Chapter 67: Dispute

Yichun Palace.

Miss Chu held her head high with her chin slightly raised, looking very proud.

Her delicate eyes and brows were filled with confidence, as if the whole world revolved around her.

This Concubine Shangguan is an old lady in the Eastern Palace. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, she was only a beauty. She had an ordinary family background, was not favored, and had an ordinary position. What qualifications did she have to argue with her here?

"Lady Chu, the flower room sent several pots of flowers today, and you have already taken most of them. Today, I just called the palace maids to bring the crabapple flowers into the palace, but you immediately called the palace maids to take the crabapple flowers to the Jade Hall. What's the reason?"

Lady Shangguan frowned, her eyes full of grievance.

She had never been favored by His Majesty when she was in the Eastern Palace. After His Majesty ascended the throne, she only wanted to live in seclusion in a corner and live a peaceful life.

However, ever since Concubine Chu entered the Yichun Palace, no matter what good things the Imperial Household Department allocated to the Yichun Palace, Concubine Chu would grab them rudely.

Today, Miss Chu really went too far, and she couldn't bear it anymore and started arguing with her.

But Miss Chu came from a good family and was also good friends with Lin Ronghua, so she really didn't know what to do for a moment.

In the end, thinking of Concubine Chun Shu's good reputation in the Eastern Palace, she sent her personal maid Yan Hua to secretly go to Zhaochun Palace to invite someone.

Lin Ronghua, who was standing by, came to see Miss Chu today. They had agreed to go to Yu Garden for tea today.

Although Lin Ronghua knew in her heart that Miss Xiaochu was jealous of her promotion, there was only one Majesty, and which woman in the harem would not be jealous?

Concubine Chu is indeed not the type that His Majesty likes, just as Concubine Chun Shu said. Then she can get along well with Concubine Chu.

At least Miss Chu won't steal your majesty's favor.

"Lady Shangguan, the flower shop also sent some crabapple flowers to my Liushuang Pavilion today. How about I ask the palace maid to bring the flowers to you, Lady Shangguan?"

Lin Ronghua smiled and whispered his suggestions.

When Miss Chu heard this, she immediately looked disgusted, her brows furrowed, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

"Ms. Shangguan, you should consider whether you can afford Lin Ronghua's things."

When Lady Shangguan heard this, an expression of humiliation immediately appeared on her face. She clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, and her knuckles turned slightly white.

Even if Lin Ronghua gave it to her, she would never accept it. The tone of almsgiving sounded so hypocritical.

"Keep Lin Ronghua's flowers for yourself. I cannot afford them. Although I am only a beauty, I have only been rewarded by the noble concubine and the pure concubine. As for Lin Ronghua..."

Because of their sarcastic words, Lady Shangguan became more and more angry and couldn't help but retort.

When Lin Ronghua heard this, he was stunned at first, and a look of surprise flashed across his face for a moment. It was obvious that he did not expect that he would be ridiculed.

Lady Chu frowned, with a hint of anger in her eyes, and she raised her hand and pushed Lady Shangguan hard.

He even said in a stern voice: "Who are you to dare to speak like that?"

Caught off guard by the sudden push, Lady Shangguan staggered several times, swaying and almost falling.

After she stood up, her face was full of indignation, and she said with her eyes wide open: "You...you are going too far. Now that Concubine Chun Shu is in charge of the Palace Administration Department, I will definitely let Concubine Chun Shu do justice!"

At this moment, Su Jingyao stepped into Yichun Palace and happened to hear these words of Lady Shangguan.

"What is it that requires my help?"

The voice came from afar, and I heard it before I saw the person.

When Lin Ronghua and Concubine Chu heard the voice, their hearts skipped a beat. They really didn't expect that Concubine Chun Shu would suddenly appear in Yichun Palace.

Lady Shangguan heaved a sigh of relief.

Concubine Chun Shu would certainly not leave alone someone as arrogant and domineering as Concubine Chu.

"I pay my respects to Her Majesty, Consort Chun Shu. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness."

The three of them quieted down instantly, and when they saw Su Jingyao come in, they hurriedly bowed.

"Get up." Su Jingyao said calmly.

When she came out, she was followed by a large group of palace maids and eunuchs. As soon as the eunuchs arrived at Yichun Palace, they quickly moved an armchair and gently placed it behind Su Jingyao.

After Su Jingyao sat down, her face was as calm as water, with a hint of indifference in her eyes.

"What are you three doing?" There was a hint of unquestionable majesty in his tone, as if it could shock people.

Before Lady Shangguan could even open her mouth, Lady Chu spoke first.

"Your Highness, please help me. Lady Shangguan is relying on her status as an elder in the Eastern Palace to speak rudely to Lin Ronghua."

Miss Chu said this with a look of grievance on her face.

"Although Lin Ronghua has only been in the palace for a short time, her position is still higher than that of Shangguan Meiren. How could Shangguan Meiren not abide by the palace rules?"

When Lady Shangguan heard what Lady Chu said, she couldn't help but widen her eyes and look shocked.

She didn't expect Miss Chu to be so eloquent!

Is this the adaptability of a woman from an aristocratic family? She can turn black into white.

She bit her lip, wanting to say something but stopping herself, her face full of anger.

Su Jingyao fixed her gaze on Lin Ronghua.

"Lin Ronghua, is what Miss Chu said true?"

Lin Ronghua frowned slightly, her eyebrows slightly wrinkled, and a hint of hesitation flashed across her face. At this moment, she was already standing on the same front as Miss Chu.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty, it was Concubine Chu and Lin Ronghua who first mocked me. I was not disrespectful to them. Moreover, Concubine Chu has been competing with me for food recently. A beauty is only entitled to three dishes, but Concubine Chu always takes them. The flowers sent by the flower room today are also..."

The more Shangguan Meiren spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Her eyes gradually turned red, tears welled up in them, and her voice began to choke.

"Lady Chu, is Lady Shangguan telling the truth?" Su Jingyao asked calmly.

"My queen, it was the kitchen that brought the meal to my Jade Hall. This has nothing to do with me. If Lady Shangguan is so bothered, why didn't she tell me earlier? I will give it to her."

Miss Chu had an innocent look on her face and spoke calmly.

"The flowers sent by the flower shop are the same. They don't specify who they are for."

Lady Chu was not at all panicked. She and Lady Shangguan were of equal status, and what Lady Shangguan was talking about were just trivial matters.

But Lady Shangguan did seem disrespectful to her superior Lin Ronghua.

Although Concubine Chu was also jealous of Lin Ronghua's favor, they had to stick together in the harem. Since His Majesty didn't like her appearance, as long as Lin Ronghua was favored, she would be friends with Lin Ronghua, and His Majesty would not forget her.

Su Jingyao's expression remained calm. She glanced at the three of them calmly and said slowly, "Are you done?"

The three of them had never expected Concubine Chun Shu to have such an attitude, and they were all a little confused for a moment.

What does Concubine Chun Shu mean by this?

Su Jingyao continued to ask slowly, "Do you three still want to change your testimony?"

Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, the rhythm steady and with a hint of nonchalance.

The three of them shook their heads in confusion, and Lin Ronghua felt a little uneasy.

Seeing that they didn't respond, Su Jingyao began to give orders.

"Miaoyun, take all the palace maids of Yichun Palace to the side hall for interrogation. During this time, Xilu will keep a close eye on everyone and not allow anyone to whisper to each other or collude with others."

"Any question asked by Miaoyun shall be answered by the majority. Anyone who deviates from the truth shall be taken to the Ministry of Punishment."

"Yes, master." Xilu and Miaoyun answered in unison.

Lady Chu and Lin Ronghua were both shocked. They had never expected that Concubine Chun Shu would make such a fuss.

Moreover, he acted so swiftly and violently that he did not leave them any chance to refute.

Concubine Chu became more and more confused. Apart from those palace maids in Yichun Palace who were loyal to her and served her closely, what would the rest of them say?

Moreover, Concubine Chun Shu interrogated them so suddenly, and since they had not colluded with each other in advance, if they lied at will, it would be very likely that they would give the least answer, and they would be sent directly to the Ministry of Punishment.

Even the palace maids who served her closely might not be willing to lie.

After all, except Jingxiang, the others were assigned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs after entering the harem.

With this in mind, it seems that the safest thing for the palace servants to do in order to protect themselves is to tell the truth.

But...she did bully Lady Shangguan...

Lady Chu clenched her back teeth tightly. She had thought that Concubine Chun Shu was a gentle and kind beauty, but she never expected that she was so iron-faced and impartial.

The happiest person at this moment was Concubine Shangguan. Fortunately, she invited Concubine Chunshu to come. If it was Concubine Gui, she would have just casually interrogated a few palace maids.

But most of those palace maids were greedy for money, and many of them had been bribed by Concubine Chu.

But if Concubine Chun Shu behaves in this way, would those palace maids who have received money be willing to gamble with their lives?

Su Jingyao sat leisurely on the chair, and the palace maid beside her poured her a cup of tea very considerately. Lin Ronghua and Chu Meiren stood aside with worried faces, while Shangguan Meiren stood on the other side with a calm demeanor.

After two quarters of an hour, Miaoyun's interrogation ended.

"Master, the beauty's rank should be three meats and three vegetables, but Lady Chu's diet these days is five meats and four vegetables, while Lady Shangguan's is one meat and two vegetables. The Ministry of Internal Affairs allocates five ounces of yellow tea and black tea to each beauty and master, and Lady Shangguan gets even less. And..."

Afterwards Miaoyun talked about more details.

The more Lady Chu listened, the more frightened she became. How could a palace maid ask such detailed questions?

"Master, although some palace maids don't know the answers to certain questions, overall, the questions I asked have all come to a conclusion."

"Lady Shangguan did not show any disrespect to Lady Lin Ronghua or Lady Chu. It was Lady Chu who pushed Lady Shangguan."

Miaoyun continued speaking, and Su Jingyao's eyes fell on Miss Chu and Lin Ronghua.

"Lady Chu, give half of your monthly allowance for three consecutive months to Lady Shangguan, and copy the palace rules twenty times and send them to Zhaochun Palace in five days."

"Lin Ronghua slandered the lower position and copied the palace rules ten times. It will be sent to Zhaochun Palace in three days."

"Yes, your majesty." Lin Ronghua accepted her punishment silently with tears in her eyes, feeling extremely aggrieved in her heart.

Lady Chu gnashed her teeth, but she was powerless to refute and could only reluctantly reply, "Yes, Madam."

Only Lady Shangguan was in a particularly good mood.

"Thank you, Madam Queen, for handling this matter impartially."

Then Su Jingyao stood up and prepared to leave. After taking a few steps, she turned around and continued talking.

"All palace officials who do not match the final result will be sent to the Ministry of Punishment for one hour and then sent back."

Jingxiang, who was beside Lady Chu, was so frightened that her face turned pale. She looked at Lady Chu in horror, as if asking for help.

Lady Chu hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, Jingxiang is my personal maid, she just..."

For a moment, Miss Chu didn't know how to explain it.

The eloquence just now completely disappeared at this moment, and the whole person was panicked.

"Lady Chu, I hate dirty things the most. Everything must be done according to the rules. I have confirmed this with the three of you before the interrogation, and I have also told the palace maids what the punishment will be."

"The final result is your own choice, and I will not interfere. Since I am in charge of the Palace Administration, I must be fair and enforce my orders."

Having said that, Su Jingyao turned around and left gracefully.