Bai Sheng continued, "Besides Black-Faced Fox, the Empress also has Master Liu Shang by her side, who understands the arts of witchcraft and divination. Husband, both of their abilities are not below ours, so we must not be careless."
Lu Ye stroked Bai Sheng's head. "Don't worry, my darling. Even if they are masters, it's not that easy to kill me. Alright, let's not talk about this for now. Do you know who was looking for me just now?"
Lu Ye was eager to share with his darling how he had firmly rejected the Fifth Princess's advances.
He wanted to display his heroic image to his darling in full.
"Who?" Bai Sheng was very curious.
"The Fifth Princess."
"The Fifth Princess?" Bai Sheng frowned. "What did she want with you?"
Lu Ye said proudly, "She told me she fell in love with me at first sight and wanted me to divorce my wife and become her personal bodyguard, promising me glory and wealth, and in return, she would release you all. I refused her very firmly and ruthlessly, and I made it very clear that I only love my wife and would never divorce her even if I died. I told her not to bother me again, or I would not be polite!"
Bai Sheng was stunned for a moment. Her husband's romantic luck was too abundant; it was truly as if he were sitting at home while romance rained down from the heavens.
She never expected the Fifth Princess to be such a love-struck fool, trying to snatch her man.
Bai Sheng looked at Lu Ye with a mischievous smile and teased, "With such tempting conditions, why didn't you agree, husband?"
Lu Ye put his arm around Bai Sheng's slender waist, leaned down, and buried his face in her shoulder, cooing, "I have such a tempting darling at home. Even if you gave me the entire universe, I wouldn't trade. What is that bug to me!"
Bai Sheng chuckled.
Her husband was indeed a model of virtue. Bai Sheng jumped up, hooked her arms around Lu Ye's neck, aimed for his lips, and kissed him possessively.
Lu Ye held her waist and responded with abandon.
Despite hiding in the corner and minimizing their presence, Lu Hua and the other two were so disgusted by the couple's affections that they got goosebumps all over.
Oh, they didn't want to hear this, really didn't want to hear it!
The Empress's Auspicious Clouds Palace.
After Zhou Yanran and Dong Xuerou performed a kowtow to the Empress, the Empress did not permit them to rise. The two knelt before her, shrinking and trembling.
The Empress picked up a cup of tea and slowly stirred the floating leaves on the surface of the water with the lid, her gaze never falling on Zhou Yanran and Dong Xuerou.
In the silence, fear magnified infinitely. Zhou and Dong dared not even breathe loudly.
Dong Xuerou knew that the Empress intended to put them in their place and absolutely overwhelm them with her aura. However, they couldn't remain in this stalemate forever. Her legs gradually grew numb and unbearably uncomfortable.
Therefore, steeling her heart, she placed her hands on the ground, bowed her head, and said, "Your Majesty the Empress, have I, a humble subject, done something wrong to displease Your Majesty? Please enlighten me."
Seeing this, Zhou Yanran immediately bowed her head and said respectfully, "Please enlighten us, Your Majesty."
Only then did the Empress slowly raise her eyelids and look at the two. The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, revealing a disdainful smile. "You two, do you know your crime?"
Both Dong Xuerou and Zhou Yanran shuddered in fear. Crime? What did the Empress mean? Did she know about their using the princess?
Or was she just trying to trick them into confessing?
Dong Xuerou immediately said in horror, "This humble subject does not know of any crime. Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."
"Audacious!" The Empress's gaze suddenly sharpened, and she slammed her hand on the table, causing the teacup to tip over and shatter on the floor.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Majesty, spare our lives!" Dong Xuerou and Zhou Yanran immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy.
Seeing that their mouths were still shut tight, the Empress said coldly, "Do you two truly take me for a fool? Since you cannot recall what you have done, I will provide a hint. Is it true that my daughter, the Fifth Princess, was harmed by the rouge from 'Beautiful Red'?"
Both of them were greatly shocked and couldn't help but exchange a glance.
Dong Xuerou cried with immense guilt, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I truly did not know that the rouge from that household would cause skin damage. Both Yanran and I did this unintentionally. We beg Your Majesty for forgiveness. I will certainly severely punish the maid who bought the item and give the princess an explanation."
"Yes, Your Majesty, we truly did not know that the rouge would cause skin damage. Your Majesty, you are magnanimous; please spare us this time," Zhou Yanran said, doing her best to cooperate with Dong Xuerou's act, hoping to gloss over the matter.
"Still not admitting it!" the Empress was furious and threw the teapot on the table onto the ground.
Dong Xuerou and the two were struck dumb with fear. Zhou Yanran's pale face glanced at Dong Xuerou. Seeing Dong Xuerou remain silent, she also suppressed the urge to confess everything.
The Empress said slowly, "I have already conducted an investigation. The two of you had a conflict with the owner of 'Beautiful Red.' In order to retaliate against 'Beautiful Red,' you used a borrowed knife to kill.
So, you approached my daughter to persuade her, first telling her that 'Beautiful Red's' rouge and powder were very good, luring her to purchase it. After you helped her purchase it, you tampered with the rouge and ruined my Yao'er's appearance. Am I correct?"
Dong Xuerou and Zhou Yanran began to sweat profusely, too terrified to utter a word.
How could the Empress know these things? Had the truth been uncovered during the trial?
"You are so audacious, daring to even use my daughter! Intentionally harming a member of the royal family is punishable by death!" The Empress's gaze was sharp, and her aura was oppressive.
"Please, Your Majesty, spare our lives! We... we did not intend to disfigure the Fifth Princess completely; it was an accident!" Zhou Yanran pleaded, her voice trembling.
"An accident?" The Empress sneered. "Do you truly believe your methods are that clever? Perhaps the owner of 'Beautiful Red' already guessed that you were behind it. Moreover, I was already proficient at these little tricks you play twenty years ago. Don't think you can hide them from my eyes."
"Your Majesty, spare our lives. We will never dare to do it again," Zhou Yanran and Dong Xuerou cried mournfully.
The Empress said slowly, "If I were to report this matter to the Emperor, your fathers, brothers, and families would inevitably be implicated. And the marriage between the Crown Prince and the Dong family, as well as the princess's marriage with the Zhou family, would also fall through.
In this court, besides your two families, I have many forces I can rely on, such as General Wu Xun, the Minister of Justice, and others. So, on what basis do you think I can only rely on your families and treat my children like fools?"
"Please, Your Majesty, forgive us. If Your Majesty can forgive us this time, we are willing to serve Your Majesty diligently, at your command, and go through fire and water without hesitation!" Dong Xuerou pleaded.
At this point, the Empress had not immediately reported the matter to the Emperor and the Dali Temple, but had privately summoned them for a "chat." It was clear she had something she wanted them to do.
As expected, the Empress's expression softened slightly, and with a hint of a smile, she said, "Actually, your father and I are on the same boat. And considering your young age, I have decided to give you an opportunity to atone for your crimes."