Peach Blossom.

"Mother!" Si Yu walked from the bedroom to the main hall in a hurry: "Tao Ye definitely didn't do it on purpose, and I am fine, please don't punish her!"

Queen Mother Meng shook her head helplessly. She had only questioned Tao Ye twice, but Si Yu was already so nervous. If he really followed Si Yao's advice and let Tao Ye die in the palace, they would probably become enemies.

"Does this mean that from now on all palace maids will not be punished if they make mistakes, as long as they are unintentional?" Queen Mother Meng looked at Si Yu with a half-smile.

Si Yu didn't dare to respond. If any palace servant who made a mistake could be exempted from punishment, wouldn't the palace be in chaos?

Queen Mother Meng asked again: "She first served the princess a foot bath, but she burned the princess's feet to pieces! She also served tea to the emperor, and she knocked the emperor into the lake? Next time, will it be my turn to get into trouble?"

"Your son... Your son will ask Lady Zhang to keep an eye on her..." Si Yu's partiality was too obvious, and he couldn't help feeling guilty.

Queen Mother Meng couldn't help but laugh: "Is she a three-year-old child? Does she need someone to look after her?"

Si Yu was unable to answer, feeling uncomfortable both physically and mentally.

Tao Ye buried her head deeply, as if it was very embarrassing to have her face seen by others.

At this time, Zhang Xiaowan came into the palace with a few maids. She first greeted the empress dowager, then took the ginger soup in the maid's hand and personally served it to Si Yu: "Your Majesty, drink some ginger soup to drive away the coldness just now."

Unable to refuse the kind offer, Si Yu had to take it and drink it.

The Queen Mother looked at Xiao Wan and nodded with satisfaction: "My son, you are so lucky to have someone as considerate and lovely as Zhang Cairen by your side, who is willing to risk her life for you! Don't be ungrateful for what you have!"

"Your Majesty mother, you are absolutely right. I have decided to promote Concubine Zhang to Shuyuan." Si Yu forced a smile and glanced at Empress Dowager Meng. There was a hint of flattery in his eyes and tone.

Xiaowan knelt down to express her gratitude.

Even Si Yao could see that Si Yu's attempt to show goodwill was simply to protect Tao Ye and help her escape punishment.

However, Queen Mother Meng did not buy it. Instead, she gave Si Yu a sincere lecture: "Those who have made contributions should be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes should be punished! The first thing a wise monarch should do is to distinguish between rewards and punishments! Otherwise, how can he govern the country?"

Si Yu couldn't refute because the Queen Mother was right.

However, he quickly came up with a way to give Tao Ye a lighter sentence, and continued to smile and agree with the Queen Mother: "What the Queen Mother taught me is that I should focus on governing the country and should not pay too much attention to these trivial matters in the palace! Tao Ye is now Zhang Shuyuan's person, so let Zhang Shuyuan decide how to punish her!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Si Yu gave Xiao Wan a look.

Since the Queen Mother was happy to promote Zhang Xiaowan, she would certainly not easily oppose this statement.

Xiaowan hesitated. She never wanted to punish Taoye in her heart, especially since Taoye did it for her.

But in front of the Queen Mother, she couldn't not punish her, so she could only give her a light punishment: "Tao Ye made a mistake, and I am also to blame. I beg the Queen Mother and the Emperor to give me some face. Just punish her by not letting her go back to her room tonight to rest, and let her reflect on her mistakes in the courtyard."

Queen Mother Meng nodded: "Since Zhang Shuyuan said so, then let's do it this way!"

Si Yao was extremely disappointed and couldn't help but complain to the Queen Mother: "She pushed the king into the water! Just one night of reflection, isn't this punishment too light?"

Queen Mother Meng glanced at Si Yao and smiled faintly: "Zhang Shuyuan is the hero who saved the emperor, and she is also Tao Ye's master. She has the right to make this decision. Why are you making trouble?"

"But……"

"All right!" Queen Mother Meng stopped Si Yao from speaking, stood up from her chair, and said to Si Yu and Xiao Wan with a smile, "The prince has caught a cold, so he should rest more. Zhang Shuyuan will serve him, so I and the princess will not disturb him."

Si Yu, Xiao Wan and others then respectfully presented gifts to the Queen Mother.

Si Yao was unwilling and before he could say anything, he was forcibly dragged out by Empress Dowager Meng.

After leaving, Si Yao whispered to the Queen Mother again: "We came all the way here just to give such a small punishment? That Zhang Xiaowan has been calling Tao Ye a sister for a long time. She must want the punishment to be as light as possible. Letting her make the decision is no different from letting Tao Ye go. Back then, they were just my maids, but now they can bully me!"

Queen Mother Meng just smiled and waited until Si Yao finished nagging before she said softly, "Don't worry, Zhang Xiaowan and Tao Ye are about to fall out. By then, you won't have to do anything."

According to the old palace rules, Xiaowan was promoted and Si Yu should stay overnight.

Si Yu did stay, partly out of convention and partly out of human feelings.

As night falls, Tao Ye has to obey the so-called punishment and stand in the yard to reflect on his mistakes - in fact, it is nothing more than enduring sleepiness and cold all night.

Before accepting the punishment, Xiaowan had secretly asked someone to send Taoye a thick cotton coat so that Taoye could keep warm in the yard at night.

However, unexpectedly, at just the hour of Hai, it started snowing.

The night is very quiet, with only the sound of snow.

The air was so clean in ancient times that even snowflakes had no chance to be mixed with impurities. Tao Ye stood in the night, looking up at the snowflakes dancing in the sky, set against the endless black sky, which was a different feeling.

Large flakes of snow fell from the sky, and soon the ground was bright white. The snow scene looked spectacular because of the spaciousness of the palace. If she had not been punished, she would have missed this great opportunity to enjoy the snow!

The only drawback is that it's a bit cold.

Tao Ye closed her eyes, feeling the beauty of the snow, and unconsciously hummed softly: "I slowly listen to the sound of the snow falling, closing my eyes and imagining that it will never stop..."

"You still have the mind to sing?" Someone broke the fantasy.

Tao Ye opened her eyes and saw Cai Wei.

Caiwei pouted and glared, looking even more aggrieved than the person being punished.

Tao Ye couldn't help but smile: "What's wrong with you?"

"You're still laughing! Why are you so stupid?"

Tao Ye knew that Cai Wei was standing up for her, but she didn't feel unfair at all. Instead, she comforted Cai Wei: "I'm not as stupid as you think. I just don't want to owe her a favor! After tonight, I won't owe her anything anymore..."

"Who do you owe a favor to?" Caiwei seemed to not understand.

Tao Ye sighed softly: "You all know that Xiao Wan... I mean Zhang Shuyuan, she entered the palace for me. When I learned that she was not favored by the emperor, I felt guilty. I was really afraid that she would waste her youth and die alone in the palace. That would be a great sin for me! It's good now... She has gained something, and I feel at ease..."

After the voice fell, Tao Ye's mouth corners slightly raised.

"Oh my god..." Caiwei wanted to laugh, but couldn't: "You still think you're not stupid? You're probably the only one in the world who thinks she entered the palace just for you, right?"

"?" Tao Ye looked at Caiwei, feeling a little confused.

Cai Wei smiled helplessly: "Have you ever thought that she might be using you? Using you to get the opportunity to enter the palace, using you to get the emperor's favor?"

Tao Ye thought about it and shook her head: "I think you may have misunderstood her... You don't know..."

Tao Ye was a little embarrassed to speak up at this point, so she lowered her voice: "You may not know that Xiaowan actually had a lover. She really gave up her original feelings for me..."

"How could I not know? Aren't you talking about the former Prince Consort Chen Ergongzi?"

Tao Ye was shocked: "You...you actually knew?"

Caiwei was very disdainful and did not know whether to laugh or cry: "Taoye, Taoye...you are the biggest fool in the world! Do you know her background? Do you know the purpose of her entering the princess's mansion?"

Tao Ye seemed to feel that there was something wrong here.

Caiwei sighed and explained to Taoye in a serious tone, "She and I have been neighbors since childhood. How could I not know her better than you? She is an orphan and has lived with her uncle since she can remember. She has suffered a lot and always wanted to rise high! Because she is still pretty, she would never let go of any opportunity to climb up the social ladder! She was able to stay in the princess's mansion because of my relationship with my sister. She was in love with Master Chen because she had no better choice at that time!"

Tao Ye was a little confused, a little believing, but also a little disbelieving: "It's not right... She cried a few days ago because she mentioned Chen Ji..."

"You believe this?" Caiwei didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and almost wanted to scold Taoye: "If she didn't act like a lover who regretted her life in front of you, would you feel so guilty? Would you risk angering the emperor to help her?"

"Could it be like this?" Tao Ye lowered his head in thought. It seemed as if he was asking Caiwei, but also as if he was talking to himself.

"Why not? Can't you see that the Queen is supporting her, the Queen Mother is protecting her... With your help, even the Emperor is willing to look at her squarely! To be able to do all this, isn't it obvious that she is scheming and scheming?"

Tao Ye thought for a while, she felt that there was no need for Caiwei to lie to her. Thinking carefully about all of Xiaowan's words and deeds, it was actually very reasonable to explain it with Caiwei's words... Xiaowan, the friend she thought was her best friend after coming to ancient times, might have really just been using her from beginning to end!

"She is my master now, and I shouldn't have exposed her shortcomings... But I saw that they were treating you like a monkey, and you were so happy even when you were punished and cold. I really can't stand it!" After Caiwei finished speaking, she sighed silently.

Tao Ye believed Cai Wei, but she was not as angry as Cai Wei. Not to mention the backward ancient times, even in the civilized modern times, there are always many girls with decent looks and poor backgrounds who want to change their lives through marriage. This is just a very common thing.

Caiwei still frowned and gave another piece of advice: "You should be more careful in the future! Don't always be led by the nose by others, and don't trust others too easily!"

Tao Ye held Cai Wei's hand and persuaded her with a smile: "Don't be angry! Even if she wants to get close to a rich man, it doesn't mean that her feelings for me are fake. Besides, I really don't want to enter the palace. No matter what her purpose is, she is still helping me."

"Are you so willing to trust her?" Caiwei was confused.

"I just think that people shouldn't be suspicious of each other... If you trust a liar, she may become honest because of your trust; if you doubt a close friend, she may choose to betray you because of your suspicion. You see... You and I used to have conflicts, but isn't everything fine now?" Tao Ye smiled.

Caiwei was moved by Taoye's words and had to give a little recognition: "Well... I hope she is worth it."

"Go back and rest! It's late and very cold." Tao Ye pushed Caiwei and urged her.

Caiwei walked forward a few steps, looked back at Taoye, and finally went into the house.

Tao Ye looked at the white ground, still admiring the night sky with heavy snow, and looked around, her mood remained the same.

She stretched out her hand to catch a snowflake, and unconsciously began to hum: "I slowly savor the sound of the snow falling, as if it were you leaning against me and calling me sweetheart..."

Suddenly a cloak was draped over her shoulders.

"Oh... why are you out again?" Tao Ye thought it must be Caiwei who came to give her a cloak.

She smiled and looked back, but she couldn't smile anymore.

The person standing behind her was actually Emperor Si Yu.