Chapter 302: Er Momo Makes Her Move
After staying at the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor for about eight or nine days, Granny Guo had nearly trained Yun Chu's four accompanying matrons to be competent.
These four accompanying matrons were assigned as follows: one in charge of all internal household affairs, one liaising with the Imperial Household Department, another managing the storerooms, and the last overseeing accounts.
This essentially meant they had taken control of all managerial authority within the manor.
The matrons who had previously handled these matters were now relegated to assisting roles, and none of them were willing to accept this.
So, they all came to Er Momo for advice.
Er Momo's gaze was heavy.
Once Granny Guo left and the situation was settled, she would have no chance to turn things around.
She said coldly, "You can see it too—the Princess Consort has no tolerance. Once her people secure power, the next step will be to purge us old-timers."
The matrons were filled with regret.
They had been in the manor for over a decade, sitting in high managerial positions, skimming untold amounts of benefits, and living comfortably. Now, they had lost everything.
When the Princess Consort had made such a scene that day, they should have taken the opportunity to pledge their loyalty. Things wouldn't have come to this.
But it was too late for regrets now.
Er Momo said indifferently, "I am the prince's wet nurse. No matter what, I can live out my years in peace in this manor. But it's different for you... If you don't think of a way, soon, each of you will be driven out by the Princess Consort under some trivial pretext."
With that, she turned and left.
The matrons exchanged glances.
One of them gritted her teeth and said, "As long as the Princess Consort has no capable people to rely on, we can definitely stay."
Another matron quickly waved her hand. "Forget it, forget it. I won't get involved. I've made enough in this manor over the years. If I'm driven out, so be it."
Only three matrons remained, and each saw determination in the others' eyes.
Night gradually fell.
Yun Chu and Chu Yi were having dinner with their two children.
"Mother, the tutor praised me today," Chu Hongyu couldn't help but boast. "The tutor asked me and Ninth Imperial Uncle to compose poems at the same time, and I came out slightly ahead."
Yun Chu pinched his little cheek. "Our Yu Ge'er is the best."
The little one lifted his face. "Then Mother should reward me with a kiss."
Just as Yun Chu was about to lean down, Chu Yi reached out to stop her. "How about Father rewards you with a kiss instead?"
Chu Hongyu: "..."
He immediately shrank back and hid.
Yun Chu pulled the little one into her arms and kissed him on the forehead. The child beamed with delight and shot a provocative look at Chu Yi.
Chu Yi's face darkened slightly.
Yun Chu patted his arm. "Why are you always competing with a child?"
He was only five years old—she didn't understand what this man was always fussing about.
Chu Yi coughed and changed the subject. "Didn't you say earlier that you found a tutor for Changsheng? Who is it?"
"There are two candidates, and I can't decide," Yun Chu said. "One is Tutor Huang, who once taught the princesses in the palace. The other is Lady Liu from the scholarly Liu family."
Tutor Huang had previously taught in the palace and was quite famous in the capital, making her difficult to hire.
Lady Liu was a distant cousin from her elder sister-in-law's maternal family, renowned for her excellent calligraphy. Many talented women in the capital had been her students.
Chu Yi had heard of both. He nodded and said, "You can decide this matter, Chu'er."Yun Chu was leaning towards Madam Liu and was about to speak when a matron from the outer courtyard rushed in: "Your Highness, Princess Consort, something terrible has happened! The study is on fire!"
Since their marriage, Chu Yi had never used the study again, conducting official business in the eastern wing of the main courtyard for convenience instead.
Although he no longer worked in the study, it still housed many official documents and ancient texts. These items were extremely valuable, and even someone of Chu Yi's status as a prince couldn't bear to see them destroyed by fire.
He immediately stood up: "Have everyone go to the study to put out the fire!"
Yun Chu patted the children's heads, telling them to continue their meal quietly, then rose to accompany Chu Yi toward the study.
Fortunately, the fire was discovered in time and hadn't spread too far. Only an empty room was burned, causing no significant losses.
"Blessed be the Buddha!" Er Momo stood outside the study, her heart still pounding. "In the over ten years since this mansion was established, such a thing has never happened before. Your Highness, this matter must be thoroughly investigated, or who knows what greater disasters might occur in the future!"
Yun Chu said calmly, "Bring all the matrons and maids on duty tonight."
Ting Feng behind her immediately went to carry out the order.
Ting Feng soon returned, followed by several matrons and maids. The matron at the front was one of Yun Chu's dowry attendants, surnamed He, known as Matron He.
"This old servant pays respects to the Prince and Princess Consort." Matron He's face was pale. "I am currently in charge of all matters within the mansion's inner quarters. After nightfall, I had guards inspect the entire mansion. Only after confirming there were no issues did I go to eat. This is my fault!"
Having just taken over these responsibilities, she personally handled all matters, big and small, never daring to be negligent.
She couldn't understand why this had happened.
But she knew that when something occurred, the blame would fall on her as the managing matron.
She didn't mind being punished herself, but feared that due to her negligence, the Prince might blame the Princess Consort...
Matron He's knees weakened, and she knelt on the ground: "This is entirely due to my failure in duty. I beg the Prince to punish me!"
"The fire burned down one wing and nearly reached the mansion's library. Do you know how precious those books are? Your life isn't worth even one-tenth of them," Er Momo said sternly. "As the chief steward of the entire mansion's inner quarters, what punishment do you deserve for such a failure?"
At that moment, Granny Guo arrived upon hearing the commotion.
Seeing the wing's roof nearly completely burned away, her expression turned grave.
Had she been wrong?
These people under the Princess Consort were formerly servants of the Yun family. With Madam Yun managing the Yun household, such matrons naturally never handled major matters.
Later, when the Princess Consort married into the Xie family, these matrons managed affairs there for five years. But how could the declining Xie family compare to the Prince's mansion?
She had ultimately overestimated the capabilities of the matrons serving the Princess Consort. She should have adopted a gradual approach rather than directly seizing authority from Er Momo.
Granny Guo sighed and was about to speak.
But then she heard Yun Chu say slowly, "In Er Momo's opinion, how should those who have erred be punished?"
Er Momo stared at Matron He: "According to the mansion's regulations, those who commit such grave errors should be beaten to death. However, since Matron He is the Princess Consort's dowry attendant, she should be dealt with by the Princess Consort."
Matron He couldn't help trembling.
She knew the Prince's mansion was different from the Yun family, and even more different from the Xie family. Those who made mistakes wouldn't be given second chances here.Although the Princess Consort would not have her beaten to death, she probably couldn't remain in the prince's residence any longer.
Still, she felt deeply wronged.
She had personally inspected the study once that very night and found nothing that could start a fire, so she had left reassured.
But if she tried to explain, it would seem like she was shirking responsibility—she could only accept the blame.
"Princess Consort, this old servant..."
She had just begun to speak when Yun Chu raised a hand, signaling her to say no more.
At that moment, Qiutong hurried over and said, "Princess Consort..."
"Your Highness!" Cheng Xu also quickly entered from outside, "We've found out—it was arson!"
Yun Chu looked at Chu Yi.
Chu Yi gazed back at her and said gently, "Since I'm here, you needn't trouble yourself with this."
Then his voice suddenly turned sharp, "Cheng Xu, explain everything in detail!"
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