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Act now!

As soon as she shared her plan with everyone, they responded with such eagerness that their hands and feet moved with skill and speed, quickly packing up the items.

In the middle of their task, Da Zhuang came back, and quite swiftly at that!

Upon hearing the words His Majesty had for her, she felt a sweet satisfaction in her heart, thinking how considerate His Majesty was. Just as she had important matters to attend to, His Majesty had made things easier for her, which was very good indeed.

She quickly finished packing up the goods, preparing the roast chickens to be sent to Huaqing Palace and Lanyue Palace and had Da Zhuang and Xiao Linzi deliver them.

After sending Nanny Qi back, she had barely sat down in the Side Hall when she heard that someone had returned.

She was ready to enjoy the show.

Indeed, as she had guessed, Xiao Jizi went straight to the pavilion first, and upon finding the roast chicken gone, his spirits visibly deflated. It was the first time she had seen him like this, and it was quite amusing.

Now, seeing Xiao Jizi’s deflated spirit, speaking without any energy as if he hadn’t eaten for three days, she could hardly contain her laughter, ha ha ha.

The first scare had been effective. She had to hold it in, there was a second shock coming, so much to look forward to!

She tried to keep a straight face, imitating Nanny Qi’s usual serious demeanor, and said leisurely, "Xiao Qing, bring the letter forward."

Xiao Qing was also holding back her laughter. Not daring to look at Xiao Jizi, she hastily took the letter with her head lowered, handed it to Lian Hua, then stood to Xiao Jizi’s side alongside Pang Ya.

Xiao Jizi didn’t notice anything unusual about this; he got up listlessly, without any energy to lift his spirits.

Lian Hua put the letter aside and, while pretending to sip honey water, adjusted her facial expression before continuing the act, feigning an inquisition, "Ahem, well, why did it take so long?"

At this question, Xiao Jizi wanted to ask the same thing. He hadn’t done anything, so why did it take him so long? Sigh!

He drily recounted the events like reading off a ledger: "This servant went to see Concubine Fang Pin, and Consort Fang Pin could not understand the master’s letter.

She had to read it line by line, which caused some delay.

After leaving Lanyue Palace, this servant went to thank Manager Gao from the Imperial Kitchen for arranging the chicken.

Manager Gao was enthusiastically conversational, leading to further delay.

Just as I was nearing our courtyard’s gate, I encountered Eunuch Liu from the Bureau of Palace Attendants, and after exchanging a few pleasantries, there was a slight delay, and that brings us to now. "

"Ah? Eunuch Liu?" Wasn’t it exposed now? Could it be that Xiao Jizi was also putting on an act?

Lian Hua couldn’t help but scrutinize Xiao Jizi with a suspicious gaze.

Xiao Jizi, with his gaze lowered to the ground, felt even lifting his eyelids was an effort.

Unaware of Lian Hua’s thoughts, he sighed deeply, "Yes, it was Eunuch Liu from the Bureau of Palace Attendants, leaving with his mouth greasy with food."

"He didn’t say anything to you?"

"He said some things."

Lian Hua’s heart clenched, "What did he say?"

"Just some flattering words, not worth mentioning." They made him envious, and he was further delayed because of it. If it weren’t for these two also having eaten the roast chickens, perhaps there would have been one or a half left, sigh.

"He didn’t mention anything about the clothes?"

Xiao Jizi looked up, "Clothes? What clothes?" He didn’t understand.

Lian Hua realized what was happening, rose abruptly, and flew into a rage, "How dare you, Young Eunuch, keeping your master waiting! Someone come, strip this Young Eunuch of his clothing as punishment!"

At her command, Xiao Qing and Pang Ya, who were prepared, grabbed Xiao Jizi, one on each side, and began to strip him. They immediately removed his outer jacket and proceeded to remove his outer shirt.

Xiao Jizi was too slow to react and was caught off guard, his face filled with shock and panic, "Master, wait, let this servant explain!"

Lian Hua stood with her hands on her hips, looking at him with a triumphant smile on her face. "Don’t say anything, I won’t listen, hmph," she said, still intent on stripping his clothes.

"Xiao Qing, Pang Ya, don’t start just yet." Xiao Jizi tried to struggle free, but the two of them were well prepared, pressing him down tightly from both sides.

He could only continue to beg Lian Hua pitifully, "Master, Master, listen to your servant, your servant didn’t do it on purpose..."

What he had just said was too simple, too perfunctory. He could explain in more detail; don’t tear off his clothes, he needed to save face!

Ah! What had he done wrong to deserve this punishment? It must have been Concubine Fang Pin and Fatty Gao who intentionally set him up!

Ah ah ah! Such an unlucky year!

While begging for mercy, he attempted to struggle, "Don’t, don’t, Xiao Qing, let go, let go, my clothes are ripping, they are going to tear!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than there was a "ssst" sound, and the chest area of his outer garment tore open.

Xiao Jizi hopped about, exclaiming, "Ah, it’s torn, it’s torn, Pang Ya, don’t, don’t strip like this..."

Lian Hua watched from the side with delight, continuously clapping her hands to encourage them, "Good, just like that, almost there, yes, just there, it doesn’t matter if it’s torn, he has new ones anyway."

"Master, please spare your servant, your servant admits his wrongdoing, your servant will never dare to do it again!" Xiao Jizi couldn’t struggle free and nobody heeded his pleas for mercy, making him extremely miserable, looking just like a bullied gentrified youth.

If it were only Xiao Qing or Pang Ya alone, he was confident he could have broken free, but with both of them, and the two strongest individuals from Canglan Court, oh, heavens, spare him!

"Oh dear, Xiao Jizi, don’t struggle, just accept it quietly, it’ll be over soon, be a good boy."

The three people in the Side Hall didn’t care how much he shouted; they just kept stripping at his outer garment, and he gradually gave up struggling.

Finally, unable to fight against four hands with two, Xiao Jizi was stripped down to just his underclothes, his face full of despondence.

Xiao Qing and Pang Ya thoroughly enjoyed themselves while stripping him.

Pang Ya, still not satisfied, asked, "Master Lian, shall we continue stripping him or not?"

Xiao Qing also looked towards Lian Hua.

Xiao Jizi couldn’t believe what he was hearing, staring wide-eyed at Pang Ya. He hadn’t expected this girl to be so beastly, so cruel, to even consider such a thing. If they continued, he would be left naked. The morals of the world were declining rapidly; it was truly heartbreaking!

Lian Hua raised her hand awkwardly to her lips and coughed, "No need, this punishment is already enough. Xiao Jizi, do you understand your mistake?"

Xiao Jizi let out a sigh of relief, his voice pitiful, "Your servant... understands his mistake." From now on, if he could avoid going to see Concubine Fang Pin, he would. Both his body and soul had been put through the wringer; his lifelong reputation oh!

At least he still had some dignity left. If he had been stripped completely, he wouldn’t be able to face anyone ever again.

He was on the brink of tears, pitiful, with his tattered clothes lying next to him.

Seeing her scheme had succeeded, Lian Hua couldn’t help but let out a "pfft" of laughter and instructed Xiao Qing, "Xiao Qing, go in and bring out the things!"

Xiao Jizi, thinking there was more to come, felt his heart rise to his throat again.

He hurriedly knelt down and clung to Lian Hua’s legs, wailing, "Master, your servant dares not do it again, your servant understands his mistake, your servant didn’t know Consort Fang Pin was so difficult to deal with, this being the first time with no experience, from now on your servant knows how to hoodwink, please spare your servant. .."

Lian Hua couldn’t help but laugh. This was how Xiao Jizi should be, always loving to cling to her legs and wail.

Seeing Xiao Qing carrying a tray out, she smiled teasingly at him and nodded her chin, signaling for him to look at what Xiao Qing had brought out.