Although Liang Qiong had been stung by bees until she looked like a pig’s head, since she had the Great Zhou’s finest imperial physicians attending to her, the swelling subsided quickly.
The next day, she personally went to “visit” Qin Shuying.
Qin Shuying had just finished breakfast when she saw Liang Qiong enter. She calmly wiped her hands. “Princess Fuqing.”
Liang Qiong’s appearance had basically recovered, with only some lingering stiffness in her face that she could feel, though others might not necessarily notice.
“Oh my, it seems I came too early. Seventh Miss Qin hasn’t finished breakfast yet.”
No longer addressing her as “Shuying”?
“I just finished eating, but I’m unable to invite Your Highness to dine, which is somewhat regrettable.”
“There’s nothing to regret. Consort De has delicious food there. I’ll take you along to try some.”
“Her Ladyship hasn’t summoned me. It would be disrespectful to go uninvited.”
Without further discussion, Liang Qiong grabbed Qin Shuying’s arm. “Consort De values you and specifically wants to see you. Consort Lian will also come over later. Let’s go ahead first.”
Luo Jinniang followed behind Liang Qiong, looking at Qin Shuying with particularly complex emotions. How exactly did she manage to emerge unscathed time after time?
From where Qin Shuying lived to Consort De’s palace, there was quite a long distance to walk.
Liang Qiong got into a sedan chair. Qin Shuying’s status wasn’t sufficient for such treatment, naturally.
Upon arriving at Consort De’s palace, Luo Meixiang was already seated there.
Qin Shuying paid her respects to Consort De. Consort De had been looking at Qin Shuying, but just as Qin Shuying bent her knees, she deliberately began talking with Luo Meixiang. When Qin Shuying finished her bow, she didn’t acknowledge it, so Qin Shuying had to remain kneeling.
Qin Shuying had long known that coming here wouldn’t be simple. A mocking smile curved her lips.
Liang Qiong smiled smugly. Why bother with conspiracies when they could simply use their authority to suppress her? Let’s see what Qin Shuying dared to do!
Remaining in a kneeling position was exhausting. Most people couldn’t maintain it for long, and Qin Shuying was no exception.
Therefore, when she had knelt for a while and realized that Consort De showed no signs of stopping her conversation with Luo Meixiang, she straightened her body.
Liang Qiong immediately found her reason: “Qin Shuying, Her Ladyship didn’t tell you to rise, yet you dare to get up? Do you understand proper etiquette?”
Qin Shuying looked toward Consort De.
Only then did Consort De have to feign surprise: “Oh my, Seventh Miss Qin, if Qiong’er hadn’t reminded me, I wouldn’t have noticed. Your etiquette education is quite… unique.”
Luo Meixiang sneered: “Seventh Miss Qin, with etiquette like this, in my opinion, anyone would learn better than you.”
Qin Shuying remained silent, neither defending nor arguing, standing gracefully, composed and quiet.
Consort De couldn’t help but regard her with new respect. This young lady, repeatedly facing difficulties without fear, was truly rare.
Luo Meixiang said: “Your Ladyship, with Seventh Miss Qin’s poor understanding of etiquette, when she joins our family in the future, if she goes visiting and embarrasses us, I’m afraid the Liang mansion would lose face. Since we’ve noticed this today, we should naturally help her. Speaking of which, now that the Qin and Liang families are discussing marriage, if I send a nanny to instruct Seventh Miss Qin, it would be out of caring affection and the proper courtesy between in-laws.”
Consort De smiled without speaking. Liang Qiong said: “Your Ladyship, Mother, I think since we’ve discovered this, we might as well correct it now.”
Consort De nodded: “That would be good. Someone come, invite Nanny Ruan over to teach Seventh Miss Qin proper bowing etiquette.”
The three of them, speaking one after another, decided Qin Shuying’s fate.
Qin Shuying still neither avoided nor yielded, standing calmly there, allowing the three to comment and criticize.
Seeing her attitude, Liang Qiong couldn’t help but feel frustrated: “Qin Shuying, you’re not waiting for Consort Lian, are you? Then I’ll tell you—she won’t arrive for another hour.”
Then Liang Qiong watched Qin Shuying with malicious amusement, expecting her to become flustered and angry.
Who would have thought that Qin Shuying shook her head and said: “I was just wondering why I used to hear that Second Miss Liang was noble and elegant, gentle and amiable, yet now she appears completely different. If not for Prince Huo Luo’s marriage proposal, I imagine those rumors about Second Miss Liang among the common people would never have materialized. How could that person be willing to marry someone like Second Miss Liang? Perhaps Prince Huo Luo’s marriage proposal also has that person’s handiwork behind it. After all, having grown up together, he knows someone’s true nature too well. It wouldn’t be good to refuse openly, but finding some secret solution would naturally be best. This way, the problem is solved without anyone losing face.”
Qin Shuying spoke these words extremely quickly, so fast that no one could interject a single word.
Luo Meixiang shot to her feet: “What nonsense are you spouting!”
Liang Qiong’s expression also changed dramatically—no, more accurately, she turned several shades paler, her gaze involuntarily shifting toward Consort De.
Consort De’s face remained composed, but her expression couldn’t help but change slightly. This damned Qin Shuying—was she human or ghost? How did she know everything?
Indeed, her son Fifth Prince Zhou Li absolutely didn’t want to marry Liang Qiong. However, she had always insisted he marry Liang Qiong. Although Li’er had stopped resisting after her repeated admonishments, she knew that Li’er simply didn’t like Liang Qiong.
After speaking, Qin Shuying continued standing in place, perfectly composed, as if she had no idea she’d just said something shocking that involved a prince.
Liang Qiong reacted most violently. Due to women’s strange intuition, she felt that what Qin Shuying said was true, but naturally she couldn’t admit it now.
Liang Qiong shouted sternly: “Qin Shuying, your ability to spread gossip and stir up trouble is quite impressive. Do you think this will excuse you from learning proper etiquette? When women speak carelessly, they need to learn proper conduct even more!”
Qin Shuying remained noncommittal, her reaction very calm.
Consort De was also furious at her unguarded tongue for exposing that fig leaf she had never been able to control, and right in front of her no less. Where was her dignity?
“Someone come! I bestow upon Seventh Miss Qin the privilege of learning etiquette. Take her to Nanny Ruan immediately to properly learn proper conduct!”
Two sturdy palace maids immediately stepped forward, seized Qin Shuying, and pushed her away.
“Wait!”
Suddenly, a clear and beautiful voice rang out as Princess Fuping walked over.
“Mother Consort, may your daughter say something?”
Consort De looked at her daughter, instinctively sensing that her daughter was going to plead for Qin Shuying. She found it strange—why did Fuping seem to actually like Qin Shuying?
Fuping had always been decisive, and Consort De never went against her wishes. Naturally, she wouldn’t now either: “Fuping, whatever you have to say, speak.”
Princess Fuping said: “Mother Consort, if Seventh Miss Qin doesn’t understand etiquette, let your daughter teach her. Why trouble Nanny Ruan? Nanny Ruan is getting on in years—it’s time for her to rest.”
Liang Qiong found it incredible that Princess Fuping would say such things and instinctively objected: “Your Highness, absolutely not! Qin Shuying shows no respect for her elders and disrespects Her Ladyship. If others follow her example, who will listen to Her Ladyship in the future?”
Consort De frowned upon hearing this.
She had clearly come here to vent anger for Luo Meixiang and her daughter, but with Liang Qiong’s words, it seemed as if she herself was the one deliberately finding fault with Qin Shuying, relying entirely on Luo Meixiang and her daughter to uphold justice for her.