The Golden Lotus will bloom (Apothecary Diaries)

Chapter 19

They took a carriage for the rest of the journey since it was a long one. "Where are we?" I asked when I woke up, and I was rubbing my eyes.

"My house," Jinshi smirked as I groaned from being here.

"Huh?! Why?!" Maomao freaked out for me and he looked at us upset.

"This is your new workplace," Jinshi explained then walked in.

"Master Gaoshun, I was under the impression we were returning to the rear palace..." Maomao paused as Gaoshun lifted something up confusing me.

"...What?" I asked and he laughed nervously.

"It's a toy for you." He informed me.

Maomao took it for me and then showed me it. It looked like a teddy bear made of flowers, but it was soft to the touch when I grabbed it then I hugged it tightly.

It was pink and the flowers were most definitely based on pink carnations. Those mean gratitude, but they also represent a mother's love making me sniff.

Maomao pulled on its arm experimentally confusing Gaoshun until I fought back making her giggle as Gaoshun sighed in relief.

"Make sure your wife knows she's loved," I stated knowing it must have been her who made it. "Thank you both."

He grinned and nodded. "Of course I will, we are delighted enough that you like it. Please don't feel the need to use it."

"...I'm not cruel it's mine now." I pouted a little and he grinned.

"Ah, also Xiaomao we fired you once already, so we can't just put you back in the same position," Gaoshun explained. "And the Emperor ordered for Princess Liena to be put in a different environment since being in the rear palace will overwhelm and overcomplicate how she feels."

I groaned a little since I did feel really bad about how I acted since I knew most cared for me there, but I liked the idea of staying somewhere else for a while.

"Of course, you won't be away from them forever, but it will be a greater distance to travel to them, but it's a shorter distance to your garden," Gaoshun informed me. "Is that okay Princess?"

"Fine." I nodded.

"This is the outer court while the rear palace is the inner court. There are many public offices there. I will show you around later." Gaoshun grinned.

"Welcome home. It must have been cold." An old lady greeted Jinshi then removed his coat for him and turned to us after and she bowed. "I am Suiren. Its lovely to meet you Princess Liena. And this must be Xiaomao."

"Yes." She nodded as I hid my face in the teddy.

"Princess, you may call me granny if you like." She informed me, and I turned even more into Maomao.

Maomao went to apologise, but Suiren was smiling seeing how nervous I was. "I will show you both to your room. Princess yours has a designated room attached to it for the fruits of your labour and love from your beloved garden."

Suiren lead the way for us. "There are two separate buildings one with the office and one with the personal residence. The area ahead is the young master's room, but..." Suiren looked over to see my frown.

"You should both be alright." She hummed as Maomao was dropped off first to her room. It looked pretty decent then I was shown mine which is very lavish.

I looked around the room then tilted my head to the side seeing no dirt. "What's wrong?" Suiren asked me.

"Dirt," I explained and she looked mad. "It's my room."