Qin Shuying stepped forward and supported Xu Shi, saying: “First Madam, what’s wrong? Sixth Sister, do you know? Could it be that First Madam didn’t eat this morning before entering the palace and is now too weak from hunger to stand? If that’s the case, we should return. I’m sure Lianpin Your Ladyship won’t blame us. Speaking of which, Your Ladyship will surely have to kneel for a long time before Delin Palace today and probably won’t be able to return before the palace gates are locked. Today was originally Lianpin Your Ladyship’s birthday, yet such an incident occurred—how heartbroken Your Ladyship must be!”
Xu Shi looked at Qin Shuying as if seeing a ghost, her heart filled with bone-chilling coldness, yet she lacked the strength to break free from Qin Shuying’s support.
Qin Shuying continued speaking to herself: “I wonder if His Highness the Sixth Prince knows about this yet? Speaking of which, this is all because Lianpin Your Ladyship was careless in employing people, dragging His Highness the Sixth Prince into it as well. His Highness the Sixth Prince is currently handling official duties and has finally gained favor—he’s destined for important positions in the future. Now with this incident causing such a commotion, will His Highness the Sixth Prince also receive a reprimand? I truly worry for Lianpin Your Ladyship!”
Qin Yunyun felt dizzy and sat down heavily, her face so pale it was almost bloodless.
How dare she?
How dare she?
Qin Shuying’s eyes were like water as she said with surprise: “Sixth Sister, what’s wrong with you? Are you also hungry? Fortunately, I ate something this morning. Since that’s the case, this aunt, please trouble yourself to inform Lianpin Your Ladyship later that we’ve gone back first—Madam’s health is important.”
The little palace maid came to her senses and said anxiously: “Seventh Miss, this… both aunts are absent, and Eunuch Xi is also not here. This servant cannot make such decisions.”
Qin Shuying smiled gracefully, helped Xu Shi sit down, and said: “First Madam, what do you think we should do?”
Xu Shi slowly turned her gaze toward Qin Shuying, seeing her still wearing that faint smile and calm expression. When she had looked before, she had only thought Qin Shuying had returned to her former self, obedient to her commands. Now she realized Qin Shuying had deliberately waited for her to make a fool of herself.
Her smile appeared so cold, so mocking.
Was this the same weak and incompetent Qin Shuying?
This was a ghost wearing human skin!
“You… get away from me!”
Xu Shi screamed and shook off Qin Shuying’s arm.
Qin Shuying didn’t mind and sat down beside Qin Yunyun, saying: “First Madam, with Your Ladyship absent, you must make the decisions. We can’t keep staying here—it’s not proper. This niece estimates that Shuangyun Hall has promised ones, regular attendants, beauties, and various others—probably twenty or thirty people in total. They’ll probably come over soon. If we’re here and block them from entering, that would be improper; if we don’t block them, are we really going to let them come in to watch the spectacle?”
First Madam’s body trembled, her gaze fixed on Qin Shuying as if trying to see through her, to bore a hole in her. Yet she had to admit that everything Qin Shuying said was true.
Qin Yunyun kept staring at Qin Shuying, the shock in her heart impossible to calm.
How dare she?
How could she dare?
Qin Shuying paid no attention and poured herself a cup of tea, drinking it leisurely.
Her manner was relaxed, as if she had truly come to the palace to enjoy herself.
Suddenly, a palace maid rushed in frantically, breathing unsteadily. After steadying herself and looking around, she approached Xu Shi: “Madam! Your Ladyship… Your Ladyship has instructed me to escort Madam back to the residence. Please follow this servant!”
“What exactly has happened?”
Xu Shi asked the palace maid with a trembling voice, clinging to one last thread of hope. She had seen this palace maid before—she was from Shuangyun Hall.
The palace maid was still panting heavily, obviously having run hard just now: “Madam, Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship is at Delin Palace… Madam, it was Eunuch Xi from Your Ladyship’s side who sent this servant to report.”
Xu Shi’s face fell in defeat. Suddenly, she turned her vicious gaze toward Qin Shuying, her chest heaving violently, feeling as if a lump of cotton was stuck in her chest, unable to utter a single word.
Qin Yunyun’s face was ashen, her fingernails nearly breaking the skin of her palms. Her entire body felt as if it were soaked in water—ice-cold, piercing, yet desperate and helpless.
“Sixth Highness!”
Suddenly, Qin Yunyun’s eyes burst with surprised delight as she looked toward the young man striding over. Due to excessive joy, her legs went weak, and she had to support herself on the table to stand.
Zhou Qin entered with an aura of cold frost, walking straight toward Qin Shuying’s position, seemingly deaf to Qin Yunyun’s calls.
His tone was cold, his eyes scrutinizing: “Qin Shuying?!”
Qin Shuying’s expression was half-smiling, her face unchanged as she met Zhou Qin’s ice-cold gaze, curtsying slightly: “This subject’s daughter greets Sixth Highness.”
Unhurried, treating him as if he were nothing.
Zhou Qin took a deep breath, finding it impossible to believe how this woman before him could remain so nonchalant when facing his thunderous rage.
Ridiculous—she was merely an unregarded orphan girl from the Qin residence. How could he be inferior to her?!
Zhou Qin swept his robes and sat in the main seat, saying in a deep voice: “What exactly happened in the greenhouse just now?”
Qin Shuying said: “Your Highness, Aunt Han Dan offended Princess Fuping.”
“Why?”
“Aunt Han Dan picked Her Highness the Princess’s Yao Huang flower but denied it outright. Her Highness the Princess found the Yao Huang in her sleeve on the spot. Unable to deny it further, Lianpin Your Ladyship naturally had to take Aunt Han Dan to apologize.”
“How did that Yao Huang get into Han Dan’s sleeve?”
“This subject’s daughter is not clear about that, Your Highness.”
Zhou Qin looked at Qin Shuying coldly. Her expression remained calm, as if the person questioning her was merely an insignificant commoner.
“Not clear?” Zhou Qin’s tone rose. “Not clear, yet you can stand here?”
“This subject’s daughter dares not comment recklessly on matters concerning Your Ladyship and the Princess.”
This was quite clear indeed!
Zhou Qin’s anger was hard to contain, yet he didn’t lose his temper.
“Your Highness, she’s lying!” Qin Yunyun couldn’t help but cry out. “She’s lying! It’s her fault that Elder Sister is in this situation!”
Qin Shuying looked calmly at Qin Yunyun: “Sixth Sister, the palace has its rules—words cannot be spoken carelessly. Lianpin Your Ladyship is wise and brilliant. I’m merely an incompetent and virtuous orphan girl—how could I have harmed Your Ladyship so? Sixth Sister, your words are most inappropriate! Are you showing contempt for Your Ladyship? Contempt for imperial authority? Your Ladyship herself hasn’t said I caused this—did you witness it with your own eyes?”
“Silence!”
Seeing Qin Shuying speaking rapidly with strong counterattacks, Zhou Qin felt displeased and shouted.
Qin Shuying sneered inwardly. One person told her to be silent, two people also told her to be silent!
Acting high and mighty, looking down on her—that was because imperial power gave them support. But did this support mean Feng’er deserved to die? Did Qin Yaoyao deserve to die? Did Qin Shuying deserve to die?
Since death was inevitable anyway, why not die with more backbone, more satisfaction!
Qin Shuying looked calmly at Zhou Qin, her expression carrying a hint of mockery.
Qin Shuying smiled slightly and said: “Has Your Highness finished questioning? This subject’s daughter dares not delay Your Highness from going to perform the role of a good son before Consort De, otherwise Fifth Prince His Highness might become suspicious of Your Highness. Speaking of which, now that Your Highness is so capable, Fifth Prince His Highness probably stopped trusting you long ago. Your Highness, whether this subject’s daughter is respectful to you is unimportant—what matters is how Fifth Prince His Highness views you. Today, Your Highness has exposed your true nature because of this subject’s daughter. Fifth Prince His Highness will soon know that his sixth brother is not as respectful and fraternal as he appears to be.”