Lin Shuang, as expected of someone from the palace, delivered her response with such skillful timing and superb acting that she completely blocked the last escape route for the Duchess of Chen.
"Forget it, Lin Shuang, stop talking. Who told us we were bandits back then?" Ji Fengyao sighed softly, and with the help of her two maids, she got up from the ground and walked to the Empress Dowager to give a graceful bow.
This time, her manners were impeccable and her voice was gentle and pleasant: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Please don't let me upset you and harm your health. It's alright if the needles are gone. I can borrow another set from Imperial Physician Gao."
Seeing Ji Fengyao's meek and submissive demeanor, and knowing that she was still concerned about her illness even at this moment, the Empress Dowager felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
Thinking about it, this bandit had saved her life, and even if it was for Zhaoping's sake, she had indeed treated him a bit too badly in the past.
Thinking about it this way, the Empress Dowager found the bandit somewhat agreeable: "Good child, you've been wronged."
Chen Ziying, who was kneeling below the hall, was dumbfounded: What? The bandit was wronged?
Is the Empress Dowager's eyesight failing?
Putting aside the matter of the bandits robbing their Duke's mansion, just look at the present situation: her hands are still covered in thorns like a hedgehog, what a waste!
"Empress Dowager..."
"Shut up!"
Chen Ziying wanted to cry and complain to the Empress Dowager, but she was stopped in a low voice by the Empress as soon as she spoke.
The Empress Dowager was annoyed by their series of petty actions. She sat down, waved her hand, and said, "Alright, stop putting on an act here. I'm old and can't take your antics. Since you've come to collect a debt, take the money and leave. You don't need to come to my palace again if you have nothing else to do."
"Then we shall take our leave. Once Your Majesty has calmed down, I will come to apologize to Your Majesty again," the Empress said, kowtowing deeply to the Empress Dowager with a heavy heart.
After leaving Cixi Palace.
Holding up her hands full of needles, Chen Ziying cried to the Empress, utterly aggrieved, "Empress, look at my hands..."
"Smack!"
The Empress did not show Chen Ziying any pity as usual; instead, she slapped her across the face, making half of Chen's face turn red.
"Empress, why did you hit Ying'er? I'm the one who was bullied!" Chen Ziying's hands hurt, her face hurt, and her heart hurt even more. She cried so hard that tears and snot streamed down her face.
"Mother, you should take Ziying back to the manor and discipline her strictly! I originally thought she was just a bit spoiled and ignorant, but now it seems that if she is not disciplined, the Chen family will be ruined by her mouth sooner or later," the Empress said sternly.
Lady Chen also knew that she had caused quite a bit of trouble today, especially since Chen Ziying dared to shout for violence in front of the Empress Dowager.
If the Empress Dowager speaks ill of the Emperor, even the Crown Prince might be implicated!
"Empress, how could you say that to Ying'er? Don't you love Ying'er anymore, Empress?" Chen Ziying was still unaware of what she had done wrong.
The Empress did not look at her again, and led her palace servants away without looking back.
Lady Chen, seeing the direction she was heading, knew she was going to intercept the emperor.
She just doesn't understand!
What kind of sorcery did that bandit use to gain the favor of the Ninth Prince despite being so lowly and despicable?
They clearly robbed their Duke's Mansion, yet they managed to get the Empress Dowager to pin all the blame on their Duke's Mansion!
“Mother…” Chen Ziying called out, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Ziying, my good daughter, don't be sad, just bear with it; your father and your brothers and sisters will not let that gang of bandits get away with it," Lady Chen comforted her with heartache, pulling Chen Ziying along as they left the palace like stray dogs.
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