Cold-faced Empress

Fu Siying was splashed with soup, causing a disturbance.

As the palace maid trembled with fear, Fu Siying whispered a few words in Rong Chen's ear.

Rong Chen's expression changed, and he looked at her with surprise and doubt. She nodded slightly, reassuring her younger brother not to worry too much.

At the time when Fu Siying's family was appreciated and valued by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager severely punished the palace maids and ordered someone to quickly take Fu Siying to change her dirty clothes.

Despite being covered in dirt, Fu Siying remained calm and composed, showing no signs of embarrassment or awkwardness. She even stepped forward to return the Empress Dowager's greeting and express her gratitude, moving even further forward than when she had arrived at the center of the hall earlier.

She was standing so close to the front not for any other reason than to try and be a little clever.

"No need for formalities, hurry up and tidy yourself up, lest you burn yourself," the Empress Dowager scolded.

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

Fu Siying stood up and walked past the seat in front of the Grand Princess Sumin's residence, enduring the cold and ruthless gaze of Consort De. She lowered her head, looking quite troubled by the soup residue on her body.

He tugged at the dirtiest part of his waist and angrily wiped it with a handkerchief. In that flick of his sleeve, a delicate pocket drawstring came loose and fell silently to the ground.

Fu Siying seemed oblivious and walked straight ahead.

She didn't see it, but someone else did.

Hu Lingjing, who was keeping a close eye on Fu Siying, suddenly brightened up and immediately ordered the palace servants to quickly retrieve the bag that Fu Siying had dropped.

Just as Hu Lingjing was excitedly about to open the hanging bag to see what treasures or little secrets were inside, Fu Siying, who had been walking away, suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly turned back to look for the fallen hanging bag.

She asked the palace maid beside her, "Did you see my dropped pocket?"

The palace servants carefully pointed in the direction of Grand Princess Sumin.

Hu Lingjing ordered the palace servants to pick up the hanging bag, but this was seen by everyone.

Upon seeing that Hu Lingjing had found her, Fu Siying's expression changed drastically. All the composure and calmness she had displayed since entering the palace vanished. She hurried to Grand Princess Sumin, her voice anxious: "This humble woman greets Grand Princess."

Princess Sumin remained indifferent, ignoring Fu Siying's greetings and displaying an arrogant attitude that showed she didn't want to deal with the little bug.

Fu Siying frowned, looking at Hu Lingjing with a hint of anger: "Miss Hu, did you find my pouch? I wonder if you could return it?"

Seeing Fu Siying's anxiety, Hu Lingjing was even less likely to return it obediently. She even arrogantly waved the bag in her hand: "Just because you say it's yours doesn't mean it's yours. You have to tell me what's in this bag. Only if it matches can you take it."

The two had already attracted the attention of those around them. Fu Siying showed her anger: "I dropped something in front of everyone, it's perfectly normal for me to get it back, why do I need Miss Hu's verification?"

"Just in case, since I was the one who found it." Having finally caught Fu Siying red-handed, Hu Lingjing was smug. "Just being careful!"

Princess Sumin said with disgust, "Once you prove it's yours, it will naturally be returned to its rightful owner. There's no need to waste your eloquence here with your endless nonsense."

With her mother's help, Hu Lingjing became even more smug, raising her chin high and almost looking down her nose at Fu Siying.

"Tell me what's inside, let me check."

He pretended to open the hanging bag and reached out to take out something from inside.

Seeing this, fear crossed Fu Siying's face, and she cried out urgently, "Stop! You're not allowed to look!"

Having already felt the folded papers in the pocket, Hu Lingjing narrowed her eyes, revealing a sinister and malicious intent in the face of Fu Siying's frightened expression.