Chapter 143 Coming to the door?
Zhong Min knew that since Chu'er and Xiang'er were specially appointed by Xiao Mingzheng, she could be certain of one thing: they would not risk their lives for Jiang Xiyan, nor would they tip her off about their affairs. To be recognized by Xiao Mingzheng, loyalty was at least evident. Of course, this loyalty didn't refer to her, but to Xiao Mingzheng.
Their loyalty would certainly extend to Zhong Min at certain times, as she was the one their master ordered them to serve and, at times, the one under surveillance. However, they only reported to one master: Xiao Mingzheng. For them, no one else's interests could ever take precedence over their true master, so their eternal loyalty would only be to Xiao Mingzheng, and no one else.
Besides Chu'er and Xiang'er, Ziyan was also like this. Even Xi'er couldn't quite say she had no relationship with Xiao Mingzheng. If she had to make a choice between her and Xiao Mingzheng, Xi'er wouldn't necessarily side with her. Of course, this didn't mean Xi'er's usual kindness to her was fake; it was just that they each served their own master.
When Chu Er heard Zhong Min's question, she didn't hesitate at all and answered directly, "To answer my question, young lady, I think it's best for you not to get too involved in the things going on in the back garden, otherwise it will very likely cause you unnecessary trouble. However, you can still meet Wu Ji. If you don't even meet her, people will inevitably say that you are too unkind."
"Chu'er is really smart in protecting herself while taking the overall situation into consideration. It's amazing that you are willing to put so much effort into it." Zhong Min nodded approvingly. It seems that she is indeed interesting. She is much more worldly-wise and smooth-talking than Zi Yan, and more decisive than Xi'er.
Hearing Zhong Min's praise, Chu Er didn't show any arrogance. Instead, she said calmly, "Miss, you are too kind. I am just showing off my skills. In fact, Miss has already made up her mind. It is I who said too much."
Zhong Min smiled slightly and said nothing more. He just nodded, indicating that he was ready and asked Chu'er to invite Wu Ji in.
A moment later, Wu Ji was led in by Chu'er. After seeing Zhong Min, she knelt down in front of her without saying a word.
"What are you doing? How can I accept such a great gift? If you have anything to say, just sit down and talk it over." Zhong Min quickly asked someone to help Wu Ji up. Xier and Zi Yan naturally stepped forward quickly and helped her sit down.
Wu Ji looked pale and uneasy, and didn't care about anything else. She just asked Zhong Min to save Xu Ji, otherwise Xu Ji would have no way out.
Seeing Wu Ji's agitation, Zhong Min asked Xi'er to bring her a cup of hot tea to calm her nerves. Then he said, "I've just heard about Xu Ji's matter. However, you've come to me for help, which is obviously desperate. As an outsider, how can I interfere in the affairs of the back garden? Moreover, even if I wanted to help, I'm unable to do so. Wu Ji, you are a sensible person. I'm just a temporary guest. How can I care about such matters?"
"No, no, Miss Min'er, please, I beg you. I really can't think of anyone else to turn to for this matter except you." Wu Ji's face was full of pleading: "You are an honored guest of Prince Mu's Mansion. The prince will definitely listen to you. As long as you go to the prince and ask for a favor, Xu Ji will definitely be safe."
"Wu Ji, you know I'm just a guest. How can a guest interfere in the host's affairs? It's not that I'm heartless, but I really have no reason to interfere, let alone any qualifications to intervene."
Zhong Min said kindly, "You are the prince's concubine. It's inconvenient for you to come forward and plead with him, and I have no right to do so. If I do, I'm afraid I won't be able to help, and it will cause some unnecessary misunderstandings, putting Xu Ji in greater trouble. I hope you can understand my difficulties."
She really couldn't intervene in this matter, nor did she have any right to intervene. Not to mention that she didn't know Xu Ji at all, even if they had some friendship, she couldn't get involved in this mess. Besides, it was Xiao Mingzheng who was deliberately indulging Jiang Xiyan. She knew the mystery behind it, so how could she possibly interfere and disrupt it?
"But Miss Min'er, please have mercy on me. Saving a life is better than saving seven levels of monks. Xu Ji..." Wu Ji was unwilling to give up. As she spoke, she wanted to kneel down and beg Zhong Min for mercy.
Fortunately, Xier and Zi Yan reacted quickly and quickly pulled her back, preventing her from doing so and avoiding embarrassing Zhong Min.
Seeing this, Zhong Min said again, "You really don't have to do this. I don't want to lie to you. This matter is truly beyond my control. I'll have someone get you some external medicine. Take it back and apply it quietly to Xu Ji. With luck, she might even be able to save her life. Otherwise, I'm sorry, I can't do anything else."
As he spoke, Zhong Min looked at Xier, who immediately understood and went to the inner room to get two bottles of external injury medicine and handed them to Wu Ji.
"Xu Ji is lucky to have a friend like you." Zhong Min couldn't bear it any longer and said to Wu Ji, "Please take care of yourself, Wu Ji. Even if you're eager to save others, you still have to take care of yourself."
Wu Ji was a clever woman, and upon hearing Zhong Min's words, she immediately understood. It was true that bystanders see more clearly than those involved. Only then did Wu Ji realize how irrational and unwise she had been.
As a concubine in Prince Mu's mansion, she had the audacity to tell a guest about these family matters. If Jiang Xiyan knew about this, she would immediately find fault with her. She would be accused of spreading rumors and spreading family affairs, and her fate would be no better than Xu Ji's. She wasn't afraid of being implicated, but if she couldn't even take care of herself, how could she take care of Xu Ji, whose life was in danger?
"Thank you Miss Min'er for reminding me. I was indeed rash in what happened today." She sighed and had to put the two bottles of medicine in her arms, thinking of going back and secretly giving some to Xu Ji, maybe she could still save her life.
Just as she was about to get up and say goodbye, she suddenly heard Xiang'er shouting outside the courtyard, "This servant pays her respects to Miss Jiang. How did Miss Jiang find time to come here today?"
Hearing this, Wu Ji's face turned pale and she looked at Zhong Min in horror, not knowing what to do.
Seeing Jiang Xiyan suddenly come running over, Zhong Min figured someone must have seen Wu Ji coming over and told her, so Jiang Xiyan was most likely here for Wu Ji. Since hiding was impossible, it would be better to pretend nothing had happened.
"Don't worry, calm down, just sit down and chat with me." Zhong Min gestured to Wu Ji to sit down. Chu'er on the side was the smartest. She moved the cakes and other things that were originally placed a little far away to the side of Wu Ji and Zhong Min.
Wu Ji had just calmed down when Jiang Xiyan came in with his men. Seeing that Wu Ji was indeed here, his expression immediately became even more unfriendly.
"Princess, how come you have time to come to my place today?" Zhong Min looked very surprised. As he spoke, he asked Xier and others to take a seat and serve tea.
"Sister Min, don't bother. Xiyan is here today because of Wu." Jiang Xiyan said directly to Zhong Min, "I heard someone was being unreasonable and actually came to Sister Min and said nonsense. I was worried that this person might offend Sister Min. Xiyan knows that Sister Min is kind-hearted and just couldn't bear to blame her, so she came here to help her."
"What are you talking about, Princess? Why do I sound so confused?" Zhong Min looked puzzledly at Wu, who had already stood up and stood aside. "The only one who came to my place today was Wu Ji. She just happened to be passing by and saw me playing with Ruyi in the yard, so she came in to play for a while. She didn't say anything nonsense. Perhaps Princess has made a mistake?"
"It is my fault for coming here to disturb Miss Zhong Min without permission. It's just that Ruyi is so adorable that I couldn't help but come in to bother her. I also like to keep cats very much. I was just chatting with Miss Zhong Min about some experiences in raising cats, but I didn't know what Miss Jiang was referring to." Wu Ji was also an ordinary person. She continued what Zhong Min said neither humbly nor arrogantly, and her expression was calmer than before.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiyan's brows furrowed slightly, clearly unsure whether she had truly made a mistake or if Zhong Min was deliberately protecting that bitch, Wu Ji. Regardless, Wu Ji, who had never interacted with Zhong Min before, had chosen to come to her at this very moment. Who could believe there wasn't something fishy going on?
Maybe it was too late to say anything, maybe Zhong Min didn't want to bother with such trivial matters, or maybe Zhong Min didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Regardless, she didn't believe Zhong Min truly knew nothing. Even if she didn't know now, she would know in no time. Since she was already here, there was nothing to hide. It would be better to come clean and let Zhong Min know that no matter what, she was the mistress of the Prince Mu's Mansion, now and in the future!
"Wu Ji is in such a good mood. She's actually in the mood to come here and talk to Sister Min about cat-raising." Jiang Xiyan sat down and said sarcastically, "I heard that Wu Ji and Xu Ji have always been close friends, like sisters. I didn't expect it to be just like this. Xu Ji just got spanked, and you seem so relaxed and at ease."
"Being beaten with a stick? Xu Ji? What's this the princess is talking about?" Zhong Min looked confused and asked Xi'er, "Do you know anything?"
Xi'er shook her head, and so did Ziyan. Seeing this, Chu'er beside her hurriedly said, "To answer you, young lady, it's like this. Today, Xu Ji in the back garden spoke rudely, slandering and defaming the princess. For this, she was punished with thirty strokes of the cane. It was a minor punishment, but it was a major one."
"Oh, so that's what's going on." Zhong Min looked as if she had understood. After a moment, she suddenly looked at Jiang Xiyan in confusion. "That's not right. When the princess came in just now, she said she was afraid someone would talk nonsense to me. What does that mean? Could it be that the princess thought Zhong Min was so ignorant as to meddle in Prince Mu's family affairs?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
