Seeing that he was unwilling to say anything more, Zhao Yunzhu simply chose not to ask any more questions.
The next morning, Qin Zongzhi was summoned into the palace again.
All the officials in the palace came to her courtyard to pay their respects.
Zhao Yunzhu saw a huge crowd of people in the yard, which made her head hurt.
It seems that when people are lazy for a long time, they are less willing to add more work to themselves.
"Xiao Min, are you familiar with all the stewards in this mansion?"
Qin Zongzhi didn't ask her to manage all the affairs in the mansion. It seemed that these manpower were only needed because the mansion temporarily lacked a general manager.
Concubine Du is sick again.
So I can only come to find her.
"Replying to Concubine Yun, I know all the managers in the palace. This morning, His Highness hurried into the palace and ordered all the managers to come to Concubine Yun to report."
Xiao Min replied respectfully, but Zhao Yunzhu frowned when she heard it.
It turns out that this was indeed what Qin Zongzhi meant.
But she didn't want to interfere in the affairs of the Ninth Prince's residence.
Her identity is sensitive to begin with, so it's better for her not to interfere in matters where she can avoid doing so.
"Xiao Min, who among the stewards in the mansion do you think is worthy of the position of chief steward?"
Xiao Min looked around the courtyard before answering, "To Concubine Yun, Steward Xu is in charge of the palace's carriages and horses. He is honest and thorough in his work, and is often praised by His Highness."
Zhao Yunzhu followed Xiao Min's gaze and saw a manager standing at the edge of the crowd. He was wearing a dark blue robe and standing quietly with his eyes lowered. He looked like a thorough person.
Moreover, Xiao Min pointed out that this Manager Xu was often appreciated by Qin Zongzhi.
After thinking it over, he made a decision, "Then it's him."
Zhao Yunzhu raised her finger and pointed at Steward Xu, saying loudly, "Steward Xu will be the new Steward of this mansion from now on. You don't need to come to me for answers anymore. Everything will continue as usual."
The managers in the courtyard had different expressions.
Hearing his name being called, Steward Xu suddenly opened his eyes, was stunned for a moment, and knelt down hurriedly, "This old servant thanks Concubine Yun."
After the matter was settled, Zhao Yunzhu waved his hand and signaled everyone to leave.
The maid Xiao Min looked at the yard that was crowded with people just now, but now it was empty. She was stunned for a long time.
"Concubine Yun, His Highness said today that from now on, all matters in the palace will be handed over to you for management."
Xiao Min spoke tentatively, secretly glancing at Zhao Yunzhu out of the corner of her eye, hoping to get a clue from her.
But what she saw was only Concubine Yun who was calm and unwilling to get involved in any trivial matters.
"It's cold out today, and I don't want to get up early. So, everyone in the mansion is proceeding smoothly, and everything is as normal as usual. I don't think anything will go wrong. Besides, there are already rules for how the various officials in the mansion should behave and interact with each other. If I rashly interfere now, it would be superfluous. It's better to let them act as usual, and there won't be any problems."
Zhao Yunzhu exuded a sense of laziness.
The maid Xiao Min did not ask any further questions.
This matter had just been resolved. Zhao Yunzhu had finished her lunch and was about to lie back on the couch for a nap.
Suddenly there was a noise outside the window, and hurried footsteps were approaching from afar.
Zhao Yunzhu felt uneasy, fearing that something unexpected might have happened.
A hurried knock on the door sounded, "Concubine Yun, Madam Du from the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion is here."
Someone is coming from Yong'an Marquis Mansion?
She changed her clothes and walked out, looking at the person who came and asked, "Is it just Madam Du, or are there others?"
"Replying to Concubine Yun, Second Madam Du came alone."
The maid lowered her eyes and replied respectfully.
Zhao Yunzhu took Nanny Hua and three maids to the front hall to meet the guests.
Mrs. Du was pacing back and forth in the front hall, looking up from time to time towards the outside.
The nanny beside her advised her to sit down and wait patiently.
But Mrs. Du couldn't sit still.
Her heart was in turmoil and her right eyelid had been twitching for two days in a row, so she hadn't slept well during those two days.
Originally, she wanted her mother-in-law, Madam Du, to come forward and send out an invitation to invite her second daughter, who was married into the Ninth Prince's mansion, to come back for dinner.
But the mother-in-law refused, which was inappropriate.
She thought, why not go through all the trouble with her mother-in-law, but she still refused to agree.
Moreover, Mrs. Du stopped Mrs. Du from coming to disturb them.
Mrs. Du came today without telling her mother-in-law. She just said she was going to the shop to buy some things.
After going out and getting on the carriage, he ordered the coachman to drive the carriage all the way to the Ninth Prince's residence.
Seeing the person coming from afar, it was Zhao Yunzhu, and Mrs. Du's heart was gripped tightly.
Why didn't she see her daughter?
When she visited today, she noticed that something was not right in the Ninth Prince's residence.
She allowed her to give the servants silver and inquire about her daughter Du Jiaojiao, but the servants were evasive and kept silent.
"Concubine Yun."
Mrs. Du bowed to Zhao Yunzhu very reluctantly.
She only learned about the Ninth Prince's new concubine when she visited him today.
Zhao Yunzhu nodded slightly as a return gesture.
She walked to the main seat and sat down, "Second Madam Du, please sit down."
After she finished speaking, she ordered someone to replace the tea.
Madam Du sat down and watched the maid change the tea before she asked, "Concubine Yun, why is my Jiaojiao not here?"
Zhao Yunzhu picked up the teacup, without even raising her eyes, gently blew away the foam floating in the tea bowl, took a sip, and then put the teacup down.
She took out a handkerchief and pressed the corner of her lips, then raised her eyes to look at Madam Du Er, with the corner of her lips slightly raised, "Madam Du Er, His Highness said that Concubine Du is ill and is now recuperating in her room. It is not appropriate for her to come out to meet guests, for fear that she will pass away from the illness."
Mrs. Du stood up suddenly, "What?"
Coming back to her senses, she realized she had lost her composure. Madam Du sat down awkwardly and sorted out her emotions. "Concubine Yun, could you allow me to go see my daughter?"
Right now, as a mother, she is only concerned about her sick daughter.
"Madam Du, I'm afraid that's inappropriate. His Highness has ordered that no one be disturbed. Why don't you wait for His Highness to return and then ask His Highness what he thinks?"
Zhao Yunzhu showed no sign of giving in.
Mrs. Du looked unhappy and was thinking about how to respond.
"Concubine Yun, for the sake of our past relationship, please ask me, as a mother, to go and see my daughter."
"When you were at the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion, we got along quite well. Could you please, for the sake of our past friendship, allow me to take a look?"
Mrs. Du shed tears and sobbed as she begged.
After he finished speaking, he stood up and walked to Zhao Yunzhu's side, reaching out to hold her hand.
Zhao Yunzhu turned aside and said, "Madam Du, each mansion has its own rules. Please don't make things difficult for me."
Mrs. Du saw that Zhao Yunzhu was not willing to show any mercy.
He wiped the tears from his cheeks, and his eyes showed a hint of anger.
Turn around and sit back in your previous seat.
Seeing that Mrs. Du no longer spoke, but had no intention of leaving,
Zhao Yunzhu was too lazy to bother with other matters, so she just sat there for a while.
The maid brought tea for the third time, but Madam Du still showed no intention of leaving.
She sat in the chair, motionless, like a stone statue carved into the cliff.
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