Qin Shuying stood under the shade of a tree, looking up at the sky, gazing at the swarm of bees.

Liang Qiong pointed to a cluster of fiery red pomegranate flowers blooming under the sun, interrupting Qin Shuying’s contemplation: “Shuying, those pomegranate flowers over there are blooming beautifully. Let’s go take a look.”

Qin Shuying followed her over.

Not far away, Kangpin was resting.

Liang Qiong picked a pomegranate flower: “Shuying, your skin is fair and delicate. Wearing this flower will make you even more enchantingly beautiful.”

As she spoke, she pinned the pomegranate flower in Qin Shuying’s hair.

Under the sunlight, Qin Shuying indeed appeared very beautiful. However, her eyes remained calm as still water, with an imperceptible coldness.

Liang Qiong took her hand, pointing at the pomegranate flowers and speaking eloquently: “A thousand blossoms press against the balustrade, cut red silk made into clusters. The wind sways the dancing waist with endless fragrance, dew erases the makeup face leaving fresh tears. Shuying, look at these clusters, these groups—they’re really different from what we usually see.”

Qin Shuying had a smile at the corner of her mouth, her expression serene.

Just then, the ladies discovered that the bee swarm seemed to have found its target, moving closer toward where Qin Shuying and Liang Qiong stood.

However, the swarm wasn’t moving fast. They seemed to be confirming something, groping in mid-air, identifying direction, slowly approaching Qin Shuying and the others.

Lin Zilan had followed Qin Shuying over. Suddenly, she wrinkled her nose: “What is that? So fragrant?”

Lin Zilan looked at Qin Shuying and Liang Qiong in confusion. The fragrance was emanating from both of them, and because they were standing so close together, she couldn’t tell for a moment which one it was coming from.

Liang Qiong laughed inwardly: Qin Shuying, let’s see you be arrogant now! Who told you to ruin Mother’s plans and dare to marry into our family!

Thinking this, she acted as if she hadn’t heard Lin Zilan’s words, pointing at the slowly approaching bee swarm with a pale face: “These bees seem to be coming toward us? Shuying, quickly get away!”

Saying this, she pulled Qin Shuying and ran toward the shade where Kangpin was.

Qin Shuying let her pull her along. Just as they ran to within three steps of Kangpin, the bee swarm clearly identified its target and rushed over with lightning speed.

At this critical moment, Qin Shuying rolled on the ground and rolled away.

The bee swarm, however, “whooshed” and enveloped Liang Qiong.

A shadow appeared before their eyes like a ghost. Kangpin screamed in shock, and her maids also shrieked terrifyingly.

Instantly, horrified screams and ghostly wails in the garden nearly pierced the sky.

No one could hear Liang Qiong’s terror-filled voice. Everyone only saw a ball rolling on the ground. Where was Liang Qiong’s face?

Enveloped by the bee swarm, it couldn’t be seen.

Kangpin was dragged away by brave maids who carried and pulled her. They were stung several times by bees and screamed in pain.

Qin Shuying, being close by, couldn’t escape either. Fortunately, she reacted quickly, immediately covering her face with her sleeve and swatting in time. Moreover, after rolling on the ground, she quickly fled from Liang Qiong, so she was only stung a few times on her arm.

Luo Jinniang looked at everything before her, hardly daring to believe it, standing dazedly, completely unable to think.

What was happening? Wasn’t that thing placed on Qin Shuying? How did it end up on cousin?

That substance needed two hours to take effect. Under the sun’s exposure, it would emit a special fragrance that attracted bees.

Liang Qiong knew Imperial Consort De’s afternoon arrangements, so she deliberately had Luo Jinniang time it precisely, applying the substance to Qin Shuying’s sleeve.

Then, calculating the time, she pulled Qin Shuying under the sun. In just half a cup of tea’s time, the fragrance would fully emanate and attract the bee swarm.

But how did it end up on cousin? What exactly happened?

The chaos lasted for a while. Under Imperial Consort De’s shocked anger, five or six palace maids were assigned to drive away the bees.

They grabbed handkerchiefs and towels at hand, swatting and driving at Liang Qiong. Some clever ones took spring water that had been used to soak fruits and splashed it toward Liang Qiong…

After a cup of tea’s time, the bee swarm was finally dispersed. Liang Qiong lay on the ground in a wretched state, covering her head in terror, making horrified “mmm mmm” sounds from her mouth.

Qin Shuying stood in the crowd with a terrified expression on her face, but deep in her eyes was complete coldness.

She looked up at Ziteng under the willow tree, whose face was equally icy cold. Ziteng showed her a smile that was somewhat mischievous.

Qin Shuying was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

How rarely Ziteng was so playful.

Liang Qiong was stung by bees until she looked like a pig’s head. She was quickly sent away by Imperial Consort De’s arrangement, with imperial physicians following.

What had been a good flower appreciation gathering ended miserably. Everyone felt disappointed but also excited.

To see such an accident happen to a super noble lady of the empire was truly rare, too rare.

Everyone began discussing this strange phenomenon.

“Why didn’t those bees sting other people, only Second Miss Liang? How very strange!”

“What’s so strange about that? When Second Miss Liang was born, wasn’t there a legend that she was the Flower Fairy descended to earth?”

“Now that you mention it, I remember. She was born on the Flower Festival, the day of the Flower God’s birthday. It’s said that when Second Miss Liang was born, though it was still cold in February, a peach tree outside Madam Liang’s delivery room actually bloomed.”

“I remember now. Fifteen years ago, this legend was indeed very popular, saying she was the Flower Fairy descended to earth.”

“Since she’s the Flower Fairy, attracting bees would be very normal.”

“Yes, yes. Second Miss Liang being the Flower Fairy descended to earth… this is great fortune!”

“Exactly! Remember something from fifty years ago? When the late Sacred Empress Dowager was still unmarried, at a banquet, after she painted a picture, she was actually surrounded by butterflies. Surrounded by butterflies—what kind of person would that be? Naturally the Flower Fairy! At that time, people said she was the Flower Fairy descended to earth. Later, she became Empress, and then…”

Oh my, they didn’t dare continue.

The Sacred Empress Dowager was Emperor Delong’s mother. When the previous emperor was alive, she was the Empress. After the previous emperor’s death, she was the Empress Dowager, though she had died many years ago.

If Liang Qiong was also like the Sacred Empress Dowager, wouldn’t she become Empress?

The person who married her…

…

After the ladies returned to their respective rooms, this topic seemed to be blown up by the wind, instantly spreading throughout the entire traveling palace.

Liang Qiong was the Flower Fairy descended to earth. Whoever married her would surely have great fortune. At the least, they would become a minister governing a region; at most, they would possess the world.

As for whether Liang Qiong’s face would be disfigured from the stings, not many people cared much. After all, she had been as beautiful as a celestial fairy for so many years, but she could never become their daughter-in-law anyway.

“Hahahahaha!”

When Princess Fu’an heard that Liang Qiong’s entire face was ruined, she sat on her couch, almost unable to breathe from laughing.

“Serves her right for mocking me!”

After Princess Fu’an’s face was damaged, Liang Qiong somehow found out and made many cold, sarcastic remarks.

Although Princess Fu’an later used excellent ointments and excellent concealer, so outsiders couldn’t really tell unless they got close, Liang Qiong’s mockery had left a deep impression in Princess Fu’an’s heart.