“Why is this happening?”

Gao Bingze’s face showed utter disbelief, his hands trembling so much that the list in his hands fell to the ground.

After being stunned for a moment, he quickly prostrated himself. “Your Ladyship, before this humble minister went to the Inner Court, this list absolutely had no problems. This humble minister also checked it—Miss Ji’s name was on the list.”

With this statement, the Inner Court wouldn’t accept it.

“Could Junior Minister Gao’s meaning be that he suspects our Inner Court tampered with this list?”

“Before sending it, there were no errors.”

“The list was delivered by Junior Minister Gao himself, and there were no errors either.”

…

The two argued back and forth!

Slap—

Consort Xiao struck the chair again, stood up, and Sang Lan supported her as she walked over, standing before the three people.

After a long while, she said to Liang Zongzheng, “Minister Liang, the candidates for young ladies to enter the palace were compared and screened by your Hanlin Academy. Miss Ji’s name should have been on it. What exactly is going on here? Explain it clearly to this palace.”

Liang Zongzheng remained completely calm, bowed slightly, and presented the backup list.

“Replying to Your Ladyship, the list sent to the Inner Court is the same as the names on this backup list. Junior Minister Gao also verified it once before sending the list to the Inner Court—there were no errors. As for whether Junior Minister Gao tampered with the list, this humble minister doesn’t know.”

How ruthless!

He had forcibly pinned this hat on Junior Minister Gao’s head.

Junior Minister Gao looked at him incredulously, turning his head to the side, covered in sweat, eyes wide, saying, “Minister Liang, you know I wouldn’t do such a thing. This list… I really didn’t tamper with it.”

“Then how do you explain that the list you took from the Hanlin Academy was correct, but the list sent to the Inner Court had errors?”

“I don’t know!”

His face full of confusion!

Even his lips had paled with fear!

Consort Xiao sighed and glanced at Ji Li. “Supervisor Ji, this matter is indeed an oversight by the Hanlin Academy and the Inner Court. Regardless of who interfered, this palace will certainly punish severely. But Supervisor Ji should be clear that now with the emperor’s grand birthday approaching, we absolutely cannot have any scandals emerge. This palace will order the Inner Court to prepare a new booklet and personally deliver it to the General’s residence.”

After speaking, she raised her hand to remove a superior red jade hairpin from her head and continued, “This jade hairpin was personally crafted for this palace by order of the emperor. This palace now gives it to Miss Ji as an apology.” She handed it to Sang Lan and ordered, “Pack it up and send it to the General’s residence together with the Inner Court’s booklet.”

“Yes!” Sang Lan received it with both hands and packed it in a brocade box.

Ji Li said, “Since the matter has been clarified, then everything will be according to Your Ladyship’s wishes. This humble minister also thanks Your Ladyship on behalf of my younger sister for the reward.”

Consort Xiao smiled. “I’ve heard that Miss Ji is beautiful as a celestial being, refined and elegant, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—everything. This palace truly cannot wait to meet such a woman.”

“Your Ladyship is too kind.”

“Enough. Supervisor Ji should quickly leave the palace and return to the residence to tell her this news, lest she worry at home.”

“Yes, this humble minister takes his leave!”

Ji Li cupped his hands and left!

Rewards had been given—naturally, punishments must also be meted out!

Looking at the three people still kneeling on the ground, Consort Xiao’s brows and eyes curved with sinister intent as she waved her hand. “Whether the error was from the Hanlin Academy or the Inner Court, the guilt is the same. Everyone in the Inner Court, twenty strokes of the rod each. Everyone in the Hanlin Academy, half a year’s salary deducted. This matter is not to be mentioned again.”

As long as heads weren’t rolling, it was fine!

The three prostrated themselves. “Thank you, Your Ladyship!”

…

Soon, the booklet prepared by the Inner Court was personally delivered by the Inner Court Director who had just been beaten with the rod, along with the jade hairpin bestowed by Consort Xiao.

Ji Muqing was absolutely delighted, holding that red booklet to look at while carefully inserting the hairpin into her hair bun before the mirror.

She tried several different positions before finally being satisfied!

She also applied some rouge and lipstick, looking at her face in the mirror with a deliberately practiced smile.

Touching the hairpin on her head, she asked the young maid beside her proudly, “Does it look good?”

Well, the hairpin looked good!

As for the person…

The maid nodded. “It looks good. Miss looks even better wearing this hairpin.”

Where’s the basin? I need to vomit!

“This was bestowed by Consort Xiao herself. Only I am worthy of such a favor.”

“That’s right, Miss will be the Crown Prince’s consort in the future. Of course Consort Xiao must treat Miss well.”

“Naturally!”

She was somewhat inflated by the young maid’s praise.

After fussing before the mirror for a while, she suddenly thought of something. “By the way, where is Second Miss? Could it be that after I slapped her last time, she’s hiding in her room not daring to come out?”

The maid thought for a moment and replied, “Just now, this servant saw Second Miss leave the residence.”

“Leave the residence? Where did she go?”

“I don’t know, this servant didn’t ask.”

Ji Muqing thought about it and became angry, slamming the comb in her hand on the table. “She must have gone to find that wretched hussy. When she returns, I’ll give her a proper lesson.”

That comb even broke—

At Zhuxi Garden!

Ji Wanxin was indeed there.

“Today there was an oolong incident with the booklet from the palace—it wasn’t delivered to the residence. Elder Sister was naturally quite anxious, so Elder Brother immediately went to the palace. Fortunately it was resolved. Consort Xiao is truly good—after investigating the matter, she had someone deliver the booklet. Moreover, she also bestowed upon Elder Sister a jade hairpin. That hairpin was crafted for Consort Xiao by order of the emperor himself.”

The corners of her lips curved with a smile, as if she herself had benefited from reflected glory.

But to Ji Yunshu’s ears, it seemed laughable. What kind of person was Consort Xiao—she understood well enough. Would she be so kind?

So—

She smiled but said nothing!

However, she noticed the light bruises on Ji Wanxin’s face, and also on her lip corners.

She asked with concern, “What happened to your face?”

At this mention, Ji Wanxin quickly turned her head away. “It’s nothing, I just accidentally bumped into something.”

Do you think I’m a fool?

“She hit you, didn’t she?”

Ji Yunshu wasn’t asking—she was certain.

Ji Wanxin smiled bitterly. “You know Elder Sister’s temperament. This is the capital, not Jinjiang, so I gave her a few extra reminders, but it angered her. Fortunately, the injury on my face isn’t very serious. I’ve applied medicine and treated it. If you don’t look carefully, others can’t tell. But you, Yunshu, looked more carefully.”

Her tone was calm and remarkably open-minded!

It was truly heartbreaking to see.

Ji Yunshu took her hand and sighed.

“Second Sister, although I’m no longer part of the Ji family, you will forever be my family. No matter what happens, I will always stand on your side.”

“Yunshu…”

“The most difficult thing in this world is actually striving for things. Whether it’s Elder Sister or Elder Brother, neither can escape the word ‘strive.’ But you’re different. Shen Changqin of the Shen family is quite a good person. If you can marry into that family early, then marry early.”

The Ji family was ultimately not a place fit for people.

The whole family—they all strove too hard!

Ji Wanxin lowered her eyes. After a long while, she uttered, “I know.”