After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

The shout caused the flower hall to fall silent.

Shen Jingque was still lying in front of the potted plant, with the nine-petaled blood jade peony lying in her palm.

The petals are dark red with fine gold lines along the edges, giving them a rather noble appearance at first glance.

The current pose doesn't look very elegant.

With her left knee pressing down on her skirt and her right hand supporting her against the flowerpot, her cuffs were stained with wet mud. She looked like an unlucky soul who had been kicked into a crime scene.

The old lady of the Yong'an Marquis slammed her hand on the tea table, "Insolence!"

Her finger trembled as she pointed at Shen Jingque: "Miss Shen, my Yong'an Marquis's mansion is holding a grand event today. You've repeatedly tried to attract attention, and now you've even destroyed a gift bestowed by the Empress Dowager!"

Zhao Heng immediately responded, "Someone come here!"

A series of footsteps immediately sounded outside the door.

The Hou family's soldiers poured in from both sides, blocking the entrance to the flower hall in a dense, overwhelming manner.

Several timid noble ladies shrank behind their mother, with Wen Qianrou covering her chest with a handkerchief, looking as if she was about to be scared to death.

Xiao Changqi's eyes blazed with fury.

"Zhao Heng, you dare to touch her and see what happens."

Zhao Heng sneered: "Young Master Xiao, this is the Yong'an Marquis's residence. Miss Shen destroyed an item bestowed by the Empress Dowager. It is only reasonable for me to arrest her."

"Reasonable my ass."

Xiao Changqi helped Shen Jingque up. "First, there was a snake running in the garden of your Marquis's mansion, then the young lady farted, and now you've used some kind of underhanded trick to make my sister fall. It's as noisy as a circus troupe coming to the capital. I'd say you're deliberately trying to scam me!"

The old lady's chest heaved with anger: "Is this how the Princess's household raises its children?"

Xiao Changqi scoffed, "My mother taught me to avoid dirty things. But your Marquis's mansion is absolutely stinking; it took me ages to find my way out."

"You!" Zhao Heng was so choked that his face turned pale.

At this moment, Xiao Jingchen stood up, stopping Zhao Heng from continuing his outburst.

"My lord, please calm your anger."

He walked to the center of the hall, his demeanor gentle, and spoke kindly to comfort him.

"This matter involves items bestowed by the Empress Dowager. If we bring it up directly before the Emperor, it will inevitably damage the reputation of the royal family and the Princess's residence."

Seeing his expression, Shen Jingque barely managed to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.

While loading the cargo, those who didn't know his true nature might have thought he was there to mediate.

If nothing unexpected happens, what follows will be this guy's real purpose.

Xiao Jingchen looked at Zhao Heng.

"In my opinion, it would be better to send someone to invite Her Highness the Eldest Princess to the residence first."

Zhao Heng frowned. "What does Your Highness mean?"

Xiao Jingchen: "Her Highness the Princess cherishes Miss Shen and would not want her to bear such a crime. If the elders of both families sit down and clarify the matter, there may still be room for maneuver."

Shen Jingque suddenly realized.

The abacus beads flew into her face.

On the surface, it was a plea for mercy, but in reality, it was to drag Xiao Mingyue into the situation and manipulate her.

After all, in these people's eyes, Xiao Mingyue is now a love-struck fool who wants to overthrow the emperor and empress dowager for her father's sake.

Naturally, she extended her affection for her stepdaughter to her pets.

Xiao Changqi clearly understood as well.

His face darkened completely, and he pulled out a stack of silver notes from his pocket, slamming them onto the tea table beside him.

"It's just a potted plant, isn't it?"

He pointed his fan at Zhao Heng.

"Whatever price you want to settle this matter, the Marquis's mansion is welcome to name its price."

Wen Qianrou, covering her face with a handkerchief, scoffed, "Young Master Xiao, these flowers were bestowed by the Empress Dowager."

Xiao Changqi glanced at her sideways: "Did you get a fishbone stuck in your throat? You're making weird noises. I wasn't asking you!"

Wen Qianrou's face flushed red.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Heng immediately said in a deep voice, "Young Master Xiao, you reek of money, yet you dare to desecrate the imperial grace bestowed upon you with such valuables?"

He turned to the crowd, his voice rising higher and higher.

"Everyone heard it. The Princess's mansion is abusing its power, not only destroying the imperial gift, but also trying to silence the Marquis's mansion with money."

"I've truly seen something new today."

Quiet murmurs immediately arose in the flower hall.

"How can you compensate with money for something bestowed by the emperor?"

"This Second Young Master Xiao is far too reckless."

"We are merchants, but we were able to enter today by borrowing the name of the Princess."

Xiao Changqi grabbed a fan and was about to hit Zhao Heng in the face.

"Stop trying to pin this on me!"

Shen Jingque grabbed his sleeve: "Second brother, don't be impulsive."

Xiao Changqi was so angry his chest tightened: "They're defecating on our heads!"

The crudeness of his language caused a minor shock to the entire audience.

Shen Jingque tugged at his sleeve and pressed him back into the chair.

"Don't rush to throw money at people. Although our Princess's Mansion is rich, we can't just throw gold leaves at every toad we see. It'll only make it more confident."

Someone in the hall couldn't help but chuckle.

Zhao Heng's face darkened further: "Miss Shen, how dare you spout such nonsense!"

Did I say something wrong?

Shen Jingque stood in front of the potted plant, her face full of mockery.

"Your Excellency keeps accusing me of deliberately ruining the flowers, but why don't you ask why I fell down while I was standing perfectly fine?"

Zhao Heng sneered, "You were impolite and lost your footing, so why blame others?"

"Of course you should blame them."

Shen Jingque turned around and pointed her finger directly at Shen Tingyun's nose: "Because you were the one who pushed me from behind just now."

The color drained from Shen Tingyun's face, and her body swayed.

"Sparrow, how could you say that to me?"

The second wife immediately stepped forward, covering her lips with a handkerchief.

"Oh dear, Miss Shen, those words are hurtful. Tingyun is your own sister. How could your own sister harm you in public?"

Shen Jingque looked at her.

"Madam, do you put too much salt in your cooking?"

The second wife was stunned: "What do you mean?"

"You mean you're just bored out of your mind? What business is it of yours?"

Someone's shoulder twitched, and they quickly lowered their head to drink their tea.

The second wife, unable to save face, immediately raised her voice.

"Madam, listen to this! This is the kind of girl raised in the Princess's household. She ruined the imperial peony and then tried to frame her own sister."

Shen Tingyun seemed to be awakened by these words, and she knelt down with a thud.

"Please calm down, Madam."

She crawled two steps on her knees, tears streaming down her face.

"Que'er is young and doesn't know the rules. It's my fault as her older sister for not teaching her well."

"If the old lady and the marquis want to punish me for destroying the imperial gift, then punish me instead. I am willing to take the punishment in place of my sister."

Shen Jingque watched her crawl over, her expression gradually becoming strange.

The posture, the lines, the tears.

Why don't you go and perform in a Southern opera troupe?

It's a good thing she just wanted to remind Shen Tingyun to stay away from that scheming old man Xiao Jingchen.

Sui Cheng thought to herself, "They just sold her off right away."

As soon as these words were spoken, the discussion in the hall immediately shifted.

"Shen Tingyun is a kind and honest person."

"Even after being implicated by her sister like this, she's still willing to take the blame for her."

"Shen Jingque is too vicious."

"No wonder Madam Du disliked this youngest daughter and only brought her eldest daughter to the Marquis's residence."

Wen Qianrou finally found an opportunity and immediately said softly, "Miss Shen, how could you slander Sister Tingyun after how well she treats you?"

Shen Jingque looked at Shen Tingyun kneeling on the ground and suddenly burst out laughing.

Shen Tingyun forgot to continue crying; tears still clung to her eyelashes, and her lips moved slightly.

"Sparrow, what are you laughing at?"

I'm laughing at you.

Shen Jingque walked up to her, squatted down, and stared at Shen Tingyun's face. "You're like a thief who's your father, a traitor who's your accomplice. Someone makes you a promise, and you rush to be cannon fodder."

Her gaze swept over Xiao Jingchen and Zhao Heng.

"You need to be careful, or you might get yourself into trouble one day."

Enraged by Shen Jingque's provocative gaze, Zhao Heng slammed his hand on the table.

"Everyone here today has witnessed it firsthand. Since Miss Shen refuses to admit her mistake, I have no choice but to leave this matter to His Majesty's decision!"