Su Yunmo stumbled two steps and fell.
"Miss!" Luoluo exclaimed, quickly stepping forward to help the little ball of fluff who had fallen to the ground. "Are you alright?"
She looked up at the person opposite her. "What's wrong with you? Are you barging through the palace like this?"
Although it was her first time entering the palace, she knew the strict rules. Servants were absolutely not allowed to run around so frantically.
The palace maid knelt on the ground, not daring to look up, her voice flustered. "Please forgive me, Miss. This servant did not mean to. Please forgive me, Miss."
Su Yunmo patted the dirt off her clothes. "I'm fine. You can go. Just be careful next time."
"Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Miss." The maid kowtowed gratefully, stood up, and ran off with quickened steps.
"Running around so frantically, like they stole something and are being chased," Luoluo said, helping the little ball of fluff brush off the dirt.
The little ball of fluff paused, then looked up in the direction the palace maid had run.
Wasn't that Fengqi Palace?
"Miss, what's wrong? Did you get hurt when you bumped into her?" Luoluo saw her zoning out and followed her gaze. "Should we rest for a bit?"
"No need. The imperial garden is not far ahead. Let's go there first," Su Yunmo withdrew her gaze.
Luoluo didn't pay much attention, supporting her as they headed towards the imperial garden.
A few people were gathered in the imperial garden, ladies and young ladies chatting and having tea.
The lakeside pavilion was empty, so Su Yunmo led Luoluo over. She flipped out fish food from under a pavilion pillar and threw it into the lake.
"I have to feed them a lot. In a few more days, the lake water will freeze over, and I won't have a chance to feed them," Luoluo said, her face beaming with joy.
Besides, when they returned home, she could tell her family that she had fed fish in the palace. How glorious would that be?
Nanny Qin, accompanied by several eunuchs, approached grandly from the path.
As soon as she entered the imperial garden, she spotted Su Yunmo and led her group towards the pavilion.
Luoluo, who was happily feeding the fish, was startled by their approach and quickly put down the fish food, standing obediently beside Su Yunmo.
The people around them, not knowing what was happening, all looked over.
Nanny Qin stood under the pavilion and commanded, "You must all search carefully. There must be no mistakes."
The eunuchs responded with a "Yes," and two of them stepped forward to apprehend them.
"What are you doing? How can you lay hands on people without reason?" Luoluo stepped forward to protect her young lady.
One of the eunuchs pinned her down.
"Wait!" Su Yunmo shouted sternly, her young face turning serious.
"Whatever you are looking for, you must first clarify. This is a public place, and the Empress would not want to be gossiped about."
The others descended from their respective pavilions and gathered around.
Nanny Qin said, "Half an hour ago, a palace maid stole a treasure donated by the Empress to the disaster areas, a priceless night-shining pearl. It is said that Miss Su took it, so I have been ordered to search her and apprehend her."
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes and extended her hand. "Where is the evidence?"
"Can't my word be considered evidence?" Luo Yun'e arrived in an eight-bearer sedan chair from the path.
Seeing her, everyone knelt and paid their respects.
Su Yunmo frowned. "Even if you are the Empress, you cannot make accusations without proof."
She had tricked her out of money before, so it was natural for the Empress to be unhappy and seek revenge. But was this kind of revenge a bit too childish?
Luo Yun'e's gaze swept over her, and she sat in the soft sedan chair without dismounting. "Guards, bring the thief here."
Two guards escorted a palace maid forward.
As soon as the palace maid arrived, she knelt before the sedan chair. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"
Luoluo was startled.
Wasn't this the palace maid who had bumped into Miss earlier?
Luo Yun'e leaned back lazily on the soft seat. "Repeat what you just told this Empress."
The palace maid trembled, raised her hand, and pointed at Su Yunmo. "It was the young miss of the Su family who instructed this servant to steal the night-shining pearl. This servant was blinded by greed and helped her."
Everyone was astonished and turned their gaze to Su Yunmo.
This girl looked so young, yet she dared to instigate theft in the palace. She was truly audacious.
Luo Yun'e looked at her coldly. "Su Yunmo, do you know that stealing in the palace is a grave offense?"
This wretched girl had taken so many things from her for free. She shouldn't think that she would let it go so easily. Those things were not so easy to take.
A figure in blue flashed through the crowd.
Su Yunmo's eyes flickered, and she said in a childish voice, "Momo didn't take it. Lian Wangfei sister took it."
Lin Yuning jumped out from the crowd. "You're talking nonsense!"
The little ball of fluff crossed her arms. "You took it. Momo saw you."
Lin Yuning said, "What proof do you have?"
Su Yunmo raised her eyebrows. "Momo is the proof. Momo is the witness."
Lin Yuning sneered disdainfully. "Are you saying that whoever you call a thief is a thief just because you say so? Isn't that too childish?"
Su Yunmo tilted her head and smiled. "Can't I? Then why can the Empress say whoever is a thief is a thief?"
"If that sister says Momo stole it, then they search Momo. But if Momo says Wangfei sister stole it, then it's a lie?"
Everyone suddenly understood.
The little girl was right.
Even though she was a child, she was the legitimate daughter of a marquis.
Even the Empress couldn't search someone just because a thieving palace maid accused them of being the mastermind.
The palace was a place that valued rules.
Lin Yuning gritted her teeth in hatred.
She hadn't seen this girl for a few days, and she had become more eloquent. It was truly annoying.
The crowd began to whisper.
Luo Yun'e's expression remained unchanged. "Technically, I shouldn't search someone based on the words of a mere servant. But this night-shining pearl is something the Emperor ordered me to exchange for silver and send to the disaster victims."
"The Emperor is troubled by state affairs every day. I also want to share more of His Majesty's burdens, so I couldn't pay too much attention to these matters."
She lowered her gaze and uttered a single word: "Search!"
Su Yunmo frowned, a hint of strangeness flashing in her eyes.
The Empress was a bit too composed today.
Two guards rushed into the pavilion, and one of them reached out to grab the little ball of fluff's arm.
A pebble flew out, hitting the back of the man's hand.
"Ah!" The guard cried out in pain, blood welling from the back of his hand.
Ye Jingyu approached from a distance, his every movement exuding an aura of dominance.
Luo Yun'e was somewhat annoyed and said displeasedly, "What is Prince Yu doing?"
"This King is merely fulfilling his duty. For today's palace banquet, all matters within the palace have been fully entrusted to this King by Father Emperor," Ye Jingyu stated, standing firmly in the center of the crowd.
Everyone knelt again and shouted, "Long live Prince Yu!"
Ye Jingyu wore a black python robe today, exuding a noble aura with every gesture.
He waved his hand, signaling everyone to rise.
The crowd thanked him and rose in unison.
Ye Jingyu looked at the little person in the pavilion, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, then turned to the Empress.
"Empress, you have many trivial matters to attend to. If anything happens during today's banquet, why not tell this King and let this King share your burden?"