After saying that, Granny Gao gave Granny Dong a look, asking her to put in a good word for her.
Normally, the two of them would split this money equally.
Before Granny Dong could even speak, the other cook objected.
"I only have five coins? The princess pays the cooks in the small kitchen five taels a month! That's a huge difference!"
"If only we had prepared more food for the princess, we would be worth five taels by now."
There were more than just Gao and Dong in the kitchen; the rest were also sent by Consort Yu, but none of them were as capable as Granny Gao.
But they also share in the monthly embezzlement.
Granny Dong glared at her and said, "You wish! Five taels? You think you'll get less every month?"
Granny Gao quickly reminded them, "Stop talking! Come, come, it's all for you!"
If they keep arguing like this, they'll end up arguing in front of Su Wenyuan.
Her embezzlement of wages could no longer be kept secret.
Everyone received their due silver, but they were still unhappy, feeling that they could have received more.
Granny Gao saw that people's hearts were unsettled, and that things couldn't continue like this.
"Don't be upset, everyone. Tomorrow I'll go ask Miss Ye Shan for money for next month's expenses! I'll cook some nice dishes to cheer everyone up."
This is a subtle reminder that food is secondary; the important thing is to make everyone happy.
The only thing that can make everyone happy right now is money.
The atmosphere in other parts of the mansion was different from that in the main kitchen.
Especially at Zhuyue Pavilion, the cooks from the small kitchen and the newly arrived maids are all here.
They were overjoyed to receive money before they even fully understood what was going on in the mansion.
The Prince Chen's residence had just distributed the monthly allowances when someone delivered the news to the Empress's ears.
The Empress has not dared to cause any more trouble for Su Wenyuan these past few days.
What happened on the day she returned to her parents' home frightened her so much that she dared not make any hasty moves.
If you want to cause trouble again, you must think it through carefully and take all the issues into account.
"Your Highness, there's been some activity at Prince Chen's residence!" Granny Cheng approached her with a beaming smile, sharing the good news.
"What commotion has this caused now?" The Empress raised her hand to her forehead, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
Why did they have to marry Sheng Jingyu a princess? Now look what happened, they've shot themselves in the foot.
Granny Cheng dismissed the palace servants and said, "Today, the Prince Chen's residence distributed monthly wages, and the Princess Consort deliberately targeted the kitchen staff, giving them the lowest monthly wages."
"She'll come up with any method to force those old women to leave," the Empress chuckled mockingly.
Granny Cheng continued, "She also hired a new cook at a high price. Now, Granny Gao and the others can't be chased away and don't have to work. They're living the life of the party."
Even Granny Cheng was envious of this kind of life.
The Empress laughed and said, "That's fine too. Let them stay in the mansion and get in her way. Once my relationship with Jingyu improves, I'll help those old women get their jobs back. There are only a few people in the mansion, why set up two kitchens? That's outrageous."
Granny Cheng chimed in, "That's what I said too. That's all she can think of now. She's tolerated the reduced monthly allowances from Granny Gao and the others, but Princess Consort Chen is probably at her wit's end and has no other options."
The Empress felt much better. She had also seen through Su Wenyuan's abilities; she was all talk and no action, and couldn't outmaneuver those shrewd people when it came to getting things done.
"Is Consort Wan still preparing a flower-viewing banquet?" the Empress suddenly asked.
Granny Cheng hesitated before replying, "Yes, this flower-viewing banquet is exceptionally grand."
The Empress sneered, "Isn't it just about choosing a Crown Princess? It's more elaborate than the Emperor choosing a concubine!"
Granny Cheng: "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. Consort Wan wants to choose a woman from a good family for the Crown Prince so that she can help him. The woman herself cannot be bad either, after all, Princess Chen's appearance and family background are something else."
The Empress was furious at the mere mention of Su Wenyuan!
"A concubine's daughter, whose mother is a convict, with such a background, yet she's now being looked up to? This Su Yuan is a good-for-nothing, he can't even keep his dowry." The Empress couldn't help but scold, "If I had known it would be like this, I would have preferred to make Su Lin'er a princess!"
Over the years, Su Lin'er has appeared at many banquets.
When various households held banquets, they always invited the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister's family.
She was of dignified and elegant appearance, and came from a good family. The Empress felt a tightness in her chest whenever she thought about her becoming the Princess Consort of Prince Chen.
Back when Sheng Jingyu was healthy, her seventh and eighth princes were often disliked by the emperor.
Even now, the Empress still feels a deep resentment when she thinks about it.
If these two princes marry wives of lower social standing than Su Lin'er, wouldn't they be at a disadvantage again?
Because of this, the Empress noticed Su Wenyuan, and coincidentally, the Crown Prince also noticed Su Wenyuan.
It was only through the cooperation of many parties that Su Wenyuan became the Princess Consort of Prince Chen!
Fearing that Sheng Jingyu would find her inappropriate, the Empress went to the Emperor and asked him to warn Sheng Jingyu not to kill his wife.
Well, that's great, Sheng Jingyu really did listen...
Granny Cheng said helplessly, "Who would have thought that a concubine's daughter who has always been raised in the backyard and never seen by anyone could be so cunning? Not only is she quick-witted, but she also seduced the prince."
"Seduce him? Jingyu can't see, how can you seduce him?" The Empress stood up irritably. "They haven't even consummated their marriage yet, and we don't know what's wrong with Jingyu!"
Granny Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "They haven't consummated their marriage yet? How did Your Highness know?"
"This is hardly a secret in Prince Chen's residence."
It wasn't exactly a secret; it had already reached Su Wenyuan's ears.
It's her fault for not choosing the right person. The maid who served at Zhuyue Pavilion a few days ago, plus the one who got up early to make the bed, couldn't keep her mouth shut.
After cleaning for several days, news of the explosion was discovered and spread throughout the mansion.
Starting from the day of her return visit to her parents' home, news gradually spread throughout the capital that Prince Chen was very fond of his Princess Consort, who was different from the concubines who had died in the mansion before.
Rumors are circulating in the manor that Prince Chen doesn't really like Princess Chen that much, otherwise he wouldn't have refused to consummate the marriage.
The news spread so fast that even Yuexiu couldn't hold back anymore.
"Your Highness, why haven't you and the Prince consummated your marriage? Is there... something you're having trouble saying?" Yuexiu had already dismissed everyone else and deliberately asked in a low voice.
Su Wenyuan choked on her tea and stared at her in shock.
“Your Highness, I know you were unwilling to marry into this family from the beginning, but you are already married after all…” Yuexiu thought it was because she was unwilling.
Prince Chen has a bad reputation. What if Su Wenyuan refuses and angers him?
Yuexiu, concerned for her safety, sincerely tried to persuade her.
Su Wenyuan felt a wave of dizziness; she hadn't expected Yuexiu to come and talk to her about something like this.
"Stop worrying about it. Tell everyone in the manor to calm down and stop gossiping about everything!" Su Wenyuan said, somewhat displeased.
Yuexiu pouted and said, "It's because I care about you."
Su Wenyuan said, "These things require mutual consent, don't gossip!"
Sheng Jingyu hadn't mentioned it, and Su Wenyuan hadn't thought about it either; life was quite harmonious now.
Yuexiu said with a wronged expression, "Fine."
"Don't just agree. Tell everyone in the manor to shut up. If you can't do it, go find Ye Shan. She can. Also, have her arrange for the talkative ones to leave Zhuyue Pavilion." Su Wenyuan instructed.
In fact, those who were prone to talking out have already been arranged to leave.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
