No one discovered that Prince Hao was in the room.
Pei Qianhao’s narrowed eyes expressed his disgruntlement at being unceremoniously shoved into the corner. This woman. She did something different again.
If it had been any other woman, they would be at a loss of what to do in such a panicked situation. Then, when she saw me, she would have implored me for help.
Yet, not only did she completely disregard me, she even pushed me into the corner so that I wouldn’t be seen by anyone else. It’s as if I’m something unpresentable.
If that’s her game, I’ll play along for now. Let’s see how she deals with He Ying.
Pei Qianhao was totally waiting to play the role of an audience watching a good show, eager to see how Su Xi-er would respond.
The radiant moonlight lit up the ground outside the room. A usually gentle and serene scene however, was turned into something more grisly by the various palace maids trembling in fear as they stared at the dozen or so imperial guards before them.
Is it really necessary to deploy more than ten imperial guards to apprehend just a lowly palace maid?
He Ying stood right at the front and swept her gaze over Su Xi-er coldly. “Su Xi-er, do you plead guilty?”
Su Xi-er looked straight at her. “I wonder what crime has this servant committed?”
“Hehe, didn’t I say it clearly before you even left your room? You caused Flower’s death. Just a moment ago, Flower died with its eyes wide open!”
“Miss He, you know best how Flower died. How could it have fallen into the well if it hadn’t been pouncing over to bite this servant? Furthermore, you were the one who prevented Old Maidservant Li from stopping it when she had the intention to do so.”
At one side, Old Maidservant Li’s face had turned ashen pale. Su Xi-er has dragged me in! It’s no use even if I hide!
He Ying sneered and looked at Old Maidservant Li. “Tell the truth as it is. Did you stop it back then?”
She spoke forcefully, hinting to Old Maidservant Li, “If you dare to say yes, you will definitely won’t have an easy time in the future.”
Just as Old Maidservant Li was trapped between a rock and a hard place, Su Xi-er questioned, “Flower’s wellbeing is your task. Who exactly should be punished for not taking proper care of it? Miss He, did you see this servant throw Flower into the well?”
Once again, He Ying was rendered speechless. She looked at Su Xi-er resentfully before raising her hand and instructing the imperial guards, “Arrest her and bring her directly to the Compassionate Peace Palace to await the Empress Dowager’s punishment.”
Su Xi-er was puzzled when she heard the words ‘Empress Dowager’.The Empress Dowager is currently not staying in the Compassionate Peace Palace, but the Pei Residence after losing her temper and being unwilling to return. If she’s not in the palace, how is she going to mete out my punishment?
All the imperial guards stepped forward and rushed towards Su Xi-er.
Su Xi-er dodged to one side and evaded the imperial guards. “Miss He, do you need more than ten imperial guards to deal with just this servant alone?”
“It’s fine as long as I can capture you. Why are you talking so much?” She spat back before turning to the imperial guards. “Quickly get to it!”
The imperial guards immediately walked towards Su Xi-er. After all, they were burly adult men with strength in their arms. Soon, they were about to take her down.
Su Xi-er turned sideways. “Miss He, you said to bring this servant to the Compassionate Peace Palace to be punished by the Empress Dowager. However, the Empress Dowager has gone to the Beauty Palace. Has she already returned? Are you certain that she is in the Compassionate Peace Palace?”
In a split second, all the palace maids became perplexed. The Empress Dowager went to the Beauty Palace, but what happened after that? Why haven’t we heard any news?
The imperial guards were taken aback when they heard Su Xi-er’s words. Is the Empress Dowager not in the Compassionate Peace Palace? Could it be that she is resting in the Beauty Palace?
~~~
Pei Qianhao raised an eyebrow as he watched the situation suddenly take a 180 degree turn. She does have some capabilities, being able to last so long against this many people. If it had been an ordinary woman, they would have long been trembling as they lay prostrate on the ground, getting arrested immediately.
However, I have stayed in the room long enough. I can go out now.
~~~
Outside the room, the atmosphere was very tense. When He Ying saw that the imperial guards were in a daze, she couldn’t help but berate them, “It has been so long, yet you all still can’t even seize a palace maid!”
With the reminder, the imperial guards walked towards Su Xi-er again. Just as they came within arms reach, the room door opened with a ‘kerchak’.
Everyone’s heart skipped a beat and their eyes instantly widened. Isn’t that the room Su Xi-er just walked out from?! There’s still someone inside!
He Ying glanced at Old Maidservant Li and sneered. “So this is the great palace maid you have supervised. She has even hidden someone in the room. Maybe it’s a scandalous secret man she’s having an affair with!”
As soon as she had spoken, an intimidating man’s voice could be heard.
“It’s the first time hearing someone discuss this prince in such a way. This manner of address seems to be rather interesting.”
A man with a tall figure walked out of the room and appeared in everyone’s sight.
The palace maids and imperial guards had been shocked by the door opening, but the appearance of Prince hao had them sucking in a breath of cold air. This breath seemed to carry the chill of a frigid tundra, and was terrifyingly freezing.
He Ying’s expression totally changed as she immediately knelt down to pay her respects. “Prince Hao, please forgive me. This servant wasn’t aware that you were in the room.”
“Words that have been uttered are like spilt milk; they can’t be retrieved. Do you understand, Miss He?” Pei Qianhao purposely emphasised the words ‘Miss He’.
He Ying’s body trembled. In the past, Prince Hao has never looked at me in the eyes. Yet the first time he has even spoken to me tonight, he used ‘Miss He’. She knew that Prince Hao was already incensed.
How can a man in an eminent position stand being called by a scandalous secret man by others?
The more He Ying thought about it, the more afraid she grew. If Prince Hao pursues this matter, I will definitely suffer since the Empress Dowager is not in the imperial palace to protect me.
“Tell me, how should this prince punish you?”
He Ying raised her head and suddenly shifted her gaze to Su Xi-er. “Prince Hao, why are you not punishing Su Xi-er first? She killed Flower, and Flower was the Empress Dowager’s darling. Since you didn’t come to the Compassionate Peace Palace to visit the Empress Dowager, she could only play with Flower. Flower is dead now! Yet, you walked out of Su Xi-er’s room. Are you not scared that…”
“Are you not scared that you will make the Empress Dowager bitterly disappointed?!” He Ying didn’t voice out the last part. She knew that Prince Hao would understand.
Su Xi-er felt that He Ying had gone mad. The Empress Dowager’s and Prince Hao’s relationship was originally been something that couldn’t be mentioned in the palace, yet she’s secretly implying it in front of so many people. If she provokes Prince Hao, she would be punished on the spot.
“What is this prince scared of? Miss He, you are sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. You didn’t look after Flower properly, letting it run out, fall into the well, and thus, die. I should be punishing you. Since you don’t know how to look after it, what do you need your eyes for?”
He Ying’s whole body trembled. Prince Hao won’t order someone to dig my eyes out, right? Don’t tell me that he’s going to completely disregard the face of the Empress Dowager?
Pei Qianhao looked at the imperial guards at the side. “Take her to Yuchi Mo’s place and order someone to gouge her eyeballs out.”
His solemn tone made it clear that he wasn’t joking. Old Maidservant Li was frightened out of her wits. He actually wants to dig He Ying’s eyes out! She is someone who serves the Empress Dowager!
“Prince Hao, this servant waits upon the Empress Dowager!” He Ying only hoped that she could save herself and mentioned the Empress Dowager.
