Jiang Rongyin let out a cold laugh as she walked over, a few strands of her half-dried hair still dripping with water.
"Sixth Sister, what do you think?"
Jiang Xueping averted her gaze upon hearing Jiang Rongyin's words. "Who knows what you're thinking."
After all, Jiang Rongyin had no proof of this matter, and Jiang Xueping was curious to see what she would say.
Jiang Rongyin lowered her head with a light laugh. Some things, she simply couldn't be bothered to dwell on anymore.
No matter how it was argued, they would still force her head down and make her admit fault.
Qin Shiyan, standing nearby, watched Jiang Rongyin's bitter smile with his brows tightly furrowed.
In such a situation, he didn't even dare to say a single extra word on her behalf.
If he spoke up, Jiang Rongyin's punishment would only be greater, never less.
The Emperor wasn't a fool—could he not see the evasive look in Jiang Xueping's eyes and the frankness in Jiang Rongyin's?
After a moment's thought, the Emperor spoke: "The railing at Yuhuayuan Luchi is too low. Perhaps it was an accident, especially since there were no palace attendants nearby at the time."
"But since this happened within the imperial palace, it is also a failure of hospitality on the part of my two daughters."
He paused, then smiled as he looked at Chu Yuansheng: "How about I have them apologize to Miss Chu and dock half a year's allowance?"
Before Chu Yuansheng could respond to the Emperor's words, Jiang Xueping's face was already filled with disbelief.
Punishing Jiang Rongyin was one thing—but why was she being dragged into it as well?
"Father!"
No sooner had Jiang Xueping spoken than the Emperor shot her a deep look. She shrank back and dared not say another word.
Chu Yuansheng was naturally unwilling—such a punishment was nothing more than a slap on the wrist. His daughter had nearly lost her life.
But the Emperor's words were not a discussion with him; they were a command.
Helpless, Chu Yuansheng could only say: "This official was too hasty just now. I shall defer to Your Majesty's judgment."
With such an incident having occurred, there was naturally no need to hold the banquet at Qinghui Dian.
The Emperor rose and left, and Jiang Rongyin followed him out.
Jiang Xueping stamped her foot in frustration and chased after Jiang Rongyin.
"Jiang Rongyin! Stop right there!"
Jiang Rongyin was walking quickly ahead, and Jiang Xueping had to hurry to catch up and grab her arm.
"Let go."
Jiang Rongyin's steps were forced to a halt. She turned to look at her, her gaze cold.
"Did you say something to Father?"
"Because of today's matter, I was punished by Father along with you. Are you feeling very pleased with yourself?"
Jiang Xueping pressed on relentlessly, even raising her hand to strike Jiang Rongyin.
Her arm was caught mid-air by Jiang Rongyin, who then released her and gave her a sudden shove.
Jiang Xueping lost her balance and stumbled, falling to the ground.
"You have the nerve to bring up today's matter with me?"
"Jiang Xueping, how does it feel to have the chicken stolen and lose the bait? You know better than I do how Chu Qingyin fell into Luchi."
Jiang Rongyin took two steps closer to Jiang Xueping, looking down at her from above: "Wanting her dead, and then trying to pin it on me—that was always you, Jiang Xueping. But too bad, you're just too stupid."
Jiang Xueping's eyes widened as she listened to Jiang Rongyin's words, each one more cutting than the last, and she nearly spat out blood from sheer rage.
"Jiang Xueping, save it. You've been playing these tricks from age three to sixteen. Even if you're not tired of them, I am."
Jiang Rongyin let out a scoff, turned around, and walked away.
From childhood, because Empress Wei disliked Jiang Rongyin, Jiang Xueping learned at a young age to bully Jiang Rongyin to curry favor with Empress Wei.
But at that time, no matter what, Jiang Rongyin still held the title of legitimate princess, so Jiang Xueping did not dare go too far.
These tricks of framing people—Jiang Rongyin had truly watched Jiang Xueping use them since childhood.
After returning to Guanghua Dian with Baoyin, Jiang Rongyin saw Jiang Yun sitting in the bedchamber.
The man was still holding a book from her desk.
Jiang Rongyin's pupils widened slightly, and she glanced imperceptibly at the bed.
Thankfully, she had long since tucked the Pengxi Xianzhi under the blanket.
"Your Highness."
Jiang Rongyin walked in and closed the door.
Jiang Yun sat in the chair, legs crossed. Hearing Jiang Rongyin's words, he did not look up, his slender fingers turning a page.
"Where did you go wrong?"
Hearing this, Jiang Rongyin frowned slightly, then knelt not far away: "Rongyin is foolish and does not know where she went wrong."
Earlier today by Luchi, Jiang Yun had already asked Jiang Rongyin whether it was her doing.
Now he was asking again—was he insisting she admit she had laid hands on Chu Qingyin?
"I have taught you for so long, and you have truly made no progress at all."
As Jiang Yun's words fell, he set down the book in his hand and stood up.
"You even let a fool like Jiang Xueping scheme against you."
Listening to Jiang Yun's words, Jiang Rongyin sensed his footsteps stop before her.
He lifted her chin, and the string of beads hooked around his fingertip slid down to his wrist.
Jiang Rongyin raised her head to meet Jiang Yun's gaze: "If I had not gone, Jiang Xueping would have said that I was unwilling to spend time with Chu Qingyin because of Qin Shiyan."
"If those words reached Your Highness's ears, what would Your Highness think?"
She forced a smile, her fair face pressed with marks by Jiang Yun's fingers.
"That little Jiu is quite loyal."
"Behave yourself, and I will not treat you poorly."
Jiang Yun loosened his grip, his fingertip lingering on her lips, wiping away quite a bit of crimson lip rouge.
Jiang Rongyin did not like to dress up, and Jiang Yun also felt those rouges and powders were no match for her natural skin.
But today there was a banquet, so Jiang Rongyin had Baoyin apply a little rouge—red plum in snow, truly lovely.
Jiang Yun's words only made Jiang Rongyin want to laugh inside.
Everyone wanted her to be dutiful and obedient, yet no one told those who wanted to bully her to behave.
Was she not obedient enough?
How obedient did she have to be, how compliant?
Did she have to frame Jiang Yun and hang him on the wall, burning incense and making offerings daily, to count as obedient and compliant?
Though she thought this in her heart, Jiang Rongyin still replied obediently: "I understand, Your Highness."
Jiang Yun got the answer he wanted, yet he still felt somewhat displeased.
Jiang Rongyin was a little too obedient.
But he did not intend to stay at Guanghua Dian any longer. The Jiangnan private tax case was not yet finished, and he had been busy with these matters these past few days.
Coming out of Guanghua Dian, Jiang Yun raised his hand and turned the thumb ring on his thumb, his gaze deep: "Keep a close watch on her."
Xiang Ming nodded in acknowledgment.
For the next two days, Jiang Yun did not come again. Jiang Rongyin rarely had peace and quiet, and also had enough time to properly plan her escape.
Though she was fined half a year's salary, the money in Jiang Rongyin's hands was still enough for her and Baoyin to live on for the rest of their lives.
She also had Baoyin ask her sisters to deposit part of the money in a money house, and exchange part into broken silver and silver notes sewn into clothing.
Jiang Rongyin lay by the window thinking about these things, a smile appearing on her face.
No matter how hard it got, as long as she could leave the palace and leave Jiang Yun behind, she felt those days would be sweet.
Outside the window, a light rain fell in a steady drizzle. Jiang Rongyin reached out to catch it, and through the misty rain, she saw someone heading toward Guanghua Dian.
The smile on Jiang Rongyin's face slowly faded.
It was Xiang Ming—just like Jiang Yun, a detestable fellow.