Shang Yuelang is gentle, virtuous, and of noble character. She is a well-known wealthy and leisurely person in the capital.

Therefore, if she says something in public, people generally believe it without needing to verify it.

Knowing that she had been discovered and blocked, Shang Chuyue's panic was palpable: "Eldest Sister, I..."

"Regardless of whether your actions are right or wrong, I only have one question for you," Shang Yuelang said as she approached Shang Chuyue, her gentle tone making people feel warm and comfortable: "What kind of deep-seated hatred do you have for that Ninth Princess Consort?"

Shang Chuyue's expression froze, and she lowered her head guiltily: "She killed many of the people in my former palace."

"But why did I hear that it was Ninth Prince Uncle who cleaned up those petty people who gossiped in front of you and ruined your reputation, and not Ninth Princess Consort who ordered it?" Shang Yuelang directly exposed Shang Chuyue's words.

Shang Chuyue lowered her head even further: "She...she was in Tongyou, and she even stole all my ornaments in public, making me lose face."

"Did she really take it on her own initiative, or did you provoke her first?" Shang Yuelang asked softly.

Shang Chuyue had come to understand many things by now. She realized that she and the Ninth Princess Consort didn't actually have any deep-seated grudges. The reason why the rift between them had grown stronger was mostly due to what others had said.

In Tongyou, this was because Chen Ziying provoked the Ninth Prince's Consort;

The same thing happened in the palace because Princess Zhaoping provoked the Ninth Prince's wife;

Even today, it is for Consort Xiao and for Caiqin, not for herself.

"Yue'er, you are a princess of the royal family. Your reputation and character are more important to you than to ordinary noble ladies." She gently took Shang Chuyue's hand and said with great tenderness and patience, "In the future, you should think twice before you act. Take today, for example. Even if you had captured the Ninth Prince's wife, you might have vented your anger, but your reputation would have been ruined."

Furthermore, your mother is such a gentle and kind person; if she knew that you would ruin someone's reputation and life for a few unfounded rumors, how heartbroken she would be. "Eldest sister, Yue'er was wrong," Shang Chuyue said softly, bowing her head.

Shang Yuelang led her out, saying gently, "It's good that you know you were wrong. Just don't do it again."

"But what about the Cold Palace..."

"Don't worry, the prince consort has already taken people to handle it."

Watching Shang Yuelang and Shang Chuyue walk away, Ji Fengyao silently accepted Shang Yuelang's kindness.

Although Shang Yuelang only helped her out of consideration for Wang An;

But for Shang Yuelang's sincerity in working quietly and never seeking credit, she had to appreciate it.

Moreover, Shang Chuyue was not the mastermind behind this matter;

Even if she caught Shang Chuyue, at most she would just give Shang Chuyue some itching powder or sore powder to teach this naive little princess a small lesson; she wouldn't kill Shang Chuyue.

Ji Fengyao remained squatting in place without moving.

After a while, a few more people indeed arrived below.

It was that sneaky little eunuch who led Consort Xiao and Granny Wang there.

"Your Highness, the Third Prince's residence is just ahead," the young eunuch said, bowing and scraping obsequiously as he led the person forward.

Granny Wang felt things were going unusually smoothly and asked again, still uneasy, "Are you sure that bandit really entered the Third Prince's residence?"

“It’s certain, it’s certain. Not only her, but the two maids she brought with her, they were all taken in,” the little eunuch said with absolute certainty.

Upon hearing this, Consort Xiao stopped in her tracks: "In that case, Granny Wang, you may go out and find someone."