tallest building

Chapter 292 Listen to the corner

The people in Consort Hui's palace have been quite busy these past two days, as they are preparing things to leave the palace.

Consort Hui had to stay there for forty-nine days, which was not a short time.

Although it's not far from the palace, you still have to go up and down the mountain, so it's best to bring everything you need to avoid the hassle of going back and forth.

Consort Hui was instructing her two personal maids: "Don't bring too much, or people will think I'm putting on airs."

"Your Majesty, you are being too cautious. Even if you were to do your best for the Empress, given your current status, you should be able to have all kinds of women."

"That's right. Besides, it's colder up in the mountains than on flat land, so you should bring a padded jacket. You should also bring several sets of bedding to air out in time."

"Your Majesty, someone from the Empress's palace has arrived." Another eunuch ran in, "They brought quite a few things, saying that Your Majesty might need them when you go up the mountain."

Consort Hui was naturally pleased, but she said, "Take it back quickly! I'm afraid of making such a fuss."

Before he could finish speaking, Yu Lu entered with a smile, accompanied by several eunuchs: "Your Highness, please don't stand on ceremony. This is all from the Empress's heartfelt wishes, and it's hard to refuse. Please accept it. Besides, in this harem, you are the most honored person besides the Empress, so why can't you use it?"

“I have everything I need in my palace, I lack nothing. I just don’t want to trouble Her Majesty the Empress anymore,” Consort Hui said with a smile. “I did this to save Her Majesty the Empress some trouble.”

They asked Yu Lu to stay for tea, but he declined, saying he had to go back now.

Consort Hui then gave a wink to the person next to her. One of her trusted maids, surnamed Xia, understood and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Steward Yu. I will see you off on behalf of our Consort."

As she spoke, she accompanied Yu Lu outside and stuffed a purse filled with silver into Yu Lu's hand: "You've really worked hard, Steward Yu, without even having a sip of tea."

Yu Lu was already used to it, so he didn't refuse and said with a smile, "Please thank Consort Hui for me."

Granny Xia didn't go back immediately. She said to the maid who was with her, "My ribs have been aching slightly these past few days. I'll go find someone to give me cupping therapy. If Her Majesty asks about it later, just tell her the truth."

"How about we invite the imperial physician to come to you?" the little girl said.

"No need, I haven't been to the back of the road for a long time, and I'd like to take a look around along the way!" Granny Xia's illness wasn't serious, and she was willing to take this opportunity to get around.

There were other things as well, but they were all used as a pretext.

She walked along the way, looking at the peach and apricot blossoms, which had already faded, but the lilacs were in full bloom, in both purple and white, and because of the sunny weather, their fragrance was especially strong.

Xia's mother couldn't help but sneeze twice, and quickly pressed her hand to her ribs, saying with some complaint, "The fragrance of this flower is too strong, it's practically crawling into my nose."

"Oh my, it's you, big sister! I thought it was someone sneezing with such force!" A person suddenly turned out from behind the weeping willows diagonally in front of her, startling Xia's mother.

Upon closer inspection, he cursed, "You old codger, why are you hiding to scare people?"

The one who scared her was none other than Granny Hua, who was in charge of the storeroom.

They actually entered the palace together, and both worked as embroiderers in the needlework department of the Eighth Bureau.

Xia Mama was cunning and good at flattery. She won over her master and was transferred to the front.

Granny Hua had spent most of her life working in the needlework bureau, her back was hunched and her eyesight was failing, so she was later assigned to watch the storeroom. However, the two of them were old acquaintances and would occasionally meet in the palace.

"I was planning to visit you these past few days, but who would have thought we'd run into each other here? It's truly fate," Granny Hua said with a smile, stepping forward and peering through her eyes. "Is there any progress on what I told you about last month?"

Actually, Granny Xia had almost forgotten about it, but when she heard her mention it, she suddenly remembered and casually replied, "Sigh, you don't know, we don't lack manpower at all. Whenever there's a spare moment, someone who can shrewdly fills the position."

It turned out that Granny Hua had been begging people everywhere, not wanting to stay in the back to watch the storeroom, but instead wanting to serve in the master's courtyard.

The monthly allowance for those who manage the treasury is just that little bit; apart from the customary bonuses given by the palace during festivals, they don't receive a single penny more.

Besides these, when they finally left the palace, if they had served their master, they would be given some retirement money. If the master was generous, it was not impossible for them to give tens or hundreds of taels of silver.

"Older sister, I'm counting on you! You must keep an eye on me." Granny Hua was naturally persistent, she was the kind of person who would grit her teeth and say, "We both entered the palace together, and I just want to keep you company."

Granny Xia didn't want to say anything more to her, and casually replied, "I know, don't worry! If there's a vacancy, I'll definitely mention it to Her Majesty. As for whether or not I need you, that's not my decision."

Granny Hua was happy to receive this news and thanked her repeatedly.

As she walked back, she saw Xiao Shunzi peeking around in the distance, and couldn't help but recall the scene she had seen him slip something into Wen Mingqian's hand that day.

Something's clearly not right!
Granny Hua kept a close eye on Xiao Shunzi, keeping a distance to see what he was up to.

Dong Gang had walked back and forth in front of a hanging flower gate dozens of times before finally spotting Xiao Shunzi.

"Lord Dong, I'm so sorry, I was sent on an errand and that's why I rushed over." Xiao Shunzi wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled ingratiatingly at Dong Gang.

"Did you receive the things I gave you a couple of days ago?" Dong Gang asked.

"I have fulfilled my mission." Xiao Shunzi chuckled.

"Good servant! You're really something!" Dong Gang was so happy that he punched Xiao Shunzi, making Xiao Shunzi stagger.

Xiao Shunzi winced in pain, but still had to force a smile: "Your punch was really strong! It almost broke my arm."

"What's wrong with it breaking? I'll still make you a gold one." Dong Gang said arrogantly. "Take this first!"

As he spoke, he took off the money pouch from his waist and tossed it to Xiao Shunzi.

Xiao Shunzi quickly held it in both hands, and couldn't help but open it to take a look. It was a bag full of melon seeds.

"Oh, thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! You are so generous!" Xiao Shunzi was so happy he was practically floating on air, completely oblivious to the pain in his shoulder.

“Little servant, let me tell you another trick. If you can get me a return gift from her, I’ll reward you with this bag of gold melon seeds.” Dong Gang said with a smile, “A handkerchief, a towel, or a hairpin or jewelry, or even a box of rouge she’s used will do.”

Dong Gang was a very lecherous and extravagant man. He would spend a fortune on women and even thought he was a hero.

"This... I'll give it a try!" Xiao Shunzi hesitated, unsure if he could do it.