Shu Chengfeng's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
"In the palace, especially for the children, what they eat is always carefully planned. Since they ate rabbit meat at noon, how come they're eating oranges in the afternoon? And since it's not in season, where did these come from?" Yan Nangui asked.
The wet nurse looked bewildered: "This servant doesn't know. Everything here is arranged by the main hall. Whatever is available is given to the child... Because His Highness the Eighth Prince is still young, he cannot yet be in charge. It has been like this for many years."
Consort Xiangxian, not knowing what was going on, asked, "What happened?"
Ouhua quickly knelt down: "There is someone specifically in charge of delivering food to the Eighth Prince. This servant will call someone right away."
Before long, an old woman came in and knelt down: "This servant did not know, this servant did not know, this was sent by the Imperial Household Department."
"The Imperial Household Department will notify the kitchen of anything sent that is intended for consumption; that's the rule," Yan Nangui said calmly.
Otherwise, if the food delivered to both ends is different and causes illness, who is responsible?
So they usually let you know first.
"Go, summon all the relevant people." Shu Chengfeng sat down.
Before long, not only people from the Imperial Household Department arrived, but also people from the kitchen, and even people from the inner palace came.
Yan Nangui directly occupied the position of Consort Xiangxian, sitting on either side of the Emperor.
The group sat at the lower end of the table. First, someone from the kitchen came and explained the details: the person from the Imperial Household Department who delivered the goods had not mentioned oranges. This was also recorded.
So the kitchen is now safe.
The people in the Imperial Household Department also denied having oranges.
“Because it’s not in season, it’s rare. If it had been delivered, how could we not have known? The person who delivered it that day was outside,” the steward of the Imperial Household Department called in the two young eunuchs.
One of them simply said he didn't know, while the other clearly had a problem.
This brought Lu Xiaoyi into the picture.
"It was Consort Lu who paid for the oranges and had me send them over. She said... she said the Eighth Prince liked them, but Consort Xiangxian wouldn't allow it. After all, he's not her own son, so she doesn't care for him. So Consort Lu asked me to get the oranges from the Imperial Household Department. She paid for them... I thought that since they were being sent secretly, so the Eighth Prince wouldn't go without them, I... I deliberately didn't mention it. I left them downstairs, so no one would know."
"I really didn't know there was such a thing as rabbit meat. I know I was wrong, but I really meant well."
"Hehe." Yan Nangui chuckled. "Lu Xiaoyi, what do you have to say? Logically speaking, the Eighth Prince is your own son. Yet you remained silent when you arrived. What's the reason for that?"
Lu Xiaoyi stood up: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty... I was just thinking that the Eighth Prince likes to eat that, but... but he can't eat it, so I... so..."
"Lu Xiaoyi, when did I ever forbid him from eating that? And when did you see the Eighth Prince?" Consort Xiangxian said angrily.
"Your Majesty, Consort Ke." Consort Ke suddenly stood up.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"Speak," Shu Chengfeng said, glancing at him.
"Yes." Consort Ke looked at Yan Nangui: "A few days ago, Consort Lu suddenly came to my place and said a lot of things in a roundabout way. The gist of it was that the Eighth Prince has no future with Consort Xiangxian. It would be better to change the Eighth Prince's mother. She thinks Consort Jia is very good. It just so happens that the Noble Consort has no children, and Consort Jia has a good relationship with the Noble Consort. If Consort Jia has a prince, she might become estranged. This would actually benefit the Third Prince."
"Your Highness, how could you wrong me? I never said that..." Lu Xiaoyi's face turned pale with anxiety.
"I had already displeased Her Majesty for something else. Besides, these words sounded like nonsense, so I just refused her and told her not to talk nonsense in the future. I didn't dare to spread these words. I thought that after I scolded her a few times, she would know what was important."
Consort Ke shook her head and looked at Consort Lu: "I didn't expect you to be so stubborn. Was today's event your own idea? It's hard to say whether the Eighth Prince likes to eat oranges, but it's true that he likes rabbit meat. He eats it almost every day, so it was only a matter of time before he and oranges clash."
"It's not that I didn't...you...you..." Lu Xiaoyi was a fool, and in that short time, she couldn't think of any reason.
"Lu Xiaoyi, is it really you?" Consort Xiangxian asked.
"No, it wasn't me... I didn't..." Lu Xiaoyi nervously took a step back.
"Your Majesty, I have never had such intentions. If I were fortunate enough to give birth to a child myself, that would be one thing, but if I didn't carry the child for ten months, how could I possibly be close to it?" Consort Jia stepped forward: "In today's events, Consort Lu deserves to die. But no matter how much you try to conceal it, even if no one is watching what the Imperial Household Department gives you, what are the wet nurses feeding the princes? And what are the servants doing? Why is that? In such a large palace like Wanchun Palace, with dozens of servants, is there not a single one who understands this principle of mutual restraint?"
This really hurt Jiafei.
You won't be close to someone who isn't your own child. Isn't that exactly what Consort Xiangxian is talking about?
But at this moment, Consort Xiangxian couldn't quite refute these words. She had no time to think about it.
In Wanchun Palace, it's unclear why the princes were given these foods.
Ultimately, it's best not to care.
It was the same time that Yan Nangui planted a time bomb for her from the very beginning. If it were her own child, things would be different.
It's like if the Seventh Princess in Zhaochun Palace didn't eat the right thing and felt unwell.
Even if someone is to be held accountable, it can only be said that the person serving them had an audacity to not do their job properly.
As for food incompatibilities, unless it's to the point of being fatal, who can guarantee they'll never eat the wrong thing in their lifetime? Usually, taking some medicine or waiting half a day will resolve the issue.
But if it falls into the hands of Consort Xiangxian, then it will be a different story.
Even if you treat a child well, there will always be people who feel that you don't care about them, since the child isn't yours.
Even Consort Xiangxian herself had to immediately consider whether something was not done well.
Having gone to great lengths to raise someone else's child, the backlash has now come.
Shu Chengfeng probably didn't blame him too much because of past grievances.
However, those who served the prince were still beaten.
As for Lu Xiaoyi, Shu Chengfeng simply threw her into the Suning Palace.
He was demoted to the rank of Attendant-in-Ordinary.
Lu Shiyu cried and begged for mercy, but it was no use. He was now considered useless.
As for that eunuch from the Imperial Household Department, he naturally deserves severe punishment. The Imperial Household Department will not let him off the hook.
His Majesty turned back to the front.
Everyone dispersed.
Upon returning, Consort Ning's maid, Hongdou, frowned: "Attendant Lu is truly incompetent. After all this fuss, he's only ruined himself."
"Consort Ke was never stupid. This time, it's clear she doesn't dare offend the Noble Consort again. But this wasn't all for nothing; Consort Xiang is increasingly being disregarded by His Majesty." Given what happened today, His Majesty should have stayed in Wanchun Palace.
It's a pity that His Majesty left without hesitation.
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