Is Granny Wu here?
Zhong Muyu's voice was cold and impatient as he looked down at Xiao Mei, who had her head down.
Xiao Mei said, "The nanny is washing up, please wait a moment."
Early Spring said with displeasure, "Wait a moment? You mean you want our princess to wait for a servant? You're really audacious!"
Zhong Muyu sneered and raised her hand to stop Zaochun: "Wait for her? Fine. Anyway, you were one of the people who captured Qiao'er last night, so I can ask you, where is Qiao'er?"
"This servant...does not understand what the Princess is saying."
"Don't understand? That's fine too."
Zhong Muyu gave a wink, and Zaochun immediately captured her.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Xiaomei struggled violently.
Zhong Muyu said, "I won't do anything. Since you won't hand over Qiao'er, I'll have no choice but to kidnap you. I'll release you whenever Qiao'er shows up. If she loses a finger, you'll lose a finger too."
Upon hearing this, Xiaomei couldn't help but shudder.
Qiao'er had seen how Granny Wu tormented her last night, and she didn't want to be treated like that!
Zhong Muyu's voice was quite loud, and Wu Mama in the room naturally heard it. Xiaomei was her distant relative who came here to work as her maid, so she couldn't abandon her.
Immediately afterwards, the door to the house in the courtyard opened, and Granny Wu tidied her hair and came out unhurriedly.
"What is Your Highness the Princess shouting about so early in the morning?"
"Oh, you're out?"
Zhong Muyu turned to look at her: "Where is Qiao'er?"
Granny Wu looked at Zhong Muyu without any fear: "She's just a lowly maid, why is the Princess making such a fuss? Is it really necessary?"
"Even a lowly maid is still my maid, and I won't tolerate anyone else beating or scolding her. I'm not going to argue with you, just hand her over!"
Seeing that Zhong Muyu showed her no respect, Granny Wu became even angrier.
Just then, Lu Ziyuan's carriage arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, where everyone was waiting to greet him.
The leader, Su Zhirou, wore a peach-pink dress, looking charming and lovely, though there was a hint of sorrow in her eyes.
She doesn't like this color.
However, as a concubine, she could not wear bright red or gold, which was a source of pain for her.
However, upon seeing Lu Ziyuan, she immediately shook off her negative emotions and greeted him with a smile: "Welcome back, Your Highness."
"Hmm." Lu Ziyuan held her hand and said calmly, "How have you been these past few days?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am doing very well. Are you tired, Your Highness? I have prepared a meal and refreshments at Tingzhi Courtyard. Please have something to eat!"
"You're so thoughtful."
Lu Ziyuan was about to follow her inside when he suddenly realized that Zhong Muyu was nowhere to be seen.
At such a time, as the principal wife, she had no choice but to come out.
Lu Ziyuan paused in his steps: "Why isn't the Princess Consort here?"
Su Zhirou's heart sank. Before she could speak, the steward said, "This... the Princess has already been informed of the time. Perhaps something has delayed her?"
"Delay? What could possibly be wrong with her?"
"Your Highness, please calm down. This old servant will send someone to urge them again."
Lu Ziyuan waved his hand: "No need. Since she is unwilling to come, I am also unwilling to see her."
Su Zhirou sensed the anger in his words, but wisely refrained from responding. Instead, she led Lu Ziyuan to Tingzhi Courtyard.
On the other side, seeing Zhong Muyu's stubbornness, Wu Mama was angry, but still asked Xiaomei to take her to see Qiao'er.
Qiao'er was locked in the storeroom in the courtyard. When the door was opened, dust flew everywhere. Qiao'er was tied up there, her mouth was stuffed with cloth, and her head and body were covered in filth.
Zaochun quickly removed the cloth from Qiao'er's mouth. Upon seeing them, Qiao'er burst into tears again: "Your Highness, Sister Zaochun, you've finally come."
Zhong Muyu quickly squatted down to untie her, and accidentally touched her arm, causing Qiao'er to gasp.
"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
Qiao'er simply shook her head.
Zhong Muyu forcefully rolled up her sleeve and saw that Qiao'er had bruises all over her arm.
Her face turned cold: "Who hit you? Tell me, and I will definitely stand up for you."
"Yes... Granny Wu, and Xiaomei too."
"In early spring, use this rope to tie up that little plum!"
She stood up and pointed at Xiaomei. Zaochun, who had also felt sorry for Qiao'er, immediately grabbed a rope and started tying Xiaomei up when she heard Zhong Muyu say that.
"Granny Wu, please save me!"
Helpless, Xiaomei could only ask Granny Wu for help.
Granny Wu said, "Your Highness, it was your maid who spoke rudely first. This old servant was just disciplining her on your behalf. It's not right for you to tie up my maid."
"If that's the case, since you spoke rudely to me in the kitchen, should I also tie you up and discipline you?"
Zhong Muyu casually picked up a bamboo pole from the storeroom and handed it to Zaochun: "Zaochun, beat her the same way she beat Qiao'er."
Seeing Xiaomei being beaten, a hint of panic flashed in Wu Mama's eyes: "Your Highness, am I wrong? You allowed a man from outside the palace into the backyard without permission, which not only displeased the prince, but also scratched his hand! How can your behavior be worthy of the title of Princess Consort of Ling!"
"The Prince doesn't care about these things, but you've made decisions for him! Don't forget, you're the Prince's wet nurse. His respect and kindness towards you are out of affection, not because you're the old lady of this inner courtyard!"
Exposed, Granny Wu trembled with rage: "You! You woman..."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhong Muyu slapped her across the face: "Even if I weren't a princess, I wouldn't tolerate a petty person like you pointing fingers at me!"
Granny Wu was completely stunned. She collapsed to the ground, cried a few times, and said resentfully, "The prince truly loves the concubine. She will definitely divorce you! Once you become a discarded wife, you'll be worse off than a servant!"
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