Since the etiquette tutor had spoken, she might as well do a favor and achieve her purpose for coming today.
She cleared her throat, and the maid beside her promptly moved a chair over.
Just like this, in front of everyone, she sat down to one side.
"I haven't joined in the fun for a long time. Since such a thing has happened now, I won't tolerate it. Tell me, what on earth is going on among you three? If you can't explain it clearly, don't blame me for being ruthless today."
The three of them exchanged glances, as if thinking about who should speak first.
In the end, Jin Min'er stepped forward first and told the whole story clearly.
Ye Xinxin never expected that she would really dare to betray her. She shot a vicious look at her, and then fell to the ground, pretending to be innocent.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Dowager, please make a clear judgment. I, as a subject's daughter, would step forward to help the weak when I see them being bullied on weekdays. How could I do such a thing? It's all their fabricated words to frame me. Please don't believe them."
She played the role of a pure and innocent girl to the fullest. The young girl had seen such tricks countless times in modern times.
"Then tell me, why would they two frame you? Do they want something from you?"
Under such questioning, she couldn't say a single word and could only bury her head and cry there.
Seeing this, the young girl felt extremely annoyed. She hated such people the most.
"Well, you. I've seen that you haven't said a word since just now. Do you have anything to say?"
He Hui lowered her head. She had been silent because she wanted to know why the Imperial Dowager had appeared at this moment. Logically speaking, after the Imperial Dowager had sent her here, she wouldn't care anymore. Could it be that the Imperial Dowager really cared about her? If so, then half of her plan would be successful.
When she raised her head, she was neither overbearing nor humble and told the same story as Jin Min'er. Even her eyes became firm.
At the end, she just knelt on the ground.
"I hope the Imperial Dowager can uphold justice for me. I've never taken the initiative to provoke anyone. It was just an accident yesterday. Miss Ye bullied me, and I'm not a pushover. Naturally, I bullied her back."
It had to be said that who wouldn't like such a flexible and strong - willed woman?
However, after the news passed back by the secret guards in the past two days, Shi Muyuan suddenly didn't have a good impression of her anymore. Although the two of them were telling the same story, she seemed to like this girl named Jin Min'er more.
However, she still had to investigate them carefully before making a decision.
She withdrew her inquisitive gaze.
"Making trouble in the harem, don't you know what kind of punishment you'll receive?"
All three of them looked confused. As soon as Ye Xinxin heard the word "punishment", she immediately became unhappy.
She was going to be a concubine for the emperor, not to receive punishment.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, the Imperial Dowager. I just thought that my younger sister's actions were really inappropriate. I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to serve the emperor well in the harem in the future, so I said these words and did these things in a moment of desperation. I'll never dare to do it again."
Looking at her panicked expression just because of her words.
Shi Muyuan slightly curled the corner of her mouth. It was hard to tell whether it was a sneer or a sign of happiness.
"The harem has its rules. No matter what the truth of the matter is, you have disrupted the tranquility of the harem. So, each of you will be punished to stay in your room and reflect for two days. Come and apologize to me when you know your mistakes."
After she finished speaking, the young girl left gracefully with a large group of people, leaving everyone else in a daze.
The other young ladies who weren't punished said sourly, "If I had known that it was so easy to get in front of the Imperial Dowager, I would have done something to bully others too."
"Sister Ye has turned misfortune into good fortune. She must be secretly happy. I don't know what the Imperial Dowager is thinking. Logically speaking, the words Ye Xinxin just said were taboo, but the Imperial Dowager didn't get angry."
The people around rolled their eyes at the young lady who had spoken.
"Don't you understand by now? The Imperial Dowager clearly doesn't want those with powerful backings to become concubines."
As soon as these words were said, the others changed their expressions. The etiquette tutor also came to her senses and stared coldly at the person who had spoken.
"It seems that your parents didn't teach you any rules when they sent you here. If so, then today I'll teach you what it means to speak without thinking."
Soon, the person who had just spoken was taken away by the etiquette tutor.
The three of them still hadn't recovered from the punishment.
In her confusion, Ye Xinxin seemed to understand something and began to show off to the other two opposite her.
"The Imperial Dowager surely knows my identity. Otherwise, she wouldn't have treated me so well. You two just wait and see. The position of the empress will surely be mine."
Jin Min'er twitched the corner of her mouth. She really didn't know where Ye Xinxin got the courage to say such a shameless thing.
"The Imperial Dowager didn't say that only you can go. She said that all of us can go. Don't get too happy too soon. Maybe one day the concubine position you've been longing for will be mine."
...
Shi Muyuan had been in a good mood since she left. Xiao Xiao didn't quite understand.
"Your Highness, I've also heard about the family of that Miss Ye. The elders in her family are all good at scheming. How could they raise such an arrogant and ignorant girl? But you seem to have taken a fancy to her."
"You don't understand. Don't you think her stupidity is actually a good thing for us?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Ye Xinxin's family dotes on her. She's a pampered young lady. Even though she may bully others on weekdays, she doesn't have any malicious intentions. But if such a person can restrain others in the harem, isn't it a good thing for us? We can't let any one family become too powerful. Otherwise, the court will be out of balance."
"But that Jin Min'er doesn't have much power in her family. Does Your Highness want her to be the empress?"
Sure enough, the person who had been by her side for many years understood her thoughts very well. This saved her the trouble of explaining one by one.
"Yes. She doesn't have a strong background, but she does things carefully and is not afraid to love and hate. Such a self - less person is suitable to be the empress."
"But Your Highness initially tried to match that merchant girl."
"He Hui's family are all wealthy merchants. At first, I thought this girl was simple - minded and had no other intentions. But now it seems that I need to think carefully. The things she reveals when doing things sometimes are not what a simple - minded girl would have."
Cui Qizhou was just about to leave the palace when he saw the people not far away. He took the initiative to step forward and blocked their way.