Jinshi and Maomao Short Stories Collection

Two siblings and a cat, Part 1

Summary:
While waiting for Maomao to return to the Jade Pavilion, Jinshi decides to spend some time with his “little sister”...

And here comes a new story with Big Brother Jinshi!

It was supposed to be a one-shot at first, but then I told myself that it would be better to take it easy after the long one-shot I uploaded not too long ago, so I divided it into short chapters (three chapters and two little bonus chapters are planned for now).
Although, as I see now, those chapters might turn out longer than expected. This one already did.

With hope in his violet eyes and exorbitant joy in his heart, the gorgeous overseer of the Inner Palace was standing in front of the Jade Pavilion's entrance. As if it were a portal to a world of dreams or to Paradise itself.

The bright autumn sun was warming his back and made his long hair, that looked like the finest silk, shine even more splendidly than it usually did.

Jinshi furtively looked around and, once having made sure that no one's gaze was currently directed at him, allowed himself the luxury of putting something on that had never been directed at any palace woman other than Maomao before: a wide, completely honest smile that made him appear a bit more beautiful than he already was. If such a thing was even possible.

Relaxing his shoulders and slightly puffing out his chest, as if that happiness of his was letting him breathe more easily, he finally pushed the door open with both hands. There it was, his favorite time of the day, the one he had been longing for so much! Very soon, he would see his favorite little apothecary again whom he had "lent" to Consort Gyokuyou for the time being.

But as it looked like, he didn't seem to be blessed with good luck that day...

"Apothecary..." Jinshi muttered in a barely audible tone, trying to hide his very evident disappointment the best he could. Which wasn't going as well as expected, since one could almost see the imaginary thundercloud floating over his head, making him look like a pitiful puppy soaked by rain with its ears hanging down in sadness. That was how obvious he became, every time it was about Maomao.

The consort, who was sitting on a couch and lightly stroking her already visibly swollen stomach, giggled quietly, clearly amused by his behavior, while her chief lady-in-waiting Hongniang was standing beside her and letting out a soft sigh.

"Maomao left some five or ten minutes ago, so you must have barely missed her. What a pity that you didn't arrive just a bit sooner..."

The young lord raised his head and looked at the red-haired consort.

"Would you happen to know where she could have gone?"

He didn't even try to deny or mask that, in reality, he had come solely to visit the apothecary. It would have been useless at this point, anyway.

Gyokuyou and Hongniang exchanged brief gazes.

"Unfortunately not. But since she was carrying a basket, I suppose she's collecting herbs somewhere yet again."

The lady gave him a cheerful smile, and a sparkle seemed to suddenly have appeared in her eyes.

Hongniang twisted her mouth in displeasure, but didn't say anything, for it was well-known that her mistress was giving Maomao quite a lot of freedom and letting her do almost completely as she pleased. However, she was pretty much familiar with said sparkle. That must mean that the consort was surely up to something.

"If you have time, you could wait here for her. I don't mind in the slightest."

Yes, Gyokuyou definitely had a plan... The lady-in-waiting could feel it.