"Speak," Emperor Hong urged.
"When Princess Shen Chun was being punished, I went to her and helped her with it," Ruyi announced.
Shen Chun's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name.
"So you helped her write?" Consort Yao asked for affirmation.
"Yes, Your Grace," Ruyi answered.
"Ruyi, what do you mean?" Consort Yao pressed.
"She's lying, Your Grace; she never came to see me!" Shen Chun interrupted, fear evident in her voice.
Ruyi faced her and walked towards her, "Is that right? Why did we team up then?"
"Be...because you begged me. You clearly knew I was good at calligraphy, so you asked me to team up with you."
"Yes, Your Majesty, it's true. Miss Xu never visited my Lady's chambers," Cui Hua intervened.
"What exactly is going on here?" Emperor Hong asked in frustration.
Ruyi turned towards Emperor Hong, her hands clasped, offering a slight bow. "To answer Your Majesty, it was Princess Shen Chun who framed me," she stated with unwavering confidence.
"I didn't!" Shen Chun defended.
Emperor Hong's gaze turned to Shen Chun as he spoke softly, "Chun'er, tell me, was it really you?"
Shen Chun immediately sank to her knees, "I didn't! She's lying; you have to uphold justice for me, Your Majesty," she cried out.
"Really?" Ruyi interrupted, "You claim I was never at your chambers? Good, we'll find out when we get there."
Shen Chun's teary eyes suddenly went berserk, "What do you mean by this, Ruyi?"
Ruyi turned to Emperor Hong again. "Your Majesty, I request that you have Princess Shen Chun's chambers searched. The truth will be revealed."
Emperor Hong looked at Consort Yao, who responded with a nod.
He then instructed Yu Gonggong and two guards to accompany Ruyi and Shen Chun. Upon arrival, Ruyi directed Yu Gonggong to search beneath a cushion. Yu Gonggong instructed the guards, and they retrieved a handkerchief, which they presented to him.
"Miss Ruyi, what is this?" Yu Gonggong inquired.
"It is my handkerchief," Ruyi revealed.
"So, you were indeed at Princess Shen Chun's residence?" Yu Gonggong affirmed.
"Yes, I was. This proves she is lying," Ruyi replied.
"I didn't… how did this handkerchief get here?" Shen Chun stammered, bewildered. "It's you!" She pointed accusingly at Ruyi. "You're trying to frame me!" she yelled.
"Yu Gonggong," Ruyi called out, "We can examine the women's virtue Princess Shen Chun wrote. Then we'll know who truly framed whom."
Minutes later, the copy Shen Chun submitted was brought before Emperor Hong. He compared the two works, and realization dawned on him. "How dare you!" He threw the paper at her. "You've really grown wings, you disappoint me," he said, pointing at Shen Chun.
Shen Chun sank to her knees. "Your Majesty, I didn't do it!" she pleaded.
"Chun'er, how can you still lie before His Majesty?" Consort Yao intervened. "The evidence is clear, and you still deny it?"
"I didn't, it's Ruyi," she pointed at Ruyi, "she's trying to frame me." Shen Chun defended.
"Enough!" Emperor Hong snapped. "Guards, take Princess Shen Chun away, and confine her to the cold prison; she is not to be released without my order."
"What?!" A wave of murmurs rippled through the court.
"The cold prison? Isn't that sending her to her death?"
"That's too cruel," someone whispered. "Even though Princess Shen Chun committed an offense, locking her in the cold prison is too much."
"Did they forget how General Shen and his wife died on the battlefield protecting the country?" another person murmured.
"Exactly. They won't rest well if they knew their daughter was subjected to such cruelty."
"(Fù Wáng) King Father, Chun'er is my sister. It is my responsibility to look after her and guide her, so I'd like to take her punishment," Sun Jingxuan spoke.
"Brother Jingxuan, you mustn't!" Shen Chun shouted.
"That's right, Jingxuan, your body is frail; i'm afraid it can't withstand the cold prison," Consort Yao added.
But Sun Jingxuan stood firm. "I'm willing to take her punishment!" he uttered without wavering.
"Good!" Emperor Hong exclaimed. "Someone! Take him away!" he commanded.
"No! I was wrong, Your Grace, please help me!" Shen Chun cried out as Sun Jingxuan was wheeled away.
After a while, Shen Chun knelt in the courtyard, pleading with Emperor Hong to let her take the punishment herself. She had been weeping and kneeling for hours, but to no avail.
Ruyi approached her alongside Xiao Lan.
"What are you doing here?" Shen Chun asked in disgust.
Ruyi offered her a smile. "Nothing, I just came to see how you're faring."
Shen Chun scoffed. "Isn't this what you wanted? You should be happy about my misery."
"Me? Did you forget who tried to harm me? Oh? You finally have a taste of your own medicine, but it's bitter and you can't handle it?" Ruyi burst out in a fit of rage. "But thanks to the handkerchief I hid, how else could I have convinced everyone I was really at your place? I already told you, if you try to harm me, I won't let it go; I'll bite back a thousand times. I know you hold grudges; that's why I intentionally misled you," Ruyi revealed.
"You scheming witch!" Shen Chun yelled. "So, you set me up?" Shen Chun finally realized, "You intentionally didn't space your characters when you wrote for me, be… because you knew I was gonna use it against you?"
"Exactly," Ruyi disclosed. "I was hoping you wouldn't, but you didn't disappoint me."
"Serves you right," Xiao Lan blew a raspberry at Shen Chun.
"You—" Shen Chun muttered.
"Beg me and I can consider helping you," Ruyi stated.
"Dream on! I don't need your help," Shen Chun barked back.
"Princess Shen Chun, my Lady was simply trying to let the past slide, asking you to team up with her, but you actually tried to harm her again; who's the witch here?" Xiao Lan blurted out in anger.
"Xiao Lan, no need to reason with her; let's go," Ruyi led the way, and Xiao Lan followed making mocking faces at Shen Chun.
"Miss Ruyi? Do you think she'll come and beg us to help her?" Xiao Lan asked on the way.
"Definitely! This is the only way to shatter her pride completely," Ruyi asserted.
As they walked, she collided with Sun Jun. Ruyi's head snapped up, her eyes blazing with furry, it felt like she was being pierced by needles. The same man who had murdered her now walked freely; there was little she could do now. She needed to gain favors and rise to the top; only then could she have her revenge.
"Miss Xu, going somewhere?" he asked. His voice bringing her out of her cogitation.
She suddenly offered him a big, bright smile and curtsied, "Prince Jun."
"How are you feeling now? I hope your body isn't relapsing to cold?" He asked in concern.
"Prince Jun, I don't understand what you're saying," Ruyi feigned ignorance.
Xiao Lan leaned in, whispering the already-known truth. "Oh, you were the one who saved me? Sorry, I didn't know," Ruyi murmured.
"It's alright, as long as you're okay," Sun Jun replied. Moving closer, he reached for her face, "You're beautiful."
Ruyi recoiled, shoved his hands away and slapped him across the face. "How rude!"
"How dare you!" Ao Min, Sun Jun's most trusted guard stepped forward, drawing his sword. Sun Jun, however, waved him back.
Ruyi scoffed. "What? You want me dead? If I remember clearly, I didn't ask you to jump into the pond, nor did I call for your help. You acted on your own. Don't expect anything from me," Ruyi declared, turning to leave with Xiao Lan.
"Your Highness, when did you become soft on women?" Ao Min asked, surprised.
"She's different," Sun Jun revealed, a laugh escaping as he turned away.
Once in the carriage, Xiao Lan broached the topic. "Miss Ruyi, why provoke him instead of trying to win him over?"
Ruyi's expression hardened. "I know him too well. He doesn't like those who cling to him. He prefers a challenge, someone who is tough and troublesome. Rather than being chased, he prefers to chase." A soft smile touched her lips. "Since you like to chase... let the real game begin."