“Sister Wan’er, has she followed us?”

Lu Youjun held watermelon seeds, occasionally letting a few slip through her fingers.

“If she hasn’t followed, should I drop more?”

Song Wan shook her head: “Qin Rao has never suffered humiliation from others, especially the scornful contempt from lowly wretches like us in her eyes. She cannot endure such offense and will surely fall into the trap.”

After speaking, Song Wan asked again: “How are things on Sister Nanzhang’s end?”

Three to five more watermelon seeds appeared, and Lu Youjun also lowered her voice: “The charcoal brazier is already heated, the branding iron is also properly prepared, and the wooden scaffolding for repairing the rockery was completed yesterday.”

“We’re only missing the eastern wind that is Princess Nanqing.”

After thinking, Lu Youjun felt somewhat worried: “Sister Wan’er, when you go beneath that wooden frame later, you must find a good position. Remember to leave Sister Nanzhang’s spot clear, don’t let her accidentally hurt you.”

“In recent days, Baozhen and I experimented—when that thing falls on flesh, it will cause burns even through coarse cloth. You must be careful later.”

Song Wan nodded, taking Lu Youjun’s hand and patting it gently in comfort.

She wasn’t afraid. She had even refused when Shen Qianyu proposed having Wan Xiao help, because Song Wan understood how resolute the hearts of the Eastern Palace women were in seeking justice for Qingling.

They did this for Qingling, but also for themselves.

“Sister Wan’er, that charcoal brazier is placed on the wooden frame. Don’t walk too close to that Nanqing princess, lest the brazier fall and harm innocent bystanders.”

Lu Youjun muttered softly all along the way. Song Wan could see that she was frightened but forcing herself to stay calm, and her heart warmed.

Among the several of them, only Lu Youjun was timid and afraid of pain. Yet now she was forcing herself to do something harmful, which showed how important Qingling was to her.

Song Wan smiled faintly with pursed lips, holding the other’s plump, tender hand in silent comfort.

“Sister Wan’er, is that medicinal powder prepared?”

“It’s prepared. When Qin Rao entered the palace, Director Wan searched several palace maids under the pretext of fearing she might carry harmful objects again. The powder has already been switched.”

“That’s good then.”

Lu Youjun thought for a moment and added: “Sister Nanzhang is also prepared. She’ll ensure that thing lands precisely on Princess Nanqing.”

The two headed toward the Imperial Garden all along the way, discussing those minute details in hushed voices. Though they had walked quickly before, now Lu Youjun gradually slowed her pace, waiting for Qin Rao to catch up.

Footsteps sounded from behind. Song Wan and Lu Youjun exchanged glances, then suddenly quickened their movements toward where the wooden frame had been erected.

Who would have known that as soon as the two turned past the hanging flower gate, they froze in place.

The wooden frame they had erected was being dismantled by several eunuchs, and the glowing charcoal brazier had also been extinguished. Only the branding iron on top still showed some red glow.

Jiang Man stood in the Imperial Garden, her expression cold as she looked at Song Wan.

Song Wan clenched her fists and lowered her eyes without speaking.

Her gaze swept over the charcoal brazier nearby. Jiang Man laughed softly in scorn, instantly guessing what these few people intended to do.

But today she had no mind to manage such matters. She merely glared at the two once, then turned her head to silently gaze at a beauty chrysanthemum newly planted in the Imperial Garden soil.

The soil where the beauty chrysanthemum was planted was darker in color—at a glance, one could tell someone had just planted it. Seeing Jiang Man wearing a Buddha-blue robe embroidered with silver auspicious symbols and a head full of plain hairpins, Song Wan suddenly realized that today was not only the Qiqiao Festival but also Shen Qianshu’s birthday.

In the past at the Marquis Manor, on Qiqiao day the manor would send Shen Qianshu an additional birthday gift.

Song Wan clutched her handkerchief, unwilling in her heart.

“Greetings to Consort Jiang.”

After curtsying to Consort Jiang, she looked at Lu Youjun and shook her head slightly. No matter how unwilling, she could not let Jiang Man, this variable, appear before Qin Rao.

After signaling Lu Youjun to curtsy to Jiang Man, the two were preparing to leave when they were stopped by Qin Rao, who had just caught up.

“Stop.”

She shouted loudly, halting the two. Qin Rao wore a red outfit, her figure graceful. She swayed as she walked up to Song Wan, her fair white skin appearing and disappearing with her movements, causing Jiang Man to narrow her eyes.

“Get out of here. This palace does not wish to see you.”

She rebuked them aloud, which provoked Qin Rao to turn her head and glare angrily: “How dare you speak to this princess like this?”

Being repeatedly toyed with and humiliated by a group of cheap Dongning wretches, and now even a nameless consort dared tell her to get lost?

Qin Rao’s gaze swept over the solitary beauty chrysanthemum before Jiang Man, and she laughed mockingly: “Did your child die?”

Seeing her expression darken, Qin Rao covered her lips and laughed until she bent over: “For that unlucky brat, early death is his good fortune.”

After speaking, Qin Rao stood on tiptoe and stomped hard on that beauty chrysanthemum.

The petals withered, crushed beneath Qin Rao’s feet and ground into the soil, no longer showing any color. Song Wan and Lu Youjun frowned deeply. Just as the two were hesitating whether to step forward, they saw Jiang Man raise her hand and viciously slap Qin Rao across the face with a sharp crack.

Qin Rao staggered back several steps from the slap. As she retreated, she disturbed the soil, revealing the object buried within.

Beneath the beauty chrysanthemum, a wooden carved boat was shallowly buried.

“Shu’er!”

Jiang Man’s eyes were blood-red as she crouched down to pick up the wooden boat.

“You’re seeking death.”

Even the ruler of Nanqing had never spoken a harsh word to Qin Rao, much less had anyone dared strike her face. Qin Rao steadied herself, and as soon as she regained her footing, she stepped forward and kicked Jiang Man squarely in the chest. After Jiang Man was kicked away, she stepped forward and picked up the wooden boat, then smashed it hard against the ground.

The wooden boat shattered with a sound, the fine wooden splinters breaking apart and scattering everywhere.

Jiang Man’s eyes nearly split with rage. Seeing a charcoal brazier by her side, she raised her hand, grabbed the branding iron from within, and lunged at Qin Rao.

Seeing this, Lu Youjun suddenly stepped forward, firmly blocking Qin Rao’s escape route.

The palace maid behind Qin Rao was about to step forward, but was blocked by Zhao Nanzhang and Song Wan who emerged from hiding.

Song Wan only saw that Qin Rao’s retreat was unsuccessful. The enraged Jiang Man grabbed the square branding iron—its temperature no longer discernible—and pressed it hard against her face.

Jiang Man was cruel and ruthless in heart and hand, never hesitating for even a moment when striking. Song Wan couldn’t see the condition of Qin Rao’s face, but she smelled the scent of scorched flesh.

“Your Ladyship… Your Ladyship, please reconsider…”

The palace maid from Yanqing Palace hurriedly stepped forward. Jiang Man was pulled away, and the branding iron in her hand fell to the ground. The Yanqing Palace maid looked at Qin Rao’s burned face, her own face turning ashen with shock.

Even Jiang Man frowned deeply, her eyes showing some horror.

Song Wan smelled that scorched odor and spoke: “Apply medicine for the princess.”

Zhao Nanzhang released her hand that had been tightly gripping the Nanqing palace maid’s clothing and also chimed in: “The princess is injured, why don’t you give the princess…”

Before she could finish speaking, everyone saw Qin Rao turn around. Instantly, everyone held their breath, not daring to exhale.

Lu Youjun stammered: “Med… medicinal powder.”

The Nanqing palace maid tremblingly took out hemostatic powder from her bosom and helped Qin Rao sprinkle it bit by bit on her face.

As the medicinal powder fell on the wound, Qin Rao tilted her head slightly, only feeling that today’s powder was particularly harsh. She frowned and took it to smell under her nose before throwing it away again.

“What happened to this princess’s face? Is the injury severe?”

The scene earlier had been chaotic. She only knew that Jiang Man had struck her with something, but now seeing everyone’s reaction, she sensed something was wrong.

“Speak!”

The Nanqing palace maids who had come with Qin Rao fell to their knees with a thud, all crying with lowered heads. They simply didn’t dare open their mouths—speaking would surely mean losing their lives.

On Qin Rao’s face, the four characters “Dongning War Horse” had been clearly and distinctly branded.