Before Consort Hui could speak, the other two also knelt down to plead for Qingzhi.
"Your Highness, that girl Lüyao has been restless for a long time. Even if she stayed in the palace, she would still cause trouble. Now that she's in the prince's residence and being handed over to the First Princess Consort might be a good thing."
Qinglan's words struck a chord with Consort Hui.
Consort Hui's biggest worry was that some restless woman would seduce her son, or even do something like 'favoring a concubine over the wife', which would displease the emperor.
But his daughter-in-law wasn't stupid, and he had his own nanny by his side, so dealing with a princess shouldn't be a problem.
Thinking of this, Consort Hui felt relieved. However, she still sternly warned the three head palace maids:
"If such unruly people appear around you again in the future, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"yes!"
The three palace maids left the main room and carefully exhaled.
Qingyu patted herself and whispered:
"I was so scared! I thought I was going to get punished today!"
Before he could finish speaking, Qinglan covered his mouth.
Qingzhi said from the side:
"Have you forgotten Her Majesty's warning? If you don't watch your mouth, you might really lose your life!"
Qingyu was so frightened that she dared not speak again, but Qinglan asked:
"What are your plans to do about Tao Hua?"
It turned out that these three people already knew that Tao Hua had been stirring up trouble behind the scenes recently. Qing Lan and Qing Yu had no interest in the rivalry between her and Geng Youran, but Tao Hua's recent rise in popularity was something they absolutely could not allow.
"Now that Lüyao has entered the manor, Taohua has lost one of her most useful cards. From now on, she will probably have to focus her efforts on the rest of us."
Upon hearing this, Qinglan scoffed:
"Hmph! Who does she think we are, trying to bribe us with small favors? She's really mistaken."
Qingyu remained silent.
Tao Hua followed her after entering Yanxi Palace, and she always taught her diligently.
Qingyu felt a bitter taste in her mouth, never expecting that she would be outmaneuvered by her.
Just as Qingzhi had predicted, Taohua took the gifts and approached Qingzhi, Qingyu, and Qinglan separately, attempting to sow discord among the three using the same method.
Little did she know that as soon as she sent the gifts out, several people came over with presents and complained to Consort Hui about Tao Hua.
"Tao Hua, how dare you accept and offer bribes in Yanxi Palace!"
Tao Hua immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly to Consort Hui:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! These things were truly not done by this servant. This servant is merely a second-class palace maid; where would I have gotten the money to bribe or accept bribes! This servant has been wronged!"
Consort Hui sneered, then had her maid call in a few people.
"You dare say you don't recognize these people?"
The ones kneeling tremblingly before Consort Hui were several junior eunuchs working in the Imperial Household Department. They had secretly taken the things Tao Hua had given them out of the palace, exchanged them for silver, kept their share, and gave the rest to Tao Hua.
Qingyu pointed at the kneeling Taohua and said:
"No wonder, I've never seen you wear the jewelry that the Empress bestowed upon you."
Tao Hua dared not deny it any longer and could only keep kowtowing, begging Consort Hui for mercy.
"That's enough. Men, drag Tao Hua to the Department of Punishments and give her twenty strokes of the cane, then hand her over to the Imperial Household Department! As for these eunuchs, let the Imperial Household Department handle them."
"yes!"
Several eunuchs dragged Tao Hua, who was pleading for mercy, out of the room.
The old nanny beside Consort Hui waved her hand, indicating that the Empress was tired and that they should all leave.
The three senior palace maids left the room and returned to the side room, where Qingzhi and Qinglan continued to comfort Qingyu.
"I'm fine. We've all seen this kind of thing before."
The other two knew that Qingyu was just putting on a brave face.
Qingyu may seem carefree, but she's actually the most loyal of the three. She must be heartbroken that Taohua is in this situation.
After chatting for a while, the group returned to their respective posts to continue their work.
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