Chu Qiao looked at the visitor, and stopped chasing before she curtsied, “Your Highness.”
“Your Highness.” the servant girl also curtsied respectfully.
Dantai Yunhan fixed his gaze on the two people chasing and playing. He had heard his wife’s laughter from a distance, so he could not help but come in and take a look.
Chu Qiao looked at him and yawned, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
It was really no serious business, but Dantai Yunhan couldn’t say it loud that he came to visit her because he was bored and had nothing to do. So he simply said, “Heard a little noise when I was passing by.”
Chu Qiao looked at him and said, “Since Your Highness found it noisy, we will not have such noisy occasions anymore so that Your Highness won’t be bothered.”
Dantai Yunhan stared at her and said, “Hum. I know what kind of a person you are. I have to chew over every word you say. Maybe you have set up a trap in them again, which will cost me more than what I have gained.”
Chu Qiao quickly stuck out her tongue and said in flattery, “Those are all I have got. I’ve tried my best to keep from the-Prince-doesn’t-like-me zone. Besides, who can be as sophisticated as Your Highness?”
Dantai Yunhan looked at her, then looked away, and sat directly in Chu Qiao’s palace, sipping his tea. “Looks like you have more free time now. You don’t have to do anything special for me, just keep everything as usual.”
Dantai Yunhan also meant that she could do whatever she wanted to do without worrying about anything else. Now he was quite interested in Chu Qiao. If he was disoriented, he might not be able to dig out anything.
“Thank you for your consideration. I’m honored.” Chu Qiao tilted her head.
Suddenly, a servant girl came from outside. She saw that Dantai Yunhan and Chu Qiao were both there, “Your Highnesses.”
Chu Qiao frowned. Seeing that the girl was so panicky, she didn’t know if the girl would say something that was offensive to Dantai Yunhan. So she raised her voice first, “What’s the matter? Why so panic? Calm down. You’ll be convicted if you offend the Prince.”
The servant girl apologized, and implored Chu Qiao and Dantai Yunhan, “I know I’m guilty, but our master will soon be beaten to death by those people!”
A thought began transpiring in Chu Qiao’s mind, “Who is your master?”
The servant girl was in such a hurry that she could not speak properly, “My master is… is the Attendant Consort!”
This servant girl was not the personal maid of Zhong Jinchun, so her face didn’t ring any bells to Chu Qiao. If she had known earlier, she would not have asked that same question.
“Your Highness…” Although Chu Qiao was worried, she didn’t dare to act rashly in the presence of Dantai Yunhan, so she had to ask first.
Dantai Yunhan stood up and said, “You are the Princess. It’s your duty to handle domestic affairs for me. It happens that I don’t have anything else to attend to. Let’s go together and I’ll have a look as well.”
Chu Qiao agreed, then they went to Zhong Jinchun’s place. Before entering the gate, a grieved cry of Zhong Jinchun came first. Chu Qiao frowned. She was the Princess, but these people were physically punishing Zhong Jinchun without asking for her permission.
Dantai Yunhan listened to the screams while standing outside, and said, “It’s a totally different scene compared to your place. Listen! Do they scare you?”
Chu Qiao knew that he was joking, so she didn’t respond to his question. She went straight into Zhong Jinchun’s courtyard and saw a big group of people. Surprised by the number of people involved in it, she spoke up with a sullen look, “I didn’t know that you have grown so daring and bold.”
Chu Qiao looked at Dantai Yunhan and decided to spice it up, “You ignored the Prince and me, the Princess, and punished a concubine without my consent, which in itself should be condemned!”
His words were resolute. Everyone stopped talking upon Chu Qiao and Dantai Yunhan’s arrival. They looked at each other and seemed frightened. Chu Jiao was not scared, and she said straightforward, “Your Highness, I expect that you know about the Attendant Consort’s theft?”
Chu Qiao seemed calm on the surface, “Even if it is true, she is the Attendant Consort after all. It would never be you who should exercise the punishment, if any. You dare to do so in front of me, the Princess. Does that mean you think I’m a pushover?”
Chu Jiao looked at Chu Qiao without the slightest fear: “Punishment? No, we just wanted to find out whether my lost bracelets was at Attendant Consort Zhong’s place, but she didn’t allow us to. So people gathered in front of her place and began to nudge each other slightly, which makes you think that we are bullying her.”
Chu Qiao looked at Chu Jiao’s unruly face and said, “Looks like smart talk is all you have got. Are you going to challenge my authority as the Princess?”
Dantai Yunhan was annoyed by their non-stop quarrel, but he also had his own plan in mind, so he helped Zhong Jinchun up and said, “The Princess is right. As my legitimate wife, she has the responsibility and right to deal with matters for me. How can the Princess be respected if you keep acting like this?”
Amazed and slightly moved by his favorable words, Chu Qiao looked at Dantai Yunhan in awe. However, she managed to remain calm and said, “Chu Jiao, what has Attendant Consort Zhong stolen from you?”
Having thanked Dantai Yunhan for his help, Zhong Jinchun ran to Chu Qiao and pleaded, “Your Highness, please do me justice!”
Chu Jiao felt disgusted at the sight of Zhong Jinchun’s face, so she answered, “Your Highness, Attendant Consort Zhong has stolen a pair of jade bracelets which are more precious than my own life to me.”
Having expected Chu Jiao’s trick, Chu Qiao asked straightforward, “Then how can you be so sure that your precious bracelets are in Attendant Consort Zhong’s room?”
“Well, when I found my bracelets were gone, I intentionally invited all the concubines to my palace for tea. And I felt that something was wrong for all the concubines came except Attendant Consort Zhong.”
“Since my bracelets were missing, as my maid just said, naturally I should start with Sister Zhong’s room.”
Chu Qiao asked, “Is it found now?”
“Yes.”
“From where?” asked Chu Qiao.
“Behind the altar.” answered Chu Jiao.
“Is it the altar with a compartment in Attendant Consort Zhong’s room?”
Hearing this, Chu Jiao answered without hesitation, “Exactly.”
“Nonsense! Clearly you are trying to set Attendant Consort Zhong up, for there is no compartment in the altar in her room. Chu Jiao shall be grounded for a month because of her attempt to frame Zhong Jinchun, and the other concubines involved in this issue shall get no monthly money from the Prince Palace next month as a punishment!” Chu Qiao snapped.
Dantai Yunhan tilted his head and looked at Chu Qiao curiously.