Shen Ruoxi spoke up immediately.
"Prince Qi did indeed go to the summer villa. I did not accompany him, because Lady Ning said her heart condition had flared up, and Prince Qi took her there with him."
The moment these words left her mouth, Fang Hui's face turned pale first.
She said sharply, "Ruoxi, what are you saying?!"
How could she say in front of so many people that Murong Yu had taken Ning Lanxue to the summer villa?
Wasn't this confirming those rumors!
Qin Haitang raised an eyebrow. "Lady Ning? Could she be that courtesan from the brothel who, according to the rumors, has Prince Qi completely bewitched?"
Fang Hui hurriedly interjected, "Noble Consort, you misunderstand. Ning Lanxue is not a courtesan…"
"Lady Ning is not a courtesan."
Shen Ruoxi cut off Fang Hui's words.
Hearing this, Fang Hui breathed a sigh of relief.
Because Ning Lanxue's background was truly too disgraceful to mention—Murong Yu had bought her out of the brothel.
Afterward, he publicly claimed that Ning Lanxue was Shen Ruoxi's distant cousin.
Though Shen Ruoxi had been unwilling, her heart was tied to Murong Yu, so she had eventually relented.
Now, having her personally clarify the matter was the best possible outcome.
Shen Ruoxi said, "Noble Consort, Lady Ning is not a courtesan. Although she came from a brothel, she only performed music and never sold her body. When she came to Prince Qi, she was still chaste."
Qin Haitang sneered. "So she's still nothing but a lowly wretch from a brothel—a disgrace to the royal family!"
With that, she lifted her gaze and looked at Fang Hui beside her.
"Consort Fang, if I had given birth to such an undiscerning son, I would have beaten him to death with a stick! For Prince Qi to carry on like this, you, as his mother, have failed in your duties!"
Fang Hui's fingers tightened, her nails digging into the flesh of her palm.
Was Shen Ruoxi out of her mind today?
To actually spout such nonsense in public!
But Fang Hui had been in the palace for many years and had weathered many storms.
At this moment, her expression was well concealed.
"Noble Consort, Yu'er merely took pity on the girl's unfortunate circumstances and helped her out, keeping her in the residence as a maid. All those messy rumors that came out afterward are simply not to be believed."
As she spoke, she shot Shen Ruoxi a meaningful look.
Shen Ruoxi blinked, seemingly not grasping her meaning at all.
She even flashed her a sweet smile.
Fang Hui's composure nearly cracked.
Qin Haitang pressed on relentlessly. "That woman has a heart condition—can't a physician treat her? Does Prince Qi need to personally take her to the summer villa? What maid gets such treatment? Consort Fang, you can fool yourself with that story if you like, but don't bother repeating it—it's embarrassing!"
Shen Ruoxi stood to the side, saying nothing.
She had heard that Noble Consort Qin was proud and difficult to get along with.
Having met her today, that was indeed the case.
And it seemed she also had some grudge against Fang Hui.
Interesting.
After Qin Haitang's scolding, the other consorts around them began looking at Fang Hui with meaningful expressions.
Most of them didn't know the full story, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Fang Hui's face was losing its composure, and she grew even more worried that the rumors would spread.
So she turned to Su Liu'er. "Your Majesty the Empress, Yu'er has always been kind-hearted—you know this well. There must be some misunderstanding in all of this."
Su Liu'er wasn't entirely sure about the matter either, but she didn't want to see the two of them bickering endlessly.
So she spoke up. "Rumors can be dangerous. Prince Qi and Ruoxi grew up together, and their bond is unlike that of ordinary people—this I know well. Noble Consort Qin, this matter concerns the royal family's reputation. Choose your words carefully."
Fang Hui immediately curtsied. "Your Majesty the Empress sees clearly."
As she spoke, she addressed Shen Ruoxi.
"Ruoxi, you came alone—Yu'er must be getting anxious waiting outside. Why don't you go find him first?"
She was trying to send Shen Ruoxi away.
But Shen Ruoxi merely blinked her dark, limpid eyes.
"Mother, it's fine. Prince Qi did not accompany me into the palace today—I came ahead on my own."
The moment those words left her mouth, the expressions of everyone present shifted.
They didn't even come to pay their respects together.
A dignified Prince Qi, so coldly neglecting his Principal Consort.
And they had spoken of deep marital devotion—it seemed the rumors were true after all.
Su Liu'er furrowed her brows as well.
"Consort Fang, Murong Yu may be your son, but he also calls me Mother. If you, as his birth mother, are reluctant to scold him, then I, as his adoptive mother, have a few words to say."
She turned to Shen Ruoxi.
"General Shen's Di Daughter comes from a distinguished family and is unmatched in beauty—tell him to cherish the one before him."
Fang Hui lowered her head.
"Yes, I shall heed your instruction."
Su Liu'er said no more and led the group onward to enjoy the flowers.
Before long, a palace attendant reported that Prince Qi had arrived and been summoned to the Imperial Study by His Majesty.
Fang Hui then brought Shen Ruoxi away from Su Liu'er's Changqiu Palace.
They were heading back to her own Yiyue Hall.
The moment they stepped out, Fang Hui's face darkened.
"Have you lost your mind today?!"
Shen Ruoxi wore a look of bewilderment.
"Mother, why such a temper?"
She dared to ask?
Fang Hui was about to lash out when she suddenly caught sight of a woman in deep purple robes emerging from Changqiu Palace with two maidservants in tow.
It was Wei Zhenzhen, a Noble Lady who had entered the palace not long ago.
Fang Hui's expression shifted instantly, blooming into a warm, spring-like smile.
"Ruoxi, I had the kitchen prepare your favorite pastries. Let's return to Yiyue Hall now."
The change of face was swift indeed.
Shen Ruoxi sneered inwardly but revealed nothing on her face.
"Very well."
Wei Zhenzhen approached, and as she passed Fang Hui, she bent to offer a salute.
Her steps were hurried, her face somewhat pale.
As she bowed, her legs suddenly gave way.
Shen Ruoxi, standing nearby, instinctively reached out to steady her.
Her fingers inadvertently brushed Wei Zhenzhen's wrist—and she was startled.
Before she could probe further, Wei Zhenzhen had already staggered back to her feet.
"Forgive me, Consort Fang. I'm feeling a bit unwell today…"
"No matter. If you're unwell, go back and rest."
Fang Hui smiled with gentle grace.
In public, she always appeared this way—unassuming, soft, and kind.
Shen Ruoxi spoke up.
"Noble Lady Wei, your health is no small matter. If you're unwell, it would be best to summon the imperial physician."
Wei Zhenzhen replied distractedly.
"Thank you for your concern, Princess Qi."
And with that, she left.
Whether she had heeded the words, no one could tell.
Watching her retreating figure, Shen Ruoxi's gaze flickered.
Just now, she had taken a rough reading of Wei Zhenzhen's pulse.
It was a pregnancy pulse.
But the pulse was somewhat abnormal—showing signs of poisoning.
Shen Ruoxi's heart grew complicated.
The harem was a roiling cauldron of schemes, and she had no prior acquaintance with Wei Zhenzhen. She could not speak plainly—she could only hope the woman would discover it herself.
If Fang Hui were truly kind-hearted, Shen Ruoxi might have told her.
But in truth, she was no such benevolent soul.
"What are you staring at? Come with me."
The moment Wei Zhenzhen was gone, Fang Hui's face sank again.
Shen Ruoxi said nothing and followed behind her.
The instant they reached Yiyue Hall, Fang Hui's fury erupted fully.
"Kneel!"
Shen Ruoxi stood her ground and spoke slowly.
"Are you speaking to me, Mother?"
"Who else would I be speaking to?"
Fang Hui stared at her with a dark, brooding gaze, not a trace of her former gentleness to be seen.
Shen Ruoxi, however, remained unmoved.
"Why does Mother require me to kneel?"
"Today, in front of the Empress and all the consorts, you went on about how Yu'er took Ning Lanxue to the summer resort, and how you didn't enter the palace with him—what utter nonsense was that? Is that not a fault? Kneel!"
Shen Ruoxi's gaze remained indifferent. "It was the Prince who wished to take Ning Lanxue to the summer resort, and it was also the Prince who did not accompany me to pay respects. I merely spoke the truth."
"If speaking the truth makes me wrong, then the Prince, who committed these acts, must be even more at fault, wouldn't you say? If anyone should kneel, it seems it should be the Prince. What does Mother think?"
Fang Hui was rendered speechless by her words.
Then a flicker of doubt crossed her mind.
Shen Ruoxi loved her son so deeply that she had cast aside all dignity—and now she was actually suggesting that her Yu'er should kneel?!
What had gotten into her today!
Fang Hui furrowed her brows.
"Yu'er is, after all, the Prince, and you are his consort. In public, you ought to protect his reputation. To speak so openly today—are you not slapping him in the face?"
"This consort's position, I fear, will not last much longer."
Shen Ruoxi sighed. "The Prince has said that I am to yield the position of Principal Consort to Ning Lanxue."
"What?!"
Fang Hui was stunned as well.
She exclaimed in shock, "Did Yu'er truly say such a thing?"
Shen Ruoxi's expression remained calm.
"The Prince will be here shortly. Whether it is true or not, Mother need only ask him."