Thinking it was just a desire for some rewards.
"Reporting to Father Emperor. Just now, Nanny Wu insisted that Crown Princess Consort injured her, and for that, the Empress even inflicted a caning punishment on Crown Princess Consort, but Crown Princess Consort really did not do it. It doesn’t matter if Crown Princess Consort was beaten, but she does not wish to be wronged . She respectfully requests Father Emperor to take charge and investigate this matter thoroughly!"
Xiao Zhanping frowned.
He did not expect Ye Qichi to bring up this matter.
After thinking, he nodded and said, "Alright, I agree to your request!"
Yu Qingyuan’s body shuddered at his side!
If this is pursued further...
This woman, Ye Qichi, really knows no end?!
Yu Qingyuan repressed her anger, filled with tension.
"I thank Father Emperor," Ye Qichi expressed her gratitude, and then continued, "Crown Princess Consort was taken by the Empress to the Confinement Room yesterday, knelt there for introspection all day, and had no conflicts with Nanny Wu. Moreover, Crown Princess Consort has never had any dealings with Nanny Wu before and certainly no grudges. Crown Princess Consort cannot understand why, with no grievances or enmities, Nanny Wu would wrongly accuse her."
Xiao Zhanping looked at Ye Qichi and smirked slightly.
She is not puzzled; she hopes to trap that person herself.
Ye Qichi’s cleverness increasingly won Xiao Zhanping’s admiration.
"Empress, what do you think?" Xiao Zhanping followed Ye Qichi’s intent, and turned his head to ask Yu Qingyuan.
Yu Qingyuan’s heart skipped a beat.
She naturally wouldn’t admit this was her plot, especially since Nanny Wu had been executed by caning, leaving no witness behind. She only needed to insist that she knew nothing about this to exonerate herself, however.
Yu Qingyuan’s eyes tightened. She couldn’t help but look at Ye Qichi lying on the long wooden bench.
Is this woman playing some trick again?!
What if she denies it outright, and then gets exposed again?!
Yu Qingyuan thought a lot, and her expression also carried some panic at this moment.
Just when she was hesitating whether to speak up.
Ye Qichi suddenly spoke, "I don’t know if it was last night..."
Ye Qichi deliberately paused her words.
Yu Qingyuan hearing Ye Qichi’s voice contained shock.
Fearing this woman would say something that would embarrass her.
Xiao Zhanping looked toward Ye Qichi, "Speak frankly."
"Yes," Ye Qichi replied respectfully, she took a deep breath as if gathering great courage to speak, "Last night, the Crown Princess Consort sent me a late meal."
Gao Jingyi was already on edge, afraid to breathe too loudly.
The moment Ye Qichi suddenly mentioned her, it made her uncontrollably scared.
"The meal brought by Crown Princess Consort was untouched by me as I had no appetite," Ye Qichi said tactfully.
But anyone intelligent would know there was definitely something wrong with that meal.
"I did not eat, but Nanny Wu forced me to eat."
"Outrageous audacity!" Xiao Zhanping was extremely angry, "What standing does she have to be so presumptuous with Princess!"
"It is my fault, I failed to manage my servant properly," the Empress quickly knelt down and admitted her mistake upon hearing the Emperor’s anger.
"Empress should indeed reflect thoroughly." Xiao Zhanping said coldly, "Ensure such incidents don’t occur in the future!"
"Your servant obeys," the Empress replied.
"Ye Qichi, continue," Xiao Zhanping, having vented his anger, appeared noticeably more gentle toward Ye Qichi.
Ye Qichi spoke again, "After all, I did not eat it. But since it was brought by the Crown Princess Consort, I did not appreciate it, which seemed to displease the Crown Princess Consort."
"I was not displeased," Gao Jingyi retorted immediately.
"If not displeased, why would Crown Princess Consort order a Palace Attendant to slap my mouth," Ye Qichi inquired.
Gao Jingyi’s face flushed red.
"Crown Princess Consort!" Xiao Zhanping bellowed furiously.
Gao Jingyi was so frightened she immediately knelt down.
"Father Emperor, please calm your anger. The reason I slapped the face of Princess Ye was that I felt Princess Ye did not appreciate the Empress’s goodwill. It was a slight punishment, please understand, Father Emperor!"
"What right do you have to punish Princess Ye!" Xiao Zhanping’s anger erupted.
She realized that her words were mistaken.
Although she is esteemed as the Crown Princess Consort, she and Ye Qichi are technically equals; according to the rules, she should not discipline Ye Qichi on her own. Even if Ye Qichi did something wrong, she should inform the Emperor or Empress to seek justice, and certainly not take actions on her own.
"I just" Gao Jingyi didn’t know how to explain.
Yu Qingyuan internally felt utterly disappointed with Gao Jingyi at this moment.
Previously assuming that Princess Ye was the most incompetent, now however, Gao Jingyi seemed even more diminished in comparison.