Since she had put it that way, Shi Muyuan naturally wouldn't force her.
"Then you can go. You've had a hard day today."
Just like that, Concubine He was taken to the small kitchen beside, leaving Shi Muyuan alone inside.
Just then, Xiao Xiao received news from the person she had sent to follow last night.
"Is what you said true? Do they really have the guts?"
"Auntie, you'd better go and warn the Empress Dowager. Don't let these two venomous women scheme against her."
"Okay, you go back and keep an eye on them. I'll remind our mistress."
Xiao Xiao returned to her mistress and told her everything that had happened.
"Mistress, should we arrest them now? Concubine He is really audacious. It seems that she came here today with a pre - arranged plan."
"No need. Since they've come to our doorstep, we might as well give them this chance. It will save us the trouble of looking for evidence later."
Just as Concubine He was about to put the poisonous insects in, several maids suddenly rushed in from outside and easily captured the unarmed concubine.
Shi Muyuan sat on the high seat, pretending to be sad. "Sister, didn't you say you came here to apologize to me? Why did you add something else to the lobster? What on earth do you want to do?"
Concubine He didn't expect to be discovered just as she was about to act. She still didn't know where she had gone wrong.
"How did you know? I thought I had done everything secretly."
"It's I who's asking you now. Why did you do such a thing? I think I've never done anything wrong to you."
She looked like an innocent person deceived by someone she cared about. She was almost on the verge of tears.
Thinking of the threats she had received before, Concubine He finally said nothing and was dragged away.
Xiao Xiao looked down at the person kneeling in the middle of the yard.
"Concubine He, you've always been timid. I don't think you could have done such a thing on your own. Tell me, who told you to do this? If you tell the truth, I can guarantee that no one will make things difficult for you."
Even though she had put it that way, Concubine He was determined not to say a single word.
Again and again, the whip lashed her, making her skin split and flesh gape. She always kept her head down. If it weren't for her heaving shoulders, everyone would have thought she had lost her breath.
Shi Muyuan sat on the high seat and thought this scene was a bit cruel.
"Enough. Concubine He has never suffered like this before. If she doesn't want to say, give her some time to think."
Everyone stopped. Concubine He still kept her head down and said nothing.
...
"That's what happened. I didn't expect you to come so soon."
The young emperor blinked his eyes. "What do you think, Mother?"
"Wait. When Concubine He gets into trouble, He Hui surely won't sit idly by. Let's play the long - game and see if this young lady will abandon her long - time pawn."
"Then let it be as you say, Mother."
The two were inside, eating freshly - made small lobsters. He Hui was outside, secretly observing the situation inside. When she saw Concubine He half - dead on her knees, her face turned pale.
It seemed that Concubine He had been exposed. She didn't know if she had betrayed her. If she did, all her efforts over the years would be in vain.
After thinking for a while, she made an irrational decision. After night fell, she carefully observed her surroundings and summoned the person she had placed in Shoukang Palace.
The maid didn't expect that at this critical moment, He Hui would still dare to meet her so openly.
"Miss, are you crazy? If we're discovered by the people inside, we'll both be in big trouble."
"I have no other choice now. Quickly tell me what's going on inside. Has Concubine He betrayed me?"
After making sure there was no one around, the maid took the bag of silver expressionlessly and reported the situation inside.
"Concubine He was caught red - handed when she tried to use the poisonous insects. But she didn't say a single word and took all the blame on herself."
At first, He Hui couldn't believe what the maid said.
"Is what you said true? She didn't betray me?"
"She really didn't. If you don't believe me, you can ask someone else."
Saying that, the maid was about to leave.
He Hui gritted her teeth. If it weren't for the fact that she had just come here and really had no one to use, she wouldn't have been treated so rudely by a mere maid.
She took a deep breath and tried to keep her tone steady.
"Why wouldn't I believe you? Don't worry. If you follow me, there will be plenty of benefits for you. Go back inside and keep an eye on things. Make sure there are no more mistakes. By the way, give this to Concubine He."
She stuffed a bag of white powder into the maid's hand.
When the maid saw the powder, her hands trembled.
"Miss, what do you mean? Didn't I already say that I only want money and won't harm anyone? If you ask me to do something immoral, I'll never do it. Besides, the salary in Shoukang Palace is quite good. I've been helping you recently just because I thought I could earn a little extra. I don't want to put myself in danger."
He Hui pursed her lips and stuffed a jade bracelet into the maid's hand.
"Don't worry. No one else will know about our deal. I just want to be at ease. Concubine He knows about your existence. If you don't do something to her, she might betray you to save herself. Don't blame me then."
After reasoning with her and appealing to her emotions, He Hui finally touched the maid's heart.
Cold sweat slowly appeared on the maid's forehead.
"You told me to do this. If I'm discovered, don't make me take the blame."
"Don't worry. No one else will know about our business. The person who knows now is still in your hands, isn't she?"
After she finished speaking, the maid nodded slightly and walked into Shoukang Palace.
Inside, it was deathly quiet. If you weren't there, you would never know that there was actually a hidden plot.
The hand of the maid holding the powder was already sweating. She kept muttering to herself.
"Empress He, please don't blame me for this. I never wanted to harm you. It's just that you're in the way of Miss He and me. Don't worry. I'll burn paper money for you every year on this day so that you can live well in the afterlife."