The head maid turned her face away slightly. This loose tongue of hers!
Surprisingly, Zhong Muyu didn't mind: "Since it's something someone else wants, then we don't need it. Let's send it to them."
The maid nodded and fled the scene as if escaping.
Zhong Muyu nodded: "That's enough. We have to leave some for the others in the household."
Everyone stopped what they were doing. The head maid was furious, but she couldn't show it.
Because most of the things Zhong Muyu's maid took were the good things that those who guarded the storeroom kept for themselves.
These girls are people who have served in the palace. They know perfectly well what Zhong Muyu summoned them for and what he wanted them to bring.
Just as they were about to leave, the head maid finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Your Highness, even if you are a princess, you can't be so lenient with your servants! They took so many things, how are the people in our household supposed to live in the future?"
"I don't think they're taking much, so how come they can't make a living? Do you think it's okay for you to line your own pockets?"
"Your Highness, what are you saying? This old servant has served in the manor for so many years, always working diligently and conscientiously. You can't just make baseless accusations!"
Zhong Muyu sneered: "I do hope you can always be diligent and conscientious."
After leaving those words, Zhong Muyu ignored them.
After returning, Zhong Muyu went to see Uncle Qiu. He said that there were too many servants in the Prince's mansion, and it would be better to lay off all the older, unemployed ones.
The next day, when the layoff order was issued, Su Zhirou, who was far away in Tingzhi Courtyard, was also shocked: "How could she do such a thing! Those people are all old servants of the manor!"
Lianye said, "That's right. Those people have all settled down in the manor, with many children. If we were to kick them out, who knows how long it would take! Now look what's happened. The prince will definitely be angry when he sees the manor in such a mess and will take back the princess's management authority!"
"That would be wonderful! Lianye, go and find out! No, send someone to inform the Prince; he must know about this!"
A rare smile appeared on Su Zhirou's face; at times like these, the more chaotic, the better!
The front yard and hall were packed with people, and Zhong Muyu sat there, watching them argue and fight.
There aren't many old servants left in this mansion. Excluding Granny Wu, who has already been dismissed by her, there are only six or seven left, three of whom were previously with Consort Shu.
Zhong Muyu was responsible for the three women around Consort Shu, including the head maid.
However, they have already settled down and started families in the Prince's mansion. Their children are all grown up, and they even have grandchildren. If they were just kicked out like that, the consequences would be unimaginable.
So Zhong Muyu arranged for them to move out of the city to live on because they were getting old.
They were certainly unwilling to lose the opportunity to make a profit, and the one who made the biggest fuss was the son of the former head housekeeper.
"What does Your Highness mean by this? Why are you kicking my parents out?"
Zhong Muyu was inside the house when Zaochun came out first to comfort them: "What are you saying? If the princess were to kick people out, would she arrange houses and money for you? The princess is considerate of their old age and is sending them to live out their days in peace. If it were any other master, I'm afraid they would be forced to work in the palace until they die."
"This is just an excuse for her to avoid being scolded! Our parents came to Lingqing with the Dowager Consort, and the Prince didn't even send them away. The Princess Consort has only been here for a few days, and she wants to send them away? If word gets out that such an unethical Princess Consort is going to make our Prince's Mansion a laughingstock, won't it?"
The man spoke quite aggressively, and Zaochun was also furious: "How dare you! Who do you think you are, to slander the Princess?"
"What slander? If she were honest and upright, why would she hide inside the house?"
Just then, Zhong Muyu came out: "Who said I was hiding inside?"
The people outside immediately fell silent, giving Zhong Muyu a perfunctory bow.
Zhong Muyu glanced at them: "I was only busy in the house for a while, but you two have quite the imagination. So tell me, why do you think I would do something like kicking your parents out?"
Zhong Muyu looked at the shouting man.
The man's arrogance vanished instantly, and he became somewhat guilty: "How could we possibly presume to know the Princess's thoughts?"
He certainly couldn't admit that his mother had secretly embezzled things from Xinxiang Courtyard; if people found out, he would be sold off.
"If you can't speculate, then what are you yelling about here?"
Zhong Muyu sat in a chair, sipping her tea slowly: "Malicious speculation, slander against the Princess, causing trouble at Xinxiang Courtyard—why keep such a wicked servant in the manor? Zaochun, go tell Uncle Qiu that this one doesn't want to stay in the manor anymore and should be sold off immediately. As for any others who want to cause trouble, sell them off too."
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft; everyone present could hear it clearly, but her presence was undeniable.
At this moment, the man finally panicked: "Your Highness, you can't do this! I know I was wrong!"
Zhong Muyu waved her hand: "Drag him away."
"Your Highness! Please forgive me! I acted rashly!"
Just as he was about to go out in early spring, he happened to meet Chengfeng at the door.
"Chengfeng? You're back?"
Chengfeng peeked inside: "I just came back with the Prince. The Prince went to his study, and I had nothing else to do, so I came to see you. What's going on in here?"
"Don't even mention it..."
In early spring, Zaochun told Chengfeng what had happened.
Chengfeng was furious: "How could they do this!"
"Stop talking, I need to get on with it right away. If the prince finds out, things will get even more complicated."
As Zaochun was about to leave, Chengfeng immediately stopped her: "Wait, it's better for the Prince to know about this, so they won't go out and talk badly about the Princess. Go find Uncle Qiu first, I'll invite the Prince over right away!"
The two went their separate ways, and the noise in the Fragrant Courtyard was not as loud as before.
After all, everyone is afraid of being sold out.
The stewardess was not so lucky. She heard that her only son was going to be sold, so she rushed over with her family to plead for him.
"Your Highness, my son was rude to you. Please forgive him!"
A group of people were kneeling on the ground, including the head maid, her husband, daughter-in-law, grandson, and two daughters.
Especially that child, who looked only seven or eight years old, losing his father at such a young age is truly heartbreaking.
But thinking about the shrew's dirty laundry, Zhong Muyu realized that family traditions are passed down.
Just as she was struggling with this decision, someone outside called out, "The Prince is here!"
The group made way for them, and the stewardess and her family, as if grasping at a new lifeline, turned to Lu Ziyuan again.
Passing through the crowd, Lu Ziyuan sat down next to Zhong Muyu.
"Your Highness, I beg you to persuade the Princess to forgive Xing'er. He just spoke without thinking; it really doesn't warrant being sold off!"
The head maid was wailing and crying, and Zhong Muyu looked at Lu Ziyuan, only to see him give her a reassuring look.
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