Chapter 335: Sending Them All Away
Chu Yi keenly sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat off.
He paused his steps as he was about to enter the main room, turning back to ask Cheng Qi behind him: "What happened?"
Cheng Qi lowered his head and reported: "When the Princess Consort entered the palace, Lady Yin Fei bestowed several women, seemingly intended to serve as Your Highness's concubines."
Chu Yi's expression changed: "Why wasn't I told earlier?"
Cheng Qi wore a pained expression: "Your Highness was in confidential discussions with the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review the entire time, and upon returning to the residence, came straight to the Princess Consort's quarters without delay. This subordinate truly couldn't find an opportunity."
Chu Yi immediately retreated from the main room.
Under the dagger-like gazes of his two children, he somewhat awkwardly made his way to his study and coldly ordered: "Have them come here."
Cheng Qi promptly sent someone to summon them.
The four palace maids and Ding Dong had been settled by Yun Chu in the guest quarters of the front courtyard.
According to convention, these concubines of theirs should reside in the inner quarters, yet they were arranged in the front like guests, making Ding Dong feel uneasy.
They had just rested for a while when a matron stood outside and said: "Young ladies, our Prince requests your presence."
Hearing this, Ding Dong's face revealed joy.
See, because these were bestowed by an elder, the Prince had no reservations, so eagerly wanting to see them right away.
She quickly took lip rouge from her bundle, making her lips extremely crimson, then put on a pair of pearl earrings to make her complexion appear fairer.
The five women followed the matron to outside the study.
"Greetings to Your Highness."
The five women curtsied.
Chu Yi stood on the steps and spoke coldly: "This Prince now gives you an opportunity to leave of your own accord."
The women were taken aback.
Leave of their own accord? What did that mean?
Ding Dong ventured to speak: "Your Highness, we were arranged by Lady Yin Fei to serve you. From now on, in life we are people of the Prince's residence, in death we are spirits of the Prince's residence."
Chu Yi's expression turned colder: "Is this the meaning of the rest of you as well?"
The other four palace maids hurriedly nodded.
"Since that's the case," Chu Yi rubbed his fingers, "Guards!"
Cheng Qi stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here."
"Have the unmarried men in the army prepare." Chu Yi said calmly. "Send these five women to the military camp."
Hearing this, the women were greatly alarmed.
The military camp was full of rough men - for several delicate young women like them to go there, wouldn't that be like sending lambs into a tiger's den?
"Your Highness..." Several palace maids trembled and knelt down, their legs giving way. "We humble servants were bestowed by Lady Yin Fei to serve Your Highness..."
"Since you were bestowed to this Prince, naturally you are to be disposed of as this Prince sees fit." Chu Yi rubbed his fingers. "If you have the ability to catch the eye of the unmarried men in the army, then marry on the spot."
The biggest trouble for those men in the army was being unable to find wives.
Since his mother had sent five women over, they could solve the personal problems of five men - otherwise these vigorous men would always manage to stir up some trouble.
The palace maids had initially thought he meant to send them to be violated by the army men, frightening them out of their wits.
Now hearing Chu Yi say that marriages would be arranged, they were slightly less afraid.
But!
Between being the Prince's concubine and an ordinary soldier's wife, even a fool would know which to choose.
"We humble servants were trained by the palace matrons ourselves, we can definitely serve Your Highness most comfortably!" The palace maids pleaded. "We beg Your Highness to give us a chance!"
Ding Dong was completely terrified stiff.She is the biological daughter of the prince's wet nurse, bestowed by Yin Fei and Qinghua Princess—how could the prince send her off to some crude old soldier in the military camp!
Her voice trembled, unable to utter a single plea for mercy for a long while.
Chu Yi had no patience to waste more time and strode out of the study.
The remaining momo spoke coldly, "Ladies, pack your belongings. We are heading to the military camp."
"No, I won't go!" Ding Dong resisted violently. "I want to see Qinghua Princess..."
Cheng Qi's eyes turned cold as he raised his hand and struck the back of Ding Dong's neck.
The group was promptly dragged away.
Chu Yi returned to Yun Chu's courtyard in high spirits. "Chu'er, there's no need to worry. I've already dealt with those individuals."
Yun Chu had just heard about the incident from Luwei and sighed helplessly, "If this escalates, it might become rather unsightly."
"Let it escalate—it'll serve as a warning to those who keep sending women into the prince's residence," Chu Yi said with a smirk. "If anyone insists on doing so, it'll be a perfect opportunity for the single men in the military to marry. They won't have to complain to me daily about being unable to find wives."
Yun Chu asked him, "What if those women refuse to marry?"
"Refusing to be a proper wife yet insisting on becoming a concubine—their intentions are quite clear," Chu Yi replied coldly. "Such women have no place in my residence. Naturally, they will be sold off."
A palace maid expelled from the prince's residence would have committed an unforgivable offense. No one would be willing to buy her back, and in the end, she would be sold off as a lowly slave...
As the couple conversed, they heard an urgent voice from outside: "Princess, please wait! The prince and Princess Consort are resting..."
"Step aside! Make way for me!"
Qinghua Princess kicked Luwei, who was blocking her path, aside and stormed into the inner chamber, lifting the door curtain with a furious sweep.
"What is the meaning of this, Second Sister?" Chu Yi lifted his eyelids slightly, his tone laced with displeasure.
"Chu Yi, you've been utterly bewitched by Yun Chu! How could you do such a thing?" Qinghua fumed, her chest heaving with rage. "These women were bestowed by Mother Consort, and you sent every single one of them to the military camp! Not only have you trampled on the carefully selected women Mother Consort chose, but you've also broken her heart!"
"Since they were bestowed by Mother Consort, their disposition is my decision to make," Chu Yi said, enunciating each word deliberately. "But you, Second Sister—a married woman meddling in your younger brother's household affairs—is that in accordance with the rules?"
Qinghua was so enraged she felt her head might explode.
She had anticipated Yun Chu's inability to refuse but never expected her brother to give away all the bestowed women.
"If this gets out, Yi'er, your reputation will be ruined! And Yun Chu—everyone in the capital will say you're a narrow-minded, jealous woman!"
Yun Chu replied calmly, "There's no need for Second Sister to concern herself with how outsiders speak of me."
"I've said before that if Second Sister insists on interfering in my household affairs, I will have no choice but to disown Meng Shen as my nephew," Chu Yi said, his face frosty. "Before tomorrow evening, Second Sister and Meng Shen must move out of the prince's residence."
"You! You!"
Qinghua had not expected Chu Yi to actually expel them and was so furious she nearly fainted.
"My prince, do not speak in anger," Yun Chu stepped forward. "Second Sister has come here, I presume, to seek justice for Ding Dong?"
Qinghua said sternly, "Ding Dong is Er Momo's daughter. She should not be treated so disgracefully.""In that case, let Ding Dong accompany Second Sister to Pingliang Prefecture to serve." Yun Chu curved her lips. "Since Second Sister likes Ding Dong so much, wouldn't it be better to keep Ding Dong by your side for protection?"
Qinghua choked on her words.
Her original intention in taking Ding Dong was to have her mother bestow her upon Chu Yi.
Now that things had developed this way, if she refused to take Ding Dong along, it would appear as if she was deliberately protecting Ding Dong while stirring up trouble.
She said coldly: "Chu Yi, immediately arrange for someone to bring Ding Dong back to the capital. Once the New Year's Eve banquet concludes, I shall depart at once!"
Yun Chu's lips twitched slightly.
With Ding Dong leaving the capital, she would have no choice but to find ways to attach herself to the highest authority in Pingliang Prefecture.
Since Qinghua repeatedly sent women into her backyard, she naturally should return the favor in kind.
Only after experiencing this taste firsthand would Princess Qinghua likely truly cease her schemes.
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