The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

In the scene, Shen Jingyan, with an angry expression, left the palace gate and went straight to the Xiaoyao Prince's Mansion.

In the pavilion of the Prince's Mansion Garden, Shen Yinian was leisurely feeding the koi in the pond, dressed in a moon-white long robe, looking carefree and unrestrained.

"Brother!" Shen Jingyan rushed in, dismissing everyone around her, her face full of resentment. "That Shen Qingruo, she absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

Shen Yinian lazily raised his eyes and put down the fish food in his hand: "What did she do to offend our noble princess this time?"

"She seduced Father Emperor!" Shen Jingyan gritted her teeth. "I suspect that Father Emperor and she are having an affair."

"Father even bestowed upon her that cherished ink jade chessboard!"

"And today I went to Qingyi Palace, and the furnishings inside were completely renewed, and all the things used were of the best quality. It was no worse than my Jingyang Palace."

"If it were just compensation, why go to such lengths?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yinian's relaxed expression vanished, and his brows furrowed: "Do you have any evidence?"

"What other evidence do you need?" Shen Jingyan exclaimed excitedly. "Father treats her so specially these days; yesterday I even thought I saw him taking her out of the palace incognito!"

"If this continues, what will happen to Mother? What will happen to our family? Are we really going to watch that slut climb into the Emperor's bed and disgust Mother?"

Shen Yinian remained silent for a moment, a look of disgust flashing across his eyes.

Although he had no ambition for the throne, he would never allow anyone to undermine his parents' long-standing affection or shake the position of him and his siblings.

"She usually lives a secluded life, rarely leaving Qingyi Palace except for necessary occasions," Shen Yinian said slowly, his tone cold. "Since that's the case, let's find a way to force her to come out and then ruin her reputation."

Shen Jingyan's eyes lit up: "Brother, do you have a solution?"

Shen Yinian smiled and said, "Go and ask the Empress Dowager to hold a flower-viewing banquet, and make sure Shen Qingruo attends."

"At that time, I will arrange someone, such as Sun Hongwen, who drooled over her at the Spring Banquet last time."

"Sun Hongwen?" Shen Jingyan was puzzled at first, then understood, and a gleeful smile appeared on her face. "Brother means, you're plotting to make them have an affair?"

"Doesn't she like seducing men?" Shen Yinian said dismissively. "Then let her seduce them to her heart's content."

"At that time, with everyone watching, she won't be able to explain herself no matter how hard she tries."

"I wonder if Father will still protect a princess with such poor character."

Shen Jingyan nodded repeatedly, excitedly adding, "As long as Father Emperor gets tired of her and marries her off from the palace, once she's out of Father Emperor's sight, whether she's round or flat, won't we be able to control her as we please?"

"She enjoys serving men so much, selling her to the lowest brothel would be too good for her!"

Just imagining that scene made Shen Jingyan feel incredibly happy.

Shen Yinian patted her shoulder, his smile gentle, but his eyes were icy cold: "Go, tell the Empress Dowager that you want to hold a flower appreciation banquet to enhance the prestige of the Princess."

"I'm going right now!" Shen Jingyan nodded emphatically, turned and left, her back view conveying a ruthless determination to succeed.

-

Inside Qingyi Palace, Shen Qingruo's eyes showed no emotion; she only slightly tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Such despicable means, such undisguised malice.

She couldn't understand how someone as talented and brilliant as Shen Wangxi could have given birth to such a pair of children, and yet indulge and spoil them so much, treating them like precious treasures.

"Aruo, they're so vicious!" Xiao Jiu thought angrily. "We have to think of something."

Shen Qingruo didn't answer, but instead asked, "Xiao Jiu, in the other world storybooks you showed me before, after the domineering CEOs and Cinderellas had their sweet romance, didn't they always face various hardships, separations and reunions, before they could finally be together?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Jiu quickly replied, "That's called plot conflict; it's a catalyst for emotions."

Shen Qingruo's voice was soft and gentle: "Isn't Shen Jingyan playing just such a role right now?"

She looked up and gazed out the window.

"Perfect timing, I'll think about it too." She said softly, as if speaking to Xiao Jiu, yet also as if talking to herself, "When I'm faced with his beloved children, whose side will he take this time?"