Their eyes met. The man suddenly loosened his grip on the brush, his lips parting slightly. “No.”

With that, he picked up another document and began reading, his expression calm. “You can leave now.”

Liu Yin wiped her palm with a handkerchief, trying to clean off the ink—yet the more she wiped, the worse it got. She muttered under her breath, “You just look down on me.”

Fine, look down on her all you want, but did he really have to say it out loud? Did he have to stab straight into her heart to feel satisfied?

And anyway, what was his problem? She was just practicing her calligraphy—it wasn’t like she was in his way. If he didn’t like it, he could just not look. She never asked him to teach her. But he had to meddle, and then call her stupid? At least Grand Tutor Shen was kind and patient.

She kept grumbling under her breath, her voice too low to catch, but Qin Yan suddenly spoke.

“Guards.”

Liu Yin: “…”

The door swung open at once. Eunuch Lu stepped inside, already knowing what was coming.

Sure enough, the man ordered coolly, “Take her away.”

Eunuch Lu nodded in understanding, took a few steps forward, and gestured politely. “Miss Liu…”

“I’m not leaving!”

Liu Yin’s temper flared as she clung to the desk, glaring at him with indignation. “You take advantage of someone and then just kick them out? So, this is the kind of person His Highness the Crown Prince is!”

Eunuch Lu: “???!!!”

Qin Yan lifted his gaze, his brows drawing together. “When have I ever taken advantage of you?”

Seeing him refuse to admit it, Liu Yin leaned in, her voice firm and accusing. “Just now, you clearly touched my hand! And last time, you touched my face too! Are you seriously going to deny it?”

Eunuch Lu sucked in a sharp breath but quickly lowered his head the moment he caught sight of his master’s increasingly dark expression.

“See? You’re angry because I’m right! But scaring me won’t work—I’m only telling the truth.” Liu Yin sprawled across the desk, looking completely unbothered, like a pig too lazy to fear boiling water.

Qin Yan’s frown deepened, the sharp angles of his face tinged with something unreadable. His gaze locked onto the infuriating woman before shifting suddenly to Eunuch Lu. His voice dropped. “Have you seen enough?”

Eunuch Lu jolted as if struck by lightning. Without hesitation, he turned and shouted toward the door, “Guards!”

In an instant, several tall, burly guards entered the room. Liu Yin’s eyes darted around, and she suddenly clutched her foot, crying out, “I’ve been bitten by a snake! I can’t walk!”

He had never realized how troublesome Miss Liu could before, fortunately, Eunuch Lu was well-prepared and immediately called in a few maids to carry her away.

Seeing this, Liu Yin decided there was no point in pretending anymore. Fine, she would leave—it wasn’t like she wanted to stay anyway.

However, perhaps because her sleeves were too wide, as she stood up, she accidentally knocked over the inkstone, spilling ink all over the floor. Some even splashed onto her clothes and the back of her hand, and the more she tried to wipe it off, the more it smeared.

A thought crossed her mind, and she suddenly took a couple of steps, then unexpectedly raised her ink-stained hand and smeared it twice on the man’s robe. Immediately after, she limped away as fast as she could, as if afraid of being held accountable.

Watching the “stains” on his master’s robe, Eunuch Lu’s eyebrow twitched. “Your Highness… would you like to change your clothes?”

Glancing at the mess of ink all over the desk, Qin Yan frowned deeply. Eunuch Lu quickly slipped out of the room.

Once outside the study, Liu Yin was in high spirits, wiping the ink off her hands with a handkerchief. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned to Eunuch Lu and said, “Do you know what they say about wise men adapting to circumstances?”

Their eyes met, and Eunuch Lu immediately lowered his head, looking uneasy. “This servant…”

“You’d better hope I don’t become the Crown Princess.”

With a light snort and a final threat, Liu Yin was openly “escorted” out of the Eastern Palace by several guards. Only Eunuch Lu stood there, staring bitterly at the departing sedan chair. In the past, he hadn’t been worried, but recently, he couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease. When had His Highness ever allowed someone to stay in his study for so long?

Returning to the Xiefang Palace, Liu Yin immediately went to take a bath, finally washing off all the ink stains. However, the Sixth Princess kept pestering her about what had happened at the Eastern Palace. Liu Yin could only explain that she had been splashed with ink and driven out. Hearing this, the Sixth Princess also began to complain about how unreasonable her royal brother was.

Not wanting to be looked down upon, Liu Yin started to diligently study how to write properly. She was determined to make the Crown Prince see her in a new light—it wasn’t that she was stupid, but rather that he was too harsh!

By the time the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet arrived, her foot had mostly healed, and her plan was finally ready to be set into motion.

It was just past Xu hour (7-9 PM), and the night had already enveloped the entire palace. She should have left earlier, but the Empress had specifically sent a maid to help her dress up, claiming that she couldn’t afford to be outshone by others.

After being fussed over for a long time, when the two of them finally stepped out with the black box, an informant came to report that Princess Mingyue was releasing water lanterns by the lotus pond.

“Cousin, isn’t this… a bit too much?” The Sixth Princess still hesitated.

Under the hazy moonlight, the two walked along a pebble-strewn path, with palace servants occasionally passing by in a hurry. Tonight was the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, and the entire palace was in a frenzy. The Empress had been so busy organizing the event that she hadn’t had time to pressure Liu Yin to visit the Crown Prince these past few days.

Liu Yin tightened her grip on the black box and flicked the Sixth Princess’s forehead playfully. “You coward, what’s there to be afraid of? They dared to set a snake on me, so why can’t I bite back?”

With that, she handed the box to her maid, Xiyun, and whispered while glancing around, “Later, I’ll deliberately push her, and you take the opportunity to fling the spider onto her. Be quick about it—the spider is so small, no one will notice.”

Taking the box, Xiyun was drenched in sweat but nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“But… what if someone finds out?” The Sixth Princess grabbed her arm, still filled with worry.

With a soft sigh, Liu Yin leaned in and whispered. “So what if they find out? They started it first. I’m just fighting back. How can you be so timid? If you’re like this, how will you ever accomplish anything big in the future?”

Hearing this, the Sixth Princess pursed her lips but finally nodded firmly. Liu Yin immediately smiled and pulled her toward their destination.

The banquet hadn’t started yet, but the lotus pond was already in full bloom with lotus flowers. When the two arrived, they saw the water dotted with sparkling lights, as countless beautiful water lanterns floated on the surface, illuminating the blooming lotuses. The scenery was indeed exceptionally beautiful under the night sky.

By the pond stood a group of graceful women chatting and laughing. Though they were some distance away, Liu Yin immediately spotted Princess Mingyue. She didn’t see Shen Yao or the Fifth Princess, but there was an unfamiliar woman standing beside the princess whom Liu Yin had never seen in the capital before.

Some of the sharper-eyed women noticed them and quickly tugged at Princess Mingyue’s sleeve, gesturing in their direction.

Princess Mingyue turned her gaze and, upon seeing who it was, couldn’t help but sneer. “I heard Miss Liu was unfortunately bitten by a snake. I thought we wouldn’t see you today, but it seems the Imperial Physicians are somewhat useful after all.”

Step by step, Liu Yin approached the group. She glanced at the lotus flowers illuminated by the water lanterns and raised an eyebrow. “I’m afraid I’ve disappointed you, Princess. It was just a beast, after all. I’ve already had it stewed into snake soup. The Imperial Physician said it’s quite nourishing.”

At this, the group of noblewomen covered their mouths and took a step back, their faces filled with disgust. They had never imagined that a young lady would eat something so revolting.

Of course, Liu Yin hadn’t actually eaten the snake. It had been taken by the Imperial Physicians to be used for medicine—things like snake gallbladders were valuable ingredients, so it was put to good use.

“Well, that’s good to hear. But Miss Liu, you should be more careful when you go out in the future. It’s strange how that beast only bit you. How infuriating,” Princess Mingyue said, frowning slightly.

The woman behind her, Wu Yu, seized the opportunity to chime in, “Perhaps it was fate.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the others covered their mouths and giggled. Liu Yin glanced at Wu Yu. It seemed the lesson she had given her at the teahouse last time hadn’t been enough—she still dared to provoke her here.

Feeling uneasy under Liu Yin’s gaze, Wu Yu quickly took a step back and lowered her head, not daring to say another word.

Liu Yin shot a look at Xiyun behind her, signaling her to get ready. Then, with a bold expression, she stepped forward and pushed Wu Yu. “It seems like you don’t want your face anymore today.”

Clearly caught off guard by the sudden aggression, Wu Yu stumbled backward a few steps, and the others were equally startled. Princess Mingyue, however, glared at Liu Yin in displeasure. “How dare you act out in front of me!”

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Liu Yin raised an eyebrow and pushed Wu Yu again. “I’m acting out, so what?”

“You—” Princess Mingyue was so furious she stepped forward, but her maids quickly held her back.

In the commotion, Xiyun, keeping her head down, brushed past Liu Yin. Pretending to reach out to help Wu Yu, she subtly brushed against Princess Mingyue’s sleeve. Of the two spiders she had, one fell to the ground, but the other quickly crawled onto the princess’s clothing.

Catching Xiyun’s subtle signal, Liu Yin knew the plan had worked. She had no interest in wasting more time here. With a dismissive wave, she turned to leave. “Forget it, forget it. Otherwise, the esteemed princess might accuse me of disregarding etiquette and propriety. I’d best take my leave.”

“Wait.”

A clear, pleasant voice rang out behind her. Liu Yin paused mid-step, slowly turning around. The speaker was the unfamiliar young woman standing beside Princess Mingyue. She had delicate, charming features, but unlike many noblewomen of the capital, she didn’t carry the frail, scholarly air. Dressed in a flowing yellow gown, her posture was straight and poised, exuding an elegant and refined presence.

Noticing Liu Yin’s curiosity, the Sixth Princess leaned in and whispered, “That’s He Xin, daughter of the Southern Warlord. She holds the title of Princess Qiyang. She must have come to the capital specifically to celebrate Grandmother’s birthday.”

At this, Liu Yin’s brow arched slightly. The Southern Warlord holds a formidable military presence, entrenched in his territory for years. Picking a fight with his daughter might not be the wisest move… best to endure for now.

Maintaining a polite smile, she asked, “What can I do for you, Princess Qiyang?”

The woman before him had a graceful, curvaceous figure, clad in an elegant jade-whorl silk gown patterned like drifting clouds and flowing water. Her delicate features were strikingly beautiful, and her bright, clear eyes sparkled with mischief—nothing like the foolish and reckless girl the rumors described. However, the arrogance and boldness? That part was definitely true.

“What exactly did your maid just wipe onto Mingyue?” He Xin’s lips curled slightly, her tone casual yet laced with amusement.

Xiyun stiffened, lowering her head in silence. Liu Yin’s heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained nonchalant. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, Your Highness. What are you suggesting?”

At the question, Princess Mingyue’s wariness spiked. She immediately began patting down her sleeves, searching for anything amiss. That wretched girl—she knew Liu Yin was up to something tonight!

Liu Yin merely shrugged, her voice light and unconcerned. “The princess must be mistaken. We only exchanged a few words—nothing that won’t be forgotten in a few days.”

As long as she didn’t admit it, what could they possibly do to her?

“Xin’er, don’t listen to her nonsense,” Princess Mingyue huffed, still anxiously checking over her sleeves. “You’ve seen for yourself how outrageous she is. She never respects us, not in the slightest.”

Liu Yin casually twirled a strand of her hair, turning to leave. Who cares about titles? Without proof, no one could pin anything on her. She just had to wait and enjoy the show later.

As he watched the woman’s departing figure, He Xin’s eyes flickered slightly, and his wrist made a subtle movement. Up ahead, Liu Yin suddenly felt a sharp pain in her arm. Startled, she looked down and saw a fine layer of white powder that had appeared without her noticing. Her expression tensed as she quickly turned around, scanning her surroundings before finally locking her gaze onto the Princess of Qiyang.

“What exactly did you just throw on me, Your Highness?” Her voice carried a sharp chill.

Princess Mingyue merely scoffed. “What are you even talking about, Liu Yin? We’re standing so far away. Who saw anything?”

The surrounding noblewomen feigned ignorance, chatting idly as if nothing had happened.

Xiyun quickly leaned in and whispered, “Miss, that Princess Qiyang knows martial arts.”

That explained it. Liu Yin’s expression didn’t waver, but her grip on her sleeve tightened slightly.

Only the Sixth Princess looked genuinely uneasy. The Southern Warlord wasn’t just any vassal prince—his power ran deep. And Princess Qiyang had been close with Princess Mingyue since childhood. If things escalated, she feared her cousin might end up at a disadvantage.

Liu Yin, however, simply locked eyes with Princess Qiyang. The latter maintained a calm, pleasant smile, as if nothing at all had transpired.

“Xin’er.”

Just then, a group of people approached from a distance. Hearing the commotion, Princess Qiyang immediately turned and, with light, effortless steps, ran toward them.

It was the First Prince and the Third Prince, accompanied by another young man with strikingly refined features. He wore a deep blue brocade robe embroidered with golden clouds and dragons, his posture upright and steady. Only when Princess Qiyang latched onto his arm did a trace of reproach flicker across his face.

“Are you causing trouble again?”

Princess Qiyang turned slightly, hands clasped behind her back, and laughed breezily. “Big Brother worries too much. I was merely having a bit of fun.”

At once, the gathered noblewomen dipped into polite curtsies. “Greetings to Your Highnesses, First Prince, Third Prince, and His Lordship the Heir.”

Princess Mingyue, as a titled princess, was exempt from such formalities, but Liu Yin—just a minister’s daughter—was not. She cast a glance at the heir to the Southern Warlord and immediately decided that now was not the time for a direct confrontation. With reinforcements at her opponent’s back, it was best to retreat and settle the score another day.

Without a word, she turned to leave.

But just as she stepped forward, Princess Qiyang’s displeased voice rang out. “Stop right there! Is this the so-called etiquette of the Liu family?”

=^_^=