Zhao Ming then turned to Ji Cheng and said," Your highness at first, I was not planning to say this. But seeing Consort Xiao Li feeling bad I think I should say this out clearly. "

  Ji Cheng looked at Zhao Ming seriously as he shifted all his attention to her. He wanted to know what it is so important that she has to talk at this moment.

  Seeing her expressions the issue won't be that small.

  " Today when I went to see Master Li, I saw Tao Qiu following me around. Lu shi has also seen her roaming around the lotus pavilion many times before as well. I ignored it at first but when I saw her a few times following me around, I thought I need to tell you about this matter. " Zhao Ming looked at her seriously as she spoke her mind.

  Zhao Ming knows that she can't do everything on herself. She needs to include Ji Cheng in everything or at least let him know about it, otherwise, she will be in trouble.

  This place is unfamiliar to her and its rules are strange as well. That's why she needs to include Ji Cheng in everything to deal with Wen Xu and Xiao Li.

  Zhao Ming looked at Ji Cheng with solemn expressions and continued, " I am afraid that if I didn't say anything right now, something might happen to me later. If she is spying on me from the side then it can be very dangerous if I didn't inform you about it. If he didn't investigate the reason for her behaving this way and keeping a check on me then it can become a big issue in the future."

  Ji Cheng's eyes darkened hearing her words. It was indeed a big issue if not addressed properly.

  ' What if someone is trying to harm Zhao Ming?'

  "Also, Consort Xiao Li is her Master. " after saying this Zhao Ming turned to Xiao Li.

  Xiao Li's face turned dark when she heard Zhao Ming's words. She never expected that Zhao Ming could find out about this.

  What was she never expected was that she will tell Ji Cheng everything and that too in front of Wen Ru?

  She has appointed Tao Qiu to keep an eye on Zhao Ming's movement. But she never expected her to figure it out and she didn't expect her to speak out like this.

  She didn't hesitate to say her words in front of Ji Cheng.

  Zhao Ming ignored Xiao Li's gaze which was trying to burn her alive and continued, " Also, I am worried about Consort Xiao Li's safety. She is her maid and what if she was following her as well? What if she is sent by someone to keep a check on our activities? It could be really dangerous." Zhao Ming exaggerated the situation.

  She knows that it's Xiao Li's deed. But she needs to exaggerate a bit to make Ji cheng believe in her.

  Xiao Li was startled when Zhao Ming called her name. Her face becomes pale as her lips quivered.

  Zhao Ming deliberately reminded Ji Cheng that Tao Qiu was her maid.

  Zhao Ming has already thrown Hao Mei out of the palace and now she was targeting Tao Qiu. ' Is she trying to get rid of all my people in the palace?'

  Xiao Li's expressions turned perplexed as she looked at Ji Cheng's expressions from side-eye and could feel the air around him getting chilly. The aura around became darker and gloomy.

  She could see his tightened jaw and his tightly clenched fists.

  Xiao Li gulped seeing his strong demeanor. Her hands trembled to see his cold and scary aura.

  " Sister, what are you talking about? Why…… Why did Tao Qiu follow you? She is just one of my maids. Why would she follow you around? You must have been mistaken." Xiao Li tried to laugh it off saying that it must be her mistake.

  " Moreover, we have punished Hao Mei in the afternoon. I am sure no one can dare to disrespect you. She must be there to work only. We should not go into it too much." Xiao Li tried to make Zhao Ming forget about this incident and move on.

  If Tao Qiu was caught then it will become difficult for her as well. Tao Qiu was the one who used to give her information about Zhao Ming.

  Tao Qiu knows many secrets of her. If Tao Qiu was caught it would become hard for Xiao Li for her to protect herself.

  Tao Qiu was the one who helped Xiao Li setting Zhao Ming up with her bodyguard Ah Leng. If she was caught and opened her mouth then Xiao Li's all plans will be ruined.

  She wanted to remind everyone that Zhao Ming was mistaken and this topic will end here.

  She was wiping her sweaty hands with her dress under the table. She was too nervous at this moment, especially when she could feel Ji Cheng's gaze on her.

  She was too afraid to face Ji Cheng at this moment. She licked her dry lips to moisturize them as she felt her throat and lips dry from nervousness.

  Zhao Ming looked at Xiao Li with her blank expressions and said seriously, " Xiao Li, I am not someone who experiences hallucinations. I am perfectly alright and do not see anything wrong. I clearly saw Tao Qiu at that time and also saw her running away after she noticed that I saw her." Zhao Ming firmly said without blinking her eyes.

  " I know it must be hard for you to believe that your ' dear' maid can do this and keep you in the dark, but I think we should not take this issue lightly. There are many consorts in the harem and for their safety and well being, I cannot let this incident go as the Empress of Ji Dynasty."

  Ji Cheng's expressions softened when he heard her words. Her concerned words and seeing her taking things in her hands was very pleasing.

  Zhao Ming didn't notice Ji Cheng's gaze and continued while looking at Xiao Li, " You cannot see her wrong actions because she is dear to you. But as an Empress, I just cannot ignore her behavior. It's not something a petty mistake which can be ignored."

  " Why does a maid need to go to the guest pavilion when she has nothing to do. You were not there so what was she doing there? Or were you following me there as well that she came there following you? " Zhao Ming squinted her eyes at Xiao Li and asked in questioning gaze.

  Xiao Li opened her mouth in shock and waved her hands hurriedly," No. I didn't follow you anywhere. I don't even know who this Master Li is, so how can I follow you? " she cried out in fear.

  She was afraid that Zhao Ming might pull her into this mess as well.

  She looked at Zhao Ming with her moist eyes as her lips quivered while speaking, " Sister, why are you doing this to me? Do you hate me that much to blame me for the things that I haven't done?" Xiao Li felt helpless and felt that only crying can save her at this moment.

  Zhao Ming looked at her and 'tsk' in her heart. ' She is truly thick-skinned.'

  " Xiao Li, I don't have any issues with you. I was just explaining to his highness about what I felt. I found Tao Qiu many times following me around and even eavesdropping on my conversations. That's why I thought it would be better to inform before something big happens. I don't want to die again in this palace. " she said outwardly.

  When Zhao Ming completed her word, her expressions froze as she remembered what she had said.

  In the flow, she let out her true thoughts. When she found out that Zhao Ming knows swimming and still died after drowning in the pool, it sounded ridiculous to her.

  There is no way that she can die in that pool from drowning. She knows that Zhao Ming was not that weak either that she would do suicide when she did nothing wrong in the first place.

  She believes that there must be something wrong with her death. There might be something that she doesn't know.

  When she spotted Tao Qiu at Mater Li's chamber, she asked Lu shi to find out about her.

  Because she has seen this girl many times around the lotus pavilion. But she never thought too much at that moment.

  But when she got to know that Tao Qiu is Xiao Li's servant, she understood everything. Xiao Li is keeping an eye on her.

  She must have sent Tao Qiu to look at her and spy on her.

  That's how Xiao Li must have figured out that she and Ji Cheng slept together that day when they didn't even tell anyone.

  That must be how Xiao Li was able to get internal information about her activities.

  ###

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