The Seventh Princess raised her hand and made a gesture. Several old nannies who had been guarding outside the pavilion immediately stepped forward, their faces fierce and menacing, waiting for the Seventh Princess's order to take action.
The daughter of the Marquis of Chengen was searched in full view of everyone. Even if her innocence was proven, her reputation was almost ruined.
By then, even if Song Zhiyu had a hundred mouths, she wouldn't be able to explain herself.
The Seventh Princess had a brilliant plan, but she forgot about Song Zhiyu, a variable.
"Seventh Princess, do you think anyone would be stupid enough to carry stolen goods on their person and wait to be caught red-handed?" Song Zhiyu stood still, but her eyes clearly turned colder.
"You..." The Seventh Princess was speechless. She reasonably suspected that Song Zhiyu was subtly calling her stupid, but she had no evidence.
Song Zhiyu looked around, taking in everyone's expressions, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Before the Blood Jade was lost, everyone present had been in contact with it, which means that everyone is a suspect."
"Since we're going to search everyone, let's search everyone present. The Seventh Princess can't show favoritism."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in uproar.
Dozens of noble ladies stared at her fiercely, their cheeks flushed, filled with shame and indignation.
Searching the bodies of noble ladies from prominent families is tantamount to forcing them to their deaths.
Shen Jinshu looked heartbroken and said, "Second sister, you should know how important a woman's reputation is. Your actions are driving them to their doom."
Upon hearing this, the noble ladies all cast grateful glances at Shen Jinshu, their affection for her deepening.
"Since you understand the importance of reputation to a woman, why didn't you stand up and say those high-sounding words when the Seventh Princess wanted to search me?"
"Isn't my reputation a reputation too? Or are you hoping my reputation will be ruined?" Song Zhiyu remained calm, scoffing at Shen Jinshu's words, and her three consecutive questions forced Shen Jinshu into a retreat.
Shen Jinshu pursed her lips and said, "I had no such intention. Although searching you is inappropriate, it can prove your innocence. If you are truly innocent, then no one will spread rumors about the search today, and it will not damage your reputation."
"So, I should thank you?" Song Zhiyu chuckled, her words laced with sarcasm, her understanding of Shen Jinshu's shamelessness deepening.
The Seventh Princess stepped forward and pulled Shen Jinshu behind her, protecting her. "Song Zhiyu, stop being so sarcastic. Sister Jinshu is thinking of you with all her heart, and you not only don't appreciate it, but you also slander her. You really don't know what's good for you."
Of all these people, you're the prime suspect. The others have been right beside me the whole time and haven't had a chance to act. If you truly have a clear conscience, why would you be afraid of me searching you?
Having said that, the Seventh Princess gave Song Zhiyu no chance to refute and gave the order, "Do it for me."
Several old women received orders and approached Song Zhiyu, rolling up their sleeves and their expressions hardening.
The Seventh Princess had instructed them not to be polite to Song Zhiyu, so they naturally had to obey their mistress's orders.
As the old woman's large, fan-like hand was about to grab Song Zhiyu's clothes, everyone present couldn't help but smile, some even gloating, and they could all imagine Song Zhiyu's disheveled appearance.
Shen Jinshu stood behind the Seventh Princess, turning her eyes away with a look of reluctance. If you ignored the slightly upturned corners of her lips, she would have seemed somewhat believable.
"Clap clap clap~"
Three slaps rang out in succession, but the scene the Seventh Princess had imagined did not occur. Instead, several old nannies who were about to strike lay on the ground groaning in pain. Song Zhiyu stood there with a cold expression, her sharp eyes fixed on her, her gaze unfathomable.
"Song Zhiyu, do you want to rebel?" The Seventh Princess was furious.
"Seventh Princess, please be careful with your words. I am a member of the Chengen Marquis's Mansion. If I were to rebel, wouldn't that mean the Chengen Marquis's Mansion..." Song Zhiyu hesitated, leaving room for endless speculation.
Compared to the furious Seventh Princess, Song Zhiyu was much calmer and more composed, and even took the opportunity to respond to the Seventh Princess's words, setting a trap for the Marquis of Chengen's mansion.
"..." The Seventh Princess choked, her anger rising even higher.
The Chengen Marquis's Mansion had been secretly supporting her elder brother, and before Shen Yuzhou's accident, it was highly valued by her elder brother.
Not to mention that Shen Jinshu will marry into the Li Prince's mansion in the future, which will make the relationship even closer.
Song Zhiyu used her words to pin such a huge accusation on the Chengen Marquis's Mansion, almost ruining the Emperor's plans.
Unable to out-argue Song Zhiyu and almost being led by the nose by her, the Seventh Princess lost her temper and roared at the old nanny on the ground.
"What are you all standing there for? Let's do it!"
The old women jumped up from the ground with a start, walked towards Song Zhiyu with tense faces, rubbing their hands together, their eyes almost overflowing with malice.
This little slut made them lose face so badly, they certainly couldn't let her off easily.
"stop."
Before the old woman could even touch anyone, Jiang Huai, who had come flying at her, kicked her away with such force that she rolled several times on the ground.
"Brother Crown Prince, what brings you here?" Upon seeing the newcomer, the Seventh Princess's smugness turned to fear, and she hurriedly stood up and bowed.
Pei Qingyan walked over to Song Zhiyu's side and gave her a wink. Seeing that she was alright, he felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders.
Her gentle gaze turned cold the moment she turned to someone else.
When the Crown Prince saw Pei Qingyan walk to Song Zhiyu's side first, his eyes darkened for a moment. "If I hadn't come, how would I have known that you would actually try to harm my savior?"
"Crown Prince, it was Song Zhiyu who stole my Blood Jade and wouldn't admit it. In my desperation, I..." The Seventh Princess's voice grew softer and softer under Zhou Xingzhi's icy gaze, and her face showed barely concealed fear.
Shen Jinshu spoke up at the right moment, "Your Highness, this is all a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding. Am I blind?"
But before she could finish speaking, Zhou Xingzhi interrupted her. His voice, cold and venomous, was like a sharp sword scraping across her face, causing her pain and embarrassment.
"This humble woman had no such intention." Shen Jinshu felt as if someone had grabbed her by the throat. The intense, oppressive aura made alarm bells ring in her mind, and she dared not say another word.
She secretly glanced up at Li Wang and saw him staring at Song Zhiyu thoughtfully. She felt a surge of resentment and bit her lower lip until it turned white.
The Seventh Princess, suppressing her fear and unwilling to accept that her carefully laid plan had been thwarted by Song Zhiyu, said, "Crown Prince, the blood jade that my grandmother gave me was stolen. Only Song Zhiyu was waiting at the Lotus Pavilion at the time. Who else could it be?"
"Outrageous! You slander others without even knowing the facts. Is this how your teacher taught you? As a princess, you have absolutely no manners. It seems we have been too lenient with you."
Zhou Xingzhi's words silenced the Seventh Princess, and her unease deepened.
Zhou Xingzhi's next words confirmed her suspicions.
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