I lifted my head and met a pair of dazzling eyes. Her eyes were extremely bright, yet filled with calculations and worldliness that were beyond her age. I had only seen this kind of gaze from the old maidservants in the mansion. I couldn't understand why a girl of her age would possess such eyes, and found myself staring at them, unconsciously.

"Princess, what on earth are you talking about? This humble servant doesn't know what has caused your displeasure, so please enlighten me." Lady Wei's composure had already been thrown into disarray, and she no longer cared about her image as she scrambled towards my direction. I, too, looked at the woman standing before me with confusion. According to my memory, I had never seen this Qingyang Princess before, and I had no idea why she would stand up for me.

Seemingly sensing my confusion, Princess Qingyang patted the back of my hand and then turned to Lady Wei, saying, "Madam, you certainly have courage, daring to question Princess's words. Have you not pondered over your own wrongdoings? Very well, Princess will clarify it for you one by one. In front of all the ladies present, we shall discern whether Princess has wronged you or not." As she said this, Princess Qingyang paused for a moment and then her gaze swept across the court ladies in the Sunrise Terrace. Holding my hand, she led me to the tall platform and spoke to me in a softer tone, "You may sit beside Princess to avoid any mistreatment from your mother at your family's seat." As soon as she finished speaking, a servant brought a small stool behind me. I glanced anxiously at Princess Qingyang in front of me and then took a seat under the service of the palace maids.

Seeing me seated, Princess Qingyang also slowly took a seat. She first handed me a pastry and then turned her gaze to Lady Wei, calmly saying, "You just said that you were at fault for Miss Yu's late arrival and were willing to accept punishment together. How come you forgot so quickly? To question the words of this princess, even if you're innocent, you're guilty, let alone the fact that you are already guilty. You are just a concubine of Minister Yu, because Minister Yu's household doesn't have a lawful wife, you can represent his household to attend social events. Do you not understand what a concubine is? A concubine is a servant, yet you fail to recognize your own identity and even dare to conspire against your mistress. Yu Ying is Minister Yu's legitimate daughter and the rightful mistress. How could a concubine like you degrade her? You said that Yu Ying didn't care about your words and thus caused the delay of this princess's banquet, but what about you? Even before the mistress arrived, you took the initiative to ride in the mistress's carriage with your own daughter. And now, you dare to openly accuse the mistress. What are your intentions? Let's say, even if Yu Ying truly didn't care about your words, how could a concubine like you not give the mistress any advice? Who gave you the audacity to go out without the mistress? Who gave you the audacity to use the mistress's carriage without permission? Originally, this princess had no right to intervene in the affairs of Minister Yu's household. However, today's incident happened in my princess's residence. If I were to say nothing, wouldn't people say that my princess's residence was unable to distinguish right from wrong and allowed a servant to bully the mistress?" At this point, Princess Qingyang glanced at me, took a sip of the tea in front of her and continued, "It's Minister Yu's kindness to let Yu Ying address you as 'mother', giving you face. But you, you're using a chicken feather as an arrow and truly acting as the head of Minister Yu's household, truly acting as Yu Ying's mother. You're just lucky to have encountered a good-natured and easy-to-manipulate legitimate daughter like Yu Ying. If it were another household, who would allow a concubine to ride on the mistress's head and act tyrannically? If this princess's guess is correct, your defense of Yu Ying just now was false, and you wanted to gain a good reputation for yourself. Unfortunately, you should never have tried to scheme in my princess's residence. I have seen many tricks far beyond what someone like you can imagine. Since you want to be punished, let me fulfill your wish. Guards, give this ungrateful person a beating and throw her out. My princess's residence will no longer invite her to any banquets."