While the Empress Dowager secretly breathed a sigh of relief, she was also burning with anger, and finally dropped the teacup from her hand.

"Useless thing!"

"Bang!"

He roared and threw the teacup at Gao Chengwei.

Gao Chengwei's upbringing instilled in him a sense of urgency, preventing him from dodging and allowing the teacup to smash into his forehead.

Although he had martial arts skills to protect him, he was still flesh and blood, and several streaks of blood immediately seeped down his forehead.

He could have dodged, but he didn't. He was beaten on the forehead like a dog, but he didn't dare to utter a sound.

This greatly satisfied the Empress Dowager's vanity, and also dissipated much of the resentment and frustration in her heart: "Last night, that group of thieves stole many of my things. There must be an inside agent in the palace, and it must not be an ordinary one; perhaps this agent is among your people. You must thoroughly investigate this matter!"

Gao Chengwei was also surprised to hear the Empress Dowager's words. He thought that the assassination attempt last night was just a disturbance in Chaoyang Palace.

It turns out there was an assassination attempt at Cixi Palace as well; no wonder the Empress Dowager was so angry.

After glancing briefly at the Empress Dowager, Gao Chengwei's resentment vanished instantly.

Alright, compared to his face being swollen like a steamed bun, a broken forehead is really nothing for a grown man like him.

"Yes, I will investigate them one by one when I get back," Gao Chengwei said, accepting the order with his hands behind his back.

In contrast to the chaos in the palace, Hui Nuan Pavilion was filled with joy and celebration.

Ji Fengyao dismissed the miscellaneous people in the inner and outer courtyards.

Xique and Wuhen dumped all their spoils from the previous night at Cining Palace onto the snow in the inner courtyard. The gold and silver treasures that filled almost half the courtyard were so dazzling they nearly blinded people.

Especially Granny Cui's suddenly widened old eyes, it was as if her eyeballs were about to pop out.

Ji Fengyao glanced at her without saying a word.

"Miss, how do you want to distribute these things? Brother Wuhen and I have discussed it and we'll do whatever you say." Xique was beaming with joy.

"These are all your and Wuhen's own earnings. I shouldn't be making decisions for you, but I think most of them are ill-gotten gains. If you take them all, you'll only add to your own troubles. So I'll decide to distribute some for you." Ji Fengyao stepped forward and took out the deed of the fields, estates, and farms, saying, "You and Wuhen each take 20%. Half of the rest will go to the army, and the other half will be given to Wuhen to use to help the poor. What do you think?"

"No need, no need, 20% is too much," Wuhen shook his head.

“Yes, Miss, I don’t usually need much money, so I’ll just take a box of silver nuggets,” said Xique.

Looking at the kind couple, Ji Fengyao thought they were a perfect match and said with a smile, "Take it, consider it a blessing from heaven. If you think it's too much, just help out any people in need in the future."

"Miss, what are you saying?" The usually carefree Magpie blushed and lowered her face for the first time ever.

Bai Lu chuckled and took her hand, teasingly saying, "Even Sister Lin Shuang and I can see it. Do you think the Princess Consort can't see you and Brother Wuhen's constant bickering?"

"There's no misunderstanding whatsoever. We clearly just..."

Seeing that Xique was about to blurt out their intimate conversation from the previous night in public, Wuhen quickly stepped forward to stop her and shamelessly lied, "Xique, your hairpin is crooked."

"Oh, really?" Xi Que believed it and reached out to touch the hairpin in her hair.

"Pfft, hahaha..." The two of them looked so silly and cute that Bai Lu burst into laughter.