Peach Blossom.

As soon as Tao Ye said this, everyone present was shocked to varying degrees, which was more unexpected than all the previous surprises!

The most surprising thing is not that she refused to be named a beauty, but the reason for her refusal - "I am no longer a virgin." An ordinary woman cannot say such words in front of a group of people!

Tao Ye actually didn't want to say this in public, but with her brain, she couldn't think of a more convincing reason other than this.

Being in the palace, she couldn't openly disobey the imperial edict, right?

Tao Ye was very timid and she didn't dare to look up at Si Yu.

Si Yu probably didn't expect Tao Ye to refuse, and for such a reason... A woman was willing to slander her reputation in public in order to refuse the title. As an emperor, Si Yu was truly humiliated!

When Si Yu felt embarrassed, Queen Mother Meng couldn't help feeling a little proud, but she just wasn't too embarrassed to express it.

In the silence, Tao Ye couldn't help but turn her head slightly and glance upwards at Wang Jing. At this time, she found that Wang Jing was also looking at her.

A person's eyes can speak, and they are more honest than their mouths.

The moment Tao Ye and Wang Jing's eyes met, something hidden was discovered.

Si Yu's attention has always been on Tao Ye. He certainly noticed Tao Ye's gaze and the subtle feeling when Tao Ye and Wang Jing's eyes met. He finally understood why Wang Jing was unwilling to easily identify Tao Ye as a suspect.

But at this moment, it seems that he can only pretend to be blind.

Si Yu suddenly lost his strength and was too lazy to continue to try Wang Jing's unjust case: "Mantang Jiao has been dead for a long time. The case is complicated and I can't figure it out for the time being. I am tired, so let's stop here for today!"

Wang Jing knew that Si Yu was in no mood to investigate the case, but he had run all over the government offices in the capital, but to no avail. Filing a complaint to the emperor was the last way to seek justice for Man Tang Jiao, and he was unwilling to give up: "May I ask, Your Majesty, when will the next trial be?"

Si Yu smiled coldly: "As the plaintiff, it's fine if you don't know the suspect you want to sue, but you can't even produce any evidence. How can I try you if you don't have any clues?"

Wang Jing asked again: "If I have clues and evidence, can the emperor make the decision for me?"

The king is a man of few words. Si Yu has already accepted the case, so he can't just let it go. He can only postpone it: "Ten days later... You look for clues, and I'll also sort out some clues."

So the king bowed and withdrew, and everyone dispersed, only Princess Si Yao continued to stay in Anshou Palace with the Queen Mother.

The Queen Mother had to remind Si Yao: "This Tao Ye actually rejected your brother with this, it will definitely hinder you and Wang Jing in the future."

Si Yao couldn't help but worry, and asked in a low voice: "Is there any way... to let her die in the palace?"

The Queen Mother was silent.

When Tao Ye followed Concubine Zhou back to Xianhua Palace, Wang Jing called her: "Miss Tao Ye, please stay."

Not only Tao Ye, but also Concubine Zhou and all the maids stopped and turned around to see Wang Jing.

He still leaned on his crutches and walked to Concubine Zhou. "Greetings, Concubine Zhou. I need to ask Miss Taoye a few questions. Please grant me permission."

Concubine Zhou nodded and took the other maids back with her.

Tao Ye stood there, lowering her head, feeling a little excited, because she was no longer the most beautiful girl in the room, and Wang Jing actually called her to talk alone...

"Wang would like to ask you, young lady, was there anyone else around you when you buried Gillian?"

Hearing this, Tao Ye knew that she was excited for nothing. He called her only because she was involved in Mantangjiao's murder case.

"After Gillian left her last words, you took the bodies of the master and servant away, buried them, and then brought them to my house. During this process, was there another person by your side?" Wang Jing described his question again in full with a solemn expression.

Tao Ye felt that she should understand that in this murder case, she was one of the suspects, and Wang Jing was the plaintiff, which was the only remaining relationship between them.

"No...it's the middle of the night, how could there be anyone around me?" Tao Ye lied. She didn't mean to protect Chen Ji, but she couldn't change her testimony casually, otherwise things would only become more troublesome.

"Are you really the only one here?" Wang Jing emphasized again.

Tao Ye knew that Wang Jing had a strong insight, and she thought he must have discovered something.

If this were modern times, her civilized education would have required her to be honest and frank in criminal cases... However, this was ancient times. There were no advanced surveillance cameras, and it was difficult to find completely fair judges. She had to consider her own safety.

"It's just me." Tao Ye answered in a very affirmative tone.

"Okay..." Wang Jing nodded and asked, "You buried Ah Jiao under the Ghost Mountain, so the place where she was killed should not be too far from the Ghost Mountain, right?"

Tao Ye recalled what happened that night and roughly estimated how long it took to travel: "I think it's about five or six miles away from the ferry on the other side of Guishan... I'm not sure..."

"Thank you!" Wang Jing bowed slightly to Tao Ye as a courtesy, then turned and left.

Tao Ye looked at Wang Jing's back as he walked away on crutches, feeling an indescribable sense of loss. When she took off her false mask of being charming, she was truly nothing to him.

After returning to Xianhua Palace, Tao Ye couldn't help thinking about Wang Jing's question: Why did he repeatedly confirm whether there was another person beside her that night? What did he notice?

In fact, Tao Ye also wanted to know who was the murderer who killed Mantangjiao. At first, she always took it for granted that the princess sent someone to assassinate Mantangjiao, but now she feels that this is not the case. So who is the murderer?

If she told Wang Jing everything that happened that night, would Wang Jing be able to find out the real murderer?

If Wang Jing could track down the real murderer, she would naturally be cleared of suspicion. Why would she need to give false testimony... She suddenly felt a little regretful for deceiving Wang Jing.

"The Queen is here!"

A eunuch's report came from outside.

Concubine Zhou had already stood up to greet her, and Tao Ye hurriedly followed behind her, and together they went outside the hall and kowtowed to the Queen according to etiquette.

Empress Shen was still straightforward. She didn't even need to enter the house. She just stated her purpose: "Last time I came to ask for Miss Taoye on behalf of Zhang Cairen, but Sister Zhou refused, saying that the emperor needs to see Taoye often and it's inconvenient to go to Zhang Cairen's place... I think the emperor doesn't need to see Taoye often now, so Sister Zhou, why don't you do a favor and help Zhang Cairen? What do you think?"

"This..." It happened so suddenly that Concubine Zhou seemed a little caught off guard.

Empress Shen twitched her eyebrows and pretended to be surprised: "Why? Sister Zhou, don't you think there is something wrong?"

"I dare not..." Concubine Zhou was very embarrassed and hesitant.

"Then it's settled! On behalf of Lady Zhang, I would like to thank Sister Zhou for her kindness!" Empress Shen chuckled and ordered Tao Ye: "Miss Tao, please pack up quickly and follow me!"

Tao Ye had no choice but to respond, "Yes."

This relocation once again confirmed a truth: as a palace maid, she had no personal freedom and could only obey orders.

Then, leaving the palace would probably be even more of a delusion.

Although in comparison, Tao Ye also felt that living with Xiaowan was definitely better than staying with Concubine Zhou, but she always felt that something was wrong!

Xiaowan was overjoyed at Taoye's arrival, like a long-awaited rain after a long drought. She didn't even want to arrange another place for Taoye to live, and she longed to live in the same house with her like they did in the old days.

But Cai Ling advised: "After all, a talented person is already a talented person. If she lives with others, what will she do if the government comes?"

"When has the emperor ever come to my place?" Xiaowan lowered her head. The feeling of insecurity she felt was not much different from when she was a maid.

"I've never been here before, and I won't come again. The talented person has a "noble person" by his side now!" Cai Ling smiled and glanced at Tao Ye beside Xiao Wan.

Tao Ye stood beside Xiao Wan, and felt uncomfortable when she heard this: "Miss Cai Ling, don't say that. I am here, and I don't know if it will bring trouble to Zhang Cairen!"

Xiao Wan held Tao Ye's hand tightly and comforted her gently: "No matter whether it is good or bad, as long as we are together, it's fine."

Tao Ye smiled along.

That night, she was arranged to live in the room closest to Xiaowan's bedroom.

The new residence was spacious and had everything one needed for life. Tao Ye simply packed up the few pieces of clothing and jewelry she had brought with her and put them into the new cabinet.

While tidying up, Tao Ye saw the magic mirror she got from the Ghost King again.

Ever since she sneaked into Situ Wangyi's study last time and used this mirror to pass a message to Chen Ji, Tao Ye has been carrying this mirror with her. But so much time has passed and she still hasn't been able to contact Chen Ji.

"Liar! Big liar!" Tao Ye cursed a few words in front of the mirror.

The door suddenly opened, Taoye was startled, and when she turned around, she saw that it was Xiaowan who came in.

"Shh——" Xiaowan, with her hair disheveled, signaled Taoye not to make a sound.

Xiaowan looked around outside the room and made sure that no one was there before she closed the door. She walked to Taoye with a smile and pouted, "I don't want to listen to them! Why do I have to live by myself after becoming a talented person? I want to sleep with you!"

"Okay, then let's sleep together." Tao Ye was very touched and relieved. After such a long time, Xiaowan was still that well-behaved and kind girl.

Xiao Wan caught a glimpse of the mirror in Tao Ye's hand and said, "This mirror is really unique! Did you get it from the Wang family? Or was it a gift from Concubine Zhou?"

Tao Ye shook her head: "Neither, it's just my own things."

"Your own? Why haven't I seen it before?" Xiaowan was very curious.

Tao Ye certainly couldn't tell the real origin of the mirror, so she could only lie: "This is the only relic left by my father. I cherish it very much, so I don't use it easily. I only look at it occasionally when I miss it."

"Your father's relic? But shouldn't this be a woman's thing?" Xiaowan reached out and touched the pattern on the edge of the mirror, which was very delicate.

Tao Ye continued to talk nonsense: "Yes... it was given to my mother by my father. After my father passed away, my mother said she would give it to me as a dowry..."

"It seems that your parents are very loving." Xiaowan nodded, and envy arose spontaneously: "Then where is your mother now?"

"We... are separated." There was some helplessness in Tao Ye's smile. She felt that in her current state, she could be regarded as being separated from her mother!

Xiao Wan hugged Tao Ye and said comfortingly: "Let's not talk about those sad things."

Tao Ye nodded, put the mirror into a nearby drawer, and went to bed hand in hand with Xiao Wan.

After lying down, Xiao Wan asked in a low voice: "What you said in front of the emperor... is it true?"

"Which sentence?" Tao Ye didn't quite understand for a moment.

"Of course it's that one!"

Tao Ye seemed to understand, but felt a little embarrassed: "How could I... How could I deceive you?"

Xiao Wan became even more curious and started gossiping: "So... it's Prince Wang?"

Tao Ye nodded.

Xiao Wan suddenly started to speak up for Tao Ye: "If that's the case, he should be responsible for you!"

"At that time, he thought I was a spoiled brat, that's why those things happened... How can I ask him to take responsibility? It's good enough that he didn't call me a liar..."

"How did you become exactly like Mantangjiao? You can make the fake look so real that even Young Master Wang can't tell the difference? Do you really know the art of disguise?" Xiaowan was more and more curious.

"I... I don't quite understand, but I have a master who does understand..." Tao Ye was a little afraid of Xiao Wan's concern. If she kept asking like this, she would most likely be exposed.

"Then... can you make me more beautiful?"

"Ah?" Tao Ye was shocked. She felt like she had misunderstood something...