Princess Jiayuan, dressed in a magnificent purple and gold brocade robe, pouted and trotted in. "Royal brother, these lackeys are becoming more and more unruly. They actually lied to me, saying that you weren't in the Imperial Study, that you weren't with Consort Song, and that you weren't in the Imperial Study either. Where else could you be?"

As she spoke, she saw the woman standing next to Jiang Wang. Her features were exquisite, and her figure was slender and graceful. She was indeed a rare beauty, no wonder she could make Song Jingxi suffer.

The two women following behind Princess Jiayuan were also taken aback. The one wearing a sky-blue dress with intertwined floral patterns was Shen Mingshu, who had just entered the palace, while the one wearing a light pink dress that was not very eye-catching was Shen Mingxi.

Both of them seemed quite surprised.

Just now, they were accompanying Princess Jiayuan in the Imperial Garden to select flowers to be sent to the princess's residence when a little palace maid suddenly ran over and whispered something. Princess Jiayuan immediately came to the Imperial Study.

It's unclear what happened to make Princess Jiayuan so anxious.

"How come you..." Shen Mingshu was about to ask Shen Mingzhuang what was going on here when Shen Ming'e pinched her hard, stopping her from speaking. Princess Jiayuan heard this and remembered something, turning to look at Shen Ming'e and saying, "How could I forget? The three of you are sisters."

She chuckled twice, then exclaimed in realization, "No wonder I didn't remember! Do all the girls in your family have the same father? Your ninth daughter is truly... beautiful and graceful!"

"Your Highness is too kind," Shen Mingxi said softly, then lowered her head.

Shen Mingzhuang also understood that Princess Jiayuan was after her. Her words implied that she was referring to her appearance, which showed that she had heard something.

However, she wouldn't say another word unless Jiang Wang spoke.

"If I had known you had such a beauty in your family, I should have summoned her to the palace sooner so that the Empress Dowager could have seen her. You all know that the Empress Dowager loves to look at beautiful women. Beauty is pleasing to the eye!"

"presumptuous."

A detached voice rang out, and Princess Jiayuan was taken aback. Only then did she notice that her brother's face had darkened. She frowned, her voice still toned down, and said in a coquettish tone, "Brother, you wouldn't reprimand me just to protect a female official named Fengmo, would you?"

Hearing this, Hou Linghai couldn't help but feel worried for Princess Jiayuan. Why did this princess have to come to the Imperial Study and stab His Majesty in the heart? Wasn't she just asking for trouble?

"Princess Jiayuan, for your insubordination, you are hereby confined..."

Jiang Wang's face was cold. Before she could finish speaking about punishment, Shen Mingzhuang's heart tightened. If Jiang Wang really punished Princess Jiayuan today, then she would truly break ties with Empress Dowager Yin. The court was in dire straits, and if Jiang Wang lost the best situation because of her, she would be guilty.

"Your Majesty, your porridge should be warm enough. I'll go and fetch it for you." She turned to Jiang Wang and said, interrupting his unfinished words.

The atmosphere in the hall had almost reached freezing point. At this moment, Shen Mingzhuang's words broke the frozen atmosphere. Princess Jiayuan also realized that her brother, who always indulged her, really intended to punish her. For a moment, her face froze, and she opened her mouth but did not say anything.

"The kitchen has prepared some sweet porridge. Would Your Highness like some?"

Hou Linghai cleverly stepped forward to inquire of Princess Jiayuan, skillfully defusing the awkward atmosphere in the hall. Princess Jiayuan wasn't stupid either; she knew the pain of kicking a cold stone! At this moment, she had no mood for competition. She coldly said that it was unnecessary, and hastily bowed to Jiang Wang: "Your Majesty, please continue with your work. I will return now."

Jiang Wang ignored her until she left the study.

Shen Mingzhuang brought over some sweet porridge. Jiang Wang was the only one in the study. He had a headache and rested his head on the back of the dragon-head chair, lost in thought.