Su Xiaoqi had seen the Grand Princess approaching and had deliberately added that last sentence to provoke Princess Qionghua.
She was confident that if Princess Qionghua lost control of her temper and caused a scene, the Grand Princess would be the first to reprimand her.
After all, although the incident with Princess Hui'an had passed for Princess Qionghua and the others, it would never truly pass for the Grand Princess, her mother.
Princess Qionghua was a shrewd individual, very aware of the circumstances, and an excellent actress.
It was usually not easy for the Grand Princess to catch her doing anything wrong on the spot. Today, Su Xiaoqi intended to fan the flames.
However, Princess Qionghua's reaction was indeed swift. The moment she saw the Grand Princess approaching, she immediately withdrew her fierce expression.
She even forced a smile, though she herself couldn't see that her unhappiness made her smile look worse than crying.
She feigned sisterly affection and kindness towards Princess Hui'an, inviting her to fly kites together.
Upon the Grand Princess's arrival, she led the group of young ladies behind her to curtsy and pay their respects.
The Grand Princess rolled her eyes at her. She had no intention of dealing with such a wicked woman.
Her status did not require her to feign politeness with Princess Qionghua. She kept a cold expression, making all the young ladies behind Princess Qionghua feel unwelcome.
Witnessing this, those people, being exceptionally astute, each retreated, maintaining distance from Princess Qionghua.
Princess Qionghua, with keen perception, noticed this. She narrowed her eyes, her expression unchanged, but a hint of danger flashed in her gaze.
She immediately proposed to take her leave. As she passed Su Xiaoqi, she gritted her teeth and spat out three words: "We'll see."
Su Xiaoqi smiled faintly, feigning innocence. "Does Princess Qionghua have any instructions? This humble girl did not hear clearly."
Princess Qionghua was furious and repeated angrily, "I said, we'll see... Humph." Before she could finish, her personal maid tugged at her sleeve. She realized her mistake, almost falling into Su Xiaoqi's trap.
Su Xiaoqi smiled as brightly as spring flowers, her mood greatly lifted.
Meanwhile, the Grand Princess had already been informed of the day's events by her attendant.
She highly praised Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi for protecting Princess Hui'an.
She even offered them her support: "Princess Qionghua was raised by her mother, a concubine's daughter. She has been ill-intentioned since childhood.
You must be wary of her from now on. When you go out, bring my household guards with you. If anything happens, send someone to find Granny Xu."
Although Princess Qionghua was born to the primary wife, her mother, Princess Pingning, was born to a concubine, the daughter of Prince Xiang's concubine.
Originally, Prince Xiang's legitimate daughter was supposed to marry into the Ning family.
However, she had died young, so the concubine-born Princess Pingning was substituted and granted the title of Princess.
This was common knowledge throughout the capital.
Su Xiaoqi, having inquired about it, nodded with a smile, appearing exceptionally docile and cute.
Du Yiyi, however, lifted her chin and declared indignantly, "Let her come if she dares. I'm not afraid."
With her skills, she was not afraid of Princess Qionghua. If Princess Qionghua dared to go too far, she would whip her so hard she wouldn't know what hit her.
Su Xiaoqi didn't say it, but in her heart, she truly wasn't afraid of Princess Qionghua.
It wasn't because she had any particular backing, but because she knew very well that people like Princess Qionghua, with their narrow minds and vengeful natures, would only become more emboldened if you feared them.
Therefore, regardless of Princess Qionghua's intentions, Su Xiaoqi would not change her behavior towards her.
So why should she be afraid?
Su Xiaoqi felt a surge of the 'barefoot's not fearing the shod' mentality.
It was Princess Hui'an who benefited the most from this incident.
She straightened her previously hunched back and looked at Su Xiaoqi and Du Yiyi, her resolve firm:
She was Princess Hui'an, daughter of the Grand Princess. From now on, she would stand tall and live her life with dignity. As long as she refused, no one would be able to order her around.
As for friends, Sister Xiaoqi had always told her that true friends would not choose to be friends based on external factors.
And those who could be instigated by others were not true friends at all; they were better off without them.
"Exactly, exactly. Once our slide is built, many people will be eager to come play with us." Young Bao Ge'er, having watched the entire event, had his own insightful opinions, even at his young age.
There had been some minor incidents, but fortunately, everyone's mood was not significantly affected.
The group enjoyed the scenery, flew kites, and had a wonderfully enjoyable time.
Returning at night, Su Xiaoqi was a bit tired from the day's events and retired to bathe and rest early.
Just as she extinguished the lamp, she heard a movement by the window.
Her body trembled, and she immediately sat up, her eyes wide as she stared at the window.
She saw the window being pried open from the outside, and a figure flipped in, heading straight for the bed.
Su Xiaoqi's heart grew tense. She suspected Princess Qionghua had sent someone for revenge. She quickly reached into her spatial dimension for a sharp dagger, gripping it in her palm, ready to strike the moment the intruder got close.
Su Xiaoqi waited silently, then suddenly heard a familiar call: "Niángzi..."
Her heart relaxed, and the dagger in her hand instantly slipped, falling onto the wooden floor.
The newcomer bent down, picked up the dagger, and looked at her in the dim moonlight, disbelief etched on his face: "Niángzi, you're trying to murder your husband?"
Su Xiaoqi was startled and lunged into his arms: "Husband, don't talk nonsense, I wasn't. You also said you had a door, why would you come through the window? I thought it was someone sent by Princess Qionghua to harm me..."
Su Xiaoqi complained, her tone taking on a hint of coyness she herself hadn't noticed, and she even casually revealed what had happened during the day.
Shen Yun listened, his heart stirred, and he couldn't help but hold her close, patting her shoulder to comfort her.
"I heard about what happened today. I came because I was afraid you would be frightened."
Shen Yun knew that his little wife couldn't sleep well without him, and now that she had been through such a fright, of course, he had to come and comfort her.
"What did you hear?" Su Xiaoqi asked curiously.
Apart from hearing Zhang Yu mention his encounter with Prince Ning earlier in the day, she hadn't seen him at all.
Yet, he had heard about her affairs.
"Right, which courtyard are you staying in?" Su Xiaoqi remembered that the bamboo house allocated to him had been snatched by Prince Ning's heir.
He had come up the mountain with Prince Ning, but she didn't know where he was staying.
"Not far from here," Shen Yun replied softly.
Su Xiaoqi grumbled about Prince Ning's heir being so bothersome, how could he do such a thing.
As she spoke, she noticed Shen Yun's eyes twinkling with a smile, a hint of playful teasing in them. Su Xiaoqi blinked, and from his smile, she suddenly realized something.
"You, you did it on purpose?" Intentionally arranged for Prince Ning's heir to snatch his bamboo house, and then encounter Prince Ning, and come up the mountain with him.
Thinking of this possibility, Su Xiaoqi found it rather unlikely.
After all, he could scheme against Prince Ning's heir, but how could he scheme against Prince Ning himself?
Even though she had never met him, Prince Ning was a capable minister by Emperor Xingzhao's side, holding the actual position of Minister of Works. Among the princes and nobles, he was a rare figure of real power.
How could such a person be easily outmaneuvered?
Shen Yun remained silent, but he blinked his eyes like Su Xiaoqi.
His eyes shone with a brilliant, exceptionally cunning light.
This was an unspoken affirmation. Su Xiaoqi was greatly surprised: "You, how did you do it?"
Shen Yun reached out and flicked her nose: "Does my wife really want to know?"
Su Xiaoqi nodded, but seeing his hesitant expression, as if he had something unspeakable.
"Is there any inconvenience?" she was about to say that it was fine if it was inconvenient.
But then she thought about who Prince Ning's heir was with, and she immediately understood: "Could those two delicate little beauties be your people?"
This time it was Shen Yun's turn to be shocked. His little wife was truly remarkable, having figured out these intricate twists and turns. And she excelled in daring to think and dare to speak.
Shen Yun thought this was the limit of Su Xiaoqi's deductions, but what she said next made him even more astonished.