Song Zhiyu placed the blood jade along with the handkerchief on the table, then gently pushed it in front of the Seventh Princess. "Your Highness, please keep the blood jade safe and don't let it be stolen again. Also, be careful of those treacherous servants around you."
The Seventh Princess stared coldly at the blood jade on the table, saying nothing. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest revealed the turmoil in her heart.
"This princess understands perfectly well, Miss Song need not say more." The Seventh Princess's tone was harsh, and she almost couldn't suppress the anger in her heart.
If it weren't for the Crown Prince's existence, how could she have tolerated Song Zhiyu kicking her when she was down?
But now that she's in the wrong, she has no choice but to endure it, even if she doesn't want to.
Prince Li turned the jade thumb ring around, his dark gaze fixed on the Seventh Princess, giving her a warning look.
Upon seeing this, the Seventh Princess's heart skipped a beat, and she reluctantly shut her mouth.
They're more trouble than they're worth!
If it weren't for the fact that the Seventh Princess was his own sister, Prince Li wouldn't care whether she lived or died.
"Now that the Blood Jade has been recovered, let's leave it at that. It was a misunderstanding on the part of my younger sister, Miss Song."
To express his apology, the King will send someone with gifts to the Marquis's residence. Is Miss Song satisfied with this outcome? The King broke the deadlock with his words, his expression still gentle.
Song Zhiyu smiled gently, her cool gaze meeting Prince Li's directly. "If I were to say I am not satisfied, what would Your Highness Prince Li say?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was astonished.
They never expected Song Zhiyu to be so ungrateful. Even though His Highness the Prince had personally stated that he would send someone to deliver an apology to the Marquis's residence, which was a huge favor to Song Zhiyu, she was still not satisfied.
The Seventh Princess may have misunderstood her, but she wasn't harmed at all, so why press her so hard?
Isn't she afraid of offending Prince Li and making Marquis Chengen's situation in the court even more difficult?
Shen Yanxi's face darkened further, and he shouted in a low voice, "Song Zhiyu, you'd better stop now!"
Song Zhiyu's actions were intended to make things difficult for Shu'er. She knew that Shu'er would eventually marry into the Li Prince's mansion, and she deliberately offended the Seventh Princess and the Li Prince so that they would resent the Chengen Marquis's mansion and Shu'er.
"I also think it's inappropriate."
Shen Yanxi's anger subsided quietly in Zhou Xingzhi's calm tone.
Zhou Xingzhi glanced coldly at Shen Yanxi, his tone calm yet unyielding, "Those who make mistakes should be punished so they can learn from them. If they are let off lightly, they will inevitably make the same mistake again."
The Crown Prince's words were clearly directed at Prince Li.
Li Wang paused in his hand as he stroked the jade thumb ring, a chill creeping down his back involuntarily.
He understood the warning in the Crown Prince's words, and the gloom in his eyes deepened. He smiled and ignored the Seventh Princess's pleading eyes.
"The Seventh Princess maliciously slandered others without knowing the truth, and even attempted to attack innocent people, almost damaging Miss Song's reputation, showing no regard for the laws of the dynasty."
Even the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners, and even a princess of the royal family cannot be above the law.
"I will report this matter to Father Emperor and let him decide. Seventh Princess, you should return to the palace today to reflect on your actions. As for that thieving maid, drown her."
Back in the palace, he naturally wouldn't let the Seventh Princess have an easy time.
As soon as Zhou Xingzhi finished speaking, several burly old women stepped forward to help the Seventh Princess up, bowed to their masters, and took her away without saying a word.
"You dog servants, how dare you hold this princess? Let her go at once!" The Seventh Princess was firmly held by the large, iron-like hands of several old nannies, unable to break free. She could only obediently let them take her back to the palace, and she couldn't even attend the upcoming lake tour banquet.
Chunxia, who was standing to the side, suddenly widened her eyes. Just as she was about to beg for mercy, a servant covered her mouth and dragged her out.
Shen Jinshu stood quietly behind Shen Yanxi, her eyes cold, as if the scene before her was nothing but a farce.
Hearing the Seventh Princess's angry curses, Shen Jinshu remained calm, his heart unmoved.
It's a waste that she helped the Seventh Princess; I never expected the Seventh Princess to be so useless.
Fortunately, she didn't do it herself, leaving Song Zhiyu no leverage.
Shen Jinshu lifted her eyelids and stared intently at Shen Yanxi's stiff back, a barely perceptible smile curving her lips as she raised her hand to touch his shoulder.
"Fourth Brother, it seems we've misunderstood Second Sister. Let's go apologize to her. Her prejudices run deep; we shouldn't let this further widen the gap between us."
Upon hearing the first sentence, Shen Yanxi felt a little awkward; he had misunderstood Song Zhiyu once again.
But upon hearing the last sentence, his face instantly darkened, and his tone became harsh, "We haven't done anything to wrong her, so why should we apologize? What you just said was only to plead for her."
Although he misunderstood Song Zhiyu, his intention was indeed to plead for her, but he never expected things to take such a turn.
Moreover, he thought that Song Zhiyu didn't need their apology.
Shen Yanxi turned to look at Pei Qingyan, who had been standing firmly beside Song Zhiyu, protecting her, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
*
Song Zhiyu watched the boats sailing away on the lake, and could still hear the Seventh Princess's shrill voice from afar. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she felt a sense of pleasure.
"This isn't over yet." Pei Qingyan stood beside Song Zhiyu, watching the ship's silhouette, and uttered a single sentence.
Simply being suspended from home and fined, and issuing a public apology, is not enough.
Pei Qingyan may not be able to lay a hand on the Seventh Princess, but some people may not be.
It is only natural for a brother to repay his sister's debts.
After the Seventh Princess left, the Lotus Pavilion fell completely silent. With the Crown Prince and Prince Li present, they even shuffled their breaths with caution.
"Your Highness..."
Just then, Jiang Huai leaned close to Zhou Xingzhi's ear and whispered, his already dark and serious expression turning even colder.
Zhou Xingzhi lowered his eyes, concealing the dark glint that flashed across them.
"The lake tour banquet will begin in half an hour, everyone please prepare yourselves well." After saying this, Zhou Xingzhi gave Song Zhiyu a deep look, and his face visibly became pleased.
"Ziyan, don't forget to apologize." Before leaving, Zhou Xingzhi reminded Li Wang.
Li Wang paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied, "Of course I won't forget."
Ling Chen's lips twitched, and his slightly narrowed fox-like eyes widened a little, as if he were seeing Zhou Xingzhi for the first time.
Ignoring his probing gaze, Zhou Xingzhi turned and strode away from the lotus pavilion.
"Call me if you need anything," Pei Qingyan told Song Zhiyu with concern before following the Crown Prince away.
As Pei Qingyan passed by Shen Yanxi, he paused slightly. His gentle and clear voice, like a babbling brook, reached Shen Yanxi's ears, but it did not extinguish the anger in his heart. "The person you don't cherish, someone else will. I just hope that Fourth Young Master Shen will not regret it in the future."
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