After Nanny Guo had stayed at Prince Pingxi’s residence for eight or nine days, she had more or less trained Yun Chu’s four dowry servants properly.

These four dowry servants—one managed all affairs of the inner courtyard, one coordinated with the Imperial Household Department, another oversaw the storehouses, and the last kept the accounts.

This was equivalent to holding all the management authority of the prince’s residence in their hands.

The servants who had previously been responsible for these matters all became assistants, and not a single one was willing to accept this.

So they came one after another to seek Nanny Er’s advice.

Nanny Er’s eyes were very heavy.

Once Nanny Guo left and the situation was set, she would never again have the possibility of turning things around.

She said coldly: “You’ve all seen it too—the Princess has no tolerance for others. Once the Princess’s people grasp power, next they’ll settle accounts with us old servants.”

Several servants felt immense regret in their hearts.

They had been in the prince’s residence for over ten years, sitting in the positions of chief stewards, and had skimmed off countless benefits—their days couldn’t have been more comfortable. Now everything was gone.

That day when the Princess made such a scene, they should have smoothly pledged their loyalty; things wouldn’t have turned out like this.

Now it was too late for regrets.

Nanny Er said indifferently: “I am the Prince’s wet nurse. No matter what, I can spend my remaining years at the prince’s residence. But you all are different… If you don’t think of some method, very soon the Princess will find some random excuse to drive each of you out.”

Having said this, she directly walked away.

The several servants looked at each other.

One of them gritted her teeth and said: “As long as we make sure the Princess has no one useful at hand, then we definitely can still remain.”

Another servant hurriedly waved her hands: “Forget it, forget it. I won’t get involved. Over these years I’ve already earned enough at the prince’s residence. If they drive me out, so be it.”

Only three servants remained. The group all saw determination in each other’s eyes.

Night gradually fell.

Yun Chu and Chu Yi were having dinner with the two children.

“Mother, the teacher praised me today.” Chu Hongyu couldn’t help showing off. “The teacher had me and Ninth Imperial Uncle both compose poetry, and I was slightly better!”

Yun Chu pinched his little cheek: “Our Yu’ge is the most capable.”

The little one raised his face: “Then Mother, reward me with a kiss.”

Just as Yun Chu was about to lower her head, Chu Yi reached out to stop her: “How about Father rewards you with a kiss instead?”

Chu Hongyu: “…”

He hurriedly shrank his neck and dodged away.

Yun Chu pulled the little one into her embrace and kissed his forehead once. The little one was immediately delighted and cast a provocative look at Chu Yi.

Chu Yi’s face darkened somewhat.

Yun Chu patted his arm: “Why do you always fuss with children?”

Just a five-year-old child—she didn’t know what this man was always calculating.

Chu Yi coughed and changed the subject: “Didn’t you just say you’ve found a teacher for Changsheng? Which one is it?”

“There are currently two candidates, and I can’t make up my mind.” Yun Chu said. “One is Teacher Huang, who once taught the princesses in the palace, and the other is Lady Liu from the scholarly Liu family.”

Teacher Huang had taught in the palace and was quite famous in the capital, but rather difficult to hire.

Lady Liu was a cousin from a branch of her sister-in-law’s maiden family. She wrote excellent calligraphy, and many talented women in the capital were Lady Liu’s students.

Chu Yi had heard of both these people. He nodded: “Chu’er, you can decide this matter yourself.”

Yun Chu was more inclined toward Lady Liu. Just as she was about to speak, she saw a servant from the outer courtyard rush in: “My lord, my lady, this is bad! The study has caught fire!”

Since getting married, Chu Yi had never gone to the study again. His office was in the east wing room of the main courtyard, emphasizing convenience above all.

Although he no longer worked in the study, there were still many official documents and ancient texts there. These items were extremely precious—even someone as exalted as a prince like Chu Yi couldn’t bear to let them just burn.

He immediately stood up: “Have everyone go to the study immediately to fight the fire!”

Yun Chu touched the two children’s heads, telling them to eat obediently, then rose and walked toward the study together with Chu Yi.

Fortunately it was discovered in time. The fire wasn’t too large—it only burned an empty room and didn’t cause too much damage.

“Buddha be praised!” Nanny Er stood outside the study with lingering fear. “Since the prince’s residence was established over ten years ago, such a thing has never happened. My lord, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. Otherwise, who knows what major incidents might occur in the future!”

Yun Chu said calmly: “Summon all the servants and maids on duty tonight.”

Tingfeng behind her immediately went to handle it.

Tingfeng returned quickly, followed by several servants and maids. The servant at the very front was one of Yun Chu’s dowry servants, surnamed He, called Nanny He.

“This old servant greets the Prince and Princess.” Nanny He’s face was somewhat pale. “Currently all matters regarding the prince’s residence courtyards are managed by this old servant. After nightfall, this old servant arranged for guards to inspect the entire residence. Only after confirming there were no problems did this old servant go to eat. It is this old servant’s fault!”

She had just taken over these matters at the prince’s residence, and whether large or small, she arranged everything personally, never daring to be negligent.

She also couldn’t understand why such a thing would happen.

But she knew that once it had happened, it was the fault of her, the managing servant.

She could accept being punished; she was just afraid that because of her dereliction of duty, the Prince would blame the Princess…

Nanny He’s knees went soft and she knelt on the ground: “It is all this old servant’s dereliction of duty. Please punish me, my lord!”

“The great fire burned down a wing room and nearly burned the prince’s residence library. Do you know how precious those books are? Your ten lives couldn’t compensate for them.” Nanny Er said sternly. “You are now the chief steward of the entire prince’s residence inner courtyard. When such a thing happens, what punishment do you deserve!”

At this moment, Nanny Guo came rushing over upon hearing the news.

Seeing that the wing room’s roof was nearly burned away, her expression was somewhat grave.

Could it be that she was wrong?

The people under the Princess had previously been servants of the Yun family. The Yun family had Madam Yun, so naturally it wasn’t the turn of these servants to handle any major matters.

Later when the Princess married into the Xie family, these several servants managed affairs at the Xie family for five years, but how could that kind of declining household compare with a prince’s residence?

She had ultimately overestimated the abilities of these several servants at the Princess’s side. She should have adopted a gradual approach rather than directly seizing power from Nanny Er.

Nanny Guo sighed, about to say something.

But she heard Yun Chu speak calmly: “Then in Nanny Er’s opinion, how should those who commit errors be punished?”

Nanny Er stared at Nanny He: “According to the prince’s residence regulations, those who commit such grave errors should be beaten to death with rods. However, Nanny He is one of the Princess’s dowry servants, so she should be dealt with by the Princess.”

Nanny He’s body couldn’t help but tremble.

She knew that the prince’s residence was different from the Yun family and even more different from the Xie family—it was impossible to give those who made mistakes another chance.

Although the Princess wouldn’t beat her to death with rods, she probably couldn’t stay at the prince’s residence any longer.

Still, she felt very wronged.

Tonight she had personally come to the study to inspect once—there was nothing that could trigger a fire, so she had left with peace of mind.

But if she explained, it would seem like shirking responsibility, so she could only accept it.

“Princess, this old servant…”

Just as she opened her mouth, Yun Chu raised her hand to indicate she need not say more.

At this moment, Qiutong came hurrying over and spoke: “Princess…”

“My lord!” Chengxu also quickly walked in from outside. “We’ve investigated—someone deliberately set the fire!”

Yun Chu looked toward Chu Yi.

Chu Yi also gazed at her, saying gently: “Since I’m here, you need not trouble yourself.”

Immediately his voice suddenly became severe. “Chengxu, explain clearly in detail!”