Chapter 88 The Situation

The atmosphere in the room became somewhat tense due to Xie Sangning's refusal.

She knelt on the ground, and the palace maids didn't dare to even breathe loudly.

Xiao Fengyi didn't tell her to get up, she just kept drinking her tea.

After finishing her cup of tea, she smiled and said, "Look how frightened you are," Xiao Fengyi deliberately softened her voice, "It was my fault. Get up quickly, the ground is cold, don't kneel and hurt yourself."

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We are all your humble women... by nature timid and cowardly, and we do not know how to be virtuous."

Xie Sangning did not get up immediately, but remained kneeling.

Xiao Fengyi almost burst out laughing when she heard this.

Is she naturally timid and cowardly? Does she really live behind those high walls, oblivious to everything happening outside?

"Enough, enough," Xiao Fengyi waved her hand, gesturing to the palace maid beside her, "Why aren't you helping the county princess up?"

The palace maids rushed forward to help her up. Xie Sangning stood up with her head down, looking terrified and at a loss.

Xiao Fengyi looked at her, a cold glint flashing deep in her phoenix eyes, but her smile grew even wider: "You child, you are just too honest and modest."

Xie Sangning bowed slightly: "This humble woman is well aware of her own limited talent and virtue, and that her meager contributions are entirely due to His Majesty's boundless blessings and Her Majesty's divine protection. How dare I presume to be a role model for women throughout the land?"

"The only true role model and exemplar of virtue in the hearts of all the people under heaven has always been Your Majesty the Empress, the mother of the nation!"

Without making a sound, she placed a tall hat on Xiao Fengyi's head, making Xiao Fengyi's eyelids twitch.

She couldn't oppose it, nor could she agree with it.

Immediately afterwards, Xie Sangning changed the subject: "As for cultivating talents for the country, it is my duty as a citizen of the Great Zhou and a descendant of a military family. I have done my best, but I dare not claim any merit."

"If this leads to unrealistic thoughts of currying favor with the emperor or coveting the palace..."

"Wouldn't that be the greatest betrayal of His Majesty's boundless grace? And a complete desecration of Your Majesty's earnest expectations!"

"If I, your humble daughter, were to act in such an ungrateful, ignorant, and opportunistic manner, I would truly be committing a grave offense of disrespect!"

Xiao Fengyi's smile froze completely!

What a silver tongue! What a clever and shrewd mind!

This is hardly an expression of fear and humility.

This is clearly using the most humble posture to say the most hurtful things!

The refusal to enter the palace was twisted into an act of loyalty and filial piety, to avoid betraying the emperor's favor, to avoid disrespecting the empress, and to avoid disgracing the family!

It's completely blocked!

Xiao Fengyi felt a surge of anger rush to her head, her blood churned, and her chest felt so tight it felt like it was about to explode!

Slippery! Cunning! That damned little bitch!

"Princess Jianing... is truly... eloquent and thoughtful!"

"Your loyalty is truly touching."

She abruptly changed the subject:

"But! His Majesty's will is the will of Heaven! My words today are also a decree on behalf of Heaven! After you return, think carefully! Do not fail to live up to this immense favor! And do not... refuse a toast only to suffer the consequences! I am tired, you may leave!"

Today, even if Xie Sangning is a rock in a latrine, smelly and hard, she has to find a way to force her into the palace!

"Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered. I take my leave now."

She curtsied again, head bowed, and retreated with utmost deference, step by step, slowly withdrawing from Fengzao Palace.

The moment she turned and stepped out of the palace gate, a biting wind rushed into her collar, sending a shiver down her spine.

She took a deep breath of the cold air, forcibly suppressing the hatred and murderous intent surging in her heart. Her gaze swept over the layout of the main hall of Fengzao Palace as if for the last time, imprinting every detail into her mind.

This place is not safe to stay any longer; we must leave immediately!

She needed to return immediately to carefully analyze this intelligence and plant a nail in the Queen's impregnable palace!

She quickened her pace, but just as she turned a corner of a corridor...

"oops!"

A panicked scream!

Then came the crisp sound of porcelain shattering!

A stream of scalding liquid suddenly splashed from the side!

Xie Sangning reacted extremely quickly, instinctively taking a step back! But she was still a fraction of a second too slow!

Scalding hot tea splashed onto the sleeves and front of her palace dress!

A large patch of dark brown stain instantly spread out!

A young palace maid, about fifteen or sixteen years old and dressed in the attire of a third-class palace maid, was pale-faced, with broken porcelain shards and leftover tea spilled all over the ground.

She was clearly terrified, stunned for a moment, then suddenly fell to the ground, frantically kowtowing in Xie Sangning's direction, her voice trembling with sobs:

"This servant deserves to die! This servant was blind! I offended Your Excellency! This servant deserves to die! Please, Your Excellency, spare my life! Spare my life!"

Xie Sangning's brows furrowed instantly!

What a clumsy tactic!

The angle and the timing were clearly calculated to ensure she would pass through this place!

She looked at the stain, then glanced at the palace maids kowtowing on the ground, and alarm bells rang in her mind!

I don't want to cause trouble in the palace, I just want to get out immediately!

"It's nothing," Xie Sangning said in a cool voice. "Get up, and be more careful next time."

She just wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible.

However, the palace maid seemed to be deaf and ignored her forgiveness!

Instead, the banging became even more violent, and the cries became even more shrill and piercing:

"My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life! I didn't mean it! I really didn't mean it! Please, my lord, have mercy! Spare me this time! I'll do anything for you, even be your slave! Please, my lord..."

The sound was like a demonic whisper, deliberately trying to drill into people's heads, clearly intended to make a big commotion!

This palace maid...is suspicious!

really!

The sound of hurried footsteps, accompanied by a stern rebuke, rang out:

"You audacious, lowly servant! Ramming around the palace and disturbing our distinguished guests! Don't you have a death wish?!"

Then, Gui, the Empress's trusted confidante, arrived hurriedly with two strong and sturdy maids.

Granny Gui's wrinkled face was full of anger.

"Granny Gui..." The little palace maid stopped crying abruptly when she saw Granny Gui.

Granny Gui glared at the palace maid and said sternly, "Drag her away! Slap her twenty times! Fast her for three days! Let her learn her lesson!"

Two rough-looking maids immediately stepped forward, covered the maid's mouth, and dragged her away roughly, ignoring her struggles.

After dealing with the palace maid, Granny Gui immediately put on an apologetic expression and bowed deeply to Xie Sangning: "This old servant begs for forgiveness from the County Princess! It is the Fengzao Palace's poor discipline that produced such an unruly fool who has soiled the County Princess's fine clothes and disturbed her! This old servant is guilty beyond redemption! Please forgive me, County Princess!"

She adopted an extremely humble posture and spoke with utmost sincerity.

"You flatter me, it's nothing, just a small matter." Xie Sangning said expressionlessly, only wanting to get away as soon as possible. "I will leave the palace and go back to my residence to change my clothes."

As she spoke, she tried to walk past Granny Gui and continue on her way.

"Absolutely not!"