Upon hearing this, Lady Shen was greatly alarmed. Her first reaction was that Shen Li had caused some trouble and offended the Fifth Princess, which was why the princess had come to the mansion.
Even Shen Miao had the same thought. Looking at the enigmatic face of the Fifth Princess, she blurted out, "May I ask, Your Highness, has my elder sister done something wrong? My elder sister is straightforward by nature and often acts without considering the consequences. If she has inadvertently offended Your Highness, I would like to apologize on her behalf."
These words seemed to be an excuse and plea for Shen Li, but in fact, they were saying that Shen Li was a reckless fool.
Tingqin, who had been in the palace for many years, naturally understood the hidden meaning in these words. But her smile remained unchanged as she still said kindly, "Second Miss, you're overthinking. Our princess is looking for the Eldest Miss about something else."
"I wonder when the Eldest Miss will be back?"
Shen Miao glanced at her mother, and Lady Shen immediately understood. She took over the conversation and said, "Li'er is not at home today."
"Did she say when she would return?"
"Well... to be honest, Li'er is now in charge of the mansion, and we dare not interfere in her affairs. Not only do we not know when she will be back, but we don't even know when she left home today."
Hearing this, Princess Luoyao couldn't help but frown. "Didn't anyone see her leave today?"
"Well..." Lady Shen hesitated. "Your Highness will have to wait a moment. I need to ask the servants in the mansion. Now that Li'er is in charge, these servants have become bolder. I have to go and ask them myself. Please wait a while, Your Highness."
"Madam, please call the gatekeepers and the servants guarding the door in the mansion."
"Tingqin, go with her."
Lady Shen had no choice but to follow Princess Luoyao's instructions and call these servants together. After asking them one by one, she finally learned something from the old woman guarding the back door.
Tingqin went back and whispered the matter into Princess Luoyao's ear. After hearing it, Princess Luoyao's expression remained unchanged, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward again.
Lady Shen wanted to say something to ease the awkwardness, but looking at the Fifth Princess's not-so-kind face, she opened her mouth several times but finally said nothing.
Fortunately, soon a servant came to report that Shen Li had returned.
As soon as Shen Li got home, a servant greeted her and said that Lady Shen wanted to see her.
She originally wanted to find an excuse to avoid it first and wait until the Ninth Princess left. But unexpectedly, the servant said that there was a guest who specifically wanted to see her.
Shen Li glanced at the Ninth Princess beside her and already had a guess in her heart. She could only pull Princess Luoning to the East Courtyard.
Princess Luoning didn't expect to see her own elder sister sitting in the main hall as soon as she entered the door. Now she wanted to hide, but it was already too late.
"Humph, you're just coming back now. I wonder how you had fun today?" Princess Luoyao said coldly.
Hearing the tone of Princess Luoyao's words, Princess Luoning knew that she was angry. She said weakly, "Elder Sister, I know I was wrong."
Reminded by Shen Miao, Lady Shen, who understood, quickly stepped forward to plead guilty. "Enticing the Ninth Princess out of the palace privately is indeed a great crime. Please, Your Highness, forgive her this time for Li'er is still young."
Shen Miao also stepped forward gently to plead. "My elder sister is young. Please, Your Highness, spare her this time."
Shen Li stood at the door, sneering and staring at the mother and daughter. How ridiculous. They didn't even know the ins and outs of the matter, yet they wished for her to die soon?
"What are you talking nonsense about? It has nothing to do with Sister Shen today." Princess Luoning shouted at Lady Shen and her daughter who were still kneeling on the ground.
"Elder Sister, I sneaked out of the palace by myself today. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
Princess Luoyao glared at her. "I'll settle the score with you when we get back."
Then she turned to Lady Shen, whose face was looking ugly on the ground, and said, "I've troubled you today, Madam. Please keep today's matter a secret with Second Miss Shen."
She also told Princess Luoning to get her own things back. When she reached the door, she said to Shen Li, "I know her personality. The Ninth Princess has troubled you today."
"Today's matter involves too much. There are many people in the mansion with loose tongues. I hope Miss Shen can discipline your servants well so that the matter won't get out of control."
Shen Li promised, "Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will make sure that everyone in the mansion keeps today's secret well."
"At the banquet last time, I took a fancy to you at first sight. I know you're a smart girl, but I still have to remind you that you have to be on guard against some people."
Shen Li naturally understood the meaning of these words and nodded seriously.
After getting on the carriage, the Ninth Princess said goodbye to Shen Li reluctantly. "Sister Shen, I'll go back first today."
Then she ignored Princess Luoyao beside her and said in front of her, "I'll come to play with you next time when I have a chance."
Shen Li looked at her amusingly, and Princess Luoyao also shook her head helplessly.
In the Elegant Music Palace in the palace, Princess Yajing was listening to the maid Zhongxia reporting on the matter that Princess Luoning was punished to copy calligraphy models this afternoon.
She was playing with her delicate fingernails and showed a disdainful smile. "Humph. I thought she was really practicing calligraphy seriously. It turns out she was just finding an excuse to be lazy and sleep. Humph. She's really good-for-nothing."
"With such a younger sister, Luoyao must be so angry that she's about to die."
Hearing this, Zhongxia immediately flattered and said, "The Fifth Princess was really angry this afternoon. I heard from a little maid who is from the same hometown in Ya'an Palace that after the Fifth Princess came out of Ninghua Palace, she locked herself in the palace for the whole afternoon and hasn't come out yet."
Princess Yajing's hand playing with her fingernails paused for a moment. She asked uncertainly, "The Fifth Princess hasn't come out all afternoon. Have you inquired clearly?"
"I inquired clearly. The Fifth Princess really didn't show up after returning to the palace from Ninghua Palace."
"Then did you see the Ninth Princess today?"
Zhongxia recalled for a while. "No."
Hearing this, Princess Yajing was silent for a while, and her face became solemn. "There's something fishy about this. Let's go to Ninghua Palace."
In Ninghua Palace, Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu were a little anxious. The sun was already setting, and the palace gate would close in half an hour, but the Ninth Princess hadn't come back yet. Now there was no news from the Fifth Princess either.
Just when the two were in a state of anxiety, they suddenly heard the voice of "Her Highness the Sixth Princess is coming" coming from outside the door.
Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu led the servants in Ninghua Palace to kneel down and pay their respects.
Princess Yajing looked over the people kneeling on the ground and looked at the closed palace door.
"I got a good collection of poems today and specially came to give it to my Ninth Sister. Why is the palace door closed today? I don't see my Ninth Sister."
Qiao Zhu was flustered inside, but calmly said on the surface, "Our princess overslept today and was punished by the Fifth Princess to stay in the palace to reflect. She can't go out until she finishes copying fifty calligraphy models."
"Please forgive me, Your Highness the Sixth Princess."