The wet nurses were all from the Imperial Household Department; to be precise, they weren't palace maids.
However, if it goes on for a long time and someone is willing to be a regular servant, then it's a different story.
"Which one is the head palace maid and the chief eunuch in charge of Consort Mei?"
Two people stepped forward.
“This servant is Fendai, the head maid of Qingqiu Pavilion,” Fendai hurriedly replied.
“This servant is Song Yunfu, the head eunuch of Qingqiu Pavilion.”
“Very well, it’s your responsibility that the Sixth Prince is in trouble. You’ve served Consort Mei for many years. She’s a cold person and not good at managing these things. What are you doing here? If the mistress has to manage everything in the palace herself, what’s the point of having you? No one is perfect, and you’ll always be needed to assist her. You’ve served me for so many years, I can’t very well replace you. But a punishment is inevitable,” Yan Nangui said.
"Yes, we know we were wrong and accept the punishment," both of them said.
"Alright, the men will get forty strokes of the cane, and after they recover, they'll continue to serve. One beating will teach them how to do their job. The women will get twenty strokes of the cane, and their monthly pay will be deducted. After they recover, they'll continue to serve. As for the rest, regardless of gender, they'll all get ten strokes of the cane. They're not allowed to stay in service. After they're done, they'll still be working."
The people at Qingqiu Pavilion were all busy and agreed.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I will certainly keep a close eye on them from now on and will not make any more mistakes." Consort Mei was also covered in sweat.
She has never been good at these things.
Unexpectedly, Consort Chen made so many mistakes in this regard.
The reason nothing has happened all these years is because the Sixth Prince is in poor health, right?
If someone had acted sooner, I fear...
No, the sixth prince's premature birth is suspicious, isn't it?
Outside the door came the sound of being beaten with a cane, but since everyone was still able to serve, no one dared to make a sound.
The other servants were terrified by the commotion.
Consort Mei is currently so favored, and she even has a prince, yet Consort Chen is not hesitant to take action against her.
Even so, Consort Mei was still grateful.
I really don't know what to say.
"Although this is Consort Chen's first time managing affairs, she has done an excellent job. Sometimes, this is how things should be in the harem. Consort Mei, I know you are aloof and not good at administrative matters. But you cannot rely on others to manage your subordinates. This time, I must punish you. I will fine you half a year's salary. You should learn how to manage your subordinates properly," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Yes, Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered. Thank you for your help, Consort Chen," said Consort Mei.
"Get up. I will investigate the matter thoroughly. It's getting late, go back and rest. Consort Chen, I will go with you," Shu Chengfeng said.
"Okay." Yan Nangui didn't say anything to ask him to stay.
After everyone left, the girls who had finished fighting came in.
"Zhaorong, are you alright?" Fendai can't get up for the time being; she's going to get twenty strokes of the cane.
Yao Ming and Huang Ziying can still hold on.
"It's alright, thankfully...it's alright. It was my fault." Consort Mei sat down. "Is the Sixth Prince asleep?"
"They're asleep. I wonder who could be so ruthless. If His Majesty finds out, he will certainly not let them off easily. It was our fault, and we promise we will never do it again." Everyone was also feeling guilty.
Such a big incident, riddled with loopholes, shows that they were too lenient on their end.
"Whoever did this, it's a two-birds-with-one-stone scheme. These days, the ones who serve His Majesty most often are Consort Chen and me. If they could get rid of both of us in one fell swoop, that would be a good thing." Consort Mei was not good at official duties and did not like intrigue, but she was not a fool.
"Who do you think it is? Could it be Consort Xiangxian?" Yao Huang asked.
Mei Zhaorong shook her head. She didn't know for sure, but she was also a suspect.
In Wanchun Palace, Consort Xiangxian couldn't sleep either.
"Who do you think did this? It's so crude, whose work does it look like?"
“Your Majesty, it may seem rough now, but if nothing can be found in Tao’er’s hometown, then it won’t be rough,” Lingjiao said.
"You're right. If this can't be found out, then it'll be a huge scapegoat. But, was it orchestrated more than two years ago? If someone planted this more than two years ago, why is it only being acted upon today? It can't be the Empress. Who could it be? If Consort Chen and Consort Mei fall, then who will benefit?"
Consort Xiang paused mid-sentence: "Could it be that I am also part of this scheme?"
"That... is not necessarily true. Now that Consort Mei has been favored and promoted, and Consort Chen has become a Noble Consort, there are bound to be many who resent it. Consort Jincong longed for a promotion, but only received a title. Consort Yicong probably longed for one too, but she didn't get promoted either. Who doesn't hate it?"
"And the Empress Dowager, she and Consort Chen are also at odds now."
Consort Xiangxian nodded: "Let's wait and see, there will be a result eventually."
Many people didn't sleep well that night.
In the Jade Essence Palace, Consort Wen had a cough, and the chill from her return made her feel even worse. After taking her medicine and lying down, she asked, "How are you?"
“I’ve already taken care of things. Tao’er doesn’t know you. Even if she’s tortured, she’ll still implicate Consort Jin Cong,” Qing Shuang said.
"Well, that's good then." Consort Wen sighed. "I'm doing all this because I'm worried about the Second Princess. His Majesty is indifferent to the princesses. The First Princess is the eldest daughter, so he still pays more attention to her. Now, only the Seventh Princess is truly favored by him. The Fourth Princess has lost her mother and needs to be taken care of as well. But what about my daughter?"
“I come from a humble background and have fallen out of favor... If I don’t fight for her, what will happen to her in the future? Look at all those princesses of the late emperor, who did they marry?”
"Your Highness, I understand your thoughts." Ever since she left the palace in May to get married, Qing Shuang has been the person Consort Wen trusts the most.
"His Majesty will surely remember your kindness and how favored you were back then. It's just that later... many more people came along." Qing Shuang genuinely meant well for her.
Suddenly he fell out of favor; nothing happened, but His Majesty stopped coming around so often.
Later, he wouldn't come even once every six months.
Consort Guiyi is still young and will eventually have another child. As long as there is a prince, the second princess can be protected.
If Consort Chen and Consort Mei were to encounter any trouble, His Majesty would surely arrive shortly.
“Tao’er is from Yancheng, which is close to Bailu Prefecture. Even if they investigate, it won’t concern us. At worst, there won’t be any results. Don’t worry, it won’t involve us.”
Qing Shuang said.
Actually, the mistress and servant didn't really think much of Tao'er, but it was already a rare find to have such a person.
If Tao'er were more nimble and quick, and had fed the Sixth Prince his medicine, things wouldn't be like this now.
The child is alright; in the end, it's just a minor matter.
As for Tao'er herself, she certainly wouldn't survive.
We'll see when they recruit.
The night is finally over.
Early in the morning, His Majesty held the morning court session. Yan Nangui and the others gathered in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.
After the court session ended, Yun Ji was instructed to inform everyone of the results of the night trial.
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