It was a war between her and Yao Zheng. But Jin Xiaoxi had been implicated.
“It must be Yao Zheng! She framed you! You are going nowhere, Xiaoxi. I’ll explain to His Majesty.” Auntie Lan urged her to stay.
“Auntie Lan, there’s no point in explaining. The king hates me now. I would only be a thorn in his side if I stay.”
Upon saying that, Jing Xi let go of Little Grape and said, “Your Highness, promise me, without Auntie Xiaoxi you will still eat well and behave yourself. Listen to Grandma Lan. Will you? Now I have to go. Bye!”
“Auntie Xiaoxi, don’t go, please! I won’t let you go!”
Little Grape cuddled on her leg again and refused to release her.
Jing Xi had no choice but to force his arms apart, and leave without looking back.
Jing Xi could still hear Little Grape’s crying from quite some distance. She felt somewhat heartbroken. Since when did she become attached to this motherless child too?
If that was the case she would rather leave now. Otherwise, she might be sadder to leave when she became more attached to him.
Eventually, Jing Xi left the palace. But Little Grape kept crying. Auntie Lan had to bring him back and have someone look after him. Then she went to report to the king.
Auntie Lan entered the study with the king’s permission. “Your Majesty! Why did you fire Jin Xiaoxi? Were you aware of what happened?”
“Are you questioning me?”
Huo Yunshen raised his head from the files and looked indisputably at the woman in front of him.
He had always trusted her. But what she did today was very disappointing.
“I heard about it, Your Majesty. Let me explain. I did not give the key to Jin Xiaoxi. It might have been Yao Zheng who stole the key and framed Jin Xiaoxi.”
Auntie Lan always kept the key in a certain place. Yao Zheng might have learned where she kept it and gone for it.
“Why should she frame Jin Xiaoxi?” Huo Yunshen questioned.
“She was not only trying to frame Jin Xiaoxi, but also pick on me…”
Huo Yunshen did not want to talk about it further. “Enough! Since you have been with us for a long while I won’t blame you this time. From tomorrow onward, give the palace keys to Yao Zheng. I’ll assign you somewhere else. That’s it.”
Huo Yunshen looked back at the files again and refused to have any further discussion.
“But Your Majesty, Jin Xiaoxi is innocent! If you fire her, who could take care of His Highness?”
“Enough!” Huo Yunshen pounded on the desk and looked even harsher. “You should know the result of breaking into that room. I am already being merciful for not having her sentenced. From now on, no one can talk about Jin Xiaoxi! I don’t want to hear a word about her! Now get out!”
Auntie Lan could say nothing further. Seeing him outraged and aversive, she realized that it was the result of breaking his taboo.
He was indeed being merciful by merely firing Jin Xiaoxi and relocating her to a different position.
There was nothing to do now that he was in a fit of anger. She had to find a way to prove that it was Yao Zheng’s trick.
Auntie Lan thought it through and said nothing further. She bowed and stepped out of the study.
After that, there was an adjustment in their duties.
Auntie Lan, who used to be in charge of the inner court, was relocated. And Yao Zheng took over her role.
Upon the handover, Yao Zheng took over the keys and seemed extremely satisfied. “Auntie Lan, did you ever expect this? Haha…”
…
