You cause trouble and I collect your body, the little emperor’s aunt abuses the scumbag again

The doors and windows of the main hall of Cixi Palace were tightly closed, and the dim lighting made it feel oppressive.

A strong sandalwood scent filled the air, a fragrance that seemed more like an attempt to mask some rotten odor than a Buddhist prayer. As Meng Siya carried Sui Sui across the threshold, a chill rose from the soles of her feet, causing the wound on her arm to throb faintly.

Instead of sitting on the phoenix throne, the Empress Dowager lay on her side on a sable fur couch, casually stroking the dark figure in her arms.

As Meng Siya approached, she could see clearly that it was a pure black cat. One of its eyes was emerald green, while the other was amber, staring menacingly at the person who had just entered.

"This humble woman, Meng, greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, and wishes Your Majesty a long life."

Holding the child, Meng Siya dared not be careless and respectfully knelt down to perform the grand salute. Her posture was humble yet not arrogant, and even with her arm wrapped in gauze, she did not show the slightest fear.

The main hall was quiet, with only the sound of the Empress Dowager's fingernails scraping against the black cat's fur.

It was a long time before the Empress Dowager lifted her eyelids, her sharp gaze sweeping over Meng Siya from head to toe.

The Empress Dowager's voice was old and hoarse, exuding the majesty of her high position.

“Raise your head.”

"Let me see what kind of vixen you are, that you can make the Crown Prince disregard the Crown Princess's dignity and cause such a commotion throughout the city."

Meng Siya obediently raised her head but lowered her gaze slightly, and said calmly, "Your Majesty, please understand, I am just a small business owner. Last night, there were villains who committed arson and violence. His Highness the Crown Prince was kind-hearted and intervened to save us. I dare not accept the accusation of being a vixen."

"Ha, what a silver tongue."

The Empress Dowager sneered and her movements became a little heavier, causing the black cat in her arms to let out a sharp cry that echoed throughout the hall.

The Empress Dowager sat up straight, her eyes sharpening. She said, "Seeing injustice on the road? The Crown Prince is the Crown Prince, not some street thug! If it weren't for your alluring face and some underhanded tricks, would he have confined the Crown Princess for you? Meng, I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. You'd better keep your little schemes to yourself in front of me."

Meng Siya's heart tightened; it turned out that the Empress Dowager was standing up for Shangguan Yun'er.

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is right."

Meng Siya stopped arguing, because the more she argued, the more mistakes she would make. She simply hugged Sui Sui tighter in her arms, using her body to block the Empress Dowager's gaze.

The Empress Dowager's gaze fell on the swaddled baby in her arms, her eyes becoming somewhat subtle, as if she were examining something.

"I heard you have a child with you?"

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes, and the black cat poked its head out, its green eyes fixed on Sui Sui.

"It's a son?"

Meng Siya's heart leaped into her throat, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out from her back.

"Yes."

She tried to keep her voice steady and said, "My son is young and weak. He was frightened last night and is still sick. I'm afraid he'll pass on his illness to the Empress Dowager."

"Are you sick?"

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh and said, "Since he is ill, then I should take a look at him. There are plenty of imperial physicians in the palace. Do you think I would mistreat this child after I have summoned you here?"

After she finished speaking, she gave a wink to the old nanny standing next to her.

The old nanny was a large, burly woman, the same nanny Gui that the father-in-law had mentioned earlier. Upon receiving the order, nanny Gui immediately rolled up her sleeves and walked towards Meng Siya with a forced smile, but a ruthless intent lurked beneath it.

"Madam Meng, please hand the young master over to this old servant."

Granny Gui stretched out her rough, large hand and reached out to snatch the child, saying, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is merciful and would like to take the young master's pulse and examine his health."

A medical examination?

Those two words exploded in her ears.

What's the point of examining an eight-month-old baby? Unless the Empress Dowager is questioning the child's origins!

Meng Siya took a half step back to avoid Gui Mama's hand, and said in a cold voice, "I dare not trouble you, Mama. The child is shy and only feels safe in my arms. If I disturb the Empress Dowager, I deserve to die."

"presumptuous!"

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the armrest of the soft couch, making the teacups clink, and said, "You dare to stop me from seeing this? Are you feeling guilty or have something to hide?"

As the Empress Dowager roared, the black cat suddenly arched its back and leaped off her lap. It landed silently and swiftly, pouncing directly on Meng Siya.

"what!"

Meng Siya gasped in surprise and instinctively tried to raise her leg to block.

But the expected attack did not occur.

The fierce black cat suddenly stopped when it rushed to Meng Siya's feet. It sniffed around Meng Siya's skirt, and its pupils slowly dilated and became round.

"Meow..."

The black cat meowed once and then rubbed against Meng Siya's leg obediently, as if trying to please her and be affectionate.

The air in the main hall seemed to freeze.

Even Granny Gui, who was about to take action, was stunned. This cat named Moyu was the Empress Dowager's darling. Normally, no one but the Empress Dowager was allowed to touch it, and when it got fierce, it had even scratched many palace maids and eunuchs. How come it became so docile when it saw this commoner today?

Meng Siya's tense nerves relaxed a little as she looked at the black cat at her feet. She remembered that she had been mixing scar-reducing gel and calming incense at the pharmacy these past few days. Her body was covered in the scent of valerian and mint. These herbs were just a pleasant fragrance to humans, but they had an irresistible attraction to cats.

"That beast..."

The Empress Dowager's face turned ugly, feeling that her authority had been challenged by a cat.

She stared coldly at Meng Siya and said, "It seems you can seduce not only men, but even animals. You really are a monster!"

Suppressing her grievances, Meng Siya lowered her head and said, "I deal with herbs all year round, so the slight medicinal smell on my body is probably just something cats like."

"enough!"

The Empress Dowager, clearly losing patience, revealed a murderous glint in her eyes. She said, "Since you refuse to hand it over gracefully, I'll have no choice but to have someone help you. What are you waiting for, Granny Gui? Let me take it!"

"Yes!"

Having received the death order, Granny Gui no longer pretended to be polite; her old face instantly turned ferocious.

With a wave of her hand, four strong and burly maids rushed out from the shadows behind the palace and surrounded Meng Siya.

"Let's see who dares!"

At this moment, Meng Siya was also forced to show her courage. Although she was a woman, she was willing to do anything for her child.

She held Sui Sui in one arm, and with the other hand, she quickly slipped the broken silver hairpin from her sleeve, the sharp end gleaming in the light.

"Anyone who dares to come closer, I'll die right here!"

Meng Siya pressed the silver hairpin against her carotid artery, her eyes resolute.

"Your Majesty, if someone were to die in Cixi Palace today, I'm afraid you wouldn't know how to explain it to His Highness the Crown Prince."

The old women were terrified by her reckless behavior, and they stopped in their tracks and turned to look at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager gave a disdainful sneer.

"Heh, you actually dare to threaten me with death?"