The cannon fodder heiress trembled with fear after being recognized as a member of her family.

Han Lingzhi carried Qi Yuejiao and leaped out of the water onto the bamboo raft, just in time to see Han Cuiyin make her move.

"Today's guests are all sons and daughters of powerful and influential families in the capital. Such a large sum of money could cause trouble. Even with the Grand Princess's backing, she has her own concerns. You are just an unfavored daughter of a Grand Secretary, so you should be more discreet in your actions."

Han Lingzhi had a cold expression, completely different from the person she was in Yanjia Village in the Pinglian Mountains that day.

"I know what I'm doing! It's just one eye, that's enough of a price to pay." Han Cuiyin didn't seem to care.

In her previous life, she had encountered the same situation as Qi Yuejiao. If she hadn't been able to swim, she probably would have been tricked that time.

After Qi Yuejiao got ashore, her clothes clung tightly to her body. If she had been rescued on the shore, her exquisite figure would have been seen.

The young princess draped her outer robe over her shoulders. "Aunt Qi, how...how are you?"

Even Han Lingzhi, who had just saved someone, did not receive a thank you from the young princess. After this incident, the young princess's estrangement from Qi Yuejiao disappeared completely, and she even became closer to her.

"Cough cough, let go! You've already strangled me before I could even finish spitting out all that water!" Qi Yuejiao pulled the little girl's arm off her neck. "Are you alright? Today, we'll have your father settle this matter. If the culprit isn't found, your future will be difficult!"

The young princess is already six years old. Having grown up in the royal family, she has experienced some things since her mother's passing, so she naturally understands what she means.

"So what if I found him? Father is too busy to care about me." Tears welled up in the little princess's eyelashes, threatening to fall, making her all the more endearing.

Han Cuiyin used the remaining bamboo pole to paddle towards the shore, listening to the conversation between the two people, one big and one small, and was filled with mixed feelings.

They're all motherless children. If they don't retaliate against those who tricked them this time, anyone can come and kick them while they're down.

A month ago, when she first entered the Han family mansion, she took the initiative to discipline everyone in the main kitchen, which was her way of establishing her authority.

Some servants, relying on their masters, had become arrogant and complacent, and some servants were adept at reading people's expressions. If they hadn't been dealt with that time, she didn't know how badly she would have been neglected in the Han household.

Han Lingzhi had not experienced these things, but she felt the same way. "Parents are most concerned about the children who cry and complain. Those who are quiet and honest are the ones who suffer the most."

After saying that, she looked down at her clothes and realized that the fabric was not as good as the one Han Cuiyin had draped over her.

"I never expected that Miss Han would also feel so aggrieved. Even the princess can't treat everyone equally." Han Cuiyin covered her mouth and laughed, but the sarcasm in her words did not escape the ears of the three of them.

Han Lingzhi simply pursed her lips and remained silent, calmly propelling the bamboo raft toward the shore.

After this encounter, the four of them actually got along better.

"Everyone has their own difficulties. Life is full of suffering. The real skill is to make the bitter days sweet."

After Han Cuiyin finished speaking, the other three looked at her with pity.

Noticing these things, I felt no bitterness; I was happy in the moment, and that was enough.

She didn't mean to lecture them; she genuinely meant it.

Having experienced a thousand years in the Realm of Immortality, she has now returned and taken all the suffering in stride. However, she must settle the karmic debts from her past life, otherwise it would be no different from her cultivation level.

The other three heard this, but the young princess was too young to care much, and Qi Yuejiao, being easygoing, didn't take it to heart either.

Only Han Lingzhi remained silent, her eyes unfocused and vacant, staring at the lake as if lost in thought.

The four completely ignored the fact that there was another person splashing around in the lake. While they stayed in the lake, chaos broke out on the shore.

"It's my brother!"

Just as we were about to reach the shore, a sharp female voice drifted over the pavilion in the lake.

This woman was a member of the Xu family. She was on good terms with Lin Jiabao and was willing to be her follower.

However, she was only a member of a collateral branch of the Xu family and had a kinship with Xu Tianyun, nothing more.

Lin Jiabao glared at her, "Keep your voice down! You've scared the princess! Go find someone to save her!"

The matter has been exposed, and she is unaware of the Xu family's young master's condition. There is blood in the lake; if it is serious, she can only appease him for the time being.

Lin Jiabao, backed by the Chen Prince's Mansion, held considerable prestige among these noble ladies.

The people in the pavilion had been watching the lake closely and had naturally witnessed what had just happened. In particular, when a man swam over and tried to approach, they knew that someone had set a trap.

However, it's better to avoid trouble, and since it involves the royal family, no one is willing to speak up.

Besides, Han Yueshi is still around. The two mothers have been at odds for a long time, and she certainly won't let Lin Jiabao have her way.

Unexpectedly, the Chen Prince's Mansion actually supported their granddaughter marrying into the First Prince's Mansion and did not want their granddaughter to be involved in the controversy.

No young masters or ladies from the Chen Prince's Mansion attended the banquet this time, showing absolutely no respect to the Fourth Prince.

The Prince of Chen did not reveal which prince he specifically supported.

Now it seems that the eldest prince is the most likely candidate.

The people present had already made up their minds, and no one said anything, just waiting to see what would happen.

Han Yueshi had just sent Han Lingzhi down to rescue people, which naturally created a grudge between her and Lin Jiabao.

I wonder what that strange Han Cuiyin is doing getting involved. Her relationship with the Han family isn't bad, so why would she help Han Lingzhi?

Unable to figure out the secret, the people on the bamboo raft fussed over the people who had come down, and sent their maids and servants to run errands.

These young ladies came from families with little ambition; they contentedly enjoyed the scenery at the imperial estate. However, since the prince had extended an invitation, they had no choice but to attend, unlike the Chen Prince's family, who had the confidence to refuse outright.

Those ambitious girls have long since vanished. As for where they went, everyone knows the answer, but no one says it.

After the young princess got ashore, she saw the crowd on the shore and said calmly, "Make way, Aunt Qi has caught a cold and needs to go back inside to change her wet clothes."

After saying this, she glanced at Lin Jiabao and said, "Some people shouldn't always be thinking about climbing the social ladder, otherwise they'll make you look bad if they marry into the family."

After hearing Han Cuiyin's words, the young princess realized that if she, born into royalty, couldn't live a good life, it was her own fault. She didn't want to be like her mother, bottling everything up and never speaking up when she was wronged; that only hurt her own health.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances and could only awkwardly make way.

Even after Han Cuiyin and the other three left, the lake remained lively.

The young master of the Xu family fell into the water, and some guards who could swim had already entered the water to rescue him.

The crimson hue on the lake surface gradually faded.

The young lady of the Xu family twisted her handkerchief in her hands, her heart filled with anxiety. If something happened to her elder brother, she would not be able to live either.

If Lin Jiabao hadn't promised to elevate her to the First Prince's residence after the deed was done, she wouldn't have dared to take such a risk and let her elder brother do this.

Imperial Censor Qi was not easily fooled.

The young lady from the Xu family glanced at Lin Jiabao, but Lin Jiabao immediately looked away. "Miss Lin, what should we do now?"

"What happened? Why are you asking me?"

Lin Jiabao directly distanced herself from the situation and completely ignored it.

The Xu family girl was pale and swayed slightly. "Miss Lin, if anything happens to me, you won't have a good time either."

Guest house.

"Princess, the First Prince has sent a letter, forbidding us to keep quiet about it."

An old woman came in and said in a muffled voice.