Seeing her mother being bullied, Gu Jinxi, who was standing beside her, immediately frowned.

Gu Jingchun was afraid that he might lash out because he didn't know the gravity of the situation, so he quickly pressed down on his shoulders and gently soothed him.

Gu Jinxi was always obedient, and seeing this, she also calmed down.

Princess Rongyang smiled with satisfaction when she saw that Gu Jingchun obediently knelt down and performed a grand salute.

"These country girls are just different; their bones are so soft."

Princess Rongyang's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

"Look at how she kneels, isn't it exceptionally beautiful?"

After she finished speaking, the women beside her also laughed.

Gu Jingchun looked up, his gaze sweeping over the women, recognizing some of them as those who used to follow Gu Yunjin around.

They must have been quite hostile towards her.

As for Princess Rongyang, she didn't know much, only that she was Shen Hechuan's younger sister.

Both Emperor Rongcheng and the Empress doted on her.

She can be described as being showered with love and affection.

This fostered her lawless and unruly nature.

After Princess Rongyang finished laughing, she carefully examined Gu Jingchun and scoffed dismissively.

"She's not even that good-looking, so why did Father Emperor marry her off to Brother Ziqian?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingchun suddenly realized what was going on.

Turns out she was a love rival.

She couldn't help but secretly sized up Princess Rongyang.

Princess Rongyang glared at the way she looked at her.

"How dare you look at me!"

Gu Jingchun: "The princess is so beautiful and lovely that I was momentarily stunned. I did not mean to offend her."

I was actually curious as to why a princess like her, who was showered with love and affection, would fall for a playboy like Luo Ziqian.

After all, Luo Ziqian's reputation in Tiandu was not good.

All the noble ladies in the city avoided him like the plague.

"You... Hmph..."

Princess Rongyang was momentarily speechless at Gu Jingchun's words, and finally turned her head away disdainfully.

But her slightly reddened ears betrayed her true thoughts.

She's still a young girl; she likes praise and compliments.

Now that Gu Jingchun had praised her, she felt embarrassed to scold her anymore.

The women beside her, fearing that Princess Rongyang would be fooled, quickly urged, "Your Highness, don't be charmed by her sweet words."

A woman like her, who's not exactly refined enough, is a master at sweet-talking. Presumably, that young master Luo was also won over by her charms.

Upon hearing this, Princess Rongyang's face immediately scrunched up.

"Stop your sweet talk. You're a widow with a child. What right do you have to marry Brother Ziqian? You're just a disgrace to him."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingchun retorted neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Highness, my marriage to Young Master Luo was personally bestowed by His Majesty. Are you now questioning His Majesty's decision?"

In one sentence, he successfully made the little princess blush.

"You're talking nonsense, I'm clearly talking about you."

"But this marriage was bestowed by His Majesty. By speaking of my daughter's marriage, aren't you questioning His Majesty?"

Gu Jingchun hadn't expected that this little princess would be so naive and ignorant of the ways of the world.

Growing up in that ruthless palace, she still has such a pure and innocent nature; she must have been very well protected.

It was at this moment that Luo Ziqian rushed over.

Seeing Gu Jingchun kneeling on the ground, he disregarded everything and immediately knelt down beside her.

"Your Highness, what crime has Miss Gu committed?"

"I am willing to bear the consequences as well; please, Your Highness, do not make things difficult for her!"

Princess Rongyang had secretly run away from the palace today. When she saw Luo Ziqian, she was initially delighted, but after hearing what he said, she immediately became unhappy and put on a stern face.

"Brother Ziqian is really protective of her now."

"She is my fiancée, and it is only natural for me to protect her."

After Luo Ziqian finished speaking, Princess Rongyang's expression worsened.

"What if I refuse to listen and insist on punishing her severely?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a chilling voice rang out.

"Rongyang".

The two simple words made Princess Rongyang tremble.

She paused for a moment before slowly turning around.

When she saw the man in brocade robes behind her, her smile immediately vanished.

"elder brother……"

"What a coincidence, you're here to admire the flowers too!"

Shen Hechuan smiled faintly.

"Unfortunately, how could we possibly witness our Princess Rongyang showing off her power?"

"Tell me, how would the Empress Dowager punish you if she found out you secretly ran away from the palace?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Rongyang's face scrunched up even more.

"Brother, please just pretend you didn't see it, okay?"

Shen Hechuan glanced in Gu Jingchun's direction.

"How could we not see the people kneeling all over the ground?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Rongyang quickly gestured for Gu Jingchun, Luo Ziqian, and the others to rise.

After the others stood up, she looked at Shen Hechuan again with a fawning expression.

But Shen Hechuan's gaze fell coldly on the women beside her.

"Is it okay!"

"I just felt too bored in the palace and wanted to come out and have some fun! Besides, I have them with me."

After Princess Rongyang finished speaking, Shen Hechuan looked at the women beside her.

"Someone, write down the names of these women who are stirring up trouble and distorting the truth."

"They instigated Princess Rongyang to leave the palace without permission and encouraged her to commit murder."

"Send them all back to the manor and discipline them strictly. They are not allowed to leave the house for a year. If they fail to be disciplined, they will be sent to the imperial prison next time, where I will personally teach them a lesson."

After Shen Hechuan finished speaking, the women immediately knelt down.

They all begged for mercy or admitted their mistakes.

Princess Rongyang wanted to plead for him, but when she met Shen Hechuan's cold eyes, she immediately held back.

"Heavenly secrets".

Shen Hechuan continued to give instructions.

"Send the princess back to the palace and remind the Empress Dowager that Rongyang was unable to distinguish right from wrong outside and was nearly caused a disaster by being instigated by treacherous people. She should be instructed to discipline her strictly."

"From now on, you must not leave the palace again without my permission."

Upon hearing this, the little princess was almost in tears.

She tried to rush over and beg for mercy, but Shen Hechuan didn't give her the chance and immediately ordered his men to take her away.

After the group left.

Only Gu Jingchun, Luo Ziqian, Shen Hechuan, and Gu Jinxi remained.

Luo Ziqian asked Gu Jingchun.

How are you?

"Has Rongyang done anything to make things difficult for you?"

Gu Jingchun shook his head.

"No, thank goodness you arrived in time."

She looked at Luo Ziqian, her voice gentle, her eyes filled with concern and gratitude.

Just as she was about to look at Luo Ziqian, she heard Shen Hechuan cough.

Gu Jingchun paused for a moment, but Luo Ziqian suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Jingchun, it's getting late. Let me take you over there!"

There's a huge peach orchard over there; it's absolutely beautiful.

“But…” Gu Jingchun looked at Gu Jinxi.

Gu Jinxi, being the clever little devil she was, immediately grabbed Shen Hechuan's hand upon seeing this.