Zheng Gaoming then questioned Zheng Ruier, "Was it you who delivered the handkerchief to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence? Speak up!"

Zheng Ruier, remembering how many layers of connections she had gone through, and how she had remained anonymous, clung to a sliver of hope, "No...no...it wasn't me..."

Xiao Ding kept trying to get Ding's attention with her eyes, but Ding still refused to look at her.

Jiang Yinjin was the last to enter, so she didn't sit with her parents. She had a calm expression, looking like she was detached and had a clear conscience. So the Minister Jiang and his wife decided to believe her and whispered to each other.

Princess Ryan, seeing that things were more or less settled, sneered, "Then, let's go through this one thing at a time. Zheng Ruier, come out here."

Zheng Ruier shuddered, nearly wetting herself in fright, but she carefully stepped out of her seat and knelt in the main hall.

Princess Rui'an, "I ask you, what did you and Jiang Yinjin talk about at Yuelai Residence?"

Everyone was puzzled as to why the princess asked this question.

Jiang Yinjin, who had been able to remain calm, suddenly trembled and her face paled.

Zheng Ruier answered tremblingly, "Your Highness, we didn't talk about anything, just...some words of comfort..."

Princess Ryan gave a cold laugh, "You should all know that I have a special group of secret guards under my command, called the Shadow Guards, right?"

Everyone gasped – they knew this was the elite force trained by the late emperor. Because the princess's husband had died young, the late emperor and empress dowager, out of pity for the princess, divided the Shadow Guard into two groups: one for the current emperor and the other for the eldest princess.

The Emperor has a large number of Shadow Guards under his command.

Although the princess's Shadow Guards were few in number, they were the elite of the elite.

Of course, the late emperor made this arrangement to give the eldest princess some secret tasks.

Princess Ryan continued, "From the time I brought Liu Xiangning back to the Princess's residence until today, a full seven days have passed. Do you think my Shadow Guards are so incompetent that they can't find anything out in seven days?"

Everyone was startled again—yes! If they wanted to vent their anger directly, they would have summoned everyone long ago. The fact that several days had passed could only mean… they were waiting for the Shadow Guards to gather all the evidence!

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was even more oppressive and terrifying.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone could even hear their own heartbeats.

Princess Ryan glanced at Zheng Ruier with disdain. "I'm telling you this out of kindness, since you're young: if you confess honestly and provide evidence that's in your favor, I'll handle it accordingly. But if you conceal the truth or protect someone, the blame might fall on you in the end. It might even implicate your family."

Zheng Ruier was so scared she wet herself... she literally wet her pants...

In the corner, Chen Mianmian quietly grinned—but it's understandable that Zheng Ruier was so frightened, since the others present were either nobles or high-ranking officials, and had seen a lot of the world.

Zheng Ruier was just an ordinary wealthy family, and her rare exposure to the world was thanks to the Lady of Anning. She had never seen anyone like Princess Ruian before.

Moreover, Princess Rui'an deliberately put on airs and released her oppressive aura today, making even an outsider like her feel breathless, let alone Zheng Rui'er who had done something wrong.

Princess Ryan, used to this, said sternly, "Speak."

"...Yes, Your Highness..." Zheng Ruier's voice trembled uncontrollably as she frantically tried to recall the events to avoid implicating her family. "At that time...I was waiting for my family's carriage in front of the scholar's residence when I suddenly saw...the young mistress's carriage approaching, and then...the young mistress's maid got out of the carriage and pulled me into it..."

"Your Highness, please understand, I...I was feeling down at the time and didn't want to speak to the young mistress. It was she who pulled me into the carriage!"

Jiang Yinjin wanted to argue, but her strong will stopped her.

She clenched her fist, preparing to wait and see; she didn't believe the princess had enough evidence.

Zheng Ruier, "Later...later I was taken to Yuelai Residence. The young mistress...kicked all the servants out, leaving only me and the young mistress in the room. Then...the young mistress asked me about my situation, and then told me why Zhou Shi had mocked me. She also said...she also told me a secret..."

Everyone was shocked—what secret?

Princess Ryan frowned, glanced in Jiang Yinjin's direction, and then asked Zheng Ruier, "What secret?"

Zheng Ruier bit her lip. "The young mistress said that it's widely rumored in the Marquis's mansion... that before everyone else saw Consort Shen, Lord Huo got to see Consort Shen in the garden first... so... the two of them have an affair..."

Princess Ryan's expression turned cold. She looked up at Chen Mianmian and asked, "Mianmian, is what she said true?"

Shen Mianmian cried out in her heart, "This is bad! Jiang Yinjin, Jiang Yinjin, you're so smart all your life, but you've made a foolish mistake! You're just inciting Zheng Ruier, why are you saying all this nonsense?"

Was she trying so hard to hide this for her own reputation? Or was it because she didn't want to expose Jiang Yinjin's methods?

Before Shen Mianmian could answer, Jiang Yinjin stood up, knelt down and said, "Your Highness, please allow me to explain."

Princess Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

Jiang Yinjin forced herself to remain calm, "I did tell Miss Biao about the situation at the Marquis's residence, but I didn't say that Madam Shen and Lord Huo met in private. I only mentioned that when we arrived at the garden, Madam Shen hadn't arrived yet. It was Miss Biao herself who said that she suspected Madam Shen and Lord Huo had an affair."

Zheng Ruier became anxious, "But you said there are rumors circulating in the Marquis's mansion..."

Jiang Yinjin interrupted, "That's just the servants gossiping. The Marquis's mansion is so big, with so many servants, who can guarantee there won't be any rumors?"

Even the simple-minded Zheng Ruier realized she had been used and hurriedly kowtowed to the princess, crying, "Your Highness, I'm innocent! I'm innocent! I've been used! Your Highness, please see the truth!"

Princess Ryan ignored Zheng Ruier, her cold and sharp gaze fixed on Shen Mianmian. "Answer my question: Did you and Huo Rang meet beforehand?"

Unbeknownst to everyone, Huo Rang, sitting in the guest seat, was also secretly clenching his fist, but having seen his share of storms, he didn't show it.

Chen Mianmian got up and knelt in front of the princess, her mind racing—should she speak or not?

Princess Ryan must have discovered something. If she doesn't tell, and instead deceives the princess, the princess won't let her off the hook!

The king is ruthless, and his sister, the eldest princess, probably doesn't have much affection for him either.

In the TV series "Kangxi Dynasty", Emperor Kangxi dotes on Consort Rong to the point of obsession one moment, and then makes her clean the chamber pot until she dies the next. After her death, he shows his love for Consort Rong by giving her all sorts of nonsensical posthumous titles.

These members of the royal family clearly distinguish between love and punishment. No matter how much they like someone, they will never be soft-hearted when it comes to killing or punishing them.

Those royals who are obsessed with love have probably been eliminated by the survival of the fittest long ago!

Is she going to tell the truth?

In that case, Jiang Yinjin would be doomed!

Wait! The issue isn't whether Jiang Yinjin lives or dies; she's overlooked a crucial detail!