With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

Besides high-ranking officials and dignitaries, the majority of those present were ordinary people who came to watch the performance.

Who would willingly be surrounded like this without any explanation and subjected to a public body search?

Immediately, some people began to grumble in dissatisfaction.

Yun Wei's eyes darted around, and she quickly stepped forward to support the trembling Princess Danyang, gently comforting her, "Princess, don't panic. Think carefully, did anyone approach you just now?"

Princess Danyang was in a fit of anger and couldn't think clearly, so she just shook her head randomly.

At this moment, a maidservant beside Yunwei seemed to suddenly remember something and timidly spoke up: "This servant...this servant thinks I just saw Miss Yun Nian pass by the princess, very close..."

All eyes instantly focused on Yun Nian, who was standing not far behind Qin Jiuchen.

Princess Danyang whirled around, her fiery eyes fixed on Yun Nian, her voice suddenly rising: "It's you?! Yun Nian! Did you steal my jade pendant?!"

coming.

Exactly the same as in my previous life.

Yun Nian sneered inwardly, but her face remained calm and indifferent.

In her past life, she was suddenly identified, panicked, unable to defend herself, and forcibly searched.

The jade pendant indeed "just happened" to fall from her sleeve.

From then on, she not only bore the crime of stealing the imperial gift, but was also completely rejected by Qin Senyao, her reputation was ruined, and she could not hold her head up in the Yun family or the Prince's mansion.

Facing the murderous gaze of Princess Danyang and the suspicious or amused looks around her, Yun Nian simply raised her eyes and said calmly, "Princess, I did not steal your jade pendant."

"You're saying you didn't steal it, so you don't?"

Princess Danyang was relentless, determined to find a scapegoat. "The maid saw you pass by me; you must have been tempted by the value of my jade pendant!"

She looked Yun Nian up and down, her clothes exquisite but not top-notch, her eyes filled with contempt. "Some people come from humble backgrounds and have never seen anything good. It's common for them to be dishonest."

Before Yun Nian could speak, Qin Jiaxue stepped forward, acting as a peacemaker, and grabbed Princess Danyang's arm, advising, "Sister Danyang, don't be anxious. Sister Yun Nian wouldn't do such a thing, would she? But..."

She changed the subject, looking at Yun Nian with an earnest tone, "Sister Yun Nian, to prove your innocence, why don't you let Sister Danyang search you? If there's nothing there, then your innocence will be cleared, and it will prevent everyone from speculating, right?"

Being searched in public is a great humiliation for any woman, and regardless of the outcome, her reputation is damaged.

Moreover, what if something is actually found during the search...

All eyes were on Yun Nian.

Qin Senyao stood to the side, his face grim.

He felt that Princess Danyang had gone too far, and he was also annoyed that Yun Nian always caused such embarrassing things, making him feel awkward as well.

He said in a deep voice, "Yun Nian, since she didn't take it, let her search her to prove her innocence. Why cause unnecessary trouble?"

Yun Nian suddenly smiled softly and spoke calmly.

"Princess Danyang was standing between Prince Ningxiang and Sister Yunwei, and was the closest to them."

"If we follow this maid's logic, then everyone who passes by the princess is a suspect. Wouldn't Prince Ningxiang and Sister Yunwei be the ones most deserving of a body search to prove their innocence?"

She paused, then looked at Qin Jiuchen, who had been observing coldly. "Your Highness, don't you agree?"

In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Qin Jiuchen.

Qin Jiuchen stood there with his arms crossed, completely at ease.

His gaze fell on Yun Nian's calm and composed face. After a moment, his thin lips parted slightly, "Of course."

Upon hearing this, Princess Danyang exclaimed, "Nonsense! What rare treasures hasn't Prince Ningxiang seen? Why would he covet my jade pendant? The Prince would never steal it!"

She then turned to Yunwei, her tone softening slightly, "Sister Yunwei...of course I trust her."

Yun Wei nodded gratefully, but her eyes held a hint of resentment as she looked at Yun Nian.

Princess Danyang's criticism was once again directed at Yun Nian, her tone extremely sarcastic: "Some people are different. I've heard you're just an adopted daughter of the Prime Minister's household, not Yun Nian's biological daughter. You have no power or influence, so you probably haven't seen anything good, have you? It's not surprising that you're short-sighted and have become greedy!"

The words "adopted daughter" instantly exploded in the crowd.

Many people only know that Yun Nian is the daughter of Prime Minister Yun, but they are unaware of this secret.

Immediately, discussions arose.

"So she's an adopted daughter!"

"If she's not their biological child, she probably won't be well-liked in the household, will she?"

"Being naive and inexperienced, stealing... that's possible..."

The pointing and whispering grew louder and louder.

Qin Senyao felt his face burning, as if all the gossip was mocking him for having a fiancée who was not presentable.

He wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground, his eyes filled with annoyance and urging as he looked at Yun Nian: "Yun Nian, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up and let them search us, settle this matter!"

Yun Nian seemed not to hear the foul language, nor did she see Qin Senyao's disgust.

She maintained her smile, her gaze slowly sweeping over the onlookers.

"According to Princess Danyang," her clear voice cut through the clamor, "those present, apart from a few distinguished guests of high status, are well-informed and disdainful of such matters..."

She suddenly raised her hand and pointed to the ordinary people and merchants behind Princess Danyang, who were being held back by guards, their faces full of indignation but daring not to speak: "What about these common people? Haven't they seen even fewer 'good things'? Is Princess Danyang implying that everyone is poor, so they might steal your things, and therefore deserve to be searched in public and humiliated like this?"

Her words were like a spark, instantly igniting the anger in the hearts of the people.

"Yes! What do you mean, Princess? Are we guilty of being poor?"

"Even if Miss Yun isn't the Prime Minister's biological daughter, even if she's never seen anything good before, would she steal from you? You're looking down on people!"

"That's right! We may be ordinary people, but we have our pride! Does the princess think she can humiliate us like this?"

"Search us? On what grounds? Just because you have power and influence?"

"So what if it's a jade pendant bestowed by the Empress Dowager? Does that give you the right to frame innocent people and bully ordinary folks like us?"

The crowd immediately became indignant.

Just moments ago, the people were merely angry but dared not speak out. Provoked by Yun Nian's words and recalling their frustration at being besieged and suspected for no reason, their anger was instantly ignited.

Accusations and protests rose and fell, and the situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Princess Danyang hadn't expected that Yun Nian's few words would ignite the anger of all the common people. Looking at those angry faces and waving fists, a hint of panic flashed across her face.

She instinctively took a step back, looked at Qin Jiuchen, and pleaded, "Your Highness, look at them... this is a jade pendant bestowed by the Empress Dowager! Please help me!"

A glint of light flashed across Qin Jiuchen's eyes.

He spoke slowly, his voice authoritative, and the noise instantly subsided.