Since she had said so, Qiao Meng had no choice but to walk towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
"I'll trust the Empress Dowager for now."
Watching her fading back, Shi Muyuan quietly stepped back and soon disappeared from the spot.
However, Qiao Meng didn't notice this. She just thought that perhaps Shi Muyuan wanted to spare her elder brother's face.
When she reached the pavilion, she curtsied and said, "I heard from the Empress Dowager that you two wanted to see me. May I ask what it is about?"
Qin Feng nudged the person beside him. Seeing his reluctant face, he stepped forward.
"Miss Qiao is magnanimous. We asked you here today just to talk about what happened. The eldest young master has realized his mistake. We hope you can forgive him."
"Oh? If so, why doesn't the eldest young master apologize in person? Instead, he asks General Qin to chime in. Does it mean that he didn't intend to apologize sincerely from the beginning? If so, there's no need to waste everyone's time here."
After saying that, she turned around and was about to leave.
Seeing this, Shi An was furious. "You see? Qiao Meng acts so well in front of others, but in fact, she's just a proud and domineering young lady. So this incident must be her framing me behind my back."
Hearing this, Qiao Meng stopped in her tracks. She turned back and stared at the furious man, feeling extremely disdainful in her heart.
She had thought he was such a powerful character. She had wasted so much worry on him recently. But now it seemed that he was nothing special. She had just used a little trick, and he was already in a mess.
Taking a deep breath, she looked extremely innocent.
"Just because the eldest young master's attitude of apology is wrong, shouldn't I, the one receiving the apology, be angry? Or does the eldest young master want to use his status to suppress me? As a commoner girl, I can only be forced to submit."
Although she was resisting, the stubbornness in her eyes was quite touching.
Qin Feng, standing beside them, shook his head helplessly and stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Both of you, calm down first. We came here today to talk things out properly. Don't cause any more trouble. Besides, Shi An, didn't you prepare yourself at the beginning? Why are you saying such things now? A real man should be more magnanimous. Don't forget what the Empress Dowager told you before."
After his words, Shi An gradually calmed down. He gritted his teeth.
"Okay, I know. Don't worry. Miss Qiao, I was just speaking without thinking. Please don't take it to heart. I asked you here today just to apologize to you. Please sit down first. I specifically asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes."
Qiao Meng pursed her lips and looked down at the dishes on the table, hesitating.
The two beside her naturally knew what she was thinking and immediately said, "Don't worry. Since I'm here to apologize sincerely, I definitely won't poison the food. I'm not that stupid."
That made sense.
Qiao Meng slowly sat down and said, "After this meal, our previous matters will be over. From now on, the eldest young master and I will keep our distance. Please don't make things difficult for me anymore."
"Yes, yes, of course. I'll definitely remember what Miss Qiao said today."
The three of them took a long time to start eating. What Qiao Meng didn't know was that another thing was quietly going on behind her back.
Shi Muyuan knew that since Qingqing could follow the words of the person behind and frame her elder brother, it would definitely not be easy to make her talk.
In that case, she could only use more extreme means. Although using such means might have a great impact on her and might even affect the reputation she had painstakingly built since she crossed over.
But for the people who were important to her, she was willing to go all out this time.
Qingqing was gagged and tied up in the dungeon of the county government. Looking at the person sitting opposite, excitement flashed in her eyes.
"What is the Empress Dowager doing? I'm Miss Qiao's servant. Are you going to do something to me? You'd better think it over. If Miss Qiao and the national teacher find out, they won't let it go easily."
She racked her brains to come up with these words of refutation.
Unfortunately, she was barking up the wrong tree. Shi Muyuan was never a person who knew fear.
"Do you mean that those two can ride on my head?"
"Isn't it? The Empress Dowager even had to ask her elder brother to apologize to Miss Qiao obediently. That says it all."
When Qingqing said this, her expression was proud, as if she was the one being apologized to.
Xiao Xiao couldn't bear it any longer. She stepped forward without hesitation and slapped Qingqing.
"You slut. Given a little leeway, you think you can do whatever you want. I didn't expect you still don't repent. I'll beat you into submission today."
Saying that, Xiao Xiao slapped Qingqing again and again. Soon, Qingqing's face was swollen like a pig's head. If no one had witnessed it with their own eyes, no one would have recognized her.
Seeing the blood flowing from the corner of her mouth, Shi Muyuan finally raised her hand and put down the teacup. "I wonder if Aunt Xiao's slaps have woken you up?"
Hearing this, fear flashed in Qingqing's eyes. She had thought that the Empress Dowager would spare the face of her own young lady and the national teacher. Now it seemed that she had been too naive.
"Empress Dowager... What exactly do you want from me? Or what do you want to hear from me?"
She didn't even dare to look Shi Muyuan in the eye now and could only speak timidly.
Receiving a signal from her master, Xiao Xiao directly pinched Qingqing's chin.
"Don't you know what we want to know? You'd better tell the truth about the words you used to frame the eldest young master. Who taught you that?"
After saying this, a flicker of fear passed through Qingqing's eyes, and then she quickly waved her hands.
"I'm just a servant. I really don't know anything. If the Empress Dowager wants to know the inside story, it's better to ask Miss Qiao in person."
"Are you indirectly admitting that it was all Qiao Meng's instigation?"
"I, I didn't say anything. I'm just a servant. Please spare me, Empress Dowager."
"Heh, what if I say no? If you don't open your mouth today, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Shi Muyuan sat back in her seat and picked up the cup of tea.
"Do you know? A person's life is just like this tea leaf. Once it's brewed, it can be seen through at a glance. But the tea water is unfathomable. Do you want to be the brewed tea leaf or the tea water?"
"Please don't make things difficult for me, Empress Dowager."