"This servant knows her sins." Ah Xiang kowtowed to the ground, large tears rolling down her cheeks.
She felt terrified and guilty. If no one had rescued the little princess in time, the princess would have died inside because of her.
She clutched her chest, her heart clenching with a sharp, aching pain.
"Back then, the Empress Dowager thought you were a palace maid from the Hibiscus Palace and a former servant of Consort Shu, so she assumed you would treat the little princess well and allowed you to stay and take care of her." Yun Beiye looked at her, feeling quite frightened.
Fortunately, Jin Jinzhi arrived in time and rescued his precious daughter; otherwise, this warm little bundle of joy would have been swallowed up by the fire.
Every time I think about this, I break out in a cold sweat.
"But what about you? You dared to take the little princess to the Buddhist temple without permission, without even a guard around you!"
If she had brought a guard with her, she wouldn't have been trapped in the fire.
"This servant deserves to die! Please punish me, Your Majesty!" Ah Xiang kept kowtowing on the ground, her elbows supporting her on the ground. The white gauze on her arm tore open, and the blood that flowed out stained it red.
Yun Duoduo lay in the cradle, watching her father scold Aunt Xiang, and seeing the blood seeping from Aunt Xiang's arm, she felt very sorry for her.
She wanted to shout it out loud: they went to the Buddhist temple because it was her mother's birthday, and they were going to chat with her!
Besides, it's not Aunt Xiang's fault that the Buddhist hall caught fire!
Those who caused the fire should be severely punished!
"The Empress Dowager and I trusted you so much, but what have you done? You've truly disappointed me!" Yun Beiye slammed his hand on the table, his eyebrows raised.
"Those who are sent to Xin shall serve three months of hard labor!"
Three months of hard labor?
Ah Xiang was slightly stunned. She was still alive?! The emperor hadn't killed her?
"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and thank the emperor!" Zhao Zhongquan said softly, looking at Ah Xiang kneeling on the ground in a daze.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life!" Ah Xiang snapped out of her daze and quickly kowtowed to express her gratitude.
Ah Xiang was very grateful to the Emperor for sparing her life, but Yun Duoduo was not happy about it.
Upon hearing her father's arrangement, Yun Duoduo burst into tears in protest.
Aunt Xiang is going to the Laundry Department?!
Xinzheku is no good place; many people who went there never came back!
Father, how could you treat Aunt Xiang like this!
Seeing Yun Duoduo's angry reaction, Yun Beiye realized that her daughter probably didn't want A Xiang to leave.
However, after such a serious incident, those involved must be severely punished; otherwise, anyone could bully her daughter in the future.
Yun Duoduo kept crying, her little paws flailing wildly. Yun Beiye shook his head helplessly and said, "Go to the Laundry Department and reflect on your actions! Come back when you've reflected properly!"
Yun Beiye was at her wit's end; her precious daughter was clearly unhappy.
He didn't specify a timeframe, meaning that Ah Xiang could come back anytime as long as she reflected on her actions.
Ah Xiang suddenly raised her head. Did His Majesty mean that she could come back to take care of the little princess?
Ah Xiang kowtowed, tears welling in her eyes, "Thank you, Your Majesty! This servant will certainly reflect on my actions!"
After saying that, Ah Xiang didn't wait for the palace servants to take her away. She went to pack her things and headed towards the laundry department. She wanted to get there as soon as possible. She just hoped that these three months would pass quickly so that she could come back and continue to take care of the little princess.
...
"Jin Jinzhi, um, I remember that the one who rescued the little princess that day was the eldest son of the Jin family."
After Ah Xiang left, Yun Beiye looked at the guards at the entrance of Fu Shuang Palace and felt that he still needed to find a reliable and capable person to protect his precious daughter's safety.
The boy who rescued Duoduo from the fire was only ten years old. Yet he was able to enter the burning Buddhist hall alone and rescue Duoduo, which shows that he has extraordinary courage, a kind heart, and is capable of great responsibility.
“Yes, Your Majesty, it is indeed General Jin’s son, Jin Jinzhi,” Zhao Zhongquan replied, bowing his head.
"Bring him to see me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Fu Shuang Palace was warm with burning incense charcoal inside, and Eunuch Zhao put on his cotton hat and went outside.
Outside the bedchamber, heavy snow was falling, and boots crunched on the ground as Zhao Zhongquan led several eunuchs toward Xiaoyue Pavilion.
...
Half an incense stick later, Zhao Zhongquan brought Jin Jinzhi to Fushuang Palace.
"Your subject, Jin Jinzhi, pays respects to Your Majesty!" Jin Jinzhi arrived at Fushuang Palace and knelt before Yun Beiye to pay his respects.
He knew that they would definitely inquire about what happened in the Buddhist hall that day in the coming days.
"Jinzhi, when the Buddhist hall caught fire that day, did you notice anything unusual?" Yun Beiye stared at Jin Jinzhi, observing his appearance and expression.
He was in a great hurry outside the Buddhist hall that day and didn't look carefully.
Looking at Jin Jinzhi's firm chest and back and deep eyes, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. The Northern Frontier was indeed a place that tempered people. The fortitude, resilience and spirit in this child's bones were many times stronger than those of his pampered sons.
"Your Majesty, I was originally serving my mother at Xiaoyue Pavilion when I noticed thick smoke rising from the southwest, so I went there."
"When I arrived, the fire was already raging, and eunuchs and palace maids were busy putting it out."
Yun Beiye nodded. If it were then, the arsonist would have already fled.
"Get up. You saved the princess this time, which is a great service. Tell me, what reward do you want?" Yun Beiye looked at the young man before him.
"Protecting the princess's safety is my duty."
Yun Duoduo smacked her lips again, and started spouting official jargon. These kinds of polite words are indispensable in both ancient and modern times.
"but."
Sure enough, but, but, that's the important part. The rest was just polite talk. This young man looks young, but he knows a lot about social niceties!
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you summon a royal physician for my mother. She is ten months pregnant and will soon be giving birth," Jin Jinzhi said respectfully to Yun Beiye, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.
The Xiaoyue Pavilion is fully equipped with utensils, eunuchs, palace maids, and guards, but it lacks only a doctor, which is exactly what pregnant women need.
"Hmm, it was my oversight. Old Zhao, make arrangements for several skilled imperial physicians and experienced midwives at Xiaoyue Pavilion to ensure that Lady Jin can give birth smoothly," Yun Beiye instructed Zhao Zhongquan beside him.
"Yes, this old servant has noted it down and will make the arrangements in a moment." Zhao Zhongquan nodded, thinking to himself that he should discuss this matter with the Grand Eunuch Wang and give it a try.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Jin Jinzhi bowed in gratitude.
"Yes, I am very busy and there may be things I can't think of. You are living in the palace. If you need anything or anything, or if you have any inconvenience, you can come to Eunuch Zhao anytime and he will arrange it for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"By the way, the Jin family will be staying in the palace these days, and I will send people to take good care of your mother."
"While you are in the palace, the little princess's safety is entirely your responsibility!"
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