Chapter 70 The Imperial Household Department was filled with apprehension.

These words resounded like thunder in the hall.

The concubines looked at each other, their eyes revealing a mixture of shock and relief.

Consort Jin is about to directly confront those cunning and treacherous servants of the Imperial Household Department.

Zhao Deyi's spirits lifted, he straightened his back even more, and responded loudly.

"Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will obey your command and will deliver Your Majesty's words without missing a single one."

After saying that, he turned around and strode out, exuding a chilling aura.

Jiang Nan's gaze fell on Ma Jia Shi on the bed again, and then turned to the imperial physician beside her.

His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

"You are in full charge of taking care of Consort Ma Jia's health. Make sure she is in a more stable condition before you return to the Imperial Hospital to report back."

She paused briefly, then added.

"If any medicine is needed later, just tell the palace servants to get it from the Imperial Hospital—just say it's my order, no need to go through any trouble."

The imperial physician bowed deeply and answered respectfully.

"Your Majesty, I will obey your command and will certainly not fail your trust."

After dealing with these matters, Jiang Nan turned around to face the group of concubines with varying expressions.

His tone softened slightly, but it still carried an undeniable air of authority.

"You all saw it? You were all here to bear witness. If anyone dares to withhold your allowance or shirk responsibility and make things difficult for you in the future, don't suffer in silence. Report it to me directly. I want to see who these blind fools are who dare to play tricks under my nose."

Her words were both a reassurance and an assertion of authority.

She wanted everyone to know that although Consort Jin seemed carefree, she was by no means a person to be trifled with.

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Upon receiving Jiang Nan's verbal instruction, Zhao Deyi felt a surge of pride rising from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

His back straightened instantly.

Having served Consort Jin for a long time, he knew her temperament well.

They're easygoing and easygoing on a normal day, but once they get serious, they're incredibly ruthless and uncompromising.

This time, the Imperial Household Department has really run into a brick wall.

He led two eunuchs from Yongshou Palace, walking briskly towards the Imperial Household Department.

Along the way, the palace servants all gave way when they saw his cold expression and hurried steps.

He wondered who was going to be unlucky this time.

Inside the Imperial Household Department's duty room, Chief Eunuch Feng Yuheng was discussing matters with several trusted subordinates around a fire.

The charcoal fire inside burned brightly, making the room warm and cozy, a stark contrast to the coldness of Zhongcui Palace.

Feng Yuheng held a cup of hot tea and listened to his subordinates report on the receipt of tributes from various palaces.

Just as I was calculating how much I could make this month, I heard a commotion outside.

Then the door was pushed open with a bang.

Zhao Deyi stood at the door, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone in the room before finally settling on Feng Yuheng.

Without further ado, he spoke loudly.

"Chief Steward Feng, this is a decree from Consort Jin."

Feng Yuheng's heart skipped a beat, and he almost dropped the teacup in his hand. He quickly stood up and forced a smile.

"Oh, Eunuch Zhao, what brings you here in person? Please come in and have some hot tea..."

Zhao Deyi waved his hand, interrupting his pleasantries, and announced the decree expressionlessly.

"Feng Yuheng, listen carefully. Her Majesty is asking: How has your Imperial Household Department been doing its job? Why is it that Consort Ma, a lady of high status, cannot even last half a month with her monthly charcoal allowance? Do you want to freeze the Emperor's concubine to death, or do you think that Her Majesty, who is in charge of the Phoenix Seal, has no jurisdiction over you?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone in the room, sending a chill down their spines.

Feng Yuheng's smile froze instantly, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.

He glanced quickly at the foremen under his command who were in charge of distributing the allowances.

They were all pale-faced and their eyes were darting around.

Oh no, something really bad has happened.

"These idiots, they don't even clean up their messes," Feng Yuheng cursed inwardly.

But on the surface, she had to pretend to be calm and try to explain herself.

"Please calm down, Eunuch Zhao. There must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps the staff below were incompetent and made a mistake in the registration, or perhaps it's the quality of the charcoal..."

"Misunderstand?"

Zhao Deyi sneered, raising his voice a few decibels.

"Consort Ma Jia is currently suffering from a persistent high fever and is still lying in bed. The imperial physicians have been alerted. Chief Eunuch Feng, Her Majesty is waiting in the East Annex of Zhongcui Palace. Her Majesty has decreed that you immediately take all the relevant officials from the Imperial Household Department to Zhongcui Palace to report back. Her Majesty wants to hear for herself what this misunderstanding is all about."

Should we go to Zhongcui Palace to give them a face-to-face reply?

Feng Yuheng's legs felt weak.

He had heard of Consort Jin's formidable reputation.

He dared to curse the Empress to her face until she vomited blood. Dealing with a mere head of the Imperial Household Department like that would be a piece of cake.

One of his underlings, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation, muttered something under his breath.

"She's just a concubine who lost her son. We've always managed like this in previous years. How could the servants of Zhongcui Palace be so ignorant as to let Consort Jin know?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Yuheng was so angry that he almost fainted. He glared at the man and scolded him in a low voice.

"Shut up, do you want to get us all killed?"

He turned back and bowed repeatedly to Zhao Deyi, his face full of a fawning smile, his tone almost pleading.

"Eunuch Zhao, you see... Her Majesty is so busy with state affairs, why get upset over such a small matter? It's all because the servants are incompetent. I'll have someone double, no, triple, the amount of charcoal sent to Master Ma Jia immediately, and I guarantee this kind of mistake will never happen again. Please, Eunuch Zhao, put in a good word for her with Her Majesty..."

After saying that, he stepped forward, trying to use his usual method of paying money to avoid trouble and get away with it.

"Sir, we are all colleagues. Please, let's speak in private."

Zhao Deyi knew what he was going to do. Could such a great benefit be more important than the Empress's favor?

He remained unmoved, a hint of mockery on his face.

"Steward Feng, are you scared now? When you were embezzling your allowance, didn't you think about the consequences? You know the Empress's temper; what she hates most is this kind of deceitful behavior. Sweet talk? Ha, you'd better save those words and go explain to the Empress yourself."

He glanced around at the silent crowd in the room and said sternly.

"What are you all standing there for? Didn't you hear Her Majesty's decree? Feng Yuheng, and all of you in charge of the storerooms and your allowances, come with me. Her Majesty is waiting for you at Zhongcui Palace. If you're late and make Her Majesty even more displeased, the consequences... you should think carefully about them."

After saying that, Zhao Deyi turned and left, giving them no further chance to bargain.

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Looking at Zhao Deyi's resolute back, Feng Yuheng knew that he couldn't escape this time.

His face was ashen. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, waved to his ashen-faced subordinates, and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"What...what are you all standing there for? Come with me to Zhongcui Palace...to apologize to Her Majesty..."

He felt a chill and panic in his heart, knowing that today's events would be difficult to resolve peacefully, and he didn't know how Consort Jin would punish him.