Chapter 137

Chapter 137

"Concubine Lian just took the mistreatment without a word?"

Xiaoshu: "I saw her heading toward her own courtyard."

If she wanted to complain, she would have gone to Qingsong Courtyard.

Xie Run frowned: "Didn't anyone give her a heads-up?"

Xiaoshu said softly: "You know her background, mistress. Even the Princess Consort looks down on her."

"The other ladies of the rear court are all proper women—why would they want anything to do with her?"

Xie Run couldn't make sense of it: "I can't figure out what the Prince is thinking."

He brought her into the mansion, acting like he dotes on her, but he doesn't really care about her.

Prince Jing instructed the Princess Consort to arrange a good residence for Concubine Lian, keeping her well-fed and well-supplied, then just walked away and washed his hands of it, leaving Concubine Lian to get bullied in the rear court.

But Xie Run also recalled the Prince's temperament: "If she can't stand up for herself, the Prince won't say a word."

Forget about protecting her.

Even if Concubine Lian came from a lowly background, now that she's in the Prince's household, they're all equals.

As long as she's in the right and hasn't done anything wrong, she could always go raise a fuss in front of the Princess Consort and demand justice—that would also make an example of someone and establish her authority.

If she keeps quiet about being wronged from the start, she'll have plenty more to put up with later.

The Princess Consort is a generous and easygoing mistress, but she absolutely hates meddling in other people's business.

Just as Xie Run had predicted.

The Princess Consort had already heard that Consort Jiang had specifically summoned Concubine Lian to Songya Court to bully her.

She figured there'd be another scene in the rear court.

But who'd have thought Concubine Lian would be so good at swallowing her pride and never mention it?

So the Princess Consort acted like nothing happened and whiled away her days in her own courtyard.

The next day, Consort Jiang got even bolder.

Not only did she summon Concubine Lian to Songya Court again, but she also sent someone to fetch Concubine Fang.

Concubine Fang had been in the Prince's household for a while and naturally knew exactly what kind of person Consort Jiang was. She flat-out refused and didn't go along.

When Consort Jiang found out, she threw a fit.

She grew even more annoyed with Concubine Lian.

She took all her anger out on Concubine Lian.

On the first day, Consort Jiang just made Concubine Lian copy scriptures, claiming it was to pray for Prince Jing's blessings and safe return.

On the second day, she said she was craving lotus seed porridge and had a basin of lotus seeds brought for Concubine Lian to shell, until Concubine Lian's hands were actually bleeding from shelling them.

After two days of tormenting Concubine Lian, Consort Jiang figured she had her number and got even more reckless.

On the third day, she made up some flimsy excuse that Concubine Lian didn't know how to wait on people, and punished her by forcing her to kneel in the courtyard for an hour.

Even though the snow had stopped a while ago, it was still early spring.

When the wind blew, it felt like it could slice your face open.

The stone floor was cold and hard as rock.

After kneeling for an hour, Concubine Lian could barely walk straight.

When she got back, her knees were covered in bruises, and she came down with a fever that night.

Whether it was out of guilt or because someone tipped her off, Consort Jiang actually called the household physician for Concubine Lian.

The two of them made such a racket, yet no one reported it up the chain. The Princess Consort pretended not to notice, while everyone else enjoyed the drama.

They figured now that Consort Jiang had tormented Concubine Lian into getting sick, she'd finally lay off for a couple of days.

But who'd have guessed she'd set her sights on Xie Run next.

Last time she grabbed things openly; this time she stole behind everyone's back.

Xiaoshu went to pick up the food at the usual time, only to find two portions missing.

One was Xie Run's medicinal meal, and the other was her recovery soup.

These were specially made for Xie Run, who had just given birth, and no other courtyard got them.

When they realized the food didn't add up, the main kitchen staff panicked and searched everywhere for it.

Finally, they got the truth out of a young servant.

"I only saw Dong'er, who serves Consort Jiang, come by here."

"She carried Consort Jiang's meal and made a round through the kitchen before leaving."

"If anyone took it, it must have been her!"

Xiaoshu was furious.

A proper Consort, and she stooped to stealing things!

But she didn't dare act on her own, so she could only go back and ask her mistress what to do.

The main kitchen didn't dare shortchange Shufei Xie either, and hastily prepared two portions of standard soup instead.

"Please take these back, Miss Xiaoshu. The kitchen shares the blame for this, but please don't let it affect Lady Xie's meals."

Xiaoshu snorted: "You're certainly at fault!"

"A whole group of people, and you can't even keep track of the food!"

"If this gets reported to the Princess Consort, everyone in the main kitchen will be in trouble!"

The steward broke out in a cold sweat and said helplessly: "Please understand, Miss Xiaoshu."

"It's just that lunchtime is rushed, and every courtyard needs their meals delivered. Once we get busy, we can't keep track of everything."

"Who could have imagined someone would be so audacious as to steal Lady Xie's meal?!"

"I know you all feel wronged, but my lady feels even more so!" Xiaoshu didn't want to get on the bad side of the kitchen staff either, so she just stuck to the facts: "Since the stuff went missing in the main kitchen, it's up to the main kitchen to track it down."

"Those two new soups you've added—you didn't happen to take those from other ladies' portions, did you?"

"If this blows up, my lady would be the one getting hurt, and then she'd be falsely accused of bullying on top of that!"

Xiaoshu also knew about the main kitchen's shady ways of pulling the wool over people's eyes.

They always treated people differently depending on their status.

She was worried that if they saw Consort Shu shortchanged, they'd make up the difference by taking from the less favored concubines' portions.

If that happened, Xie Run wouldn't even have the face to call anyone out.

The steward kept denying it, "We'd never dare drag Consort Shu into this again."

Xiaoshu only said, "I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but my lady's stuff can't be shortchanged. Whether you can get the stuff back from Consort Jiang is on you guys in the main kitchen!"

The steward had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree, sending Xiaoshu off with proper deference.

By the time she got back to Chunshan Court, Xiaoshu wasn't as mad anymore and recounted the matter to Xie Run.

Xie Run smiled and said, "You've always been sharp."

"Making the main kitchen go ask Consort Jiang for the dishes—knowing her temper, she'll probably flip the whole kitchen."

"That'll make them mortal enemies."

It's always easier to deal with the big boss than the little minions.

If Consort Jiang remained firmly in her high position, the main kitchen wouldn't dare do anything.

But if she ever fell from grace, they'd show her what it means to mess with the wrong people.

Xiaoshu smiled and said, "As long as you don't think I did something wrong, my lady."

"You're loyal to me—do you think I'm unreasonable?"

Xie Run mused, "Consort Jiang has probably been spoiled and arrogant her whole life. Even if she kicks up a fuss today, she probably won't be satisfied. She'll likely find other ways to cause trouble tomorrow."

This kind of nasty dish-stealing business—once or twice is enough.

Xie Run then recalled what Prince Jing had told her before he left.

If she had the moral high ground, she could hit back.

Against someone like Consort Jiang, one couldn't just play at petty skirmishes.

You have to hit her once, hard, so she's truly scared and hurting—then she won't stir up trouble again.

Xie Run's gaze was calm as she slowly said, "I'll give her one more chance."

If Consort Jiang really oversteps her bounds, Xie Run would indeed have the moral high ground.

Sure enough, the main kitchen went to Consort Jiang to ask for the dishes.

Not only did they fail to get them, but Consort Jiang whipped them and sent her maids to smash up the kitchen.

The main kitchen was turned upside down.

The matter escalated, and the consort had no choice but to send someone to inquire.

Consort Jiang seemed to have learned her lesson, taking the initiative to weep and complain first.

"Those people in the main kitchen accused me out of thin air, claiming my maid stole Consort Shu's dishes."

"What status do I hold? Would I stoop to stealing a dish from a shufei?!"

"Your Highness, as the one managing the inner court, you should discipline the servants more strictly. These days they're so brazen, daring to question me!"