Lu Qing Wan smiled and nodded, "Your servant has only just entered the manor today and is not yet familiar with its rules. May I ask the Prince to enlighten me on how to deal with such a lowly servant who has been disrespectful and offended the main mistress?"
As her words fell, she gently pushed open the door behind her, revealing Feng Xi Wu's face. The woman in the pink skirt was stunned.
"Your, Your Highness?"
Feng Xi Wu wasn't in the inner hall? How could he be outside?
As an old servant of the manor, she was most aware of the manor's layout. Feng Xi Wu preferred quiet, and important matters were often discussed in his study, which was divided into an inner and outer room. The inner room was made with special soundproofing materials, so once the door was closed, even thunder wouldn't be heard.
The maid knew this, which was why she dared to disrespect Lu Qing Wan at the study door. After all, this Consort was new and had a bad reputation, while her own virtues were praised by everyone in the manor. She thought she could give the new Consort a proper warning.
She never expected Feng Xi Wu to be in the outer room, not even far from the door. Did His Highness hear everything she just said?
Feng Xi Wu looked at Lu Qing Wan thoughtfully, then turned indifferently to the woman in pink. "It seems you've forgotten my instructions when I first assigned you to care for the young heir."
"That's not true, Your Highness!" the woman in the pink skirt knelt and pleaded, "It was the Consort, she was bullying the young heir. This servant couldn't stand it and rashly offended the Consort in a moment of urgency..."
She, a dignified eighth-rank female official from the palace, had run to care for an ignorant child simply to be close to the Regent Prince and secure a place by his side. She had thought that by making the young heir dependent on her, she could at least secure a position as a secondary consort given her status. But now, with this woman's arrival, not only could she forget about becoming a secondary consort, but the Prince had also witnessed her impertinence.
Thinking that once expelled from the manor by the Regent Prince, no powerful family in the capital would dare employ her, the woman tried her best to shift the blame to Lu Qing Wan. However, she didn't know that Feng Xi Wu had no intention of punishing her.
Listening to her excuses, Feng Xi Wu bypassed her and spoke directly to Lu Qing Wan, "The people of the Regent Prince's manor either come from the palace or the Xuan Jia Army. The men are bound by military law, and the women by palace rules. According to palace rules, misleading the young ruler is punishable by execution. Disrespecting superiors warrants thirty strokes of the cane, and offending the master results in banishment to the imperial prison, never to be released. Since you were eager to manage the manor for me, this is a task for you to practice on."
"Your Highness!" The woman in the pink skirt's almond eyes widened in disbelief. She thought that since she was a person bestowed by Concubine Dowager Wen, Feng Xi Wu would show some consideration. She never expected him to disregard Concubine Dowager Wen's face.
Lu Qing Wan ignored the woman's actions and bent down to playfully stroke the child's chubby face. "Weren't you looking for your father? Go on. Your father is unwell today, so he's in your care for the night. You must watch him take his medicine, ensure he sleeps, and protect him, understand?"
The child, who had been looking at the woman in pink with worry, forgot everything when he heard he had to take care of Feng Xi Wu. His grape-like eyes sparkled as he looked at Feng Xi Wu. Seeing the latter nod, he excitedly clenched his fist and said, "Yuan'er will definitely protect Father and won't let any bad people harm him!"
Lu Qing Wan was surprised. This child, though appearing somewhat naive, wasn't entirely clueless. She patted his head. "Go."
The child trotted happily towards Feng Xi Wu. Lu Qing Wan gave Li Yang a look, and he, understanding, subtly closed the door. He then inquired with great discernment, "Consort, how should this woman be dealt with?"
"Thirty slaps to the face, and then sell her off," Lu Qing Wan said without hesitation.
The woman sprang up. "Lu Qing Wan, how dare you! I was bestowed upon the Prince by the Concubine Dowager. If you dare to sell me, are you not afraid of having to answer to the Concubine Dowager?"
"Still got the energy to jump around? It seems thirty slaps weren't enough. Add another thirty strokes of the cane," Lu Qing Wan said calmly, tidying her sleeves. "Gather all the servants in the manor and administer the punishment in front of everyone. Also, let them know that I cannot tolerate any disrespect. If anyone dares to use the young heir to play games with me, this woman will be a warning."
"Lu Qing Wan!" The woman shouted in rage, but before she could utter any curses, Li Yang covered her mouth. "Allowing the young heir to call you 'aunt' and directly address the Consort by name, and then daring to threaten the Consort? I think you're tired of living." With that, he signaled for people to drag the woman away.
Screams echoed from outside, but Lu Qing Wan calmly reviewed the accounts. "Sort out all the items from the palace that cannot be sold. For jewelry and clothing, pick out what can be used, and what cannot be sold should be converted into cash and registered separately..."
Several dowry maids stood below with troubled expressions. "What, is there a problem?"
The answer came from Feng Xi Wu, who had returned from outside. "You're selling off dowries as soon as you enter the manor? Is the Consort in such dire need of money?" The man had just finished his medicinal bath and was wearing a soft brocade robe, his hair tied back with a single ribbon, looking quite relaxed.
The maids quickly bowed and retreated to the side. Lu Qing Wan also stood up. "Your Highness just finished your medicinal bath. You should be resting. Why have you come over?"
A hint of a smile flickered in Feng Xi Wu's eyes. "My room is right here. If I don't come back, how can I rest?"
Lu Qing Wan blushed. "I was going to ask earlier, but got busy and forgot. Where is my courtyard?" If she remembered correctly, the masters of the manor should have their own independent courtyards. After all, the Prince wouldn't necessarily sleep with the Consort every night. If the Prince had other intentions, wouldn't it be awkward to live together?
Unexpectedly, Feng Xi Wu asked without batting an eyelid, "What, is the vast Wutong Courtyard not enough for the Consort to live in?"
"It's enough to live in, but in ordinary noble households, wouldn't the lord and the main mistress not live in the same courtyard?" Lu Qing Wan was somewhat speechless. "Besides, if I live here, where will I put my dowry? I can't possibly kick Li Yang and the others out, can I?" Feng Xi Wu's mobility was limited, and Li Yang and the others lived in the east and west rooms of Wutong Courtyard.
"You mentioning it reminds me. Move one of the rooms where they live. It's a waste to give each of them a separate room, as they are all bachelors anyway." Li Yang, who had just been shot in the knee, heard his master say ruthlessly, "You, Li Yang, will immediately move in with Li Jin. Your room will be cleaned and given to the Consort to store her dowry."
Li Yang bravely protested, "Your Highness, this subordinate does not wish to live in the same room as Li Jin." That fellow was incredibly fussy; his bed had to be perfectly smooth, and he would arrange his shoes neatly before sleeping. Living with him would drive him crazy or Li Jin crazy, neither would end well.
Feng Xi Wu raised an eyebrow coolly. "Or would you prefer I arrange a marriage for you and Li Su, and you move in with her?"
"No, no! This subordinate will go and make room for the Consort right away!" Li Yang jumped up as if his backside were on fire and ran out.
Lu Qing Wan: ... At least it's a place for her to stay, could he not ask her opinion?