Gu Mochen raised his head slightly, then quickly lowered it again.
Once this rule is in place, no one in this hall can escape it.
Gu Moran stumbled again.
"Your Majesty, I request that you send people to each household within the palace, not to investigate the private affairs of the inner quarters, but only to check the account books, gatekeeper records, and the comings and goings of carriages. After the inspection, seal the documents and have them archived by the Imperial Clan Court."
Lu Huaizhang's face darkened.
"Is Your Highness planning to drag all the court ladies into this?"
Gu Moran turned her head.
"Isn't Censor Lu worried about the country? When the fate of the nation is at stake, what's a few accounts to check?"
Finally, someone in the right-hand train couldn't stand it any longer and stepped out.
"Your Majesty! I believe this is inappropriate!"
Gu Moran glanced over at it.
Zhao Chengwen, the Vice Minister of Ministry of Rites, was a man of the Second Prince.
This man had praised his wife for her meticulous management of the household at the palace banquet, but today he was the first to step forward and check the accounts.
Zhao Chengwen leaned forward and said, "The interactions of noblewomen often involve clan marriages and social obligations. If all of them are registered, it might damage the dignity of the court."
Gu Moran waited until Zhao Chengwen finished uttering the word "decent" before looking up.
"Lord Zhao is right, appearances are important."
Zhao Chengwen's brows relaxed.
Gu Moran continued, "So, the dignity of the Prince Yi's Residence is no longer needed?"
Zhao Chengwen's lips moved, but he didn't respond.
Another official stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, there are many officials of the Fifth Rank. If we submit a report every three days, the Imperial Clan Court will find it difficult to handle."
Gu Moran recognized him.
Han Xiu, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, has recently become close to the Second Prince.
This sounds like a way of saving the court trouble, but in reality, it's an attempt to shirk responsibility and slack off.
Gu Moran looked at Han Xiu.
"Don't worry, Han Shaoqing. All six wives of Prince Yi's Residence can register. Your families are very strict, and your rules are much stricter than those of Prince Yi's Residence. I don't think it will take many sheets of paper."
Han Xiu lowered his head and said, "Your Highness misunderstands my meaning."
Gu Moran nodded.
"So, Han Shaoqing thinks the Imperial Clan Court is incapable of handling the matter?"
Han Xiu, his neck stiff, said, "Your Highness, please don't..."
Someone coughed inside the hall.
Han Xiu shut up and stepped back.
An old minister from the Ministry of War stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, checking gatekeepers and carriages can easily unsettle the people. The elixir case is still unresolved, and the capital is already on edge. If we were to investigate the accounts again, who knows what rumors would spread outside."
Upon hearing the words "elixir case," Gu Moran pressed the corner of the testimony with the pad of her finger in her sleeve.
Is this person trying to smooth things over?
He kowtowed to the emperor.
"Father, I am also afraid of gossip. If we only investigate Prince Yi's Residence, people will say that you suspect me."
He paused for a moment, his face full of grievance.
"If all officials investigate together, that's called the Emperor's might overseeing the entire family; both thunder and rain are expressions of divine grace!"
The old minister from the Ministry of War's expression changed.
Gu Moran continued, sounding aggrieved, "Your subject knows he is of lowly status and his words carry little weight, and have never been heard by you gentlemen. If you gentlemen find this troublesome, your subject dares not insist."
As soon as he said that, several people who were about to step out of line stopped and pulled their feet back.
Lu Huaizhang remained kneeling on the spot, pressing his official tablet even lower.
He originally obeyed Lord Chen's order to investigate the Prince Yi's Residence.
Now, the flames, stirred up by Gu Moran, have spread to the sleeves of the entire court.
The emperor looked at the people below the throne and frowned.
"Third brother, you have a lot of ideas."
Gu Moran a bitter expression.
"Where did I get this idea? Wasn't it Lord Lu who suggested it?"
"Your Majesty, I'm terrified. If you continue to send people to punish me, when I return home tonight, Su-shi will ask me why I couldn't even protect my innocence, Shen-shi will force-feed me bitter medicine, Lin-shi will call me a good-for-nothing."
He paused for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I am of little use and am afraid of my wife. But what pains me even more is that Father Emperor will doubt me."
The hall was deathly silent; no one dared to breathe loudly at that moment.
The emperor flipped through a couple of pages of the memorial in his hand, then casually tossed it onto the imperial desk with a loud thud.
Lu Huaizhang.
"Your subject is here!" Lu Huaizhang kowtowed, his head hitting the ground.
"From now on, when you write a memorial, think it through first. If you dare to bother me with such baseless and trivial matters again, go back to your hometown and farm!"
"I... obey your order!"
The emperor then looked at Gu Moran.
"Third brother."
Gu Moran up.
The emperor stared at him.
"Go back and tell those six women in your household to behave themselves and not overstep their bounds."
Gu Moran bowed.
"Your subject obeys the decree."
The emperor stared at Gu Moran for a moment.
"Roll."
The palace doors were pushed open by a palace attendant, and the wind from outside rushed in.
Chen Dehai escorted him to the palace gate, his whisk hanging down his sleeve.
" Your Prince Yi, His Majesty has been troubled by many matters lately. Please drive slowly on your way back to the residence."
Gu Moran glanced at him.
Eunuch Zhang's words, "Keep the windows closed," echoed in my ears once more.
He cupped his hands in greeting.
"Please, Eunuch, do me a favor and show some filial piety before the Emperor."
In a side hall of the Eastern Palace, Chen Qinglan leaned against the door frame.
The burn patch was applied to the inside of my calf, and the patch was chafed by the fabric of my skirt. With every step I took, the pain climbed upwards.
Caiwei, the personal maid, followed behind carrying a bowl of medicine. When she saw her stop, she quickly put the bowl into her bosom.
"Your Majesty, let me help you."
Chen Qinglan looked down into the corridor.
Cui, the old Matron Cui served the Crown Prince, had already entered the courtyard, followed by two young palace maids carrying account books and old keys.
The keys clattered together.
Chen Qinglan twisted the handkerchief between her fingers inside her sleeve.
The day before yesterday, a visiting card from the Qin Family's villa was delivered to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince met the Qin Family's visitors in his study, without even entering the side hall.
The words Caiwei had inquired about were still ringing in her ears.
Qin Jingzhi served as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. Many of his students and old friends worked in the arms and grain departments, while his eldest daughter was still unmarried.
The Eastern Palace has no shortage of servants.
What's missing is the Ministry of War.
Chen Qinglan loosened her grip on the doorframe and turned to sit on the edge of the tatami mat.
"Let them in."
Caiwei placed the medicine bowl on the coffee table, her throat tight.
"Your Majesty, we just reduced your allowance, and today you brought account books and keys again. If this continues, what will be left of you as the principal wife?"
Chen Qinglan picked up the bowl of medicine.
The bitter taste lingers on the back of the tongue.
"Open the door."
Caiwei bit her lip and went to open the door.
When Matron Cui entered, her manners were perfunctory.
Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess.
Chen Qinglan took a sip of the medicine.
What brings you here, Granny?
Matron Cui placed the account book on the table.
"His Highness has ordered that expenses have increased recently. The charcoal allowance will be reduced by another 30%, the snacks will be discontinued, and meat dishes will be omitted from the dinner."
Caiwei gripped her sleeve tightly.
Chen Qinglan did not look up.
"Do as instructed."
Matron Cui was momentarily speechless at those two words, then pushed the old key string forward half an inch.
"There is one more thing. His Highness said that Her Majesty's recovery is of utmost importance, so the Eastern Palace Treasury will be temporarily entrusted to this old servant."
Chen Qinglan looked at the bunch of keys.
If she hands it over, she will only have the title of principal wife left.
If she doesn't hand it over, the Crown Prince can use this opportunity to accuse her of being arrogant and domineering.
She put down the empty bowl.
"Since His Highness has given the order, please take it, Granny."
Matron Cui smiled, her face crinkling at the corners of her eyes.
"Your Highness is truly sensible. His Highness will surely remember Your Highness's virtue."
Before she finished speaking, she turned around and walked to the several sandalwood trunks next to the dressing table in the inner room, and unceremoniously ripped open the lids.
"What are you doing!" Caiwei rushed forward to stop her. "These are the dowry trunks brought by the Empress's maternal family. Who gave you permission to touch them!"
The old woman pried open the Caiwei with one hand, her strength was extraordinary.
"What's all this noise about? A golden ruyi, bestowed by the Emperor, has gone missing from the Eastern Palace. His Highness has given a strict order to search every nook and cranny. If you're upright, you have nothing to fear. Do you think you can just let this old servant take a look?"