Shi Muwǎn gave a mysterious smile, with a hint of mockery on her lips.
"Of course it's to see. If some people have improper motives, wouldn't they cause harm if they enter the harem?"
So that's how it was. The two master and servant had a special discussion and added a test at the door.
When the three entered the Palace of Longevity and Peace, they clearly saw the uneaten grapes on the table.
In this place, even a fool would know who the person who could eat grapes here was.
Ye Xinxin was the least able to hold her temper. Looking at those bunches of grapes, she opened her mouth and was about to question.
But finally she was stared back by the stern look in the maid's eyes.
Just as the three were passing by a small pond, a maid lost her grip on something and fell straight into the pond.
The three looked at each other. Ye Xinxin took two steps back in disgust.
"Don't look at me. I've never been good at swimming since I was a child. Besides, I've dressed up so hard to see the Empress Dowager. If I jump in, my drowned - like appearance might scare the Empress Dowager."
The other two were surprised. He Hui thought carefully. Although this woman only cared about herself, what she said made sense.
"Sister has reminded me. I was unwell a few days ago. My aunt specifically reminded me not to go into the water."
The two of them got themselves out of this situation cleanly. Jin Miner didn't expect that when a life was at stake, they would be so timid. She was a bit angry, but saving the person was the top priority.
There was nothing she could do. She could only glare at the two of them and then jumped in without hesitation.
Soon, the maid was rescued and kept thanking the person in front of her.
"Thank you, miss. I'll thank you properly later."
After she finished speaking, her cold eyes swept over the other two.
Ye Xinxin immediately flew into a rage: "What? Am I, a noble young lady, supposed to jump into the water to save you?"
"Yes, Miss Ye is of noble birth. Then you'd better go to the side hall and wait first. The Empress Dowager has ordered that the other two go to the side hall first. Miss Jin, come with me to the Empress Dowager's bedroom to meet her."
This sudden surprise hit Jin Miner right on the head. She looked down at her soaked clothes and couldn't help laughing and crying.
"It's not very appropriate to meet the Empress Dowager like this. Offending the Empress Dowager is a serious crime. How about you take me to change my clothes first?"
The maid shook her head with a smile on her face.
"The Empress Dowager has seen everything. There happens to be a set of clothes prepared in the bedroom. Just go, miss."
Jin Miner wasn't a fussy person. Hearing this, she followed the maid.
The remaining two weren't fools. Thinking of the maid's reaction just now, they understood that the Empress Dowager wanted to test them.
But now that the thing had already happened, they could only follow another maid to the side hall.
However, Ye Xinxin was still a bit unwilling and blamed the person beside her.
"It's all your fault. If it weren't for you, the Empress Dowager would have seen me first just now."
Losing such a good opportunity, He Hui was of course angry. But she felt that there were a large number of masters hidden in the Palace of Longevity and Peace, so she had to swallow her anger.
"Sister is right. It's my fault for being ungrateful at first. But sister was the first one to say that she didn't want to save the person."
Her mild mockery almost made Ye Xinxin mad.
If it weren't for the warning look from the maid in front, she would have already fought with He Hui.
Finally, they arrived at the side hall. After going in and seeing those valuable gold, silver and jewels, there was a glint in their eyes.
"Wow, there are so many tributes here in the Empress Dowager's place. It's really incredible."
She was jealous. The maid wasn't angry and introduced it to her calmly.
"The Empress Dowager has ordered that since it's the first time to meet the two young ladies, some meeting gifts should be prepared. You can choose one thing from here to take back."
Suddenly, there was greed in their eyes.
"Really?"
"Yes. Then I'll leave first. You two can take your time looking."
The maid closed the door and left. The two began to choose. They didn't know that on the other side of the screen, someone was watching everything that happened.
"These two are not good people. It's a pity that the Empress Dowager still wanted to promote them."
Shi Muwǎn wasn't in a hurry. She was looking at her newly - done nails.
"This is just a test. Let them take those things if they want. Nothing is more important than the Emperor's life."
Although this was true, Xiao Xiao still felt that they were getting off too easily.
Their hands swept over all the tributes and soon they were poisoned.
That's right. It was Shi Muwǎn who had someone put the poison.
She stared closely at their reactions. Seeing that they had been lying there for about half an hour without getting up, she frowned slightly.
"Could it be that I'm wrong? These two are actually okay?"
Just as she was doubting herself, He Hui slowly woke up.
"Huh, why am I sleeping on the ground?"
At this moment, their expressions were calm. It seemed that what the man said was true.
That person had already come in with the draft. As for who it was, they already knew the answer.
But just as they were about to arrest someone, He Hui actually fed Ye Xinxin beside her some kind of pill.
It was this pill that made Ye Xinxin wake up.
"What on earth is going on? Why do I suddenly feel that I can't understand? How did I faint just now?"
"I don't know either. The things here are really strange. Sister, you'd better not take anything. Your life is more important."
Since she said so, Ye Xinxin also thought that this matter was really too strange and hurriedly walked out.
The direction they came from was the bedroom.
Shi Muwǎn also knew that she definitely couldn't hide it. She took a casual look: "Now I'm suddenly not sure who the person behind this is."
"Master, He Hui can even carry an antidote pill with her. She must not be a simple character. Why don't we just arrest her and interrogate her? Then the truth of the matter will come to light."
Shi Muwǎn shook her head: "If that's really the case, our actions will only scare the snake. Forget it. Just deal with it for now. Find someone to take the blame for today's matter."
Her tone was cold, as if she didn't care about the life of the scapegoat at all.
Actually, only Xiao Xiao knew that all the scapegoats her master found every time were willing. They also gave a lot of money and comforted the relatives of those people.
Pulling back her thoughts, Xiao Xiao left for a moment. Shi Muwǎn looked at the person who had changed clothes and was waiting in the hall. The corner of her mouth curled up slightly.
"Are you Jin Miner? The girl who stood up for others last time?"
Jin Miner was neither overbearing nor humble. For a moment, she couldn't figure out what this master wanted to call her for.
"May the Empress Dowager be in good health. I'm Jin Miner."
"Um, last time I punished you. Do you have any complaints?"
Jin Miner thought it was a bit strange. Would someone like Shi Muwǎn really care about others' thoughts? But she still expressed her opinion.
"The Empress Dowager is just enforcing the palace rules. I'm willing to accept the punishment."