Zhao Ming carefully looked at Ji Cheng and noticed his serious expressions. Her glowing face became pale as she was worried about what he was thinking?

  She does not want to be disappointed again. In her life, she has seen many betrayals from her family and friends and in this world, he was the only world, whom she believed and supported him.

  Though she has no feelings for him at this point other than his attraction, she has no feeling whatsoever. However, she has formed a kind of bond with him and has certain expectations as well.

  When her gaze shifted to Xiao Li, she saw a smirk on her face. As no one was looking at Xiao Li, but Zhao Ming saw her expressions at the moment.

  Even Xiao Li was sneering at her and her sly smile was clear to show her intentions.

  She pursed her lips and when she couldn't wait anymore, she spoke, " Xiao Li, you're right. I did nothing wrong. You did not teach your maid correctly. If she didn't disrespect me first, then I would not have to punish her." Zhao Ming looked at Xiao Li with firm expressions and said in a loud and clear voice.

  " Moreover, Consort Xiao Li, you said that I am punishing ' your maid ' harshly, so do you even know why I did that? Or what punishment I gave her? Hmm?"

  Zhao Ming asked her outrightly. She was getting irritated and angered by her behavior.

  She has understood her personality very well and Xiao Li was not a kind who will be willing to take the punishment for her maid. She was just pretending to be kind-hearted and wanted to look Zhao MIng like a heartless cunning woman.

  After saying her words, Zhao Ming glanced at Ji Cheng and saw him looking at her in surprise. She pursed her lips and feel relaxed.

  She could have chosen to run away and not tell everyone her side of the story. But this will only make her look like a coward.

  If she didn't tell him her side of the story and didn't tell anyone that she wasn't wrong, then no one will believe her. Just like the last time, when everyone accused her of throwing herself on that boy in high school.

  She tried to explain herself and wanted to retort their claims, but as she was young, her father overpowered her and didn't let her say anything.

  They just forced all the blame on her and let her suffer for her all the teen years. She still felt insecure and fear when someone tries to get close to her.

  She doubts every single person who tries to come closer to her. She feels that they are doing this just because of some purpose.

  That's why she can't take any relationship seriously and feel any attachment to it. She is afraid that they will only take advantage of her and throw her or betray her when she fully gave them her heart.

  ….

  Ji Cheng was surprised when Zhao Ming suddenly questioned Xiao Li.

  He was just thinking about how he should deal with this situation. He knows that Zhao Ming must have reprimanded the maid because she must have something.

  He only knew that Zhao Ming punished Xiao Li's maid and demoted her because when Feng Ju informed him about the situation, he does not want to interfere.

  But when he heard that Xiao Li has come here and they had created an issue, then he had to come here himself because he does not want to let Zhao Ming suffer alone like the old times.

  He was trying to think about something when Zhao Ming suddenly spoke only after a minute and questioned Xiao Li.

  Whereas Xiao Li was bewildered when she heard Zhao Ming's question.

  Now when Zhao Ming asked her, she realized that she doesn't know anything about the situation.

  The maid that gave her information told her that Zhao Ming was punishing Hao Mei and Hao Mei was crying. That's it.

  She thought that Zhao Ming was punishing Hao Mei and hurriedly came over to put an act and tried to behave like a savior to Hao Mei.

  Whereas Hao Mei was still sitting on a dirty ground and nobody bothered about her.

  She was perplexed when Ji Cheng suddenly came into the kitchen.

  But she didn't get up and stayed on the ground like a pitiful girl who was abused by Zhao Ming.

  Xie Xinyi felt that something was not right and turned to look at Hao Mei to get any hint. But all she could see her messed up face and that fake vulnerable expressions.

  She gritted her teeth and pursed her lips tightly. She doesn't know what punishment Zhao Ming gave to Hao Mei and why.

  So she turned to look at Zhao Ming again and looked into her eyes with her pursed lips and faltered expressions.

  " Sister, I… I know Hao Mei has done wrong but you can't give her such harsh punishment. She is just a young girl and can't bear such a harsh punishment."

  Zhao Ming raised her brows interestingly and realized that Xiao Li does not know anything.

  She is just pretending and was crying out loud without any reason. She doesn't know anything but came here to cry.

  At this point, Zhao Ming does not know whether to laugh or cry.

  Ji Cheng who was standing by Zhao Ming's side chose not to say anything. He wanted to see how she handles the situation because she does not seem that she needs any assistance from him.

  He decided to interfere when it was needed. Till then he decided to keep quiet and stand by her side and support her.

  " hmm. Now you're saying that she must have done something wrong. Earlier you were saying that I am targeting Hao Mei because of you. Xiao Li, I am giving you advice as your ' Sister'.

  " Don't interfere with the things when you don't know about it. You don't know what punishment I gave her and clearly don't know its reason as well and yet you're saying that I am doing wrong by doing this?"

  " Xiao Li. You're the Head consort of the Ji Dynasty. What kind of message you're giving to other servants by doing this? By protecting this girl who disrespected me and looked down on the Empress of the Ji Dynasty, you're not only disrespecting me but also the title of Empress of the Ji Dynasty. " Zhao Ming looked at Xiao Li emotionally. Her tone was like she was wronged.

  " This harem comes under my control and only His highness has the right to check my decisions. I was punishing this maid because she was talking ill of me with these maids and not only that, she didn't even greet me but also looked down on me by being rude to me," she said while pointing at the other maids standing there.

  At this point, the other maids became frightened as her expressions became pale as they hurriedly waved her hands to show that they didn't do anything.

  " And I just removed her from the kitchen staff and transferred her to the lotus pavilion. So you tell me, in what way, this is considered as the harsh punishment? And how I was taking my grudges to you on her? Am I wrong to punish her when she was mocking me despite my presence in the room?"

  " She told me to leave and in what authority she could do so? Because no one let me make my decision. Does the title of Empress does not have any rights? " her voice was heavy as she spoke.

  " Even if I try to reprimand someone, you and Empress Dowager always come in between which has encouraged these servants to disrespect me. They don't greet me and even talk to me rudely just like she did today. "

  " I believe that if I don't do anything then these people will continue to do the same and I will only become the joke as the Empress of Ji Dynasty. " Zhao Ming let out everything today and said her mind.

  In the last few days, she found out from Lu shi that servants don't respect Zhao Ming because she has no power. If she tried to deal with them in the past, Empress Dowager and Xiao Li come in between and this made servants realize that Zhao Ming has no power.

  Everyone was stunned when they heard Zhao Ming's words. When they heard Zhao Ming's words they realized, that Xiao Li didn't even ask what happened and supported Hao Mei without listening.

  She even blamed Zhao Ming for holding grudges against her and abusing her power on Hao Mei.

  Their view towards Xiao Li changed and they started to believe Zhao Ming's words and started to think differently.

  While Xiao Li's expressions turned dark when she heard Zhao Ming's words. It was the first time that she has openly spoke against Wen Xu and her.

  Not only that, she did it in front of Ji Cheng.

  Xiao Li wanted to say something but before she could do so, she turned to look at Ji Cheng to see his expressions.