“Then why didn’t I receive anything?!”
“I…” She lowered her head and shrunk her shoulders. She was afraid that Ji Muqing would grab her and rip her to shreds.
Ji Muqing stomped her feet in anger and desperation. She threw the maidservant aside, rushing to the garden instead to find Ji Li.
At that moment, Ji Li had just returned from the Ministry of War and was caught by his little sister. He looked down.
“What is it? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Eldest Brother, why hasn’t the imperial palace sent me the letter for the selection?”
Ji Li frowned. “The letters were already sent today. Yours hasn’t arrived yet?”
“No. Everyone got theirs, only I didn’t get it. Has there been some sort of accident? Eldest Brother, I am the future Crown Princess, so how could it be? Don’t tell me the news has been leaked to those hateful girls?”
“Impossible!” Ji Li vetoed.
Ji Muqing tugged him. “Then, what is going on?”
Ji Li pondered for a bit. Since he had yet to change out of his court uniform, he immediately went back to the palace and stormed straight to Han Academy. At that moment, Minister Liang had finished his work and was about to return home. Coincidentally, they crossed paths and looked with incomprehension at Ji Li.
“Oh! Secretary Ji had some time to visit Han Academy?”
“The inner court sent the letters to the selected maidens according to your name list. I thought we had a good discussion about it earlier. Does your heart still bear resentment to mix work and private matters?” Ji Li did not show his anger, but his voice revealed a menacing undertone.
Minister Liang smiled. “Your words came to me as a surprise. This official can differentiate between work and personal matters. I have never done anything that went against my conscience.”
“Then, can you explain to me why our Ji family has not received the letter for the Crown Princess’ selection?”
“ReallY? I clearly put Miss Ji’s name on that list!”
“Then, why is it still not there?”
Confronted by Ji Li, Minister Liang remained composed. He fetched for the backup list and gave it to Ji Li. “See? Her name really is on it.”
Ji Li looked at it – Lord Liang did not lie.
Could it be that something went awry at the inner court?
The unexpected incident quickly passed through Concubine Xiao’s ears. It was quite reasonable for her to learn of it so quickly because she was part of the organisation. If Minister Liang’s task was that of the master of ceremony for the selection, Concubine Xiao was akin to the producer of it.
Inside a palace hall.
Minister Liang was kneeled along with Gao Bingze and the inner court’s head manager.
Ji Li stood to the side with an appearance that screamed “all of you owe me!”
High above sat Concubine Xiao. Her hands were placed on the beautiful luan gown. Her face was scrunched by a frown and her eyes filled with anger glared at the people below.
“Who caused such an accident?” Her shrill voice fell, sounding a bit menacing.
Between the three of them, the Head Manager took the initiative to explain.
He kowtowed and replied with his head still lowered. “Your Ladyship, at the time I sent the letter, I verified that everything was according to the list I received. There should be no mistake.”
Clap!
Concubine Xiao slammed her hand heavily on her thigh. “There was clearly a mistake, but you dare say to me there was none? Who gives you such courage?”
The Head Manager was scared witless. He trembled. “This slave is wrong. I sent everything according to the list given to me by Vice-director Gao! I swear I did not notice Miss Ji’s name on it!”
Sang Lan presented the list to Concubine Xiao. Concubine Xiao flipped through it and threw the list at the three people below. The list hit with force against the ground, and the envelope was damaged in the process.
“Lord Gao, why is Miss Ji not on the list?”
Gao Bingze was terrified. Impossible! He had personally handed the list to the Head Manager, and he had verified it beforehand – Ji Muqing’s name was on the list at that time! He immediately picked the letter with doubt. He looked at it with horror – her name was nowhere to be seen.