Qin Shuying slightly tilted her body, effortlessly dodging the strike, her bright eyes sparkling like water as a radiant smile spread across her face.

  “Your Highness, dealing with someone like Handan doesn’t require your personal effort. Once we meet with Consort De, there will naturally be someone to take care of it. Perhaps thirty strikes, maybe forty, or even more? As for me, I’m ignorant of pace rules, but Your Highness is certainly well-versed. Since you’re so busy, I dare not bother you further. I’ll take my leave!”

  With that, she gracefully walked past Consort Lian, her steps light as lotus petals.

  Consort Lian was so furious her entire body trembled, but as someone who had been in the pace for years, she knew better than to escate the conflict now. The most pressing matter was to go and plead for forgiveness from Consort De.

  However, she couldn’t let this go without crification.

  “Stop! Why are you doing this? Don’t you understand that the Qin family is your only support? Or do you not realize that without me, the Liu family wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage proposal? Do you really think someone like Liu Junqing would consider you?”

  Once again, the topic of marriage was being used to make her yield. But that leverage still held value, and it wasn’t time to reveal the truth about it yet.

  Qin Shuying halted her steps, slowly turning back around. Her eyes gleamed sharply as a faint smile curled her lips, ced with undeniable mockery.

  “Your Highness, do you really believe the Qin family is my support?”

  Consort Lian froze, momentarily stunned. Of course, she knew better. She and her mother had schemed to ruin Qin Shuying’s engagement and seize her wealth. How could they be considered her support? More like a looming threat to her life.

  “If even you don’t believe it, why should I? Your Highness, do you think I’m a fool? Have you already forgotten how Second Sister died? Or do you truly never dream of her? You’ve been using her money, yet you took her life so ruthlessly. Do you truly rest easy with that on your conscience? Do you really think no one suspects the truth?”

  Consort Lian’s pupils constricted sharply. She even forgot to refer to herself as “this consort” and furiously retorted, “Nonsense! You’re sndering me! Who said Qin Yaoyao’s death had anything to do with me?”

  Qin Shuying chuckled lightly, as if the matter didn’t concern her in the least. “Whether it’s true or not, Your Highness knows the answer best. But it doesn’t matter. Apart from me, others also suspect you were involved in Second Sister’s death. That’s enough. Even if you kill me, there are still others who know.

  Your Highness, you’re truly a good mother. To leave the Sixth Prince with such an indelible stain on his name... When the prince learns the truth about his kind and loving mother, he’ll surely be very grateful.”

  “You—Stop right there!”

  No matter how much Consort Lian shouted, Qin Shuying walked away without looking back.

  Consort Lian’s chest heaved violently with anger, and she nearly stumbled to the ground. Fuqiu quickly stepped forward to steady her.

  Qin Shuying’s parting words hit her like a hammer. How could Qin Shuying know the suspicious details surrounding Qin Yaoyao’s death? Not only that, but there were others who also suspected her involvement?

  “Your Highness…”

  Handan hesitated, wanting to support her mistress but too afraid to approach. Qin Shuying’s earlier remarks left her shaken, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear towards Consort Lian.

  If Consort Lian could harm her own cousin and even her younger sister, how could she care about a mere maidservant like Handan?

  What Handan feared, Consort Lian naturally perceived as well. Her gaze turned icy as she looked at Handan.

  “Handan…”

  Terrified, Handan immediately dropped to her knees, her body trembling uncontrolbly. She instinctively crawled backward, pleading desperately, “No, Your Highness, this servant didn’t hear anything… nothing at all…”

  Consort Lian took a deep breath, forcing her expression to soften slightly. “Handan…”

  Fuqiu, understanding Handan’s thoughts, quickly added, “Handan, Her Highness has always treated you well. Today’s events happened because the Seventh Miss exploited a moment of carelessness. Rest assured, Her Highness will surely plead for you before Consort De.”

  Handan’s mind instantly cleared. Could she really follow Qin Shuying’s example and stand against Consort Lian?

  Realizing the intent behind Fuqiu’s words, she quickly kowtowed to Consort Lian. “Your Highness, thank you! Everything the Seventh Miss said earlier was baseless accusations and snder against you!”

  Fuqiu’s reminder brought crity to Consort Lian’s turbulent thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to respond with restraint, “It’s good that you see through her malicious intentions. Stand up.”

  Useless thing! Consort Lian thought, anger simmering beneath her composed facade. She can’t even handle such a simple task! But now wasn’t the time to sh out at Handan, especially with Fuqiu present—she couldn’t afford to chill Fuqiu’s loyalty.

  Handan, having knelt for a long time, gritted her teeth as she rose slowly, not daring to rub her sore knees.

  Consort Lian stood motionless for a moment, her limbs icy cold. The image of Qin Shuying’s mocking smile and indifferent demeanor lingered in her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.

  Most women, especially those from noble families or official households, understood the importance of family ties and the concept of shared honor. Without the support of a wealthy and influential family, a woman couldn’t hope to live a prosperous life. Without her family’s backing, she couldn’t secure a stable position in her husband’s home.

  A family’s honor was a woman’s shield, and its prosperity was her foundation. Yet in Qin Shuying’s cold eyes, there was no trace of reliance on the Qin family. When she spoke of the Qin family, her disdain was undisguised.

  And then, there was the Liu family marriage proposal. Surely, that was enough to control her! A weak woman abandoned by her uncle and aunt, spurned by the Liu family—how far could she go? Even if her grandmother wanted to protect her, it would be impossible. If the Liu family annulled the engagement, her mother certainly wouldn’t allow her to marry well. Only then would the humiliation of today be avenged.

  Consort Lian took a deep breath, shaking off the image of Qin Shuying’s mocking, cold eyes. Her voice remained sweet as an oriole’s song as she commanded, “Follow me to De Lin Pace!”

  __

  Outside the flower room, Qin Shuying raised her head to the bright sunlight, taking a deep breath to calm the surging emotions in her chest.

  After standing for a moment, she began walking toward Shuangyun Pace.

  Why was Consort Lian so brazen? How could she not understand? Consort Lian simply assumed she wouldn’t resist. Under imperial authority, who dared to disobey?

  Imperial authority? A consort dares to cim imperial authority? As a pace consort, she faced more restrictions and surveilnce than commoners. Everywhere were constraints and traps; there was nothing to fear from her.

  What she truly feared was violence.

  If someone were to kill her outright with brute force, she would indeed be powerless to resist.

  Unfortunately for them, their calcutions, no matter how cunning, failed to account for her true vulnerabilities.

  After Qin Shuying disappeared from view, a dead insect fell from the dense canopy of a pine tree near the flower room.

  Looking closely, one could see a young man lying in the thick branches, a pine needle dangling from his mouth, his gaze fixed on the direction Qin Shuying had gone.

  “Qin Shuying? Ruthless and clever!”

  The man, dressed in a guard’s uniform, was none other than Liang Zhe. Only after Qin Shuying’s figure had completely vanished from view did he close his eyes.

  In his mind, he saw the warm smile and gentle hands of a young girl.

  “Brother, why are you being so naughty again? Come, let me wash your clothes.”

  His sister… If she had been as ruthless as Qin Shuying back then, could she have avoided being harmed?

  No, it wasn’t his sister’s fault. He had never bmed her. She was the one person in the world who had treated him best.

  If it hadn’t been for that vile woman using him as leverage, how could his sister have been so easily harmed?