Old Man Zhou had been waiting in the warm room for a full four hours. His buttocks were aching from sitting, and his heart was getting restless.
However, Old Man Zhou's heart still sank when he saw Her Majesty the Empress enter. She hurriedly got up and respectfully knelt down with her cane, "Good luck to Her Majesty the Empress."
"Zhao mama!"
Han Yunxi shouted loudly, "Zhao mama, hurry and help Old Man Zhou up."
There were many palace maids in the room, but Zhao mama was nowhere to be seen. The room was silent and no one responded. The warm room was only so big and could be seen with a single glance. How could Han Yunxi not see that Zhao mama wasn't here!
She was doing it on purpose!
She raised a hand and placed it on a palace maid's hand. She slowly walked in and walked past the kneeling Old Man Zhou. The Empress's posture was very imposing.
Actually, she didn't like to put on the airs of an Empress. However, for some people, if she didn't put on airs, they would think that she wasn't suited to be Empress.
It wasn't until she sat down in the main seat that Han Yunxi asked with a surprised expression, "Where's Zhao mama?"
"Replying to Her Majesty the Empress, Zhao mama went to find tea." The palace maid replied.
Han Yunxi flew into a rage, "What, she still hasn't found it?"
The palace maid lowered her head, not daring to answer.
"That old wicked servant! She usually slacks off and does evil. This consort didn't bother to bicker with her because of her old age, but she's becoming more and more excessive! If this consort doesn't teach her a lesson today, how can this consort continue to be the head of the six palaces? In the future, when the Empress takes on concubines, how can this consort control her? "Han Yunxi said angrily.
These words were clearly meant for Old Man Zhou to hear. They were scolding her indirectly, warning her, and mocking her!
Zhao mama and Mu Ling'er were hiding at the door. Zhao mama understood as soon as she heard this and almost laughed out loud. Mu Ling 'er, on the other hand, was completely baffled. She had just come over to talk to her sister about some matters regarding Medicine City, but Zhao mama had stopped her.
Mu Ling'er could tell that her sister was implying something, but she didn't understand what was going on.
She whispered, "What's going on? Why are you smiling so happily? "
Zhao mama chuckled mischievously. With one hand on her waist and the other pointing at Old Man Zhou, she imitated the Empress's tone and said, "Old Lady Zhou, you old shrew. Don't think that ben gong doesn't know about the vicious things you've done. Seeing that you're already so old, Bengong won't argue with you. You're actually getting more and more outrageous, daring to scheme against me and send two empty red packets from the Baili Clan to Musi of Northern Li. If this consort doesn't teach you a lesson today, how will this consort establish her authority in the harem? In the future, if you old shrews force the Empress to take concubines, wouldn't this consort be unable to do anything about it? "
After Zhao mama finished speaking, she couldn't stop herself from snickering. Mu Ling'er was shocked, "Sent to Musi of Northern Li?"
"Isn't that so. Fortunately, Jin Zi happened to see it. Otherwise, this matter would be a big problem," Zhao mama said.
Mu Ling'er was very surprised that Old Man Zhou would do such a thing. However, she was even more curious, "Did Jin Zi personally go to Musi?"
Jin Zi was so busy, how could he personally go to Musi? Moreover, Musi was in charge of the disaster relief funds, while Jin Zi was in charge of Northern Li. Jin Zi should avoid arousing suspicion. Otherwise, if there were any problems with the funds in the future, Jin Zi would be the prime suspect.
"I heard that he went to make a donation, and he donated quite a lot," Zhao mama said.
"Donation?"
Mu Ling'er's first reaction was: Did Jin Zi have money? Didn't Jin Zi owe a lot of debt? However, she quickly remembered that she had returned Jin Zi's money.
"Could it be that he used that money to return it? He donated it all? "Mu Ling'er muttered to herself.
She was wondering if she should check how much Jin Zi had donated. She had returned a gold card. In fact, as long as she wanted to, she could check every single one of Jin Zi's expenses.
Mu Ling'er hesitated, "That's not good. That's his private matter …"
Mu Ling'er was pondering when inside the room, Old Lady Zhou, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly fell to the ground.
Mu Ling'er was shocked and almost rushed in, but Zhao mama stopped her, "She's faking it! Don't worry! "
Inside the room, Han Yunxi had already stood up. A cold light flashed past her eyes as she shouted, "Someone, summon the imperial physician!"
Han Yunxi had just taken a stance and was about to let the palace maids beside her help Old Man Zhou up. Who knew that this Old Man would actually pretend to faint!
She had originally planned to end this quickly, but she didn't expect this Old Man Zhou to be so aggressive. Very good! She would satisfy her!
The palace maids brought Old Man Zhou to a warm couch. The imperial physician quickly rushed over and examined him. He didn't find anything wrong, but Old Man Zhou still didn't wake up.
"Your Highness the Empress, this is Old Man Zhou. Perhaps she's too old and fainted from overworking. Let her rest for now." The imperial physician said seriously.
"If it's not a serious illness, this consort can treat it. You may leave." Han Yunxi said Coldly.
Even the imperial physician could tell that there was something wrong with her tone, let alone Old Lady Zhou, who was pretending to faint. At this moment, Old Lady Zhou's heart began to panic.
However, after the imperial physician left, Han Yunxi said to the surrounding palace maids, "You may all leave. This consort will personally watch over her."
"Yes."
Old Lady Zhou's heart trembled when she heard the palace maids' footsteps in the distance. When she heard the door close, her breathing quickened.
Heavens!
She had already fainted. What else did the Empress want to do?
She was the mother of a first-rank official and a first-rank titled madam. She had an extremely high reputation in Jiangnan! There was no proof of the red packet incident. Even if the Empress suspected her, she couldn't make things difficult for her!
Did this Empress have any regard for the law?
Old Man Zhou's nerves were stretched taut as she listened to the movements around her. It was a pity that Han Yunxi didn't say a word her entire life.
The quieter the surroundings were, the more flustered Old Lady Zhou became. She didn't know what the Empress wanted to do.
Han Yunxi silently took out a golden needle and suddenly pierced it into Old Man Zhou's acupuncture point on his face. This time, Old Man Zhou's entire body tensed up.
Han Yunxi thought that she would wake up, but who knew that Old Man Zhou was actually still holding on.
Han Yunxi suddenly inserted another needle. This time, the needle pierced Old Man Zhou's hand. It was extremely painful!
Old Lady Zhou was clearly trembling, but she still insisted on closing her eyes and not waking up.
She knew that if she woke up, with the Empress's attitude, it wouldn't be easy for her to leave the palace. If she didn't wake up, the Empress might get tired of tormenting her and order someone to send her out.
However, Old Man Zhou waited for a long time, but the third needle didn't come. Her entire body started to itch, and it was getting more and more itchy.
It was painful, but she could still endure it.
But it was itchy …
Even if Old Man Zhou wanted to endure it, she couldn't help it in the end. Soon, she reached out and scratched her neck.
Han Yunxi simply sat on one side and watched without a word.
At first, Old Man Zhou only used one hand, but after a while, she used both hands. As she scratched, she couldn't help but turn over and start scratching her back.
Who knew that it would be better if she didn't scratch. Once she scratched, it became even more itchy. The more itchy she scratched, the harder she scratched. It was as if she was addicted and couldn't stop.
Unconsciously, as she scratched, she sat up because her feet were also very itchy.
At this moment, Han Yunxi finally spoke, "Old Man Zhou, you're awake?"
Old Man Zhou was stunned. She turned around and realized that she had sat up.
This …
She was stunned and didn't know how to answer Han Yunxi. She didn't know what had happened to her just now. Why did she sit up for no reason?
Han Yunxi definitely wouldn't tell Old Lady Zhou that she had just poisoned her. It was a kind of drug that made people addicted to scratching itches. When they itched, they would ignore everything and only care about scratching.
Han Yunxi handed over the antidote. "Here, take it and it won't itch anymore."
As soon as she said this, Old Man Zhou understood what was going on. She looked at Han Yunxi in disbelief. She was shocked and angry, but she didn't dare to say anything.
Han Yunxi really didn't know what the old lady was so angry about. Was she the only one allowed to knock herself out and let others poison her?
Han Yunxi stuffed the antidote into Old Lady Zhou's mouth and said mildly, "If there's nothing else, then come down. We agreed that I'd treat you to tea. Zhao mama should have brought the tea by now. " “
As soon as she said this, Granny Zhao, who had been waiting outside, immediately pushed the door open and entered.
"Esteemed Empress! Esteemed Empress, this old servant knows her wrongs. This old servant searched the entire imperial harem but couldn't find Old Time Tea, "Zhao mama said loudly.
"Isn't there a pile of Old Time Tea in His Majesty's imperial study?" Han Yunxi retorted.
Hearing this, Old Man Zhou got off the bed in fright. "Esteemed Empress, this subject's wife is fine with drinking water, drinking water is fine!"
Everyone in Cloud Realm Continent knew that the emperor was addicted to tea.
His Old Time Tea was a collector's item! Even if Esteemed Empress really brought it here, she wouldn't dare to drink it!
Old Madam Zhou had always been a patient person, but after Han Yunxi's torment, she wanted her mistress to hurry up and tell her about the empty red packets. Then she'd just deny it no matter what.
Why would Han Yunxi mention the red packets?
They'd already been donated under Baili Lixiang's name. This was official business, not the imperial harem's business.
Han Yunxi had found Old Man Zhou to talk about the imperial harem.
"Old Man Zhou, sit down. You just woke up, so don't get too worked up. If you faint again, I don't know how to wake you up, "Han Yunxi said seriously.
Old Man Zhou quickly sat down on one side.
"Zhao mama, it's getting late, isn't it?" Han Yunxi asked.
"It's already dark, so it's late," Zhao mama replied honestly.
"You won't drink the tea, but you should at least eat before you leave, right?" Han Yunxi smiled. "Go, have Xia He bring the noodles I made over for Old Man Zhou to try."
Xia He?
When Old Madam Zhou heard this name, her originally unpleasant complexion suddenly paled!
Xia He … Wasn't that the palace maid she'd spent so much effort to hide in the palace?
Esteemed Empress actually had Xia He bring her noodles? Could it be …
Old Man Zhou didn't dare to think further. She'd taught Xia He all by herself, and she'd only been in the palace for a few months. She didn't believe that Xia He had been exposed.
She clenched her fists to calm herself down.
As they waited, the room fell silent again.
Han Yunxi glanced at the nervous old madam Zhou and smiled. "Zhao mama, Xia He was the one who packed the red packets for the new year, right?"
"That's right," Zhao mama replied.
At this moment, Old Man Zhou's heart almost stopped beating! She finally knew why Esteemed Empress had summoned her to the palace …
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