Jiang Yu looked straight at Gu Qingyao. Was Gu Qingyao going to replace the people around her?
The person following behind Gu Qingyao was indeed a stranger.
Jiang Yu's face instantly regained its smile. What exactly did Consort Rong do during the time Gu Qingyao was missing that made Gu Qingyao so determined to put Consort Rong in a hopeless situation?
“Aunt, look at this child. As her mother, I can only speak to you on her behalf.” Jiang Yu held Princess Yu’s hand. “Let that nanny be the princess’s personal nanny. I also hope that the princess can get rid of those bad habits as soon as possible.”
Princess Yu's eyes lit up; Jiang Yu's words were not just what they seemed on the surface.
The princess's personal nanny was someone who came from the Prince Yu's residence. If the Prince Yu's residence encountered trouble in the future, the princess would also put in a good word for her.
“Since the princess has spoken, how can I refuse?” Princess Yu’s smile became even more genuine. “Quickly go and call Granny Qian here, and have her return to the palace with the princess.”
[It was Granny Qian.]
Gu Qingyao stared intently at Jiang Yu, and when she saw that Jiang Yu's expression remained unchanged, she closed her eyes in disappointment.
She asked Granny Qian for help, partly to make Consort Rong and Gu Qingling hesitate to act, and partly because Granny Qian was someone her mother had mentioned to her many times before.
“Yao’er, there’s a Granny Qian in the Prince Yu’s residence. She used to serve in the palace, and many families in the capital are begging her to tutor their daughters.” In her memory, Jiang Yu’s eyes were always full of love when she looked at her. “Would it be alright if Mother let her tutor you?”
"That Granny Qian has a notoriously bad temper, and she even uses a ruler to discipline people." Gu Qingyao stomped her foot angrily. "I have my own mother, Consort Rong, to teach me. I don't need you to interfere."
Gu Qingyao recalled the previous scene, and her mouth became increasingly bitter.
Only now has she truly seen who was good to her, yet she has cruelly betrayed them.
Consort Rong... Gu Qingling... Gu Qingyao will never be a sheep to be slaughtered by them.
Granny Qian seemed to be a rigid person. After kowtowing to Princess Yu, she packed her things and left the Prince Yu's residence with Jiang Yu and Gu Qingyao.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Yu and Gu Qingyao did not exchange any words.
"Granny Ling, tomorrow send some gifts to the families of those who attended today's banquet in my name." Jiang Yu closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. "I remember my brother brought back some fine fabrics; send them to the young ladies to make clothes."
She didn't want to leave any loopholes that could be exploited.
In her past life, she was cursed to death as a demon queen. In this life, since she can easily maintain her reputation, why not?
"I have no impulsiveness today."
Gu Qingyao suddenly spoke, and Jiang Yu slowly opened her eyes, "No impulse?"
"I know that no matter what I say now, Mother won't believe me anymore, but it's okay." Gu Qingyao smiled, "I will show Mother what I can do."
Just like the previous empress dowager.
"Gu Qingyao, you are only ten years old this year."
Having said that, Jiang Yu stopped talking. For Consort Rong, controlling a ten-year-old princess, especially her own daughter, was as easy as stepping on an ant.
In Daqing, girls reach the coming-of-age ceremony at sixteen. If Gu Qingyao wants to escape Consort Rong's control, it will take at least six more years.
"Thank you for your concern, Mother." Gu Qingyao smiled even more sweetly. Her daily meals were like torture, forcing her to eat extremely greasy food. If it weren't for the thought of taking a bite to atone for her sins, she wouldn't be able to survive a day.
She dared not lose weight, fearing that even this occasional care would disappear.
......
Lingxi Palace.
"What? Gu Qingyao talks about me like this outside?" Consort Rong was furious. In the past, Zhao Mama would always try to persuade her, but now that Zhao Mama had committed suicide by jumping into a well, no palace servant dared to step forward and provoke Consort Rong.
"Go and summon Gu Qingyao to me!"
Consort Rong spoke through gritted teeth, while Gu Qingyao didn't arrive at Lingxi Palace until evening.
"Kneel down!" Upon seeing Gu Qingyao, Consort Rong angrily declared, all the former intimacy vanishing the moment she locked Gu Qingyao in the dark dungeon.
Gu Qingyao seemed startled and turned to look at Granny Qian behind her, somewhat at a loss. "Granny..."
Only then did Consort Rong notice that the palace servants behind Gu Qingyao had changed their faces.
“Your Highness Consort Rong, this servant was assigned by the Empress to serve the Princess. I previously served at Prince Yu’s residence. My husband’s surname is Qian.”
Upon hearing the name of Granny Qian from the Prince Yu's residence, Consort Rong's eyes flashed with a hint of apprehension. "So it's Granny Qian from the Prince Yu's residence."
“From now on, this servant will serve the princess.” Granny Qian observed the princess discreetly and found that Consort Rong was truly disregarding rank and dared to yell at the princess.
"I see." Consort Rong's lower abdomen ached slightly with anger. "I was just anxious. It's mainly because the princess made a mistake at the banquet today, that's why..."
"The princess is a legitimate princess, of noble status. Even if she makes a mistake, she must be taught by the Emperor and the Empress."
Granny Qian gave a slight curtsy. "The princess will be dining with the second prince tonight. Her Majesty the Empress specifically instructed me to teach the princess proper etiquette after the meal."
"Mother Rong, then I will go back with the old nanny first."
Gu Qingyao immediately spoke up and left Lingxi Palace with Granny Qian. They had only stayed in Lingxi Palace for less than a quarter of an hour.
"This is outrageous!"
As Consort Rong spoke these words, Gu Heng, who happened to be walking at the entrance of Lingxi Palace, suddenly darkened his eyes. Had she gone too far? He was the only one in power in Daqing. It seemed that Consort Rong had been spoiled by him and had become arrogant and ignorant.
It's a shame that Consort Yi kept begging him to come to Lingxi Palace to see Consort Rong; he's not even half as gentle and virtuous as Consort Yi.
Gu Heng stormed off in anger. His anger towards Gu Qingyao had been completely replaced by Rong Fei's. Gu Heng no longer cared about Gu Qingyao.
Zhaoning Palace.
"Your Majesty, everything has been done according to your plan."
Jiang Yu nestled in a recliner. The weather was gradually warming up, but Jiang Yu was naturally prone to feeling cold, so she always held a hot water bottle in her hands.
"I suppose Gu Heng won't stop Prince Yu from visiting Consort Rong tomorrow."
Jiang Yu looked extremely languid, treating the harem as a battlefield. Following the tactics her father and mother had taught her when she was young, she was doing very well.
[Gu Qingyao, Granny Qian, Noble Lady Yi, Gu Heng... Since they're going to ruin Consort Rong, then this fire should burn even brighter.]
"Perhaps Consort Rong's rank will be lowered again tomorrow. If she is demoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine, that would be interesting." Jiang Yu got up, stretched, and walked towards the inner room.
Ling Mama hurriedly followed behind Jiang Yu, "Consort Rong is still pregnant with the emperor's child. If she is demoted to the rank of Consort, wouldn't she be unable to raise the child herself?"
Jiang Yu stopped in her tracks, her expression lively. "So, it all depends on Consort An."
Consort An was the only person in the harem besides Consort Rong who held the rank of consort.
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