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Xiao Jizi looked up abruptly at Zhang Sancai upon hearing this, uncertain whether Zhang’s words were true or false. But he had no other choice at this point, "The Young Master is in trouble," he said as he grabbed Zhang Sancai’s arm, fearing he might refuse and added hurriedly:

"Brother Sancai, even if I don’t see His Majesty, could you please deliver a message that Daying Lian from Canglan Court is in trouble?"

Zhang Sancai revealed a sinister smile and said, "So, your master’s days are numbered? Hehehe, I suppose you’ll never rise in rank again in your life, will you?"

Having said that, he stood up, shook off Xiao Jizi’s hand, and shouted to someone not far away, "Come here, throw this servant who dared to trespass into Star Palace out and beat him to death."

"Zhang Sancai, you!" Xiao Jizi got up, his anger reaching its peak, and tried to run past Zhang Sancai.

Three men who were not far off intercepted Xiao Jizi, gagged him, and dragged him away roughly.

They took Xiao Jizi to a secluded spot, punched and kicked him, and left a harsh threat, warning him they would beat him again if he came back.

Xiao Jizi recognized these three; they were cronies of Zhang Sancai, often currying favor with him. Before, when at Star Palace, they wouldn’t dare provoke him, just calling him "Eunuch Ji" respectfully, but now they were kicking him while he was down.

After the three left, Xiao Jizi leaned against a nearby tree and slowly stood up. He spat a mouthful of blood and coldness flickered in his eyes. He silently vowed that one day he would make them pay for their deeds—never underestimate a young man in poverty.

At this moment, a young eunuch came looking for him.

Xiao Jizi, sensing someone approaching and thinking it was the same people as before, looked over fiercely, but relaxed when he saw it was Xiao Linzi.

"Brother Xiao Ji, are you alright?" Xiao Linzi’s eyes showed a touch of compassion as he hurried over to support Xiao Jizi.

He had just been in the palace and had heard the disturbance; when he came out, he saw Eunuch Zhang blocking Brother Xiao Ji outside the Star Palace. As he approached, three men intercepted him.

From a distance, he couldn’t hear clearly what was said between them, only vaguely making out something about the Young Master being in trouble, and he guessed that something might have happened to Daying Lian from Canglan Court, and Brother Xiao Ji wanted to find His Majesty.

Then he saw the three men dragging Brother Xiao Ji away. Since Zhang Sancai is now the second-in-command of Star Palace, no one dares to offend him, and he hesitated before deciding not to follow.

But later, his conscience tormented him, and he couldn’t stand it. He came looking and found Brother Xiao Ji lying on the ground, disheveled and bruised.

He couldn’t help but step forward and help him up.

Xiao Jizi paid no attention to him, silently standing up and preparing to leave. At this point, with no chance of seeing His Majesty, he didn’t know what to do. Remembering how well the Young Master had treated him, his heart ached with sorrow and hatred for his own helplessness.

"Brother Xiao Ji, where are you going? Do you want me to accompany you?" Xiao Linzi was genuinely concerned and didn’t feel at ease letting him go off alone.

Hearing his voice, Xiao Jizi suddenly remembered that Xiao Linzi was also a servant attending directly to His Majesty.

He turned to look at him, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and grabbed Xiao Linzi as he asked, "Xiao Linzi, please do me a favor and help me get a message into the palace to His Majesty, can you? "

Xiao Linzi blurted out, "But His Majesty isn’t in the palace." As soon as he said it, he covered his mouth instinctively, wondering if that too should not have been revealed. He had forgotten.

Xiao Jizi was taken aback for a moment. Not in the palace? Then had Zhang Sancai been deceiving him all this time?

Shaking his head to dismiss thoughts of Zhang Sancai, Xiao Jizi gripped Xiao Linzi tightly and continued to ask, "Then where is His Majesty? Something has happened to the Young Master, and if I can’t find His Majesty, it’s all over."

As he spoke, his eyes started to sting. Thinking that he still hadn’t found His Majesty and had been played for a fool, while the Young Master might be suffering, the corners of his eyes grew moist with restraint.

Xiao Linzi showed an expression of difficulty.

He was quite fond of Young Master Lian from Canglan Court, and hearing that she had gotten into trouble, he couldn’t bear it in his heart.

However, he couldn’t disclose the whereabouts of His Majesty, and the rules of the palace were inviolable—he couldn’t speak.

As soon as Xiao Jizi had uttered the words, he realized that this was a major taboo, something not even Xiao Linzi dared to mention. Overwhelmed by despair, he couldn’t help but wonder, was it truly all over just like that?

Only Zhang Sancai was in the Star Palace, with Steward Zhang nowhere to be found.

Wanting to find Steward Zhang to ask for his help in delivering a message but unable to locate him, Xiao Jizi felt like all avenues were blocked.

Was everything really decided? He couldn’t accept it—his Young Master was such a good person.

Xiao Jizi’s eyes couldn’t help but moisten. Suddenly, he thought that since Steward Zhang had also been absent just now, could it be...?

With this thought, his heart began to race. He asked Xiao Linzi, "I misspoke just now. What I meant to ask was about Steward Zhang—where is he?"

Xiao Linzi’s eyes lit up. The whereabouts of the Imperial Chief Steward—that should be permissible to disclose. There was no palace rule against revealing the movements of the Imperial Chief Steward, so he nodded and told Xiao Jizi where Steward Zhang had gone.

Seeing Xiao Linzi’s expression, Xiao Jizi knew he had guessed correctly. Without even taking the time to thank him, he ran off, ignoring the pain in his body.

At this moment, Steward Zhang would surely be by His Majesty’s side. Finding Steward Zhang meant finding His Majesty!

With this thought, his heart burned with hope. The Young Master must be saved, right? His Majesty certainly wouldn’t ignore her plight!

...

At Huaqing Palace.

The Noble Consort looked at the person who had arrived and felt a surge of anger.

To avoid any unnecessary complications, she had specifically instructed her people to stop anyone from entering the palace until the interrogation was over, even having Beauty Li, who had already woken up, kept unconscious.

This was to ensure that the charges against Little Daying could be settled quickly, without any chance for a turnabout.

The commotion in the Imperial Garden had been too great; with Nanny Sun and Dong Mei howling all the way, it would have been hard for anyone not to notice.

Inevitably many people were either coming to see the fuss or to sniff out news.

Regardless, as long as no one was allowed into Huaqing Palace, that was all that mattered.

This way, she wouldn’t need to overthink, nor would she need to consider anything else. She could swiftly settle the charges, afterwards warn the other palaces to take heed, and then simply report to His Majesty—thus ending the matter.

She hadn’t expected that these servants couldn’t even stop Xu Zhaoyi!

Trouble was brewing...

But it was no matter, merely a delay in the proceedings. The outcome would still be the same.

The Noble Consort’s eyes contained a hint of murderous intent as she asked out loud, "Sister Xu, what brings you here?"

"I was idle and had nothing to do when I heard that Beauty Li had an incident, so I came over to join in on the spectacle," Xu Zhaoyi replied, her voice revealing no emotion.

She had been about to practice with her whip when a palace maid reported the incident to her. She heard that the Little Daying, whom she had found quite adorable at the flower-viewing feast, had caused trouble, allegedly having pushed Beauty Li down the steps.

After a moment’s thought, she set aside her whip and came over.

When she arrived at Huaqing Palace, however, the servants stopped her.

If this was an open and straightforward interrogation, why all the secrecy?

Sensing that there must be a trick, she used her whip to clear the servants blocking her path and entered.

"..." Coming to join in on the spectacle upon hearing someone’s misfortune—that’s quite the sentiment. Not even pretending for a moment.