"No, Your Highness the Ninth Princess, this commoner knows you are always magnanimous and compassionate, with virtues as noble as the mythical Nine Heavens Goddess. You would certainly not wrong me. However, this commoner still wishes to defend herself. I beg your Highness to permit it."
"Xue Xingyue, do not quibble. If you sincerely confess your guilt, this old woman can still plead your case before the Ninth Princess. Otherwise, I cannot save you." Old Madam Song suddenly spoke, feeling an inexplicable unease in her heart. Things did not seem to be unfolding as she had anticipated.
Xue Xingyue looked at Old Madam Song and said, "Does the old Madam not even allow me a chance to explain? With the Ninth Princess present, does the old Madam intend to make decisions for her?"
The Ninth Princess already had little regard for Old Madam Song. Hearing Xue Xingyue's words, she looked at Old Madam Song and said coldly, "Old Madam, are you speaking on behalf of this princess?"
"Your Highness the Ninth Princess misunderstands. This old woman dares not!" Old Madam Song's unease grew.
"Since you dare not, then be silent before this princess," the Ninth Princess said with a hint of anger.
"Yes." Old Madam Song glared at Xue Xingyue, as if ready to tear her to pieces if she uttered a single wrong word.
However, Xue Xingyue completely ignored Old Madam Song's gaze and looked at the Ninth Princess. "Your Highness, from beginning to end, I never mentioned you. Why does Your Highness assume it was you? If Your Highness had been present from the start, you would surely know that what this commoner said was not about Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Princess felt a little guilty. "How... how would this princess hear? This princess has only just arrived." She would never admit that she had heard everything from the beginning, but she was certain that Xue Xingyue had not explicitly named her.
"If that is the case, when Your Highness arrived, did you hear this commoner speak of you?" Xue Xingyue asked.
The Ninth Princess paused, about to speak, when Xue Xingyue continued, "This commoner knows Your Highness is a favored daughter of heaven, naturally not like those vulgar people."
"That is only natural. How can this princess be like those who spread rumors?"
"Since that is so, I implore Your Highness to tell me truthfully, did this commoner say it was you?" Xue Xingyue asked, word by word.
Old Madam Song, seeing this, was alarmed. The situation was no longer progressing in her favor. She coldly reprimanded, "Xue Xingyue, this old woman advises you not to quibble further, or I too cannot save you."
"Old Madam Song, the Ninth Princess has not yet spoken, and you dare to speak?" Xue Xingyue retorted directly to Old Madam Song.
Old Madam Song was about to speak when the Ninth Princess silenced her with a look.
"You indeed did not mention this princess, but this princess can deduce that you were referring to this princess." the Ninth Princess stated.
"Your Highness, since I did not speak those words aloud, why does Your Highness believe I was referring to you?" Xue Xingyue asked.
The Ninth Princess was taken aback. "You... you are not trying to drive this princess away, are you?"
Xue Xingyue heard this and said, "Your Highness, why do you lack confidence in yourself? You are the favored daughter of heaven, the Emperor's most beloved Ninth Princess. Whoever marries Your Highness will prove the Emperor's favor towards them. This is immense imperial grace! And if someone were to push away this imperial grace, would that not be a betrayal of the Emperor's intentions? This is simply the crime of deceiving the sovereign."
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Princess felt it made sense. Why did she think the Song household disliked her?
"Then why do they all look so glum when they see this princess?" the Ninth Princess voiced her suspicion.
Xue Xingyue said, "Has Your Highness noticed Old Madam Song's frosty demeanor towards you?"
"Does she dare?" the Ninth Princess shot a cold glance at Old Madam Song.
Old Madam Song was filled with regret at this moment and quickly said, "This old woman dares not!"
"Your Highness, look at how Old Madam Song treats you. And who is it that looks so glum?"
The Ninth Princess said, "That Song Minghui, every time she sees this princess, it's as if someone in her family has died. This princess becomes angry just seeing her, which is why I punished her."
"Your Highness, you must know that the second young lady is surely jealous of you, which is why she is like this."
"Jealous of this princess? Why?"
"Naturally, because she is jealous of your status as a favored daughter of heaven, your noble identity."
The Ninth Princess looked thoughtfully at Xue Xingyue. "They are jealous of this princess because of her status?"
"Naturally. Your Highness's status is so noble that they envy, jealousy, and hate it."
"If that's the case, are you the same?" the Ninth Princess asked, looking at her.
Xue Xingyue nodded. "Of course. If this commoner had Your Highness's status, how could I be wronged? I did not even name you, yet Your Highness insists I spoke of you. Had I ten times the courage, I would not dare. How can I compare with Your Highness? I lack your status and your looks. Even a fool would choose Your Highness, wouldn't they?"
The Ninth Princess nodded. "You speak the truth. This princess is indeed like that."
"Therefore, I implore Your Highness the Ninth Princess to uphold justice for me. What I did not say, I cannot admit!"
"That is only natural. With this princess here, who would dare bully you? This princess will be the first to not spare them," the Ninth Princess declared righteously.
"Old Madam Song, what do you say?" Xue Xingyue turned her gaze to the instigator.
Old Madam Song could only endure it, smiling. "Since the Ninth Princess has spoken, can this old woman still make things difficult for you?"
"I hope the old Madam will be the same in the future," Xue Xingyue said, her voice clear and cold, word by word.
Old Madam Song's gaze turned cold as she looked at Xue Xingyue. She saw that those clear eyes were now exceptionally chilling, as if steeped in frost and fiercer than cold snow, piercingly cold.
Old Madam Song could not help but shiver. She had never seen such eyes before. The demeanor emanating from her seemed like that of a goddess from on high, looking down condescendingly.
But when she tried to confirm this again, the gaze was gone, replaced by those same clear eyes.