Chapter 164 Are you Xiyan?

The red-gold beast-headed ring-shaped door of the Tamamo Palace was tightly closed, blocking out the sunlight from outside the corridor.

Xiyan stepped on the golden bricks into the hall. Her embroidered shoes seemed to be entangled by invisible vines, and every step was stagnant.

The sandalwood in the hall was mixed with the fragrance of flowers, condensing into a lump in the throat.

When she lowered her eyes, she caught a glimpse of the golden-threaded phoenix bird swaying slightly at the hem of the queen's phoenix robe.

"My Lady, the maidservant named Xiyan has been brought here."

Eunuch Li's shrill voice pierced the silence, and the end of his whisk swept across Xiyan's delicate shoulders:

"Why don't you kowtow to the Queen?"

Xi Yan quickly knelt down on her knees:

"Your servant Xiyan, pays homage to Her Majesty the Queen!"

"Look up!"

Queen Su Qinyao's voice, wrapped in an icy chill, poured down from above the Phoenix Throne.

Xiyan slowly raised her head, and in her watery eyes, she reflected the figure in gorgeous clothes high up in the sky - under the scarlet gauze cloak, the wide sleeves with red phoenix patterns hung down like flowing clouds, and the flower ornaments between her eyebrows shone coldly in the candlelight.

She thought to herself: This queen has some similarities between her eyebrows and eyes with Concubine Dowager Su Xianrou, but her aura is completely different.

Empress Su Qinyao has a cold and sharp temperament, with cold eyes and royal majesty in her every move; while Concubine Dowager Su Xianrou is like melting snow in spring, with a gentle charm when she smiles.

Xiyan also caught a glimpse of Helian Shu and Su Wan sitting on both sides of Su Qinyao out of the corner of her eye.

Helian Shu was leaning against a copper crane-patterned armchair, her fingertips entwined with the dangling pearl tassels, a gloating arc on her lips; Su Wan was holding a lotus-patterned teacup in her hand, and a dark gleam in her eyes could be vaguely seen through the mist of hot air.

The palace maids and eunuchs on both sides stood with their heads bowed, motionless, like wooden sculptures made of clay.

The hall was silent except for the occasional crackling of the flames on the candlesticks. Xiyan felt that not even the slightest sound of wind could penetrate the hall.

"Are you Xi Yan?"

Su Qinyao narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully looking at the girl in white kneeling at the steps, and finally spoke to break the silence.

As the candlelight flickered, the strands of hair on Xiyan's temples were like elegant feathers, gently brushing her white jade-like cheeks. Her eyes were shining, and even though she was wearing a plain dress, her whole body exuded a natural and elegant aura.

The Queen unconsciously rubbed the jade ring with her fingertips, sighing inwardly:

It was no wonder that both his son and Xiao Nanyue looked at this little maid differently. With such a natural beauty, judging solely by appearance, it was not unfair that Shu'er and Wan'er lost.

"Reporting to the Queen, this servant is indeed Xiyan, a maidservant in the Regent's Palace."

"Bitch, you're so brave!"

Su Qinyao suddenly slammed the table:

"Shu'er and Wan'er fell into the Phoenix Pavilion Lake yesterday and nearly lost their lives. They both said you pushed them in. How dare you say it had nothing to do with you?"

Xi Yan kowtowed:

"Your Majesty, please be discerning! Yesterday, the Princess and Miss Su slipped and fell into the lake. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also investigated yesterday. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can summon His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and ask him."

Helian Shu snorted coldly:

"What a sharp-tongued vixen!"

Helian Shu snorted coldly:

"You know that the emperor has some feelings for you, so you want him to support and protect you?"

She turned to look at Su Qinyao with a perverse expression:

"Mother, this bitch must have already climbed into Brother Yan's bed! Now, she's trying to cling to the Emperor. She's jealous of me and Wan'er, so she wants to get rid of us so she can take advantage of the situation and rise to the top. Such a shameless, fickle bitch deserves a good lesson!"

Xiyan knew that even though she was full of mouths today, they were all united in hatred and she couldn't escape even if she had wings, but she still had to make excuses:

"Your Majesty, I have absolutely no desire to curry favor with the rich and powerful, nor do I have the slightest desire for the Crown Prince. Nor do I have the slightest intention of murdering the Princess and Miss Su. I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly."

"A thorough investigation?"

Su Qinyao sneered and knocked the jade ring on the table, making a crisp sound:

"Shu'er is a darling of heaven, and Wan'er is also a lady from a noble family. Could it be that they would wrongly accuse a mere servant like you?"

Before she finished speaking, Su Wan had already thrown herself on Su Qinyao's knees, sobbing:

"Aunt, what Sister Shu'er said just now is absolutely true. Wan'er saw it with her own eyes. It was she who pushed Sister Shu'er into the water. Wan'er tried to reach out and grab Sister Shu'er, but was accidentally dragged into the water with her. Wan'er saw it with her own eyes, how could she be wrong?"

Helian Shu echoed:

"That's right! If my royal brother hadn't arrived in time, I and Wan'er would have been fed to the fish!"

Su Wan wiped her tears with a handkerchief, her voice trembling just right:

"Aunt, this maidservant is full of tricks. When the Northern Cang assassins rushed over, Wan'er saw it with her own eyes. She actually used Sister Shu'er as a human shield!"

When Helian Shu recalled the thrill of yesterday, she couldn't help but explode with anger:

"Mother, what Wan'er said is absolutely true, and there are many guards present to testify to it! Yesterday, I almost died at the hands of the Bei Cang assassin. Thinking about it now, I am still terrified!"