Too high to reach

Chapter 113: Unsuccessful Attempt at Probing
Granny Zhao and Mo Yi did not live to see the Emperor.

But all that arrived was Lady Zhuang.

For some reason, the female official's face was pale, her voice was weak, and she had sweat on her forehead.

"Her Majesty says that today's business is done, and that Granny Zhao and Miss Mo may return home first. Accompanying them in the carriage is a reward from Her Majesty the Empress for Miss Mo."

Granny Zhao gestured to Mo Yi, and then bowed to the main hall herself, saying, "Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty!"

Is that all? Mo Yi felt relieved: Great.

She hurriedly bowed to the main hall, saying, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty for the reward!"

The female official turned and left.

"Let's go! Let's leave the palace!" Granny Zhao whispered to Mo Yi.

Once outside the palace courtyard, Mo Yi visibly relaxed.

As she walked, she looked around and asked, "Granny, do the ladies all live here?"

Granny Zhao said, "Yes. Her Majesty the Empress resides in Zhengyang Palace, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager resides in Cining Palace, and the Imperial Concubine resides in Fengyi Palace. Further ahead from here is the Consort De..."

Granny Zhao gestured in a direction with her eyes.

Looking at the magnificent, luxurious, and bizarre buildings, Mo Yi exclaimed, "These palaces, which I've only ever seen in books, don't even begin to describe. Granny, are there really people in the world who live like this!"

Although she didn't see the Emperor, today's business was successfully completed, and Granny Zhao felt a little relieved.

He was very friendly to Mo Yi, introducing her to everyone as they walked.

"Zhengyang Palace is closest to the main hall! When the Emperor comes from the main gate, he must pass through here first."

"But the distance between these halls is so far! Wouldn't it be very tiring to walk all that way?"

"The Emperor and the empresses all have their own carriages, but the noblewomen, palace maids, and eunuchs have to walk! It's a long way, and it's tough in the sweltering heat of summer and the freezing cold of winter!"

"I wouldn't get tired of walking around like this every day!" Mo Yi exclaimed, looking around curiously. "Just now, in the Empress's main hall, I didn't even dare to look directly at anything. But the side hall was full of good stuff too! How much silver must have been spent to build all this!"

Granny Zhao thought she was making a fuss over nothing: "There's a lot of money, but taste is more important. Those things, in terms of materials and workmanship, can be passed down for generations."

After a while, Mo Yi suddenly said, "Granny, Princess Yu'an is so kind! I thought princesses had to be as proud as celestial fairies!"

Granny Zhao smiled but didn't say anything.

"Her Majesty the Empress is exceptionally kind. She's truly different from what I imagined!"

What kind of idea are you having?

"It's hard to explain, but it was definitely the kind of situation where no one dared to speak! But this time, the princess even let me sit next to her and held my hand while she spoke to me!" She raised her hand, but didn't look at it; instead, she just stared at Granny Zhao.

Therefore, she did not miss the fleeting emotion in Zhao Mama's brow, even though she did not know what it meant.

"Then, tell me why they act this way?" Granny Zhao asked softly.

"Don't Your Majesty the Empress and the Princess usually behave like this?" Mo Yi asked curiously.

"I can't say it won't happen... it depends on who you're dealing with!" Granny Zhao said indifferently.

"But today, Her Highness the Princess was so kind to me, and even said she would send me an invitation to her residence. Is this because of Prince Qi?"

"It's hard to say!" After replying, Granny Zhao suddenly said meaningfully, "About Young Master Xu... you didn't tell the truth in front of the princess..."

Mo Yi was startled: "Granny!"

Looking at Zhao Mama's expression, Mo Yi nervously swallowed. She had been in contact with this person for more than ten days.

I usually consider myself quite good at judging people, but right now I can't figure out what she's thinking...

"Don't be afraid, I'm not going to expose you. Can you tell me what you were thinking at the time?"

Mo Yi dared not say.

The two of them walked into the garden again, where some women were admiring the plum blossoms, and their laughter could be faintly heard. "Don't want to talk?" Granny Zhao looked into the distance.

Mo Yi's mind raced, and finally she told the truth: "When I saw the princess, I felt that her appearance and demeanor suggested she was very proud." She thought of the palace maids standing there, barely daring to breathe. "So, her kindness towards me was completely unexpected. I couldn't help but be more cautious, afraid of accidentally being impolite. Besides, the princess's question... it felt a bit... how should I put it?"

She walked forward.

Granny Zhao didn't urge them.

"It's a bit strange. I was afraid that if I said too much, I would make a mistake, so I pretended not to know."

Granny Zhao laughed: "You've already met Young Master Xu, aren't you afraid she'll punish you after she finds out the truth?"

"How could she know? Besides, I can also say that with so many people coming to the house for the New Year, there's no reason for me to ask around or keep an eye on things like this, especially since he's a man from out of town and will be my future brother-in-law!"

"Oh," Zhao Mama replied without commenting.

"Granny, did I do the right thing?"

"Very good! When you haven't figured out the situation, you should leave yourself some leeway. Don't say things that are easy to misunderstand or exaggerate. Later, when we talked about the issue of your sisters' appearances, what you said was also very good! As the saying goes, neither humble nor arrogant!"

"Granny, Princess Yu'an seems to smile a lot... Is she Prince Qi's older sister?"

Granny Zhao's face immediately turned cold, a disdainful smirk playing on her lips: "Our Prince Qi is the legitimate son of the Emperor's first wife, Empress Huiren. The Empress has given birth to two sons and a daughter. Princess Ming'an is Prince Qi's elder sister. Remember that, and don't forget it again!" Her tone was stern.

Princess Yu'an was kind and always smiling.
It's just a poor imitation!

Looking at the garden before her, she heard that cheerful and pleasant voice: "My dearest Zhao Mama, look what delicious treats I've brought you! Dongfang bought them from the West Ward and smuggled them in!"

She chuckled for a while before saying, "Here's a bag, but don't tell my brother! Humph! Every time there's something good to eat, he eats it all first, then he gives me a hard time!"

“…That’s true kindness from the core!” Granny Zhao murmured, her expression dreamy.

"Granny?" Mo Yi looked at her face and was a little worried.

"It's nothing! Miss Mo, there's no such thing as kindness without a reason in this world. Although we may not know the reason for it right now, there must be one. So, once you enter the palace, there are no trivial matters. You should say things that won't go wrong, and never open your heart to someone!"

"Oh." Actually, Mo Yi only vaguely understood, but she thought to herself: Once I leave this palace gate today, I'll never be able to come back in for the rest of my life, so I have to take a good look.

Suddenly, someone called softly, "Granny Zhao!?"

Granny Zhao turned around and saw: Consort Tian from the Prince Qi's mansion.

"Your Highness, Consort!" Granny Zhao curtsied.

Consort Tian, ​​dressed in her finest attire and beaming, returned the curtsy with a slight smile: "Seeing you from afar, I thought I was seeing things!"

Mo Yi bowed in return, stealing a glance at the man.

At first glance, I noticed the large, round, emerald-green beads around her neck. They were so beautiful, like pools of water!

I saw it at the Qizhen Pavilion, but I didn't dare ask the price...

The concubine has fair skin and isn't particularly beautiful, but her attire... she's really extravagant!
"Is the concubine here for the banquet?" asked Zhao Mama.

“Yes. Shao-ge’er caught a bit of a cold today, so Consort Feng didn’t come. I came by myself! Granny, who is this young lady…” Consort Tian loved gossip.

"Your Highness, I have official business to attend to and cannot have a casual chat with you!"

This is clearly disrespectful!
Mo Yi thought to herself: Granny Zhao is so amazing!

Consort Tian didn't mind at all and quickly replied with a smile, "Granny, please go ahead with your work. We can talk again when we get back to the manor!"

Granny Zhao bowed and left with Mo Yi.

"Such a tiny little thing...whose daughter is she? Why is Granny Zhao bringing her along?"

Consort Tian watched them leave, murmuring to herself...

(End of this chapter)