Ji Fengyao quickly took several steps back to avoid being touched by the old man, and pouted with disgust, saying, "No, I dare not use a two-faced and vicious servant like you. Don't tarnish my good reputation."

Granny Zheng: "..."

If the situation weren't so bad, she would have loved to roll her eyes at this bandit.

You're just a lowly bandit, what good reputation do you have!

“Princess Chonghe, this old servant has served the Empress Dowager for many years and knows many of her secrets. I also know a lot about the things the Empress Dowager did concerning you and the Ninth Prince. Please spare my life; it will surely benefit you and the Ninth Prince in the future.” With her mean-looking old face, Zheng Mama used her silver tongue to persuade Ji Fengyao, hoping to find a way out.

Ji Fengyao raised her small hand and fanned herself in front of her nose, as if disgusted that the spittle sprayed by Zheng Mama was polluting the air. She said domineeringly, "If I want to know something, why don't I ask the Empress Dowager myself? You old hag, you dare to threaten me. Xique, give her a few lashes first and then throw her into prison. Just leave her with a breath left."

"Alright, Miss!"

Just then, Xique walked up to Granny Zheng and hadn't even finished answering her question.

"Smack!"

With a crisp crack, the barbed whip landed on Granny Zheng's back.

Most of the wounds on Granny Zheng's body were still scabbed over, but after being whipped, almost all the scabs on her back burst open, and she was in so much pain that she couldn't catch her breath.

She was absolutely stunned!

She had lived for decades and had never seen anyone like Ji Fengyao!

They are completely unreasonable and domineering, utterly uncooperative!

He was born to be a bandit!

Xi Que struck with great restraint, causing Zheng Mama to scream and wail, but only injuring her skin and flesh, without damaging her bones or internal organs.

This old hag is no match for a beating; Hu Ji's beating almost killed her.

If she hits too hard,

Who knows, she might die before Princess Zhaoping even wakes up!

Her young mistress said that these three should be left to Princess Zhaoping to deal with;

Although she hated the Empress Dowager's lackeys so much that she wanted to kill them all, her mistress's words were more important, and she couldn't ruin her mistress's plans.

Ji Fengyao ordered her men to throw the dead-dog-like Zheng Mama, Simeng, Siyi, and the two little palace maids into a dark room in the side courtyard of Hui Nuan Pavilion.

Princess Zhaoping was placed in the Hui Nuan side courtyard and was not sent back to Dianxiang Pavilion.

As for Dianxiang Pavilion, Ji Fengyao had already instructed Hu Ji to empty it.

All the spies and informants that Princess Zhaoping brought out of the palace were secretly dealt with by Hu Ji; not even a mouse escaped.

Inside the palace, the Empress Dowager was completely unaware of this.

What worries her now is that the emperor has gone mad for some reason, suddenly showing favoritism towards the empress and her son!

The Empress and her son have always been wicked; isn't the Emperor courting death by doing this?

The Empress Dowager sent people to invite the Emperor several times, but the Emperor never came to Cixi Palace again.

Not only did they not come, they also killed two of the people sent by the Empress Dowager!

The Empress Dowager could no longer sit still and personally went to the Imperial Study.

When the Empress Dowager arrived, Eunuch De and a troop of Imperial Guards stood guard outside the gate, their faces looking ashen and strange as if they were constipated.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was about to barge in, Eunuch De quickly stepped forward to stop her, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, please allow me to inform the Emperor that he is inside with the Empress and Lord Di..."

Before he could finish speaking, a woman's soft, alluring laughter, seemingly both reluctant and welcoming, suddenly echoed from the imperial study: "Hehehe, it's broad daylight, please don't do this..."