Less than ten days after the wedding, the steward嬷嬷 was sent back to her maiden family. It was the Prince himself who ordered her to be sent back. This was undoubtedly a blatant slap in the face to the Wang family and to Old Madam Wang.
Yuan Bao personally escorted the woman back and delivered a message to the Old Madam.
"The Prince said that the Princess cannot have such a divisive servant by her side. The Old Madam is wise and understanding and will surely appreciate the Prince's good intentions."
The Old Madam was furious but had to maintain a facade of true understanding. "The Prince is right. It was my oversight."
Yuan Bao left, satisfied.
As soon as he was gone, the Old Madam slapped Hua嬷嬷, who cried tears and snot, complaining that Wang Qingyao was weak and useless, completely under the thumb of Prince Ding'an.
The Old Madam slapped her again. "I sent you there precisely because I knew she was weak and useless. Yet you failed to seize the opportunity and were driven out!"
The Old Madam was also angered by Xiao Yun's disrespect, but Xiao Yun was a Prince, and she dared not confront him directly.
If it were a grandson-in-law of ordinary status, she would have certainly lectured him a few times.
Hua嬷嬷's face was red, and she sniffled. The Old Madam found her irritating and waved her away.
Hua嬷嬷: "Old Madam, what should I do now?"
"Now?" the Old Madam scoffed. "Go back to your own courtyard. You're useless."
The Old Madam was deeply annoyed and realized she had been too hasty.
The Prince's manor was not an ordinary place. She should have sent a capable嬷嬷.
With this thought, the Old Madam began to consider suitable candidates.
Wang Da learned of the matter and advised the Old Madam not to interfere.
"Did the Princess ask you for someone?"
The Old Madam was puzzled. "No."
"Since the Princess has not asked, you should not meddle.
"But..."
"Mother, think about it. The Prince's manor, would the Prince's courtyard be without a steward嬷嬷?"
Wang Da's words left the Old Madam with mixed feelings. She suspected Xiao Yun had deliberately found fault and sent Hua嬷嬷 back.
"But the Princess has no one to support her..."
"Mother, ask her to come back in a couple of days. If the Princess needs help, we can choose someone then. If you send someone without asking and they are sent back by the Prince, will our Wang family still have any face?"
The Old Madam opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Meanwhile, Yuan Bao, having finished his task, reported back to Kangping Courtyard and was about to leave when Yin Zhu quietly stopped him.
"This is the crystal hairpin you gave me last time," Yin Zhu said, taking out the hairpin and handing it to him. "I've thought about it, and I can't accept your gift. Please take it back."
Yuan Bao was stunned. How long had it been? And the Prince had ordered him to investigate matters before and after the Princess's broken engagement. Should he still continue? If Yin Zhu refused his gift, what excuse could he find to invite her for a drink?
Yuan Bao's expression was bewildered and troubled.
Yin Zhu patted his shoulder comfortingly. "You're a good person. I believe you'll meet someone better than me."
Yin Zhu placed the hairpin in his hand and turned to leave with a flourish.
Yuan Bao stood there, truly stunned for a long time. After a while, he came to his senses. Yin Zhu had misunderstood!
He hadn't meant anything by it...
He wanted to explain a few words to Yin Zhu, but he felt embarrassed. If a girl misunderstood his intentions, and then rejected him, how humiliating would that be!
Yuan Bao left dejectedly.
Yin Zhu, having resolved a matter, felt refreshed and her steps became lighter.
The next day, Yuan Bao mentioned the matter to Xiao Yun, primarily asking if he should continue investigating the Princess's affairs. However, Xiao Yun's focus was entirely on Yuan Bao being rejected.
"Hahahaha, you were rejected by a girl! Oh, how pitiful!"
Xiao Yun laughed until he was doubled over, his tone full of schadenfreude.
Yuan Bao's face darkened, and he said helplessly, "Your Highness!"
Xiao Yun turned serious. "No need to investigate further."
Her secret, he already knew.
...
Wang Qingyao's every move after marrying into Prince Ding'an's manor was under scrutiny.
The matter of Hua嬷嬷 being sent back reached Old Consort Dowager the next day.
During her morning greeting, Old Consort Dowager inquired about it.
"Ah Yun is too unreasonable. She's a嬷嬷 brought by your family, yet he sent her away and bound her without any regard for your dignity. You should have said something to him!" Old Consort Dowager frowned, genuinely feeling Xiao Yun's actions were inappropriate and worried that the young couple might quarrel over it.
Wang Qingyao smiled playfully. "It's alright. I let him send her away. Grandmother, you don't know, that嬷嬷 was sent by my grandmother to monitor me."
She was quite frank and dared to say anything.
Old Consort Dowager had heard a little about Wang Qingyao's situation in the Wang family. Hearing it directly from Wang Qingyao now, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. She gently stroked her hair and sighed, "Poor child, you must have suffered a lot before, haven't you?"
"Isn't that so?" Wang Qingyao boldly pushed her luck. "So, Grandmother, you must dote on me more in the future!"
Her words made Old Consort Dowager burst into laughter. Jing嬷嬷 couldn't help but smile as well, and all the maids and servants in the room pursed their lips and joined in the laughter, finding the new Princess quite amusing.
Wang Qingyao felt at ease with Old Consort Dowager, but at Jing Wu Courtyard, she wished she could finish her greetings and leave immediately.
After the incident of trying to bring in a concubine yesterday, Consort Dowager Fang felt a bit awkward whenever she saw Wang Qingyao.
"You don't need to come for morning greetings every day," Consort Dowager Fang said. "I prefer peace and quiet. Coming for greetings daily might disturb the Buddha's tranquility."
Heh heh...
Wang Qingyao: "Yes, I'll listen to Mother."
Not a single polite word.
Consort Dowager Fang felt a little displeased. Look at her attitude, was this how a daughter-in-law should behave? The mother-in-law said she didn't need to come for greetings, and she accepted it so readily?
Wang Qingyao didn't care if it was genuine or not. She had said the words.
Wang Qingyao not only told Xiao Yun about this but also informed Old Consort Dowager. She wanted everyone to know that it was Consort Dowager Fang who told her not to come for daily greetings, not that she herself didn't want to.