I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 183 Liwei Palace

Lu Mingyang felt even more upset as she listened. She remembered having eaten roast goose at a palace banquet. It was fat and tender, completely different from the geese in the village. It was not only free of the fishy smell, but also coated with nectar.

If my sister eats it, she will be happy for many days.

"Nian'er, am I really useless?"

It is true that kind people are often bullied. It all started with a roast goose. In addition, Prince Ningyuan stayed in the East Warm Pavilion for several days in a row. The servants in the mansion began to believe the rumor and started to change their attitude according to the situation.

The food delivered was short in weight, and when adding it to the East Warm Pavilion to curry favor, some ingredients were taken away. In this way, the cowardly temporary master of the main courtyard did not dare to say anything.

Not only was there food, but the manpower was short-sighted. The fallen leaves in the main courtyard were always too late to be swept, while the leaves in the east warm room were kept intact. The laundry was also delayed, and several beautiful cloud-shaped shoulder-length garments were lost.

At dinner that day, Lu Mingyang looked at the dripping bird's nest porridge and poured it upside down on the table: "Huanyun, call everyone to the front yard."

Half of the setting sun is hanging in the west, slightly supporting the gray sky.

Under the main hall's porch, men and women stood sparsely on both sides.

On the steps, Lu Mingyang sat on a tall square mahogany chair and looked through the list of servants in the mansion. Only half of them were there, and no one from the East Warm Pavilion was there.

Without asking why, she handed the list to Huanyun and coldly ordered, "Light one stick of incense, and then read the names from the list. Those who don't respond will be sold directly. Men will be sold to coal mines, and women to brothels."

A cook in the kitchen said anxiously, "Princess, they are all busy. The soup is still hot on the stove. If it gets cold, Your Highness will be angry when you return to the East Warm Pavilion."

Some even shouted from the crowd, "We are from the palace."

It would be too undignified to reply to these people. Lu Mingyang looked at the incense burner coldly and fanned it with his hand: "It's hot!"

Neither Huanyun nor Huanjin understood.

"Damn slave!"

At this moment, Zheng Hao, who was standing at the head of the team, stepped forward. He quickly fetched a cattail leaf fan, the kind used in the kitchen, and fanned the burning incense with it, sending whirling flames swirling around. Half the team members clamped their heads in fear, while the other half scattered like birds and beasts, running to call for help.

Soon the courtyard was filled with people. Except for the dowry whose indenture was in Qin Miao's hands, everyone else had come.

After Huanyun read out the name, Lu Mingyang raised her hand slightly and asked Huanyun and Huanjin to come forward for interrogation, while she just watched quietly.

Soon, a group of people knelt on the ground. Although they were kneeling, they did not seem to be afraid. They joked and explained their mistakes. Yes, they were just mistakes.

The head chef knelt on the ground, patted his cheeks lightly, and begged for mercy in a sarcastic tone: "This slave deserves to die. Princess, please calm down. This slave will make you roast goose tomorrow."

"No need." Lu Mingyang said coldly: "Huanyun, take his indenture and let him leave on his own."

"Princess, His Highness and the Concubine love the food I cook the most." Seeing that the princess was sitting there, unmoved, the head chef became anxious: "I am the imperial chef awarded to the palace by the palace. Your Highness, you are disrespecting the grace of heaven by doing this."

Huanyun was also a little scared and whispered in her ear, "Princess, do you want to ask His Highness before making a decision?"

If His Highness gets angry, she will be the first to suffer. Moreover, the indentures of the servants in the mansion are all in His Highness's study, so how could she get them?

Zheng Hao agreed again, and happily took out the indentures of everyone, and also picked out the indenture of the head chef, and presented it respectfully.

"Princess, please take a look."

"Sister, what are you doing?" Qin Miao walked quickly over with the support of Mudan, twisting her waist crookedly as a greeting.

Then, he laughed out loud and said, "It's just about some food. Why are you so angry, sister? It makes people feel petty."

Lu Mingyang said slowly, "Sister, you don't take care of the household, so you don't know how difficult it is to find money. By the way, when you have time, please report the names and number of your dowry maids to Huanyun. If the names and numbers don't match, the meal won't be enough, and you'll have to pay for it yourself."

"You..." Qin Miao controlled her emotions and said with a smile, "What my Qin family lacks the least is money. Especially food. Why don't you quickly send the food in my courtyard to my sister?"

She reminded the chef who was kneeling on the ground.

The head chef tried to stand up when a balled-up indenture was slammed down on his head. Lu Mingyang clapped his hands, looked at the others kneeling, and said loudly, "Today, this princess is showing mercy. Those who wish to go with him, come and claim the indenture. If you do not wish to leave, you may receive twenty lashes of the cane in this courtyard."

"Sister!" Qin Miao was furious. These people were all handpicked by her from the palace. Driving them away or punishing them with a cane would be a slap in the face. She threatened, "Aren't you afraid of the Queen Mother's blame?"

"Sister, you may not know this, but I, the princess, have lived in Shoukang Palace for over a few months now, and I've always remembered the eight words the Queen Mother taught me personally: when you're in charge of a palace, you must clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments, and punish harshly without mercy."

After Lu Mingyang finished speaking, he said to Zheng Hao, "Since they won't accept the punishment, give them the indentures as a reward."

"I am willing to be punished."

A young eunuch kowtowed first. With him leading the way, everyone else volunteered to be beaten. If they were driven out of the palace, no family would hire them to work; they were likely dead.

The sound of boards hitting each other could be heard in the yard.

The head chef knelt on the ground and kowtowed fiercely: "I am willing to accept the beating, and I beg the princess to spare my life."

"His Royal Highness is back!"

Someone shouted, and everyone looked towards the door of the mansion and saw Prince Ningyuan, who was the one who could truly control the life and death of everyone in the Ningyuan Palace.

The one being beaten cried out loudly: "Your Highness, spare my life."

Qin Miao trotted over and pretended to be frightened and said, "Brother Zheng, I don't know why I'm so angry!"

The head chef even knelt down and cried anxiously, "Your Highness, the princess has gone crazy."

"What did you say?" Chu Mingzheng suddenly glanced sideways.

The head chef shuddered with fear and stammered, "My family has been imperial chefs in the palace for generations, and I've never made a serious mistake. And just because I burnt a roast goose, the princess is sending me away."

He spoke tremblingly, but Chu Mingzheng ignored him and strode towards Lu Mingyang. Everyone made way for him, holding their breath.

Lu Mingyang grabbed the handrail and supported himself to stand up.

Chu Mingzheng walked over to Lu Mingyang's side, put his hand on his shoulder, and pushed him down, continuing to sit. He turned and looked at everyone, saying coldly, "All matters in the palace are decided by the princess."

After saying this, he turned and left. After a few steps, Chu Mingzheng turned back and pointed at the head chef: "You've been speaking foul language and spreading rumors about the princess. First, give him twenty lashes, and then do as the princess says."

"Brother Zheng!" Qin Miao lifted her skirt and chased after him.

Chu Mingzheng paused: "Miao'er, since the princess is admonishing the servants, you should set an example and listen carefully."

What? Qin Miao was stunned.

The sound of sticks rang out in the yard again, twice as loud.