After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

The banquet instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and the singing and dancing stopped.

But Princess Jiayi's expression didn't change at all. "What are you doing in such a panic?"

The palace maid replied in a low voice, "Princess Jiayi, your Southern French pearl earrings... no... are gone."

She was trembling all over.

These words instantly turned the banquet into chaos.

"Oh? Those pearls are incredibly precious!"

"It is said that Princess Jiayi searched for it for a long time, traveling thousands of miles!"

The Seventh Princess frowned upon hearing this.

Out of the corner of her eye, Wei Zhaoning saw Lu Jieyue and Wei Jiaruo exchanging toasts, their faces beaming with joy.

"Quiet down, everyone. I have a question for you. Didn't I tell you to take my clothes and put them away when I was changing? How come they just disappeared?" Princess Jiayi asked.

Palace maid: "Princess Jiayi, please forgive me. After you left, I suddenly felt unwell and needed to relieve myself, which is why I was delayed for a while. But when I returned, I couldn't find the pearl anywhere..."

"Princess, with so many people coming and going, could it have been stolen? Those pearls are so precious, there are many people who want them."

Princess Jiayi ordered, "Guards! Check everyone who has entered or left the rooms! No one is allowed to move, and everyone present must be searched!"

The women at the banquet felt humiliated; they had come to the banquet in good spirits, only to be treated like thieves.

There was no other way but to do as she instructed.

The Seventh Princess, growing impatient, asked, "If you want to catch a thief, can't you at least use a better tone? There's only one thief, and most of you here are innocent people. What do you mean by speaking like that?"

The two already disliked each other, and when they encountered a troublemaker, they would not miss the opportunity to ridicule each other.

Princess Jiayi sneered, "Heh, everyone here has no objections, but you, the Seventh Princess, have a huge problem with it. Why are you so sensitive? Could it be that you stole it?"

"How dare you!" The Seventh Princess's brows furrowed with anger.

"Now that I've lost something, don't give me that elder's act. Since the Seventh Princess is the most dissatisfied, let's start by investigating her! I remember that not long after I left, the Seventh Princess also went to the side room to change her clothes, right?" Princess Jiayi winked at the palace servants.

The palace servant stepped forward and began searching the Seventh Princess's entire body. The Seventh Princess showed no panic, only disgust. "Boring."

Despite saying that, she still allowed Princess Jiayi's people to search her body at will.

The palace maid rummaged through the Seventh Princess's body for a long time, turning her over and over, when she suddenly exclaimed, "Found it! The pearl really is with the Seventh Princess!"

The air seemed to freeze instantly.

Everyone looked at each other, lowered their heads, and dared not speak.

The Seventh Princess turned pale with shock, abruptly raising her head in astonishment.

Princess Jiayi's expression became excited. "So it was you! You liked my pearl? You could have just told me, and I would have given it to you. After all, it represents the royal family's reputation. How could you do something so underhanded?"

The Seventh Princess seemed frozen in place. She opened her mouth, but the gazes around her felt like countless needles piercing her heart.

She tried hard to recall, but when she left the table, only Wei Zhaoning was with her; no one else had come close to her.

Suddenly remembering Wei Zhaoning's suggestion to change course, she already had her answer. She looked at Wei Zhaoning in astonishment, with a hint of anger.

Wei Jiaruo and Lu Jieyue both curled their lips and looked at Wei Zhaoning with ill intent.

"Having offended the Seventh Princess, and with the Prince coming to demand an explanation, do you think the Marquis will still dare to keep Wei Zhaoning in the Marquis's residence?" Wei Jiaruo whispered.

Lu Jieyue scoffed, "Your move is quite clever. Offending the Seventh Princess means that even if she's divorced by Zhu Feng, she won't have a good time outside the Marquis's mansion."

"Hmph, serves her right for dressing up all the time and trying to seduce others."

"I didn't, I was framed." The Seventh Princess stood up straight and spoke with a strong voice.

"Ha, wronged? Who here dares to wrong your Seventh Princess? The evidence is there, what else do you have to say?" Princess Jiayi's tone was sharp and sarcastic, her arms crossed over her chest, full of confidence.

The banquet erupted in chatter, with many whispering, "I've heard that these pearl earrings are extremely rare, and the Seventh Princess really liked them, but Princess Jiayi snatched them up first."

"Although these earrings are rare and money can't buy them, the Seventh Princess is still a member of the royal family. Isn't she damaging the royal family's reputation by doing this? Why did she have to steal them?"

"Her usual aloof and immaculate demeanor made me think she was so noble, but I never imagined she was just an ordinary person, resorting to such dirty tricks behind the scenes!"

The seventh princess felt as if she had been pressed into the mud, her ears were ringing, and she felt as if she were on fire with shame.

She looked at Wei Zhaoning with disappointment and resentment, wanting to explain herself, but unable to find a way to do so.

The discussion among the crowd grew increasingly heated, with everyone saying that no one would be afraid of the Seventh Princess's power then.

She can't possibly go from house to house causing trouble, can she?

Princess Jiayi smiled slightly when she saw the Seventh Princess looking so helpless.

When she had grown tired of hearing all those derogatory remarks, she slowly sat down and mercifully said, "Alright, be quiet."

The entire banquet fell silent instantly.

"I won't make things difficult for you. Since you've gone to such lengths, it means you must really like these earrings."

"Well then, since you're my aunt, I don't want to make a big deal out of this."

Kneel down and apologize to me, and I'll give you these earrings. I won't pursue this matter any further; that's the end of it.

The Seventh Princess, having reached her limit, shouted, "You're dreaming!"

"I told you I was wronged. You asked me to send someone to investigate, and I will definitely produce evidence to prove my innocence."

But before that, it's unfair of you to judge me based solely on appearances."

After saying that, she gave Wei Zhaoning a cold glance.

"Yes, Princess Jiayi, the Seventh Princess is usually so virtuous and upright, how could she do such a petty thing? Someone must have framed her." Wei Jiaruo deliberately chimed in.

Princess Jiayi narrowed her eyes and said angrily, "Little aunt, I only gave you face and a chance to apologize and let this matter go. You're the one who stole the item. Don't you think your attitude is a bit excessive?"

"Do I have to force you to be brought before the Emperor so he can judge your crimes before you'll admit your mistakes?"

"You really caught a lucky break, deliberately choosing the time when Father and Mother left the banquet to cause trouble. Since you didn't cherish the opportunity I gave you, then I have no choice but to let Father decide."

The Emperor is known for his strict separation of public and private matters, and he always sides with reason, not personal relationships. If this matter were to reach the Emperor, the Seventh Princess would be in serious trouble.

"Guards! Take him away!"

After he finished speaking, two guards stepped forward, looking menacing, as if they were about to take a prisoner away.

"Wait a minute."