"Do not waste time." Xiao Zhanping did not listen to any explanations, "Princess Xuanchen, continue."
"Yes." Ye Qichi respectfully continued, "Everyone in the mansion knows the truth about Nanny Liu. Father Emperor can summon the servants to inquire."
Yu Qingyuan wanted to interrupt again.
"If Father Emperor does not trust the servants, you can ask Prince Xuanchen. His Highness is the Prince, and although he is my husband, he is also Father Emperor’s son. His Highness would never hide anything from Father Emperor." Ye Qichi was still betting on Xiao Jinxing.
If Xiao Jinxing really intended to put her to death, she would accept her bad luck!
Xiao Zhanping nodded slightly, "Prince Xuanchen, enter the palace."
"Father Emperor." Ye Qichi suddenly called out to him.
Xiao Zhanping frowned.
Yu Qingyuan sneered inwardly, Ye Qichi was obviously afraid that Xiao Jinxing would take the opportunity to kill her!
Everyone knows that Xiao Jinxing’s heart only belongs to Bai Mowan, and Ye Qichi is merely a substitute. Now that Bai Mowan has rejected Xiao Jinsen’s marriage proposal, isn’t he thinking of ways to clear the Princess Xuanchen position for Bai Mowan?!
Ye Qichi’s previous righteousness was merely a display of bravado.
"This concubine hopes that when Father Emperor allows Prince Xuanchen to enter the palace, also let my maid Lu You enter as well."
Just as Yu Qingyuan was pleased, her expression darkened again.
She tensed her eyebrows, coldly looking at Ye Qichi.
"Permitted." Xiao Zhanping did not ask further.
This moment was indeed meant to support Ye Qichi.
"Thank you, Father Emperor." Ye Qichi expressed her gratitude, then spoke again, "Nanny Liu was too arrogant in the mansion, and considering that Nanny Liu belongs to Empress’s side, acting unruly and disrespectful, spreading such behavior would tarnish Empress’s reputation. Therefore, this concubine only slightly punished Nanny Liu. Just like how Empress is disciplining this concubine right now, the initial intention is the same as Empress’s, just to teach Nanny Liu a lesson."
Yu Qingyuan’s expression turned cold.
So, in saying this, was Ye Qichi implicating that she punished Nanny Liu for her?!
And even the sentiment behind punishing Nanny Liu matched hers, such noble rhetoric makes it hard for her to blame Ye Qichi now for teaching Nanny Liu a lesson on her own—this would be contradicting herself!
This woman is truly sharp-tongued!
Yu Qingyuan suppressed her anger, enduring it.
Ye Qichi continued, "Actually, this concubine did not physically torture Nanny Liu. Knowing Nanny Liu’s old age could not bear it, I merely slapped her twice as punishment."
"If it was only a slap, how could Nanny Liu have died?!" Xiao Zhanping asked sternly.
"This concubine slapped Nanny Liu in front of other servants. Ashamed and unable to bear it, she seized a guard’s sword and slit her own throat while I was not paying attention. I tried to save Nanny Liu, but she bled continuously and soon breathed her last," Ye Qichi explained, "After Nanny Liu’s death, this concubine immediately reported back to the palace, knowing she was one of Empress’s attendants and dared not conceal the truth."
"If this concubine truly wished to kill Nanny Liu, I wouldn’t have willingly surrendered myself," Ye Qichi said sincerely, "Please enlighten me, Father Emperor!"
Xiao Zhanping nodded.
Ye Qichi’s words quite satisfied him.
He turned his head to Yu Qingyuan, "Empress, do you have anything else to say?"
"Your Majesty." Yu Qingyuan saluted the emperor before speaking, "Though the words of Princess Xuanchen seem fair and reasonable, we should not blindly trust her one-sided statements. I know my attendants best, and I have given only the best palace attendants to Princess Xuanchen. I absolutely do not believe that Nanny Liu would commit such disrespectful acts, please reconsider, Your Majesty."
"Empress, is Nanny Wu also one of your best palace attendants?" Ye Qichi asked.
Yu Qingyuan clearly became cautious towards Ye Qichi.
She did not respond immediately, fearing to fall into Ye Qichi’s trap.
Ye Qichi said, "Just now, Empress claimed that you treated Nanny Wu like a mother, presumably Nanny Wu holds a higher status in your heart than Nanny Liu."
Yu Qingyuan had no choice but to admit it reluctantly.
She also anticipated that if someone came to save Ye Qichi, her private execution of punishment would invite criticism, so she had someone injure Nanny Wu’s body to frame Ye Qichi.
The scheme was useful then, but now she wondered if Ye Qichi was playing another trick.
Ye Qichi said, "What Nanny Wu did to me just now was seen by both Father Emperor and Empress."
Yu Qingyuan’s heart trembled.
The audacity of Nanny Wu to cover Ye Qichi’s mouth, she thought it had passed unnoticed, but Ye Qichi brought it up again as an argument.