"You... how are you here?" An Ping asked, disbelief etched on her face.
An Ning looked at An Ping's surprised expression and smiled, "Eldest Princess, your words are a bit strange. If I'm not here, then where should I be?"
"You shouldn't..." An Ping stopped herself mid-sentence, suddenly feeling something was amiss.
An Ning let out a cold laugh, "It seems Eldest Princess knows where I should be, doesn't she?"
An Ping calmed herself and said, "I heard from the servants at the Duke's Mansion that you were feeling unwell. They informed Father Emperor, who worried about you and specifically brought the imperial physician to treat third sister."
"Feeling unwell? Eldest Princess knows very well what happened at the Duke's Mansion."
An Ping was taken aback, her gaze deepening, "Cousin Wei Shu told me."
"I see," An Ning drew out her words.
"Third sister doesn't believe me?" An Ping inquired.
"I just find Eldest Princess to be very well-informed, knowing everything I do at the Duke's Mansion."
An Ping frowned and said, "Third sister, it was also Cousin Wei Shu who told me about your discomfort."
"I don't recall sending anyone to inform Princess Cousin that Princess An Ning was unwell?"
A voice cut through the air. An Ping trembled and looked up to see a young woman walking out. It was Yun Wei Shu.
"Cousin Wei Shu, you're here." An Ping quickly stepped forward, taking Yun Wei Shu's hand.
Yun Wei Shu's expression remained unchanged. She withdrew her hand and bowed to Emperor An, "This humble subject greets Your Majesty."
An Ping frowned and stepped forward again, looking at Yun Wei Shu with a smile, "Cousin, you've come at just the right time. Quickly tell Third Sister, is she really not feeling well?"
As she spoke, An Ping clasped Yun Wei Shu's hand, tightening her grip.
Yun Wei Shu calmly pulled her hand out of An Ping's grasp once more and knelt on the ground, "I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Emperor An heard this and asked, "What exactly is going on?"
Yun Wei Shu said, "Princess An Ning was bumped by a servant carrying tea, dirtying her clothes. I sent a maid to escort Princess An Ning to my Wei Shu Pavilion to change. This is what happened."
"Nonsense, Third Sister was clearly feeling unwell and came here," An Ping said coldly, her fierce gaze seeming to devour Yun Wei Shu.
Yun Wei Shu looked up at An Ping's anger and said, "Princess An Ping, am I not more aware of what happened at the Duke's Mansion?"
An Ping trembled. What did Yun Wei Shu call her? Princess An Ping?
"Cousin, you..."
Yun Wei Shu turned her face away, no longer looking at An Ping, "Princess An Ping, this humble subject does not know which servant falsely reported Princess An Ning's situation. I ask Your Majesty for forgiveness, and I also ask Princess An Ping to respect the facts. This is my brother's courtyard, and I would never let a maid bring Princess An Ning here."
An Ping's gaze deepened. She now understood. Clearly, Yun Wei Shu and Yun Duan Hai had switched allegiances.
"An Ping..." Emperor An, having heard the whole story, was furious.
Even if she had been mistakenly led here, how could An Ping make him, her father, bring so many people to catch her in adultery?
An Ping glanced at An Ning. The young woman's gaze was calm and collected, without a trace of panic, as if everything was within her control.
Clearly, her plan had been seen through by An Ning.
"Father, it's all my fault, Third Sister. I listened to the servants' words. It's my fault. You'll forgive your sister, won't you?" An Ping looked up at An Ning.
In front of everyone, An Ping's actions were clearly meant to force An Ning's forgiveness. However, An Ning had no intention of escalating the matter.
The situation was not yet set in stone, and she had not been harmed in any way. What would be the point of making a fuss? It would only result in Father Emperor grounding her, which was not a big deal.
"Eldest Princess, what are you saying? Am I not fine? Besides, I felt very safe at the Duke's Mansion," An Ning said slowly.
An Ping held her hand and said, "I knew Third Sister would forgive me."
An Ning smiled and said in a voice only they could hear, "Eldest Princess, there's a first time for everything, and a second time, but never a third. If there's another time..."
She didn't finish her words. An Ping was not stupid, nor was she foolish, so she naturally understood what she meant.
As expected, An Ping's expression changed slightly. An Ning no longer looked at An Ping's expression.
She turned and walked to Emperor An's side, "Father, you must have been worried."
Emperor An reached out and stroked her head, "As long as you are safe, I am at ease."
"Father, don't worry, I will be fine from now on."
Emperor An didn't speak, but stroked her hair, "No matter what happens, remember that Father is here. The palace is always your home."
Emperor An didn't say more, but An Ning understood. Emperor An was implying that even if her reputation was ruined, as a dignified Princess of An, he would support his little An Ning for the rest of his life.
An Ning's eyes flickered, "Father, you are so good."
Emperor An smiled and said, "Go back early. If you need anything, let Mo Yuan help you."
An Ning nodded, "I know, Father."
Emperor An left with his entourage.
An Ping did not leave, her gaze towards Yun Wei Shu unfriendly. Yun Wei Shu ignored An Ping and walked to An Ning, bowing, "Your Highness must have been frightened. This humble subject will discipline her servants properly in the future and ensure this does not happen again."
"Thank you," An Ning said.
Yun Wei Shu was slightly stunned, then said, "I should be thanking you. Thank you for sparing the Duke's Mansion, thank you for sparing my brother."
Yun Wei Shu was not stupid; on the contrary, she was very intelligent. When Bai Mei appeared, she sensed something was wrong. After An Ning left with Bai Mei, she quickly sent a maid to investigate. What she discovered shocked her.
She never imagined that An Ping would try to drag the Duke's Mansion down with her.
If her brother had truly ruined Princess An Ning's reputation, and Emperor An was furious, the Duke's Mansion would be the first to suffer, and her brother would not be able to escape.
Fortunately, Princess An Ning was even smarter than she thought, and had seen through her brother's scheme early on.
She had even turned the tables, completely foiling An Ping's plan.
She thought Princess An Ning would seize the opportunity to report to Emperor An, but it was all in her imagination. Princess An Ning had no such intention.
The Duke's Mansion was safe.
"No need for thanks; I will return this favor," An Ning said calmly.
Yun Wei Shu bowed, "This humble subject remembers this favor. Whenever Your Highness wishes to collect it, this humble subject will absolutely fulfill it."
"Rong Cui, let's go!" An Ning left the Duke's Mansion with Rong Cui.
"Your Highness is just letting it go like this?" Rong Cui asked, somewhat unhappily.
An Ning heard this and replied, "Otherwise?"
"You're letting go of what Miss Yun said to you earlier?"
"Rong Cui, you really hold a grudge," An Ning said.
"Naturally. Whoever speaks ill of Your Highness, Rong Cui will remember them forever."