Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

“Listen carefully, Yui Mei. Do not leave the room until I return. I already requested Lord Li Min to take care of your safety.”

“…Huh, well, okay.”

Li Yong said that and left right after the banquet ended.

Yui Mei didn’t have anything to do outside the mansion that would warrant her sneaking around while Li Yong was gone.

Rather than that, she preferred to rest, because she had been truly tired from all the preparations for the banquet, so she just slept immediately, too.

Li Yong had already returned to the mansion when she woke up refreshed the next morning.

‘What did he do last night?’

Maybe he probably went out to play with some beautiful girls….or not. Yui Mei recalled his serious demeanor as he departed yesterday.

Actually, his expression resembled the ones that the director of the hospital where Yui Mei worked made whenever he was considering personnel affairs. Li Yong looked like he was scheming something that might be disturbing or dangerous, even.

He didn’t mention anything about what he would do, so she assumed that there was no need for her to know about the particulars.

It would be a lie to say that Yui Mei didn’t feel curious about it, but then, she also knew that there were matters that she shouldn’t mistakenly pry into. Curiosity killed the cat, after all.

The perception to know the boundaries and limits was necessary for her to survive peacefully inside the Inner Palace.

Thus, she decided to let the matter be, and focus on the plan for today, instead.

Yui Mei’s job was completed when Princess Pan made her debut at yesterday’s banquet.

That would mean they could now return to the capital soon.

‘I want to buy some souvenirs for everyone before we go home…’

She wanted to get something from the port for Mei Na, Aunty Yang, Doctor Chen.

“And so, I want to go outside to shop for some souvenirs!”

“…We still need to prepare for our departure, but yeah, we can take some time for that.”

Li Yong gave his permission, so Yui Mei went to the harbor together with him.

They borrowed a small carriage from Li Min, and they alighted when they reached a narrow alley close to the harbor because it couldn’t enter. They then walked towards the port area.

“Whoa, it’s a lot livelier than the last time we’re here!”

Yui Mei looked around her with shining eyes, taking in the sight of the stores lined up on the street within the harbor’s vicinity.

Yui Mei hadn’t gone to this place to sightsee again since the day they encountered the pirates.

They went to Hu’s house, yes, but they didn’t have enough time to walk around in this area.

The place had been bustling with activity that day, but it was nothing compared to now; she even felt that the port was empty back then.

‘And look, they are using tricycles!’

Mass production of tricycles wasn’t achieved yet, so there were probably only a handful of them, and the ones who got them now were probably connected to Li Min.

The tricycles weaved their way through the crowd, drawing the eyes of those around it, and it also blended into the port’s scenery just fine.

‘Ahh, tricycles are really good!’

Indeed, all was good.

Li Min had included two tricycles among the rewards and gifts he bestowed as thanks for their job — one for the crown prince and one for Yui Mei.

Li Yong had also been staring at the tricycles as he stood beside her.

“Actually, the population growth in the city has created a number of problems recently, especially the congestion of wagons. Well, maybe the tricycle will help solve one of those problems, huh.”

He commented.

Indeed, there was no difference, be it in Japan or this country, there were problems that a flourishing city must address.

Setting that aside for now, Yui Mei and Li Yong continued strolling in the bustling streets, when a fragrant smell wafted from one of the stalls.

“Alright, grilled squid first!”

“Hey Yui Mei, do you really like that weird thing that much?”

Yui Mei turned around and headed towards the stall that was grilling squid, while Li Yong heaved a sigh, a bit reluctant.

Apparently, even though he managed to eat it before and the taste was okay for him, he still couldn’t get past its appearance.

Yui Mei just ignored him, and she decided to buy the whole piece instead of the ones already cut into small pieces.

“….”

Li Yong averted his eyes from the squid that Yui Mei was holding, and he actually wanted to put some distance between them, but he had no choice but to put up with it because he had to guard her. He seemed troubled, and he cast a sidelong glance at Yui Mei every now and then, watching her as she sank her teeth into the squid while they walked.

“Oh, you’re the lassie last time, huh.”

Somebody called out to her from the side.

“Yes?”

Li Yong already moved in front of her before she could turn around.

She peeked behind his back towards the direction of the voice, and she saw a fisherman standing there.

When she looked closely, it was the owner of the ship they were riding during the attack of the pirates.

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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