At this moment, Granny Hua requested an audience through the door, "Your Highness Consort, this servant has a few words to say to you."
Yin Zhu rolled her eyes towards the door and reported in a low voice, "This Granny Hua doesn't know her place. Yesterday she told me to hand over the key to the Consort's money box for her to keep."
Oh, her ambitions are not small, wanting to control the economic lifeline of Kangping Courtyard right from the start.
"What did you say?"
"Of course I refused. I told her if she wanted it, she could ask the Consort herself. I wouldn't dare make decisions privately. She then said she was the head嬷嬷 of Kangping Courtyard, and we maids were all under her. This small matter didn't require the Consort's approval. I was too lazy to argue with her and just left. Oh dear," Yin Zhu slapped her thigh, "she's not here to complain, is she?"
Wang Qingyao was already annoyed by Consort Dowager Fang's actions early in the morning. Granny Hua showing up now was simply asking for a scolding.
"Come in," Wang Qingyao raised her voice.
Granny Hua then trotted in, pushed open the door, and walked a few steps to Wang Qingyao's side, not forgetting to glare at Yin Zhu.
She knew the Consort would not dare to defy the Old Madam.
"What is it?" Wang Qingyao's voice was more comfortable after drinking the honey water, though still a little hoarse.
Granny Hua put on a pained expression, "Consort Dowager is too inconsiderate of her juniors. The Consort has only been married for six days, and she's already made you suffer. How will you get through the days ahead?"
Granny Hua was unaware of Consort Dowager Fang's attempt to provide concubines, but seeing Wang Qingyao return crying, she guessed she had been wronged.
Wang Qingyao didn't reply, lowering her head as if deep in worry.
Granny Hua continued, "Consort Dowager's actions are all because the Prince does not value the Consort. I, as the head嬷嬷 of the Consort's courtyard and an elder who followed from the Wang family, represent the Consort's maternal family's honor. Yet, the Consort scolds and punishes me as she pleases, without any consideration for the Consort's reputation. This is truly going too far! It doesn't matter if I suffer some grievances, but the key is that the Consort needs to establish herself in the manor in the future. How can the servants in the manor respect the Consort if this is how things are?"
Wang Qingyao finally understood. Granny Hua was indeed here to complain, but not about Yin Zhu, rather about Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun had been with Wang Qingyao for their five-day wedding leave, and Granny Hua had never found an opportunity to complain.
Today, as soon as Xiao Yun left, she seized the chance to sow discord. Coincidentally, Wang Qingyao had just returned crying from Consort Dowager Fang's courtyard, which was like a divine intervention for her!
Wang Qingyao looked at Granny Hua incredulously. Was this old woman sick? What was Xiao Yun's status, and what was hers?
Could she, the Consort, argue with the Prince over a few words from Granny Hua and stand up for her?
This Ding'an Prince's manor belonged to Xiao Yun; he was the rightful master of the manor!
"What the嬷嬷 says has some truth to it," Wang Qingyao feigned contemplation, "Does the嬷嬷 have any good ideas?"
"Ah?" Granny Hua was stumped, revealing a foolish expression.
She had come purely to sow discord, hoping the Consort and the Prince would have a fierce argument, and the Consort would stand up for her.
As long as the Consort was willing to stand up for her, the servants in the courtyard would not dare to look down on her.
Wang Qingyao almost swore. She was truly incompetent, no wonder she had been managing properties outside.
She suppressed the urge to scold. She suddenly thought that she could use this opportunity to have Xiao Yun expel Granny Hua! Sowing discord, when blown out of proportion, was a grave offense.
Wang Qingyao thought without much sympathy.
"You may withdraw for now. When the Prince returns, I will speak with him properly."
"Yes." Granny Hua withdrew happily.
Yin Zhu's gaze met Wang Qingyao's: "Idiot!"
Soon, the news of Wang Qingyao crying from Jingwu Courtyard reached the Old Consort Dowager. The Old Consort Dowager summoned Wang Qingyao to inquire and learned about Consort Dowager Fang's bizarre actions.
The Old Consort Dowager was also speechless. She could only comfort her with kind words and bestowed many good things, finally stabilizing Wang Qingyao's emotions before sending her back to Kangping Courtyard.
"Someone, go invite Consort Dowager over."
As soon as Wang Qingyao left, the Old Consort Dowager had someone invite Consort Dowager Fang over.
This daughter-in-law had always been uninvolved in household affairs. Was she having a fit of madness today, to meddle in her son and daughter-in-law's marital chamber?
Consort Dowager Fang likely knew why the Old Consort Dowager was looking for her, and she appeared somewhat hesitant and embarrassed.
The Old Consort Dowager asked, "Why, out of the blue, did you try to provide a concubine for Ayun? They've only been married a few days!"
Consort Dowager Fang explained sheepishly, "I was thinking about the Xiao family's curse and wanted Ayun to leave a descendant soon... in case..."
The Old Consort Dowager fell silent. After a moment, she said, "Let nature take its course. If the Xiao family's curse cannot be resolved, then such descendants are not worth having."
Consort Dowager Fang exclaimed, "Mother!"
The Old Consort Dowager was much more open-minded. She said dismissively, "You only chose two obedient concubines back then because you were pregnant. If you truly wanted to provide concubines, it wouldn't be at this time, and the Consort should choose them herself. If this gets out, what will your reputation be?"
Consort Dowager Fang, who valued her reputation the most, blushed upon hearing this and obediently bowed her head to admit her mistake.