Chapter 498: The emperor personally filed a complaint and backed it up!
Chu Ruohan said calmly, "If you don't teach her a lesson today, who knows how many dirty tricks she'll use against you in the future."
"They took advantage of you because you were new here and thought you had no one behind you, so they wanted to take advantage of you and give you a warning."
"I just want them to know that you, Su Wan, are someone protected by my Zhenguo Mansion and the apple of His Majesty's eye. Anyone who wants to touch you must think twice!"
As Su Wan listened, the grievance and fear in her heart caused by Nanny Li's provocation were gradually replaced by a firm strength.
She looked at Chu Ruohan and said seriously, "Sister, I understand. I...I won't let you and the Duke down."
She knew that she couldn't hide under someone else's wings forever.
She must cherish this protection and make herself stronger quickly.
Chu Ruohan smiled with relief: "It's great that you think so."
This matter soon reached Gu Junze's ears.
When he came over from the study, Chu Ruohan was talking to Su Wan, trying to make her relax.
"Is everything taken care of?" Gu Junze walked to Chu Ruohan, his tone normal, as if he was just asking about a small matter.
Chu Ruohan nodded: "Yes, I have sent someone to send Madam Li back to the palace, and the message has been delivered."
Gu Junze shook her hand and whispered, "Well done. Some people won't cry until they see the coffin."
He had no objection to the way Chu Ruohan handled the situation, but instead expressed admiration for it.
"But, regarding the palace..." Su Wan said with some concern, "Will it cause trouble for His Majesty?"
Gu Junze looked at her and said in a steady voice, "Since His Majesty has entrusted you to the Duke's Mansion, he trusts us to protect you. His Majesty will make the final decision on this matter, so you can rest assured."
Imperial Palace, Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Zhao Yunci's face darkened when she heard the eunuch's trembling report.
When Nanny Li was "escorted" back to the palace by two burly old women, her miserable appearance had already alarmed the inner palace.
"Did the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo really say that? 'The temple in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is too small to house this huge Buddha'?" Zhao Yunci's voice was silent, showing no emotion.
The head eunuch, sweating profusely, said, "Your Majesty, that old woman did indeed convey this message. She also said...she also said that the Zhenguo Mansion would teach Miss Su court etiquette on its own and that she dared not trouble the palace any further."
Zhao Yunci was silent for a moment. The atmosphere in the hall was so depressing that it made people breathless.
When Nanny Li was brought up, she was already in tears and kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty, please spare my life! I know I was wrong! I won't dare to do it again! I have suffered..."
"Who ordered you to do this?" Zhao Yunci interrupted her coldly.
Nanny Li shuddered violently, swallowing back the rest of her words. She just kept kowtowing: "I am stupid! I deserve death!"
How could she dare to betray that noble man? The consequences would be even worse.
Zhao Yunci looked at her with a cold gaze: "I asked you to teach the future queen etiquette, is this so that you can act arrogant and harass my queen?"
"You're so bold! You even dare to disobey the person I personally selected and deliberately make things difficult for him!"
"In my opinion, it's not that the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion is too small, it's that you, a servant, are too ambitious and have too high expectations!"
"Come here!" Zhao Yunci shouted sternly, "Drag this cunning slave away, give him fifty slaps on the face, expel him from the palace, and never employ him again!"
When Nanny Li heard this, her vision went dark and she collapsed to the ground. She was dragged out by the guards, and her cries and begging for mercy gradually faded away.
The chief eunuch dared not breathe a word.
Zhao Yunci calmed down her anger before speaking, "Pass on my decree to reward the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo with a jade ruyi and one hundred pieces of brocade to honor her for protecting her master."
He paused again and added, "Tell Madam Gu that she will be fully responsible for the Su family's etiquette, and there is no need to send anyone else from the palace."
"All the items needed for the grand ceremony will be prepared by the Imperial Household Department according to the Empress's regulations and sent to the Duke's Mansion. No mistakes will be made."
The eunuch chief steward quickly responded: "I obey your order!"
But in his heart, he was secretly shocked. His Majesty really doted on the future Queen Su, the apple of his eye.
The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo not only did not anger His Majesty, but was rewarded and even gained full authority to teach. This method was truly amazing!
The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion soon received the imperial edict and rewards.
Su Wan looked at the gorgeous brocade and the warm jade ruyi, feeling mixed emotions.
"Sister, this..."
Chu Ruohan took her hand and said with a smile: "See, His Majesty's heart is as clear as a mirror. He knows your grievances and understands my intentions."
"Now, you can rest assured. From now on, I will teach you etiquette."
Su Wan's eyes became hot and she nodded heavily.
She knew that the "teaching" Chu Ruohan was talking about would never be the kind of torture that Nanny Li would inflict.
Sure enough, in the following days, Chu Ruohan did not rush Su Wan to practice those tedious standing and sitting postures.
She first carefully explained to Su Wan the entire process of the enthronement ceremony and the emperor and empress's wedding, bit by bit, using the simplest and most understandable language.
"On the day of the ceremony, you only need to remember a few key points. The ceremonial officer will guide you through the rest, and you won't make any mistakes."
"What matters most is your demeanor and state of mind at that moment. Being the mother of the nation isn't just talk; you need to be calm and composed."
Chu Ruohan did not force Su Wan to imitate anyone, but guided her to develop confidence from within.
She would drink tea with Su Wan, and skillfully incorporate some palace taboos and social etiquette into their casual conversation.
She would also let Su Wan observe how the housekeepers handled affairs, so that she could understand the use of power and responsibility.
Occasionally, Gu Junze would casually mention a few things about the court, so that she could have a better understanding of the environment her future husband was in.
Su Wan was like a sponge, trying hard to absorb it all.
She was no longer just that timid country girl. Her eyes gradually brightened, and her every move showed a calmness she had never had before...
Chu Ruohan looked at her changes and felt very relieved.
This capital city, this imperial palace, is like a huge net. If Su Wan wants to settle down, it is not enough to rely solely on the emperor's favor.
She had to stand up on her own.
And Chu Ruohan is willing to be her first guide and strongest supporter.
A corner of the mansion was set aside as a medicine garden, and on ordinary days, few people set foot there except for the mansion physician, Doctor Qian.
That afternoon, Doctor Qian was spreading a batch of newly purchased medicinal herbs on a bamboo plaque to dry in the sun, his movements meticulous and careful.
With Chu Ruohan's encouragement, Su Wan gradually dared to move around the mansion freely.
She was already familiar with herbs, and when she smelled the fragrance of the herbs from afar, she unconsciously came over.
She stood quietly by, watching Doctor Qian flipping through the herbs, her eyes falling on one of them, the Astragalus membranaceus, which was a bit dull in color.
"Doctor Qian," Su Wan said softly, "is this astragalus harvested from the shady mountains in the north?"
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