Madam Lu frowned and asked, "If the princess knew that Guan Zhiyi had given me milk, why didn't she tell the Lu family sooner?"

Qi Yuning looked at Guan Zhiyi lying on the ground and said slowly, "Guan Zhiyi, from the very beginning when you used my name to become famous, I would not let you enter the Lu family.

Later, when Prince Lu went to the Guan family to cancel the verbal engagement, I thought that your Guan family was quite sensible, so there was no need to say more about the milk matter.

However, this princess overestimated you, Guan Zhiyi. If you hadn't said those words just now, this princess might never have exposed you in her entire life.

This princess used to admire your methods. At such a young age, you dared to harm a first-rank imperial lady under the nose of the Buddha.

What a pity, Guan Zhiyi, I gave you countless chances, but you didn't cherish them."

Guan Zhiyi glanced at Qin Zhen and said to Qi Yuning, "Princess, I had no intention of forcing the prince to marry me today, but I have no choice. None of this is what I want. I am like being put on a fire. No matter how I move, I will only be consumed by the flames..."

Guan Zhiyi slowly stood up and said, "When I entered Shengjing City, I was thinking that I could marry my sisters to high-ranking families, so that my Guan family could join the ranks of aristocratic families through marriage. I dared to be on par with Princess Qi. I admit this crime.

It was also because I fell in love with Master Lu at first sight and my ambition was so high that I gave milk to Old Madam Lu, causing her to fall ill. I admit this crime.

I spread the rumors about my past love affair with Master Lu because I didn't want to lose this marriage with Master Qin Wu. I couldn't let myself be laughed at, and I couldn't let my sisters be laughed at. We daughters of the Guan family share the same glory, and I couldn't let myself implicate my sisters."

Guan Zhiyi wept and said, "But today, I am helpless. I only hope that my death can appease the princess's anger and preserve the reputation of the Guan family's daughter."

After saying that, Guan Zhiyi was about to charge towards the stone lions at the gate of Dali Temple!

The guards around Qi Yuning quickly stopped Guan Zhiyi.

Qi Yuning walked over to Guan Zhiyi and said, "It's true that people strive for higher status, and it's not wrong for you to marry into a wealthy family. But there's also a saying that goes, 'A man of great potential is not an equal.' The daughters of your Guan family are in such a difficult situation because of their husbands' disdain. For the sake of the Guan family's reputation, so many of the daughters who married out have to compromise. Is it worth it?"

Guan Zhiyi said, "The princess was born with everything, so she naturally doesn't understand us girls from humble backgrounds. If we want to rise higher, we can only marry a man of our dreams and join the circle of aristocratic families."

Qi Yuning sneered. Guan Zhiyi was ready to die, but she still couldn't realize how wrong she was.

"Guan Zhiyi, if you want your Guan family to become an aristocratic family, it should be your Guan family men fighting in battle, or being ranked among the three highest officials or prime ministers. But you don't rely on in-laws. You are wronging your Guan family daughters to help your Guan family become a noble family. This is too ridiculous."

The men of the Guan family are useless, but they make the women go to great lengths to get what they want, even though the daughters do benefit from marrying into wealthy families.

But without the ceremonial procession from my mother's family, I have to support my mother's family by myself. How can I have a good life?

After Qi Yuning finished speaking, he got on the sedan chair in the palace and left.

Lu Ze ordered his men to take Guan Zhiyi to the Shengjing prefect. She intended to harm the Duke's wife and insulted Princess Qi. These two crimes would cost her at least six months in prison.

The Shengjing government office was about to close, and when they saw Lu Ze bringing Guan Zhiyi, they did not dare to neglect him and sentenced him to one year in prison for both crimes.

When Guan Zhiyi heard the accusation, she thought about what Qi Yuning had just said. For the common prosperity of the sisters and for the good of her mother's family, her greatest honor in the future would be...

The six sisters learned the rules and etiquette of the Shengjing aristocratic families since they were young, just to be able to enter the door of that noble family, but they didn't expect to end up in prison.

Guan Zhiyi didn't know who she hated at the moment, and she didn't know how much jokes she would cause when she went out a year later...

I don’t know if her family members hate her very much.

If she had known earlier, she should have listened to the advice and not coveted Lu Ze.

…

Qi Yuning returned to the palace.

Seeing Lingling playing on the newly built swing, I went over to help Lingling push the swing.

In fact, it is not just the Guan family in this world. There are many other noble families who pamper their daughters, just for the purpose of relying on their daughters for marriage, without caring whether their daughters will be happy when they get married.

Qi Yuning was glad that she was a rare lucky person in this world. She did not have to arrange a marriage and could choose her own marriage.

"My Lady, the prefect has sentenced Guan Zhiyi to one year in prison."

Qi Yuning saw Lu Ze coming and said, "This one-year prison sentence will teach Guan Zhiyi a lesson."

Lingling saw Lu Ze coming and said with a smile, "Uncle!"

Lu Ze grabbed the swing, picked up Lingling and said, "Call me daddy, not uncle anymore."

Lingling said, "Daddy!"

Qi Yuning sat on the swing and swung slowly, saying, "Is the prince going to take a day off tomorrow? As I mentioned before, we need to go to Tiger Cave Mountain. The mountain path there is very difficult to walk on. If Lingling goes with us, someone will need to hold her."

Lu Ze said, "Tomorrow is indeed a day off, but I will have my mother come to Prince Qi's mansion to cancel the engagement tomorrow."

Qi Yuning ordered someone to retrieve Lu Yun's birth date and the token of love given by the Lu family, and returned them to Lu Ze, saying, "Why bother making another trip to cancel the engagement? Here are Lu Yun's birth date and the token of love. I'm returning them to you!"

Lu Ze took Lu Yun's birth chart and saw several pinholes on it. He looked at Xiaoman beside him and asked, "Why are there so many pinholes on the paper with the birth chart?"

Xiao Man said, "That little bald donkey Lu Yun treated our princess like this. We didn't use his birth date and horoscope to harm him. We just used a needle to prick the horoscope figurine. This is already giving the princess's family face."

Qi Yuning chuckled, "Well done."

Lu Ze was helpless, but the maidservant beside Qi Yuning was quite bold. "I will return the princess's birth date and horoscope tomorrow."

Qi Yuning said, "No need. I'll have to send it back anyway, so why bother making another trip later?"

Lu Ze smiled: "That's right."

Lingling got down from Lu Ze's arms and said, "Daddy, let's push Mommy and play on the swing."

After Lingling finished speaking, she pushed Qi Yuning with all her strength, but she couldn't move him at all. She reached out and pulled Lu Ze to push him too.

Lu Ze gave Qi Yuning a push, and she was caught off guard and swung into the air. "Lu Ze, are you really going to push?"

Qi Yuning held the rope tightly with both hands. She had never thought that Lu Ze, who was always serious, would take advantage of her inattention and become playful, pushing her higher and higher. "Lu Ze!"

Lu Ze reached out and grasped the rope of the swing. He leaned close to Qi Yuning's ear and asked, "Princess, will Lingling still be allowed to call me uncle from now on?"

Qi Yuning said, "That also depends on whether Master Lu will provoke the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Young Miss in the future..."

Lu Ze looked into Qi Yuning's eyes and said, "I have never messed with other girls except those from the Qi family."

Qi Yuning glanced sideways at Lu Ze's eyes. He was so close to her that they could even hear each other's breathing.

Qi Yuning's heart was beating like a drum. He got off the swing and said, "Your Highness, it's time to go back. We are going to Tiger Cave Mountain tomorrow. Please rest early."

Lu Ze looked at Qi Yuning's slightly red ears and smiled softly, "Princess, please go to bed early too."