Chapter 303: Only One Can Remain
Cheng Xu lightly clapped his hands.
Several manor soldiers escorted three old women into the courtyard.
The three women looked as if they had lost their parents, their knees giving way as they knelt on the ground.
Er Momo’s expression instantly darkened.
These three women were long-serving servants of the princely estate, familiar with its workings and efficient in their duties. She couldn’t understand how they had been exposed so quickly.
“Your Highness, the fire in the study was deliberately set by these three women,” Cheng Xu reported. “This afternoon, Old Woman Li secretly took a jar of strong liquor from the kitchen. Old Woman Zhou dismissed the servants from the study. After Old Woman He finished her inspection, Old Woman Qin pretended to accidentally drop a firestarter in the study and then ‘accidentally’ kicked over the liquor. That’s why the fire spread so quickly and nearly burned down an entire wing.”
Old Woman He’s eyes widened in shock.
She had wondered how a fire could have started after she personally inspected the area—it turned out to be arson!
She stared at the three women and asked incredulously, “Why would you do this?”
Before the women could speak, Er Momo stepped forward and slapped one of them hard across the face. “How dare you! Setting a fire in the princely estate—who gave you the nerve!”
The three women trembled in fear.
They had only intended to use the fire to frame Old Woman He and her associates, hoping the prince would punish them. They never expected to be exposed so swiftly.
It was as if someone had been watching their every move, ruthlessly exposing all their secret deeds.
“Your Highness, this old servant was blinded by greed!”
“Please give us another chance!”
“Have mercy, Your Highness…”
The three women kowtowed repeatedly to Chu Yi, begging for forgiveness.
Chu Yi’s face was frosty. “Your motive for the arson.”
The women fell silent.
Their shameful, unspeakable motives could not be voiced.
“This old servant knows why they set the fire,” Granny Guo stepped forward. “They held the position of chief stewardess for over a decade. As soon as I arrived, I took away their authority. Their resentment turned into tonight’s fire—an attempt to use the blaze to reclaim their positions. Your Highness, this is my oversight. I failed to anticipate the depths of their jealousy!”
She knew conflicts among servants were common, and as long as no major incidents occurred, it was often best to turn a blind eye.
But these wicked servants had dared to target their masters for their own gain.
Who had given them such audacity?
She took a deep breath and said, “If you three confess who instigated this, I will beg His Highness and the Princess Consort for leniency!”
Er Momo added, “Speak! Who ordered you to do this?”
She spoke with confidence, knowing she had no involvement. Even if these women tried to implicate her, they had no evidence.
The three women exchanged glances, seeing only despair in each other’s eyes.
“Guards!” Chu Yi’s voice was icy. “Give these three fifty strokes of the cane, then expel them and their families from the estate!”
The women nearly fainted from terror.
At their age, fifty strokes could be fatal.
“Please, Your Highness, spare our lives…”
“Your Highness, we were wrong. We beg for your mercy.”
“Princess Consort, please show us compassion…”
The women crawled on their knees toward Yun Chu.Yun Chu's voice was faint: "Considering your past efforts, the flogging is reduced to thirty strokes."
She knew very well that these three matrons had likely been incited by Er Momo to commit such a grave mistake.
The mastermind behind this could still escape unscathed, but these three matrons didn't deserve death either.
Thirty strokes wouldn't be fatal, but would likely leave them disabled—this was the punishment for their wrongdoing.
Several manor soldiers came and escorted the three matrons out. Soon, agonized screams could be heard.
Er Momo's face turned pale in waves.
She looked at Yun Chu and met her indifferent gaze, which only deepened Er Momo's panic.
She realized that although she had escaped implication in the arson incident, she hadn't cleared herself of suspicion.
The Princess Consort might be targeting her now.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Granny Guo summoned her to the courtyard and said coldly: "Er Momo, you are merely the Prince's wet nurse, not the mistress of this manor. If you fail to understand this, sooner or later you will pay the price for your actions."
Er Momo lowered her head: "I've always known my place. Has Granny Guo misunderstood something?"
Granny Guo gave a cold laugh: "Do you know why I directly stripped you of your authority over the manor?"
Er Momo shook her head.
In her recollection, Granny Guo was a shrewd strategist who had managed to help the not-so-clever Yin Fei gain footing in the palace.
Logically, power transitions should be gradual—otherwise subordinates would cause trouble, just as tonight had shown.
"Before meeting Ding Dong, I had considered taking it slow," Granny Guo said slowly. "But Ding Dong's intentions are practically displayed openly. If she truly catches the Prince's eye, then you, as his wet nurse, cannot hold authority. If you wish to retain power, then Ding Dong cannot become one of the Prince's consorts. Do you understand?"
Er Momo froze in place.
She had advised Ding Dong not to rush to the Prince's side.
Yet she herself had rushed into creating incidents for the sake of power, leading to this mess.
The Princess Consort would no longer tolerate her.
She could no longer live out her retirement in the manor.
"Granny Guo..."
She tugged at Granny Guo's sleeve, her voice pleading.
Granny Guo shook her head: "If you voluntarily request to leave the manor, you may still preserve some dignity."
Having said this, she shook off the sleeve and left.
Er Momo stood in place for a long time, still unable to make a decision.
The dawn was arriving earlier these days.
Yun Chu rose early and practiced martial arts in the courtyard with Chu Yi and Yu Ge'er. Only when all three were drenched in sweat did they stop.
Father and son went to the palace together, while Yun Chu went to wake their young daughter.
Entering the inner chamber, she saw the little girl was already up, being dressed by Ting Xue.
"Mother," Chu Changsheng spoke with increasing fluency, "Will the tutor come today?Yun Chu smiled and nodded: "The tutor will come, and Xian Jie'er will too, though not until the morning hours." Let's have breakfast first."
After breakfast, Yun Chu first gave instructions about renovating the study, then took her daughter's hand and went to the schoolhouse.
This was a small school converted from the neighboring courtyard. In the Warm Pavilion stood several desks, with soft cushions on the chairs—very comfortable.
The little girl, attending school for the first time, sat nervously in her seat.
Soon, a maid brought Xie Xian in.
"Xian!"
Chu Changsheng was delighted. She stood up to greet her and took Xie Xian's hand."Greetings, Princess."
Xie Xian quickly withdrew her hand and curtsied in salute.
Her mother had told her that between her and the princess, hierarchy came first, friendship second.
Even between friends, proper etiquette must be observed first.
After completing the salute, Xie Xian then said: "Changsheng, I'm so happy to be your study companion."
Chu Changsheng beamed with joy: "I'm very happy too."
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