Currently, there is a thorough investigation into how the consort ended up with a rat infestation, but someone reported seeing Princess Qingyao near the consort’s palace wall that night. The emperor immediately suspected that it was the princess’s prank.

“Tell me, was this the work of the consort, or was it your doing?” His voice carried a trace of anger.

The princess replied plaintively, “I only heard about the consort’s incident from the servants this morning and was quite shocked! Why is Father so sure it was me?”

“Still dare to deny it? The guards saw you wandering outside the consort’s palace last night. What were you doing there so late?”

“Because Father scolded me yesterday, I was upset and couldn’t sleep. The night was beautiful, and I heard the night-blooming jasmine outside the consort’s palace was in full bloom, with fireflies everywhere. So last night I quietly went to catch a few, but I didn’t expect…”

“Hmph! Catching fireflies? That’s too much of a coincidence!” The emperor glanced at the mosquito bites on our faces and snorted.

The princess raised her head defiantly. “Why doesn’t Father believe me? Even if I had great abilities, I couldn’t sneak into the consort’s palace at midnight to do such things. The consort’s palace is guarded by so many servants. Even if I wanted to visit during the day, there are layers of checks, let alone sneaking in at night!”

The emperor frowned thoughtfully. Given the princess’s abilities, she indeed couldn’t have done such a thing.

The Empress looked sorrowful. “Your Majesty, even though Qingyao is mischievous, she wouldn’t do such a thing. Why won’t you believe us, mother and daughter?”

Seeing the Empress sad, the princess grew even more indignant. “Father, last night I saw the fireflies were so beautiful that I wanted to catch some to give to you, to place on your desk to ease your fatigue when reviewing memorials. But today it seems Father wouldn’t care at all!”

After speaking, she took out a small glass jar from her sleeve, opened it, and released the fireflies inside.

I was dumbfounded listening beside her. Those fireflies were clearly caught by me and my brother last night out of boredom. How did they become her gift for the emperor?

The princess’s skill in telling blatant lies is even better than mine.

I don’t know if the emperor was moved by the fireflies, but in any case, he said nothing more and waved his hand, dismissing us.

Later, I heard that the consort was very angry because the emperor did not punish the princess. In the end, the matter was settled when the emperor promised to grant her a luminous pearl from the imperial study.

When the princess found out, she was gloomy.

I was curious. “Your Highness, we already taught the consort a lesson, and the emperor didn’t punish us. Why are you still unhappy?”

The princess angrily twisted her handkerchief. “That woman is good at putting on airs to win Father’s favor. I asked Father for that luminous pearl several times, but he wouldn’t give it to me and gave it to her instead!”

I stroked my chin. “I don’t blame the consort; I blame the emperor for being too biased. If the princess really wants the luminous pearl, it’s not impossible…”

The princess was shocked and pale. “You dare even touch Father’s things?”

I put on a mysterious expression. “Of course I can’t, but my shadow can!”

My brother, who was hiding on the beam, trembled three times after hearing this and anxiously threw small stones at me.

The princess’s eyes lit up; she had witnessed my brother’s skills before. “The shadow is willing to go?”

I rubbed the back of my head, sore from being hit, and quickly promised, “Three imperial meals! The shadow will definitely agree!”

Sure enough, the small stone attacks stopped.

“Deal!” the princess immediately agreed.

The next day, chaos erupted in the emperor’s imperial study. Just as the servants were about to pack up the luminous pearl to send it to the consort’s palace, they discovered it was missing.

Upon hearing the news, the princess nervously and excitedly pushed open my door. “Qingcao, did you get it?”

But she saw someone who looked very much like me, sitting on the bed with his robe half open, revealing a strong chest.

That person locked eyes with her, his dark pupils as cold as stars.

The princess felt a rush of blood to her cheeks, her heart pounding violently. Instinctively, she slammed the door shut.

After a while, she cautiously covered her burning face and carefully opened the door again, but the room was already empty.

Footsteps came from behind her. She turned around and saw me carrying a large portion of imperial cuisine, entering from outside.

“Qing, Qing… Cao, why are you here? Who was in the room just now?” The princess was flustered and incoherent.

My heart sank. It was over-my brother had been discovered by the princess.

The emperor’s imperial study was much more heavily guarded than the consort’s palace. My brother had exerted considerable effort to evade the guards and had scratched his belly while climbing on the beam with the luminous pearl.

I told him to treat his wound inside the room while I went to fetch the promised imperial meal for him. In that short time, the princess happened to stumble upon us.

I smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond. The princess stepped forward and tugged at my clothes, her gaze falling on my chest.

“What are you doing?” I quickly used the tray to cover my chest.

“Could it be that you’re a man disguised as a woman?” She leaned close to examine me carefully.

I puffed out my chest and said, “What nonsense, Your Highness! I am a genuine unmarried young lady!”

After a long while, she lowered her head in disappointment. “You’re not him! Could it be that I was mistaken?”

Taking advantage of her not pursuing the matter further, I quickly changed the topic. “Your Highness, do you want to see the luminous pearl?”

After a whole day of searching, the luminous pearl was still nowhere to be found. The consort was so aggrieved she kept crying, and the emperor was so angry he punished several servants.

The empress sat in her chamber, listening to the commotion outside, and suddenly felt uneasy.

She hurried to Princess Qingyao’s chamber with several trusted palace attendants, stopped the servants from spreading the news, and quietly entered.

Inside, the princess and I were giggling foolishly, staring at a large pearl placed in the center of the table. The pearl emitted a soft glow, illuminating the room brightly.

The Empress nearly fainted.

She summoned the princess’s personal maid and interrogated her a few times, quickly learning all the details of what had happened over the past few days.

The Empress was so furious that it almost overwhelmed her. She ordered that I be punished, but the princess held me tightly and refused to let go, insisting she would stand up for me.