The sixth year of Chongwu.
A year after Su Jingyao took control of the palace, when Lin Miaoyin faced her again, she could only retreat away from her like avoiding a cat or a mouse.
The concubines who had been on good terms with her before now began to distance themselves from her like fence-sitters.
Especially Mo Zhirou, after returning to the palace from Jiangzhou, she was very quick to change her attitude and quickly drew a line between herself and Lin Miaoyin, as if their past friendship had never existed.
But at first, almost all the people in both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau were Lin Miaoyin's people.
Lin Miaoyin had a firm grasp on many of their private matters, so it took Su Jingyao a lot of effort to take over.
After all, Lin Miaoyin has been in the palace for five years, and many of the people there are female officials of high ranks or eunuchs in charge. It is impossible for Su Jingyao to remove all of them in a short period of time.
So even if Jun Zechen issued an edict that the Queen had full authority over the harem, Lin Miaoyin could still privately point fingers at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau. However, Su Jingyao could not blame her in the face of this because there was no conclusive evidence to prove that those who opposed Su Jingyao were Lin Miaoyin's people.
But Su Jingyao likes challenging people and things.
Just deal with them slowly and defeat them one by one. It's just a matter of time.
A year passed quickly, and Su Jingyao had almost completely eliminated all of Lin Miaoyin's minions.
Miaoyun was so proud of the Imperial Concubine's loss of power that she almost burst into a smile.
"Master, I heard that a lot of teacups and vases were broken in the Imperial Concubine's Palace recently. Someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to ask if we should replace them for the Imperial Concubine's Palace."
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs has a fixed amount of cash flow every year, and the Imperial Concubine's palace will give it according to the quota. If there is a need for additional money, the Imperial Concubine is not a poor person, so let her buy it herself."
There was a hint of coldness in Su Jingyao's eyes. She would not tolerate the concubine's bad habit of throwing things.
"Master, when you were not in the palace, the imperial concubine was very frugal when she was managing the harem. For the concubines who did not get along with her, the price of clothes and jewelry issued by the Shangfu Bureau and the Shanggong Bureau, as well as the items purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, were all reduced by half."
Miaoyun mentioned the imperial concubine today and told her everything she had done in the past.
"If the eldest prince wasn't in our Kunning Palace, we would definitely be treated harshly. Although the imperial concubine was afraid of the eldest prince, she always mocked and ridiculed the palace servants in our Kunning Palace during those five years."
Miaoyun was indignant.
The imperial concubine was just jealous of her master's favor, so she used some little tricks that were not painful but insulting to disgust the people in Kunning Palace.
As servants, Miaoyun and the others could only endure such tactics. His Majesty and the Queen Mother would never embarrass the Imperial Concubine for a minor grievance of a palace maid.
Su Jingyao's eyes darkened: "Why didn't you tell me before?"
Miaoyun looked embarrassed and lowered her head slightly.
"Master had just returned to the palace and had not yet fully mastered the palace power. I did not want Master to offend the Queen Mother in order to avenge me. The Imperial Concubine has been trying to please the Queen Mother in recent years. Every year, the gifts she gave on her birthday are very expensive. If Master confronted the Imperial Concubine directly, the Queen Mother would probably be unhappy with Master."
Miaoyun was very thoughtful, and it wasn't a big deal actually. It was normal for slaves like them to suffer some grievances.
"Am I such an ignorant person, your master, my noble concubine..."
Su Jingyao chuckled, but the smile did not reach her eyes, and there was a hint of coldness in it.
"Then tell the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau to return to you exactly what they did to you in the first place."
Su Jingyao casually turned the jade bracelet on her hand.
"Didn't Concubine Bai also have complaints against Concubine Gui before? Now let Concubine Bai express her feelings freely. I will handle it impartially."
Su Jingyao raised her head slightly, a shrewd look in her eyes.
Since Bai Fei has come to her for refuge, she will not treat Bai Fei unfairly, but Bai Fei must also have some value to her.
She is the queen and cannot do whatever she wants like she did in the East Palace. She has to show her magnanimity and dignity to the world.
However, it was natural and reasonable for Bai Fei to take revenge on those who had bullied her in the past and for the sake of harmony in the harem, Su Jingyao to be lenient with them.
"Yes, Master."
The seventh year of Chongwu.
One day, the Imperial Concubine and the White Concubine were arguing. In a rage, the Imperial Concubine suddenly raised her hand and slapped the White Concubine hard.
The two of them went to Kunning Palace for a fight.
Su Jingyao sat at the top, casually glancing at the two people sitting below.
The bright red slap mark on Bai Fei's face was shocking and very obvious.
"Empress, please help me. The imperial concubine relied on the fact that she has the third prince and a higher status than me, and she slapped me for no reason. The palm print on my face is the evidence!"
Concubine Bai's eyes were filled with tears, and she looked at the Queen with extreme grievance.
Then, she turned her head suddenly and glared at Lin Miaoyin fiercely, with anger burning in her eyes.
"My Lady, do you have anything to explain?"
Su Jingyao raised her eyebrows slightly, looking lazy and speaking in a flat tone.
"Your Majesty, it was Concubine Bai who spoke rudely first. I was angry and lost control of myself, so I slapped her."
When Concubine Bai was clamoring to go to Kunning Palace to ask the Queen for help, Lin Miaoyin realized that she had been too impulsive.
But since it has already happened, she certainly can't be afraid.
Relying on the Queen's support, Concubine Bai has been finding fault everywhere over the past year. She just came out for a stroll today, but was ridiculed by Concubine Bai. She even said that no matter how hard her Third Prince tried, he could never compare to the Queen's eldest prince.
Even if she couldn't compete with the Third Prince, it was not something that a mere concubine like her could discuss.
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