Right after Yun Xi and Qi Rong left, the fundraising event at the girls' academy was gradually coming to an end.
The academy had set up a total of ten donation boxes. Without any surprise, the group led by Yu Xueming won an absolute victory.
As a result, the food made by their group got the chance to be presented in front of the Empress Dowager.
However, unexpectedly, just as this part of the event was about to start, the current emperor, accompanied by his officials, suddenly arrived at the girls' academy.
The girls' academy was honored by this visit, and the Princess Dowager was, of course, overjoyed. Immediately, she ordered the food made by the female students to be presented in front of the hall.
Yu Xueming, who was most trusted by the Princess Dowager, naturally became the first one to present her food.
Finally getting a chance to show herself in such a grand occasion, Yu Xueming was both nervous and confident, with a faint expectation in her heart.
She thought that from then on, her fame would spread not only throughout the capital but also among the royal family and noble families, and would last for a long time!
She believed that even Rong-gege, who had always been cold to her, would surely look at her with new eyes.
He would know who was the woman most worthy of him!
Grand Tutor Yu was extremely gratified, and Yu Chengyang was also full of pride. Yu Xueming excitedly told the meaning of her creation and gave it a very resounding name - "The Splendid River and Mountain".
Her words made the Empress Dowager and the emperor smile and nod.
She spoke smoothly and behaved appropriately. Just from her words, people already thought that she was delicate - minded and talented, not inferior to men.
Thus, everyone began to look forward to the "Splendid River and Mountain" she had made.
However, the moment she lifted the lid of the food box, the whole hall was in an uproar. The Empress Dowager and the emperor's faces darkened immediately.
Everyone present held their breaths and looked at each other in dismay.
The once - green and towering "mountains" had now collapsed in some parts; the golden "rivers" had been dyed blood - red; the "pavilions and houses" were in ruins, a complete mess.
The prosperous and peaceful world she had intended to show had instantly turned into a purgatory on earth, terrifying to behold.
Seeing this scene, Yu Xueming's face turned deathly pale. She staggered, but luckily Yu Chengyang held her in time, preventing her from falling.
Grand Tutor Yu reacted quickly. He immediately stepped forward, pulled his two sons down, and knelt on the ground.
He strongly declared that his daughter Yu Xueming had absolutely no courage to disrespect the imperial authority, and this incident was just an accident.
The Princess Dowager had always appreciated and relied on Yu Xueming. In such a situation, of course, she didn't want to anger the emperor and let Yu Xueming face the death penalty. So she immediately kowtowed and defended Yu Xueming.
Originally, as long as the emperor calmed down, this matter could have ended like this.
But unfortunately, at this moment, someone suddenly exclaimed fearlessly:
"Ah! Isn't that the food made by Yun Xi from the Prime Minister's Mansion?"
As soon as these words were out, the woman realized her slip of the tongue and quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late.
The Princess Dowager noticed something was wrong. She knew that the emperor and the ministers must have heard the woman's words. So she immediately interrogated the woman.
After all, this incident had happened in the girls' academy, right in front of everyone. It not only shamed the girls' academy but also her, the Princess Dowager!
If she couldn't handle this matter properly, how could she establish her authority in front of everyone in the future?
This woman usually feared the Princess Dowager's authority very much. Under the Princess Dowager's intimidation, she immediately confessed the whole truth and even implicated the other two members of their "Ugly Trio".
Looking at the three people kneeling neatly in front of the hall, the Princess Dowager was so angry that her face turned ashen.
She never expected that in the girls' academy under her strict teaching, such a disgraceful thing could happen.
Just out of jealousy, they dared to ruin the hard - won achievements of others and even involve the innocent Yu Xueming.
Yu Xueming's injustice was cleared, but Yun Xi, who was at the center of the topic, was nowhere to be seen.
The "Ugly Trio" also insisted that Yun Xi had provoked them first, so they had retaliated.
Yun Xi was dragged all the way to the front of the hall by Zhen Bao. Dozens of pairs of eyes all turned towards her.
She was out of breath from running. Just as she was about to take a deep breath, Zhen Bao's words almost made her spit out a mouthful of blood!
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Yun Xi is back from the restroom!"
Well! Although Yun Xi knew that Zhen Bao was trying to help her, such an excuse was really too bad for a woman.
But Zhen Bao said it so matter - of - factly and loudly!
The emperor, who had just taken a sip of tea, suddenly changed his expression. In order not to spit out the tea in public, he had to swallow it forcefully and then coughed violently.
Yun Xi looked worried. She thought that if the emperor was choked to death by a sip of tea, Zhen Bao would surely be accused of "regicide"!
Maybe it would even implicate the loyal Zhen family for generations!
Looking at the people with different expressions in the hall, Yun Xi walked in with an embarrassed smile and saluted respectfully.
Meeting her father's firm gaze, Yun Xi felt warm in her heart.
"Yun Xi, did you provoke these people at noon and say that you would surely make them lose miserably in the food competition?"
The Princess Dowager spoke first, with a solemn and imposing expression.
"Your Highness, I didn't. They bullied me first. A few days ago, they not only defiled my painting but also deliberately splashed dirty water on my skirt this morning. That skirt is in the carriage now. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I can immediately ask someone to fetch it!"
Yun Xi's attitude was resolute and well - founded. Zhen Bao also chimed in beside her:
"Yes, Your Highness. I saw it with my own eyes twice! I almost couldn't hold back at that time. If Yun Xi hadn't held me back, I would surely have given them a few punches!"
Zhen Bao was very loyal. Her words were heroic but somehow a bit comical.
It made several officials present can't help but smile. They sighed: This girl really has the style of the general who protects the country! Even her way of speaking is the same!
The Princess Dowager's lips twitched slightly. After all, Zhen Bao had been studying in the academy for a year, but she still had a rough air about her, which made her, the person in charge of the girls' academy, feel a bit embarrassed.
However, it was precisely because she knew Zhen Bao's honesty that she didn't doubt the truth of her words.
The Princess Dowager sighed. Just as she was about to draw a conclusion and report it to the emperor and the Empress Dowager, Yu Xueming suddenly interrupted:
"But why do they insist that the food I made is Yun Xi's?"
Realizing that her behavior was inappropriate, Yu Xueming looked at the Princess Dowager and explained aggrievedly:
"After all, my hard work has been affected innocently, so I also want to seek justice for myself."
So, it was perfectly reasonable for her to ask this question!