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Inside the room, a pair of mother and son were both immersed in sorrow, their tears flowing like a river in reverse.
Outside, a different scene was playing out, with eavesdroppers gathered at one corner of the wall, their heads stacked one upon the other. All of them leaned against the crack in the door, wishing they could pluck out their own ears and eyeballs and send them inside.
Little Jing Kong was the shortest and occupied the bottom position.
Above him were Gu Xiaoshun and Gu Yan, and further up was Grandaunt.
Grandaunt wasn't as tall as the other two, but she exuded a more imposing presence, forcing them to hunch down obediently.
Yao shi also joined in the excitement.
Yu Jin was guarding the doorway to prevent anyone from eavesdropping, but with the young and old gathered here, neither a firm nor a soft approach worked.
She absolutely refused to admit that it was because Empress Dowager was here.
In the end, Yu Jin gave up resistance.
If you want to listen, then let’s all listen together!
Long Yi walked over and saw a crowd of people with their heads against the door crack. He paused for two seconds, and then pressed his own head against the door crack too.
He positioned his head a bit higher.
Everyone collectively raised their heads: You're blocking the light!
Long Yi: "..."
Among the group of people, except for Little Jing Kong, who lacked social experience and couldn't grasp the meaning when the words were put together despite understanding each of them individually, the rest roughly understood the relationship between the mother and son and the events that transpired that year.
Little Jing Kong: So, my brother-in-law is really Ah Heng! He still won't admit it!
Well, he only understood this piece of information.
Gu Yan: So, my brother-in-law is the Young Chief, the Little Marquis of Zhao!
Gu Xiaoshun: They say that in such dry weather, one should be cautious with open flames. The fire prevention measures of the Imperial Academy are quite inadequate.
Yao shi: My son-in-law is really too miserable. What kind of fate did he bring upon himself? Let's have Grannie Fang make a pot of pig heart soup for him later.
Yu Jin: The princess and Little Marquis have endured so much.
Long Yi: ...Hm.
Empress Dowager Zhuang couldn't stand it anymore. The two people inside the room were going around in circles without getting to the point, being all fidgety and hesitant.
It was driving her crazy!
A simple sentence could resolve the misunderstanding, but they just wouldn't say it! They just wouldn't!
To hell with not saying it! If you two won't say it, I will!
Empress Dowager Zhuang gave everyone a meaningful glance: Charge in?
Everyone nodded in unison: Charge! We must charge in!
With an imposing demeanor, Empress Dowager Zhuang swiftly pushed the door open!
She intended to lead her Bishui Alley army in, but when she turned around...
Thud. Where did everyone go?!!!
Everyone, including the pot-bellied Yao shi, dashed to the side of the door in a second and tightly pressed against the wall.
Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was at the forefront, ended up bearing the burden all by herself......
The tremendous commotion caused a sudden freeze in the room's atmosphere.
Princess Xinyang and Xiao Liulang underwent an instant transformation—— with perfect synchronization, both mother and son relaxed their brows, relaxed their shoulders, straightened their backs, and kept their gazes calm and cool.
It was as if nothing had happened just now, and they were simply discussing today's weather.
Empress Dowager Zhuang: Hehehe, if it weren't for those two pairs of eyes as swollen as walnuts, Aijia would have believed it!
Well, she had come inside now. She was the dignified Empress Dowager of a country, capable of dealing with both civil and military officials, so how could she not handle a little misunderstanding between two people who say one thing and mean another?
Xiao Liulang fetched a chair for Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang sat down casually, then looked at Princess Xinyang on her right and said, "You! Yes, you! Did you rescue him from the fire four years ago?"
When she mentioned "him," she glanced at Xiao Liulang.
Before Princess Xinyang could respond, Empress Dowager Zhuang continued, "You better think carefully before you answer. Aijia is not asking you as Liulang’s Grandaunt, I'm asking you as the Empress Dowager of a nation. Aijia is an Empress Dowager with real power, so you'd better not deceive Aijia, otherwise it's tantamount to the crime of deceiving the monarch!"
With real power, this was how assertive one could be!
After hearing Grandaunt's words, Xiao Liulang transformed into a little anxious schoolboy, waiting for the teacher to announce the exam results with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
Princess Xinyang was someone who valued her pride and was willing to endure suffering to save face. In this regard, Xiao Liulang was just like her. She was originally just one step away from revealing the truth, and now Empress Dowager Zhuang had handed her that step. Naturally, she wouldn't kick this opportunity away.
But she still had to act like it was reluctantly said.
It wasn't that she wanted to say it. It was Empress Dowager who forced her to say it!
Princess Xinyang whispered, "Yes."
Xiao Liulang's eyes flickered slightly.
Empress Dowager Zhuang asked, "Do you have any evidence?"
Princess Xinyang had no intention of revealing any evidence, but her body language had already betrayed her.
Empress Dowager Zhuang noticed her hand unconsciously touching her left arm. Although it was just a superficial movement, it was enough for the discerning Empress Dowager Zhuang to see through everything.
Empress Dowager Zhuang lifted her sleeve, revealing her left upper arm covered in gruesome and ugly scars that extended to her shoulder.
Princess Xinyang hadn't anticipated that Empress Dowager Zhuang would be so perceptive and that she would suddenly expose her own wound in front of Xiao Liulang.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was also somewhat... surprised. She knew that Xinyang must have suffered some injuries, but she hadn't expected them to be so severe.
She regretted showing it to Liulang now.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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