Yun Chu took a sip of tea.

Her gaze fell upon Nanny Er.

Though Nanny Er kept her head lowered, she could feel that penetrating stare.

She didn’t know what Yun Chu intended to do, but she had her own confidence.

She was the Prince’s wet nurse, had raised the Prince with her own hands. No matter what, the Prince would give her the respect she deserved.

Furthermore, from when the Prince established his household until now—eleven years—the stewards of all the various courtyards had been selected by her personally. They could be considered her people.

There was no problem with the Princess Consort wanting to take charge of the household’s domestic affairs, but bringing it up now was still too hasty.

“Which ones are the steward maids under Nanny Er?” Yun Chu spoke slowly. “You few, step forward.”

Four or five maids walked out from the crowd with lowered heads.

She looked at the oldest one: “How many years have you followed Nanny Er?”

“In response to the Princess Consort, over ten years.”

“You’ve followed for over ten years yet still can’t shoulder great responsibilities.” Yun Chu smiled and shook her head. “So is it that you’re too foolish, or that Nanny Er doesn’t know how to manage and teach?”

The maid’s expression stiffened.

She very much wanted to say she wasn’t foolish at all.

Starting about five or six years ago, Nanny Er had handed over all affairs to her to manage. She only needed to report on major matters.

In fact, before the Princess Consort entered the residence, Nanny Er had already gradually begun to retire.

But recently, Nanny Er had suddenly begun managing the inner courtyard again. She understood—Nanny Er was unwilling to give the authority of household management to the Princess Consort.

She kept her head lowered: “It’s all this servant’s foolishness.”

Yun Chu set down her teacup: “If it were only you being foolish, that would make sense. But four or five of you, and not one can shoulder great responsibilities—I’m wondering if perhaps Nanny Er is too kindhearted and doesn’t know how to manage and teach her subordinates.”

Nanny Er was struck dumb.

She had said her subordinate maids were useless to tell the Princess Consort that these matters could only be done by her—that in this Prince’s residence, no one could replace her position.

But the Princess Consort had turned it back on her, leaving her speechless.

She took a deep breath: “What the Princess Consort says is correct. It’s this old slave who doesn’t know how to manage and teach. Please, Princess Consort, provide guidance.”

The Princess Consort was a daughter of the Yun family, the legitimate eldest daughter from a great aristocratic clan—she certainly knew how to manage household affairs. But the Prince’s residence was different from other residences; it had to interface with the imperial palace.

All matters of coordination between Prince Pingxi’s residence and the Palace Bureau of Internal Affairs were handled by her instructing her subordinates. The people in the palace only recognized her. Replacing her with someone else wouldn’t work—unless the Princess Consort personally handled coordination… but that would be beneath her status.

If she had a senior maid from the Princess Consort’s side handle it, the Bureau of Internal Affairs would adjust their treatment accordingly. The fabrics, fine horses, medicinal foods, seasonal gifts and other items they sent would certainly be inferior to those sent to other princes’ residences. When the Prince blamed her then, it would be more than enough trouble for the Princess Consort to handle.

“Nanny Er is an old hand in the Prince’s residence. What qualifications do I have to provide guidance?” Yun Chu paused before continuing: “However, since Nanny Er requires guidance, I’ll enter the palace to ask Mother Consort for a favor—to request that Nanny Guo come stay at the Prince’s residence for a few days.”

Nanny Er was struck dumb once again.

When she first became the Prince’s wet nurse, it was Nanny Guo who taught her the rules. Nanny Guo was very strict—she still remembered the fear and trepidation from those days.

She didn’t understand why the Princess Consort would have the old nanny from Consort Yin’s side come to the Prince’s residence to assist with managing household affairs. Wouldn’t this make Consort Yin think the Princess Consort lacked the ability to manage internal affairs?

Wasn’t the Princess Consort afraid of becoming worthless in Consort Yin’s eyes?

Yun Chu closed her tea lid: “The hour is about right. Everyone, go attend to your duties. You’re all dismissed.”

The next morning, Yun Chu brought Changsheng into the palace to pay respects to Consort Yin. Now that she was considered part of the imperial family, entering the palace was much more convenient than before.

Mother and daughter soon arrived at Changqiu Palace. Consort Yin had just returned from paying respects to the Empress, her face wearing a smile.

“Changsheng is here.” Consort Yin bent down and picked up the child. “Chu’er, the Empress just bestowed some palace flowers. See if there are any you like—take them back to wear for fun.”

“Thank you, Mother Consort.” Yun Chu followed her inside. “Mother Consort seems to be in very good spirits.”

Consort Yin’s smile deepened: “The second prince has made repeated mistakes and been stripped of his official position. All his previous cultivation in the Ministry of Finance has come to nothing. This morning, Consort Hui also fell ill. Tell me, isn’t this worthy of celebration?”

Yun Chu touched her forehead.

Though it was indeed worth celebrating, there was no need to write the joy all over her face.

She changed the subject: “I’ve just entered the Prince’s residence, and there are many internal affairs I don’t know how to manage. Could I request that Nanny Guo from Mother Consort’s side come assist me for a while?”

Consort Yin was somewhat surprised.

In her view, Yun Chu was an intelligent person and also a proud noblewoman. Even if she encountered trouble, she wouldn’t seek help from others—just like Yi’er.

Yun Chu lowered her head.

She had come to find Consort Yin mainly because Nanny Er was the wet nurse Consort Yin had found for Chu Yi back then.

She and Chu Yi were considered the younger generation.

Without Nanny Guo overseeing things, if something were to happen, explanations would be impossible.

Furthermore, regarding coordination between the Prince’s residence and the imperial palace in various aspects, she truly had things she didn’t understand and needed Nanny Guo’s guidance.

“You’re a good child—not pretending to know what you don’t.” Consort Yin said with a smile. “Nanny Guo, you go stay at the Prince’s residence for a while.”

It was rare for a daughter-in-law to proactively ask her mother-in-law for someone, rather than fearing the mother-in-law was planting spies.

She increasingly felt this daughter-in-law was an open and honest person—genuine toward the children and unguarded toward her as a mother-in-law.

Nanny Guo was now over sixty years old. She was very pleased there was still a place where she could be useful and immediately nodded: “Yes, this old slave will go pack right away.”

Yun Chu curtsied: “Many thanks, Mother Consort.”

Consort Yin kept Yun Chu and Changsheng for lunch before letting them leave the palace, with Nanny Guo accompanying them.

After arriving at the Prince’s residence, Yun Chu immediately had people prepare a large courtyard specifically for Nanny Guo to live in.

The Prince’s residence had no secondary consorts or common consorts—what it had plenty of was empty courtyards. Just as Nanny Guo settled in, Nanny Er came to pay her respects.

Nanny Guo sat steadily in her chair. She unhurriedly drank half a cup of tea before saying: “By rights, with you, Nanny Er, in the Prince’s residence, the Princess Consort wouldn’t seek help from Consort Yin’s quarters no matter what. What has happened?”

Nanny Er kept her head lowered: “Nanny Guo also knows my daughter had an unfortunate fate—her husband died before she could even marry, and she’s been keeping widow’s mourning. She served in the Prince’s residence since childhood, so I thought to have her return to serve the Princess Consort. Perhaps this action angered the Princess Consort, which is why she… Heaven and earth bear witness—if I had such intentions, I definitely wouldn’t have found a match for Ding Dong. I don’t know why the Princess Consort misunderstood…”

Nanny Guo frowned.

On the second day after the wedding, Princess Qinghua had brought up the matter of taking a secondary consort. Nanny Er’s action did indeed seem to carry that implication.

She said lightly: “Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Ding Dong in many years. Have her come so I can have a look.”

Nanny Er was about to lower her head and withdraw to bring her daughter over.

Nanny Guo looked at the young maid behind her: “You go summon Ding Dong.”

“Yes.”

The young maid immediately went to fetch her.

Nanny Er clenched her fingers tightly. She had originally wanted to instruct Ding Dong on a few things, but now there was no opportunity…