She was unwilling to accept this. Why should her fate be decided by this unreliable father?

Because of her bad mood, Shen Qinghua had been sitting in her room for the past few days, gritting her teeth. Her aunt was going to be dismissed, and she was powerless to do anything about it. She could only watch her aunt silently, wipe away her tears, and leave.

“Shen Qinghua, I know you think highly of yourself and look down on us women who are chasing after Brother Jinchen all day long. Don’t be so shameless. You’re just putting on airs as if you’re the future empress. In fact, none of us are superior. Although your aunt has controlled the household affairs for many years, she is not the principal wife. So you’re just pretending to be high-minded.”

After seeing off her aunt, Shen Qinghua sat in her boudoir, lost in thought, when an untimely woman appeared. That woman was Shen Qingying, who immediately began to ridicule Shen Qinghua without any politeness.

"What are you doing here? Even if I'm just pretending to be high and mighty, I won't tolerate your insults. Get out, you're not welcome here."

Shen Qinghua arrogantly raised her chin and retorted without any politeness.

"What's the use of being angry? I was just stating the facts. You can't even handle this little setback, yet you're still putting on an act at the Shen residence all day. If I were you, and the Empress's position was taken away, of course I would seek revenge. Even if she's skilled in martial arts, there are so many ways to kill someone. That woman won't be smug forever. As long as we handle things properly, how can we not kill someone?"

Shen Qingying, dressed in a light blue outfit and with exquisite makeup, gracefully walked over to Shen Qinghua and sat down, speaking to her with a smile.

"You want to kill the Princess to vent your hatred? Since you're here to discuss cooperation, why come here to mock me? Shen Qingying, do you think I would cooperate with you after what you've done?"

Shen Qinghua looked at Shen Qingying with a sneer. Did this woman think she was stupid?

"Who told you to always put on airs and make people uncomfortable? I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to say something. If you don't like me, I can find someone else to cooperate with. There are plenty of people in the manor who want to kill that woman."

Seeing that Shen Qinghua was still putting on airs, Shen Qingying gave her a disdainful look and got up to leave.

"Wait! What's so hard about killing that woman? Do you think my brother will marry us just because she's dead? Shen Qingying, you're not still dreaming like that, are you? Father dismissed the inner court and betrothed us to other men. Do you think it's just because that woman is in our way?"

Shen Qinghua looked down on Shen Qingying and the other women in the mansion who coveted her elder brother, but she couldn't swallow this insult. Cooperation wasn't out of the question, but they had probably just chosen the wrong target.

They were so naive to think that killing the princess would get them what they wanted.

"you mean?"

Shen Qingying didn't quite understand what the woman was saying.

"Of course we should kill them both at once. We can't be too forceful. It would be best to poison them with the most potent poison, so that Shen Jinchen can also die in the name of apologizing and begging for mercy."

A wicked glint flashed across Shen Qinghua's face. If she couldn't have the man, she would destroy him even if it meant her death.

"This won't do! If Brother Jinchen dies, how can we live? Shen Qinghua, you're a madwoman."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingying suddenly realized that she shouldn't have come today.

“Living like a walking corpse is not as good as dying a glorious death. Shen Qingying, are you really willing to marry the son of the Vice Minister of Revenue? I heard that you are even worse than mine in this neighborhood. You are a complete playboy. I ask you, do you have two concubines? You are used to seeing men who are high and mighty. How can you like a man like this? If things are exposed, even if we die, we will be buried with those two. Even if Brother Jinchen dies, he will be free from us sisters.”

Shen Qinghua touched the jade hairpin in her hand with her fingertips, laughing wildly and unrestrainedly, yet somewhat eerily.

"You're insane!"

When Shen Qingying saw Shen Qinghua holding the jade hairpin that Shen Jinchen had given her, she was so frightened that she trembled and tried to pull it out.

"Why are you running? Xiaoyu, close the door for me. Don't let my sister run out and start yelling. She's here to cooperate with me, not to go crazy."

Shen Qinghua glanced at Xiaoyu lazily, but her gaze was terrifyingly menacing.

Shen Qingying was locked in by that chilling gaze, and dared not lift her foot even an inch.

"Shen Qingying, you're the one who started harassing me, so don't blame me for being impolite. Don't have any illusions. You think that killing the princess will just result in her cursing you a few times? We are nothing in the eyes of my elder brother and father. You're too naive. Since you've made this plan, don't be soft-hearted. Since you're going to die anyway, why not take your beloved man with you? Wouldn't that be better?"

"Don't worry, I'll be with you too. Your suggestion is great. After my brother and sister-in-law come back, we'll host a banquet and invite them over to catch up. We'll tell them we were wrong and that we'll be proper little sisters from now on. Then we'll focus on being good wives and mothers and helping him build connections in the court."

"Since we are so understanding, even if Shen Jinchen is heartless, he will still give us some face. So, he and the Princess should at least show some respect for the wine and dishes we serve him."

"To achieve your goal, you have to be low-key and humble. Isn't that the only way to get there?"

Shen Qinghua spoke gently, her tone slow and unhurried, her voice like a gentle breeze.

Unfortunately, the words he uttered were extremely malicious.

"you…"

Shen Qingying finally understood that Shen Qinghua, despite being a concubine's daughter and having the same status as her, was able to act like a legitimate daughter. This woman was indeed extraordinary.

Who could say such things so casually? She's practically a devil. What was she thinking today that she came here to be tormented, and she might very well end up losing her life.

"Stop with the 'you' and 'me' stuff. Didn't you say it's easy to kill someone? I'm just giving you advice, aren't I? Besides, I'm personally involved in your plan. You're not happy? It's too late if you are. That's it for today. Go back and gather your accomplices. When our eldest brother comes back, we'll put on a good show for him."

Shen Qinghua spoke in a lazy manner, but her words had already frightened Shen Qingying into a cold sweat.

"Pretend I wasn't here today. Shen Qinghua, you'd better watch yourself."

Shen Qingying pried Xiaoyu's hand away and tried to rush out the door, but she had misjudged Shen Qinghua. If Xiaoyu could stop her, then Xiaoyu was no ordinary person.

So when she resisted, Xiaoyu punched her to the ground.

Seeing her like this, Shen Qinghua found her gentle smile even more terrifying.

“Shen Qingying, the most important thing for a person is to know their own limitations. Now that you’ve stepped through this door, you’re just a puppet I can manipulate at will. What’s the point of struggling? Xiaoyu will feed her one of the poisons I’ve carefully prepared. If she’s obedient, I’ll give her the antidote. If she’s naughty, I won’t give her the antidote. Letting her rot and die is not so bad.”