When the Imperial Censor's wife, who had rushed over, saw this scene, she almost lost her footing. She knew that this concubine's daughter was ambitious, but she never expected her to do something so outrageous.

Song Xia hesitated and discussed with her, "Although this matter concerns the two of them, it almost made the Prince Huai's mansion a laughing stock. The best solution now is to arrange an engagement between them. What do you think, Madam Wu?"

Madam Wu nodded quickly. If this girl doesn't get married soon, she'll ruin their family's reputation sooner or later.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for accepting this ill-mannered girl."

"It's also because our young master is ignorant. Since they are in love, why didn't he tell the family sooner?"

Madam Wu nodded knowingly: "Perhaps they are afraid that we will not agree, but are we such unreasonable people? Besides, their family backgrounds and character are very well matched."

"Then tomorrow our Zhou family will send someone to propose marriage."

"Princess, rest assured, we will be waiting for you at home."

"No..." Zhou Ying struggled to say, but was stopped by the princess's gaze.

Zhou Ying held back the rest of her words, and her expression suggested she was about to cry.

"Help Consort Zhou back to rest and summon the imperial physician. Don't harm the fetus." The princess looked at Zhou Ying with cold eyes. A chill ran down Zhou Ying's spine. She knew she was being warned and that because of her brother's matter, the princess was now suspicious of her. So she didn't dare to make any unnecessary movements, didn't dare to say anything, and certainly didn't dare to harm the fetus.

But she really couldn't understand how Song Baoning had become the illegitimate daughter of Imperial Censor Wu.

Could it be Song Xia and the wife of the Prince of Cheng? But how did they know about my plan? And how did they get the people in the Prince's mansion to cooperate? And what about that illegitimate daughter of the Wu family? How did she appear so coincidentally? No matter how capable Song Xia and the others are, they shouldn't be able to interfere in the Prince's mansion.

Is it the princess? But why would the princess do this? If today's banquet is ruined, isn't she afraid of incurring the prince's wrath?

Zhou Ying couldn't figure out how the people had been switched. She was stunned and indignant, wondering if her brother was really going to marry that illegitimate daughter of the Wu family.

How could a mere illegitimate daughter of an imperial censor be worthy of her brother? And how did she even get into this courtyard? Could it be that she also harbors restless intentions?

Her family background and character are both terrible; she's going to ruin my brother!

Zhou Ying fainted in a fit of anger, but no one cared about her feelings at the moment. Even after hearing the news, Prince Huai resented Zhou Shuqing for being too dissolute and rude, actually meeting a woman in his Prince Huai's residence. If his father found out, he might be accused of failing to manage the household properly.

So when Zhou Ying woke up and asked to see him, Prince Huai ignored her.

Zhou Ying was in despair. Was there really no way to salvage her brother's marriage?

On the other side, Song Xia took Zhou Shuqing back with her, and happened to run into Zhou Yongli, who was returning from his shift.

Upon seeing his favorite son being tied up by servants, Zhou Yongli immediately exploded: "Song Xia, no matter how much you dislike Shu Ge'er, you shouldn't have ordered your servants to humiliate him like this."

Song Xia sneered: "Young master, don't you want to ask him what shameful things he did today? Why would I, the county princess, tie him up for no reason? I didn't order him to be tied up; he was tied up at the Prince Huai's residence."

Upon hearing that he had been tied up at the Prince Huai's residence, Zhou Yongli was shocked: "What did you say? What happened?"

He looked anxiously at Zhou Shuqing, who just kept shaking her head.

"Quickly untie Brother Shu, there must be some misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding? He was caught by the Princess Consort having an affair with the illegitimate daughter of Imperial Censor Wu. Could it be that the Princess Consort deliberately framed him?"

"No, Father, that's not how it is. I didn't mean to humiliate Miss Wu."

Zhou Yongli was so shocked that he couldn't speak. Song Xia's words were extremely damaging. He couldn't understand how such a big thing could happen just from attending a banquet at the Prince Huai's residence.

"Father, please believe me." Zhou Shuqing couldn't explain himself at all; he simply didn't understand how the Wu family's illegitimate daughter had suddenly appeared.

"The person she's looking for isn't me..."

"If it wasn't you, then who was it? The old lady saw you two embracing each other with her own eyes." Song Xia looked at him coldly. "If it weren't for the Princess Consort's timely suppression of the news, our Zhou family would have been completely disgraced by you. If Prince Huai were to blame you, could you bear the responsibility? Wouldn't Consort Zhou also be implicated because of you?"

Zhou Shuqing was shocked. If he insisted that the Wu family's illegitimate daughter mistook him for Prince Huai, wouldn't that force Prince Huai to marry her?

What will King Huai think of me then? Will he also harbor resentment towards his sister?

Absolutely not. My sister has finally gained the Prince's trust and is pregnant with his child. We must not let this cause the Prince to blame us.

"The only way to stop the rumors now is for you to marry that Wu family girl. You should be happy, Shu-ge'er. From now on, you can be together openly and honestly, and you don't need to do any secret rendezvous."

As Zhou Shuqing listened to Song Xia's words, he couldn't stop feeling resentful. Was this meant to nail him to the pillar of shame, so that he could never get rid of this stain?

Zhou Yongli's face was extremely ugly: "You insist on marrying him? How can the illegitimate daughter of the Wu family be worthy of Shu-ge'er?"

"How are you not a good match? Shu-ge'er is a son of a concubine, and Miss Wu is a daughter of a concubine. You are the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Miss Wu's father is also a second-rank Imperial Censor. You are in love and your families are well-matched. Shu-ge'er, you have feelings for Miss Wu, you should have said so earlier, instead of making such a mess of things today."

Song Xia looked at the father and son with a mocking expression. It seemed that Zhou Yongli was unaware that Zhou Shuqing's target today was Bao Ning. Tsk, he was not worthy of her. Did Zhou Shuqing think he was worthy of Bao Ning?

Zhou Shuqing should have foreseen this outcome, given his despicable methods in trying to control Bao Ning and the Prince Cheng's mansion.

"We've already spoken with Madam Wu today, and we'll send a matchmaker to propose marriage tomorrow. If she doesn't marry us, will the Wu family's daughter have any way out? My lord, how will you face Imperial Censor Wu in court? When His Majesty finds out... Although the Princess Consort has ordered that no one be allowed to spread the word, the old lady of the Duke's mansion and a group of servants were also present at the time. Who can guarantee that not a single word will leak out?"

Zhou Yongli's face turned ashen, and he muttered to himself, "Someone must have plotted this..."

“Scheme? Who would scheme against a concubine’s son of a vice minister? If Shu-ge’er hadn’t gone to that courtyard himself, who could have schemed against him? Shu-ge’er, why don’t you tell me yourself, in such a large mansion, that place is quite a distance from the front courtyard for receiving guests, why did you go there?”

Zhou Shuqing couldn't refute it, because he knew that if he told the truth, it would only bring more intense retaliation from Song Xia and the Prince Cheng's Mansion.