Ye Qichi lay in the carriage, and when she received the news that Xiao Jinxing wouldn’t leave with her, she showed no reaction.
Instead, it was Lu You who had finally calmed down, sniffled, and started crying again, "Princess, you are , yet the Prince doesn’t come to accompany you back?"
Ye Qichi remained indifferent, changing to a more comfortable position nonchalantly.
She was used to Xiao Jinxing’s actions towards her.
"Let the coachman head back," Ye Qichi instructed Lu You.
Lu You, with eyes red, ordered the coachman to drive away.
Xiao Jinxing just watched as the carriage disappeared in front of him.
Liu Li respectfully said, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is waiting for you."
Xiao Jinxing nodded slightly.
Liu Li pushed Xiao Jinxing toward Empress Dowager Wen Jingtang’s sleeping quarters.
Wen Jingtang was half-reclining on a soft couch, feigning sleep, with two Palace Attendants fanning her.
"Grandson pays respects to the Empress Dowager Mother," Xiao Jinxing said with utmost respect.
Wen Jingtang’s eyes moved slightly.
She raised her hand slightly, and the Palace Attendants hurriedly helped her sit up.
After Wen Jingtang was seated, she waved her hand again.
Most of the Palace Attendants attending her withdrew, leaving only a few of her closest servants, standing respectfully behind her.
"I heard Ye Qichi made the Empress lose face and suffer embarrassment today," Wen Jingtang spoke in a neither warm nor cold tone to Xiao Jinxing.
"The Empress wanted to discipline Ye Qichi because of a servant’s death, but Ye Qichi turned the tables. The Empress was punished with two months’ confinement and to transcribe Buddhist scriptures ten times. The Crown Princess Consort was punished with twenty-six slaps and twenty severe canings," Xiao Jinxing reported today’s events to Wen Jingtang one by one.
Wen Jingtang scoffed, "This Ye Qichi, not seen in a few days, has indeed become capable."
As she spoke, she let the eunuch who served her assist her in standing up.
Wen Jingtang was over sixty and not in good health, walking a few steps made her slightly breathless.
She walked up to Xiao Jinxing.
Xiao Jinxing lowered his gaze, showing great respect.
He replied, "Grandson was also quite surprised."
"Surprised?!" Wen Jingtang looked at Xiao Jinxing, her voice extremely cold, "Ye Qichi, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites Manor, famously useless, entered your Prince Chen’s Mansion and suddenly became a different person?!"
"Ye Qichi has changed only recently," Xiao Jinxing explained, "Grandson also does not know why her transformation was so dramatic!"
"Xiao Jinxing, you’re actually starting to defend Ye Qichi!" Wen Jingtang angered.
She didn’t listen to Xiao Jinxing’s explanation.
Xiao Jinxing’s Adam’s apple moved. He respectfully said, "Grandson has never protected her. Indeed, Ye Qichi changed suddenly, and after much investigation by grandson, nothing came of it. Grandson has not deceived the Empress Dowager in any way..."
"Today’s incident, was it you who taught Ye Qichi!" Wen Jingtang directly interrupted Xiao Jinxing’s words, no longer wanting to beat around the bush, directly asking.
She was convinced that Ye Qichi’s safety today and the fact that the Empress and Crown Princess Consort were taught a lesson were due to Xiao Jinxing’s doing.
Xiao Jinxing, whom she had personally groomed, was very clever and capable, she knew all too well. Dealing with an Empress and Crown Princess Consort was nothing to him. However, Ye Qichi, a nobody she never cared about, she utterly refused to believe she possessed such intelligence.
"Grandson did not," Xiao Jinxing answered.
"Xiao Jinxing!" Wen Jingtang’s face darkened with anger.
"It was my command that resulted in nanny Liu’s death," Xiao Jinxing straightforwardly confessed.
Wen Jingtang frowned, "Why did you kill her?!"
"While discussing matters with Xiao Wu, nanny Liu accidentally overheard. Grandson was worried that she might relay it back to the Empress, so he had Xiao Wu kill her. To avoid exposing himself while also deflecting the Empress’s suspicion, grandson then framed Ye Qichi, killing two birds with one stone," Xiao Jinxing explained sincerely, "Grandson also did not expect that Ye Qichi would be able to turn danger into safety, even earning father’s praise!"
Wen Jingtang watched Xiao Jinxing with a cold gaze, as if assessing whether he was lying.
Xiao Jinxing stood tall, his face showing no abnormal expression, revealing no emotions.
"I heard that you and Ye Qichi are quite close?!" Wen Jingtang changed the subject.
"Replying to Empress Dowager Mother, it was merely to deceive others," Xiao Jinxing explained, "The Noble Consort and Prince Chu have been speculating whether Wan’er’s feelings have changed toward grandson, suspecting her decision to cancel the marriage was because of grandson. To dispel their thoughts, grandson hence staged a play with Ye Qichi. Grandson felt that during this year Wan’er’s retreat, grandson and Wan’er’s affair should not be exposed too soon. Once exposed, Prince Chu will definitely find ways to kill grandson, and even if he couldn’t kill grandson, once he knows Wan’er has changed her heart, he would not spare Wan’er either. Grandson does not wish to invite fatal troubles for himself and Wan’er, nor does he want our years of planning to be disturbed by any outside interference. Therefore, he used Ye Qichi as a