As to whether Yehe had tampered with the kite or not, the four maids were not entirely sure, because they hadn't been watching Yehe make the kite all the time.
"Your Highness, our Princess would never do such a thing. We didn't see her tamper with the kite either," Yuhen said urgently.
“But my finger was pricked by a nail on that kite.” Nian’s shrill voice sounded unusually harsh at this moment.
Yuhen and Yulu shook their heads anxiously at the surrounding area, but the maids behind Nian Shi unanimously insisted that Nian Shi had pricked her finger on a nail on the kite.
Seeing the two maids arguing incessantly, the Princess Consort coldly snapped, "Enough! Stop arguing! Peach Blossom, what do you have to say? Why are you silent when I see you?"
Tao Hua glanced nervously at the Fujin, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Nian Shi noticed that Tao Hua seemed to have something to say and quickly said, "This Tao Hua doesn't seem to agree with what those two maids said. Fujin, why don't you let her come out and say it?"
Peach Blossom lowered her head in surprise, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
Yehe couldn't help but turn around and glance at Taohua. She thought to herself that she had treated Taohua well, and even though Taohua had taken her share of the allowance without permission, she had not blamed or pursued the matter.
"Peach Blossom, step forward," the Fujin said in a deep voice.
Peach Blossom was startled. After hesitating for a moment, she quickly stepped out from behind Yehe.
"Peach Blossom, it seems you have something to say?" the princess said.
Peach Blossom subconsciously glanced at Nian Shi, then at Ye He Shi, only to see Yu Hen and Yu Lu looking at her with surprise, while Ye He Shi also looked bewildered.
"Your Highness, I saw with my own eyes that Consort Ye smeared something from a small bottle onto that kite," Peach Blossom said through gritted teeth, looking down at her toes.
“You’re talking nonsense…” Yu Lu retorted angrily.
"How dare you! How can you make such a racket in front of the Princess Consort? What an unruly girl! Cuiling, go and teach this unruly girl a lesson for Princess Ye!" Madam Nian raised her eyebrows and stared at Yulu.
When Yehe saw that they were really going to beat her maid, she looked at the Fujin for help, but the Fujin lowered her head at this moment, as if looking at the embroidery on her sleeve.
Cuiling understood the Fujin's attitude, and replied with a smile, "Yes."
After saying that, she quickly walked up to Yulu and said sarcastically, "Yulu, you have no manners in front of the Fujin. You'd better accept your mistake today."
After saying that, Cui Ling raised her hand and slapped Yu Lu's fair face.
One, two, three, four...
Yu Lu's face was already bright red from the slap. She endured the pain, but tears involuntarily streamed down her face.
"Madam, please have mercy! Yulu is unruly. Please forgive her this time." Yehe Shi could no longer bear to watch and knelt down deeply.
"Alright, if you keep fighting, it'll start to bleed," the princess said, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Cui Ling then stopped, looking at Yu Lu whose face was swollen from the beating, and revealed a smug and proud expression.
"Peach Blossom, you said you saw with your own eyes that Princess Ye smeared poison on that kite?" the Fujin continued to ask.
"Yes, the day before yesterday, I was on my way to report to the princess when I accidentally saw her doing that kind of thing," Peach Blossom said, looking heartbroken.
"Your Majesty, this maid is lying. I did nothing wrong. Peach Blossom, since you came to my room, I have never mistreated you or Lotus. How can you frame me like this? Who instructed you to do this?" Yehe Shi was almost in tears. She had been a young lady since childhood, pampered by her mother and father. She had never experienced such a thing.
"Princess, you should quickly apologize to the Fujin. The Fujin is kind and might be lenient with you because of your momentary lapse in judgment," Peach Blossom advised.
"Why, why did you do this to me?" Yehe glared at Taohua and shouted angrily. At this moment, she hated Taohua even more than Nianshi. Because she believed she had not mistreated her, yet Taohua betrayed her at this crucial moment.
"I say, Lady Ye, just admit it! Even your maid knows better than you. You're clearly jealous that I won the Prince's favor first, so you secretly drove nails into the kite. Not only that, but you also poisoned it. Your heart is truly wicked. Your Highness, keeping such a vicious woman by the Prince's side is nothing short of a disaster. Please punish her severely!" Lady Nian said, not allowing Lady Ye to explain.
"Your Highness, I truly have not done anything to harm Princess Nian. I don't know why Peach Blossom said that. I beg Your Highness to investigate thoroughly." Yehe knew that at this moment, she could only ask Her Highness to investigate the matter thoroughly. In any case, since she herself had not done anything, as long as the investigation was thorough, the truth would surely be revealed.
The Princess Consort sighed and looked at Yehe Shi, saying, "Sister, your maid personally said she saw you do it. How can I, the Princess Consort, investigate thoroughly? The Emperor is currently in the palace preparing provisions for Father, and I won't bother him with these matters. Here's what we'll do: Yehe Shi, confine yourself to your room, not allowed to come and go freely, and no one is permitted to visit you. I will investigate carefully. Nian Shi, you should quickly go and have Doctor Wu examine you. It doesn't seem to be a very serious poison, but since your finger is injured, it still needs proper treatment. I will draw a conclusion after I have investigated this matter thoroughly. I'm afraid you'll have to bear with this for a while."
At this moment, Yehe could no longer hold back her tears, which silently streamed down her face. After hearing this, Nian seemed unsatisfied and muttered, "The Princess Consort is too kind. I will not pursue this matter for the sake of the Princess Consort. I must go and have Doctor Wu examine me. I shall take my leave now."
Having said that, she took Cuiling's hand and walked past Yehe Shi. Seeing her faintly sobbing, she wore a smug expression and left. Her maids also followed Nian Shi away.
Seeing Yehe Shi weeping with her head down, the Fujin sighed and said, "Yehe Shi, are you dissatisfied with my decision?"
Yehe said, "I dare not. I only ask that Your Highness thoroughly investigate this matter. I really did not do such a thing."
Seeing Yehe's stubbornness, Lingzhi curled her lips into a mocking smile and said, "Princess Ye, please go back. The Princess Consort is tired."
Seeing that the Fujin (principal wife) remained silent, Yeheshi curtsied and left, taking Yuhen's hand. Peach Blossom and Lotus Flower, however, did not follow her.
"Madam, shall we go back?" Peach Blossom asked.
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