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 a cat or mouse.
The concubines who had been on good terms with her before now began to distance themselves from her like fence-sitters.
Mo Zhirou, in particular, was incredibly quick to adapt after returning to the palace from Jiangzhou. She quickly distanced herself from Lin Miaoyin, as if their past friendship had never existed.
But at first, almost all the people from both the Imperial Household Department and the Sixth Bureau were Lin Miaoyin's people.
Lin Miaoyin had a firm grasp on many of their private matters, and 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 staff are female officials of high rank or eunuchs in charge. It is impossible for Su Jingyao to remove all of them in a short time.
So even when 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 laughter.
"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."
"The Imperial Household Department has a fixed annual turnover, and the Imperial Concubine's palace will give it according to her allotment. If there's anything extra needed, the Imperial Concubine is not someone without money, so let her buy it herself."
There was a hint of coldness in Su Jingyao's eyes. She would not tolerate the concubine's habit of throwing things.
"Master, when you were away from the palace, the Imperial Concubine was incredibly frugal when she was managing the harem. For concubines who disagreed with her, the price of clothes and jewelry issued by the Shangfu Bureau, the Shanggong Bureau, and the items purchased by the Imperial Household Department 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 hadn't been in Kunning Palace, we would have been treated harshly. But even though the imperial concubine was afraid of the eldest prince, she was always sarcastic and mocking towards the palace servants in Kunning Palace during those five years."
Miaoyun was indignant.
The imperial concubine was 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 make things difficult for 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 hadn't yet fully grasped the palace power. I didn't want Master to offend the Queen Mother in order to avenge us. The Imperial Concubine has been trying to curry favor with the Queen Mother over the past few years, and the gifts she sends on her birthday every year are very expensive. If Master confronts the Imperial Concubine directly, the Queen Mother will probably be displeased with Master."
Miaoyun was very thoughtful, and it wasn't a big deal. It was normal for slaves like them to suffer some grievances.
"Is your master such a tactless person, Concubine..."
Su Jingyao chuckled, but the smile did not reach her eyes, which was a bit cold.
"Then tell the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Sixth Bureau to return to you exactly what they did to you."
Su Jingyao casually turned the jade bracelet on her hand.
"Didn't Concubine Bai also have complaints against the Imperial Concubine before? Now let Concubine Bai express her feelings freely. I will handle it impartially."
Su Jingyao raised her head slightly, a shrewd look flashing in her eyes.
Since Bai Fei has come to her, 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 Eastern Palace. The queen has to show her magnanimity and dignity to the world.
But it was natural and reasonable for Concubine Bai 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 with each other. In a rage, the Imperial Concubine suddenly raised her hand and slapped the White Concubine hard.
The two of them quarreled in Kunning Palace.
Su Jingyao sat above, casually glancing at the two people sitting below.
The bright red slap marks on Bai Fei's face were shocking and very obvious.
"Empress, please help me. The imperial concubine relied on her status as the mother of the Third Prince and her superior status to mine, 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, her eyes burning with anger.
"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 so angry that I lost control and 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 not compare to the Queen's eldest prince.
Even if her Third Prince couldn't compare to her, it was not something a mere concubine like her could discuss.
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