Su Wenyuan said irritably, "Come in."
Ye Shan told Su Wenyuan about Granny Gao and the others' plan to go find the Empress.
Su Wenyuan exclaimed in surprise, "You couldn't hold on any longer? I thought you'd have to eat porridge for days! Looks like we'll be arguing again tomorrow."
Ye Shan smiled and said, "The side rooms on both sides have already prepared bath water..."
"Hmph!" Su Wenyuan glared at Sheng Jingyu, turned around and left, still needing to go to the side room to wash.
Ye Shan asked, looking completely bewildered, "Why is the Princess unhappy?"
"It's alright, she'll understand eventually!" Sheng Jingyu smiled slightly.
He was also thinking of Su Wenyuan's best interests. If Su Wenyuan insisted on not listening, then he wouldn't be blamed.
The next morning, the kitchen staff reported being sick and didn't even bring up breakfast.
Meng Qi reported that several old women had sneaked out through the back door, and he had sent people to follow them; they were most likely heading to the palace.
"How come a few old women who left the palace years ago were able to enter the palace and complain to the Empress? Your Highness, who sent them here?" Su Wenyuan asked knowingly.
Last time, Granny Cheng spoke up for them, and now that Granny Gao and the others have entered the palace, isn't that making things clear?
They secretly claimed it was because of Consort Chengyu's favor, but in reality, they were the Empress's people.
Sheng Jingyu said calmly, "My mother was of low status and not favored. She was just a concubine in the mansion. After she gave birth to me, the late emperor bypassed my father and promoted her to the rank of secondary consort. Only after my father ascended the throne did she become Consort Yu."
“From childhood to adulthood, my food, clothing and daily necessities have all been arranged by my mother. It’s not surprising that these people are her people.”
Su Wenyuan pursed his lips and remained silent. It seemed he knew who Granny Gao was working for, but he didn't care.
As for the Empress... was she really good to Sheng Jingyu?
Su Wenyuan had doubts, always feeling that the Empress was targeting her in order to prevent Sheng Jingyu from doing well.
But Su Wenyuan couldn't say that. What if the mother and son had a deep bond? Wouldn't she be sowing discord?
Let's each say their own case: they have a deep bond between mother and son, while he and the Empress are irreconcilable enemies.
At the palace gate, several old women waited anxiously, fearing that the Empress would not see them.
If they don't see each other, they won't be able to live their lives.
Fortunately, it didn't take long before they saw Granny Cheng.
Following Granny Cheng to Chengming Palace, the Empress merely glanced at them casually before continuing with her work.
Granny Cheng asked, "Why aren't you doing your jobs properly in the manor? What are you doing here looking for the Empress?"
"Your Majesty, we servants can't do our jobs anymore! That Princess Consort Chen has absolute power in the mansion, and we old servants in the mansion have been squeezed out and have nowhere to go." Granny Gao complained tearfully.
Granny Dong continued, "The Princess Consort has hired new people, which is clearly an attempt to get rid of us. We don't ask for anything, we just want to take good care of the Prince for Consort Yu. Monthly wages and such are not important, we can't be left with nothing to do!"
That's a very nice way to put it. They asked for more money the day before yesterday but didn't get it back, and now they're saying money isn't important anymore!
The Empress asked in surprise, "Is that so?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, please do us justice!" Everyone said in unison, that was the case.
The Empress thought for a moment and said, "How about this, you stay in the palace for a while. I have some things to attend to. Once I'm done, I will invite Princess Consort Chen to the palace so I can have a proper talk with her."
The group happily agreed.
Su Wenyuan waited in the mansion for a long time, but no one from the palace came.
I wonder what kind of trouble the Empress is up to this time.
It was noon when Granny Cheng arrived and summoned Su Wenyuan to the palace.
"Those old women in the manor went to see Her Majesty the Empress long ago, so why is it only now that Granny is calling me?" Su Wenyuan asked, dressing up unhurriedly.
Granny Cheng said with a smile, "The Princess Consort is unfair to the servants in the mansion. These nannies are the old ones in the mansion, so it's normal for them to have grievances. Her Majesty the Empress originally wanted to just persuade them and let it go, but unexpectedly the Emperor suddenly found out about this matter, so he came to invite the Princess Consort."
Su Wenyuan suddenly realized that they were waiting for the Emperor.
No wonder the Empress was so patient; she detained him for an entire morning.
Just as they were about to leave, Sheng Jingyu suddenly appeared, wanting to enter the palace with Su Wenyuan.
Granny Cheng's smile was forced; she didn't really want Sheng Jingyu to enter the palace, but she couldn't stop him.
Inside the carriage, Su Wenyuan said, "It's just a matter of chasing away a few old women, yet it has alarmed the prince. It seems that these old women are indeed difficult to deal with."
"There are some things you can't say." Sheng Jingyu couldn't bear to see Su Wenyuan go through all that trouble for nothing, and thought that if things didn't go as planned, he could at least say a few words on her behalf.
Upon arriving at Chengming Palace, several old women were weeping and recounting the grievances they had suffered during this time.
Every word they said was directed at Su Wenyuan. They said that Su Wenyuan didn't know how to manage the affairs of the household and that she didn't know how to use people.
They also said she wasn't like a princess and wouldn't take good care of the prince.
They wanted to help, but Su Wenyuan scolded them and even allowed the servants in the mansion to fight, leaving them covered in bruises.
Hearing what they said, you could tell they had received guidance from a master.
Instead of focusing on himself, he specifically filed a lawsuit against Su Wenyuan.
When the emperor heard that the princess was behaving so absurdly, he couldn't help but feel disgusted.
I've heard quite a few rumors these past few days, all about this princess.
"Your Majesty, Princess Consort Chen has arrived, and His Highness Prince Chen has come along as well."
Upon hearing this, a hint of unease flashed in the Empress's eyes.
Has Sheng Jingyu gone mad? Why is she always following Su Wenyuan? It's become difficult for her to cause trouble for Su Wenyuan alone.
"Let them in." The Emperor said sternly, intending to question them thoroughly.
After Su Wenyuan walked in, her gaze followed the old women, and she looked at them with a half-smile.
He bowed and greeted the emperor with a composed expression.
The Emperor said in a deep voice, "Jingyu, sit down to the side first."
Sheng Jingyu, that heartless fellow, got up and ignored Su Wenyuan.
"Princess Consort Chen, do you know why I summoned you here?"
Su Wenyuan glanced to the side and said, "Even if you didn't know when you came, you should know now. The matter of the Prince Chen's residence has actually reached the Emperor's ears. I really underestimated you all."
The Empress questioned, "Princess Consort Chen, you must not be so rude."
Su Wenyuan was surprised, "Who are these old women? Why can't I, a princess, speak to them?"
The Empress coughed awkwardly; she was getting anxious again.
"Your servants have accused you of unfair treatment and of failing to manage the household affairs properly?" the Emperor began to inquire.
Su Wenyuan asked doubtfully, "What's wrong with clear rewards and punishments and everyone fulfilling their duties? The monthly wages were just distributed the other day, and I happened to bring the roster with me. Father, please take a look and see if there's anything wrong!"
On the day they received their monthly allowance, Su Wenyuan wrote down how much they had received.
It also explained why the monthly pay was deducted and mentioned who was in charge.
Even the questions she asked were written down, and each person signed their name on them.
The servants only needed to collect their monthly wages, and she hadn't looked at it closely that day, but at this moment, it was of great benefit to Su Wenyuan.
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