Granny Tu watched anxiously from the side.

Seeing that Consort Wan hadn't stopped the Crown Prince after quite a while, she grew increasingly anxious. Especially after seeing the soft-looking Crown Prince holding the cheese in both hands for Consort Wan to inspect, only to have it deemed unqualified and ordered to continue, Granny Tu was completely enraged.

She scooped up the Crown Prince in her arms and, amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, shouted angrily, "Consort Wan, how could you treat the Crown Prince like this? Don't you have any sense of propriety? The Crown Prince is not the type to do such trivial things! Your disrespect and lack of manners are something I will report to the Emperor and ask him to uphold justice for the Crown Prince!"

The moment these words were spoken, the entire east wing fell silent.

Wan Anran was completely bewildered, genuinely not understanding why something as fun as working together would elicit such a harsh reprimand.

Before she could even react, Wan Fu was the first to object. He slammed the cheese back into the basin, pointed at Granny Tu, and angrily shouted, "I think you're the one with no manners! Guards, take this unruly servant away—"

Before he could finish speaking, Wan Anran coughed.

She gestured to Wan Fu: "Don't drop the cheese. Treat it gently, like a baby, understand?!"

Wan Fu's initial anger vanished instantly, like a flame caught in a downpour, leaving him somewhat amused and exasperated. He pouted and muttered, "I spoke up for you, Wan Changzai! You're so stupid!"

The palace servants who were attending to the Ninth Prince breathed a sigh of relief.

Both were princes, but the Crown Prince, who was pampered by the Emperor, and the Ninth Prince, who was rarely asked a question and was left in Xianfu Palace, were completely different. Moreover, Tu Mama, as the Crown Prince's wet nurse, was a palace maid of the late Empress Hesheli and was also carefully selected by the Emperor.

The Ninth Prince ordered them to drag Granny Tu away. Wouldn't that be slapping the Emperor, the late Empress, and Empress Hesheli in the face? The palace servants were still pondering what to do, but Consort Wan's change of topic put everyone's minds at ease.

Granny Tu held her head high and her chest out.

Seeing that no one objected, she felt even more convinced that her words were righteous and indignant. Granny Tu carefully placed the Crown Prince on a high-backed chair to the side and gently advised, "Your Highness, you are the Emperor's legitimate son, the Crown Prince of the Great Qing. How can you lower yourself to do such a thing? And be ordered around by a mere concubine?"

Wan Fu was annoyed again.

Crown Prince Bao Cheng looked at Wan Fu, then at Granny Tu.

Tu Mama was absolutely certain.

His Highness the Crown Prince has always been sensible and obedient; surely he must know how good she is to him…? She lowered her head, just in time to meet his eyes, and the certainty in her heart instantly vanished considerably: “Your Highness, Crown Prince?”

Prince Bao Cheng pushed away Tu Mama.

He leaped down from the high-backed chair, raising his eyes to stare coldly at Granny Tu. Bao Cheng said softly, "In my opinion—aren't you the most insolent person, Granny Tu?"

Cold sweat broke out on Granny Tu's back.

Her mouth was dry, and she looked at the Crown Prince before her with a mixture of fear and confusion. Granny Tu stammered, "Your Highness! Your Highness! Young Master, I did this for you!"

Crown Prince Bao Cheng sneered.

He glanced disdainfully at Granny Tu and ordered the palace servants behind him, "Didn't the Ninth Prince already say to drag her away? What are you all standing there for?"

Tu Mama's face turned pale.

To be dragged out in public? How could she, as the wet nurse, possibly remain by the Crown Prince's side? Tu, the wet nurse, knelt on the ground in a panic, pleading, "Master! Master! It's all my fault..."

Bao Cheng was getting impatient.

He glanced at Granny Tu indifferently and uttered three words: "Get out!"

The palace servants exchanged glances.

Seeing that His Highness the Crown Prince was becoming impatient, they didn't hesitate any longer and rushed forward. The palace servants covered their mouths and dragged Tu Mama away forcefully.

Wan Fu's eyes lit up.

This was the first time he had ever seen such a scene. Wan Fu, as excited as a little rabbit, hopped around Bao Cheng, exclaiming, "Crown Prince, you're amazing! So majestic, so domineering, so incredibly powerful!"

The palace servants always hesitated before speaking.

Look at what the Crown Prince said! He scared that unruly servant so much that he knelt down and begged for mercy!

Prince Bao Cheng's face was flushed.

This was the first time he had ever done this. He coughed, clenching his fist, and said, "I... am following in the footsteps of my father. Besides..."

Bao Cheng looked up at Wan Anran.

He spoke frankly and fearlessly: "Wan Changzai is a concubine in the harem and a mistress in the palace, while Tu Mama is just a palace maid. Isn't it she who is insubordinate and ignorant of the rules?"

Wan Anran was slightly taken aback.

She had initially thought the Crown Prince was merely standing up for the Ninth Prince, but she hadn't expected him to also be acting on her behalf. Wan Anran smiled, her hands resting on her knees, and said, "This humble servant thanks Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Wan Fu peeked out: "Simply saying thank you isn't enough."

Wan Anran pressed his head down: "Alright, I know! I'll make sure the two gentlemen are satisfied!"

A proper thank you is a proper thank you.

Of course, they would continue to order the radish head around to work. Wan Anran waved her hand and ordered the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince to continue kneading the cheese: "Come on, keep going, keep going! This cheese needs to be kneaded another fifty or sixty times! The more times it's kneaded, the better the elasticity of the cheese will be, and the better the texture will be!"

The two younger ones buried themselves in their work.

The old woman, Tu, who had been thrown out of the door, was utterly distraught. She felt that every palace servant who passed by was looking at her with either shock, disdain, or contempt, and her whole body was burning hot from ear to toe.

Granny Tu dared not blame His Highness the Crown Prince.

She vented all her anger on the Ninth Prince and Consort Wan. Granny Tu hurriedly left, determined to file a serious complaint with the Emperor!

Emperor Kangxi summoned his court officials at the Qianqing Palace.

Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. Although there are no busy worship ceremonies like yesterday, it is still a good day for all the civil and military officials to reunite with their families. The officials, who rarely have the chance to be with their elderly mothers, wives, concubines and children, never expected to receive an imperial decree summoning them and had to rush to the palace.

More importantly, the emperor's expression was very unpleasant.

The officials who entered the hall exchanged glances, inwardly groaning. Kangxi had summoned them, of course, regarding the tea and food case—after inventory, it was discovered that over thirty cans, clearly sealed, were missing tea leaves; a few contained rare teas, but most were common teas.

That's true.

For example, if most of the black tea were missing, we would be in this situation today. Green tea is always in ample supply, and it is always fully stocked every month, so it would be difficult to detect if the tea kitchen were to run out of some.

But then Wan Changzai happened.

Unfortunately, the Emperor caught them red-handed!

Unfortunately, it just so happened that Consort Wan had chosen this tea specifically to entertain His Highness the Crown Prince!

This coincidence...it's too much of a coincidence, isn't it?

The courtiers were filled with unease, their eyes involuntarily glancing at Songgotu.

Soetu's expression was not good.

He certainly had some doubts about Wan Changzai, but unfortunately, the Hesheli clan had many male descendants but few female descendants, and there were no girls in the direct lineage.

If Wan Changzai meant no harm, perhaps it could be put to use? Suo'etu pondered to himself, while simultaneously speaking with righteous indignation: "Your Majesty, such corrupt and lawless individuals should be severely punished!"

The officials present all felt that this was the proper way to do it.

Even Nalan Mingzhu, who usually liked to argue with Suo'etu, didn't express any opinion; everyone unanimously agreed.

Emperor Kangxi summoned everyone to his presence not with a simple "yes," but with a series of tasks. He immediately issued orders, intending to thoroughly reorganize the Imperial Kitchen during the New Year and, incidentally, inspect the inventory and accounts of the six warehouses and seven workshops of the Guangchu Department—no small undertaking.

The officials could only manage a wry smile.

With the upcoming New Year holiday effectively over, they still had to work hard! Just as the court officials were receiving their tasks and leaving, a commotion arose outside, interspersed with the words "Crown Prince".

The court officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Even as he stepped outside, he couldn't help but glance around out of the corner of his eye. Suo'etu's sharp gaze landed directly on Granny Tu, and his heart sank.

Could it be that something happened to the Crown Prince?

Upon seeing Granny Tu arrive, Kangxi had the same thought. His expression changed drastically, and he asked urgently, "Baocheng! What's wrong with Baocheng?"

Granny Tu rushed forward and kowtowed forcefully.

Her voice trembled with tears: "Your Majesty, you must do justice for His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Kangxi's vision went black.

The Crown Prince was the only child he and the Empress had left behind. If something happened to Bao Cheng, how would he face Renxiao after his death? He gasped for breath, and seeing that things were not going well, Liang Jiugong quickly supported the Emperor and urged, "Granny Tu, what exactly happened to His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Kangxi turned his gaze to Granny Tu with a deep look.

If anyone dares to harm my Baocheng, I will make sure his entire family is executed!

Granny Tu wiped away her tears and slightly raised her head: "This servant is useless, allowing the Ninth Prince and Consort Wan to bully His Highness the Crown Prince!"

The anger that had ignited in Kangxi's heart was completely extinguished, as if struck by hail, leaving not even a spark. His eyes were blank as he stared blankly at Granny Tu: "...Huh?"

Ninth Prince? Consort Wan?

These two people dare to bully the Crown Prince? Countless question marks popped up on Kangxi's forehead. He ignored the officials who were still dawdling in the court and hurried towards Xianfu Palace.

Emperor Kangxi wanted to see.

How did the Ninth Prince and Consort Wan bully the Crown Prince to the point that Bao Cheng had to send his wet nurse to complain? The group hurried to Xianfu Palace, turned into the backyard, and Kangxi heard the laughter of children inside. His previously furrowed brows quietly relaxed.

He stopped behind the wall and peered inside.

Who else could be jumping around in the corridor but the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince? Kangxi, who showed no sign of being wronged, frowned deeply and gave Tu Mama a sharp, piercing look.

Kangxi turned around and looked at it carefully.

The stove on the bamboo corridor was blazing, and on top of it was a... a pot lid? This was the first time Kangxi had ever seen a pot lid used as a pot, with fried chicken on it? And a milky white sauce poured over the fried chicken? The strange practice left Kangxi dumbfounded.

The only thing he knew was that Bao Cheng and Wan Fu were clearly eating happily and playing joyfully, and there was no bullying as Tu Mama had claimed.

How dare you falsely accuse a prince's concubine right in front of me?

Knowing that many court officials in the Qianqing Palace had witnessed the incident, Kangxi did not turn his head and sternly ordered: "Whoever criticizes a prince's concubine, drag her away and give her twenty strokes of the cane, then throw her out of the palace and never use her again!"