But none of that matters. What matters is that if Ling'er and her servant really want to smear Yuheng and frame her, and if the Prince Yi's family really doesn't believe Yuheng but believes Ling'er, then even if her mother and everyone else help Yuheng vent her anger and leave gracefully with her, Yuheng will still feel bad in her heart, the kind of sadness she will never forget for the rest of her life.

Quan Jinghuai, who was following behind with his hands behind his back, turned his head and looked at Hong Xiaoduo, Yu Heng and the others. Their composure made him even more curious, but he didn't dare to ask them at the moment.

They quickly arrived at the main hall. Originally, the princess had asked Ling'er to change into some dry clothes first, but due to the subsequent events, Ling'er did not change. A maid brought a thin blanket and wrapped it around Ling'er's body.

Back in the hall, the atmosphere was completely different from before.

The prince and princess sat solemnly in the two seats at the front. Hong Xiaoduo, Quan Jinghuai, and Fei Yan sat on the right. Tian Shu and the other children did not sit but stood behind Hong Xiaoduo and the others.

The concubine and the five princes sat in order on the left.

With Ling'er and her servant standing in the very center, it gave off a feeling of a joint trial.

"Now, you speak," Princess Yi said, looking at the maid.

The maidservant knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling with tears: "Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, my young mistress took the princess to play in the back garden. She took the princess and that young mistress to feed the koi. Who knew, who knew, the princess whispered a warning to my young mistress, saying that the princess was her mother, that my young mistress was competing with her for the princess's favor, and that my young mistress should find an excuse to leave the palace as soon as possible and never come back again, otherwise she would be very rude to my young mistress."

My lady explained and swore to her that she had no intention of competing with the princess for favor, and also said that she would come less often in the future, so as not to upset you, my princess.

Even after I said that, the princess still refused to believe me and angrily pushed my young lady into the lotus pond.

Your Highness, Your Highness, my lady says that it is already a great honor for her to be able to occasionally enter the manor to accompany you. Because of this, the elders and relatives in the family have already treated her with special respect, and she is already very content. How could she possibly have any unwarranted greed?

"I beg Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort to do justice for my young lady!" the servant said tearfully, then prostrated herself on the ground.

The princess looked at Ling'er: "What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Ling'er clutched the thin blanket covering her and slowly knelt down. Before she could speak, two streams of tears slid down her cheeks: "Your Highness, my sister is young and must have suffered a lot outside. She has finally returned to Your Highness's side, so naturally she feels insecure. Seeing Your Highness being so affectionate towards Ling'er, it's understandable that she might have wild thoughts. Ling'er doesn't blame her, really. Ling'er begs Your Highness not to blame my sister."

Upon hearing this, the princess still looked at Ling'er and spoke again: "Ling'er, so it is true that the princess pushed you into the water?"

Ling'er met the princess's gaze, hesitated for a moment, and then replied as if she had made a great decision: "Your Highness, it was the princess who pushed me into the water, but I don't blame her. Putting myself in the princess's shoes, I think I would have done the same thing if I were her."

Your Highness, you have finally found your sister, the Princess. Please do not blame her because of Ling'er, lest you create further rifts. Ling'er will never forgive herself.

"My younger sister, the princess, is still young and hasn't received proper upbringing outside. She'll be taught gradually by Your Highness's side, and she'll improve."

Hong Xiaoduo, who was listening in, observed the expressions of the eight members of the princess's family. Their faces were all equally unpleasant, and Hong Xiaoduo's heart sank.

She turned to look at Yuheng standing beside her, who looked completely indifferent.

"Yuheng, what do you say?" the princess asked, looking at her daughter.

Hearing her mother ask her, Yuheng stepped forward and said, "Mother, this mistress and servant are framing me. I never said those things to her, nor did I push her into the water. She deliberately fell into the water."

Also, there's something else she misspoke about. It's true that my daughter suffered a lot outside, but that was before she met my mother. After meeting her, my daughter's life has been sweet. Her mother's teachings are very simple: No matter your status, you must have your own principles and bottom line; this is the foundation of our conduct in the world!

She taught her daughter that to live a good life, one must uphold the principles of being a good person. Whatever one lacks, one must not lack morality; whatever one lacks, one must not lack conscience; whatever one loses, one must not lose kindness; whatever one says, one must not be dishonest!

Furthermore, if my daughter were truly dissatisfied with this young lady, she wouldn't have simply pushed her into the water. There were people all around who could have rescued her quickly without harming her skin or bones. It wouldn't have been meaningful.

"If my daughter really wanted to teach her a lesson, she would beat her so badly that even her mother wouldn't recognize her." After Yuheng finished speaking, neither humble nor arrogant, she looked at Hong Xiaoduo and saw an approving smile. She straightened her little body even more.

She'd said everything she needed to say; whether her parents believed her or not was up to them...