"oh?"

Qu Jingyun's words were full of mockery: "Madam Zhang, Miss Zhang has disappeared without a trace, and this maid is acting suspiciously. Could there really be some unspeakable secret involved?"

“Stop talking nonsense, that’s absolutely not true!” Madam Zhang immediately retorted.

“Mother, I saw this sister when my sister-in-law and I went to pick flowers just now.” Shen Yue’s voice rang out again.

Upon hearing this, Qu Jingyun immediately looked at Shen Yue.

"Does Yue'er recognize her?"

Shen Yue immediately nodded, "She is Miss Zhang's maid. Miss Zhang bullied me before, saying that I was a pitiful wretch that no one wanted and that I would have to marry an old beggar in this life."

"oh?"

Qu Jingyun smiled again, her lips curving upwards.

She looked at Madam Zhang meaningfully.

"Is this how you mistreat my daughter when I'm not around?"

Madam Zhang quickly avoided Qu Jingyun's gaze, forcing a dry laugh: "It's just children playing around."

"No, that's not it. Let's go ask Sister Zhang. She'll definitely tell the truth," Shen Yue muttered.

Everyone's attention returned to Zhang Chaochao.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Qu Jingyun's eyes, and then she smiled at Madam Zhang and said, "Madam Zhang, please."

Madam Zhang looked around but couldn't find Zhang Hu.

Seeing this, Madam Zhang became even more flustered.

With all the young ladies here, it's obvious who's been mingling with the Fifth Prince.

Madam Zhang took a deep breath. "My daughter said she wasn't feeling well earlier. I think she probably went to find a secluded place to rest."

"Madam Zhang, now that Miss Zhang's reputation is at stake, in my humble opinion it would be better to ask Miss Zhang to come out and clarify things," Qu Jingyun said again.

Her beautiful eyes were fixed on Madam Zhang, clearly determined not to give up until she achieved her goal.

Then Mrs. Zhang glanced at the others.

Most of them are just here to laugh at us.

Most of us are gathered here today just to see a joke.

Seeing that Madam Zhang hadn't spoken for a long time, Qu Jingyun gave Yin Xue a wink.

Yin Xue stepped forward.

She smiled and curtsied to Madam Zhang, "Madam, this concerns the Fifth Prince after all. Moreover, several nannies from my family have come with me today. They used to work in the palace and are now teaching Yue'er manners. If we act coy here, I'm worried that this matter will reach the palace."

Mentioning that person in the palace made Madam Zhang's expression turn even more unpleasant.

After Yin Xue finished speaking, several nannies stood up together.

Cold sweat began to appear on Mrs. Zhang's forehead.

Seeing that Madam Zhang was very frightened, Qu Jingyun reminded her again, "Madam, you should think this through carefully."

Mrs. Zhang took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said, "Let's go."

Having said that, she had no choice but to have her maid lead the way.

Before long, the group arrived outside the side room.

After a few heavy breathing sounds, the noise inside the house stopped.

"It seems that it really is the Fifth Prince inside. I wonder who is playing around with him inside?" Qu Jingyun asked with a smile.

Madam Zhang glared fiercely at Qu Jingyun.

His eyes looked like he wanted to devour her whole.

But Qu Jingyun had a smile on her face.

"Madam Zhang, this is your residence after all, and it is really inconvenient for us to go in. We will have to trouble you, Madam Zhang."

Mrs. Zhang took a deep breath and opened the door.

"ah!"

A piercing scream came from inside the house.

Then came the Fifth Prince's furious voice: "Li, do you have a death wish?"

When Mrs. Zhang saw the two people on the bed, she instinctively stepped back and tried to close the door.

But Qu Jingyun stepped forward, pressed the door shut, and forced it open.

Seeing the Fifth Prince's angry face inside, and Zhang Chaochao hiding behind him with a blanket, a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

Seeing that she was still looking at him, the Fifth Prince angrily glared back.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you look at the Fifth Prince like that?"

Seeing his continued arrogance, Qu Jingyun chuckled and said, "This humble woman is a member of General Shen's household."

The Fifth Prince scoffed again, "I wondered who it was, but it's just that infatuated woman's mother. I heard you died five years ago, so why are you back?"

Shen Yue pushed Qu Jingyun aside and ran in.

She glared angrily at the Fifth Prince, her eyes red-rimmed.

"You're not allowed to talk about my mother like that!"

The Fifth Prince frowned.

He didn't bother to put on clothes, just threw on a robe and walked up to Shen Yue.

He raised his hand to lift Shen Yue's chin, but Shen Yue dodged it.

His clear eyes even revealed disgust.

Upon seeing this, the Fifth Prince frowned.

He hardened his face. "Chen Yue, you're always the one fawning over me, why the change today?"

"All of that was a misunderstanding. I wasn't trying to please you. It was Sister Zhang who said you were pitiful and wanted me to be your friend. Also, my cousin said you liked me, which is why I chose to get close to you," Shen Yue said seriously.

*Pfft*

The fifth prince was amused.

"You idiot, do you think you're worthy of my affection?"

"So you two have grown tired of each other?" Qu Jingyun asked.

Upon hearing Qu Jingyun's voice, the Fifth Prince immediately became alert.

He suppressed his smile and looked at Qu Jingyun warily.

A moment later, he chuckled softly again.

He glanced at Chen Yue and said, "I have absolutely no interest in your little girl. I just hope she won't bother me anymore."

Qu Jingyun looked down at Chen Yue.

She placed her hand on Shen Yue's shoulder. "Yue'er, when did you start bothering this Fifth Prince?"

"No." Shen Yue shook her head.

She hugged Qu Jingyun's arm: "Before, every time I went out, it was Sister Zhang and my cousin who took me. Yue'er didn't go out randomly."

"Yue'er is such a good girl. Let your sister-in-law take you out first. I'll leave things here with you." Qu Jingyun said with a satisfied smile.

Fortunately, she had Yin Xue brainwash Shen Yue every day for the past few days, and it seems to be starting to work.

The Fifth Prince frowned in displeasure when he noticed that Shen Yue no longer saw him.

However, he soon turned his attention to Qu Jingyun.

A woman who even his father, the emperor, fears is certainly not someone an ordinary person can afford to mess with.

Qu Jingyun ignored the Fifth Prince and looked at Zhang Chaochao.

“Miss Zhang, you have a very good relationship with the Fifth Prince, yet you want to take my Yue’er to see him. You are ruining my Yue’er’s reputation to cover for yourselves. Miss Zhang, isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

Qu Jingyun's preconceived notions led everyone to automatically empathize with Shen Yue as the victim.

After speaking, Qu Jingyun looked at Madam Zhang again.

"Madam Zhang, I need an explanation. Is it because your family wants to protect its reputation that you're taking advantage of the fact that I, Yue'er, have no parents and no one to back me up?"

"I……"

Mrs. Zhang wiped the sweat from her forehead, still unsure how to answer.

Then Qu Jingyun said to the Fifth Prince, "A grown man of seven feet tall has framed an innocent and naive woman. Fifth Prince, do you have any conscience at all? Why don't we go to the palace today and have a good talk with the Empress?"

"No." Upon hearing that he was going to find the Empress, the Fifth Prince immediately cowered and asked impatiently, "What do you want to do?"