Miaoxi's legs buckled, and she dropped to her knees on the spot.
Eunuch Changshun looked over at the sound.
This palace maid was an unfamiliar face, probably one of the new batch recruited last month. He could not be sure whether she really served in Consort Qing's residence.
But...
Hmph! She doesn't even dare mention Noble Consort Rou's name. She's obviously trying to frame someone!
All right, now he knew.
After serving Emperor Mingze for so long, Eunuch Changshun had learned to imitate a good half of his icy aura. It was not particularly apparent when he faced his superiors, but it worked remarkably well on newly arrived palace servants like this one.
His tone carried a subtle edge. "Oh? So you serve in Consort Qing's residence. These old eyes of mine must have failed me."
Miaoxi trembled uncontrollably from head to toe and could only steel herself to answer, "Th-this servant only entered the palace to serve last month."
As for which residence she served in, she did not dare mention a word.
But that did not stop someone determined to make trouble for her.
With a powerful backer clutched in each hand, Jiang Yingcheng felt utterly secure. She poked her head through the gap between them and said with a curious expression, "Wow, then you must be very talented, Aunties."
Although Miaoxi had known Jiang Yingcheng for only the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she had already grasped the girl's demonic nature. One sentence was enough to tell her the child was brewing something foul. She kept her head lowered, but her trembling grew more violent despite her efforts to control it.
Eunuch Changshun obligingly picked up the cue. "What makes you say that, Your Little Highness?"
Jiang Yingcheng was very pleased with Eunuch Changshun's response and looked up at him with a great big smile.
Struck by that sweet smile, Changshun clenched one hand into a fist, doing his utmost to suppress the corners of his mouth as they kept trying to rise.
"When Chengcheng sneaked out to play before, I saw her in Consort Rou's residence!"
One servant serving two masters-surely that counted as exceptional talent.
Every word Jiang Yingcheng spoke rang clear and firm, and Miaoxi's heart sank further with each one.
Bullying an unfavored consort with neither power nor influence in the inner palace under a noble consort's orders was one thing. If the matter reached the emperor, however, it would become something else entirely!
Miaoxi knelt prostrate in the icy snow. Beads of sweat dripped from her temples, striking tiny hollows into the thick layer of snow.
At the sight, Eunuch Changshun let the corners of his mouth rise, forming a contemptuous curve.
Such things were hardly uncommon in the inner palace, but she could only blame her bad luck for running into the Eleventh Princess, who had come to play with the Seventh Prince.
Hehehe, Chengcheng didn't actually see her, but she really is a maid from Consort Rou's residence, so Chengcheng wasn't lying!
The little one's utterly self-assured, milky voice made both Eunuch Changshun and Consort Lan chuckle despite themselves.
A little while later, the group outside the Fragrant Pavilion split into two parties.
One hurried toward Xianyang Palace at Jiang Yingcheng's direction to lodge a complaint with her beautiful imperial father.
The other dragged Miaoxi, who had already fainted from fright, toward Consort Qing's Anqin Hall in a sizable procession.
When the group arrived at Anqin Hall, Noble Consort Qing had just awakened from her afternoon nap. Hearing that Eunuch Changshun had arrived with several people left her already muddled mind even more bewildered.
Noble Consort Qing frowned. "Have them wait in the front hall."
News that Emperor Mingze had brought Jiang Yingcheng to Xianyang Palace for two days running had already spread throughout the inner palace. She, too, wanted to see what sort of child could receive such favor.
After tidying herself up, Noble Consort Qing slowly entered the front hall.
Her voice arrived before she did. "What wind has blown you all here together today-what is that thing?"
Noble Consort Qing's even voice abruptly rose halfway through her sentence.
She could hardly be blamed.
Since Miaoxi had offended the little princess, the eunuchs responsible for bringing her here were hardly going to handle her with care. They had dragged her all the way. She had regained consciousness several times along the way, only to be forced back into unconsciousness by the numbing, freezing pain in her legs.
By now, her trouser legs were covered in dirt from the ground and soaked with melted snow. With the two mixed together, she lay half-dead on the floor, looking for all the world as though she had suffered Emperor Mingze's "human planting" punishment.
In short, she did not look like a living person.
Consort Qing abruptly stepped back, her heart pounding as though it would leap out of her throat.
She stopped in the doorway, her face full of alarm and uncertainty, unwilling to take even half a step farther inside-until a tiny figure came hopping up to stand before her.
Jiang Yingcheng tilted up her little face, her round, almond-shaped eyes brimming with admiration.
What a pretty Aunties!
She frantically called out in her mind, System Bro, System Bro!
007 answered promptly, What is it?
Is this Aunties a good person? Can Chengcheng like her?
The little one's cheeks were flushed with excitement, but she still remembered to investigate Noble Consort Qing's character first. She certainly had principles!
After a speechless pause, 007 dutifully replied, She doesn't frame other consorts or kill indiscriminately. She qualifies as a good person.
Jiang Yingcheng's eyes lit up. She spread her arms and was about to launch herself forward. Yay, yay, yay! Pretty Aunties!
Noble Consort Qing's eyes widened in shock.
She had been in the palace for years without bearing a child, which had left her especially fond of these little dumplings who looked so soft and sweet-
The grown ones did not count. Those older princes and princesses had all been influenced to some degree by their respective Imperial Consorts and were already full of dirty tricks at such young ages.
She had taken a liking to the little one at first sight, especially when the child gave her that sweet smile.
But-
What had she just heard?
The little one clearly had not opened her mouth!
Yet just as the child was about to reach her legs, she abruptly stopped short.
She even tucked both hands nervously behind her back.
S-smacking palms?
Why does such a pretty Aunties like smacking people's palms? Even the little one's inner voice carried a slight tremor.
Noble Consort Qing froze.
She did often punish servants who made mistakes by smacking their palms, but this was already the mildest method in the entire inner palace. The servants in her residence were always grateful for it and never went around gossiping.
How had this little one found out?
Could she possess some power that reached all the way to heaven?
Suppressing her doubts, Noble Consort Qing crouched in front of the child and asked gently, "You little dumpling, are you Little Eleven from Consort Fang's courtyard?"
Dazzled by the pretty Aunties' gentle smile, Jiang Yingcheng unconsciously smiled along with her. "Mm-hmm!"
That easily coaxed little face finally drew a genuine smile from Noble Consort Qing. "Aunties has lots and lots of sweet treats in her residence. Would you like some?"
That inner voice was far too strange. She had to find a way to get to the bottom of it.
Sure enough, the easily coaxed Jiang Yingcheng instantly turned her attention elsewhere. "Yes, yes! Thank you, Aunties!"
Eunuch Changshun: "..."
As Noble Consort Qing rose and held out her hand to the little princess, he finally found an opening and gave a few affected coughs.
"This servant, Changshun, pays his respects to Your Highness." Eunuch Changshun bent in a bow.
Only then did Noble Consort Qing remember that there were so many other people inside, and she started.
"You... you may rise."
Eunuch Changshun seized the opening to explain why they had come.
The more Noble Consort Qing listened, the more shocked she became. But before she could voice her alarm, the little one's inner voice rang out again-
That's not all! Noble Consort Rou has used this trick several times already. People outside are all saying Aunties is a petty woman with the heart of a snake and scorpion!
Noble Consort Qing sharply sucked in a breath of cold air.
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