Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

Mornings started late for concubines in the Inner Palace.

Imperial Concubine Hu was no exception.

Customarily, she would wake up when the sun was already high in the sky, and she would eat her breakfast leisurely.

Because of that, the maids, ladies-in-waiting and court ladies who worked according to their mistress’ schedule led an easier life compared to the court ladies and maids who had to work at daybreak.

However, today, that leisurely morning time was broken by the noise resounding throughout the mansion.

It was just before breakfast and Consort Hu had barely finished changing from her nightdress.

“You people, what is it that you want and what do you mean by this!?”

An elderly maid stood at the entrance where the commotion was coming from, and she was glaring at the uninvited guests.

A group of three people – a tall eunuch, a petite court lady and a physician stood there.

Yes, it goes without saying that it was Yui Mei’s group.

“This one is a physician ordered by His Majesty to check on His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren. Please make way.”

Ziliang bowed his head as Libin calmly replied to the maid with a composed attitude.

Yui Mei was also one step behind them, bowing her head and restraining herself.

This was the plan they hatched with the crown prince the other day, known as ‘Medical Examination for the Health of Imperial Prince Youren’.

Instead of sneaking around searching, it would be better to get a good pretext and then imposingly demand to examine him.

By the way, Yui Mei’s position was Ziliang’s assistant.

She covered her head tightly with a scarf and wore her cloth mask completely.

It was Yui Mei’s characteristic style that she always wore, but for the maid, her appearance was absolutely shady.

It was understandable that she was thoroughly eyed with suspicion.

Libin was also here as the emperor’s messenger.

The crown prince told them that if it was only Yui Mei and Ziliang, it was possible that they would be driven away without a chance to explain, but with Libin – the crown prince’s attendant, their credibility would also rise.

“Under His Majesty’s orders, you say? Then aren’t we supposed to summon the usual court physician?”

Libin resolutely replied to the maid’s dubious face.

“That is also His Majesty’s will.”

It was not a lie, the crown prince did ask for permission from the emperor.

Naturally, however, the other party did not believe that to be true.

“We will confirm this first; until we get the results, you will not be permitted to enter.”

“Then we will be troubled. His Majesty ordered that we move with haste.”

Libin refused outright, and invisible sparks flew between the two of them.

A war of words was about to unfold between the maid who obstructed the entry of the suspicious bunch and Libin who wanted to push his way through. It was at that time.

“What’s happening here?”

A woman followed by several maids appeared from the inside the palace.

The maid bowed her head with her entry, and even Libin bowed, so Yui Mei hurriedly did the same.

“That person is Imperial Concubine Hu.”

Libin whispered behind him to Yui Mei while maintaining his lowered posture.

Apparently, the commotion reached the mistress of the palace, so she came to check the situation.

“What on earth is the matter here?”

Imperial Concubine Hu asked the maid. She was a beauty, but her physical appearance was not flashy.

One might even say she was the slender type.

‘Ahh, compared to Lady Wang, she seems to be His Majesty’s type, though at the very limit.’

Perhaps that was the reason she gave birth to an imperial prince.

Libin, indifferent to Yui Mei’s gossipy musings, turned the conversation towards Imperial Concubine Hu.

“Under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, we have come for the medical examination of His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren.”

Instead of interrogating Libin when he raised his head and said that, Imperial Concubine Hu stared at him in wonder as she listened.

“… Aren’t you His Highness the Crown Prince’s attending eunuch?”

“His Majesty the Emperor gave his order through His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Setting aside the sequential order of events, it was indeed the truth, so there was no flaw with Libin’s words.

‘Even so, Libin-sama, you kept on running the words ‘His Majesty’ continuously, huh.’

Apparently, he would thoroughly use a pretext that he could use.

“I have requested that they wait while we verify the authenticity of their words.”

“However, His Majesty ordered that we should execute this matter immediately.”

The maid reported to Imperial Concubine Hu, but Libin immediately rebutted.

Imperial Concubine Hu watched the two’s silent fight, then she tilted her head in thought.

“Either way, Youren is needed, from what I understand. Where is Youren?”

“That is…”

At Imperial Concubine Hu’s question, the elderly maid averted her eyes .

“…The ‘curse’ acted again this morning, so treatment is currently on going.”

“Is that so?”

Imperial Concubine Hu responded sadly to the maid who talked as if she was groaning in a low voice.

“Darn it, we’re too late, huh.”

Libin muttered under his breath as he listened to their conversation.

Yui Mei and the rest studied Imperial Concubine Hu’s behavioral pattern, and they planned to charge in before breakfast.

Unfortunately, Imperial Prince Youren had already eaten his breakfast.

‘In that case, all the more we should save him!’

Based on Imperial Concubine Hu’s expression when she heard the word ‘treatment’, she got the impression that it must be something disagreeable.

“Please pardon my rudeness, but I have to say this!”

Imperial Concubine Hu and the rest of them trained their eyes on Yui Mei when she said this, as she had been restraining herself earlier at the back.

“We have been commanded to come here so that we could clear the truth about that ‘curse’. Please grant us an immediate audience with His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren!”

Yui Mei raised her head, and she stared directly at Imperial Concubine Hu.

Though her whole face was covered with the kerchief and the cloth mask, only her eyes were seemingly blazing with strong determination.

“…..!”

Imperial Concubine Hu unwittingly gasped when she saw those eyes.

A moment passed.

“I understand. Please guide these people.”

Imperial Concubine Hu then said.

———–

T/L Thoughts: The plot thickens! Even Imperial Concubine Hu seemed to recognize sassy Yui Mei based on her gasp :0

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