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.
"Ms. Chu, is what Ms. Shangguan said true?" Su Jingyao asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, it was the Imperial 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."
Lady Chu had an innocent look on her face and spoke calmly.
"The flowers sent by the greenhouse are the same. They don't specify who they are for."
Lady Chu was not at all panicked. She was of the same status as Lady Shangguan, and what Lady Shangguan said were just trivial matters.
But Lady Shangguan did seem disrespectful to her superiors like 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 have an affair 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?"
None of the three had expected Concubine Chun Shu to have such an attitude, and they were all 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, a steady rhythm 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 react, Su Jingyao began to give orders.
"Miaoyun, bring all the Yichun Palace servants into the side hall for interrogation. During this time, Xilu will keep a close watch on everyone. No one is allowed to whisper or collude with others."
"Any question Miaoyun asks will be determined by the majority. Anyone who deviates will be taken to the Ministry of Punishment."
"Yes, master." Xilu and Miaoyun responded in unison.
Lady Chu and Lin Ronghua were shocked. They had never expected that Concubine Chun Shu would make such a fuss.
Moreover, he acted so decisively that he didn't give them any chance to refute.
Concubine Chu became more and more panicked. Apart from those palace maids in Yichun Palace who were loyal to her and served her closely, what would the others say?
Moreover, Concubine Chun Shu interrogated them so suddenly, and since they had not colluded with each other in advance, if they lied casually, they would most likely 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.
Thinking about it this way, it seems that the safest thing for the palace people to do in order to protect themselves is to tell the truth.
But... she did bully Shangguan Meiren...
Lady Chu clenched her back teeth tightly. She had thought that Concubine Chun Shu was a gentle and kind beauty, but she never expected her to be so ruthless and impartial.
The happiest person at this moment must be Concubine Shangguan. Fortunately, she invited Concubine Chunshu to come. If it was the Imperial Concubine, 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 Chunshu acts like this, would those palace maids who received money be willing to gamble 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 Concubine Chu stood aside with worried looks on their faces, while Concubine Shangguan stood on the other side with a calm demeanor.
After two quarters of an hour, Miaoyun's interrogation ended.
"Master, a beauty's ration should be three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, but Lady Chu has been eating five meat dishes and four vegetable dishes these days, while Lady Shangguan has been eating one meat dish and two vegetable dishes. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has allocated five taels of yellow tea and black tea to each beauty and master, but Lady Shangguan has received even less. And..."
Afterwards, Miaoyun talked about many more trivial details.
The more Lady Chu listened, the more frightened she became. How could a palace maid ask such detailed questions?
"Master, although some palace servants do not know the answers to certain questions, overall, the questions I have asked have yielded results."
"Lady Shangguan didn't show any disrespect to Lin Ronghua or Lady Chu. It was Lady Chu who pushed Lady Shangguan."
Miaoyun spoke, and Su Jingyao's eyes fell on Chu Meiren and Lin Ronghua.
"Concubine Chu, give half of your monthly allowance for three consecutive months to Concubine Shangguan. You must also 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 gritted her teeth, but was powerless to refute, so she could only reluctantly respond, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Only Lady Shangguan was in a particularly good mood.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for handling this matter impartially."
Then Su Jingyao stood up and prepared to leave. After taking a few steps, she turned around and continued speaking.
"All palace officials who disagree with the final result will be sent to the Ministry of Punishment for an 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.
Concubine 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 defend herself.
His eloquence just now completely disappeared at this moment, and he was completely panicked.
"Miss 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 outcome is your own choice. I will not interfere. Since I am in charge of the Palace Justice Department, I must be fair and enforce my orders."
After saying that, Su Jingyao turned around and left gracefully.
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