Xiaoman slowly stood up, tears welling in her eyes, but a grateful smile on her lips. She looked up at Hongye and said in a trembling voice, "Sister Hongye, I'm fine, it's just that my knees hurt a little. When I was kowtowing on the ground just now, all I could think about was thanking Madam. I will never forget her kindness."
Hongye gently patted Xiaoman's shoulder and said softly, "Silly girl, kowtowing is a matter of etiquette, but you should also take care of your health. Madam is kind-hearted and won't blame you."
After speaking, she turned to look at Gu Qinlan, who was sitting in the head seat. She saw that Gu Qinlan had beautiful features, was gentle and virtuous, and was dignified and generous.
Seeing the interaction between Hongye and Xiaoman, Gu Qinlan had a sudden thought. She slowly walked down from her seat, came to Xiaoman, gently took her arm, and asked with concern, "Xiaoman, how is your family doing? Why have you fallen into such a predicament?"
Xiaoman's eyes darkened, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She bit her lip and whispered, "Madam, my family was doing alright before, but a fire before the New Year burned our house to the ground. My parents also died in the fire, leaving only my younger brother and me to depend on each other. In order to make a living, I had no choice but to come out and work as a maid."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinlan frowned, a hint of sympathy flashing in her eyes. She said softly, "So tragic. You're so young and have already suffered such a blow. Don't worry, from today onwards, you will stay at the Duan Prince's residence. I will arrange for servants to take care of you and your brother so you can live in peace."
Xiaoman stared wide-eyed at Gu Qinlan in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes. She knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times, saying excitedly, "Madam, I will never forget your kindness. From now on, I am willing to serve you like a slave, and even sacrifice my life for you, to repay your kindness."
Gu Qinlan quickly helped Xiaoman up, her brows furrowing slightly. She said seriously, "Xiaoman, get up. What are you doing? I'm helping you because I see that you are kind-hearted and loyal, not because I want you to sacrifice yourself for me. As long as you live a good life and work hard, that's the best way to repay me."
Hongye also gently comforted her from the side, "Xiaoman, Madam means well, don't let her worry. From now on, just live peacefully in the Duan Prince's Mansion, we will take care of you."
Xiaoman nodded with tears in her eyes.
Gu Qinlan looked at Xiaoman and said with a smile, "Xiaoman, from today onwards, you will work in my courtyard."
Xiaoman's eyes widened in surprise and delight; for a moment, she couldn't believe it was real.
She pinched herself hard, felt the pain, and confirmed that she was not dreaming, then she was overjoyed.
"Thank you, Your Highness, Xiaoman is willing to serve you!" Xiaoman knelt down excitedly and kowtowed to Gu Qinlan to express her gratitude.
Gu Qinlan smiled and helped Xiaoman up, saying, "Get up. Now that you're in my courtyard, you should know the rules. However, if you encounter any difficulties, you can ask Hongye and Fuyu for help; they will handle it very well."
Upon hearing this, Hongye and Fuyu smiled slightly, expressing their agreement with Gu Qinlan's arrangement.
They all knew that Gu Qinlan was giving Xiaoman a chance to gain a foothold in the Prince Duan's mansion.
The servants in the courtyard were all astonished by this scene, their envy evident in their expressions.
Being able to serve in the Crown Princess's courtyard means a significant improvement in status and treatment.
"Sister Hongye, did the Crown Princess really take Sister Xiaoman to her courtyard?" a maid asked believingly.
Hongye nodded slightly and smiled, "Yes, it seems that the Crown Princess values Sister Xiaoman very much. We should also take good care of her and help her integrate into our courtyard better."
“Yes, from now on we’re family, and we should support each other,” Fuyu said with a smile.
At that moment, the servants who had been silent suddenly erupted in commotion, standing up one after another and readily admitting their mistakes:
"Your Highness, it was our negligence that led to such a grave mistake. Please punish us."
"Princess Consort, we are willing to take full responsibility, we only ask that you give us a chance to make amends."
Inside the main hall of Prince Duan's residence, all the servants bowed their heads, their faces filled with remorse. Princess Consort Gu Qinlan sat calmly in the main seat, looking at these servants who had made mistakes, her heart filled with deep emotion.
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said, "The fact that you took the initiative to admit your mistakes shows that you still have reverence in your hearts and a willingness to repent. Hongye, record the mistakes of these servants, and I will deal with them personally."
Hongye was Gu Qinlan's personal maid. She nodded quickly, picked up a pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and recorded the servants' mistakes.
The servants all came before Hongye, admitting their mistakes one by one. Some had tears in their eyes, some were full of remorse, and some had firm expressions, promising to correct their errors.
"You may all leave now. Reflect on your actions and await my punishment," Gu Qinlan said, then dismissed them.
Hongye looked at Gu Qinlan with eyes full of admiration.
The Crown Princess did this to make these servants understand that making mistakes is not terrible; what is terrible is not daring to face mistakes and not daring to take responsibility.
After the servants left one by one, the hall returned to tranquility.
Hongye packed up her writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, walked to Gu Qinlan's side, and asked softly, "Princess Consort, are you really planning to punish these servants?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said, "Of course they need to be punished, but the purpose of punishment is not to make them suffer, but to make them remember the lesson and not repeat the same mistake. In this way, they will be convinced by me. Hongye, what do you think?"
Hongye thought for a moment and said, "This servant thinks the Crown Princess's approach is very wise. Only in this way can they truly realize their mistakes, cherish this opportunity to correct their errors, and respect you even more."
Gu Qinlan narrowed her eyes, turned to face the row of stewards kneeling on the ground, her gaze sweeping over them before finally settling on Steward Zheng at the front. Her eyes were icy, as if she could see through Steward Zheng's pot-bellied belly to the despicable depths of his heart.
"Butler Zheng, you admit your mistake, yet you still can't resist flaunting your loyalty." Gu Qinlan's voice was as cold as ice as she slowly stepped forward and stood in front of Butler Zheng.
Steward Zheng raised his head, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, you have misunderstood. This old servant is indeed loyal. When the old Prince Duan was alive, he praised this old servant's loyalty many times."
Gu Qinlan sneered: "When the old Prince Duan was alive, you were indeed loyal, but what about now? Your conscience has been eaten by dogs, and you've become a despicable thing."
Steward Zheng's face flushed red, then quickly turned pale. He gritted his teeth and said, "Princess Consort, this old servant admits that I did make a mistake this time, but my loyalty is as clear as day."
Gu Qinlan glared at Steward Zheng, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes: "Your loyalty? Bullshit! When the old Prince Duan was alive, you served him loyally, but now that he's gone, you start to scheme for your own interests and betray the Prince Duan's mansion."
Steward Zheng stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief: "Princess Consort, when has this old servant ever betrayed the Prince Duan's residence?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
