"Besides, she is now a concubine in His Highness's house, so the Marquis's house naturally wouldn't dare to act in this way."
Marquis Yong'an bowed and replied respectfully.
"Your Highness, if you don't believe me, you can ask. Besides, the eunuchs are here with His Majesty today. You can ask them to see if anyone in this mansion has troubled this concubine of Your Highness."
Marquis Yong'an suppressed his anger.
"Your Highness, there is nothing false in what the Marquis said. Please return home as soon as possible. His Majesty is still waiting for my reply in the palace."
The eunuch stepped forward, bent his waist, and saluted, but he did not lower his head, and looked straight at the ninth prince Qin Zongzhi.
Zhao Yunzhu knew when to stop and tugged at Qin Zongzhi's sleeve, "Let's go back. I'm tired after a long day of hard work."
Her voice was melodious and sweet, with a hint of charm.
Qin Zongzhi glanced at everyone in the Yong'an Marquis Mansion, without even saying hello, and led Zhao Yunzhu into the carriage.
The Zhao family's servants loaded the boxes and cages onto the carriage one by one, and a large group of people headed towards the Ninth Prince's residence.
When the carriage stopped, Qin Zongzhi jumped off first.
The servant moved the footstool forward, and Qin Zongzhi lifted the curtain with one hand, while the other hand paused in mid-air.
Zhao Yunzhu leaned out of the carriage, saw the palm in front of her, smiled, and then put her hand forward.
Qin Zongzhi held it tightly, and the two smiled at each other.
Qin Zongzhi carefully helped her get off the carriage.
Their eyes met. The eunuch behind them saw this and frowned secretly, thinking about how to respond when he returned to the palace.
The steward stepped forward and saw that behind His Highness and Concubine Yun there were dozens of servants and so many boxes and cages.
He stepped forward suspiciously, "Your Highness, Aunt Yun, this..."
The steward bowed and looked at the extra servants and boxes.
Zhao Yunzhu looked at Qin Zongzhi, asking for his opinion, "Your Highness—"
"These are originally yours, you can decide for yourself."
Before she could ask, Qin Zongzhi replied with a doting look.
The steward understood and asked, "Madam Yun, what about these servants and boxes?"
"Just settle them all in Lanxiang Garden first."
The steward took the order and took the man away.
"Sir, thank you for today. Would you like to go in and have some tea before leaving?"
Zhao Yunzhu walked towards the eunuch and extended a warm invitation.
"Madam Yun, that's not necessary. His Majesty is still waiting for this old servant to pass on a message."
Zhao Yunzhu naturally couldn't stay any longer, so she looked at the maid Xiaomin behind her. Xiaomin understood and took out a gold ingot from her sleeve, but the eunuch refused to accept it.
"Sir, please accept this as a token of my sincere gratitude. Consider it the tea I give you today."
After hearing what Zhao Yunzhu said, the eunuch accepted it.
After the eunuchs were sent away, the Zhao family's servants and boxes were also moved into the Ninth Prince's mansion.
Qin Zongzhi held Zhao Yunzhu's hand and slowly walked into the mansion.
"Don't worry, I've already asked my father for permission to help you recover your things from the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion. Although my father didn't agree, he didn't object either."
The two of them walked hand in hand under the corridor.
Qin Zongzhi suddenly spoke.
Zhao Yunzhu knew in her heart that the emperor was forcing Du Jiaojiao in to disgust her.
Then Qin Zongzhi took the initiative to get her dowry back.
"You go and do your work first. I still need a few days to settle down at Lanxiang Garden. I'll come to see you in a couple of days."
Zhao Yunzhu paused and said solemnly.
Qin Zongzhi also understood, so after sending her back to Lanxiang Garden, he returned to his study.
After the housekeeper settled everything, he did not leave.
Seeing Madam Yun coming back alone, the steward was slightly surprised. He stepped forward and said, "Madam Yun, there is an unused courtyard behind Lanxiang Garden. I have already ordered people to clean it up. It is more than enough to accommodate all the servants."
"Thank you very much."
"Mrs. Yun's words really embarrass this old slave."
The butler said goodbye and then went to look for the Ninth Prince.
Qin Zongzhi was very satisfied with the steward's arrangement and said, "Order someone to connect the two courtyards."
The steward was stunned when he heard this, then realized that the Ninth Prince was talking about Lanxiang Garden and agreed.
In the Orchid Fragrance Garden.
Following Zhao Yunzhu's instructions, the Zhao family's servants moved the boxes and cages to a side room that had been vacated to serve as a warehouse.
After all the boxes and cages in the yard were moved, the Zhao family servants stood in two rows in the yard.
Xiaomin and Linglong stood behind Zhao Yunzhu.
"You have served me for many years, as master and servant. Now that the Zhao family is gone, if you wish to find another way out, I will return your indentures to you today, and give you ten taels of silver as your resettlement allowance."
Zhao Yunzhu looked at everyone one by one.
Everyone looked at each other, and some people wanted to leave.
Zhao Yunzhu was not annoyed. After all, the Zhao family was gone, and she was no longer the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Zhao's mansion.
You can't keep someone who wants to leave. Instead of forcing them to stay, it's better to use the last bit of affection to save each other's face.
She doesn't keep anyone with ulterior motives around her.
Besides, she is just a concubine in the Ninth Prince's mansion now. She doesn't need so many people to serve her, and it is not against the rules.
The maids Xiao Min and Linglong brought out tables and chairs, and Zhao Yunzhu asked Linglong to bring out the box containing the indentures of everyone.
He also took out some silver.
Everyone was talking secretly.
In the end, fifteen servants stayed. For those who wanted to leave, Zhao Yunzhu returned their indentures one by one and gave them ten taels of silver.
Then Zhao Yunzhu asked Xiao Min to see off the servants of the Zhao family who were leaving.
"Miss."
An elderly maid came forward and knelt in greeting.
"Madame Hua, please get up quickly and talk." Zhao Yunzhu hurried forward and helped Madame Hua up.
Aunt Hua has been serving her since she was a child and watching her grow up.
In the past, in her courtyard, Aunt Hua was the nanny in charge.
"Madam Hua, you should help me take care of the yard now. I will take care of you in the future."
Aunt Hua was widowed when she was young and never remarried. She had no children in her life and always treated Zhao Yunzhu as her own child.
She choked up and her eyes turned red.
"Linglong and Yazhi still want to be the maids in my yard like before."
Linglong and Yazhi knelt down with joy.
Four maids were left behind to do the complicated cleaning in the yard on a daily basis.
The remaining eight people lived in the garden behind Lanxiang Garden.
Zhao Yunzhu didn't need so many people around her right now, but after all, they had taken the initiative to stay, so she didn't want to disappoint them.
Aunt Hua suggested that a small kitchen be cleared out for her in the other courtyard. After all, she saw that Zhao Yunzhu had become much thinner, and she felt sorry for her.
Zhao Yunzhu asked Xiao Min to ask Qin Zongzhi for instructions. After all, things are different now than before.
Qin Zongzhi knew about this and asked the steward to prepare everything in the small kitchen overnight.
At night, Linglong and Yazhi kept watch.
Aunt Hua couldn't sleep, so she put on her coat, took an oil lamp, and walked to Zhao Yunzhu's door, knocking gently.
"Miss."
Zhao Yunzhu was sitting in the hall talking with two maids.
Hearing the voice, Zhao Yunzhu looked at Linglong. Linglong understood and stood up, walked forward, opened the door, and welcomed Nanny Hua in.
"This old servant couldn't sleep, so he wanted to come and see if the young lady had fallen asleep."
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