The pampered heiress holds the script and leads her cannon fodder family to a counterattack.

Chapter 256 The Lost Jade Pendant

The palace maid looked apologetic and kept apologizing to Qin Wanying.

Qin Wanying said, "It's alright, you can go down now."

Qin Wanying's eyes swept across the banquet hall, searching for a figure.

"Who are you looking for?" Xiao Jiye asked.

"I'm looking for the Fifth Princess, Xiao Yunxi," Qin Wanying replied.

Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Yunxi walked in from outside.

Before the banquet even started, Qin Wanying went up to her and pulled her aside to talk.

Xiao Jiye knew that Qin Wanying and Xiao Yunxi were on good terms now, and assumed that Qin Wanying wanted to catch up, so he didn't pay much attention.

The banquet began soon.

The Emperor, Empress Dowager, and other guests took their seats.

The eldest princess was also there.

The Ninth Prince, in an inconspicuous corner, looked at Consort Xian on the steps, a dark glint in his eyes.

Just be patient a little longer, the time will come soon.

He coughed lightly twice and swallowed the tea in his hand.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat displeased to see Qin Wanying and Xiao Jiye acting so harmoniously.

She thought about how Qin Wanying had ruined so many of their plans before, and now that she had the chance, why not make things difficult for her?

So he began, "How has the Crown Princess been lately? I heard you grew up in that humble place. Now that you've just entered the palace, are you getting used to this life of luxury?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the guests present fell silent for a moment, and everyone could hear the sarcasm in his words.

This statement is a veiled criticism of Qin Wanying, who grew up in Beitianfang, Yuanzhou, implying that she is unworthy of this life of luxury.

The Emperor's expression was also not good. It was too embarrassing to make things difficult for the Crown Princess in front of all the envoys.

Qin Wanying smiled and responded calmly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Although I come from a humble background, I am deeply loved by the Crown Prince and will certainly do my best to learn the etiquette of the palace and live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

Seeing that the Crown Princess remained dignified and composed in the face of the Empress Dowager's sarcastic remarks, answering with neither servility nor arrogance, everyone couldn't help but look at Qin Wanying with higher regard.

Xiao Jiye also gave Qin Wanying an approving look, meaning that her answer was good.

Consort Xian knew that Qin Wanying had caused her son a lot of suffering, so she said, "The Crown Princess is young, and palace affairs are complicated. If there is anything she doesn't understand, she should consult the Empress Dowager. After all, the affairs of the harem cannot be handled by beauty alone."

These words, ostensibly expressing concern for Qin Wanying, were actually a way of saying that the Crown Princess was all beauty and no talent or virtue.

Qin Wanying didn't take it to heart. If these people only gave her some verbal harassment, that would be fine.

As Xiao Yuqi listened to the Consort Xian speak, her dark eyelashes fluttered, concealing the coldness in her eyes.

He had rarely seen Consort Xian recently, and now that his mother's killer was right in front of him, he was truly unaccustomed to it.

However, he knew that he had no right to speak in this situation.

I was also worried for Qin Wanying, wondering if she could handle it well?

Just as Qin Wanying was about to speak, the Crown Prince spoke up with a smile: "What Consort Xian said is true. Wanying will certainly learn humbly. I often tell Wanying that governing the harem requires winning people over with virtue, not oppressing them with power. I believe Wanying will keep this in mind."

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, all the guests gasped.

The Crown Prince's words were a veiled criticism of Consort Xian for abusing her power and bullying Qin Wanying by taking advantage of her status.

Everyone's view of the Crown Prince changed. Normally, the Crown Prince was very respectful to the Empress Dowager and Consort Xian, and he paid great attention to the proper etiquette. Even if they deliberately made things difficult for him, he would go along with it and not refute them.

Now, he's actually going head-to-head with Consort Xian for the sake of his wife.

It seems that the Crown Princess is truly very important in the Crown Prince's eyes.

Consort Xian was also surprised and wanted to say something, but the Emperor said displeasedly, "What do you mean that beauty alone is not enough? If she only had beauty, would I have bestowed upon her the title of Princess Shenji? Do you think I am bad at judging people?"

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

The Emperor actually embarrassed Consort Xian in front of so many people for Qin Wanying's sake.

Qin Wanying felt a warmth in her heart; the Emperor treated her quite well.

Consort Xian was also surprised that the Emperor would publicly criticize her for Qin Wanying's sake.

There are so many foreign envoys too!

Her face flushed red and then turned pale.

She immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I dare not, Your Majesty knows I was wrong."

A fleeting hint of reluctance flashed in the eyes of Zhu Jin, the eunuch who had been standing behind Consort Xian, but it vanished in an instant.

Now everyone present knew that Qin Wanying, the Crown Princess, held an extraordinary position in the Emperor's eyes.

The Emperor was willing to disregard even the dignity of Consort Xian for her sake.

The Empress Dowager felt that the Emperor was slapping her in the face, after all, Consort Xian was a member of their family. She said, "Get up quickly, it's not a big deal, it's not that serious."

Consort Xian then got up.

However, sitting in my seat, I felt a burning sensation on my face, which made me feel very uncomfortable.

At this moment, Xiao Yingxue stood up: "Father, my jade pendant is missing!"

The Emperor looked displeased. What kind of trouble was this now?

"You're telling me the jade pendant is missing? Do you expect me to help you find it?" the Emperor asked.

Consort Xian felt increasingly distressed as she listened to the Emperor's words.

Previously, the emperor had maintained a facade of care and affection for the mother and daughter.

Now, he is constantly wresting power back from the Empress Dowager, and he no longer even pretends to be a threat to the mother and daughter.

The Consort Xian's fingernails dug into her flesh under the table.

Then don't blame me for being impolite.

Qin Wanying looked at Xiao Yingxue.

Are they about to stir up trouble?

Xiao Yingxue knelt on the ground, looking aggrieved. "If it were an ordinary jade pendant, I wouldn't bother looking for it. But this jade pendant was given to me by my brother before he went to war. My brother and I rarely see each other, and this jade pendant is truly very important to me..."

Xiao Yingxue had long known that she had lost her father's favor.

But the scene now is a palace banquet, with many foreign envoys present.

“Father, the foreign envoys are still here. If they see that we can’t even find the lost jade pendant, what kind of image would that be?” Xiao Yingxue continued.

She believed that even if her father was just trying to save face, he would help her find the jade pendant.

Then... with irrefutable evidence and the perpetrator caught red-handed...

At this moment, the Empress Dowager spoke up: "Our Great Yao Dynasty cannot tolerate any injustice. If there is a thief, he must be brought to justice!"

The palace maid beside Xiao Yingxue also knelt down.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, just before the banquet began, the Crown Princess passed by the Ninth Princess's seat, and then the Ninth Princess's jade pendant disappeared!"

The Emperor sighed.

Waiting here.

Xiao Jiye's expression was stern; they had actually openly framed the Crown Princess right in front of him.

These people are simply asking for trouble!

Xiao Jiye said, "Father, Empress Dowager, I guarantee with my life that Wanying would never do anything like stealing! Please investigate thoroughly!"

Xiao Jiye thought the palace maid looked familiar; she seemed to be the one who had just bumped into Qin Wanying.

A chill ran through him; things probably wouldn't be so easy to get over.

"Hmph, coming from such a remote and impoverished place, it's possible she's not entirely honest," the Empress Dowager said. "Guards, search her!"

The eldest princess stood up: "Empress Dowager, you mustn't! Wanying is the Crown Princess. If she is searched, wouldn't it be a laughing stock if word got out?"

Consort Xian was just reprimanded by the Emperor and has been quiet ever since.

Xiao Yingxue said, "The Crown Princess must have just happened to be passing by. I don't believe that the Crown Princess would be that kind of person."

"Why not have someone search her body to prove the Crown Princess's innocence?"