Song Zhiyu didn't say anything more, but just quietly looked at the broken string and scorched tail on the table, feeling a little sorry.

Meanwhile, the musicians who had been playing string and wind instruments at the banquet had quietly left, leaving the guests looking at each other in bewilderment.

Since the Empress Dowager had not expressed her opinion, they dared not speak rashly. They could only whisper to each other in the tense atmosphere.

"What do you think the Empress Dowager is thinking? Is this matter still being investigated?"

"I feel quite sorry for Miss Shen looking like this. What if someone really framed her? Wouldn't she have suffered an injustice for no reason?"

When Shen Jinshu is mentioned, many people sigh and shake their heads, their gazes towards her inevitably carrying a hint of sympathy and regret.

Shen Jinshu was renowned for her beauty and was loved by countless elders since childhood, growing up being praised by everyone.

Her kind and gentle image is deeply loved by people. Many scions of noble families admire her and regard her as the moon in their hearts, silently watching over her.

They refused to believe she was the kind of woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and they were even more unwilling to believe they had misjudged her.

Song Zhiyu found these comments amusing, but upon further reflection, she realized they were quite normal.

After all, in her past life, she was deceived by Shen Jinshu's deliberately crafted image of generosity and kindness, and was even repeatedly schemed against by her.

Even the Shen family, who had lived with Shen Jinshu for over a decade, couldn't see through her true colors, let alone these people.

But the more thoroughly these people are deceived, the more fiercely they will retaliate when they discover Shen Jinshu's true colors.

Whether the Shen family members are blind or simply stupid is no longer her concern.

*

On the other side, Shen Jinshu lowered her head, her graceful swan neck slightly bent, making it impossible to see the expression on her face.

But only Shen Jinshu herself knew that she was far from being as calm as she appeared on the surface. The restless pounding of her heart kept echoing in her ears, making her face turn pale.

She is always cautious in her actions, and when she made up her mind to take this step, she prepared a way out.

Song Zhiyu thought that this would get rid of her, but he was sorely mistaken.

But after this ordeal, she will undoubtedly be severely weakened.

She remembered this humiliation.

In the future, Song Zhiyu will be made to repay the debt a hundredfold.

Shen Jinshu gently raised her chin, her reddened eyes looking pitifully at Shen Yanxi. She was clearly very aggrieved, but she still forced a slight smile at him.

She knew exactly what kind of behavior would make Shen Yanxi feel the most sorry for her.

Sure enough, seeing her pitiful appearance, the last trace of doubt in Shen Yanxi's heart completely disappeared, and he even reflected on his own behavior of blindly believing Song Zhiyu's words.

Doesn't he know what kind of person Shu'er is?

Shen Yanxi was filled with remorse. He glared at Song Zhiyu and forced himself to break the silence.

"Your Majesty, Yanxi is willing to vouch for Shu'er. She is of pure and kind nature and would never do such a deceitful thing."

Someone must be jealous of Shu'er's talent and the fact that she has gained your favor, and is deliberately framing her.

After saying that, he glared at Song Zhiyu again, feeling inevitably disappointed.

As fellow members of the Marquis of Chengen's household, Song Zhiyu also suffered when Shu'er got into trouble.

But she couldn't understand such a simple truth at all.

Song Zhiyu noticed Shen Yanxi's gaze and saw the undisguised anger and disappointment in his eyes, which she found utterly inexplicable.

She didn't tolerate him and glared back without any politeness.

"I wonder how much Mr. Shen's guarantee is worth. Who in the capital doesn't know that Mr. Shen loves his sister more than his own life? Is your guarantee credible?"

Song Zhiyu chuckled, as if she were an outsider, her expression remaining unchanged even when she uttered the words "loves her sister like her own life".

Shen Yanxi, on the other hand, suddenly blushed and couldn't utter a word for a long time under the disdainful gazes of the crowd.

Shen Jinshu gently shook her head. "Fourth Brother, if this is what Second Sister wants to see, then I will grant her wish."

She wore a smile, but a boundless chill rose in her heart.

Since we can't avoid it, let's investigate.

She wanted to see what Song Zhiyu could find out.

As soon as Shen Jinshu finished speaking, Prince Li, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up, "Grandmother, I also think that Miss Song's method is inappropriate. If an innocent person is wronged, I'm afraid Miss Song will not be able to bear the responsibility."

Song Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, as if she could faintly detect a threat in Li Wang's words.

It seems that Shen Jinshu is still useful to Prince Li, otherwise, how could someone as good at weighing pros and cons as him have gotten involved in this mess?

"No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself. How can we know who is innocent if we don't investigate?" Song Zhiyu said with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the threat in the King of Li's words.

The Crown Prince followed closely behind, his calm and composed expression revealing neither joy nor anger. He seemed to be saying casually, "I think Miss Song's method is the most suitable."

Zhou Xingzhi's support clearly indicated that, apart from the emperor, there was no one or nothing that he couldn't afford to do.

"His Highness the Crown Prince treats Miss Song quite differently, protecting her like the plague." Prince Li smirked, his probing gaze lingering between the two of them.

Zhou Xingzhi's handsome face, as if sculpted by a knife, held a faint, refined smile, while his deep, dark eyes gleamed with a chilling coldness. "Miss Song is my savior, so naturally I care about her and will not allow anyone to harm her."

If any fools dare to lay a hand on my people, I will show no mercy.

These words are a concrete declaration of sovereignty.

Everyone present couldn't help but shudder; no one thought Zhou Xingzhi was joking.

At this moment, their gazes towards Song Zhiyu were tinged with fear.

Li Wang was stunned for a moment, and after his thoughts returned, his face turned slightly pale and embarrassed.

When he met Zhou Xingzhi's eyes, his heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he felt as if Zhou Xingzhi had seen through all the dark thoughts in his heart, leaving him nowhere to hide.

The Empress Dowager frowned, somewhat displeased with the confrontational manner between the Crown Prince and Prince Li, and her tone became impatient as she said, "Enough, let's do it the way Miss Song suggested."

"Yes," Song Zhiyu replied softly.

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, she slowly walked to the broken-stringed Jiaowei Qin (a type of zither), her fair and slender fingers lightly lifted, and in no time, melodious music began to play.

"What is she doing?" The onlookers were puzzled. Weren't they supposed to be investigating who poisoned her? Why is she playing the piano now?

As soon as the man finished speaking, his friend excitedly grabbed his sleeve.

"Look!"

Looking up, one can see hundreds of colorful birds flying towards the hall, a truly magnificent sight.

They all thought the birds would fly towards the scorched-tail harp, but what happened next almost made their jaws drop.