Before Consort Lian could finish speaking, Qin Shuying calmly interjected, "Your Highness truly acted too hastily. I thought you had personally witnessed me pcing the Yao Huang in Handan's sleeve. Speaking of which, Handan is six or seven years older than me and an experienced member of the pace. She should naturally know what should and shouldn’t be done. If Handan herself picked the flower but then cimed in front of the Princess that it was I who took it, wouldn’t that make you believe it was me, forcing you to plead with the Princess on my behalf? This would put the Princess in a difficult position: if she says I didn’t take the flower, how would she expin it to Consort De? And if I did, then word might spread in the pace that you, Your Highness, deliberately used a flower to insult Consort De or test her attitude. Handan, were you perhaps acting under someone else’s orders, trying to sow discord between Consort Lian, the Princess, and even Consort De?”

  Qin Shuying spoke quickly, her words sharp and precise, ying everything bare in an instant.

  Consort Lian's expression immediately changed because Qin Shuying's words hit too close to the truth.

  Indeed, her intent had been to use this matter to test Consort De's attitude.

  With one of the four consort positions vacant, the Emperor had made it clear he intended to fill it. Observers could see that if the position didn’t go to Consort Lian, it would likely go to Consort Kang.

  Consort Lian had made subtle overtures to Consort De on the matter, but Consort De had remained noncommittal.

  Though Consort Lian knew her chances were slim—after all, Consort Kang’s family was much more powerful than her own—she couldn’t help but harbor resentment toward Consort De.

  The Empress rarely involved herself in pace affairs, and with Consort De’s strong family backing and influence over the Emperor, her support could significantly tip the scales in Consort Lian’s favor, allowing her to rival Consort Kang. Yet Consort De remained silent.

  “Seventh Miss… you…”

  Ever since the Yao Huang was discovered in her sleeve, Handan had been in a state of shock and disbelief. After hearing Qin Shuying’s words, her face turned pale, unable to comprehend how Qin Shuying had managed to say such things.

  Consort Lian also recovered her composure and quickly tried to intervene. “Seventh Sister, enough!”

  But Qin Shuying pressed on. “Elder Sister, I’m saying this for your own good! A servant like Handan, who bites the hand that feeds her, dared to act on her own and frame you like this. Elder Sister, you can’t let her deceive you! If you don’t deal with Handan, won’t people think her actions were actually at your behest? Elder Sister, Consort De has always been kind to you. Why would you order Handan to do such a thing? Could it be that you bear some grudge against Consort De? Or perhaps His Highness the Sixth Prince holds a grievance against her?”

  Consort Lian’s mind raced as she recalled Madam Xu’s warning about Qin Shuying. She regretted her actions immensely but had no time to dwell on her mistake. She needed to stop Qin Shuying from saying anything more arming.

  “Enough!”

  Consort Lian’s eyes turned cold as she shouted in a stern voice.

  In the past, whenever she raised her voice in anger, the maids and eunuchs of Shuangyun Pace would tremble in fear. She thought Qin Shuying would be simirly intimidated by her imposing demeanor.

  But to her shock—

  “Elder Sister, the Princess is present. How can you, disregarding your status and decorum, scold Handan like this? If you must deal with her, wait until after the Princess has left! Anyone who understands the situation would know your anger stems from her betrayal, but to outsiders, it might appear as though you’re disregarding the Princess because of her youth and mild temperament, treating her with disdain.”

  Consort Lian instinctively gnced at Princess Fuping, whose face remained calm and unreadable.

  A wave of panic surged in Consort Lian’s heart. Qin Shuying’s words had pnted seeds of doubt not only in Fuping but also in her own mind.

  “Fuping, my seventh sister doesn’t understand pace protocol and speaks without thinking. Fuping, I—”

  But Princess Fuping lowered herself slightly and performed a curtsey, saying, “Your Highness, the Yao Huang has been found. I won’t intrude further and will leave you to deal with Handan. My mother is still waiting for me; I’ll take my leave now.”

  Without waiting for a response, she walked away.

  After a few steps, she turned her head and gnced at Qin Shuying, her eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions that were difficult to decipher.

  Consort Lian watched the young princess walk away with steady steps, feeling a surge of frustration.

  On the surface, her retionship with Consort De was amicable, and Princess Fuping had always seemed close to her. She had happily pyed the role of a kind and nurturing “mother figure” to the princess.

  But in truth, Princess Fuping was astute, growing more shrewd as she aged, inheriting her mother’s sharp wit. She was not easily fooled.

  Consort Lian owed much of her rise in the pace to Consort De’s support.

  Originally just a lowly Noble Lady, it was Consort De who had helped her climb step by step.

  Although recent events had caused some resentment between her and Consort De, Consort Lian had not lost her senses. She dared not openly oppose Consort De.

  Would she now be forced into enmity with Consort De because of this wretched girl, Qin Shuying?

  Consort Lian’s gaze grew icy, her brows furrowed in anger. “Seventh Sister, what exactly do you want?”

  Qin Shuying slowly stood up, patted the dirt off her knees, and smiled charmingly, her bright eyes as calm as water. "Your Highness, I advise you to quickly deal with Handan and then go to Consort De to plead for forgiveness. Didn't you understand what the Princess implied as she left just now? For matters like this, the sooner you act, the better. If you hurry, Consort De might grant you an audience. Since that's the case, I won't disturb you further with your important business. I'll head back now and expin everything to the First Madam and Sixth Sister when I return to the Qin residence."

  Handan knelt on the ground, trembling all over. She knew that it was over for her. "Your Highness, Your Highness... please... please spare me... I was only following your orders. Please save me, protect my life!"

  Qin Shuying looked straight at Handan, standing tall and aloof, her tone mocking. "Handan, as Her Highness's trusted servant, how could you put her in such a difficult position? You should take the initiative to confess your guilt, just as you insisted I should moments ago. If you show sincerity in your repentance, perhaps Consort De might spare your life! What’s wrong? Weren’t you just teaching me to confess and lecturing me on pace rules? Have you forgotten so quickly?"

  Handan stared at Qin Shuying as if she had seen a ghost, her eyes wide and motionless. She simply couldn’t comprehend how this seemingly harmless young dy, who appeared ignorant of decorum and unremarkable in every way, had managed to slip the Yao Huang flower into her sleeve and, with eloquent words, trap her in this deadly predicament of being accused of stirring discord among the consorts—an offense punishable by death.

  Fuqiu, who had come with Consort Lian, also looked pale and stared at Qin Shuying in disbelief.

  Consort Lian was seething inside, her anger simmering as Qin Shuying’s sharp words pierced through her. In her fury, she raised her right hand, intending to strike Qin Shuying.