Jiang Banxia nodded, "Yes, the person who looked for me back then was Fu Dong from the Second Young Lady's courtyard. When I met the Second Young Lady and listened to her instructions, Yi Cui was present. That five hundred taels of silver was also given to me by her, and she warned me not to speak carelessly, saying she would find me a good place after the matter was settled."
"Your Majesty, this subject's daughter implores that Mu Xi, along with the two Maidservants Fu Dong and Yi Cui, be summoned for questioning."
"Granted."
In the Begonia Courtyard, Mu Xi stared at the face covered in red marks in the bronze mirror, so angry that she swept everything on the dressing table onto the floor.
"Zhou Zhi Lan, you Bitch, how dare she publicly mock me as a wild pheasant and scratch my face! I will absolutely not let her off like this!"
Just as Yi Cui was about to persuade her, an anxious shout came from outside the door.
"Eldest Young Lady, something is wrong, something is wrong..."
Mu Xi, who was already furious, immediately walked out of the Inner Chamber and slapped the newcomer hard across the face.
"You ill-mannered thing, are you cursing me?"
The Maidservant covered her face and knelt to Beg for mercy, "This servant dares not, Eldest Young Lady, please calm your anger."
Yi Cui sighed lightly and stepped forward to soothe her, "Eldest Young Lady, please calm your anger. If a servant doesn't know the rules, just dismiss them; there's no need to anger yourself to the point of harming your health."
Mu Xi stared at the Maidservant kneeling before her, grinding her teeth, "I want to sell her to a Brothel, let her be ridden by a thousand men and crushed by ten thousand! I want to make her wish she were dead!"
This viciousness startled even Yi Cui, her personal Maidservant, "Eldest Young Lady, this..."
"This servant was wrong, please forgive this servant, Eldest Young Lady. This servant will definitely behave properly from now on, Eldest Young Lady, spare my life..."
"So noisy, shut up!"
Mu Xi kicked the weeping Maidservant and said irritably to her personal Maidservant, "I wasn't talking about her."
Yi Cui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. While signaling the Maidservant to leave with her eyes, she comforted her, "Eldest Young Lady, rest assured. Because your skin is delicate, the red marks appeared from just a light touch; the skin didn't even break. They will fade in a couple of days after applying some ointment. However, Miss Zhou suffered quite a loss this time; she has a long cut on her chin that is bleeding. Even if the injury heals, it will definitely leave a scar."
Mu Xi sneered triumphantly, "A woman whose looks are ruined, would a Brothel even want her?"
Yi Cui covered her mouth and chuckled, "If a Brothel doesn't want her, then send her to the military camp to be a prostitute."
These words finally allowed Mu Xi to vent the malice in her heart.
When she becomes Empress in the future, she will first find some excuse to punish the Zhou Family, and then send Zhou Zhi Lan to the military camp to be a prostitute!
"Eldest Young Lady..."
The mistress and servant only then noticed that the Maidservant was still kneeling on the ground and hadn't left. Yi Cui realized something and quickly asked, "What happened?"
"Eldest Young Lady, Eldest Young Lady has returned..."
Mu Xi scolded irritably, "Useless Trash, you can't even speak a clear sentence. Send her to the kitchen to tend the fire."
Just as Yi Cui was about to reply, the clanging sound of armor colliding came from outside the door.
The mistress and servant subconsciously looked over and saw a squad of Imperial Guards with sabers quickly running toward them.
"Miss Mu, His Majesty requests your presence."
Mu Xi was stunned at first, then overjoyed.
Summoning her specifically, could it be that he was going to publicly grant her marriage to Prince Qi?
The mistress and servant exchanged glances, their faces filled with joy; they had clearly thought of the same thing.
No, she couldn't go like this. On such an important day, she couldn't appear sloppy and miserable.
"Wait for me, I need to change my clothes."
The commander of the Imperial Guards expressionlessly raised the long saber at his waist and blocked Mu Xi, "No need. His Majesty is waiting. Miss Mu, please come."
"What is your attitude? Our Eldest Young Lady is the future Princess Consort of Prince Qi. If you offend the Prince's Mansion, do you still want to keep your job in the future?"
Facing Yi Cui's reprimand, the commander of the Imperial Guards remained unmoved.
"This subordinate is under His Majesty's orders to invite Miss Mu for questioning. If His Majesty is made to wait long, this subordinate cannot bear the responsibility."
The commander of the Imperial Guards was firm, so Mu Xi had no choice but to hastily cover her face with a silk handkerchief she had.
Along the way, no matter how Mu Xi tried to probe, the commander of the Imperial Guards did not reveal the slightest hint, which greatly annoyed her.
Inconsiderate thing, once she becomes Empress, she will transfer this person to guard the city gate!
"Your Majesty, the Mu Second Young Lady has arrived."
What Second Young Lady? She was clearly the Eldest Young Lady!
Hearing the eunuch's announcement, Mu Xi felt annoyed. Immediately after, she saw her mother kneeling on the ground.
The other party kept signaling her with her eyes. She vaguely sensed something was wrong, but it was too late to think deeply.
"This subject's daughter, Mu Xi, pays respects to Your Majesty."
Emperor Dongfeng acknowledged her but did not tell her to rise. Mu Xi's unease grew heavier, and she couldn't help but glance sideways at the person next to her.
This glance happened to meet Mu Ning's eyes.
Mu Xi was stunned, then became angry, "Why are you here?"
Mu Ning smiled enigmatically, "Six Years Ago, has my sister truly not recognized me?"
Just as Mu Xi frowned, preparing to retort, Emperor Dongfeng's deep voice came from above her head, "Mu Xi, this is your older sister, Mu Ning."
Mu Xi immediately stood up and rushed straight to Mu Ning.
It was easy to imagine the shock and astonishment the words "Mu Ning" brought her.
Her eyes widened as if they were a pair of bronze bells, "You are Mu Ning? What kind of joke is this? Aren't you dead?"
Mu Ning chuckled lightly, "In front of His Majesty, who would dare to joke? Do you not want your head?"
Mu Xi was speechless, her gaze sweeping over Mu Ning from top to bottom, deep jealousy churning in her eyes.
What kind of immortal elixir did this Bitch take to become so beautiful, with such a good figure, and wearing this noble and extraordinary Jiaoxiao Silk? Where did she get it?
However, no matter where she got it, it would eventually end up in her hands.
"Are you really Mu Ning? How did you become like this?"
"After leaving the Mu Family, no one added appetite-enhancing medicine to my food anymore, so naturally, I returned to normal."
Mu Xi's eyeballs almost popped out, "You..."
"Xi'er!"
Afraid that her Daughter would let something slip, Madam Mu quickly gave a loud Reminder, "In front of His Majesty, you must not lose your composure."
Mu Xi reacted and quickly knelt down again.
Emperor Dongfeng didn't press the matter and only told Mu Ning to continue questioning.
"Mu Xi, this is Jiang Banxia, you remember her, right?"
Following Mu Ning's guidance, Mu Xi noticed the other young woman kneeling on the ground.
Upon seeing the other person's appearance, her eyes widened again.
"She, isn't she already dead?"
Mu Ning clicked her tongue lightly, "I am very curious, why did you all think she was dead? Is a mere ordinary servant worth you paying so much attention to her life or death?"
Mu Xi's heart skipped a beat under Mu Ning's questioning, "I, I just happened to hear other servants mention it. Who is paying attention to her."
Mu Ning smiled slightly, "That's not important. According to Jiang Banxia's accusation, six years ago, you instructed her to purchase Hehuan Powder from Jiuzhentang to frame me. How do you explain this?"
Mu Xi's pupils shook violently, "She is lying! She is slandering me!"
"Second Young Lady! I still have the receipt from Jiuzhentang. If you hadn't instructed me, how could I have obtained Five Hundred taels of silver?"
"Who knows where you got the money? Maybe you stole it. Ah, I remember now, when you were serving in the Mu Manor, my mother's room was always missing Jewelry. One time, a hundred taels of silver also went missing, and later all those things were found in your room, which is why my mother sold you off outside the manor!"
Mu Ning chuckled lightly, "Since the missing Jewelry and money were all found, doesn't that mean the money Jiang Banxia used to buy Hehuan Powder wasn't stolen?"
Mu Xi was rendered speechless and continued to stubbornly insist, "In any case, this matter has nothing to do with me. Don't even think about colluding to slander me!"
"Whether it is slander or fact, you and your Maidservant should know best."
With that, Mu Ning looked toward the two Maidservants behind Mu Xi.