NOVPUBJust as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Xu Shiyi dragged a young maid and threw her harshly in front of Shen Roujia.
“Ah!”
Shen Roujia looked at the young maid in front of her and hesitantly asked, “Liu Xia?”
The maid shrank back, stammering as she spoke, “Your Highness, this person wants to beat me without saying a word.”
Shen Roujia glanced at Xu Shiyi, confused, and asked, “What’s going on?”
Xu Shiyi released the maid and slowly explained, “Your Highness, this girl has been lurking around the courtyard for two or three days. Today, I caught her trying to crawl out through a dog hole.”
Shen Roujia frowned deeply upon hearing this. “What’s really going on? Liu Xia, explain yourself.”
Liu Xia, trembling with fear, collapsed to the ground. “This servant… this servant is just scared and doesn’t want to die in the Eastern Palace.”
Shen Roujia, now more irritated, said, “We only need to wait another three to five days, and then we can leave. Why are you in such a hurry to get out?”
“Don’t lie to me. Tell the truth—what is this all about?”
Seeing Shen Roujia’s stern attitude, Liu Xia began to shake, and then suddenly knelt down. “Your Highness, this servant truly knows nothing! It was… it was Consort Shu who ordered me. I didn’t know things would turn out like this!”
Xu Shiyi snorted coldly. “Your Highness, this girl’s intentions are suspicious.”
Shen Roujia raised her hand, signaling Xu Shiyi to hold off for a moment. She then gently spoke to Liu Xia, “Tell me everything. I won’t make things difficult for you, but you must be completely honest.”
