It was just this simple action of hers that set off alarm bells in Concubine Rui's heart. She knew something was amiss.
The Empress Dowager would never reach out to help anyone without a reason. Take the eunuch on the ground as an example.
So this time, the help she offered was most likely related to what was going on inside that maid.
No way. This little maid knew a great deal about her secrets. She definitely couldn't let her be taken away so easily. Even if she was taken away, it could only be as a corpse.
Concubine Rui was scheming in her mind, but how could Shi Muyuan not see through her? As the saying goes, strike first to gain the upper hand. By this point, she was determined to take the maid away.
She shielded the little maid behind her, her eyes fierce.
"Concubine Rui's current appearance might scare quite a few people. What exactly did this maid do wrong to make you so angry? Why not tell us so that I can make a judgment?"
How could she tell the truth? If she did, it would be like shooting herself in the foot.
But if she just made up a random excuse, she might end up with a bad reputation.
She was in a dilemma. Suddenly, the atmosphere fell silent.
Concubine Mo had already noticed something fishy. She had come with Shi Muyuan today just to take the eunuch away. She never expected such an unexpected harvest. So don't blame her for stepping in.
Gently waving the silk fan in her hand, Concubine Mo covered her mouth and laughed: "Could it be that this little maid just made a small mistake, yet you, sister, want to kill her? If so, won't it damage the prestige of our Great Liang royal family when word gets out?"
Concubine Rui knew that this troublesome woman would never bring anything good when she showed up. Just like now.
Several pairs of eyes were fixed on her. If she said something wrong today, there would surely be some unfavorable rumors about her in the market later.
She quickly adjusted her smile.
"Sister, what are you saying? I'm not that heartless. It's just that this little maid went too far. She broke the things that the late emperor bestowed upon me. That's why I'm just trying to uphold the late emperor's dignity. Otherwise, in the eyes of outsiders, wouldn't this make us seem like we can be bullied by anyone?"
"Surely it's not that serious. Sister, you're just exaggerating. The little maid just entered the palace. If she did something wrong, a slight punishment would be enough. After all, she's one of the people in your palace. Moreover, if word gets out that you can't tolerate a little maid, who would dare to enter the palace in the future? I'm afraid they'd run away at the mere mention of the royal family's name."
Concubine Rui's face grew increasingly ugly, but she couldn't refute a single word of what she said.
"Sister is right. I'll pay more attention in the future. This time, for sister's sake, I'll spare this little maid. Hurry up and get out of here. Don't be an eyesore."
The little maid's eyes were filled with tears. This time, she summoned up the courage to say something she probably wouldn't have dared to say in her entire life.
"Empress Dowager, please take me away. I'm really living a hellish life here. If I have to continue like this, I'll surely go crazy."
No one knew what this little maid had been through here to be so terrified.
Shi Muyuan frowned and asked for her little sister's opinion.
Actually, she was worried that what she saw here today was just a play. Maybe Concubine Rui had come up with a new way to take revenge on her.
"Do you think all this could be pre - arranged by Concubine Rui just to take revenge on me?"
Concubine Mo hadn't thought that much at first, but now hearing her say this, she immediately realized that there was indeed such a possibility.
"I didn't think carefully just now. Isn't it a bit too coincidental that this little maid had an accident? Maybe we should just forget it?"
As the two were discussing, the others didn't dare to interrupt. They could only watch helplessly.
Maybe it was really a play arranged by Concubine Rui, just to plant a time - bomb beside them.
Seeing them discussing so intently, the little maid was afraid that she would be left behind. The worry in her eyes was hard to ignore.
She tugged at the corner of Shi Muyuan's skirt: "Empress Dowager, please take me away. I'll be your servant and do anything for you in the future."
Shi Muyuan pulled her skirt corner back.
"I don't even know if you're really willing to follow me. I can't even trust you. You'd better stay with the concubine. I came here today just to take the others away."
After saying that, she looked at the two people kneeling on the ground.
"Sister surely won't make things difficult for my people. Besides, I promised to take these two people away."
"Sister has said so much. I surely have to give you some face."
Concubine Rui's expression stiffened slightly. Immediately, someone stepped forward to untie the two.
Seeing that the two were okay, Shi Muyuan let out a sigh of relief.
"Let's end today's matter here. Sister, don't be too harsh on the maids in your palace. It won't look good for the royal family if word gets out."
"I'll remember your teachings. I'll see you off, sister."
Shi Muyuan took the senior eunuch back to the Palace of Longevity and Health. Seeing his disheveled appearance, she frowned slightly.
"Did you think you were going to be abandoned? Or did you think I didn't care about your life and wouldn't keep my promise?"
The senior eunuch had indeed thought so, but he had put those thoughts aside when he saw her coming. Hearing this now, he immediately lowered his head.
"Empress Dowager, you've misunderstood. Even if I thought of death, I never thought you'd break your promise. Maybe you were just held up by some important matters before."
"Um, you're not too stupid. Now that you're alive and your beloved is also alive, you two can leave. I won't break my promise."
The senior eunuch thought of something and felt it necessary to say something.
"Empress Dowager, you'd better go and check on that maid. I think that maid might really die. Maybe if you intervene now, you can gain a great helper."
This was the second time she had heard someone say this today. Could it be that the maid was really on the verge of death? If she helped the maid, the maid would surely be extremely grateful and might tell her many things she wanted to know.
Thinking of this, her heart stirred. She looked at Xiao Xiao beside her.
"Send someone to find out the truth. If the maid is really going to die, save her and bring her back. I want to see her alive."