Zhao Shu chuckled dryly, glancing out of the corner of her eye at Xiao Guozi and Xiao Zhuzi, who were kneeling behind the chair, their bodies covered in white cloth. The threat was now tangible: You two just wait!
Xiao Guozi and Xiao Zhuzi kowtowed deeply, crying out in their hearts that they were innocent. They said that it was not that the servants had not kept their mouths shut, but that Physician Peng was too worried about the Empress Dowager...
"Hehe." She chuckled dryly, "Grandmother, where did I get assassinated? It was just a bunch of mischievous kids playing with me..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly. "I ask you, are you a helpless orphan?"
Zhao Shu lowered her head and whispered, "No, A-Jun has her father and grandmother."
Seeing her with her head down, her frail body swaying precariously in the cold wind, the Empress Dowager felt a pang of heartache, but still pointed at her with trembling eyes, "Since you are not a helpless orphan, why do you always act on your own initiative and overstep your bounds?"
She spoke sternly, and Prince Yong, feeling sorry for his daughter, quickly stood up and knelt beside Zhao Shu. "Mother, I have already said that it was my idea for A-Jun to leave the palace. It was not her own decision. Please calm down, Mother. A-Jun is not being unreasonable. It was I who was unreasonable and caused you worry."
"Fine, fine, you've all grown too big for your britches and don't even respect me anymore! You might as well make me angry to death!" She clutched her chest, so angry that she slumped into a chair. Hongxia and the others quickly and skillfully patted her back to help her catch her breath.
Seeing that his mother was so angry she could hardly breathe, Prince Yong quickly stood up and personally served her, bringing her tea and water, and speaking softly, "Mother, please calm down, please calm down, please calm down. Your son will never dare to do it again."
After drinking the tea and calming down, the Empress Dowager waved for Zhao Shu to get up. Ji Yun knew that the Empress Dowager was not really going to scold the princess, but was just putting on an act, so he quickly helped Zhao Shu up.
After Zhao Shu got up, she didn't dare to say much. Her previous two experiences had taught her that playing the victim was the most effective way. So she stood there pitifully, looking at the Empress Dowager timidly. She looked incredibly pitiful.
The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on Zhao Shu, and she gasped for breath. "Look at her, look at her," she said to Prince Yong, pointing at Zhao Shu. "Look at her like this, how does she resemble me?"
"So, Ah Jun is still more adorable when she's a little mischievous." Prince Yong secretly gave Zhao Shu a thumbs up.
The Empress Dowager was speechless at his words and then laughed. "On New Year's Eve, I will not punish you. If you have any problems next time, come to me. I am not a fool who will not stand up for his own granddaughter!"
"Yes, I understand, Grandmother." Zhao Shu immediately put on a smile and snuggled up to the Empress Dowager, "Grandmother, Ajun has something to ask of you. Would you please stand up for Ajun?"
The Empress Dowager chuckled and then said to Prince Yong, "Look at you, look at you." Her tone was drawn out and extremely indulgent. "You've gotten too big for your britches. Tell me, what is it that requires my intervention?"
"Ah Jun wants the Empress Dowager to send a verbal order to her maternal grandfather, instructing him to divorce his wife." She wasn't joking; she spoke with utmost seriousness and sincerity. A flash of murderous intent crossed her small face, leaving the Empress Dowager and Prince Yong stunned.
The Empress Dowager poked her forehead. "Tell me, why did you want your maternal grandfather to divorce his wife?"
“Inside the government office, Jiang Yue has confessed to murdering my mother and brothers. Ah Jun wants to seek justice for my mother, but does not want to involve my maternal grandfather’s family. If my maternal grandfather divorces his wife and removes Jiang Yue from the family genealogy, Ah Jun can have the government arrest Jiang Yue to uphold the law!” Jiang Yue’s mother may be innocent, but without the Shen family’s backing, how could Jiang Yue have hidden Song Tianhe for so many years?
At first, she couldn't understand why Jiang Yue's maids were frequently replaced, and some were even sold to extremely remote border regions. Now she finally understood.
Jiang Suiji wanted to protect his daughter, but he couldn't control her, so today he would let his granddaughter make this decision for him.
Prince Yong and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance. Prince Yong asked, "My Lady, where is Jiang Yue now?"
"In the dungeon of the government office, Father, rest assured, A-Jun knows what she's doing and would never use torture. She confessed herself. At the time, Prefect Zheng of Guanzhou was also there. He heard everything clearly. Mr. Huo can testify. The evidence is conclusive, and she has no way to deny it, Grandmother." She shook the Empress Dowager's hand. "Grandmother, you said you would stand up for A-Jun."
"Good!" The Empress Dowager patted her head with satisfaction and said lovingly, "You've finally become sensible."
Zhao Shu hurriedly nodded in agreement. She had originally planned to ask the Empress Dowager for help with this matter. It was not appropriate for her or her father to do it, so the Empress Dowager was the most suitable. However, it would only cause her maternal grandfather more heartache.
“Ah Jun has always been very sensible. If you don’t believe me, ask your father,” Zhao Shu said proudly, pouting her little mouth.
Prince Yong nodded in agreement, "Your subject can attest that Ajun is extremely sensible."
The Empress Dowager watched the father and daughter hawking their wares and couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm tired, you should both rest." With that, she was helped to her feet by Jiyun and slowly walked out.
"Ah Jun, rest early. I'm leaving now." Prince Yong was relieved to learn from Zhao Shu's words that the Huo family was also involved. "If anything happens in the future, you must tell me. Protecting Ah Jun is my responsibility. Ah Jun, don't overstep your bounds."
Zhao Shu nodded with a smile; these four words, used in this context, warmed her heart immensely.
He escorted them all the way to the palace gate, watching Prince Yong and the Empress Dowager depart, before saying to Xiao Zhu and Xiao Guo beside him, "If you are seriously injured, you should rest and recuperate well. You can come back to serve you when you are fully recovered."
Xiao Zhu and Xiao Guo bowed respectfully. "It's alright, this servant is not seriously injured and can still serve you, please rest assured, Your Highness." These words were spoken by Xiao Guo, and it was clear that he was in so much pain that he could barely speak, yet he still managed to speak with a strong voice through gritted teeth.
"Princess, Consort Hao invited Miss Sun to Jiahan Palace, and she hasn't returned yet. What do you think?" Little Zhu Zi was much more clever and skillfully diverted Zhao Shu's attention.
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