The one speaking was Zhou Xitong, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites. If anyone could be called Liu Yin’s biggest rival, it was Shen Yao, the daughter of the Grand Tutor. Unlike the original Liu Yin who was completely uneducated, Shen Yao was known as the most accomplished woman in the capital, excelling in everything from music and chess to poetry and painting. Just because the Crown Prince had once spoken to Shen Yao, Liu Yin had seen her as an enemy, viewing her with bitter resentment. Zhou Xitong and Wu Yu were Shen Yao’s close friends, so Liu Yin constantly clashed with them but rarely gained any advantage.

They had often mocked Liu Yin indirectly but she’d never noticed. While people outwardly feared her, they likely held her in contempt behind her back. Liu Yin couldn’t help but feel sorry for the original owner, after all, no matter how powerful one’s family, lacking wisdom or depth left them vulnerable.

“You… you’re lying! That girl clearly pushed me on purpose!” Lin Xuan’s face flushed red with anger, her intelligence scarcely better than the original Liu Yin.

Seeing this, the two women stepped back with looks of feigned fear. Wu Yu whose face was full of innocent grievance, explained softly. “It was a mere accident. Besides, Sister Lin was the one eavesdropping at the door. Is that the behavior of a true lady?”

Her words caught Lin Xuan off guard, especially as people from the main hall below started glancing up curiously.

“Besides…Tong’er’s remark about ‘birds of the same feather’ wasn’t aimed at Sister Lin or Sister Liu. So, for Sister Lin to accuse us without knowing the full story is truly unfair.” Wu Yu said, looking as if she might cry.

Lin Xuan’s anger flared up again, and she turned to Liu Yin, desperate. “Liu Yin, you mustn’t let these vile girls deceive you! I heard them clearly, calling you stupid and brainless, saying the Crown Prince would rather marry a pig than you. I heard every word!”

At this, Liu Yin calmly removed her veiled hat. She didn’t need Lin Xuan’s confirmation to know these two had always looked down on the original Liu Yin, thinking she was a simpleton compared to Shen Yao. But she wasn’t the original Liu Yin anymore, and she was going to teach these two a hard truth: that in the face of absolute power, all their sweet, simpering pretense was worthless.

“Sister Lin, please don’t falsely accuse us. Even if we were given hundreds of lives, we wouldn’t dare speak ill of Sister Liu like that.” They bowed their heads with feigned anxiety, pretending to be meek and intimidated.

Liu Yin bit down on her sugar figurine as she stepped forward, inching closer to them. Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes and seized Wu Yu’s chin between her fingers. “Such a pretty face,” she mused. “I wonder how it would look with a few cuts?”

As their gazes met, Wu Yu’s face instantly paled, her whole body trembling. Liu Yin’s notorious arrogance and daring were well-known, and if she said she’d scar Wu Yu’s face, she just might actually do it.

“You… you can’t treat Sister Wu like this…” Zhou Xitong stammered, stepping in front of Wu Yu with a pale face, playing the part of the protective friend.

At this, Liu Yin arched her brow, mimicking the original’s haughty tone. “And just because you say so, I shouldn’t? You two had the nerve to gossip behind my back? You’re braver than I thought. Maybe a little lesson will help you remember your place.”

“Exactly! Teach them a lesson they won’t forget!” Lin Xuan laughed smugly from the side.

To their shock, Liu Yin looked completely serious. Both girls instinctively backed away, visibly shaken.

“Of course,” Liu Yin continued, biting into her sugar figurine with a casual air, “if you’re willing to bring me tea, apologize, and tell me exactly where you went wrong, I might be gracious enough to let this slide.”

The two exchanged wary glances, clearly doubting that Liu Yin would actually dare to harm them. After all, as daughters of high-ranking officials, they assumed her threats were empty.

Straightening their backs, they declared. “We absolutely won’t admit to something we didn’t do!”

Liu Yin had no real intention of disfiguring them, but seeing them trying to gamble on her courage ignited her desire to give them a good scare.

With a sharp clap, she called out crisply, “Hold them for me!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiyun, clearly accustomed to these situations, sprang into action. With her martial arts background, she grabbed Wu Yu’s arm and forcefully pinned her against the wall. Downstairs, patrons in the main hall stood up, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the commotion on the upper floor.

Lin Xuan, ever the loyal sidekick, quickly handed over a hairpin, embodying her role to perfection.

“Sister Wu!” Zhou Xitong’s eyes reddened with worry.

Taking the hairpin, Liu Yin stepped forward with a pleasant smile, savoring the flash of fear in Wu Yu’s eyes. The satisfaction was undeniable—why waste energy scheming when bullying could be so much fun?

But just as she approached Wu Yu, the atmosphere suddenly shifted to a tense silence. Faces around her paled, and Zhou Xitong abruptly dropped into a low bow, trembling as she spoke. Lin Xuan quickly followed suit, both of them saying in unison, “This humble subject greets His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

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