Chu Lian held the juicy peach in her left hand and the handle of the paring knife in her right. She pursed her lips slightly and tilted her head to look strangely at the terrified maid beside her. Her eyes were clear and bright.

The maidservant's voice was shrill. In her extreme panic, shouting once was not enough, so she shouted a few more times. As she retreated in a fluster, she stepped on the corner of her dress and fell to the ground in a sorry state. The Rain Admiration Pavilion became extremely quiet in an instant. The maidservant who had finally recovered from her shock suddenly noticed the abnormality in her surroundings. In an instant, her face turned pale. In the next second, she prostrated on the ground and continuously kowtowed to the three masters above her to beg for mercy.

"Nu- nubi deserves to die, nubi deserves to die. I have been disrespectful in front of the Emperor. I beg Your Majesty and Empress to spare my life!"

Chu Lian's gaze swept over the maidservant who was trembling so hard that her entire body was almost stuck to the floor tiles. A trace of coldness flashed through her almond-shaped eyes. She then placed the half peach and the knife back on the table.

The scream just now was like a demonic sound. Chu Lian stood at the side with her head down. If she had not reacted in time, and if her experience and courage were not the same as other ladies, it was likely that the one screaming just now would have been her. And right now, the one trembling and kneeling in front of the Emperor to beg for forgiveness would also be her!

Emperor Cheng Ping, who had been in a good mood, was finally pulled to the bottom by this shrill female voice. His face was solemn and gloomy. The pressure from years of cultivation made Empress Shen and Imperial Consort Wei tremble uncontrollably.

Emperor Cheng Ping's gaze landed on Imperial Consort Wei's face. "Imperial Consort, this is the maid that came from your palace?"

Concubine Wei's expression changed. When she saw the smug smile on Empress Shen's face, she wished that she could kill this stupid lowly hussy on the spot. She had only instructed her to teach this Jinyi Village Lord a lesson, but he was still standing there perfectly fine!

She had jumped into the pit and even implicated her, the mistress.

Imperial Consort Wei gritted her teeth and forced a smile to Emperor Cheng Ping. "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is all this qie's fault for not teaching properly and causing Your Majesty to be frightened. She should be severely punished."

When Concubine Wei finished speaking, she waved her wide sleeves towards the people below. Immediately, two tall and big eunuchs came in. One of them grabbed one of the maid's arms and was about to gag her mouth and drag her outside to be beaten to death.

This maid had served Guifei Wei for many years and knew Guifei Wei's temper. She was certain that if she was dragged out, there would only be one result for her — death.

Thus, the maidservant struggled with all her might. Perhaps it was her strong will to live that allowed her to display the potential of her body. The delicate maidservant actually managed to push the two tall eunuchs away.

This maid still had some eyes and knew that it was useless to beg Concubine Wei at this time. She staggered forward two steps and knelt in front of the Emperor and Empress, urgently pleading: "Emperor, Empress, please spare my life. Just now, nubi did not do it on purpose. We are all village lords, all village lords. If it wasn't for the village lords, nubi would not have lost etiquette in front of Imperial Majesty and frightened the mistresses … Wu, wu …"

When the maid struggled free, Concubine Wei continuously signaled to the two eunuchs with her eyes. But in the end, they were a step too slow and the maid had said what she needed to say. Concubine Wei was extremely vexed. Her eyes were ice cold and when she looked at the maid, it was as if she was looking at a dead person.

It was rare for Empress Shen to have a chance to kill Concubine Wei in front of the Emperor. How could she let it go so easily? She deliberately raised an eyebrow, "Oh?

So there is another hidden story.

Emperor, since there is a hidden story, it is better to investigate it clearly. Otherwise, there will be hidden dangers in the Palace for no reason. "

Emperor Cheng Ping rubbed the space between his brows and waved his hand at Empress Shen, meaning that he agreed.

Empress Shen gave a look and the eunuchs who were detaining the maid were dismissed.

Concubine Wei clenched her fingers tightly in her wide sleeves, so angry that her palms were about to break. She stared at the figure kneeling below, her eyes like ice.

Even though the maid had gotten a chance to explain because of Empress Shen, she did not dare to really drag Concubine Wei into the water. Otherwise, even if she walked out of the Rain Admiration Pavilion alive, there would be a hundred other ways for her to die.

Empress Shen looked disdainfully at this maid who had lost her composure in front of the Emperor, "Just now you said that it was all because of Jinyi Xiang Jun. What is going on? Tell Bengong the truth!"

The maid's drooping eyes were filled with ruthlessness. Now in this Rain Admiration Pavilion, there were many big and small BOSSes. She, as a little maid, could only deal with that little village ruler.

Taking a few deep breaths, the maid tried to calm her voice, "Replying to Empress, just now this servant was helping Jinyi Xiang Jun in the kitchen. Suddenly a large black bug landed on this servant's hand. This servant was momentarily startled and … and cried out."

Empress Shen's face darkened, "Why would there be a bug in front of the imperial table?

Could it be that you are lying? "

After Empress Shen's voice fell, her gaze swept to Chu Lian's face again. She found that other than the expressionless face of this Third Mistress of Duke Jing'an fu, her expression was actually normal. It was as if this farce had nothing to do with her and she was just a bystander.

The maid kowtowed a few more times, thumping loudly, "How could this servant lie in front of the Emperor? That bug was in the fresh peach!

If Empress Shen does not believe, you can order someone to check it. "

Empress Shen gave a look to a middle-aged eunuch beside her. Not long after, that middle-aged eunuch brought over the half-cut fresh peach that Chu Lian had placed on the table from the chopping board. As expected, they saw that there was a large wormhole near the center of the peach.

The middle-aged eunuch gave an order. After another moment, he found that black and ugly bug that was still squirming around the table.

When the maid saw that the truth was revealed, her tense heart immediately relaxed. She almost lost all the strength in her body and almost collapsed to the ground. "It was the township ruler who deliberately put the bug on the back of this servant's hand, causing this servant to be disrespectful in front of the Emperor. Empress, please give this servant justice."

Chu Lian glanced at the maid who had already turned her into a victim and the corners of her mouth curved. This heartless one, did she think everyone else was a fool?

As expected, Empress Shen was not without a bit of intelligence. "You mean to say that the township ruler found you to be an eyesore and deliberately tricked you?

You're just a little maid, how could you be tricked by the township ruler? "

The maid, who had just felt relieved a moment ago, felt as if she had fallen from the clouds into the abyss in the next moment. Her eyes were wide open and she was speechless.

"This … this servant … doesn't … know …"

Chu Lian wanted to make fresh peaches for Emperor Cheng Ping. The ingredients were all prepared by the people in the palace and this maid was by Guifei Wei's side. The fresh peaches used to make the longevity peaches were picked by this maid, washed and handed to Chu Lian. But this fresh peach that should have been in good condition had a disgusting bug. Chu Lian wanted to personally handle the fresh peach … The result could be imagined.

Previously, the reason why Guifei Wei wanted to quickly deal with this maid was because she did not want to see her make a stupid mistake and bring the matter to the surface. Anyone with a bit of brain would be able to guess the ins and outs of the matter.

However, she was stopped by Empress Shen, who had ill intentions.

Now that things had reached this stage, Guifei Wei seemed to have been given a slap by Empress Shen in front of the Emperor. Her cheeks were burning.

Without waiting for Empress Shen to speak, Emperor Cheng Ping ordered in a low voice, "Take her away and beat her to death!"

The Emperor's words were much more effective than Empress Shen and Guifei Wei. This maid did not even have the chance to say a word of mercy before she was quickly restrained by two black clad guards and carried out.

Following that, Emperor Cheng Ping looked at Chu Lian who was obediently standing at the side with her head down and watching the show. If Chu Lian raised her head at this time, she would be able to discover that there was a trace of strangeness in Emperor Cheng Ping's eyes.

"Guifei, you have not taught well. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, you will be grounded in the palace for half a month." Emperor Cheng Ping's voice was somewhat cold.

Guifei Wei raised her head in disbelief to look at the high and mighty Emperor Cheng Ping. At this moment, the cold and hard Emperor Cheng Ping did not look like the Emperor Cheng Ping who sat on the same couch as Guifei Wei when Chu Lian first came to the Rain Admiration Pavilion. The Emperor Cheng Ping now looked like an unreachable Emperor.

Guifei Wei looked at Emperor Cheng Ping with a wronged expression, as if hoping that he would take back his order. However, Emperor Cheng Ping had already moved his gaze away. Empress Shen was extremely pleased. In the future, in the palace, the only one who could share the limelight with her was this Guifei Wei. She did not know how many times she had hindered her in the dark. She did not expect that such a small matter today would cause Guifei Wei to stumble. How could she not be happy?

Thinking like this, she looked in the direction of Chu Lian and the corners of her lips curled up. As expected, a dog that bites does not bark. She had really underestimated this Jinyi Village Ruler.

Guifei Wei had no choice but to accept her punishment.

Emperor Cheng Ping's gaze swept across the Rain Admiration Pavilion. "Forget it. We have no more thoughts. Jinyi, go to the Empress Dowager and look for your grandmother."

At this point, Chu Lian finally bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes."

However, before the crowd could leave the Rain Admiration Pavilion, a crisp voice came from outside. "Imperial Father, Imperial Father, Yao 'er is here to pay her respects to you!"

Hearing this voice, Emperor Cheng Ping's dark expression finally relaxed a little. His gaze fell on the door. Not long after, a little girl in a light pink palace dress ran in like a butterfly and threw herself into Emperor Cheng Ping's wide embrace.

Emperor Cheng Ping bowed slightly, his face full of affection. He lovingly stroked Princess Leyao's hair and softly asked, "Leyao, how did you find your way here?"

Princess Leyao said in a soft and sweet voice, "Yao 'er missed Imperial Father. I asked the head eunuch, so I found my way here. Yao' er hasn't seen Imperial Father for two days. Did Imperial Father miss Yao 'er?"

Emperor Cheng Ping laughed heartily, as if enjoying his daughter's warmth very much. "Imperial Father missed you too."

Princess Leyao immediately burst into a big smile. "Yao 'er knew that Imperial Father loves Yao' er the most."

Emperor Cheng Ping gently pinched his daughter's face.

Imperial Concubine Wei, who was still kneeling by the side, saw her daughter enter and her expression immediately relaxed. She sighed in relief.

Princess Leyao looked around the Rain Admiration Pavilion and threw herself into Imperial Concubine Wei's arms. "Mother, what's wrong? Why are you kneeling on the ground?"

Imperial Concubine Wei revealed a slightly tired smile. She smoothed Princess Leyao's bangs and said, "Yao 'er, I did something wrong. It's only right for me to kneel on the ground."

Princess Leyao's eyes widened and she tried to pull Imperial Concubine Wei up. Imperial Concubine Wei did not move. Princess Leyao turned around and hugged Emperor Cheng Ping's arm, shaking it. "Imperial Father, Mother definitely did not do it on purpose. Can you please forgive Mother this once?"

Emperor Cheng Ping looked at Princess Leyao's familiar eyes and finally let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, get up. If there's a next time, even if Leyao begs for mercy, it will not help."

Imperial Concubine Wei's face lit up and she hurriedly said, "This concubine dares not. There definitely won't be a next time."

Empress Shen, who was standing at the side, gritted her teeth so hard that they almost broke. She could not believe that the Emperor, who was just burning with rage, would pardon Imperial Concubine Wei's punishment just because of Princess Leyao's words!