A Mistaken Marriage Match: Mysteries in the Imperial Harem

Chapter 30: Xiao Yu

Zheng Yang Palace's Side Hall

The morning was still early and Sishi (modern timing: 9 – 11 ams) have yet to arrive but the rays of the sun was radiant. The windows and doors in the side hall were open to allow the slight breeze to enter. With the scent of the various teas in the breeze, the air was refreshing.

The teahouse at Zheng Yang Palace is the largest in the entire Palace. All the premium tea can be found here. Except for a few palace maids that were self taught by Xiao Yu, the rest of the other servants are not allowed to enter.

Opening the door of the hall, a slender figure stick her head out and look around before quietly crying, "Older sister Xiao."

Xiao Yu was dividing the new batch of tea leaves that arrived. When she looked up, she saw Lan-er's pleasing face. Since Lan-er enter the Palace, she has been working beside her all the time. This girl was quick-witted and flexible but its just that she is sometimes impatient and will not be suitable to serve the Emperor thus Gao Jing had sent her to Qing Feng's place. She has went there for a few months but she did not see her come and visit her. For her to come running early today morning, it must be that she has something to ask of her. Xiao Yu did not point it out bluntly and smiled, "Come on in. Today you do not have duties and is able to come and see me?"

Lan-er jogged into house and whispered, "That's not it..."

Xiao Yu's hands which was dividing the tea paused. She thought that this girl will exchange conventional greetings for a while. It seems that this issue was a thorny one.

Lan-er got anxious and did not wait for Xiao Yu to ask before she said, "It's her Ladyship Concubine Qing. She said she want... Want to uproot all the peonies in Qing Feng Hall!"

Uproot? Xiao Yu's heart skip a beat as she asked, "Why?"

Lan-er shooked her head and replied, "I do not know. When she came back from the banquet held by the Empress Dowager last night, she already look like she is in tough straits. After which she started to smash things to vent her anger. And this morning, she said to uproot the peonies."

The Empress have early on felt that the peony was unpleasant to her eyes but she did not dare to get rid of it. For Qing Feng to do so, was it to attract the attention of the Emperor? Or... Was it to vent her anger with regards to her older sister's drowning? No matter what was the reason, it is foolish.

Pasting the already written leaflet of the origin and time on the small box that held the tea, Xiao Yu started to keep her hands busy and casually replied, "She ask you to uproot, you should uproot."

"Ah?" Lan-er did not understand, "But. But the flowers were the favourite of Imperial Concubine Shu and it was personally selected by the Emperor!" Why older sister Xiao Yu did not care about it? If the Emperor lose his temper, what can be done?

"Now there is no longer an Imperial Concubine Shu. The Emperor could choose peonies in the past and now could also choose others." Just like the previously favoured Imperial Concubine Shu and the currently favoured Imperial Concubine Hui, the Emperor's heart is not in any particular female, let alone those stalks of flowers?

Older sister Xiao Yu is the most favoured female official at the Emperor's side thus whatever she say would not be wrong. Leaning closer to Xiao Yu a little, Lan-er softly asked, "Whatever older sister Xiao say, I will listen. What do you think I should do about this matter? Should it be told to Steward Gao?"

The colour of Xiao Yu's face abruptly sank as she turned and stared at the girl in front of her. She coldly replied, "The most important thing when one works in the Palace is to be clearly aware who is your mistresses. What the mistress order, the servants have to work accordingly and not for you to question. Even at the end if whoever wants to blame anyone, naturally it would not be you to bare it and you can't bare it too. And also, in the future whatever happens to your mistress, it would be best not to inform me so as not to arouse suspicions."