Princess Yuhua and Consort Wang were rendered speechless by Ye Qiu’s words. According to the rules, the Imperial Concubine indeed hadn’t done anything wrong.
"The Imperial Concubine has beco increasingly sharp-tongued," Empress Dowager Wang said to Ye Qiu, her tone neither warm nor cold.
Ye Qiu chuckled lightly, "Empress Dowager flatters . Everything I do is for the Emperor and for Daxin, I dare not neglect my duties in the slightest. If the Empress Dowager, the Princess, and Consort Wang have any doubts, please bring them forward, and I will explain them all together."
"Aren’t you afraid that one day you’ll fall into the mire and everyone will turn against you?" Empress Dowager Wang said with a dark expression.
Ye Qiu looked at the three of them with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: "Who knows if that day will co? Besides, even if I do fall into the mire one day, I will surely drag my enemies down to accompany in my downfall."
"I wonder if the Emperor is aware of what you’ve been doing," Consort Wang said spitefully.
"Whether the Emperor is aware or not, Consort Wang is welco to go and lodge a complaint with the Emperor. Even if the Emperor reclaims my phoenix seal, I will accept it willingly," Ye Qiu said with an air of indifference.
"Who said anything about taking back the phoenix seal?" Accompanying the voice that entered the room was Ji Fei, tall and imposing, though the dark circles under his eyes betrayed his recent ill health.
"Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to elder brother," everyone said in unison as they bowed.
"Empress Mother, what brings you to the Imperial Concubine’s Changchun Palace today?" Ji Fei casually took his seat, his face showing surprise.
"It’s like this..."
"That’s right," Empress Dowager Wang was about to speak, but Ye Qiu, smiling, spoke first, "The spring planting season has arrived, hasn’t it? Last year, Henan and the Lianghu region suffered disasters, and there’s surely a scarcity now. I don’t have any other remarkable skills, so I thought to alleviate the Emperor’s concerns by reducing the harem’s expenses. Thus, I’ve cut the budget for each palace, and the Empress Dowager ca to ask about the situation. But rest assured, Emperor, for Empress Dowager, Consort Hui, and Consort Wang, I have made up their parts with my own allowance, ensuring there will be no neglect of the Empress Dowager and the two sisters."
"It is the Noble Consort who is thoughtful," Ji Fei said, a look of satisfaction on his face.
He had only recently begun to feel that having the Imperial Concubine in the palace was truly a blessing, taking many vexing matters off his hands. Not only was the managent of the harem in good order, but she had also diligently handled the petitions from the previous dynasty that he had given her, and what was most important was that until now, no one else knew of this.
"Elder brother, how can you just listen to her side of the story?" Princess Yuhua stood up unconvinced, seemingly about to reveal Ye Qiu’s sche.
"Oh? Then tell , what is inappropriate about how the Imperial Concubine manages things?" Ji Fei asked, his eyes narrowing.
Empress Dowager Wang wanted to intervene but it was too late; Princess Yuhua arrogantly pointed at Ye Qiu’s nose and said, "She mistreats the Empress Mother, Consort Wang, and . The pastries the Queen Mother desired weren’t available, the usual skincare creams were also gone. As for Consort Wang, Blood Bird’s Nest was replaced with White Bird’s Nest, gems replaced with pearls, and the fabrics sent to my Princess Mansion were all out-of-date designs from years ago—how could I wear them out in public!"
"Are these your complaints?" Ji Fei’s expression showed the beginnings of anger, while Ye Qiu’s lips curled up in a taunting smile as she looked at Princess Yuhua.
"The Emperor shouldn’t listen to Yuhua’s nonsense. She doesn’t understand the situation in the palace; she’s been deceived by the palace maids and eunuchs below her," Empress Dowager Wang hurriedly interjected.
"Empress Mother, if you protect her, how can I continue to do so? Otherwise, will there be any respect for royal authority and rules in her eyes?" Ji Fei said coldly, "Yesterday, the Imperial Concubine has already explained the matter of the pastries, cream, Blood Bird’s Nest, and gemstones to . There were reasons behind these events, and yet she, out of her good intentions, ends up being blad instead? And what’s wrong with this fabric of yours? Moreover, the shares provided to the Princess Mansion are directly issued by the Ministry of Revenue. How could you put the bla on the Imperial Concubine?"
"Elder brother, I..." Princess Yuhua was sowhat scared by Ji Fei’s attitude, her words faltering.
"I haven’t even started on you yet. In recent days, why have you been inquiring about the shift changes of the Imperial Army? What exactly are you involved in?" Ji Fei slamd the table forcefully.
Hearing this, Empress Dowager Wang’s face turned pale with fear, and she imdiately knelt down with Princess Yuhua, "Your Majesty, Yuhua did not do it intentionally, and she bears no ill intentions towards you. She is just a young girl who was rely curious to inquire about a person."
"Your Highness, please forgive . I dare not do it again," Princess Yuhua said, trembling with fear.
"Twenty years old, not so young anymore," Ji Fei said to her, enunciating each word.
"Elder brother, I really didn’t have any malicious intent towards you. All I wanted was to see Ye Mu," Princess Yuhua said, more frightened than she had ever been since arriving in the capital. As a Princess with the Empress Dowager as her mother, she naturally felt entitled to go wherever she wished. Who would have thought that one day her elder brother would consider punishing her for conspiring against him? What’s more terrifying is that she felt he wasn’t joking!
"Your Majesty, please spare Yuhua this ti. She was married off to Shandong when she was just fifteen and never cherished by the late Emperor from childhood. Now that she’s back in the capital without restraint, she unavoidably got a bit carried away. You knew the situation back then. From now on, I will keep a close eye on her and won’t allow her to cause trouble," Empress Dowager Wang implored with a look of maternal pain as she played the emotional card with Ji Fei.
After listening, Ji Fei’s expression softened. Turning to Empress Dowager Wang, he resud the role of a filial son, "I did overreact a bit. The shadows cast by the assassination attempts by Eldest Prince and Third Prince in the past were indeed too alarming. Mother, you are right, since Yuhua had no such intentions, I should not pursue the matter further."
"Thank you, elder brother. I will not dare again," Yuhua finally exhaled in relief.
"However, the recent rumors about Imperial Sister-in-law inquiring into the Imperial Army are quite widespread; it would be improper of not to set an example. How about this: Yuhua will be placed under house arrest in the Princess Mansion for three months to reflect properly. In the future, when coming to the palace to show filial respect to Mother, she should first submit a request to the Imperial Concubine and not barge in unannounced. Mother, what do you think of my decision?"
The complexion of Empress Dowager Wang was very unsightly, but she was forced to display an expression of gratitude, "Your Majesty’s decision is of course for the best. Yuhua, aren’t you going to thank your elder brother?"
"Thank you, elder brother," said Yuhua.
"Since you know your mistake, get up. But even though you are divorced, you must not pursue n actively. What would people say? You are a Princess of Daxin, and your words and actions represent the face of the Daxin Royal Family. Even if you are fond of soone, you must remain respectable. Isn’t there an official matchmaker? When Marshal Ye and the Marshal’s wife return to the capital to report on their duties, you can have the official matchmaker make an inquiry at the Noble Consort’s family first," said Ji Fei indifferently, causing Princess Yuhua’s face to turn extrely sullen.
"I understand now. Thank you for the instruction, elder brother," she said, almost gritting her teeth.
"And what about your Imperial Sister-in-law? Coming to Changchun Palace early in the morning to make a scene, have you no decorum? Quickly apologize to your Imperial Sister-in-law," he ordered.
Princess Yuhua’s fingernails dug into her palm causing her to bleed. She was almost certain that Ye Qiu was behind everything that happened today, and while her heart was filled with hate, she had no choice but to apologize, "Yuhua admits her error. Please forgive , Imperial Sister-in-law."
"No matter, please sit, Princess," Ye Qiu said with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the faces of Yuhua, Empress Dowager Wang, and Consort Wang contemptuously.
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