Wearing a book, hooking him up

Yichun Palace.

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

Her delicate eyebrows and eyes were filled with a proud look, as if the whole world revolved around her.

This Concubine Shangguan is an old lady in the Eastern Palace. After His 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.

But 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 away in a rude manner.

Today, Miss Chu was really too much, so 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 Chunshu's good reputation in the Eastern Palace, she sent her personal maid Yanhua to Zhaochun Palace secretly to ask for someone.

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

Although Lin Ronghua knew in her heart that Concubine Chu 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 house also sent some crabapple flowers to my Liushuang Pavilion today. How about I ask the palace servants to bring the flowers to Lady Shangguan?"

Lin Ronghua smiled and gave suggestions in a soft voice.

When Lady Chu heard this, an expression of disgust suddenly appeared on her face. She frowned and curled the corners of her mouth.

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

When Lady Shangguan heard this, a look of humiliation immediately appeared on her face. She clenched the handkerchief in her hand so tightly that her knuckles turned slightly white.

Even if Lin Ronghua gave it to her, she would never accept it. His 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 Imperial Concubine and the Pure Concubine among the concubines. 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. It was obvious that he did not expect that he would be ridiculed.

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

He even said sternly: "Who are you to dare to speak like that!"

Caught off guard by the sudden push, Lady Shangguan staggered several times, her body swaying and she almost fell.

After she stood firm, her face was full of indignation, her eyes widened as she said, "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!"

Just at this moment, Su Jingyao stepped into Yichun Palace and happened to hear these words from Lady Shangguan.

"What is it that requires me to administer justice?"

The voice came slowly and drifted in from afar. I heard the voice before I saw the person.

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

Lady Shangguan heaved a sigh of relief.

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

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to Her Majesty, Concubine Chunshu. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health and happiness."

The three of them fell silent 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 swiftly brought a throne and gently placed it behind Su Jingyao.

After Su Jingyao sat down, her face was as calm as water, and there was 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 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, her face full of astonishment.

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

Is this the adaptability of a girl 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 set her sights on Lin Ronghua.

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

Lin Ronghua frowned slightly, her beautiful eyebrows twisted slightly, 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 ridiculed me. I was not disrespectful to them. Moreover, Concubine Chu has been competing with me for food recently. Concubines are only entitled to three meat 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.

"Ms. Chu, is what Ms. Shangguan said true?" Su Jingyao asked calmly.

"My lady, 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."

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 was of equal status to Lady Shangguan, and what Lady Shangguan was talking about were just trivial matters.

But Lady Shangguan did seem disrespectful to 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 people 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 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 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 or collude with others."

"Any question asked by Miaoyun shall be decided by the crowd. 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 both shocked. They had never expected that Concubine Chun Shu would make such a fuss.

Moreover, he acted so swiftly and decisively that he did not 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 rest of them say?

Moreover, Concubine Chun Shu's interrogation was so sudden, and they had not colluded with each other in advance, so if they lied casually, 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.

Thinking in 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 that she was so ruthless and impartial.

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

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

But if Concubine Chunshu 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 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, the beauties should have three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, but Lady Chu has had five meat dishes and four vegetable dishes these days, while Lady Shangguan has had one meat dish and two vegetable dishes. The Ministry of Internal Affairs allocated five taels of yellow tea and black tea to each of the beauties and masters, but Lady Shangguan got even less, and..."

Afterwards Miaoyun talked about many more trivial matters.

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 asked have yielded results."

"Lady Shangguan did not show any disrespect to Lady Lin Ronghua and Lady Chu. Instead, it was Lady Chu who pushed Lady Shangguan."

Miaoyun spoke, and Su Jingyao's eyes fell on Chu Meiren 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, copied the palace rules ten times, and sent them to Zhaochun Palace in three days."

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

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

Only Lady Shangguan was in a particularly good mood.

"Thank you, Madam, 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 don't match the final result will be sent to the Ministry of Punishment for an hour and then sent back."

Jingxiang, who was beside Lady Chu, turned pale with fright and 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 defend herself.

The eloquence he had just shown 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 it with the three of you before the interrogation, and I have also told the palace maids what the punishment is."

"Whatever the final result is, it is up to you to choose. I will not interfere. Since I am in charge of the Palace Administration Department, I must be fair and enforce my orders."

After saying that, Su Jingyao turned around and left gracefully.