Because Concubine Wen was pregnant, she had no time to care about the dispute in the small kitchen. In addition, she also intentionally indulged Zhang Da Ying, which led to the current disastrous consequences.
Seeing that Concubine Jin had already walked out of the door, Zhang Da Ying quickly put down the meat cleaver in his hand, rubbed his hands on his body, and began to salute.
"I didn't know that the Imperial Concubine was coming, so I didn't go out to greet her. I..."
"Look at this." Imperial Concubine Jin turned and went to the courtyard, choosing a clean spot to stand. "How dare I trouble Zhang Ying to come and meet you!"
The old nanny also understood that she was in trouble. She winked at her more than once, and her hands were shaking with anxiety as she lay on the ground.
Wei Shuyi understood: Concubine Jin's visit wasn't just to visit her sister. Her real purpose was to use the opportunity to pressure Zhang Da Ying.
Everyone in the small kitchen was driven to the west side hall, where they knelt in a large crowd.
Imperial Concubine Jin sat in the main seat and asked casually, "I heard that Zhang not only mistreats the cooks and palace maids, but also tried to set them on fire?"
"No, it's not true!" Zhang Yingda flatly denied. "They deliberately opposed me and looked down on my background. That's why I got angry and wanted to teach them a lesson! As for the fire, it was completely accidental and not my fault. Please investigate, Your Majesty!"
The cook who had just run to inform the reporter took a few steps forward on his knees.
He glanced at the leader, then kowtowed and replied, "Your servants don't understand how we have offended Young Lady Zhang. She wants to learn new dishes, and we are doing our best to teach her. Apart from cooking three meals a day for Lady Wen, we spend almost the rest of our time in the small kitchen. Young Lady Zhang is angry and dislikes us. She can punish us, but why does she use this method? She just brought in the pork, and before she even cleaned it, she ordered someone to remove the fat and let everyone eat it raw. This..."
Imperial Concubine Jin also witnessed it with her own eyes and nodded immediately: "It is true, Zhang promised, what is your explanation?"
Everyone's focus instantly focused on her. The woman, who was not good at hiding her emotions, actually pointed at the people around her and started cursing!
She blamed the maids under her for being clumsy and not helping. She also blamed the chefs for deliberately hiding their skills, preventing her from improving, and even now she can't cook a single dish on her own.
Concubine Wen sighed softly, looked at Wei Shuyi, and shook her head helplessly.
Concubine Xin couldn't help but interrupt her, "I remember that when you came to Lin'an Palace before, you specially brought this group of people with you, saying that they were rewards after the emperor stayed overnight. Now, you are full of complaints again. Are you blaming the palace servants assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for not being diligent? Or are you blaming the emperor himself?"
"I...I didn't! No, that's not what I meant."
Imperial Concubine Jin frowned the entire time, exerting every possible measure of patience towards this exceptionally rude woman. "In Yonghua Palace, we have always valued leniency. This is something the Empress Dowager taught me and the other sisters by example. You said they were constantly giving you a hard time and expressed all sorts of dissatisfaction. I only think you're imagining things too much and taking your anger out on them!"
"Sister Noble, do you think so too?" Zhang Da Ying suddenly changed the subject. "The Imperial Concubine is your elder sister. She said that I would misunderstand other people's kindness. What do you think?!"
Obviously, this is looking for a way down.
Or maybe she was desperate and wanted to find someone to support her.
Wei Shuyi glanced at Concubine Wen who was suddenly named, wanting to see her reaction: Zhang Shi was also ignorant of the situation. She knew that the two sisters of the Qu family had different auras, but she chose to provoke confrontation at this time.
It would be awkward for these two people to quarrel with their own sisters in front of others just because of a low-ranking concubine, so they would naturally put the blame on Zhang.
He really shot himself in the foot!
As expected, Noble Lady Wen smiled and replied, "Sister, I usually haven't mentioned this out of consideration for your sensitive mind. But now that things have come to this, I have to say that sometimes you need to change your suspicious nature! They are just servants following orders, how could they be disrespectful to you? Using such a lowly method to punish palace servants is a bit too harsh."
“But, but…”
"Does Mrs. Zhang think that my words aren't as effective as those of Noble Lady Wen?" Noble Concubine Jin's face darkened, her tone growing increasingly stern. "I'm questioning you, but you're ignoring my presence and wantonly chatting with others. How disrespectful!"
The old nanny hurriedly pleaded for Zhang's behalf: "Your Highness, my young mistress didn't do it on purpose! She was just anxious and her words were clumsy, so she couldn't come up with a suitable excuse, so..."
"If the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam will be crooked! Did I ask you a question? Qiandai, slap your face!"
"yes!"
Before Wei Shuyi could plead for mercy, the old nanny was slapped several times!
In an instant, his cheeks swelled up and blood oozed from his mouth.
Zhang Da Ying was furious and anxious: "Grandma Jiang, are you okay?! It's all my fault. If I had known earlier, I would have... Your Majesty, I know I was wrong! I sincerely apologize to them and will never do it again! Please, please, don't hit her, okay?"
"You won't cry until you see the coffin. How can I know if you truly repent, or are you being forced by circumstances?" Imperial Concubine Jin stood up and gave a few instructions to those around her. "I want to test your sincerity. Otherwise, this old woman who didn't help you become a good person should be sent to the Ministry of Punishment to learn the rules!"
So, two eunuchs took the pork fat and half a bloody pig brain that were thrown on the floor from the small kitchen.
Zhang agreed and covered his mouth and nose: "My lady, what do you mean?"
"As you said before, eat it, even if you only take a bite of each, and I will acknowledge your sincerity. Whether this old woman can continue to stay in the West Wing Hall depends entirely on what you do."
Imperial Concubine Jin was determined to make things difficult for her: if she didn't eat, Grandma Jiang would be taken away and tortured, most likely to die in that place where people were eaten without leaving any bones. Not only that, she would be accused of a new crime. If she ate, she would undoubtedly become the laughing stock of the entire palace!
Zhang Da Ying looked at Wei Shuyi with tears in her eyes. Although she said nothing, her eyes were full of pleading.
Noblewoman Wen spoke first, "Sister, this nanny is old. How could she possibly withstand the punishment from the Ministry of Punishment? Please, for the sake of the Empress Dowager's leniency in governing the harem, spare her this punishment! I'm afraid if word of this gets out to Shoukang Palace, the Empress Dowager will think you're cruel and ruthless, and will force you to kneel in the Buddhist temple and chant sutras!"
It would have been fine if she hadn't said it, but once she did, Concubine Jin was reminded of all the frustrating things that happened in the past!
"Lady Wen, just take care of the dragon fetus in your belly. It's not your turn to worry about my affairs!" She looked at the silent Zhang Da Ying, "My time is precious. I don't have time to waste with you! What do you choose? Answer quickly!"
"My concubine..."
Zhang agreed to stretch out his right hand towards the smallest piece of lard, holding his breath, and bring it to his mouth. Just as he was about to close his eyes and bite it, he subconsciously retched!
She quickly threw it away and fell to Wei Shuyi's feet!
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