Cao Degui hurriedly caught her and held her up.
The young palace maids guarding the door saw Auntie Yishuang faint and tried to gather around, but Cao Degui shooed them away.
As the Empress Dowager's great favorite, Auntie Yishuang was quick on the uptake. She immediately realized the root of the problem and abandoned all thoughts of killing her to silence her.
The pressure around her throat vanished at once, and Auntie Yishuang slowly opened her eyes.
She had nearly died in the line of duty.
In the brief instant she had lost consciousness, Auntie Yishuang had seen her Great-Grandma, who had been dead for years, which had eased her homesickness considerably.
She glared at Eunuch Cao. Why didn't you tell me earlier that Miss Jian was so untouchable?
Cao Degui thought, Haven't I told you enough?
You wouldn't listen to advice. You just had to put yourself in danger.
I told you to hurry up, take her inside, and serve her properly, but you wouldn't listen!
[Why's this palace maid going "gack, gack, gack" too? Did she catch it after becoming Eunuch Cao's palace partner?!]
Auntie Yishuang: "..."
If I can't do it myself, surely I can borrow someone else's knife...
"Gack-"
Her throat was seized.
Hello, Great-Grandma!
Fuck, no borrowing knives! No borrowing knives!
Her throat was released.
Goodbye, Great-Grandma!
"My revered ancestor-oh, no, Miss Ruonan, it's cold outside. Please come in. Watch your step. Mind you don't bump into anything or trip."
Auntie Yishuang's attitude did a complete about-face as she solicitously led Jian Ruonan inside.
"Auntie Yishuang, sorry for the trouble," Jian Ruonan said.
After a moment's thought, Auntie Yishuang returned the red envelope she had just received. "No trouble at all, no trouble at all. Miss Ruonan, you're far too kind. This is my duty.