The Empress said coldly, "What kind of madness has possessed you?"

"I’m going mad! Every time I close my eyes, I hear the child crying, blaming me for not bringing her back."

The Empress grabbed the Crown Princess Consort’s arm and twisted it fiercely.

"It’s only because the child is young, staying here in my palace for a few days, and you initially agreed to it wholeheartedly. If you have any dissatisfaction, speak to me directly. Why cause a scene in front of the Holy Emperor? What nonsense are you spouting? Absolute absurdity!"

The implications of these words were many.

The child is young, a warning for her to keep her mouth shut.

They were in the same boat from the start, so don’t act on emotions.

"Someone, help the Crown Princess Consort down."

The Crown Princess Consort, however, did not show the slightest fear.

"Is mother worried now, trying to silence me? Or afraid that if I speak the truth, father will be furious?"

Emperor Ying looked at the Empress, then at the Crown Princess Consort.

How could he fail to see the trickery?

The Empress forced herself to remain calm, attempting to argue.

"Wu Family, you dare..."

Emperor Ying: "Let her speak!"

It was unclear whether the atmosphere was too tense or if the nanny attending to the young grandson in the side hall heard the commotion and knocked over the candlestick.

Soon, the loud cries of a child sounded from there.

The Crown Princess Consort showed not the slightest sign of distress.

"I am not like mother, cold-hearted and indifferent. I would not abandon the child I nearly lost my life to give birth to for the sake of honor."

She even began to laugh quietly: "Father, did you know that the child crying now is not the one I bore?"

"Pity that the only child the Crown Prince Consort left me was sent away by mother and Duke Zhou. They harshly silenced me, replaced him with another, wanting the entire world to bear the surname Zhou."

Every word was like a thunderclap.

Emperor Ying stood up suddenly, crushing the teacup in his hand, the shards piercing his flesh, blood dripping out. He was like a fierce beast, dark and terrifying.

"Their plan failed, and who knows what else they’ll plot. Yet my own child, swapped by fate, ends up a product of sibling adultery, condemned by the world."

Tears welled in the Crown Princess Consort’s eyes.

Kneeling, she kowtowed.

"Father."

"Please, father, save my child!"

----

While Ying Yin was carrying out the Holy Emperor’s orders, leading the Imperial Army to Duke Zhou Mansion, all was calm and peaceful at Marquis Ning Mansion.

The cherry blossoms in the West Garden were in full bloom.

Though men and women were different, with the elders present, there was no need to be overly formal.

The doors of Marquis Ning Mansion were prestigious, and marrying into it was considered a high match. Thus, all the young ladies were dressed to the nines, some seated beside elders, waiting for the Marchioness Ning to speak.

Some gathered in twos and threes under the cherry blossoms, chatting and laughing.

Servants brought dish after dish of exquisite delicacies.

In front, someone cradled a pipa, singing melodiously.

Shen Zhiyi came alone.

Because she was daring.

And, she wasn’t really here for the meet and greet.

She found a spot with few people, leaned against a cherry blossom tree, observing the performance of a young performer invited by Marquis Ning Mansion, swaying gently to the rhythm.

Someone tossed a peanut at her.

Ning Yunling arrived fashionably late, blocking her view: "Enjoying the spectacle, aren’t you?"

Shen Zhiyi laughed: "Of course I’m here to support the excitement for your Prince Ning."

Ning Yunling: ...

Shen Zhiyi: "I also helped you check out those ladies. Other than me, there were eight who came."

"How do they look?"

Ning Yunling scratched his head, feeling vexed: "What about their tempers?"

Shen Zhiyi answered, off-topic: "I’ve beaten three of them, and I’ve had conflicts with four. So they’re all acquaintances of mine."

Ning Yunling: ...

A group of viragos!

Gathering here, are they?

"And the other one?"

Shen Zhiyi: "From the Lu Family."

Recalling the Lu Family girl’s eye-avoidance earlier, she found amusement: "She’s very timid."

Shen Zhiyi lifted her chin, signaling Ning Yunling to look at a spot slightly to the front and right.

There, the Marchioness Ning sat, surrounded by many people.

She glanced around.

But didn’t see the Lu Family girl.

Couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

She was just there a moment ago.

She wanted Ning Yunling to open his eyes wide and see what a truly genuine, unpretentious ’white flower’ looked like!!

Shen Zhiyi had to say: "The one in pink, that’s Miss Dong, Lady Dong’s daughter."

"Her mother is known for being devoutly Buddhist, often providing meals and frequently donating money. Miss Dong is well regarded publicly, though in my opinion, she’s pretentious and proud, always showing off her literary talents."

"Honestly, nothing special."

"Whenever there’s a poetry gathering in Shangjing, she’s never absent, and she loves to give guidance to others."

"If you end up with her, she’ll definitely urge you to fall in love with reading."

Over there, the Marchioness Ning was asking questions.

"Lady Dong, I heard your daughter excels in poetry and is proficient in painting and calligraphy?"

Seated, Lady Dong fiddled with her Buddha Beads, her face kind and gentle, smiling: "You flatter her, Marchioness. She just enjoys reading since childhood. Her father hired tutors to teach her over the years, but it’s hardly refined."

As she spoke, she gave her daughter a signal.

Miss Dong stood up, receiving a painting scroll from the maid behind her, and bowed.

"Today, upon visiting, I painted a landscape for you, Marchioness, hoping you won’t find it lacking."

Meanwhile.

Ning Yunling frowned deeply.

Shen Zhiyi pointed again to another one.

"That one, with the most pearl flowers in her hair, is Miss Liu, the third miss from the Liu Family. She’s straightforward, but her words can easily offend. Her mother passed away last year, and the other branches of the family seized the chance to vie for household authority but failed, subdued by her. They live under her gaze. The elder sitting next to her is her aunt."

Ning Yunling saw her.

He thought so.

No wonder that woman was so fawning over Miss Liu, even pouring her a cup of tea.

"In front, sitting on the swing is the legitimate second daughter of the Wang Family, she’s formidable."

Ning Yunling’s eyelids twitched: "How formidable?"

"The Wang Family was previously arranging a match for her, nearly to the point of exchanging keepsakes, but that young man spoke behind her back, saying she had a foul temper, loved to nitpick; if it weren’t for his family forcing him, he wouldn’t consent. She overheard, lost her temper directly, and gave him a few slaps."

"She’s double-jointed; it hurts when she hits."

Ning Yunling felt like the sky was crumbling down.

Seeing Shen Zhiyi about to continue, he turned and left immediately.

At this time, the Marchioness Ning happened to look over and spotted him.

"Ling’er! Where are you going? Come here and greet all the ladies."

The ladies couldn’t bear such honor, hurriedly saying: "That won’t do, that won’t do."

Ning Yunling didn’t even want to go over.

He just wanted to avoid.

Ignoring his mother’s calls behind him.

He walked faster.

Almost breaking into a run.

As he passed around a rockery, he didn’t stop. Who would have thought that a girl, Yingying, who had been hiding for peace, stood there, and he couldn’t stop himself from colliding with her.

The girl wasn’t prepared, and her body tipped sideways.

Ning Yunling reached out to grab her but failed. He could only watch helplessly as she fell to the ground.

"Why... why are you standing here?"

Ning Yunling was quite unmanly, trying to shirk responsibility: "I didn’t mean it."

"I didn’t know someone was here."

Just as Ning Yunling was about to ask if she was hurt, he saw the girl lift her panic-stricken face, biting her lip, trembling, clutching the hem of her garment nervously, unsure whether from pain or fright.

Or fear of his blame.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Her voice was as soft and weak as she was.

"I’m... I’m sorry."