Zhao Ming looked at Xiao Li with complicated expressions when she heard her words.

  Zhao Ming furrowed her brows and said to Xiao Li in a low voice which was enough to hear by everyone, " Xiao Li, it's not good for us to talk about it here. Let's not drag this. We should eat something, after all, it's a welcome feast for Brother Wen."

  She tried to leave the topic behind and wanted to start the feast.

  Zhao Ming seemed like she did not want to talk and was trying to avoid talking about it. Her expressions were troubled as she was hesitating to say something.

  Xiao Li frowned when she heard her words.

  ' What did she mean by that ' it's not good if we talk here? Then why the hell did you start this topic?'

  She clenched her fists as she was getting sure that Zhao Ming was making excuses and had nothing important to say.

  So she urged her more and said with a forced smile, " Sister, Brother Wen is our family. You don't need to be so formal with him. You can speak, if you have something to talk to me."

  You don't need to keep it inside otherwise how will I know what is going in your heart?"

  Xiao Li looked at Zhao Ming and raised her brows. She was getting annoyed by Zhao Ming but she can't do anything at this moment.

  She wanted to show Ji Cheng that Zhao Ming is just pretending and has nothing to say.

  She has to handle Zhao Ming herself because Wen Xu is not here at the moment and Ji Cheng is also taking Zhao Ming's side.

  Zhao Ming was doing whatever she wanted to do because she thinks that nobody is here to stop her. But she wanted to see if she could still behave this way after Wen Xu comes back.

  Zhao Ming looked at Xiao Li and pursed her lips. It's not that she does not have anything to say, but she was waiting for Xiao Li to urge her to say this.

  So that she won't blame her later for picking this topic during the feast.

  She wanted to show her that, ' she was not planning to speak but she forced her. It's not her fault.'

  Now Zhao Ming was enjoying the game that Xiao Li has started. Who asked her to provoke her?

  Zhao Ming took a deep breath and said, " If you insist, then I would speak." she shrugged her shoulders helplessly.

  " Xiao Li, I want you to teach your servants properly. They do not have discipline and do not respect their master and breach the line that they should not cross. They are becoming too wild and unstrained these days" Zhao Ming looked at Xiao Li seriously.

  Ji Cheng, who was listening to Zhao Ming's words, squinted his eyes to read her mind.

  Wen Ru was also seriously listening to her words as well. Though he does not know what she was talking about, it must not be a little thing that she decided to talk about this matter at this moment.

  Xiao Li's expressions darkened hearing her words. What was she trying to say?

  Xiao Li did not expect that she would talk about Hao Mei's issue here. This is the welcome feast for Wen Ru and she is raising this issue here as well.

  Xiao Li was humiliated in the afternoon already. But now she was trying to humiliate her in front of Wen Ru as well.

  Xiao Li looked at Zhao Ming and took a deep breath. Her face has been flushed red due to embarrassment.

  " Sister, are you still talking about Hao Mei? I know it's my fault for not teaching her properly, but I never knew that she does that behind my back." she bit her lower lip and looked at Zhao Ming with wronged expressions.

  She wanted to let Ji Cheng see how petty Zhao Ming is and that she isn't forgetting about the incident that has already been resolved.

  " All I know was that she was a nice girl who has always taken care of me and she was not afraid of hard work. But still, I didn't say anything when you decided to kick her out because it's your decision. I trust you and knew that you won't abuse your power like this "

  " You're the Empress, so you can do anything. What can I do? Even though she was very dear to me, if she had done wrong, then she deserves the punishment. I didn't say anything about your decision. You say what can I do about this matter? How will you feel at ease?" her lips quivered as if Zhao Ming had wronged her.

  Xiao Li spoke as her eyes became misty and tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't let the tears flow out as she wiped them from the corner of her eyes.

  Zhao Ming looked at her with interest seeing the way Xiao Li was doing her best to turn the situation and pretends to be a victim.

  But poor she doesn't know that this time, she has a bigger bomb in her hands.

  " I didn't say that I was talking about Hao Mei." Zhao Ming simply said as she took a sip of her tea that the servant had served a while ago.

  Xiao Li stopped in her drama and looked at her with a perplexed expression.

  ' Not talking about Hao Mei? Then about whom she was talking about? '

  Before she could open her mouth, Ji Cheng asked Zhao Ming with a stern voice, " Zhao Ming, what do you mean? Did someone else misbehave with you as well?" His voice was firm and cold.

  The displeasure could be heard from his voice.

  Xiao Li shivered slightly when she heard the cold voice of Ji Cheng. He was glaring at her as if she had done something grave to Zhao Ming.

  Wen Ru didn't say a word and just stared at Zhao Ming. It was the first time he has seen Zhao Ming complaining like this.

  Before that, she was a very calm and composed person. She never complains about others as she was warm-hearted and that's why people take her for granted.

  In the past, he has seen many servants misbehaving with her but he didn't say anything because she never scolds them either.

  He didn't know about Wen Xu and Xiao Li bothering her but he didn't like the way she dealt with people.

  She was the Empress of the Ji Dynasty and if she cannot protect herself, then how will she protect others.

  He didn't know about the whole story as to how Wen Xu was controlling her powers and without powers, she was nothing in the palace.

  But seeing Zhao Ming confronting Xiao Li at this moment, he felt a different gaze in her eyes. Her eyes were much fierce than before.

  She was beaming with immense courage and charm.

  She had a smile on her face but he could see that her smile was forced one and she was clearly mocking at Xiao Li.

  ….

  Zhao Ming turned to look at Ji Cheng who has asked her a question.

  She glanced at Xiao Li before answering and sighed.

  She behaved like she was perplexed and was hesitating about saying something. She bit her lower lip and said, " It's nothing, Your highness. It's not a big deal. I know that it's not Consort Xiao Li's fault."

  " I am the Empress of the Ji Dynasty, so I need to keep the servants in check. Now you have given me the power, I will deal with them in my way," she said with a smile as she looked at Ji Cheng politely.

  Xiao Li's face turned red. Zhao Ming wasn't saying anything and was behaving like a high morale person but she was doing all this to show off her powers.

  " Sister, what are you saying? Did someone offend you? If any of my servants have offended you, then I apologize on their behalf. But please, don't blame them for your problems with me. I don't want them to suffer because of me." she said in a low voice.

  Her voice was extremely low and gentle. She was pretending to be a great master again.

  Zhao Ming smirked as she saw her head down and the same dialogues that she said in the kitchen.

  ' Can't she change her dialogues at least?'

  " Consort Xiao Li What are you saying? When did I say that I have problems with you? And why would I be angry with you?"

  " I just said that I need to look after servants' behavior because they are becoming bold and getting out of hand. If we don't control them at this moment, then I am afraid that something big will happen later." Zhao Ming shook her head lightly in distress.

  Ji Cheng frowned when he heard her words. If she was saying such big words then there must be something bothering her.

  He held her arm and urged her to say her words without fearing anyone.

  Zhao Ming turned to look at him and smiled lightly. This gesture of him gives her flutters in her heart.

  However, she tried hard to control her smile and keep serious expressions.

  After that, she turned to Xiao Li and said " Consort Xiao Li, You haven't done anything. It's just, your maid Tao Qiu, do not know her limits. "

  Xiao Li's body stiffened when she heard Tao Qiu's name. ' What does she wants to say about Tao Qiu?' She was worried about what Zhao Ming wanted to say.

  Her palms become sweaty as her lips felt dry because of nervousness.

  ###

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