Ziwei's kneeling caused Erkang's rationality to vanish once again.
“Ziwei, get up. It was her fault to begin with. The Empress Dowager sent you to teach the Imperial Kitchen how to make pastries, not to be ordered around by Chen Nian.”
Seeing the current standoff between the two sides, Master Zhuang waved to another apprentice, whispered a few instructions in his ear, and then ran out.
"Heh~, Ziwei, you're really something, you're really good at stirring up trouble, it's truly admirable."
Whether I wanted you to make me desserts or something else, we all know the answer.
Hearing Ziwei's words, Chen Nian finally understood.
Her tone was incredibly cold. This couple is really something. She wouldn't let them get away with this.
Do they really think she's a pushover, someone they can bully at will? They're pinning all sorts of accusations on her. Since they've already said they tormented Ziwei, wouldn't she be wasting her breath if she didn't prove that accusation?
“Ziwei, since Uncle Fu insists on pinning the blame on me, it would seem like I’d be letting him down if I didn’t confirm it. Didn’t I tell you to make Luohan cakes? Then go ahead and make them. It’ll take at least seven days and seven nights. You’re not allowed to stop until I tell you to.”
With the Empress Dowager's backing, who does she have to fear? Everyone has their own protectors.
"Yes... Gege."
Ziwei hadn't expected things to escalate this much. Hearing Chen Nian's words, she looked incredulously at her surroundings.
After weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately said nothing.
She obediently agreed, and was about to leave when Er Kang grabbed her hand.
"Master Fu, please release me. I need to go to work."
Ziwei tried her best to break free.
“Uncle Fu, I can testify that it wasn’t Princess Shen who instructed Miss Ziwei to do it. Princess Shen was trying to help Miss Ziwei out of a predicament—”
"Does helping someone out of a predicament mean they shouldn't help Ziwei? Does it mean we should make her knead dough and cook for her while she's injured? Why can't we cook for her when she's injured?"
Master Zhuang wanted to ease the tense situation, but before he could finish speaking, Er Kang interrupted him.
Erkang was in a fit of anger and spoke without thinking. Instead of loosening his grip on Ziwei's hand, he tightened it even more.
Seeing the disdainful look in Shen Nian's eyes as he looked at Ziwei, Erkang was very dissatisfied, even though Ziwei was also a princess.
Why can Chen Nian be high and mighty, while Zi Wei has to be a servant, doing this and that, and even being harassed?
He's now blaming everything on his mind.
"Fine, since Master Fu insists that I tormented Ziwei and abused her, Ziwei, you can stop making cakes. Then please come to Cining Palace with me and let the Empress Dowager and the Emperor decide. We'll settle the score after they've decided."
Seeing Er Kang glaring at him with eyes full of anger, Chen Nian closed his eyes and tried to regulate his emotions.
She's feeling unwell right now and doesn't want to argue with the megalomaniac and the troublemaker.
After this incident, she, Erkang, and Ziwei can never be on the same team again; they are essentially on opposite sides. As for Xiaoyanzi and Ertai, we'll see.
If they also believe it's their fault, then they should part ways; they can go their own way, and she can go hers.
"Princess, Princess, Uncle Fu didn't mean it that way, please don't be angry."
Upon hearing that Chen Nian was going to make a scene before the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, Ziwei panicked and knelt down again, pleading with Chen Nian.
How did things escalate like this? She just... just...
“Ziwei, get up, don’t kneel before her. Isn’t she going to go to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor for judgment? Let’s go then. It’s true that your hand is injured, and it’s also true that you made cakes for her.”
Er Kang only believed what he saw with his own eyes.
"Xuan'er, let's go."
Chen Nian didn't want to argue with the two of them. She was breathing heavily, her chest aching dully. She needed to rest.
"Uncle Fu, why don't you and Miss Ziwei follow along? We'll go and invite the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to judge. I never expected that my own princess would want to help some people out of this predicament, but not only do they not appreciate it, they're also stirring up trouble."
"I will report this truthfully to Your Majesty, and I will ask the young chefs of the Imperial Kitchen to bear witness."
Xuan'er spoke in a sarcastic tone, while also calling out to the young chefs behind the imperial kitchen.
Hearing Xuan'er's words, Ziwei's face paled; she had messed things up.
"Yes, yes, Miss Xuan'er, please rest assured. If you need us to testify, we will definitely do our best."
The chefs in the imperial kitchen echoed in unison.
Hearing what the young chefs in the imperial kitchen said, Erkang couldn't help but wonder if he had really misunderstood.
Impossible, absolutely impossible, Er Kang kept convincing himself. It was Shen Nian's fault, it was Shen Nian who tormented Ziwei.
"Princess Shen is truly shrewd; she even managed to bribe the junior chefs in the imperial kitchen."
Through this constant brainwashing, Er Kang regained his confidence, his words dripping with sarcasm.
"Uncle Fu, how can you compare to me? You're so impulsive, risking everything for a woman. Just you wait and see, and don't come begging me for help."
Despite Er Kang's mockery, Shen Nian remained remarkably calm, offering a nonchalant rebuttal.
What's the point of being a hero in words? Let's see who wins and who loses in the end, and who begs whom.
She can't touch Fu Erkang, but Ziwei is not untouchable.
She and Ziwei had thus formed a grudge.
She couldn't defeat Ziwei on her own, and she wasn't as smart as Ziwei, but she could find outside help; she still had Qing'er.
She may not be smart, but she's not brainless or stupid; she doesn't know how to seek outside help.
So what if he's one of the main characters? Do you even know the phrase "his merits overshadow the emperor's"? Isn't he just relying on the fact that Grand Secretary Fu Lun is highly valued by the emperor?
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