Before Lianpin could finish speaking, Qin Shuying interjected: “Your Ladyship is truly too anxious. I thought Your Ladyship had personally witnessed me placing the Yao Huang flower in Aunt Han Dan’s sleeve. Speaking of which, Aunt Han Dan is six or seven years older than I am, and she’s a veteran of the palace. She naturally knows best what should and shouldn’t be done. Aunt Han Dan picked the flower herself, yet just now she insisted in front of Her Highness the Princess that it was I who picked the flower. In doing so, Lianpin Your Ladyship believed I had picked the flower and felt compelled to plead with Her Highness the Princess on my behalf, putting Her Highness in a difficult position. If I hadn’t picked the flower, what would Her Highness have to report to Consort De? If I had picked the flower, with so many people in the palace talking, those who don’t know the truth might spread word that Lianpin Your Ladyship was deliberately using a mere flower to slap Consort De’s face and test Consort De’s attitude. Aunt Han Dan, could it be that you were acting on someone’s orders, actually trying to sow discord between Lianpin Your Ladyship and Her Highness the Princess, and even Consort De?”

Qin Shuying spoke with clear articulation and extremely rapid speed, explaining everything crystal clear in the blink of an eye.

Lianpin’s expression changed, because what Qin Shuying said was far too accurate—

She had indeed intended to use this incident to test Consort De’s attitude.

With one of the four consort positions vacant, the Emperor had intentions of filling the spot. As for who would fill it, anyone with eyes could see that if it wasn’t Lianpin, it should be Kangpin.

Lianpin had naturally made her feelings known to Consort De on more than one occasion, but Consort De had never shown any clear attitude.

Although Lianpin knew this matter would be difficult to achieve—after all, Kangpin’s family background was more influential than her own—she had developed some resentment toward Consort De.

The Empress managed nothing at all, while Consort De had strong family backing and could speak effectively before the Emperor. If Consort De were willing to put in a good word for her, her chances would increase by ten percent, making her a worthy match for Kangpin.

But Consort De had shown no indication whatsoever.

“Seventh Miss… you…”

Ever since the Yao Huang flower was discovered in her sleeve, Han Dan had been in a state of shock and bewilderment. After Qin Shuying’s words, her face rapidly turned pale, hardly able to believe that Qin Shuying could say such things.

Lianpin also came to her senses and hastily tried to stop her: “Seventh Sister, silence!”

Qin Shuying said: “Elder Sister, I’m only doing this for your own good! Han Dan is such a treacherous servant, acting on her own initiative to frame Elder Sister like this. Elder Sister mustn’t be deceived by her! If Elder Sister doesn’t punish Han Dan, does that mean Han Dan’s actions were all at Elder Sister’s direction? Elder Sister, Consort De has treated you well. Why would you instruct Han Dan to do such things? Could it be that Elder Sister harbors dissatisfaction toward Consort De? Or is it that His Highness the Sixth Prince is dissatisfied with Consort De?”

Lianpin’s mind quickly flashed to words that Xu Shi had once spoken, and she deeply regretted her actions today. But at this moment, she had no time for regret—she had to stop Qin Shuying from saying even more heart-stopping words.

“Insolent!”

Cold clouds gathered in Lianpin’s eyes as she sternly rebuked.

Usually, when she raised her willow-like eyebrows in anger, all the palace maids and eunuchs in Shuangyun Hall would tremble with fear. In her urgency, she expected Qin Shuying would naturally be intimidated as well. After all, she had long held high position with magnificent dignity and authority.

Who would have known—

“Elder Sister, Her Highness the Princess is present. How can you disregard your status and dignity by scolding Han Dan like this? If punishment is needed, it should wait until after Her Highness the Princess has left! Those who know the truth understand that you hate Han Dan for her treachery and are beside yourself with rage. Those who don’t might think that because Her Highness the Princess is young and has always been gentle-natured and magnanimous in her treatment of others, you don’t actually hold Her Highness the Princess in regard.”

Lianpin instinctively looked toward Princess Fuping. Princess Fuping’s expression remained calm, but her emotions were unreadable.

Lianpin’s heart panicked. The words Qin Shuying had just spoken would inevitably make Fuping think too much, and even she herself felt unsettled by what Qin Shuying had said.

“Fuping, my Seventh Sister doesn’t understand palace rules and speaks nonsense. Fuping…”

Princess Fuping, however, lowered herself slightly in a bow and said: “Your Ladyship, I have found the Yao Huang flower, so I won’t interfere with Your Ladyship’s handling of Han Dan. Mother Consort is still waiting for me, so I’ll take my leave first.”

Having said this, she paid no heed to Lianpin’s panic and walked away directly.

After taking a few steps, she turned back to glance at Qin Shuying, her eyes filled with complex emotions that were difficult to describe.

Watching the still-young Fuping depart with steady steps, Lianpin felt a surge of frustration in her heart.

Don’t think that just because she and Consort De got along well on the surface, and Princess Fuping was usually quite close to her, and she enjoyed playing the role of a loving “mother consort,” that things were simple. In reality, this Princess Fuping was extremely intelligent, and as she grew older, she increasingly showed signs of Consort De’s shrewdness—she was not easy to fool at all.

She had worked hard in the palace to reach her current position, and Consort De deserved much credit. Originally, she had been merely a lowly-ranked Beauty, and it was Consort De who had helped her climb step by step to where she was today.

Although she had recently harbored some resentment toward Consort De over the matter of the four consorts, she hadn’t lost her reason. She didn’t dare openly oppose Consort De.

Was she really going to stand against Consort De today just because of this wretched girl Qin Shuying?

Lianpin’s gaze turned as cold as if poisoned, her willow eyebrows standing on end: “Seventh Sister, what exactly are you trying to do?”

Qin Shuying slowly stood up, dusted the dirt from her knees, smiled charmingly with bright eyes like water: “Your Ladyship, this sister advises you to quickly deal with Han Dan, then go apologize to Consort De. Didn’t Your Ladyship understand the meaning behind Her Highness the Princess’s words when she left just now? For such matters, naturally the sooner you go the better, the earlier the better. Surely Consort De will have words with Your Ladyship. Since that’s the case, this sister won’t further disturb Your Ladyship’s important business. I’ll return now and explain things clearly to the First Madam and Sixth Sister, then return to the Qin residence.”

Han Dan knelt on the ground, trembling all over. Having reached this point, she knew she was finished!

“Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship… please… this servant, this servant…”

This servant was only following your orders in doing these things—you must save me, preserve my life!

Qin Shuying looked directly down at Han Dan from her superior position, her voice laced with mockery: “Aunt Han Dan, as Your Ladyship’s trusted confidante, how could you put Your Ladyship in such a difficult position? If you were to confess voluntarily, just as you insisted I must confess earlier, with a sincere attitude, perhaps Consort De might spare your life! How is it that you were just now repeatedly teaching me to confess, teaching me palace rules, yet have forgotten so quickly?”

Han Dan stared at Qin Shuying as if seeing a ghost, her eyes fixed and unblinking.

She simply couldn’t understand how this seemingly harmless young lady who didn’t understand etiquette and lacked knowledge had managed to place that Yao Huang flower in her own sleeve, and how she had used such eloquent arguments to force her into this dead end of sowing discord between palace consorts—a situation where anyone involved would surely die.

Fu Qu, who had accompanied Lianpin, also turned pale, looking at Qin Shuying with disbelief.

Lianpin felt frustrated in her heart. With Qin Shuying being so sharp-tongued, Lianpin raised her right hand, about to strike Qin Shuying.