"Sister surely won't object. I just hope elder sister can give me justice. We can't let people act so recklessly and take lives lightly, right?"
Shi Muyuan helplessly rubbed her forehead. "Then what else do you want to do?"
"I just think the prince's attitude is even more excessive. I wonder if he'll treat innocent commoners like this in the future. How about asking the emperor to come and give his stance on this matter?"
"Do you think the prince is as idle as you? Can he come just because you say so?"
Hearing this, Consort He started crying again.
"It's my fault. I didn't consider so many things. But isn't it a bit too inhumane to leave my personal maid half - dead like this?"
Her sobbing words gave Shi Muyuan a splitting headache.
There was no way out. The maid really seemed on the verge of death. Shi Muyuan had no choice but to send someone to invite the imperial physician first, and then summoned Ji Huang.
After a diagnosis, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"This little maid is fine. She just lost too much blood and fainted. Don't let her overwork in the near future."
"Xiao Xiao, send the imperial physician off."
"Yes."
Shi Muyuan glanced at the sobbing person beside her and felt a bit impatient.
"Are you satisfied now? The prince will come soon. You can tell the prince what you want yourself."
She didn't want to get involved in this matter anymore, but unfortunately, things didn't go as she wished. Some people just wanted to drag her into it.
"Your Majesty, the prince is your son after all. It's better for you to speak. He won't listen to me anyway."
Just as they were talking, a voice came from outside.
"I wonder what important matter Mother summoned me for?"
"Huang'er, you came just in time. I have something to ask you. Consort He said that your subordinate injured her personal maid. Is this true?"
Glancing at the person beside him, Ji Huang rolled his eyes without any hesitation.
"I didn't expect some people would really come to Mother to complain. I thought that as an adult, one should be able to handle things on their own. Why not do it?"
Consort He seemed to be irritated by his words and cried even more.
Although what he said was right, Shi Muyuan summoned him not to let him irritate this crybaby.
Now that things had come to this point, she could only scold him angrily.
"Huang'er, Consort He is your elder after all. How can you talk to her like this? Apologize quickly, or I'll punish you by not allowing you to have dinner tonight."
Consort He couldn't help twitching the corner of her mouth. Did all her crying only deserve a meal? But she couldn't say a single word of these thoughts, or her trip today would be in vain.
"The prince is right. It was my thoughtlessness to come and complain to the empress dowager. I'll leave now. Your Majesty, don't blame the prince. It's all my own fault. I shouldn't have gone to see the prince."
Saying that, she lifted her feet and was about to leave.
Shi Muyuan was tired of watching her act. Did she really need to act so real?
But on the surface, she didn't expose her.
"Sister, don't worry. I will definitely get justice for you today. The maid has become like this. It's my lax discipline. Huang'er, come and apologize to the consort quickly. Otherwise, I will surely punish you severely today."
She pretended to be serious. Ji Huang had no choice but to give a perfunctory apology.
"Sorry, Consort. I won't indulge my subordinates next time."
"The prince doesn't need to take it to heart. I was just afraid that you might be led astray by some ill - intentioned people. Now that you know where you were wrong, I'll leave. I won't disturb you and elder sister from catching up."
Some things were better left unsaid. After Consort He finished speaking, she left in a hurry, as if she really came today just to apologize.
Fortunately, Shi Muyuan already knew her true face.
Shi Muyuan withdrew her gaze. Looking at the sweat on Ji Huang's forehead, she took a handkerchief and wiped it off for him.
"You won't blame Mother for not caring about you much before, right?"
"Mother did all this for the Great Liang. How could I blame you?"
"As long as you understand Mother's difficulties. By the way, go and call your younger sister and elder brother. Let's have a family dinner today."
Hearing this, a glint flashed in Ji Huang's eyes. He quickly went to call the two of them.
As soon as the little princess came in, she saw a table full of sumptuous dishes. She excitedly threw herself into the woman's arms.
The woman couldn't help laughing. "You're already so old. Why are you still like a child? If outsiders see this, they'll think our little princess is a child who will never grow up. No one will marry you in the future."
"I don't care. No matter how old Ling'er is, I'll always be Mother's little princess and the little princess of my two elder brothers."
"Okay, you'll always be our little princess. Let's eat first. All the dishes Mother made today are your favorites. Maybe Mother has been busy with other things on weekdays and neglected to care about you, but Mother remembers all your preferences."
She knew that when there were multiple children, she had to straighten out the psychology of all of them. Otherwise, it was easy for some children who didn't get timely care to have psychological traumas.
Fortunately, these three children were all sensible. They happily responded while listening.
As night fell, by the small pond in the imperial garden.
The young emperor had been waiting there early tonight. Just when he thought he wouldn't get any useful clues, he unexpectedly found that the two people appeared there again.
"How's your preparation going? I heard that some people in the court are urging the emperor to make a choice. I'm afraid the imperial consort selection will start soon. Don't mess up at this critical moment."
"I know what I'm doing. Aunt, you'd better take care of yourself. I heard that you tried to curry favor with the prince today but ended up with nothing. Have you forgotten that besides relying on our family, you have no one else to rely on in this world? I advise you to be more well - behaved. Don't waste so much effort. No one will be your backer anymore."
Consort He was quite surprised. She clearly thought she had acted very secretly today. How did she know?
Looking at her, she couldn't help asking the question in her heart.
He Hui looked at her as if she were looking at a fool.
"Do you think I won't place my own people beside the empress dowager? After all, I stayed there for so long. If I didn't do something, how could I be worthy of all my painstaking efforts over the years?"