There was no time for further thought; the Empress and Consort Hui Pin had already arrived.
Even Hu Liyi's face still bore the smug expression she hadn't had the chance to change.
Her senior palace maid, Rong Qiu, still held the pose of someone who had just struck a blow.
Xia Ruqing knelt on the ground, her face deathly pale, covered in tear stains, trembling uncontrollably.
The slap marks on Zi Yue's face were incredibly evident, her entire face swollen and red.
This scene spoke for itself, and there was no need to guess what had happened—especially since the Empress had witnessed it with her own eyes. The Empress immediately burst out in anger.
"Hu Liyi, you have some nerve!!"
"Greetings, Empress! Greetings, Consort Hui Pin!" everyone knelt to pay their respects.
Hu Liyi, somewhat frightened, also knelt with a THUD.
"This servant deserves death, may the Empress quell her anger!"
"Let the formalities be dispensed with!"
