Hao Mei looked at Zhao Ming in disbelief. Zhao Ming"s att.i.tude was too strange. She seems like a completely different person.
Hao Mei gritted her teeth and said, "Her highness I didn"t do anything to you. Why are you doing this? I worked in the kitchen for long because I like cooking. Also, I never did anything wrong to you then why are you targeting me? Is it because I came with Consort Xiao Li to this palace and you dislike her? " her voice suddenly became broken and soft.
She was trembling like she has been beaten to a pulp and her face has been messed up by crying. Anyone looking at her could feel pity at her. People outside have started to gather outside the kitchen.
Zhao Ming raised her eyes seeing a sudden change in her att.i.tude. She did not say anything extreme and didn"t beat her either.
But she was behaving like she has stripped her n.a.k.e.d rather than taking her position as the kitchen staff.
In the kitchen staff, Hao Mei was top among all maids and always leads them. She always loved her status and power and especially when all the maids roam around her like a honeybee to gain her attention and favor.
Because this way they can come into good books of Xiao Li and Wen Xu. So taking her position as the head maid in the kitchen staff was taking her biggest achievement in her life.
Moreover, Zhao Ming wanted her to s.h.i.+ft to the lotus pavilion where she will be in a lower status than the two maids sent by Ji Cheng. In short, Hao Mei will reach from top to bottom in an instant.
Hao Mei can"t take this so easily. She will do anything to save her position and will also show this Zhao Ming her position.
" She is nothing but a mere soldier"s daughter who became an Empress by luck. I will show her that in this palace, her position is much lower than a maid like me." she snickered lightly with her head hung down.
Zhao Ming did not understand why Hao Mei was behaving like this, nor Lu s.h.i.+. However, before Lu s.h.i.+ could say anything, a gentle and feminine voice came from behind.
" Hao Mei."
Zhao Ming turned to look back and found Xiao Li coming towards them. She was expecting to see her but she didn"t think that she will come so soon.
Zhao Ming snickered seeing worried expressions of Xiao Li. She was making expressions like she has held her family member captive. And Xiao Li came to rescue them.
Zhao Ming could not help but smirk unbelievably. This duo of Master and servant is amazing. They both belong to the same group of people who could do acting anytime and anywhere.
" How could they be so similar? One knows to become a victim after doing wrong and here comes the hero to save the damsel from distress." she scoffed lightly.
Xiao Li hurriedly walked into the kitchen while other maids greeted her respectfully, " Greeting to Consort Xiao Li." they bowed slightly to show their respect.
This made Zhao Ming speechless. The Empress was standing in front of them and they didn"t greet her earlier while when Xiao Li entered into the kitchen, they greeted her despite the situation.
She wanted to tell all these maids that the one they are greeting so respectfully, does not care about them.
They are all wors.h.i.+ping the wrong person.
" Zhao Ming, at least how much you were hated that even servants in the palace doesn"t respect you?" she wondered inwardly as she let out a sigh.
Xiao Li walked up to Hao Mei who was sitting on the ground ignoring all the greeting from the maids.
Hao Mei was overwhelmed with respect and love for Xiao Li and looked up at her with her welled up eyes which were s.h.i.+ning like the fresh seawater, " Miss, I..I did nothing wrong. I am being accused wrongly. Please..help me." she pleaded like Zhao Ming was trying to take her life.
Xiao Li sat down beside Hao Mei"s side like a caring mother and wiped her tears which warmed the hearts of other maids. They looked at Xiao Li and the respect in their hearts for her has increased more.
She was the only one who is treating a mere maid like a human and does not find it disgusting while wiping her tears from her slightly messed up and dirty face.
Zhao Ming scoffed at seeing the wors.h.i.+ping expressions in those maid"s eyes. More unbelievable was Xiao Li"s reaction because she knows that she is not like the one she is pretending to be.
This time, Zhao Ming felt that Xiao Li truly resembles Xie Xinyi because she could do anything to get her goals and she doesn"t even mind throwing herself in mud pit just to get some sympathy.
Though she was not calling Hao Mei a mud pit but her actions were like the one.
" Hao Mei, you don"t need to worry. I won"t let you be wronged. I bring you with me to the palace, so I will take care of you. I have promised your parents that I will take care of you, so I will do that. Even if I have to take punishment in your place." she said in a low and hoa.r.s.e voice.
It seems that she was holding her tears and her voice was choking up because of it.
Zhao Ming was speechless again. She thought that she has experienced enough drama since she has come into this world. But the way these two were behaving was making her vomit blood due to extreme melodrama and overacting.
These two are behaving like unprivileged concubine mother whose daughter has been wronged by the cruel Empress. It seems that they are shooting some melodrama with extremely creepy dialogues which will make one feeling gooseb.u.mps.
Their drama made Zhao Ming"s lips curling upwards in disgust. If not for her image she would have thrown up right away.
She could not believe that they could say such dramatic words.
" This Xiao Li is acting like she brought Hao Mei to the palace after marrying her with her son. She behaves like an extremely loving mother-in-law who promised her in-laws to take care of their daughter." Zhao Ming pursed her lips to control her laughter when she thought of this scenario.