"You're lying. I clearly saw this thing fall off you."

Chu Xiyue retorted directly, "Who knows what filthy thoughts you have in mind when you carry this sachet?"

Shen Yunjiao looked at Chu Xiyue's disdainful gaze and suddenly realized what was going on.

Chu Xiyue recognized herself.

Not only did she recognize him, but she also felt resentful and wanted to use such despicable means to frame him.

This line of thinking is truly bizarre. Shouldn't they be going to settle accounts with Xiao Huaijin?!

All the noble ladies present were whispering among themselves.

"I heard that Shen Yunjiao was just sent back to her parents' home by Prince Pei. This thing might be something she wore to try and win back Prince Pei."

“She shouldn’t wear this sachet every day; she’s truly shameless.”

"How could she, the daughter of a prime minister, be so shameless?"

"No wonder Prince Pei doesn't fancy her."

Sitting at the table below the Empress Dowager, Xiao Anle couldn't bear to listen to the gossip targeting Shen Yunjiao. She stood up, turned to face the Empress Dowager, and said, "Grandmother, I believe Yunjiao did not bring such a thing into the palace."

Empress Dowager Xiao pressed her temples and asked, "If she didn't bring that, how did it end up at her feet?"

"Grandmother, I saw with my own eyes that this sachet fell off Shen Yunjiao's body," Chu Xiyue said confidently.

Then she turned her head to look at Shen Yunjiao, a calculating glint in her eyes.

She was the Empress Dowager's most beloved granddaughter, the apple of her eye. How could Shen Yunjiao possibly compete with her?

"Grandmother, someone with such improper behavior should be taken away by the Imperial Housekeeper and properly disciplined," Chu Xiyue said with a sneer.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager's face was as gloomy as if a storm was about to break, Shen Yunjiao quickly bowed and said in a loud and earnest voice, "Please allow me to say a few words, Your Majesty."

Consort Shu lazily ate her snacks, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, let the Crown Princess explain. I always felt that the Crown Princess was not that kind of person."

Empress Xiao had been in the ancient temple for a long time and was most annoyed by such trivial and dirty matters. She said with some impatience, "Then tell me."

Shen Yunjiao straightened up, her usually cold voice now carrying a hint of seriousness. "Your Majesty, as I just said, this sachet is not on my person. Firstly, the sachet depicts intimate scenes between men and women. Even if I am crude, I know that one should not casually carry such items out of the bedroom. If someone were to pick it up or take it, wouldn't that ruin my reputation?"

"Secondly, the workmanship of this sachet is really rough, and the two figures painted on it are neither human nor ghost. Forgive me for speaking boldly, but if it were for my own use, I would definitely use the best fabric and have the most skilled embroiderer sew it for me. Why would I use such a substandard product?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Anle quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "That makes sense. Although Yun Jiao is not as good as our royal children, she has been pampered since childhood. The fabric of this sachet is already frayed, so it certainly wasn't used by her."

Shen Yunjiao smiled gratefully at Xiao Anle, then continued carefully, "Your Majesty, I have another treasonous remark. Even if this sachet fell at my feet, wouldn't the other girls sitting below be suspects? Since Miss Chu claims it's mine, is my name on it?"

"Is that so?" Empress Dowager Xiao lifted her eyelids slightly to look at Chu Xiyue.

Chu Xiyue stammered, "I didn't look closely just now."

"Since there isn't one, Miss Chu, you shouldn't pin this blame on me," Shen Yunjiao replied with a cold laugh.

The Empress Dowager squinted, seemingly noticing something amiss. Shen Yunjiao's answer was firm and straightforward, while Xiyue looked guilty.

It seems that her granddaughter deliberately caused trouble.

"Your Majesty, this matter, to put it bluntly, is just a little improper behavior; to put it mildly, it's just a small sachet that was found. It's nothing serious." After rising and bowing, Consort Shu slowly explained, "Since the Crown Princess has already explained, if this sachet doesn't belong to her, then it must belong to another girl, or perhaps some careless palace maid who forgot it. It's just a small sachet. Your Majesty is kind-hearted, so please don't pursue the matter."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

Why would Consort Shu come to her rescue? They must have met before.

Consort Shu smiled casually at her, and then the Empress Dowager sighed and replied, "Alright, let's pretend this never happened. Throw this filthy thing into the stove and burn it."

Consort Shu nodded in agreement before sitting down.

The Empress Dowager then called out the names of Shen Yunjiao and Chu Xiyue, saying, "Even if today's incident was a misunderstanding, you two must not harbor any resentment towards each other, especially you, Chu Xiyue, why don't you quickly apologize to the Crown Princess?"

Chu Xiyue pouted and said impatiently, "I'm sorry."

Shen Yunjiao quickly forced a smile and said it was nothing.

In his heart, however, he cursed Chu Xiyue inwardly.

When she returned to her seat, she looked as if she had run a marathon, her back was soaked with sweat.

Jiang Rong held her hand tightly, "Sister-in-law, you scared me to death just now. Luckily you can talk your way out of it. If it were me, I would have been scared to death."

Shen Yunjiao forced a smile at her, picked up the wine glass on the table, and drank it all in one gulp. Only then did her wildly beating heart calm down a little.

After this incident, the Empress Dowager lost interest in staying any longer and hastily ended the banquet after giving a few casual instructions.

Shen Yunjiao didn't want to stay any longer and followed everyone out of the hall.

Just then, a young palace maid rushed over and whispered in her ear, "Please wait, Princess Consort. His Highness the Crown Prince has something important to report."

Shen Yunjiao looked up in surprise and saw the little palace maid making a shushing gesture to her.

"What's wrong, sister-in-law?" Jiang Rong asked, turning around when she saw that Shen Yunjiao hadn't caught up yet.

“I remember, Father was also in the palace today. He told me to go and find him,” Shen Yunjiao said, blinking her eyes.

"In that case, I'll head home now. Sister-in-law, let's make plans to go out of town again in a few days," Jiang Rong said, waving her hand.

Shen Yunjiao nodded hurriedly, "Okay, then you go home first, and I'll come find you when I have time."

After watching Jiang Rong's figure slowly disappear at the end of the Imperial Garden, Shen Yunjiao turned to the little palace maid and asked, "What does His Highness the Crown Prince want with me? Has his headache flared up again?"

The palace maid was slightly taken aback, then quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness, please wait here for a moment while I go and fetch His Highness."

The palace maid left in a hurry, as if she were running away.

The more Shen Yunjiao thought about it, the more suspicious she became.

Given Xiao Huaijin's personality, he probably wouldn't leave himself waiting outside.

Shen Yunjiao frowned slightly, looking at the empty Imperial Garden at dusk, feeling somewhat uneasy.

A woman's intuition told her that waiting here didn't seem like a good idea. It would be better to go home as soon as possible.