The kitchen manager went to Gu Jiu to complain.
"Madam, the kitchen already has a lot of work to do. If we lay off staff, we will be even more overwhelmed. Please rescind your order."
Gu Jiu looked at Mrs. Zhu and said, "The layoffs were decided by the prince and princess, and there is no way to change them. If you are dissatisfied, go and tell the princess."
Mrs. Zhu complained in her heart, if I could talk to the princess directly, why would I come to see you.
She tried to explain, "There's so much going on in the kitchen every day, it's busy from morning till night. Qingzhu and Xiaocui have seen it with their own eyes, and I'm absolutely not lying. If we lay off 10 people at once, the kitchen will be even more overwhelmed. After a while, we might have to assign new people to the kitchen. It's better to use experienced hands than novices."
Gu Jiu looked at Mrs. Zhu with a half-smile, "It's true that the kitchen is busy and has a lot of things to do. But no matter how busy it is, it's not so busy that we can't handle it if we lay off a few people.
Every courtyard had its expenses cut by 30%. I heard that the Fourth Young Master used to have eight dishes and two soups for each meal, but now the Fourth Madam has changed it to four dishes and two soups.
The courtyards are eating less food every day, so your kitchens should be much busier than before. Let alone laying off 10% of the staff, even if you lay off 20% at once, you'll still be able to handle the workload."
Mrs. Zhu's face turned the color of pig liver. "Madam, you really know everything. But, can I decide who to lay off?"
Gu Jiu stared at the other person and smiled softly, "It's not impossible to let you decide. After all, you are the kitchen manager and you are most familiar with the kitchen inside and out. However, you should let this lady review the list first."
Mrs. Zhu was delighted and immediately gave a list of several annoying servants.
When Gu Jiu heard the name, he smiled knowingly.
As expected, everyone is taking this opportunity to eliminate dissidents.
She said bluntly, "The list you drew up is not good. From what I know, these people have always been diligent in their work. Aside from being a bit of a gossip and likes to tell on you, they don't have any other problems."
Mrs. Zhu was embarrassed, but she still argued, "Madam, I really have no selfish motives. I wholeheartedly want to run the kitchen well, but these people are always against me, so that I can't do anything well. Madam, if you want to tidy up the kitchen, it will be impossible without firing these people."
Gu Jiu snorted coldly, his face turned cold, "Are you threatening this lady?"
"I dare not."
Mrs. Zhu said she didn't dare, but she didn't really think so.
She secretly curled her lips. What kind of lady is this? She has no power at all. Does she really think she can make the decision?
Gu Jiu laughed sarcastically, "If this lady insists on keeping these people, what will you do?"
Mrs. Zhu said, "That servant is really powerless, and I'm afraid the kitchen staff are not in the mood to work."
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "So, your ability is really not good enough. You can't even manage a kitchen properly, so how can you be qualified to be the kitchen manager? I'd rather just fire you and replace you with someone more capable to help me manage the kitchen."
Mrs. Zhu's face changed. "I am an old servant in the mansion and have been working in the kitchen. In the whole mansion, no one knows the kitchen better than me."
"So what? The kitchen is for cooking, not for competing for seniority. Since you can't manage the kitchen well, then you can go home and retire."
Gu Jiu's face was serious and he showed no mercy.
But Granny Zhu said, "Madam, you cannot dismiss me. My daughter has married Nanny Qin's nephew. I am going to see Nanny Qin and the princess."
"You naughty slave!" Nanny Fang scolded harshly.
Gu Jiu waved his hand, signaling Nanny Fang not to worry.
She looked at Mrs. Zhu and said, "Do you think you are so important that the princess would scold me for you? Who gave you the face?
I am the eldest daughter-in-law of the royal family. If I lay off a servant, I don’t believe anyone would dare to slap me in the face.
If you don't believe me, just go and try and see if I can handle you.
Come, take her away and investigate her thoroughly. Investigate her corruption and how she enriched herself. This matter must be thoroughly investigated and no one dares to overturn the verdict.
The eunuchs Rong Xin and Huang Zhuo bowed their heads and accepted the order, dragging Mrs. Zhu away.
Mrs. Zhu finally realized that she was afraid.
She flung aside the two eunuchs and knelt on the ground with a plop. "Madam, I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. I will never do it again. I will obey you in everything from now on. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west. Please give me another chance."
Gu Jiu sneered, "Can you manage the kitchen?"
"Yes, yes, yes! I can definitely manage the kitchen well."
Gu Jiu snorted, "It's a pity it's too late. I gave you face before, but you didn't want it. So don't blame me for turning my face against you now. Drag it on."
This time, Rong Xin and Huang Zhuo did not give Mrs. Zhu any chance and kept dragging her out.
Mrs. Zhu yelled, "Madam, please spare my life! I refuse to obey and will report this to the princess, saying that you are seeking revenge for your own selfish reasons."
“Wait!”
Nanny Fang called out to the two eunuchs.
Mrs. Zhu was surprised and thought that there was light at the end of the tunnel.
Nanny Fang walked forward, raised her hand, and slapped Mrs. Zhu's face until it was swollen.
Then he added, "Shut her mouth. If she dares to talk nonsense again, cut off her tongue."
Mrs. Zhu widened her eyes in disbelief.
Gu Jiu smiled and lowered his head. Nanny Fang, who came out of the palace, was the real ruthless person.
Huang Zhuo took a smelly sock and stuffed it directly into Mrs. Zhu's mouth.
Mrs. Zhu was almost suffocated by the smoke.
Then she was dragged away.
After dealing with Mrs. Zhu, it would be much easier for Gu Jiu to tidy up the kitchen.
She rearranged the kitchen management and promoted several people who were brave enough to take on responsibilities.
Finally, the list of layoffs was handed over, and the first name on the list was Mrs. Zhu.
Princess Pei saw the list and remained silent.
Since Nanny Qin accepted benefits from Mrs. Zhu's daughter, she naturally had to speak for Mrs. Zhu.
She found an opportunity and said to Pei, "Your Majesty, the eldest lady's way of cleaning up the kitchen is rather harsh. Could it be that she wants to establish her authority and replace others? After all, she is the eldest daughter-in-law and should be the manager of the household."
Pei was not happy to hear this. "What do you mean by 'should be the housekeeper'? This princess is not dead yet. Don't forget, this is Prince Ning's mansion, and this princess is the mistress of the mansion."
Nanny Qin feigned panic, "Your Majesty's words, I will never forget them for a moment. But the Madam may not think so. For example, Your Majesty specifically assigned her this job of cleaning up the kitchen, hoping that she would perform well."
But she went against the Empress and specifically laid off her people. She was so arrogant. It was like a slap in the face!"
Pei frowned and looked at the list again. Sure enough, they were all familiar names.
To say that these people are hers is not true, but to say that these people are not hers is also not true.
Pei was in charge of the palace and had plenty of resources and money, so she didn't rely on the oil and water from the kitchen at all.
Therefore, the people assigned to the kitchen were not her confidants.
Because he liked them and thought they were smart, he agreed to put Mrs. Zhu and others in management positions.
But what Nanny Qin said makes sense.
As soon as Gu Jiu took action, he eliminated the people he had arranged. It was clear that he was pretending to obey her but actually going against her.
She threw the list to Nanny Qin and said, "Tell the Madam to draw up another list. Don't be obsessed with those petty gains all day long."
When Nanny Qin heard this, she was overjoyed.
At least this matter was accomplished.
"I will send someone to the East Courtyard right away."
…
East Courtyard.
Qingmei and her maids were filled with indignation.
Xiao Cui snorted, "It must be that Nanny Qin who's behind this. Mrs. Zhu's daughter is Nanny Qin's nephew's wife. Nanny Qin must have slandered the princess, and that's why the princess rejected the list drawn up by Madam."
Qingmei said, "What can we do? Nanny Qin is the most useful nanny to the princess. One word she says is more effective than ten words from the madam."
Nanny Fang discussed with Gu Jiu, "Madam, do you want to draw up a new list?"
Gu Jiu shook her head. "No need. Mrs. Zhu must be dismissed. This cannot be changed. If Mrs. Zhu gets her way, from now on, no one in the kitchen will obey my orders."
"Madame Qin wants to protect Granny Zhu, and the princess is on Madame Qin's side. What should we do about this?"
Gu Jiu chuckled softly, "Madam Qin really thinks that a few words from her can overturn this lady's decision and allow Mrs. Zhu to turn things around. Then this lady will let her know that some things cannot be changed by slander. Go and call Huang Zhuo and the others."
Nanny Fang's eyes lit up, "What is Madam's plan?"
Gu Jiu laughed. "The prince and princess have repeatedly emphasized the need to be frugal. I followed their advice, catching moths and cutting down on kitchen expenses. When I have any results, I will naturally report to the prince and princess."
Nanny Fang laughed, "Madam is right."
Huang Zhuo and his men thoroughly investigated Mrs. Zhu.
In a short time, we have obtained solid evidence.
Gu Jiu examined the evidence and nodded with satisfaction.
When everything was ready, Gu Jiu brought all kinds of information to Chunhetang.
Second Madam Ouyang Fu asked with concern, "I heard that my eldest sister-in-law has already started to clean up the kitchen. Is everything going well?"
"Thank you for your concern, my second brother and sister-in-law. Everything is going well."
Xiao Qin'er laughed at this and said, "Sister-in-law, you're such a liar. I heard that Mother has already rejected your list and asked you to submit a new one."
Gu Jiu smiled softly and looked back at Xiao Qin'er, "Is that true? How come I don't know? Fourth brother's wife is really well-informed."
Xiao Qin'er was dissatisfied, "Why are you pretending to be stupid? This matter has already spread throughout the mansion, and you still want to deny it. Humph, you are so stubborn that you suffer in vain."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Don't worry about my affairs, Fourth Sister-in-law. You should take care of your own affairs."
Everyone was present, and Pei also arrived in the hall.
Everyone came forward to pay their respects, then sat down.
Pei got straight to the point. "After so many days, have you completed everything I asked you to do?"
"Don't worry, ma'am. I've already done what you ordered."
Everyone handed in their drafted lists. Pei glanced at them and said, "This princess will review each of these lists to ensure that no one abuses their power for personal gain."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Gu Jiu and asked, "Wife Dalang, where is the list of people who will be laid off in the kitchen?"
Gu Jiu took the list from Qingmei and handed it over.
When Pei saw this, her face fell. "What's wrong with you? Didn't I send someone to tell you that this list was rejected and asked you to draw up a new one? And you actually submitted an identical one again? How can this be acceptable?"
Gu Jiu spoke calmly and calmly, "Mother, please allow me to report this. Yesterday, I reflected deeply on myself. What is wrong with this list? Is anyone being wronged?
Later, the daughter-in-law checked the kitchen account books for the past five years and found the crux of the problem.
The people on the list all deserve to be put to death. They must not be allowed to continue staying in the palace as parasites and embezzling the palace's money.
Mother, please look at this. This is a bill compiled by my daughter-in-law. I believe that after reading this bill, you will support my daughter-in-law's decision."
The bill was handed to Pei.
Pei flipped through the pages, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
Nanny Qin stretched her neck, took a few peeks, and her heart skipped a beat.
The eldest lady is so cruel. She will do anything to get rid of Mrs. Zhu.
She looked at Gu Jiu with a gloomy look in her eyes.
Gu Jiu smiled at her, as if to say: You do the first day, I do the fifteenth. If you lose, don't blame anyone else.
Nanny Qin clenched her fists. At this moment, she didn't dare to speak carelessly for fear of incurring the princess's wrath.
I just hope that the princess can see through Gu Jiu’s evil plan and not be fooled by her.
Pei finished reading the bill and asked grimly, "Are these true?"
Gu Jiu said with certainty: "It's absolutely true."
"Where's the evidence? I can't conclude that those people are parasites just based on a bill you made."
"There is evidence."
After saying that, Gu Jiu clapped his hands, and the servants came in carrying all the kitchen account books for the past five years.
Gu Jiu pointed at the account books and said, "My dear mother, I have circled and marked all the problematic accounts.
The daughter-in-law also compared the prices in the capital over the past five years and concluded that in these five years alone, the people in the kitchen had embezzled at least tens of thousands of taels of silver.
If we go back a few years, I wonder how much more money they have embezzled.
For example, the Fourth Young Master's favorite dish, chicken tongue, is said to require the slaughter of one hundred chickens to prepare a single chicken tongue feast. The cost, calculated, comes to approximately thirty taels.
But the account book recorded fifty taels, and the price kept rising year by year. By this year, when the Fourth Young Master ate a chicken tongue feast, the price had risen to eighty taels.
In fact, all the costs added up, it still only costs thirty taels. The extra fifty taels were naturally embezzled."
"Great!" Xiao Qin'er was furious when she heard this. "It turns out that all the money in our yard has been embezzled by these parasites. Mother, you have to take charge for us." Pei glared at Xiao Qin'er. She was so naive that she jumped out for just a few dozen taels. Was she so shallow?
Concubine Shen smiled secretly. Xiao Qin'er must have been obsessed with money. By jumping out, she was helping Gu Jiu a lot.
She even said she wanted to challenge Gu Jiu to a duel, but with her cunning, she was still being led by Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu used the fourth young master's favorite chicken tongue as an example, clearly intending to plot against Xiao Qin'er.
But Xiao Qin'er took the initiative to jump into the pit. She is so stupid that she doesn't even know it.
Xiao Qin'er had no choice.
You could say she was obsessed with money or short-sighted, but didn't she really know she had fallen into a trap? Didn't she know that jumping out would be like helping Gu Jiu?
In fact, she knows everything.
It is true that people are poor and have low aspirations.
Her dowry was large, but it couldn't keep up with Liu Yi's high expenses.
Liu Yi had no property under his name and relied entirely on the monthly salary from the government office and the money he earned from his official duties.
Young Master Liu Yi, this little bit of money is not enough for you to spend.
I have to ask Xiao Qin'er for money from time to time.
Xiao Qin'er's dowry was limited, so she couldn't use it to cover Liu Yi's miscellaneous expenses.
There is no other way but to find a way to make money.
In addition, her expenses were suddenly cut by 30%. Xiao Qin'er has been worrying about money these days and is almost dying of worry.
When she heard that the kitchen staff dared to embezzle the expenses of their yard, she was so angry that she wanted to kill the kitchen staff.
I worked so hard to save money, but I didn't even want to spend it myself, and in the end, it went to those bitches.
At this moment, Xiao Qin'er didn't care about her position or any conflicts between her and Gu Jiu. She just wanted the kitchen maid to return all the embezzled money so that she could get rid of the hatred in her heart.
Pei picked up an account book and started flipping through it.
Just as Gu Jiu said, the account books were marked with red pen, making it clear at a glance.
When comparing the price in the account book with the actual price, the difference is clear at a glance.
After turning over the pages and finishing the account book, he roughly calculated that he had embezzled at least three or four thousand taels.
This is an account book.
After five years, there were a total of ten account books.
Pei didn't dare to calculate the details of the matter.
Bang!
Pei threw the account book on the table and said, "Go, call the head of the household. I want to ask him how he managed the household. How could he not notice all these corrupt officials and embezzlers?"
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