry, yet you speak of marriage and such things—you truly have no sense of propriety!”

“Your Highness, this subject has heard that Huerhan men particularly favor girls who are straightforward in temperament, innocent and pure. Just like Your Highness, such a young maiden.”

Qin Shuying looked at Princess Fu’an without blinking. Princess Fu’an’s face flushed red.

Madam Liu’s face showed several traces of worry. If Princess Fu’an were to…

Kangpin had already regained her composure and said coolly, “Sister Lianpin, Seventh Miss Qin is truly bold and reckless, daring to presumptuously discuss state affairs.”