These words instantly amused the person sitting at the head of the table.
"Hehe, you're quite an interesting one. You're also a decent person. You stood up for others and just now saved my maid."
Jin Miner pursed her lips. Since she couldn't figure out all the intricacies, she might as well just speak up.
"Why did the Empress Dowager arrange for someone to test me? Did I do something wrong?"
Her straightforward personality really suited the Empress Dowager's taste.
Shi Muyuan couldn't help but feel proud of her judgment. Yes, she hadn't misjudged. Only a person like this was worthy of being the Queen of the Liang Dynasty.
"Are you angry? Do you think I shouldn't have tested you just now?"
There was a hint of cheer in her tone. Obviously, she wasn't angry at all.
Jin Miner noticed this and continued to pluck up her courage.
"I'm of low status. How could I ever make the Empress Dowager angry?"
"You're really interesting. Nowadays, there are few people who dare to talk to me like this."
"I presume the Empress Dowager summoned me today regarding the beauty pageant?"
She asked directly without making the young girl feel uncomfortable.
"You've guessed it all right. Then do you think you've passed?"
"The fact that the Empress Dowager brought me here in advance already shows her attitude."
She spoke confidently. The young girl nodded and was just about to reply when a quarrel came from outside.
"Do you know who I am? I was specially invited by the Empress Dowager! Just now, the two of us almost lost our lives in the side hall. Today, I must get an explanation from the Empress Dowager."
The maid guarding the door was trained in martial arts. As a delicate young lady, she tried to barge in for a long time but still couldn't succeed.
"The Empress Dowager invited the young ladies here as guests, not for you to talk nonsense. It'd be better if the young lady took back what she just said. Otherwise, if the senior maid hears it, you won't even have a chance to regret it."
The warning words from the maid made them shiver. In the end, they could only wait outside.
Shi Muyuan looked at the quiet figures outside and felt a bit impatient.
"It's quite lively today. I'm curious to know what exactly happened. Someone, invite the two young ladies in."
Then, the two of them were let in.
When they saw the person sitting at the table leisurely, they were very angry.
"Empress Dowager, don't be deceived by some scheming people. People like them are best at pretending to be innocent."
"Oh? It seems that Miss Ye has some new insights. Why don't you tell me?"
Ye Xinxin got the chance. She looked at the two of them triumphantly and told everything that had just happened.
"That's what happened. Empress Dowager, you must uphold justice for us."
Shi Muyuan didn't answer directly. Instead, she looked at He Hui, who was sitting silently beside her.
"What does Miss He think should be done about this matter?"
Suddenly being called out, her eyelashes trembled.
"The Empress Dowager is the mistress of the harem. Everything is up to you."
"Really? Then I'm a bit curious. How did the two of you manage to escape when you were almost dead?"
He Hui had already prepared a speech in her mind. She lowered her head and bit her lips slightly.
"Before my father left, he was afraid that I would get hurt, so he specially put this hard - to - get antidote pill beside me."
"If so, it was really quite a close call. The two of you were frightened here. I feel quite sorry. I will never let you suffer in vain."
After she finished speaking, they suddenly heard a sound at the door. Then, a maid was brought in by Xiao Xiao.
Ye Xinxin was still a bit dazed. Xiao Xiao had already spoken.
"Your Majesty, just now I caught this maid who was trying to run away outside. I don't know if she's related to the two young ladies' attack."
The maid's hair was in a mess. It seemed that she had just been through a lot.
Ye Xinxin didn't care about that at all. Finally seeing the person who had poisoned her being caught, she stepped forward and slapped her directly.
"It's all your fault. Otherwise, I wouldn't have almost misunderstood the Empress Dowager just now."
The maid's mouth curled into a sneer.
"You're used to being arrogant outside. If it weren't for today's coincidence, how could I have missed by just a little? Just wait. As long as I'm alive, I'll definitely take revenge on you."
The maid laughed wildly in the hall.
Ye Xinxin had never seen such a scene before and was a bit scared.
"Empress Dowager, why not just execute this maid? She dared to attack the beauty contestants. She's extremely audacious."
"Oh? Miss Ye, calm down first. I didn't expect that there would be such a scheming person among my servants."
Hearing her words, Ye Xinxin thought of the killing intent she had just shown and felt a bit flustered.
But after the fluster, she started to lie through her teeth.
"Please forgive me, Empress Dowager. This is the first time I've seen someone so arrogant when trying to kill someone. I just couldn't hold back my temper."
"It's right to have your own temper. Otherwise, anyone could ride on your head and cause trouble in the future."
Her cryptic words made Ye Xinxin heave a long sigh of relief. As long as the Empress Dowager didn't mind.
"Then how does the Empress Dowager plan to deal with this maid?"
"Just do as Miss Ye said just now."
After she finished speaking, the maid on the ground was dragged out.
Looking at the three of them with different expressions, there was a hint of apology in her tone.
"I didn't expect that there would be such an audacious person among my subordinates. It really made the two young ladies suffer. Don't worry. I won't let this go. Well, you can stay in the Shoukang Palace for lunch."
Her sincere expression surprised all three of them.
Ye Xinxin didn't think much about it. She thought it might be the Empress Dowager's compensation for her.
But the two people beside her thought a lot more.
"Empress Dowager, you don't have to go to so much trouble. We'd better go back according to the rules."
"I am the rule in the harem. Don't worry. Let's just turn the page on today's matter."
Hearing this, the three of them could only sit down at the table.
They ate a meal nervously and then returned to their residences.
But now, everyone's looks at them had changed.
Ye Xinxin was too showy. As soon as she got back, she swaggered around and ordered people to do this and that. Moreover, she said,
"The Empress Dowager wants to cultivate me. I didn't expect there to be two deadweights going with me."
"Miss Ye is right. We think so too. When you become successful in the future, don't forget about us sisters."
"Don't worry. As long as you're all obedient, when I become the Queen, I definitely won't forget about you sisters who accompanied me."
She looked so arrogant, as if she had already become the Queen.
Jin Miner was a bit absent - minded, always thinking about what the Empress Dowager had said to her alone today.
Could it be that the Empress Dowager actually wanted to cultivate her? But it seemed that besides being controllable, she had nothing to offer the Empress Dowager in terms of benefits.
Right, if one was controllable and became the Queen, one shouldn't be too showy. So, the Empress Dowager had given her a reminder today.