"Aunt Qiumei, please convey to Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort that Xingzhi knows her mistake," An Xingzhi gritted her teeth and knelt down. "Please ask Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort to forgive Xingzhi."
After weighing the pros and cons, although she was reluctant in her heart, she had no choice but to lower her head. But after much thought, she realized that she had been a bit hasty in dealing with Chu Nian'an, which had irritated the Noble Consort.
Qiumei's eyes were filled with confusion. "Why would Her Highness be angry with the young lady?"
"Please convey my message to Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort," An Xingzhi lowered her head and didn't want to say more. Qiumei had no choice but to turn around and enter the palace again.
After she left, An Xingzhi subtly hinted at Lan'er, who immediately nodded slightly and left quietly.
Not long after, Qiumei came out again. This time, there was a sincere smile on her face. "Her Highness told the young lady not to kneel anymore. Please get up quickly."
An Xingzhi timidly raised her head and stammered, "So Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort has forgiven Xingzhi?"
"Well..." Qiumei thought carefully about the expression of Noble Consort An. "This slave doesn't dare to make random guesses, but Her Highness has always doted on the young lady. I think she doesn't mind."
She stood high, while An Xingzhi knelt and looked up at her. From a distance, it seemed as if Qiumei was scolding An Xingzhi.
Chu Heye, who was called by Lan'er, had anger in his eyes. "How dare you!"
An Xingzhi softened her eyes in time, as if there were tears in them. "Cousin."
This "cousin" went straight to Chu Heye's heart. He stepped forward to help An Xingzhi up and then kicked Qiumei hard. "You low - browed wretch. How dare you bully Xingzhi?"
"Cousin, Aunt Qiumei didn't bully Xingzhi," An Xingzhi quietly pulled at his sleeve. "It was Xingzhi who made Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort angry."
Because she was standing sideways, Qiumei couldn't see her expression. She only heard her pleading for herself, and there was a hint of gratitude in her heart. "Your Highness the Third Prince, please spare my life. This slave really didn't bully the young lady, just as Miss An said."
But she didn't know that although An Xingzhi said it was her own fault, her tearful eyes and extremely aggrieved look made Chu Heye even angrier.
"Normally when you are with Mother, you look down on others and bully the weak with your power! Today, this prince will teach you a lesson on Mother's behalf!"
"Drag her down and give her thirty strokes of the cane!"
"Your Highness the Third Prince, please spare my life. This slave really didn't bully Miss An! Miss An, please explain for this slave!"
Qiumei suffered an unjust disaster and immediately panicked and knelt on the ground.
She had been by Noble Consort An's side for many years. She had watched Noble Consort An rise from a young mistress to a noble consort, and she herself had become the head maid from a servant girl. For so many years, even Noble Consort An had never punished her so severely! But now she was punished by Chu Heye for a woman. She was angry and aggrieved in her heart!
"Aunt Qiumei, I'm sorry," was the only thing Qiumei heard after being gagged by Chu Heye's guards. It seemed that An Xingzhi really had no other choice.
"Why apologize to a slave?" Chu Heye's eyes fell on her dress stained with dirt. He suddenly squatted down to wipe the dirt off for her. "Xingzhi, you are always so kind, so more people bully you."
Chu Heye was usually quite shrewd, but when it came to the woman he loved, his mind seemed to turn into a mess and he didn't think carefully at all.
Of course, she had to apologize, after all, Qiumei was innocent!
"Thank you, cousin," An Xingzhi held back her thoughts and carefully pulled at Chu Heye's sleeve. "But if cousin punishes Aunt Qiumei, Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort may be even angrier!"
"Mother has always liked you and won't make things difficult for you!" Chu Heye held her hand. "Besides, you have me!"
"Xingzhi knows that cousin will definitely protect Xingzhi." An Xingzhi smiled softly, showing her love in her eyes without any hesitation.
What happened outside the palace soon spread inside.
Noble Consort An was putting a hairpin in Chu Nian'an's hair. Hearing the news, she sneered. "She's really a troublesome one!"
Qiuju didn't dare to answer her. After all, An Xingzhi was Noble Consort An's niece. It wasn't her place as a maid to comment.
"Go and invite His Highness the Third Prince in."
"Yes!"
Qiuju walked outside the palace. Chu Heye was still holding An Xingzhi's hands without any restraint.
She coughed softly as a reminder. "Your Highness the Third Prince, Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort asks you to go in."
Then she quietly glanced at An Xingzhi, who still had a faint and innocent smile on her face.
Qiuju immediately withdrew her gaze, but in her heart, she understood why Qiumei had suffered an unjust disaster. This young lady was always good at pretending!
"Xingzhi, let's go and see Mother together!"
Chu Heye was in the middle of the situation but couldn't see through it at all. He still tenderly held An Xingzhi's hand and entered the Chenqian Palace.
"Greetings to Mother!"
"Greetings to Her Royal Highness the Noble Consort!"
Noble Consort An slowly skimmed the tea foam and took a sip. "Xingzhi really has great skills. She can make Ye'er listen to her every word! With just a few words, she punished this palace's servant!"
"Mother, it has nothing to do with Xingzhi!" Chu Heye spoke first. "It was Qiumei who bullied others with her power! I punished that dog - slave on Mother's behalf!"
"Shut up!" Noble Consort An said expressionlessly. "When did it become your turn to speak?"
"Mother!" Chu Heye restrained his expression. "It was this son who made the decision without permission. Please punish this son. It's not Xingzhi's fault!"
"How dare you!" Noble Consort An glanced at their intertwined hands. "Chu Heye, let go!"
"Mother?"
"If you and An Xingzhi have no engagement and are still holding hands in public, do you want your father to know and punish you for the crime of defiling the palace?"
Mentioning Emperor Chu, Chu Heye immediately let go of An Xingzhi's hand!
"This son knows his mistake!"
"Cousin?" Beside him, there was An Xingzhi's tenderness, but Chu Heye didn't dare to look. He felt guilty in his heart. Comparing the two, he naturally valued Emperor Chu's opinion of him more! After all, Emperor Chu was old, and the court was currently advocating for the establishment of a crown prince!
An Xingzhi was quite sensible. "Please forgive this humble one, Your Royal Highness the Noble Consort. It's all Xingzhi's fault. Xingzhi is willing to accept the punishment!"
But in her heart, she was not convinced. She still clearly remembered that Noble Consort An had deliberately or inadvertently guided her to believe that she would be the Third Prince's Consort in the future and had even specially bestowed a blood - jade bracelet! Every time the two of them appeared together, Noble Consort An would always smile and tease them! But today, they were asked to avoid suspicion! Just because Chu Heye had punished Qiumei? She was just a slave. An Xingzhi was not convinced!
"Xingzhi has grown up and has her own thoughts. This palace can't even see through you anymore," Noble Consort An said half - smiling. "But people with too many thoughts are never liked by this palace!"
She had just wanted to give An Xingzhi the cold shoulder, but she couldn't even bear this little bit of grievance and had even incited Chu Heye to punish Qiumei! One should consider the master before beating a dog! An Xingzhi had crossed the line!
"Yes!" An Xingzhi pretended to be meek and obedient. Only she knew how hard she was pinching the flesh on her thigh with her fingers hidden in her sleeve, forcing herself to yield and endure!
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Noble Consort, for your guidance!"
"You may leave first. This palace still has something to say to the Third Prince!"
This was clearly a dismissal. An Xingzhi felt embarrassed on her face. She had been looking forward to the day when Chu Heye or Chu Nian'an would say a good word for her! But Chu Heye had just been scolded, so he naturally didn't dare! As for Chu Nian'an, she would rather play with her makeup and hair than look up at An Xingzhi.
An Xingzhi could only bite her lips and retreat. "Xingzhi takes her leave!"