Chapter 1258: Chapter 1258: Panic
Everyone was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
Even Xia Ruqing was stunned.
Zhao Junyao reacted first, his expression changed as he suddenly stood up.
"Someone! Quickly go save her!"
No matter what deep-seated hatred exists, human life is always a priority!
"Yes!"
Li Shengan immediately called on a group of little eunuchs to run towards the lakeside.
The joyful atmosphere of the banquet disappeared in an instant.
Replaced by nervousness, panic, and unease.
The concubines, while not daring to say anything openly, began to complain internally.
’Just a lowly woman from outside the palace, what’s she trying to pull now?!’
’Slut! She must have done it on purpose!’
’This despicable woman sure knows how to pick the time and place. If she really wants to die, why not do it far away!’
’Finally got a chance to see the emperor, and now it’s interrupted. Such bad luck!’
The concubines silently exchanged hateful glances, unable to express it openly and could only tear at their handkerchiefs in secret.
They wished that the handkerchief was Attendant Luo, so they could tear her to pieces!
Xia Ruqing didn’t have so many thoughts, she was just a bit tense.
Additionally, for some reason, she felt some... ominous premonition.
Her cold fingertips were touched.
Zhao Junyao was startled and quickly looked at her.
"What’s wrong?" he asked softly.
Xia Ruqing forced a small smile.
"Nothing!"
Zhao Junyao placed her hand in his palm and patted it lightly, signaling her to relax.
Xia Ruqing also gave him a reassuring look at the opportune moment.
The other concubines were anxious inside, unsure of what exactly had happened.
Just then.
Li Shengan came over slowly from a distance, looking serious.
"Emperor!"
Zhao Junyao raised a hand.
"What exactly happened?"
Li Shengan hesitated for a moment, looking troubled and spoke haltingly.
"Emperor! Attendant Luo..."
"Attendant Luo she..."
Zhao Junyao’s face darkened and he threw a cup.
"Since when did you become so hesitant and indecisive?"
Li Shengan knelt down and kowtowed.
"Emperor, Attendant Luo was pushed into the water by a palace maid, she has already identified her, there shouldn’t be any mistake!"
Xia Ruqing heard this and felt suspicious.
"No grudges or grievances, who would push her into the water? Let alone a palace maid!"
"Have they rescued her now?"
Li Shengan quickly nodded.
"In response to the Empress, she has been rescued, but Attendant Luo was quite startled and is speaking nonsense!"
Xia Ruqing’s heart skipped a beat.
"What is she saying?!"
"She says..."
Li Shengan answered respectfully.
"She says...it was you, Empress, who wanted her dead, and the palace maid has admitted it!"
Xia Ruqing stood up in fright.
"Me?"
All the concubines and palace attendants present fixed their gaze on her.
Xia Ruqing felt awkward and was somewhat incoherent.
"Her...she’s simply talking nonsense!"
Being wronged feels really unpleasant, especially when it concerns one’s reputation!
In the harem, no one had caused trouble for so many years, she had almost forgotten that this was a place that eats people without spitting out the bones.
Now this incident has occurred.
It’s utterly...ridiculous.
Zhao Junyao, this old flame, seems truly unreliable!
"Impudent!"
Zhao Junyao slammed the table in fury.
The thundering sound immediately sent everyone’s hearts racing.
The concubines could no longer sit still and one by one stood up and knelt down.
Soon, a large group was kneeling in the open space at the gazebo’s center.
Everyone was scared and trembling, not daring to say a single extra word.
Zhao Junyao scanned the surroundings sharply and spoke coldly.
"Bring her up here!"
"Yes!"
Li Shengan withdrew courteously.
Before long, he brought the person over.
Attendant Luo’s wet clothes had been changed, but her hair was still unkempt, hanging damply at her back.
Seeing everyone.
Luo Manman’s eyes turned red as she respectfully knelt.
"Greetings to the Emperor! Greetings to the Empress, greetings to all the Masters!"
Xia Ruqing gave a cold snort but said nothing, and the others dared not speak.
Only Zhao Junyao coldly snorted, yet did not ask her to rise.
Luo Manman glanced around, and before speaking, tears started streaming down.
Xia Ruqing ridiculed internally: ’Hmph! Crocodile tears, such hypocrisy!’
A moment later.
Luo Manman suddenly spoke.
"Emperor, your servant is at fault for interrupting the masters’ enjoyment, please penalize me!"
As soon as she finished.
Before Zhao Junyao could say anything, a chorus of disdainful sounds arose around.
’Hmph!’
’Spit!’
’Snort!’
And similar sounds.
Zhao Junyao gave no heed to them, picked up the teacup beside him, and spoke coldly.
"I heard...you were pushed into the water by a palace maid?"
Luo Manman heard this and was a bit flustered, thought for a moment, and then bit her lip and shook her head.
"Your servant is inadequate, perhaps the maid didn’t do it intentionally!"
Zhao Junyao asked again.
"I heard...you claimed the Empress wants to harm you?"
Luo Manman didn’t dare respond, just cautiously lifted her head to glance at Xia Ruqing.
Then pretended to be aggrieved and shook her head.
"Your servant is guilty!"
"It might just be a misunderstanding!"
Xia Ruqing was so angry she nearly burst with rage.
That wretched woman!
Her gaze was a clear case of feigning innocence, saying little.
She deliberately acted as if she had been harmed, but was coerced not to speak the truth.
This was even more convincing than shouting out loud.
Those unaware might truly believe she was secretly plotting against her!
It’s absolutely...ridiculous!
Xia Ruqing was trembling all over.
Zhao Junyao turned to look at her, gently patted her back, signaling her to be patient.
Then looked at Luo Manman.
"Oh?"
"You say this is all a misunderstanding!"
Luo Manman quickly kowtowed.
"Your servant believes it must be!"
"That palace maid was talking nonsense, the Empress has always been kind-hearted and surely would not plot against your servant!"
"I hope the Emperor will not trust the words of petty folk..."
She spoke a large heap with compassion and righteousness.
Zhao Junyao almost believed her.
He nodded and chuckled.
"Well said!"
"You indeed show wisdom!"
"Since it’s a misunderstanding, let’s put this matter aside!"
"In the future, no one in the palace is to discuss this matter!"
All the concubines quickly bowed.
"Yes!"
After handling this, Zhao Junyao ordered Luo Manman to be sent back and even to ’placate’ her.
He commanded to reward her with plenty of pearls and precious stones, silk and fabrics.
That look in his eyes was quite tender!
The concubines were dumbfounded.
If it weren’t for seeing the Emperor constantly comforting the Empress, they might have thought he believed the woman’s nonsense.
Hmm...
Even if he doesn’t believe it, they were completely unclear about the Emperor’s stance.
Even Xia Ruqing was bewildered, her mind in turmoil.
The rest of the banquet was spent lost in thought.
’What’s going on here?’
’Does he truly want old flames to rekindle?’
’Tsk tsk tsk! It turns out men are all unreliable, hard to trust!’
’If Zhao Junyao has indeed changed his heart, he wouldn’t relentlessly pursue her downfall, right?’
