Ji Qingwu lowered her head obediently and remained silent while the Empress Dowager regarded her with cold eyes.
Aunt Fanghua, who stood to one side, stepped forward and said softly, "Your Majesty, the matter has yet to be investigated. Let's not dishearten Fifth Missy. It was not long ago that she risked her own life to save the Princess."
During the royal hunt, Princess Qingyun had nearly lost her life, and it was all thanks to Ji Qingwu that she was saved. This life-saving debt calmed the Empress Dowager somewhat. It was too soon to draw any final conclusions about who was at fault.
The Empress Dowager said with a stern expression, "Qingwu, stop kneeling. Sit down and answer me."
After Ji Qingwu rose, she took a seat on the right. For a fleeting moment, her gaze met that of Princess Yong, who was seated in a lower-ranked chair on the left.
However, Tao Wanxin was the first to look away, her eyes falling to the Floating Light Brocade on her shoes. She did not look up again.
