Yun Xing winced and withdrew her hand, looking surprised and wronged as she stared at Ji Huang.
"It was the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince who said I could be treated as one of the family. Why did you hit me as soon as you came, sister? Are you implying that the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince are going back on their words? Or that they don't keep their promises?"
"Interesting."
This time it was Shi Muyuan who responded. A hint of mockery played at the corner of her lips, causing Yun Xing to shrink her neck in fear.
"Empress Dowager, I didn't mean that."
"Oh? Then what did you mean? Do you think I don't keep my promises or that I turn my back on people?"
Yun Xing trembled and knelt on the ground.
"Your servant admits her mistake. I'll never say such disrespectful words again."
Shi Muyuan ignored her and instead turned her face to stare at Ju.
"Ju, tell me how the human traffickers punished such people when they were training you. I can't quite remember the rules of these deep - seated mansions."
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, for these insolent and lowly people, they would be beaten with fifty big boards and made to kneel at the door. They could only get up when the master was in a good mood."
Hearing this, Yun Xing's face instantly turned pale. "Empress Dowager, I've already realized my mistake. Can you please not punish me? Everyone makes mistakes. You can't pick on every person who makes a mistake, right? You're magnanimous. Please forgive me this time."
To be honest, although Shi Muyuan didn't have such a strong sense of superiority, she was still amused by anger at this moment.
"Humph, I've never seen someone admit their mistake so justifiably and shift the blame onto me. I'm suddenly starting to wonder if it was right or wrong for me to save you."
She tapped her fingers gently on the table. Ji Junlin seemed to notice that she was not in a good mood and put a piece of sweet - and - sour fish into her bowl.
"Grand Empress Dowager, don't be angry. There's no need to ruin your health for such people. Father said that eating something sweet will make you feel better. Try this. It's really delicious."
This little guy was so young but already knew how to comfort people, and his words were quite sensible.
It instantly dispelled the annoyance in Shi Muyuan's heart.
She was too lazy to argue with the person kneeling on the ground.
"Be good. Eat more. If you want to eat this again next time, Grand Empress Dowager will make it for you."
Ji Junlin's words just now made Yun Xing look rather uncomfortable. Now, she didn't dare to say a word more, for fear of making more mistakes.
"Your servant is willing to accept the punishment."
"Then follow the rules. Send someone to watch her at the door. Let her think it over outside today. When she figures out what she should and shouldn't say, then she can come and admit her mistake to me."
As soon as she finished speaking, the person on the ground was dragged out by two of the Thirteen Guards.
After Ji Huang finished his meal, he thought of the maid just now and reminded his mother.
"Mother, don't forget that the pitiful must have something hateful about them. That woman ended up like this today. Maybe it was all her own doing."
"I remember what you said, Huang'er. By the way, what do you plan to do about the matter in the backyard? Now, Concubine Hui is staying alone in the backyard. Although she has been demoted to a common wife, there's not much difference from before. I'm sure this isn't what you want to see."
Just mentioning this matter gave Ji Huang a headache, and he was at a loss as to what to do.
"Concubine Hui definitely can't leave. Junlin has been with her since childhood and can't do without her. But don't worry, Mother. I won't let her have any chance to cause trouble."
"As long as you know what you're doing. In the future, let Junlin come to visit me more often. He has a kind and intelligent nature. If properly guided, he will surely be able to distinguish right from wrong."
"I understand what you mean, Mother. Junlin, how about you come to pay respects to Grand Empress Dowager every day?"
In some ways, Ji Huang was actually a good father, especially when it came to raising his children.
He was asking for the child's opinion at this moment and wouldn't force the child to do something he didn't like.
The little guy rolled his big eyes and sized up the two of them.
Just when Ji Huang thought he was going to refuse, he said something that made the two of them laugh and cry.
"Will Grand Empress Dowager make a lot of delicious food for Junlin every day? Can it be like today?"
Shi Muyuan smiled and rubbed her forehead. "Of course. You can tell Grand Empress Dowager what you want to eat, and I'll make it for you. Junlin is almost old enough to go to school. How about Grand Empress Dowager teach you some simple characters first so that you can handle the teacher more easily in the future?"
"Okay. Father said that the more characters you know, the more stories you can know, right, Grand Empress Dowager?"
"Yes. Then it's settled. A gentleman's word is his bond. If anyone breaks the promise, they'll turn into a puppy."
The two of them made a childish pinky - promise, which made Ji Huang envious.
His mother had never treated him like this before. It seemed that she was making up for all the love she had missed giving him to the child. He hoped that such days would last longer.
"Mother, I have something to attend to outside. I'll leave first. If you and Junlin have any orders, you can just call the people outside."
"Okay."
Under Shi Muyuan's guidance, although it had only been a few hours, Ji Junlin's amazing talent still shocked the young woman.
Sure enough, he was the son of Concubine Hui. Even though that woman was good at scheming, her son was cute, smart, and lovable.
As the sky gradually darkened, she sent Ji Junlin out and then returned to her room.
Thinking of the matter she had entrusted to the man, she frowned.
That man always acted swiftly and resolutely, but there had been no movement today even after so long. Could something have happened to him?
Just as she thought of this, she spat twice.
She must have been too idle recently. That man had managed to establish a powerful tooth - trading business under Ji Huang's nose in a short time, which was enough to prove that he was extremely capable. Such a man wouldn't be in trouble even if the sky fell.
She relaxed slightly and thought that the words she had said yesterday might have been a bit too harsh. The man would at least need some time to calm down.
This was also good. It was better than the awkwardness when they met.
Just as she thought of this, a figure appeared in front of her.
After seeing who it was, she straightened her expression.
"Is there news from the national teacher?"
"The Empress Dowager is wise. This was just sent by the national teacher. Yun Xing's identity is too complicated. If it weren't for the national teacher's great efforts, it would have been impossible to find out so much."
Hearing her unreserved praise, the young woman waved her hand. "You can go now. I know."
"Yes."
When she opened the envelope, it was full of information recording Yun Xing's real identity. It seemed that in order to prevent the young woman from getting curious again, the recent trends of the He family were also attached at the back.