Princess Ryan was not dressed casually as usual today, but instead wore a black princess crown robe adorned with gold.

The calm black and noble gold colors made the princess's already bright and sharp appearance even more majestic and domineering. Although she was a woman, the pressure she exuded was enough to make everyone present dare not breathe.

Even Ding, who was usually best friends with the princess, trembled and led Jiang Yinjin and Shen Mianmian in to pay their respects to the princess.

As for the servants beside them, including Granny Li, they were left outside the door.

Inside the hall, apart from a few nobles, only the princess's maids served them.

Princess Rui'an glanced at Madam Ding with a cold, disdainful look, and said, "No need for formalities, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Highness." The three of them stood up and carefully sat down in the three reserved seats.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

Princess Ryan did not speak immediately, but instead picked up her teacup and took a sip.

This appropriate use of space only increased the psychological pressure on everyone present, and they even silently reflected on all the wrong things they had done in the past.

But the most anxious and fearful one was Chen Mianmian, who had done nothing wrong.

Chenmianmian—Oh my god! I'm going to die! I thought the princess was just secretly giving Jiang Yinjin a little nudge, maybe a couple of slaps, but who knew it would turn into such a big mess?

Summon the Marquis of Anning, the Marquis of Xuanping, and the Vice Minister of Rites!

Is the plan to have the two of them divorce immediately?

Her original idea was to weaken the female lead's power struggles within the family and strengthen the romance, so that the plot would follow the same path as the original novel. But now the plot has fallen apart!

Whether or not there's infighting within the household, it doesn't matter, but what about the romance?

The fact that the female lead and the male lead are not even close to being together yet raises questions about whether they can develop a normal romantic relationship!

Ruian was both its strength and its weakness!

Princess Ryan was the one who brought her to her death!

The sleepy creature was weak and helpless, trembling in the corner.

Princess Ryan put down her teacup, her stern gaze sweeping over the men and women in the room. "Someone, close the door."

"Yes, Your Highness." A maid from the princess's residence went to close the hall door.

The princess continued, "I have never liked bureaucratic talk, so let's get straight to the point. Do you all know why I invited you here?"

The crowd looked at each other.

Some were genuinely confused, such as the Marquis of Anning, the Marquis of Xuanping, and the Vice Minister and his wife.

However, some people, feeling guilty, had already changed their expressions, such as Zhou Miaoyin and Zheng Ruier.

Princess Ruian said, "It's normal that you don't know. Let me tell you. The story begins with Huo Rang of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion framing the young master Bai of the Anning Marquis's mansion."

Huo bribed a treacherous scoundrel to forcefully invite Prince Bai on a trip. In the end, he took Prince Bai to a brothel, got him drunk, and pretended that Prince Bai had spent the night with the courtesan. However, he forced Prince Bai to write a huge debt to redeem the courtesan, and spread the scandal throughout the capital to tarnish Prince Bai's reputation.

Later, when the truth came out, Lady Xuanping took Huo Rang and his wife to Marquis Anning to apologize. However, Huo Rang's wife, Lady Zhou, mistakenly thought that Huo Rang had taken a fancy to Bai Shizi's concubine, Shen Mianmian, and became jealous.

At the gathering of Lady Wang, Zhou saw Bai Shizi's cousin Zheng Ruier. Because she resented Bai Shizi and Shen Mianmian, she vented her anger on Zheng Ruier.

Zheng Ruier, who had hoped to marry into the Anning Marquis's household but failed, harbored resentment. Further angered by Zhou's mockery and insults, she began to hold a grudge against Chen Mianmian. Just then, the carriage of Bai Shizi's principal wife, Jiang, happened to appear at the scholar's residence gate and picked up Zheng Ruier, who was waiting for her ride.

Princess Ryan emphasized the word "coincidentally".

Moreover, after finishing this part, he deliberately stopped talking, as if he was tired and thirsty, and slowly picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

Everyone present was shrewd and astute.

Who couldn't tell what the princess wanted them to pay attention to?

Of course, Madam Ding knew about that incident. When the maid came back and said that her young mistress had been taken away by the young mistress, she just thought it was a coincidence and didn't think much of it.

Did something else happen next?

Thinking it over, Xiao Ding hurriedly questioned her daughter with her eyes—you won't do anything, will you?

Zheng Ruier lowered her head sharply, as if she wanted to bury her face directly into her chest.

Xiao Ding's mind went blank for a moment, and she almost fainted on the spot. She quickly turned her gaze to Ding and said with her eyes, "My sister doesn't know anything about this. It's all a misunderstanding! You watched Rui'er grow up. You know her. She doesn't have any bad intentions!"

Ms. Ding awkwardly turned her face away, avoiding eye contact with her younger sister.

Now... it's not a matter of whether she helps her younger sister or not. Ever since she married into the Anning Marquis's household, she has helped her younger brother and sister quite a bit.

Marriages among the powerful and wealthy are based on matching social status, and even after marrying a principal wife, one should rely on the influence of her family. But what about her? Not only could her family not help the Marquis's mansion in the slightest, but they also constantly dragged it down.

Now look what's happened, they've actually set their sights on the crown prince.

Forget about whether she forgave her family; the one who was angrier was Ding! After all, it was her own son who was framed!

Vice Minister Jiang and his wife cast questioning glances at Jiang Yinjin—what exactly happened? How did you end up at the scholar's residence? Was it a coincidence?

Jiang Yinjin's face was slightly pale, but her expression remained unchanged—she didn't know if the princess had any evidence, but if she didn't, what could the princess do to her?

Princess Ruian put down her teacup and continued, "Jiang brought Zheng Ruier to Yuelai Residence. What the two plotted is unknown. All we know is that a handkerchief was soon anonymously delivered to the gatehouse of the Xuanping Marquis's residence."

Huo Rang accepted the handkerchief and paid hush money. Even so, his wife, Zhou, found out about it the next day. She led a search party to the study and found the handkerchief. She then took the handkerchief to the Marquis of Anning's residence to question him, insisting that the handkerchief belonged to Shen Mianmian. Fortunately, Shen Mianmian produced an unmarked handkerchief to prove her innocence.

The matter of the handkerchief is temporarily put to rest. Just a few days later, Huo Rang also bought a "skinny horse" (a euphemism for a woman who is considered beautiful but lacks refinement). According to the owner of Yaotaifang, the person who came to buy the "skinny horse" specifically said that he wanted one who resembled Chen Mianmian in every way—that is, the "skinny horse" Liu Xiangning.

To imitate Shen Mianmian, Liu Xiangning slapped Shen Mianmian at the banquet hosted by the wife of the Minister of Rites. When I heard about this, I found it amusing to see the two slender women fighting, so I also held a Lotus Banquet, wanting them to fight again for me to see.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xiangning had poison hidden under her fingernails and was forced to scratch Shen Mianmian's face, disfiguring her. When the attempt failed, Zhou sold Liu Xiangning to a brothel.

"Have all the parties involved heard clearly? Where is the information I received inaccurate? Point it out if there are any problems; otherwise, I will begin my investigation."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Solving a case? What exactly is Princess Ryan planning to do?

For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar.

Marquis Xuanping and his wife glared angrily at Huo Rang and Lady Zhou.

Huo Rang said in a low, harsh voice, "You actually let Liu Xiangning harm people? And you even sold Liu Xiangning to a brothel? Didn't you say you'd let her go home?"

Zhou's face was deathly pale, her head bowed, unsure how to defend herself...