Chapter 18: Provocation

"Your Highness, Apricot Blossom Manor is too remote, and Mrs. Zhang is already frail. I fear it's not suitable. Though Prince Manor may be crowded and noisy, it will be sufficient to move to a quiet side courtyard. There's no need for such a grand operation."

Maid Wang's face was stern, and her words were forceful and clear.

It seemed she intended to make Lin Jiaojiao retract her orders.

As a princess, if she were controlled by an old nanny, she might as well not be a princess.

"Maid Wang, how dare you be disrespectful to the Princess?" Xuemei frowned and scolded Maid Wang, showing some strength.

Seeing this, Maid Wang glanced at Xuemei and said coldly, "How could a maid in the Princess's presence be so lacking in manners?"

Lin Jiaojiao hesitated while holding her teacup. If they were talking about being rude, who could be ruder than Maid Wang?

"How about I take over and teach the Princess's maids what rules are?" Maid Wang looked at her as if asking her permission.

However, just in the next moment, Maid Wang straightened her posture and ordered, "Take Miss Xuemei away."

After hearing this, several maids and old nannies from Consort Zhao's courtyard immediately approached, looking fierce and ferocious, clearly accustomed to making trouble in Prince Manor.

It seemed her punishment of Mrs. Zhang was an affront to the Empress Dowager, and Maid Wang was trying to regain face for the Empress Dowager.

But, dealing with her people right in front of her? Did they really think she didn't exist?

Seeing the maids and old nannies approaching, Xuemei was afraid, but she stood her ground without retreating, standing straight by Lin Jiaojiao's side.

Lin Jiaojiao just lowered her eyes and scraped her teacup, seemingly unconcerned.

Just as everyone was scoffing at her, a voice rang out: "I, the Princess, will see who dares!"

Her tone was light and gentle, yet it conveyed a stern, authoritative presence.

The old nanny at the front hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, and turned to look at Maid Wang.

"Princess, what do you mean by this?" Maid Wang's face darkened, her words seeming squeezed out from between her gritted teeth.

This was enough to prove how angry Maid Wang was at this moment.

She thought that because she was close to the Empress Dowager and favored by the useless young emperor, everyone except the Empress Dowager and Emperor should listen to her.

"I, as an old servant, am doing this for the sake of Prince Manor. Your Highness, you are of noble status, and naturally, the maids around you should have manners."

Lin Jiaojiao gently placed the teacup down, her posture elegant with no hint of anger on her face. Maid Wang was not important enough to make her angry.

She looked at the smug Zhao Shuang'er and said coldly, "When did Consort Zhao's servants get the right to discipline the maids in my courtyard?"

Zhao Shuang'er, who had been overjoyed, became startled and angry at her words: "Lin Jiaojiao, what do you mean by that?"

Her tone was both willful and arrogant.

Such a person, both bad and foolish.

She stared at Zhao Shuang'er and said coldly, "Consort Zhao has overstepped her bounds. She will be confined for half a month, and the people in Yilan Court will have their monthly wages docked for half a year as a warning to others!"

Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked, not expecting such an outcome.

Bang!

Zhao Shuang'er slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Lin Jiaojiao and shouting, "How dare you! My aunt is the Empress..."

Before she could finish, Maid Wang stopped her, giving Zhao Shuang'er a disgruntled look before bowing to Lin Jiaojiao again, "Your Highness, in consideration of Consort Zhao's first offense, please spare her from confinement."

Then, she knelt down and paid respects, "We are willing to accept punishment."

Maid Wang's kneeling caused a large number of Zhao Shuang'er's servants in Yilan Court to follow suit.

These were just the people Zhao Shuang'er had brought to give her greetings; if those left behind were counted, the number of people in Yilan Court would not be inferior to those serving in the Imperial Concubine's palace.

This was not a scene fit for a mere consort.

Seeing this, Lin Jiaojiao gently massaged her temples and waved her hand, "I, the Princess, am tired. Qingtao, send Consort Zhao away."