Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

The season gradually became warmer recently.

The Inner Palace also got past the peak of influenza, and its influence was gradually abating.With this, it was the advent of spring at last.

Yui Mei’s mood was great, and her work also progressed smoothly as she admired the beautiful yard while cleaning. The snacks’s level of deliciousness rose up one level as she ate them while viewing the flowers in the garden.

The flowers of the garden plum trees would fall anytime soon; in exchange, the period of the full blossoming of the cherry trees was also fast approaching, so it was a very impressive sight.

One certain day during the height of spring, she was asked during breakfast at the dining hall about the large-scaled event that was soon to be held.

“Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet?”

“Yeah, the nobles are holding a feast while admiring the flowers.”

Yui Mei was perplexed as she ate her breakfast, so Mei Na explained.

At first glance, it was just like the cherry blossom viewing parties, but on this day, a special event would occur that would separate this feast from the others.

Apparently, the grownup children of the emperor who left the Inner Palace were permitted to enter during this day so they could spend it with their mothers.

“I see~, so that’s why everyone’s so excited.”

Yui Mei looked around as understanding dawned on her face, and she saw everyone gossiping loudly about which prince was doing what.

For the court ladies, this Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet was an opportunity to be seen by the various princes.

Yui Mei couldn’t care less about those princes, and she’s more concerned about something else.

Apparently, the merchants would come soon to open stalls for the women who wanted to dress up during the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet.

“I want to buy a new hairpin.”

“Is there a good color of rouge?”

The court ladies were itching to go shopping, and they were gossiping here and there.

It seemed that though the world might change, the women’s love for shopping wouldn’t.

Yui Mei was not particularly interested in accessories, but she wanted to shop.

Bartering self-produced items was the norm in the borderlands, and shopping was an activity far beyond their means.

Even the wages handed to them in time for the opening of the booths had currency she never saw before.

She planned to carry out her desire to shop that hadn’t been fulfilled yet in this world with all her might.

‘Will there be something good?’

Anticipation swelled in her chest, and finally, the long awaited day of the merchants’ arrival came.

“Alrighty, time to go shopping!”

Yui Mei speedily finished her work, then she headed towards the square where the stalls were.

Yui Mei was excited, but she couldn’t forget that the Inner Palace was a hierarchical society.

It was also reflected during shopping in the stalls, as the senior court ladies had their turn first. What would happen in the end.

The stalls were completely ransacked by the swarms of court ladies and maids, and only dregs remained.

“…Well, this is bound to happen, I suppose.”

The shopping situation of low ranking court ladies was such that they could only choose from the left-overs.

Yui Mei already expected this much, so she wasn’t too affected.

There was also good fortune among those surplus, so she was excited to find a good bargain.

By the way, the merchants would go directly to the concubines, so they wouldn’t come here.

The ladies-in-waiting would also be graced with the favor of shopping there, so the court ladies also dreamed of that exclusive position.

Those matters should be set aside for now.

She cast a sidelong glance towards the court ladies who desperately looked for accessories among the remaining goods, then she squatted at the stall offering other items aside from ornaments.

Judging from the various merchandise displayed compared to the other stalls, it seemed that it was not that frequented.

Miscellaneous things such as pots and sewing kits were lined-up at the stall Yui Mei was looking at.

Apparently, all the items aside from the leading ones were squeezed in here, all mixed-up.

“Heh, there’s a lot of different stuff.”

The merchants gawked curiously at Yui Mei as she rummaged through the goods, but she ignored them all.

Yui Mei stared intently at the goods, when a glass bottle containing different colored candies and covered by a pot caught her eye.

‘This might be good, I can eat one piece every day!’

“I want to buy this please!”

Yui Mei raised the glass bottle of candies, and the merchant said ‘Thank you for your purchase!’ with a smile.

“Okay, payment huh…”

Yui Mei took out her pouch that she brought as a substitute for a wallet to pay the merchant.

“You could have bought other things aside from that.”

A male’s voice came from above her.

When Yui Mei looked up, Libin was standing diagonally behind her.

“Did Libin also come to buy something?”

She couldn’t think of any other reason why he was here, so she asked.

“I’m already done at the crown prince’s palace.”

However, the answer was blatantly obvious, and Yui Mei also agreed, ‘Yeah, I thought so’.

So what was he doing here?

Libin extended his hand and dropped some change on the merchant’s palm, ignoring Yui Mei’s bewildered face.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes, more than enough, you still have change.”

Eh?

Yui Mei tilted her head, perplexed at their conversation.

Could the money just now be payment for the candies?

Why did this guy pay for it?

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