Chapter 298: Having Enjoyed Power
The Empress Dowager's funeral proceedings officially concluded, and the grand procession set off back to the capital.
As Yun Chu boarded the carriage, she noticed the Crown Princess's pale complexion up ahead. Even from a distance, she could sense the Crown Princess's foul mood.
She also observed that the Crown Prince had an additional carriage following behind the Crown Princess's.
After settling into the carriage, Qiutong whispered, "Last night, the Crown Prince went up the mountain and nearly became a tiger's meal. A palace maid who tends to the tigers saved him. That maid was severely injured, and the Crown Prince is bringing her back to the capital for treatment."
Yun Chu knew the Crown Prince had somewhat lustful tendencies. Besides the consorts registered in the imperial jade records, the Eastern Palace housed over twenty concubines.
However, bringing someone back from the imperial mausoleum was rather unseemly. No wonder the Crown Princess was so furious.
For some reason, Yun Chu felt there was something peculiar about this situation. She said, "Qiutong, have the intelligence bureau keep a closer watch on this."
The carriage jostled along the road for most of the night, finally reaching the capital in the afternoon. The two children were exhausted and sleepy, dozing in Yun Chu's arms.
Just as she was about to carry the children out of the carriage, the curtain was lifted. Chu Yi bent down and stepped inside, scooping up both children with each arm. In a low voice, he said, "Chu'er, you've worked hard."
Over the past two days, he had been busy with various matters and hadn't been able to attend to the children or Yun Chu.
Now that he finally had a moment free, how could he bear to let Yun Chu continue to toil?
He carried the children down and handed them to the attending nursemaids. Then, taking Yun Chu's hand, he led her inside. When they reached the main courtyard, he swept her up into his arms.
"Chu Yi!" Yun Chu pressed her hand to her forehead. "Wouldn't it be better to use this time to rest properly? Aren't you tired after these past two days?"
"Not tired." Chu Yi carried her into the inner chamber. "I just want to spend some quiet time with you."
He held Yun Chu as they lay on the couch, closing his eyes contentedly.
Yun Chu's heart felt exceptionally at peace. Initially, she had only intended to rest her eyes, but before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
When she woke again, she saw Chu Yi holding Changsheng while teaching Yu Ge'er how to write. The father and his two children sat bathed in the sunset, as serene and beautiful as a painting.
"Mother, you're awake!" Chu Hongyu was the first to notice Yun Chu emerge and immediately threw down his brush to rush over. "Mother, come see the characters I wrote. Do they look good?"
Yun Chu picked up the rice paper. "The form is acceptable, but it lacks some strength. However, you're still young—there's no need to rush. We'll take it slowly."
The family of four had their meal in the main courtyard.
As soon as Chu Yi set down his chopsticks, a subordinate came to report news. He rose and went to attend to his duties.
Yun Chu knew that his busyness was the norm; it would be concerning if he weren't occupied.
After she had coaxed the children to sleep, Ting Xue came to report on the affairs of the estate over the past two days: "...Everything is fine."
After a pause, she continued, "While the Princess Consort was away these past two days, Er Momo managed all internal household matters. Nothing was reported to the main courtyard."
According to protocol, even when the mistress of the household was absent, all internal affairs should still be reported to the chief maid serving the mistress, who would then relay the information.
Yun Chu said, "It's been over a month since the Prince and I married. It's indeed time for me to take charge of the household affairs. Tomorrow morning, have all the managing matrons and maids come to the main courtyard."
The inner courtyard of the Prince's residence was managed by Er Momo, while the outer courtyard was overseen by Cheng Zongguan. Over the years, the two of them had maintained the estate in perfect order. Initially, she hadn't considered taking these matters into her own hands.
But it was clear that Er Momo had her own private motives.Naturally, the authority to manage the inner household cannot be entrusted to someone with selfish motives.
Late at night, Yun Chu drowsily sensed someone else in bed—it was Chu Yi returning after finishing his duties.
Though she was disturbed from sleep, she quickly drifted off again.
Before dawn the next day, she opened her eyes and rose quietly, preparing for martial arts practice.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she got up, Chu Yi also rose and joined her for training.
The couple walked into the courtyard and saw little Chu Hongyu yawning while practicing with a spear in his hands.
"Mother, Father, you're finally up," the little one exclaimed, suddenly full of energy upon seeing them. "I've already been practicing for a quarter of an hour."
Yun Chu coughed lightly.
If it weren't for Chu Yi pestering her, she wouldn't have missed that quarter hour.
She shot a glare at the man beside her: "You go teach our son spear practice. I'll practice with the short sword by myself."
Chu Yi found the boy quite superfluous.
He had originally planned to practice dual short swords with Yun Chu but was forced to pick up a spear instead.
After practicing for nearly two hours, Chu Yi had to attend the morning court session, and Yu Ge'er needed to go to the Imperial College. The father and son left together.
Yun Chu washed up, changed clothes, and woke Changsheng.
For the past couple of days, she had been looking for a teaching instructor. Because Changsheng was timid, she wanted to find a gentle teacher—someone who didn't need profound knowledge but was warm and patient, preferably a female teacher.
There was no rush; she could take her time searching.
After Changsheng got up, she had breakfast with Yun Chu and then sat obediently to start drawing.
Meanwhile, Ting Xue had already summoned all the steward matrons and maids of the princely estate to the main courtyard.
This was the first time since Yun Chu married into the estate that she had called everyone together. These matrons clearly understood what this was about.
Sitting in her seat, Yun Chu looked up and saw that the estate had as many as forty or fifty steward matrons and maids—and this was with only three masters in residence.
"No need to be nervous, everyone," she said with a smile. "I've been in the estate for a while now, but there are still some names I can't recall. I called you here mainly to get acquainted. Starting with this person, each of you state your name and describe your main responsibilities. Ting Xue, you record them."
Er Momo kept her eyes lowered.
She had all the personnel records of the estate. Instead of asking her for them, the Princess Consort was going through the trouble of re-registering everyone.
Was the Princess Consort deliberately undermining her authority because she had sent Ding Dong to serve in the main courtyard?
"Greetings, Princess Consort. This old servant's husband is surnamed Wang. Everyone in the estate calls me Aunt Wang. I'm mainly responsible for kitchen procurement…"
"Greetings, Princess Consort. This servant is called Cai Lian. I oversee daily records of the rear kitchen's inventory…"
One by one, everyone introduced themselves until it was Er Momo's turn.
Er Momo stepped forward, bowing her head as she said, "Paying respects to the Princess Consort. This old servant is surnamed Er. I am the Prince's wet nurse. Everyone in the estate calls me Er Momo. Since the Prince established his estate without a mistress, all matters—big and small—have been under my management. This includes affairs of every courtyard, coordination between the inner and outer estates, liaison with the palace's Internal Affairs Office… All these fall under my duties."
Yun Chu nodded. "Er Momo nursed the Prince in your youth. Now nearly fifty, you've reached an age for retirement, yet you still manage both internal and external affairs of the estate. It must be quite taxing."
Er Momo's fingers tightened slightly.She had known all along that the Princess Consort's grand display was surely aimed at reclaiming the authority she held in her hands.
She paused briefly before replying: "Reporting to the Princess Consort, it is no hardship. Easing the burdens of His Highness and the Princess Consort is this old servant's duty. Though I have considered retiring peacefully in my old age, the maids under my charge simply cannot handle major affairs..."
Yun Chu understood completely.
Er Momo was clinging to power, unwilling to let go.
Thinking it over, it made sense - would someone who had managed the Prince's household for over a decade willingly become an ordinary momo overnight?
Those who have tasted power can never bear to relinquish it.
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