Wu the Food Administrator arrived at the kitchen to find a heated brawl. Both female officials had lost their caps, and the one fighting most fiercely at the forefront was none other than her own disciple. The long kitchen counter was surrounded by onlookers; one was fighting, the other fleeing. The other female officials, who had been enjoying the spectacle, quickly suppressed their smiles and feigned concern as they made way for her. Wu the Food Administrator took in the absurd scene, her face dark with rage. Seeing that Mao Sang seemed to have lost her mind, she grabbed her by the collar in a fit of anger and slapped her hard. 'Are you awake now?' He Ping'an, hearing the commotion, had already hidden under the table and, amid the chaos, deliberately disheveled her own hair. Wu's slap jolted Mao Sang back to her senses. However, the furious girl, her eyes red and still feeling wronged, covered her cheek and sobbed, 'You're hitting me too, Master! Am I really that hopeless? With her here, will I be stuck with a Lower-Lower rating for life? Why?!' Wu the Food Administrator, seeing how foolish she was, felt a lump of anger in her chest and wanted nothing more than to slap her again. With so many people present, Mao Sang's shouting had embarrassed them all. Wu glanced around and said, 'Mao Sang has lost her mind. Quickly, take her back and call a doctor!' Two maids hurried forward, but Mao Sang struggled with such force that they nearly fell flat on their faces. Wu the Food Administrator gritted her teeth and personally intervened, and together they managed to carry her back. The kitchen was a mess. Those who remained, still not sated, turned their attention to the injured Deputy Food Administrator. 'Deputy He, are you hurt? Mao Sang has no sense of restraint. Come out, go to the Medical Office and get checked. Make sure you don't end up with any lasting injuries or scars.' 'Mao Sang has always been straightforward; she must have been confused by anger. Don't take it personally.' Several female officials bent down and helped the girl out from under the table. The girl in blue robes had disheveled hair, and a clear handprint was visible on her slapped cheek. She held her head, looking very tired, and supported by the others, she was escorted all the way to the Medical Office. By the time the princess's attendants arrived, she was already lying in bed. He Ping'an had led Mao Sang on at least twenty laps around the kitchen, and her heart was still pounding. She wiped the cold sweat from her brow, exhaling softly. Because she looked young, as if she had suffered great bullying, her eyes were swollen and red, with a few tears trickling out. The others comforted her, but He Ping'an remained silent, merely closing her eyes and nodding. This incident had blown up; she had managed to get in a few hits on Mao Sang amid the chaos. Although she had also received a slap, that one slap was enough to send Mao Sang packing. Sure enough, the news spread throughout the entire mansion. The kitchen in the inner court had been turned upside down, delaying that day's meals, and Princess Jin had to personally intervene to settle the matter. Since it was connected to both the princess and the Senior Administrator's Office, for the sake of fairness, the final decision was to expel Mao Sang from the kitchen, change He Ping'an's assessment to Lower-Lower, and fine each of them three months' salary. Wu the Food Administrator, for failing to maintain discipline, was fined a full year's salary. Mao Sang, unwilling to accept, tried to protest further, but Wu the Food Administrator, quick as lightning, covered her mouth and, in front of the princess, slapped her again. She knew exactly what Mao Sang was thinking. Even if He Ping'an was having an affair with the Senior Administrator, it was Princess Jin who had tested her back then, and her fate was in the princess's hands. With so many people present, if Mao Sang shouted that out, wouldn't it embarrass the princess? Making the princess lose face was practically suicide. Wu the Food Administrator saw that Mao Sang was blinded by a leaf, and knew that behind it all were the instigations of a few old-timers in the kitchen. So she kowtowed and requested that the princess cut some more personnel. The entire kitchen underwent a thorough purge. By the time He Ping'an had recovered and returned to duty, the busiest New Year's Eve had already passed.
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