freenovelworld Chapter 497 The Madam's Fury: Get Out of Here, You Unruly Servant!
Chapter 497 The Madam's Fury: Get Out of Here, You Unruly Servant!
Su Wan's face was somewhat pale, her lips were tightly pursed, and her eyes were slightly red, but she stubbornly refused to shed a tear.
“Granny Li,” Chu Ruohan stepped forward, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable force, “Sister Su is a beginner and inevitably clumsy, so please be patient with her.”
"It's getting late. Why don't we call it a day and let her rest for a while, then continue tomorrow?"
Granny Li glanced at Chu Ruohan, her expression softening slightly, but she still insisted.
"Madam's consideration for Miss Su is well-intentioned, but palace rules are ironclad; a slight deviation can lead to disastrous consequences. If she is not strictly disciplined today, she will bring shame to the royal family once she enters the palace."
She paused, then added, "This old servant is only acting under orders and dares not slack off."
Chu Ruohan understood that Li Mama was speaking to her.
In the past few days, Li Mama's teaching of Su Wan has been more of a torment than a lesson.
From dawn till dusk, every aspect of life—standing posture, sitting posture, walking, speaking, and even the curvature of the fingers when serving tea or water—must be precise down to the millimeter.
Chu Ruohan understands these basic etiquette rules, and Su Wan will have to learn them sooner or later.
However, what Li Mama taught never touched on the most crucial etiquette procedures during the investiture ceremony or even the emperor and empress's wedding.
She just kept fussing over these mundane daily matters...
This is clearly a case of paying lip service while secretly trying to embarrass Su Wan on her wedding day and make her a laughingstock for the whole world!
This made the emperor, who had defied public opinion to establish an empress, and Gu Junze, who had given his full support, lose face!
Chu Ruohan's cool gaze fell on Granny Li, "After a few days of instruction from Granny Li, Su's posture has become more and more standard."
"I just wonder, did you teach me even a little bit about the procedures for the investiture ceremony and the emperor and empress's wedding?"
Granny Li's face stiffened for a moment, then she raised her head and said, "Those complicated etiquettes cannot be learned overnight. Naturally, we should wait until Miss Su has laid a solid foundation in these basics before discussing them."
"This old servant is acting on the imperial decree. Everything is done according to the established procedures, and I dare not make any mistakes."
Chu Ruohan smiled softly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes; instead, it carried a chilling coldness.
"Oh? Is that so?" She strode forward and walked up to Granny Li. Although she was slightly smaller than Granny Li, her aura completely suppressed her.
"Granny Li, I'd like to ask you, in this Duke Zhenguo's mansion, who is the master and who is the servant?"
Granny Li was stunned by her sudden and fierce aura, and was speechless for a moment.
But then he stiffened his neck and said, "This old servant is a palace servant, so naturally I obey the palace's orders. Although the Duchess of Zhenguo is noble, she has no say in palace affairs."
She still held her head high, seemingly certain that Chu Ruohan wouldn't dare to do anything to her.
"What a fine person from the palace!" Chu Ruohan laughed instead of getting angry. Her smile was like an icicle in the dead of winter, cold and hard. "You've reminded me, Granny."
Her voice suddenly turned cold: "No matter who instructed you or who is backing you, you better remember this!"
"This is the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, not a place where you can run wild!"
"Sister Su is the future empress, a sure thing! What are your intentions in tormenting her like this today?"
"Do you want to embarrass her at the ceremony, or do you want to slap His Majesty in the face, or do you think my Duke Zhenguo's mansion is easy to bully?"
Chu Ruohan pressed on relentlessly, her words sharp as knives: "You think you're making things difficult for a powerless commoner? You're wrong! You've offended the future Empress!"
"Having served in the palace for so many years, does the old woman not know how to assess the situation and understand the meaning of 'there is plenty of time in the future'?"
"Once you hold the Phoenix Seal in your hands and become the Empress, have you considered the consequences of your actions today?"
Granny Li's usually serious and rigid face finally changed color at this moment.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her proud head gradually lowered.
The arrogance he had shown earlier vanished without a trace after Chu Ruohan's barbed and pointed words.
She was indeed instructed by a noble person in the palace to give this commoner empress a warning and let her know that the palace was not so easy to live in.
But she never expected that this Lady of the State would be so powerful, tearing her plans to shreds with just a few words.
It further highlights the tragic fate she may face in the future.
The future empress... Yes, once Su Wan becomes empress, wouldn't she, a mere tutor, be at the mercy of others?
The more Li Mama thought about it, the more frightened she became. Her legs went weak, and she knelt down with a "plop".
"Madam, spare me! This old servant...this old servant was foolish! This old servant will never dare to do it again!"
She kowtowed repeatedly, her previous arrogance completely gone.
Su Wan watched from the side, completely dumbfounded.
She had never seen Chu Ruohan speak so sharply before, and she was both shocked and grateful...
Perhaps, she should learn some things...
Chu Ruohan looked coldly at Li Mama kneeling on the ground, without the slightest emotion.
"Someone come here!" she called out.
Two robust old women immediately responded and entered the courtyard from outside.
"Send this Granny Li back to the palace immediately!" Chu Ruohan said coldly. "Tell His Majesty her exact words: that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is too small to accommodate such a powerful figure!"
"We will find a way to teach Miss Su court etiquette ourselves, and we dare not trouble the palace officials any further!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Li turned ashen-faced and collapsed to the ground.
They were sent back to the palace, and these words were also told to the Emperor…
She's finished, completely finished!
This was not only losing her job, but also offending the future empress and letting the emperor know about her double-dealing.
Chu Ruohan didn't look at her again, turned around and helped Su Wan up, saying softly, "Sister, you've been wronged. Let's go inside and rest. Don't take these dirty things to heart."
Su Wan's eyes reddened, and she nodded vigorously, letting Chu Ruohan help her into the house.
The storm was quickly quelled by Chu Ruohan's swift and decisive actions.
The news that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had sent the palace tutors back to the palace spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
Inside Tingzhu Pavilion, the aftershocks had not yet subsided.
Su Wan gripped the edge of the table, her heart still pounding. Chu Ruohan's thunderous outburst had both shocked and warmed her heart.
"Sister Ruohan..."
Her voice trembled slightly as she gazed at Chu Ruohan's retreating figure, marveling at the immense power hidden within that slender frame.
Chu Ruohan turned around, her previous sharpness gone, replaced by a gentle expression. She walked to Su Wan's side and gently patted the back of her hand.
"Scared you?"
Su Wan shook her head vigorously, her eyes red-rimmed: "No! I... I just..."
She simply felt incredibly fortunate to have met someone who genuinely cared for her.
"That Granny Li is nothing more than a pawn used by certain people in the palace to test the waters..."