After being continuously exposed to the scorching sun, Xie Rou had broken out in a lot of hot sweat on her forehead.
Knowing how important Tao Yu was to Xie Rou, Cui Jintang had no choice but to ask Zhu Er to go to the mass grave first to retrieve the body.
Her resentment towards the emperor had reached its peak. "Sister Rou, it's very sunny here. Let's go back to the Fengyi Palace first."
The grand eunuch was just a messenger and didn't dare to bear Xie Rou's anger. He bent down and quickly advised, "Your Ladyship, the emperor is currently troubled by the rebellion on the border!"
"The emperor was just momentarily angry. Your Ladyship must be well aware of the emperor's kindness to you on normal days! Once the emperor calms down, he will surely go to the Fengyi Palace in person to apologize to Your Ladyship!"
Cui Jintang was annoyed by these words. She glanced at the grand eunuch and said coldly, "Father-in-law, please stop talking. Your words are really annoying."
The grand eunuch felt embarrassed, and his expression turned awkward.
But Xie Rou seemed to have taken the grand eunuch's words to heart. She grabbed Cui Jintang's hand and said wearily, "Forget it. Let's go back to the Fengyi Palace first..."
Just as she finished speaking, the door of the imperial study suddenly opened from the inside.
Slowly, the proud face of Concubine Jia appeared.
Being favored by the emperor for many days, Concubine Jia was undoubtedly a beauty.
She had extremely fair skin, a pair of charming willow-leaf eyebrows. When she lifted her eyes and glanced at someone, it was as if she was sending amorous glances.
Her pink long dress wrapped around her slender waist that was barely a grip. With each step, her body swayed gracefully.
Concubine Jia raised her wrist to smooth her hair, revealing a section of fair wrist with only a jadeite jade bracelet on it.
Others might not know about this bracelet, but Xie Rou knew very well that it was the favorite jadeite jade bracelet of the late empress dowager!
When Concubine Jia was almost in front of Xie Rou, she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, Your Ladyship, why are you here? Is it because your Fengyi Palace is too cold, so you come here to keep warm?"
After saying that, she covered her mouth with an embroidered handkerchief and laughed.
Xie Rou gave her a cold look. Her lips were pursed, showing an air of authority. "You're overstepping your bounds, Concubine Jia. You're so bold."
From the moment she saw Concubine Jia, Cui Jintang had a feeling that something was wrong.
Now that Xie Rou and Concubine Jia were standing together, she suddenly realized what was wrong!
Concubine Jia's face bore a seven-point resemblance to Sister Rou's!
Realizing that the emperor had deliberately found a woman who looked like Sister Rou and bestowed her with a lot of favor, Cui Jintang couldn't help but feel nauseous.
Concubine Jia rolled her eyes impatiently and bowed to Xie Rou perfunctorily. "Your Ladyship, this concubine pays her respects."
Xie Rou stared coldly at Concubine Jia's face. Her fingers hidden in her sleeves unconsciously tightened.
She said indifferently, "Concubine Jia has offended the superior. She should be punished to kneel for an hour as a warning. Nanny—"
The nanny responded and stepped forward. With a vicious look on her face, she kicked Concubine Jia's knee, forcing her to kneel down.
The pain was so intense that Concubine Jia's face turned pale instantly.
She tried to get up, but was firmly held down by the nanny. In a hurry, she almost said anything. "Your Ladyship, if you act so recklessly, aren't you afraid that the emperor will find out and order you to be beaten to death?"
Mentioning being beaten to death reminded Xie Rou of Tao Yu's cause of death.
In the eyes of the world, she had always been as gentle as a rabbit.
But even a rabbit will bite when it's cornered!
Xie Rou looked down at her and said indifferently, "Then Concubine Jia can kneel in front of the imperial study and see if the emperor will really order this palace to be beaten to death for your sake?"
After saying that, she flung her sleeve and turned around arrogantly to leave.
Concubine Jia quickly shouted, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please save this concubine—"
The affected voice made Cui Jintang feel angry. Just as she turned around, she heard Xie Rou's instruction. "Send the silver you collected the other day to Qingyun Academy first."
"I've changed my mind. If he wants to gain a good reputation among the common people, he should find a way on his own, instead of using your silver to achieve his goal!"
Hearing this, Cui Jintang turned around excitedly and said happily, "Sister, you should have thought so earlier! Since it's for Qingyun Academy, is 30,000 taels of silver enough? If not, I'll add another 10,000 taels!"
Xie Rou forced a smile, but it looked worse than crying.
This made Cui Jintang feel very uncomfortable.
Tao Yu was from Yingchou Gorge. Cui Jintang repeatedly promised Xie Rou that she would make amends and compensate Tao Yu's parents well. Only then did Xie Rou wearily watch her leave the palace.
As soon as she got into the carriage, Cui Jintang instructed Zhu Er, "Go and find out Concubine Jia's background. If it weren't for someone's deliberate arrangement, how could there be a woman who looks so similar to Sister Rou in this world?"
Zhu Er quickly responded.
The carriage slowly drove on. Cui Jintang's mind was in a complete mess, thinking about Xie Rou one moment and the burial place of A Zhao the next.
"Whoa—!"
The horse was startled. It reared up its front hooves and let out a long neigh.
Cui Jintang in the carriage quickly grabbed the window. But still, she accidentally hit her forehead on the wood and cried out in pain.
Outside, Zhu Er, who was driving the carriage, managed to calm the frightened horse. Then he anxiously asked through the curtain, "Miss! There was just a riot. The horse was stimulated by the sight of blood. Are you okay, Miss?"
Cui Jintang kept rubbing her red forehead. She reached out and lifted the curtain. "It's okay. What happened up ahead?"
Zhu Er had excellent eyesight. He leaned forward and took a few glances, getting a general idea.
"It seems that a shop was robbed by bandits. The shopkeeper's daughter refused to submit and hurt herself with a sword. When the bandits saw the blood, they stole the silver and ran away!"
Cui Jintang frowned.
If even in the capital, bandits dared to rob in broad daylight, what would happen in other places?
No wonder the emperor, who had always been so high and mighty and refused to ask Sister Rou for help, had finally asked to borrow silver this time.
Cui Jintang lowered the curtain and said calmly, "There are too many people up ahead. Let's take another route."
Zhu Er quickly agreed. He reached out and stroked the horse's head soothingly, then coaxed it to take a detour.
The long street was bustling. The cries of peddlers and the sounds of gongs were all mixed together.
Most people showed pity for the shopkeeper's daughter who had died tragically.
Some women even pointed at the body of the dead girl. Suddenly, a loud shout came from the side. "Get out of the way! A fast horse is coming. Get out of the way!"
Along with the shout came the urgent sound of hooves.
Before the whip was even raised, the crowd automatically separated.
The man on the horse was dressed in black with narrow sleeves.
He had high cheekbones and extremely light-colored eyes, as calm as a still pond.
He leaned forward slightly, holding the reins tightly. The black-maned horse reared up and stopped.
His gaze swept over the messy shop and finally landed on the shopkeeper who was holding his daughter's body in pain. "Which direction did those bandits run in?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Cui Jintang in the carriage immediately lifted the curtain and stared fixedly at the man.
Why did Pei Zhaolin come here?