The emperor naturally didn’t give a darn about the maid’s fate.
The Old Emperor glanced at Princess Ming Yue and remarked with a hint of admonishment, "Xi Yue, it’s high time you change your ways. You can’t just seize everything you desire for yourself. There are numerous chefs in the capital who can make pastries, yet you insist on snatching Taohua Dessert’s pastry chef. If you take their chef, how will Taohua Dessert continue its business? The Sui Feng Village Lady is Yi Er’s grandmother in the populace. Thanks to her meticulous care, Yi Er was able to reunite with me, his grandfather. Your actions today might lead the Sui Feng Village Lady to believe that our Royal Family is ungrateful and bullies others."
"Since the misunderstanding at Prince Yu Mansion today was caused by Xi Yue, shouldn’t you quickly apologize to the Sui Feng Village Lady?"
Princess Ming Yue looked at Tong Huaqiong upon hearing those words.
It was only at this moment that she realized that the rural owner of Taohua Dessert was the Grand Prince’s foster grandmother among the commoners.
No wonder the emperor was so biased towards her.
And she was expected to apologize to a madwoman from a rural area—why should she?
Even if she raised the Grand Prince, so what? Having the honor of nurturing a royal bloodline should be her blessing, and she ought to feel grateful.
"Royal Uncle, this whole matter was started by Taohua Dessert’s pastry chef," Princess Ming Yue replied, quite indignant. "A mere pastry chef dares to defy our Royal Family."
If only that chef had listened to her earlier, none of today’s affairs would have occurred.
The Old Emperor’s face grew stern.
Tong Huaqiong mused about how foolish Princess Ming Yue was.
Prince Yu spoke gravely, "Xi Yue, what nonsense are you spouting. It seems I’ve spoiled you to the point where you can’t distinguish right from wrong. You were the one in the wrong, and while you enjoy Taohua Dessert’s pastries, you should buy them instead of stealing their pastry chef."
He then turned to the Old Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I intend to send Xi Yue to Longhua Temple for cultivating her temperament. She should emerge only when she’s matured and calm enough."
Yet, he didn’t have the heart to send his daughter off to endure hardship in a temple.
The Prince Yu Mansion had narrowly escaped charges of treason. He couldn’t dare risk his daughter potentially angering the emperor again.
Hearing Longhua Temple, Xi Yue almost screamed in refusal.
But seeing the emperor’s cold expression, she sobered up immediately.
"Apologize to the Sui Feng Village Lady immediately." Prince Yu gritted through his teeth.
The princess, full of grievances, bowed her head to apologize to Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong, however, said, "Whether the Commandery Princess apologizes to a commoner woman like me doesn’t matter. His Majesty just mentioned that I still need to run my business in Shengjing, and Taohua Dessert has so many clerks to support, and these clerks have families to feed. Now the entire Shengjing knows that Taohua Dessert offended the Commandery Princess. I’m afraid from now on; people won’t dare patronize Taohua Dessert. My clerks would probably be unable to find jobs elsewhere if they leave Taohua Dessert. Wouldn’t that mean they’ll have no livelihoods? Your Majesty, may I make an unreasonable request? Could I trouble the Commandery Princess to go to East Market Street to clarify this misunderstanding for everyone? Just so my clerks have a means to earn a living."
"You are insolent."
Princess Ming Yue’s volatile nature was once again provoked by Tong Huaqiong’s jab.
What did that madwoman mean by asking her to apologize on the street?
She’d rather die.
She underestimated Tong Huaqiong today, and she couldn’t possibly apologize publicly.
The Old Emperor smiled and looked toward Prince Yu, asking, "What does royal brother think of Sui Feng Village Lady’s request?"
Prince Yu cursed inwardly. What could he think?
If the emperor hadn’t planned to agree, he would’ve rejected Tong Huaqiong’s request earlier. Now asking for his opinion was just to let the Prince Yu Mansion lose face in public.
This apology Xi Yue had to make in public.
Prince Yu respectfully said, "Xi Yue indeed was in the wrong regarding this matter, and Taohua Dessert deserves an explanation."
The Old Emperor nodded, saying, "It will also demonstrate to everyone that the Prince Yu Mansion harbors no treasonous intentions, clearing the Prince Yu Mansion of all suspicions, even if it slightly wrongs Xi Yue."
Prince Yu quickly replied he dared not, Xi Yue was not wronged.
So it was decided.
Princess Ming Yue would publicly apologize to Tong Huaqiong and the pastry chef of Taohua Dessert.
The Old Emperor resumed a benevolent demeanor and said, "Royal brother’s head injury pains me to see, summon the Imperial Physician to attend to you."
Imperial Physicians soon arrived and bandaged Prince Yu’s head.
Seeing the emperor was tired, everyone began to take their leave.
As they walked out of Jinluan Palace, Princess Ming Yue glared at Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, vowing revenge on the mother-daughter duo.
It was her first time offending people in Shengjing, and she had to get back at them.
"Grandmother."
"Aunt Taohua."
The Grand Prince hurried over, accompanied by Man Er, Yao Zu, and Duo Er.
"Greetings to the Grand Prince."
Everyone in the palace, including Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua, had to salute Zhao Yi.
The Grand Prince held Tong Huaqiong’s hand and coldly regarded Princess Ming Yue, "Why did Aunt Princess bully my grandmother and aunt?"
Princess Ming Yue’s gaze towards the Grand Prince carried evident disdain.
A deposed Crown Prince’s son, with no parents or power—no different from a wastrel.
If the emperor didn’t consider him harmless, he wouldn’t have welcomed him back.
He was just going to be a neglected minor prince in the future.
Princess Ming Yue replied, "Who bullied them? Do they deserve it? I merely collided with them."
Prince Yu rebuked, "Xi Yue, enough with your nonsense."
He turned to the Grand Prince, smiling, "Grand Prince, you’ve been reinstated and inscribed on the Jade Dishware, remember as a royal descendant, be careful whom you acknowledge as paternal family members; Otherwise, your Grandfather Emperor may be displeased by you casually calling someone grandmother."
Prince Yu thought he was giving good advice.
How could illustrious royal descendants claim kinship with commoners?
A mere commoner dared to accuse him of treason.
Much like his father, the former Crown Prince, who mingled with commoners, excessively favoring the populace in his reforms, thereby infringing upon the interests of the aristocracy—hence the united aristocratic suppression leading to his downfall.
He wanted to show Tong Huaqiong that the Grand Prince wasn’t as formidable as she thought.
The Grand Prince looked up with his clear dark eyes at Prince Yu and asked, "Does Grandfather Emperor know that Prince Yu keeps guessing his intentions every day?"
Prince Yu was instantly rendered speechless.
"Grand Prince, take care."
This statement almost broke Prince Yu’s composure.
He underestimated this little Grand Prince.
Prince Yu took Princess Ming Yue and left.
Tong Huaqiong found immense pleasure in this encounter.
The little Grand Prince wasn’t easy to trick; a single statement from him nearly made Prince Yu lose his temper.
The Grand Prince, with his big bright eyes, said to Tong Huaqiong, "Grandmother, you’re amazing; I heard you made Prince Yu Mansion suffer a huge setback today."
Tong Huaqiong chuckled, ruffling his hair, "You’re even more amazing; you made Prince Yu leave in a fury."
The grandma and grandson chatted for a while.
Man Er came forward, holding Tong Huaqiong’s hand, chattering about her life in the palace these past two days.
"Grandmother, I want to go home," Man Er said.
Tong Huaqiong thought Man Er had been bullied in the palace, but Man Er shook her head, explaining she feared her mother and grandmother would worry if she didn’t return, and that timid Duo Er would be better off outside the palace, reunited with family.
That’s when Su Chengmin approached, telling Tong Huaqiong that a welcoming banquet for the Grand Prince would be held in five days, and the emperor wished for the three children to stay and accompany the Grand Prince until then, after which they’d leave the palace.
So with the emperor’s orders, they could only wait five days before taking the children outside the palace.
After comforting Man Er and Duo Er, Tong Huaqiong hurriedly caught up with Prince Yu and Princess Ming Yue.