Chapter 4: A Dramatic Scene of Adultery Caught in the Act:

As soon as they entered the guest courtyard, everyone heard strange noises.

The women Qin Shi brought along were all experienced wives, they immediately recognized what kind of sounds those were.

“These sounds…” Qin Shi hadn’t expected that little slut Tang Mi to be so debauched. A flicker of excitement lit up in her eyes, though she maintained a facade of disbelief and hesitation on her face.

The Princess Royal’s face turned ashen. She couldn’t believe someone could be so shameless as to engage in such indecent acts in her guest courtyard.

“Perhaps it’s just some shameless servants sneaking around for pleasure. We best not enter, lest we sully our eyes,” Qin Shi said, standing in front of the door, as if trying to protect someone.

Seeing her act like that, the crowd easily caught on. Clearly, the person inside the room must be a young lady from the Tang family.

Madam Wang from the Ministry, who had always been at odds with Qin Shi, saw through her facade and mocked, “Oh my, if it’s really just some lowly servants, then how shameless they must be to do such things in broad daylight in the guest courtyard! If you ask me, the Princess Royal’s residence is not the kind of place lacking discipline!”

Her words instantly stoked the Princess Royal’s fury. She shot Qin Shi a glare before ordering the elderly maid at her side, “Break the door down. I must see which shameless servant dares such a thing!”

Qin Shi had only meant to feign protectiveness to provoke Madam Wang into opening the door. She hadn’t expected her own relationship with the Princess Royal to be sabotaged. Now uneasy, she didn’t dare stop the maid.

The maid stepped forward, but before she could even apply force, the door creaked open on its own. What was happening inside the room became immediately visible, because a man and woman were naked and entangled on the floor by the doorway.

“My heavens! In broad daylight, right there on the floor, how shameless!”

“Are they really servants of the Princess Royal’s estate? How utterly debauched!”

“No way they’re servants here. Everyone knows how strict the Princess Royal is with discipline.”

“Then who are they? Look, that woman has a gold hairpin, it must be a young lady from some noble family.”

The women chattered animatedly, unbothered by decorum. Being married women, they had no qualms gossiping. It was like watching a theatrical performance.

Qin Shi, still stung by Wang Madam’s earlier words and without clearly seeing who was inside, jumped at the chance to curry favor with the Princess Royal. “This is all my fault. I failed to discipline the girl, letting her commit such vile acts in your home. I am deeply ashamed, Your Highness.”

Her shameful display disgusted Madam Wang. “Oh? Who is it exactly that you’re apologizing for, Madam Tang? Haven’t even identified the girl yet!”

“Isn’t it obvious? It must be a girl from the Tang family!”

“But there are two Tang girls in the guest courtyard. Which one is it?”

The spectators eagerly joined in the discussion.

Seeing the situation begin to implicate her own daughter Rong’er, Qin Shi quickly redirected the blame with a sorrowful sigh, “Mi’er lost her parents early. She was raised by the old madam, who was always very strict. Who could’ve thought she’d do something like this?”

If her previous words weren’t clear enough, this sentence explicitly named Tang Mi.

The Princess Royal’s brows knitted tightly. She had just been thinking highly of the Tang family’s eldest daughter and had even considered marrying into their family. But now… to think Tang Mi would do this in her guest courtyard, she was thoroughly disgusted.

The crowd began murmuring again after Qin Shi’s not-so-subtle accusations.

“So it’s Tang Mi, the eldest Miss Tang.”

“Oh, I thought she was such a well-bred girl. Who’d have guessed she’s this shameless?”

“She’s pretty, sure, but to be this depraved, doing such a thing in someone else’s home, absolutely revolting.”

“Exactly! Did you see how she moved? That’s not how a noble young lady acts, it’s more like a courtesan!”

Hearing them insult Tang Mi so viciously made Qin Shi feel extremely satisfied.

That little slut finally got what she deserved. Her mother was low-born, and her daughter is the same. Let’s see how she dares compete with her precious Rong’er for a man now!

Just as Qin Shi was reveling in the downfall of Tang Mi, a voice rang out in confusion:

“Second Aunt, what’s going on?”