She suddenly leaned close to Shen Ruorou's ear and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Cousin, are you still trying to say that you colluded with the pawnbroker to enrich yourself because you were afraid that I would 'learn bad things'? You instigated my aunt to marry me to the lame Li Xiu, because you were afraid that I would 'learn bad things'?"

"I didn't!" Shen Ruorou screamed and stepped back, the back of her head hitting the pillar heavily, making a dull "dong" sound, "That was all forced by my aunt! It has nothing to do with me!"

"Oh? It has nothing to do with you?" Shen Weiwan raised her eyebrows and turned to look at the third elder, a sly look flashing in her eyes. "Elder, since my cousin said that it was all arranged by my aunt, why don't we send someone to the Jiaofangsi and invite my aunt to confront her face to face?"

"How dare you!" The Third Elder slammed the table, causing the tea in the cup to spill out, leaving a dark stain on the tablecloth. Liu had just been sold into slavery, and if she were dragged into this, the General's Mansion would be utterly disgraced.

"Enough!" The Third Elder's voice trembled with anger. "Chen Ruorou, you have been relentless and vicious, yet you still dare to quibble and shift the blame! Someone—" He paused, as if he had exhausted all his strength. "Drag her away, give her twenty lashes of the cane, and increase her house arrest! Without my order, no one is allowed to bring her a grain of rice or a drop of water!"

Two burly maids immediately stepped forward and lifted up the limp Shen Ruorou like a dead dog. She was still crying out "injustice", but the maids covered her mouth fiercely, so she could only make a whimpering sound.

"Cousin, take care," Shen Weiwan leaned back against the corridor column, picked up the melon handkerchief on the ground, and said in a clear voice like a silver bell, "Next time you think about 'being afraid that I will learn bad things', remember to clean up the dog hair in your box first!"

As Shen Ruorou was dragged out of the Moon Gate, she heard a roar of laughter behind her. She turned back with great effort, only to see Shen Weiwan covering her mouth with a handkerchief, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried to suppress her laughter. The sunlight fell on the silver hairpin in her hair, reflecting a tiny light that resembled the cunning light in her eyes.

Watching Shen Ruorou disappear behind the moon-shaped door, the smile on Shen Weiwan's face gradually faded. Chuntao quickly handed over a clean handkerchief and asked in a low voice: "Miss, how do you know that she will put the blame on her aunt?"

"What else can this kind of person do besides moral kidnapping and shirking responsibility?" Shen Weiwan wiped her hands, a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth, "But she forgot that in the face of absolute evidence, no matter how beautiful the excuse is, it is just a joke."

"Miss Shen's tactic of 'using his own spear to attack his own shield' is truly brilliant."

Shen Weiwan turned around and saw the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, standing behind the Moon Gate. The sleeves of his moon-white gown were blown by the draft, and he waved his folding fan gently, his eyes full of smiles. He walked slowly closer, the tip of his shoe kicking the melon peel on the ground, making a soft "snap" sound.

"She's far inferior to His Highness." Shen Weiwan glanced at him, bent down to pick up the melon peel and threw it into the bamboo basket beside her. "It's just that I feel so sorry for her, so I gave her a chance to perform."

Xiao Yu stopped in front of her and gently tapped her forehead with his folding fan. "I think Second Miss Shen's performance was quite brilliant." He lowered his voice, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "Especially that line 'I'm afraid my sister will learn bad things'. It almost made me vomit my breakfast."

Shen Weiwan couldn't help laughing, but quickly put on a serious face: "If Your Highness likes it, can you let her give you a special lesson next time?"

"That's not necessary," Xiao Yu put away his folding fan, his fingertips brushing the back of her hand inadvertently, "I don't want to be called someone who 'enjoys listening to green tea chanting'."

As they were talking, Butler Liu rushed in, his forehead covered in sweat. "Miss, this is bad! People are saying you let the dog bite the second young lady and forced her to take the blame for you!"

Shen Weiwan was unhurried upon hearing this, but instead smiled. She turned to look at Xiao Yu, her eyes glittering with cunning, like a fox that had stolen something fishy: "Your Highness, it seems we need to speed up our 'public opinion campaign' plan."

Xiao Yu looked into her sparkling eyes and nodded, his eyes full of admiration: "This prince is waiting to see your amazing operation."

The sun gradually set, stretching their shadows far longer. Shen Weiwan stared in the direction Shen Ruorou was being dragged away, a cold smile curling her lips. Shen Ruorou, Shen Ruorou, you thought a few green tea quotes could turn the tide? You're wrong. When the mask of "for your own good" is ripped apart, only an even uglier human heart is revealed. And Shen Ruorou, lying on the cold ground, had no idea that this was just a small step in her plan. The real storm was just beginning to brew.

A gust of wind blew by, stirring up fallen leaves and ruffling the strands of hair across Shen Weiwan's forehead. She tucked her hair behind her ear, her fingertips touching the pearl studs on her earlobes—they were specially put on this morning, each pearl engraved with a tiny "Wan" character. Xiao Yu watched her movements and suddenly felt that this quirky woman always managed to surprise him without realizing it.

"Let's go," Xiao Yu took the lead. "This prince invites you to Zuixianlou for some chilled lotus seed soup, and by the way, listen to what part of the 'new story' in the capital has been told."

Shen Weiwan raised an eyebrow and followed, her skirt sweeping across the bluestone, making a rustling sound: "What story does Your Highness want to hear? Do you want to hear 'The legitimate daughter outsmarts the green tea cousin', or 'The prince supports his beloved'?"

Xiao Yu turned his head to look at her, his smile deepening. "This prince wants to hear..." He paused deliberately, then spoke slowly under her expectant gaze, "I want to hear how Miss Shen can make this play more exciting."

Their conversation faded, leaving only the sunlight filling the courtyard and the faint sweet aroma of melon in the corner. Meanwhile, in the secluded woodshed of the General's Mansion, Shen Ruorou huddled on a pile of straw, feeling the sharp pain in her back, her ears ringing with Shen Weiwan's words: "Next time you're worried I'll learn bad things, wash your hands first." She knew that everything she had carefully constructed was crumbling, bit by bit. What she didn't know was that Shen Weiwan's next move had already quietly landed.