Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

“Now that you mention it, she’s taking too much time fetching the mirror and comb.”

Libin looked out of the window, apparently concerned, too.

It seemed that Xiuling referred to that lady-in-waiting.

‘Maybe she went to the restroom on the way?’

And maybe she was stopped by someone on her way back from the toilet, just like her.

Xiuling returned while Yui Mei was thinking about it.

She then spoke the moment she opened the door.

“His Majesty the Emperor has come.”

“Gh!?”

“The tea is served.”

Yui Mei almost choked on the big chunk of mushipan she had just stuffed in her mouth when

Xiuling said that.

‘Eh, His Majesty the Emperor!? Why did he come!?’

Usually, a notice was given when the Emperor visited, and they would be perfectly ready to receive him.

Why would he make a surprise visit, just like that time when she met him at Lady Wang’s place?

Besides, wasn’t he busy since the imperial family members were visiting from outside the palace during the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet?

However, only Yui Mei was shocked; the other two did not change their expression.

“Father always hurriedly left after he showed his face at the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet, yet he went out of his way just to come here.”

The crown prince remarked with a wry smile.

It seemed that this visit was not unexpected.

“I’ll go receive him, so Yui Mei should stay here and relax.”

Afterward, the crown prince left with that easy-going demeanor, taking only Xiuling with him.

And so, Yui Mei was left behind with Libin.

‘Even if you say relax…’

Yui Mei’s face was not thick enough to say ‘Ah, alright’ and do just that.

She couldn’t help that she was also curious why the emperor dropped by.

One reason could be that he just wanted to see the crown prince, so he came to meet him.

Another reason was that he had an important matter.

Using common sense, it was highly probable that it would be the second.

Following this hypothesis, if it was the latter, it would be difficult not to connect it with the earlier incident with Imperial Prince Dawei.

According to the crown prince, the emperor was also worried about the preferences of Imperial Prince Dawei.

But there was also the saying about the ‘parents’ blind affection for foolish children’*.

If he received complaints such as ‘there’s a rude court lady’ then maybe he came to settle those grievances.

‘Should I run away now, while I still can? Or should I obediently stay put?’

Yui Mei was restlessly pacing around the room, her anxiety mounting.

Libin watched her, and then he sighed deeply.

“Calm down. You’re too fidgety. If you mind it that much then do you want to hear their conversation?”

“…Huh?”

It never crossed her mind that Libin, the crown prince’s attendant, would suggest eavesdropping.

“Won’t we be scolded if we did such a thing?”

“What, if it’s not discovered then what is there to scold.”

Yui Mei said the right thing, but Libin didn’t budge.

‘…That’s true, but!’

Libin spoke airily without a trace of guiltiness, so Yui Mei felt that she was the wrong one.

Besides, he surely knew a place perfect for eavesdropping.

Afterward, Yui Mei succumbed to her curiosity despite knowing that it was wrong.

She followed Libin as they sneaked through the garden.

‘What am I doing.’

Supposedly, she would spend this day standing absentmindedly, but why was she sneaking around like a spy now?

Anyhow, Yui Mei was cautious so her steps wouldn’t make a sound. Suddenly, Libin stopped.

“Ugh!”

Yui Mei knocked her face on Libin’s back since she was following behind him.

‘What will I do if my nose gets flatter more than this!’

Yui Mei started to grumble, but Libin gestured, ‘be quiet’.

Right after that –

“Ming Xian.”

The emperor’s voice was closer than she expected, so Yui Mei was startled.

It was only natural that the emperor’s voice could be heard nearby, since he and the crown prince were standing in a corridor located diagonally upward from where Yui Mei was.

‘I’ll freak out, so say something like ‘we’re near’!’

Yui Mei wanted to snap at Libin, but she didn’t want to speak out for fear of being discovered by the emperor and the crown prince, so she could only put up with it.

“I heard your eunuch took a court lady named ‘Yui Mei’.”

Yui Mei heart jumped when she heard what the emperor said.

‘As I thought, did he come to find me because of the complaint!?’

Yui Mei huddled, and the crown prince replied.

“Indeed, Yui Mei is in this palace. My concubines said they wanted to enjoy the tea with her.”

The emperor groaned when he heard the crown prince’s cheerful tone.

“Ah, how to say this. I heard she got involved with that guy Dawei.”

The emperor said reservedly, and they heard the crown prince’s chuckle.

“Your Majesty is indeed kind for worrying about a mere court lady. Yes, she almost got injured due to Dawei’s disturbing tendencies; however, it seemed that help arrived at the right time. She was upset afterward, but she has already recovered since then, and is happily eating mushipan now.”

“…Is that so.”

There was a trace of relief when the emperor muttered that.

––––––

T/L Thoughts: *馬鹿な子ほど可愛い – literally ‘foolish children are more cute’. This saying meant that the more difficult a child is, or the more silly, foolish, etc he or she is, the more affectionate the parents become. Maybe because they could not leave that child alone, always worrying, and ended up doting on them more compared to their obedient, upright children. Can’t say how true this is, though ~

And what’s with that relief, Emperor!? Do you have an inkling already? (O.O) I’m dying to know, too ~

Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, I’m grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. 

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