"Xiao Yu?"
Su Ziji had no recollection of this person and frowned slightly. Someone immediately answered, "Yes, the maid surnamed Jiang. She has always worked in the sewing room."
"Let her in," Su Ziji said mildly. He really had been startled just now, fearing poison on the needle or some other witchcraft. But after examining it carefully, he found it had been a false alarm. Even so, he swept his gaze over the people kneeling around him and did not immediately tell them to rise.
A moment later, an ordinary-looking maid entered from outside. The instant she came in, she dropped to her knees with a frightened thud and kowtowed.
"Your Highness, this servant is Jiang Xiaoyu. Please show mercy!"
"You are Jiang Xiaoyu?"
Su Ziji lowered his gaze and scrutinized the maid.
She was thoroughly unremarkable, the sort who could disappear into a crowd without anyone noticing. Nothing about her stood out, and judging by her bearing and manner, she was probably the diligent, honest sort in her everyday work.
Seeing this, Su Ziji grew wary, afraid she might be a spy.
In truth, this was precisely the sort of person best suited to being a spy.
Prince Dai remained silent a little too long, and everyone had already assumed Xiao Yu would be severely punished this time.
How exalted were the sons of dragons and descendants of phoenixes?
Anything else might have been overlooked; a little carelessness did not necessarily warrant punishment. But she had actually injured Prince Dai. Taken seriously, this could even count as a grave crime.
Prince Dai had always been lenient, so none of them had worried unduly. But after the manor was surrounded, he had dealt with over a hundred people in one stroke, including many with standing, reputation, and personal ties. Now