Her words instantly changed Xiao Xiao's expression, a sneer playing on her lips.
"Does Your Highness mean to turn a blind eye to my master's good intentions? Or do you hold some grudges against my master? If so, you might as well go to the Palace of Longevity and Peace tomorrow and talk to the Empress Dowager face to face."
Her words were cold and intimidating. At first, He Hui did have a lot of grievances, but she came to her senses after hearing these words.
She was just living under someone else's roof for now. The entire harem belonged to Shi Muyuan. If she really had any complaints, this was not the time to voice them. Otherwise, she would become the target of everyone's criticism.
There was nothing she could do but force a smile again.
"Auntie has misunderstood me. This maid must have served the Empress Dowager for a long time. The Empress Dowager must be reluctant to let someone who has served her for so long suddenly go and serve someone else. I wouldn't take her away."
Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes. She clearly knew why this maid was sent here, but He Hui still pretended. It was really disgusting.
"Once my master gives something away, there's no taking it back. Your Highness can keep her by your side with ease. By the way, my master hopes to see her when you pay your respects tomorrow."
After saying that, she left gracefully, not caring about the people behind her at all.
After Xiao Xiao's figure disappeared around the corner, He Hui smashed all the things within reach to pieces.
It took a while for her anger to subside. She walked up to the maid, pinching her chin.
"How dare you betray me! Has no one ever told you the consequences of betraying me?"
Hearing this, the maid knelt on the ground trembling.
"Your Ladyship, please understand. I've never betrayed you. It's just that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have started to suspect you. It's not my fault."
"What did you say?"
Hearing this, her face changed instantly.
"Impossible! I was so careful. That night, I watched you poison Concubine He myself before I left."
The maid sobbed and told her everything that had happened to her later.
"Your Ladyship, I'm in this situation because of you. You can't just turn your back on me. I'll continue to serve you in the future."
Hearing this, a hint of cruelty flashed in He Hui's eyes.
"You're so unreliable. Do you think I still dare to use you? Besides, now that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor already know that it was me who sent you to do those things back then, I'm in danger myself. How can I still take care of you, a low - ranking maid?"
She couldn't calm down. She had been so careful in every step, so how could they still find out in the end?
Judging from what the maid said, they already knew everything. Then why did they still let her become a concubine? What was all this for?
With all these thoughts in her mind, she was extremely uneasy. Finally, she ordered someone to take the maid away. Out of sight, out of mind.
After all, Xiao Xiao had specifically told her that the maid must be by her side when she paid her respects tomorrow morning.
Even if she wanted to execute the maid, it was impossible. She could only wait and see what happened tomorrow.
That night, some people slept soundly while others stayed awake all night.
Early the next morning, He Hui came to the Palace of Longevity and Peace to pay her respects with two dark circles under her eyes.
But at this time, Shi Muyuan hadn't even gotten up yet. The newly - promoted ladies in the harem could only wait at the door.
Ye Xinxin was the most impatient among them. Looking at the person who came late because of over - exhaustion last night, her jealousy flared up quickly.
"Oh, sister, you were favored by the Emperor last night. Why did you still come here to pay your respects? Why didn't you sleep a little longer to refresh yourself?"
After last night's experience, Jin Min'er was fundamentally different from these people.
She glanced at Ye Xinxin lazily and said, "We can't forget the rules. Besides, I'm not that delicate. Since the younger sisters are all here, if I didn't come, people might think I have some complaints against the Empress Dowager."
"Hehe, sister would never have any complaints against the Empress Dowager. We're all so envious of your position."
"Well, you can only be envious. In the Great Liang Dynasty, there can only be one empress. Don't you think so, sister?"
Her eyes were sharp as she threw the question back. Ye Xinxin didn't expect the matter to end up on herself. She gritted her teeth and could only answer perfunctorily.
"Sister is right."
Just as they were bickering, the door of the Palace of Longevity and Peace finally opened from the inside.
Then, a group of maids walked out, carrying a bunch of unknown things in their hands.
Looking at those things, Ye Xinxin asked curiously, "What are these?"
"Oh, Your Highnesses may not know. This is a new rule set by the Empress Dowager. From now on, if there are new ladies in the harem, when they come to pay their respects, they must go through these ceremonies in the Palace of Longevity and Peace to wash away the filth on their bodies."
These words made everyone feel a little uncomfortable.
"Does the Empress Dowager think we're not clean?"
"Your Highness, the Noble Consort, don't react so strongly. Everyone has to do this."
Since things had come to this, there was nothing they could do. Everyone had to go through the process one by one.
However, He Hui always felt that these processes were aimed at her.
She gritted her teeth and followed the crowd. Finally, she entered the main hall and saw the person sitting on the throne.
She had a lot of questions in her mind, but due to the presence of these people around, she had to hold them back.
Jin Min'er led everyone to bow and pay their respects. Just from her gestures, one could already see the aura of an empress.
"May the Empress Dowager enjoy good fortune."
Even though Shi Muyuan had been in this world for a long time, she was still not quite used to the titles they used. She waved her hand casually.
"From now on, except for Lady Hui, if the others have nothing to do, don't come to me on ordinary days."
These words were brief but stirred up a storm in the hearts of these new ladies in the harem.
Jin Min'er looked up, about to ask a question, but then swallowed all her words and just nodded in agreement.
After this boring part was over, Shi Muyuan only left He Hui behind, and the others left one by one.
However, this act had already made everyone feel restless.
The person who was left behind clearly had many questions in her mind but couldn't ask them.
The two of them were silent in the hall. Shi Muyuan closed her eyes as if dozing off. No one knew if she was really asleep.
Finally, He Hui couldn't bear the torture in her heart anymore.
"Why did the Empress Dowager specifically send that maid to me?"
She thought this question would go unanswered and that Shi Muyuan would just keep up the pretense, but unexpectedly, she was straightforward.
"Lady Hui considers herself a smart person, and I do too. But your smartness seems to have gone too far."