Reborn to be replaced, remarried to the royal palace to raise children and train husband

Gu Qinlan glared at Zheng Longyu, looked around, and said to everyone: "Zheng Longyu embezzled treasury silver, his crime is unforgivable! Now tie him up and send him to the government, seal up his property, and recover the silver he has embezzled over the years."

As soon as the words fell, Zheng Longyu's parents immediately knelt on the ground and burst into tears. Zheng's mother hugged Gu Qinlan's legs and begged, "My Lady, please have mercy and let Longyu go! He was just greedy for a moment, and now we regret it. I am willing to make up for all the money, just ask you to let him live."

Gu Qinlan looked at Mother Zheng, with a hint of sympathy in her eyes, but her tone was firm: "Mother Zheng, you know that the sin of greed is not trivial. If I let him go today, more people will follow suit tomorrow. How can the treasury silver of Prince Duan's Mansion become private property? I must act according to the law."

At this time, the kitchen of Prince Duan's mansion was silent. Everyone was watching this scene, not daring to breathe. Zheng's father knelt on the ground and said in a trembling voice: "My Lady, please let Long Yu go for the sake of the Zheng family's loyalty. We are willing to use all our property as compensation, just ask for your mercy."

Gu Qinlan looked at Zheng's father coldly and said, "The Zheng family is a family of loyal people? Then should Zheng Longyu's embezzlement of treasury silver also be considered as a 'loyal' act of the Zheng family? Zheng's father, are you defending your son or yourself?"

Father Zheng was speechless. Mother Zheng burst into tears, still holding Gu Qinlan's legs, crying, "My queen, I am willing to work like a cow or a horse for Long Yu, just ask you to let him live. Please have mercy!"

Gu Qinlan looked at Zheng's mother and couldn't help but sigh. She knew that Zheng's mother was acting out of maternal love, but she couldn't override public law because of personal feelings. She took a deep breath and said to Zheng's mother: "Zheng's mother, I understand your feelings, but the country has its own laws and the family has its own rules. I can't let Zheng Longyu off easily for his crimes. If you truly repent, help me recover the silver that Zheng Longyu embezzled, and maybe I will consider reducing his sentence."

Zheng's mother hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded, indicating that she was willing to cooperate. Gu Qinlan ordered people to take Zheng Longyu away, and at the same time sent people to seal up the Zheng family's property.

In the kitchen, Zheng's mother bid farewell to her son in tears, while Zheng's father stood silently by, feeling indescribable.

Gu Qinlan called Zheng's mother to the study and asked, "Zheng's mother, do you know where the money that Zheng Longyu embezzled went?"

Mother Zheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Replying to the Crown Princess, Long Yu once told me that he lent part of the silver to his friends and used part of it for gambling."

Gu Qinlan frowned and said, "In that case, you should go and recover the silver to prevent Zheng Longyu's crime from getting worse. I will send someone to assist you."

Mother Zheng looked at Gu Qinlan gratefully and said, "Thank you, Princess Consort. I will do my best to get the silver back."

Thanks to the efforts of Zheng's mother, part of the money that Zheng Longyu had embezzled was recovered. Seeing that Zheng's mother was truly repentant, Gu Qinlan pleaded with the government to reduce Zheng Longyu's sentence.

The government eventually sentenced Zheng Longyu to three years in prison and confiscated his property.

……

As soon as Gu Qinlan left the kitchen, Princess Duan came in with a group of maids and servants. She was wearing a gorgeous purple silk dress, and there was an unquestionable majesty between her eyebrows. She glanced in the direction of the kitchen, and a trace of dissatisfaction flashed in her eyes.

"Mother, you're here." Gu Qinlan turned around and bowed slightly.

Princess Duan nodded slightly, her eyes scanning the scene in the kitchen sharply. She walked to the stove, picked up a burnt cake, and said coldly: "Why is this cake burnt like this?"

Gu Qinlan replied respectfully: "Mother, it was indeed a mistake due to my negligence. I have already asked my servants to brand a new one, it will only take a moment."

Princess Duan snorted coldly and threw the cake to the ground: "Negligence? This is not negligence, this is disrespect to the Prince Duan's Mansion!"

Gu Qinlan's face changed slightly. She took a deep breath and said calmly, "Mother, I understand your concerns. But servants are also human beings, and sometimes mistakes are inevitable. As the housekeeper, I will strictly supervise them to ensure the order of Prince Duan's Mansion."

Princess Duan stared at Gu Qinlan, her eyes revealing dissatisfaction: "Are you contradicting me?"

Gu Qinlan quickly shook her head: "I dare not, mother. I just think that we should be strict but also moderate when dealing with servants. If we are too strict, it may cause dissatisfaction among the servants."

Princess Duan was silent for a while, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She looked at Gu Qinlan and said in a slightly slower tone: "I know you have good intentions, but the rules of Prince Duan's Mansion cannot be broken. I cannot ignore your attitude towards the servants just now."

Gu Qinlan lowered her head and said softly, "My mother taught me that I am willing to accept punishment."

Princess Duan sighed. She looked at Gu Qinlan with concern in her eyes. "Qinlan, I know you are a smart and capable woman, but your status is different now. You are the Crown Prince's Consort of Prince Duan's Mansion. Your actions represent the entire Prince Duan's Mansion. Therefore, you have to be more cautious in some matters."

Gu Qinlan raised her head, her eyes firm: "Mother, I understand your concerns. I will be more careful about my words and actions, and live up to the reputation of Prince Duan's Mansion."

Princess Duan nodded slightly. She looked at Gu Qinlan with a hint of relief in her eyes: "I believe you."

As they were talking, the kitchen maid came in with a plate of freshly baked cakes. She carefully placed the cakes in front of Princess Duan and whispered, "Mother, please check them."

Princess Duan picked up a piece of cake and took a bite. A satisfied smile appeared on her face: "Very good, it's not burnt this time."

Gu Qinlan breathed a sigh of relief.

Princess Duan looked at Gu Qinlan and said earnestly, "Qinlan, I hope you can use your talents in the Prince Duan's Mansion to make it more prosperous. But remember, as a housekeeper, you must use both kindness and power, so that the servants will be in awe and grateful to you."

Gu Qinlan bowed and answered respectfully: "I will definitely keep in mind what my mother taught me."

Princess Duan nodded. She looked at the scene in the kitchen with a hint of relief in her eyes. She turned and left, with Gu Qinlan following closely behind her.

Back at Princess Duan's residence, Princess Duan sat on a chair and looked at Gu Qinlan thoughtfully: "Qinlan, what do you think of the rules of Prince Duan's Mansion?"

Gu Qinlan paused for a moment and replied, "Mother, the rules of Prince Duan's Mansion are strict, and the servants perform their duties in an orderly manner. But I think that we can relax some rules on some small matters so that the servants can feel the warmth of Prince Duan's Mansion."

Princess Duan smiled slightly. She looked at Gu Qinlan with admiration in her eyes: "You are right. I think so too. But this matter needs to be done slowly."

Gu Qinlan bowed and left the room.

As soon as Gu Qinlan left the kitchen, Princess Duan came in with a group of maids and servants. As soon as she entered the room, she saw several cooks standing tremblingly by the side, with terrified looks on their faces.

Princess Duan raised her eyebrows and glanced around coldly, finally landing her gaze on Gu Qinlan. She snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "Princess, what are you doing? The housekeeper is so strict on the first day. Do you want to disrupt the order of my Prince Duan's mansion?"