Concubine Shen had been suppressing her anger.
She only exploded when she returned to the room.
"Ms. Pei is going too far. She really thinks she's the Marquis of Lu's biological sister, flaunting her power all day long and ordering us around. Humph, I'm afraid that in Marquis Lu's mind, both mother and daughter are unpleasant figures."
"Mother-in-law, please calm down." Ouyang Fu took the teacup from the maid and served tea with both hands.
"Mother-in-law, have some tea first to calm down."
Concubine Shen's face turned ashen. "How can I calm down? Pei asked Concubine Luo to get out. She is slapping Concubine Luo in the face, and even more so, slapping me in the face.
"Luo and I, dignified concubines, possess the Jade Butterfly and Golden Book, are not to be humiliated by random people on the street, yet she refuses to give us the slightest bit of respect. This is truly too much."
Ouyang Fu placed the teacup on the table and softly soothed, "Princess, your past has been exposed by the Lord of the Household today, and in front of everyone. It's inevitable that you are angry and embarrassed, and you said something you shouldn't have said. Mother-in-law, please don't be angry."
Concubine Shen sneered, "Mrs. Pei's past was exposed, that's what she deserves. She herself is ignorant of people and blind, so she can't blame others.
Everyone in the palace knew that the people in Chunhe Hall were embezzling money and condoning corruption. Only Mrs. Pei was unaware of this.
If you ask me, the palace is now out of money, and half of the reason is because of Chunhetang."
Ouyang Fu agreed, "Mother-in-law is right. The palace is currently broke, and most of the reason lies with Chunhe Hall. But the princess doesn't think so. In her eyes, it's all our fault."
Concubine Shen vented her anger and calmed down a bit. "Today's incident still stems from Gu Jiu. If she hadn't been so nosy as to check the kitchen's account books and uncovered the kitchen's past, there wouldn't have been any subsequent incidents."
Ouyang Fu smiled and said, "If my sister-in-law wants to take charge of the kitchen, she can't get around Mrs. Zhu. It would be a good thing if she gets rid of Mrs. Zhu."
"What's good about it?" Concubine Shen was very dissatisfied.
Cutting costs, cutting staff, and even the kitchen's share of income is gone. Nothing good has happened since the beginning of the year.
Concubine Shen was very unhappy. Naturally, she blamed Gu Jiu for exposing the kitchen secrets.
Ouyang Fu said, "All this is temporary. Once the palace overcomes this difficulty, everything will return to the way it was before. What was the past will remain the same in the future."
Concubine Shen nodded repeatedly, "You are not wrong."
Everyone in the mansion is used to living a life of wealth and luxury. How many people can endure hardship?
Just wait and see, in three to five months, everything will be back to normal.
The servant reported, "Princess Huyang wants to see you. She's just outside the door."
When Concubine Shen heard that Princess Huyang had arrived, she hurriedly said, "Please invite the Princess in."
Ouyang Fu was very tactful, "Mother-in-law is busy, I will take my leave first."
Concubine Shen instructed: "Send someone to keep an eye on Chunhe Hall."
"My daughter-in-law knows."
Ouyang Fu left and Princess Huyang was invited in.
Concubine Shen went over to greet him with a smile on her face, "How come the princess has time to come here?"
“Sister-in-law Shen, I know you have been wronged. No, I came to visit you specially.”
"The princess is thoughtful."
The two sat down as host and guest.
Princess Huyang said, "My sister-in-law is really too overbearing. I think she has gone crazy because of poverty. She is obsessed with money and doesn't care about dignity at all."
Concubine Shen found these words very pleasing to the ear.
But she said, "The princess also has her difficulties. Even the best cook cannot cook without rice. I understand all this. Just like when she sent people to raid the homes of the kitchen maids, I didn't object at all."
Princess Huyang's eyes lit up. "Sister-in-law sent people to confiscate our property? Is this true?"
Concubine Shen was surprised. "Doesn't the princess know? The princess asked Eunuch Wen to lead people to confiscate the house. This matter has spread everywhere."
Princess Huyang was very smart. When she heard that Pei had sent people to search her house, she became very angry.
The kitchen maid had so much money to earn, and this time, during the house search, at least a thousand faces would be ripped off. As the saying goes, whoever sees it gets a share, so shouldn't she also get a share?
She said to Concubine Shen: "Sister-in-law Shen is very understanding. I have seen and remembered all the grievances you have suffered. I will go to the princess and explain it clearly. I have to persuade her to be less annoying and be a little kinder."
"I appreciate your kindness, Princess. The princess is very upset right now, so please don't disturb her."
"No problem, I'm just going to take a look."
Princess Huyang was afraid that Pei would embezzle all the proceeds from the confiscation of property, so she was eager to rush over.
Concubine Shen tried to persuade him to stay, but when she saw that she couldn't, she sent him out the door herself.
She watched Princess Huyang's back as she walked away and sneered.
Princess Huyang was the one who was truly obsessed with money. When she heard that the Pei family's property was being confiscated, she hurried over.
Pei humiliated her many times, but due to her status and position, she could not turn against Pei.
But that doesn't mean she can't fight back.
Princess Huyang's trouble-making trick should come in handy at this time.
Pei made her feel uncomfortable, so she encouraged Princess Huyang to let Pei also taste her.
She was just waiting to see Pei's joke.
Princess Huyang hurried to Chunhe Hall.
When Pei heard that Princess Huyang had arrived, her face immediately turned cold. "Tell her that I'm tired and don't have time to see her."
The servants received the order.
However, a mere servant was no match for Princess Huyang.
Princess Huyang pushed the servants aside and rushed in.
The servants were terrified and quickly apologized, "Your Majesty, this servant cannot stop the princess."
Pei waved her hand, and the servants hurried out as if they had been pardoned.
"Huyang, do you still have any manners? This princess said she doesn't want to see you, don't you understand?"
Princess Huyang sat down and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't be so quick to lecture me. I heard that you sent Wen Zhong to confiscate the family property, and the proceeds must have been at least tens of thousands of taels. I just finished the ritual for the consort, and I've used up all the money I had. Please lend me some money, and I'll pay you back when I have more money."
Pei laughed angrily, "Huyang, do you think the palace is your own private treasury? You come here to ask for money when you don't have it, and you still refuse when you are given too little. Who gave you the face to do that? Today I will make it clear that there is no money. If you continue to make trouble, go back to your princess's residence. This princess is too lazy to serve you."
Princess Huyang raised her eyebrows and smiled, "It seems my sister-in-law hasn't figured out the situation yet. I'm living in the palace, and as long as my brother agrees, it's fine. As for my sister-in-law's opinion, it doesn't matter at all. My brother is willing to support me and give me money to spend. If my sister-in-law is dissatisfied, then I can't do anything about it."
Pei sneered, "Since the prince is willing to support you, then go ask him for money. Why are you asking me for money? I don't owe you anything."
"Brother Wang didn't send anyone to search our house. My sister-in-law got a windfall, so she should give me some."
"Nonsense, shameless! When should I give you the money from the palace? Huyang, don't push your luck."
Princess Huyang frowned, "Sister-in-law is always so stingy, it's not like she has no money."
Pei chuckled twice, "No matter how rich the palace is, it's not yours. Don't even think about it."
After saying that, she served tea and sent the guest away.
Princess Huyang stamped her feet in anger, "Where's Wen Zhongren? I need to ask him how much money he got from the confiscation of his property."
Bang!
Pei slammed the teacup down on the table, making a loud bang.
"Huyang, stop being so unreasonable. Don't think that just because the prince is backing you up, I can't do anything to you. If I'm pushed to the limit, I'll go to the palace tomorrow and ask His Majesty to discipline you, this unfilial daughter."
Hu Yang was stunned at first, and then burst into tears.
"Sister-in-law, you're deliberately trying to force me to death! Why don't you just give me a cup of poison and let me die quickly?"
Pei shouted angrily, "If you want to die, get out of here and die far away from me."
Pei knew very well that Princess Huyang was just calling out.
If she really had the courage to die, she should have died with Prince Consort Chen when he was beheaded.
Now that she has recovered, she is even more reluctant to die.
Princess Huyang wiped her tears and said, "Even if my sister-in-law doesn't like me, she should still think about Chen Min and Chen Lu. I just want to lend them some pocket money, and you won't be willing to do that?"
Is this a sign of surrender?
Pei looked at Princess Huyang with a half-smile, "I'll have someone bring a hundred taels right now. You go back and divide them among the two children. Just say it's pocket money from your aunt."
Princess Huyang gritted her teeth, looking particularly disgusted. "Only a hundred taels, are you treating me like a beggar?"
Pei snorted, "I don't know where this beggar is so precious that he thinks even a hundred taels is too little."
Princess Huyang was so angry that her face changed. "Sister-in-law insulted me like this. Tomorrow I will go to the palace to see my mother."
Pei was not afraid at all. "Go ahead. It's a good opportunity for His Majesty to see you too."
As soon as she heard the word "Your Majesty", Princess Huyang became timid.
Now the person she fears most is His Majesty, no one else.
The shadow of Prince Consort Chen being beheaded still lingers.
Princess Huyang gritted her teeth and asked, "How much money can sister-in-law lend me?"
Pei was very straightforward, "Five hundred taels. Not a penny more."
Princess Huyang thought that five hundred taels was too little and was just giving money to a beggar.
Then he thought again, five hundred taels is still money, so he should get the money first.
Later, she went to see her brother Wang and asked him for some more.
She agreed with a reluctant look, "Five hundred taels is five hundred taels. Please give me the money now, sister-in-law."
Pei was almost injured by Princess Huyang's outrageous actions.
She really doesn't mind, she can even accept five hundred taels.
If I had known earlier, I would have said two hundred taels.
Pei coughed twice and ordered someone to take out five hundred taels of silver and give it to Princess Huyang.
She was worried, so she deliberately put on a stern face and said to Princess Huyang, "The palace has no money, and neither does this princess. Don't come to me for money again."
Princess Huyang smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, your words are too polite. You are my dear sister-in-law. I have no money. Can I ask you for it? Sister-in-law, you are busy, so I will leave first."
Pei was furious.
What a shameless Princess Huyang! Did she want to anger her to death on purpose?
The servants advised her, "Your Majesty, calm down. Eunuch Wen has returned."
Pei's anger turned into joy, "Let Wen Zhong come in quickly."
…
The east courtyard of the palace.
Qingmei and the others were all in high spirits.
It was indeed the lady's skill that made her easily defeat Mrs. Zhu.
"If Mrs. Zhu had known her property would be confiscated, I wonder if she would have regretted offending Madam. If she had listened to Madam and kept quiet, she would have been fired. After all, she had embezzled so much money, and this disaster wouldn't have happened."
"If we talk about regrets, it should be Nanny Qin who regrets the most. Nanny Qin wanted to help Mrs. Zhu turn things around, but ended up getting hurt herself."
Nanny Fang is not as optimistic as Qingmei and the others.
She grumbled to Gu Jiu, "The princess has four big maids around her, plus Nanny Qin. Losing five people at once is not only embarrassing for the boss. When this matter is over, the princess will definitely remember Madam. Maybe she will take back Madam's authority and let someone else take care of the kitchen."
Gu Jiu nodded. "Mammy is right. The princess is not a generous person. This time, because of my checking the accounts, she lost five people and lost face. Naturally, she will bear a grudge against me. However, this matter is not without room for change."
Nanny Fang was curious, "What is Madam going to do?"
Gu Jiu smiled, "The princess will definitely not let the second wife take care of the kitchen. Concubine Shen, Concubine Luo and others were also excluded. In the end, only the fourth wife, Xiao Qin'er, was left. Xiao Qin'er's corruption is well known. Therefore, the turning point of this matter depends entirely on the fourth wife."
Nanny Fang asked, "What does Madam want to do?"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I'll go and say hello to the Fourth Madam tomorrow."
She didn't say much, because some things would be meaningless if they were explained in detail.
Bai Zhong, the eunuch, came in from outside and said, "Madam, Eunuch Wen has finished ransacking the house of Mrs. Zhu and the others."
"Oh! You finished copying so quickly. How much did you get?"
Bai Zhong looked hesitant.
"Tell me, how much is it? It can't be 100,000 or 80,000."
Bai Zhong swallowed his saliva and whispered, "Eunuch Wen led his men to seize 4,000 taels of silver and 7,000 taels of banknotes from the homes of Mrs. Zhu and the others.
There were also a number of jewels and jade, which were worth several thousand taels, three house deeds and two land deeds.
Mrs. Zhu and her friends also opened a shop outside. Most of the items they stole from the palace were sold in the shop, and their business was very good.
When the common people heard that the items came from the palace, they were very happy to buy them back."
Gu Jiu snorted, "They are indeed a bunch of parasites. I underestimated them. They actually dared to openly sell the palace's belongings in the shop. Aren't they afraid of being beheaded?"
Bai Zhong added, "There's one more thing."
"explain!"
"I heard that a jade Pixiu worth a fortune went missing from Chunhe Hall two years ago, and nothing has been found since. Today, during a house search, it was found in Mrs. Zhu's room."
Gu Jiu was shocked. "Are you saying that someone at Chunhe Hall stole the property and sold it to Mrs. Zhu?"
Bai Zhong lowered his head and said, "I'm not quite sure what happened. Anyway, the princess was furious when she saw the lost and recovered jade Pixiu. Even the prince was alarmed."
Nanny Fang frowned, "Even the prince has been alarmed. Will the palace and the royal family start a major purge?"
Gu Jiu shook his head. "In troubled times, less trouble is worse than more. The prince probably won't do a big purge at this time. But he will definitely ask the housekeeper to take inventory of the items and furnishings in each room and courtyard."
Gu Jiu secretly cursed the servants of Chunhetang, saying that they were so bold that they dared to steal and even sell the goods to Mrs. Zhu.
Pei is not senile and cannot be fooled at will.
I don't know where those servants got the courage to commit crimes under Pei's nose.
They are indeed a group of people who are not afraid of death.
…
Pei was furious, and Prince Ning was furious.
All of Mrs. Zhu and her kitchen maids were executed, and their families were sold off.
There were five maids in Chunhe Hall, including Nanny Qin, and Prince Ning asked Pei to deal with them herself.
The matter of the missing jade Pixiu has been investigated.
It was Nanny Qin who stole it and sold it to Granny Zhu for money.
Nanny Qin was also dragged down by her son.
Qin Ma's son became addicted to gambling, owed a lot of debts, and was hunted by people.
The debt collectors came to the palace and forced Nanny Qin to help pay off the debt.
Nanny Qin had emptied out all her family assets, but still couldn't pay off her gambling debts.
In desperation, he could only embezzle and steal the jade Pi Xiu.
The jade Pixiu was too precious. If she took it out, it would definitely attract the attention of someone with ulterior motives. Then, her theft of the jade Pixiu would definitely be exposed.
So Nanny Qin found Mrs. Zhu and exchanged the jade Pixiu for some silver to pay off her son's gambling debts.
At the beginning, Mrs. Zhu promised Nanny Qin that she would never let go of the jade Pixiu.
However, they did not expect that a slight difference in their thoughts would lead to the conviction of both persons.
The facts were clear, and Nanny Qin had no way to deny it.
She knelt before Madam Pei and said, "I was wrong, terribly wrong. I am too ashamed to ask for forgiveness, Your Majesty. I am willing to die as an apology. I only ask Your Majesty to spare my family and give them a chance to live, considering my past diligence."
Pei kicked Nanny Qin over and said, "Bitch. This princess trusted you so much, yet you not only pocketed the money behind my back, but you also dared to embezzle it.
This princess must be blind to think you are a loyal servant. But you slapped me hard in the face.
Now, I have become a laughing stock among my sisters-in-law. Your death is not a pity, and all your family members will be buried with you!"
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