Di Lingwei looked seriously at Xing Ruolan.
She chose to ask directly; she wanted to see how Xing Ruolan would answer.
Xing Ruolan bowed her head and spoke slowly, “Your Majesty, this servant merely pitied the sisters from the slums. Therefore, I taught them the various etiquette and points of attention for palace maids, and provided them a suitable path to enter the palace. This servant can guarantee, every maid who entered was qualified. This servant never allowed unqualified individuals into the palace.”
“You are deceiving Zhen.”
“Every word this servant speaks is the truth. There is no hiding anything from Your Majesty.”
“Is that so? Your purpose is just that?”
“Please understand, Your Majesty. Because this servant also hails from the slums, I feel deeply moved by such circumstances and acted accordingly.”
“To the point of not hesitating to push the senior palace maids out one after another?”
Upon hearing this, Xing Ruolan pursed her lips, her expression showing some unease and helplessness.
Seeing this, Di Lingwei frowned. “You have no further explanation for this?”
Xing Ruolan lowered her head. “This servant admits to having driven away senior palace maids. But generally, this servant only expelled a maid after investigating and finding her unqualified. Those whose conduct was acceptable, this servant did not touch them.”
“As Chief Palace Steward, you inherently possess the authority to decide the retention or dismissal of palace maids. Deeming them unqualified and expelling them isn’t unreasonable. However, is that truly all? Do you have no more secrets hidden from Zhen?” Di Lingwei asked unhurriedly, her bright eyes fixed intently on Xing Ruolan.
Her gaze gave off the feeling that she had already seen through everything. Even Xing Ruolan felt an inexplicable sense that the deepest secrets in her heart could not remain hidden.
After a few breaths of silence, Xing Ruolan spoke again. “Because this servant is a rather strict person, I would be somewhat dissatisfied with unqualified senior maids. So, I also carried out some punishments against the unqualified ones.”
“That is also within your authority. What else?” Di Lingwei looked at Xing Ruolan and asked.
Xing Ruolan felt the pressure on her growing. Di Lingwei seemed so certain that she was still hiding something.
Taking a deep breath, Xing Ruolan could only say, “This servant’s punishments were quite severe. Those senior maids were injured quite badly. Some individuals were severely wounded by this servant.”
Di Lingwei shook her head. “What else?”
She hadn’t heard what she wanted to hear.
Xing Ruolan’s confession was far from sufficient!
This situation made Xing Ruolan extremely nervous inside, but she could only brace herself and say, “This servant is hiding nothing more.”
Upon hearing this, Di Lingwei sighed deeply.
It was clear Xing Ruolan didn’t want to reveal her intention for revenge.
Di Lingwei wondered if she should bring this matter up directly.
As for how she knew… As the dignified Heavenly Mandate Empress, knowing such things was perfectly reasonable, right?
But just at that moment…
Achievement Unlocked: 【Kneeling Xing Ruolan】. Can view Xing Ruolan’s Wish Trait.
This sudden Achievement Unlock stirred Di Lingwei’s heart.
She used her Mystic Left Eye to examine Xing Ruolan’s status.
Name: Xing Ruolan.
Identity: Chief Palace Steward.
Personality: Appears gentle on the surface, treats everyone peacefully, a caring big sister beloved by many palace maids. But actually possesses an unknown side; likes to strike against disliked individuals in secret. Ruthless and vicious.
Hobby: Enjoys various board games.
Martial Power: 30.
Regret: Doesn’t know who the true target of her vengeance is.
Heart’s Desire: Find the person who framed her aunt and exact revenge.
Finally, she could see Xing Ruolan’s Heart’s Desire.
Seeing this Trait entry, Di Lingwei couldn’t help but fall into thought.
Aunt?
Who is Xing Ruolan’s aunt?
For it to require seeking a chance for revenge within the Imperial Palace, that person must have some connection to the palace, right?
But regardless, if Xing Ruolan refused to speak further, the situation was at an impasse.
Thinking this, Di Lingwei looked at Xing Ruolan and said, “Ruolan, why do you think you can hide things from Zhen? Do you truly believe Zhen knows less than you imagine?”
Xing Ruolan remained silent.
“Forget it. Go back and wait. Take all the palace maids you brought into the palace with you and wait.” Di Lingwei gave a light snort.
“Your Majesty?” Xing Ruolan looked up in shock.
She could understand being told to wait herself, but why must the other maids also go?
She knew Di Lingwei meant for everyone to await her judgment.
“You hide things from Zhen. How can Zhen trust you? If Zhen cannot even trust you, how can Zhen trust the maids you placed?” Di Lingwei said coldly. “Go back and think carefully about how you should answer Zhen.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Xing Ruolan answered helplessly.
Then, Xing Ruolan rose and left, taking the others with her.
Watching Xing Ruolan’s departing figure, Di Lingwei fell into thought.
She needed to test whether Xing Ruolan was someone truly suitable to keep by her side. That was why she hadn’t stated things completely, let alone brought up Xing Ruolan’s aunt to pressure her into speaking. Only if Xing Ruolan was willing to divulge this information of her own accord could she be considered trustworthy.
She did not want her subordinates to hide anything from her!
So, what should she do next?
After thinking for a moment, Di Lingwei instructed Mu Fuwan, “Little Wan, go to the Ministry of Personnel and bring something back for Zhen.”
Xing Ruolan left with a heavy heart.
She gathered all the palace maids she had brought into the palace and concentrated them outside a hall. This was Cloud Roaming Palace, a place akin to communal dormitories. Aside from the maids who served Di Lingwei directly and needed to stay at Phoenix Perch Palace to await orders at any time, the rest generally lived at Cloud Roaming Palace.
Seeing Xing Ruolan summon everyone, they were all very curious, wondering what was happening.
“Lord Chief Steward, what’s the matter?”
A woman nearby named Yun Xiang, with fair skin and refined facial features, asked curiously.
Xing Ruolan glanced at Yun Xiang, then at the others. “Her Majesty may no longer trust me as much.”
Everyone fell silent.
To all these palace maids, Xing Ruolan was their pillar of support. If Xing Ruolan lost favor, could they continue living their current lives?
For a moment, everyone felt lost inside.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves mentally,” Xing Ruolan considered her words before stating the point. “Her Majesty might expel us all from the palace.”
Although Di Lingwei hadn’t explicitly said this, Xing Ruolan felt it was a possibility. Admittedly, the probability of such a situation actually occurring was probably not that high, but stating it more seriously was also to ensure everyone was mentally prepared.
However, these words shocked the many palace maids greatly.
