Chapter 292: Eavesdropping
The people in Consort Hui’s Palace had been quite busy these past two days, preparing things for her departure from the palace.
Consort Hui was to stay at the upper residence for forty-nine days, which was not a short period.
Although it wasn’t far from the palace, one still had to go up and down the mountain. Therefore, it was best to bring everything needed at once to avoid the trouble of repeated trips.
Consort Hui was instructing her two personal maids, “Don’t bring too much either, or people will think I’m putting on airs.”
“Your Ladyship, you are too cautious. Not to mention you are going to serve the Empress wholeheartedly, but with your current status, you should have everything you need.”
“Exactly. Besides, it’s colder on the mountain than on flat ground, so you should bring jackets. And bring several sets of bedding, too, to air out promptly.”
“Your Ladyship, someone from the Empress’s Palace has arrived.” Another little eunuch ran in, “They’ve brought many things, saying they might be useful to Your Ladyship on the mountain.”
Consort Hui was naturally pleased, but she said, “Please take them back quickly! I’m afraid of causing such a commotion.”
Before she finished speaking, Yu Lu entered with a smile, accompanied by several little eunuchs, “Your Ladyship, please don’t be so formal. This is all from the Empress’s kind heart, and it would be impolite to refuse. Take it, and besides, in this Imperial Harem, besides the Empress, you are the most noble. Why wouldn’t you be able to use these things?”
“My palace has everything I need, and we lack nothing. I don’t want to trouble the Empress any further,” Consort Hui said with a smile. “I was doing this to ease the Empress’s worries in the first place.”
She then invited Yu Lu to stay for tea, but Yu Lu declined, saying he had to return immediately.
Consort Hui then signaled to someone beside her. A trusted Momo named Xia, understanding her intent, said, “Thank you for your hard work, Steward Yu. I will see you out on behalf of our Ladyship.”
With that, she accompanied Yu Lu out. Once outside, she slipped a sachet filled with silver into Yu Lu’s hand, “Thank you for your hard work, Steward Yu. You didn’t even get to have a cup of tea.”
Yu Lu was accustomed to this and did not refuse, smiling, “Please thank Consort Hui for me.”
Granny Xia did not return immediately. She said to a young maid following her, “My ribs have been aching faintly these past few days. I’m going to find someone to do some cupping for me. If Her Ladyship asks later, just tell her the truth.”
“Shall we invite the Imperial Physician for you, Granny?” the young maid asked.
“No need. I haven’t been to the back for a while, and I’d like to enjoy the scenery along the way!” Granny Xia’s illness wasn’t serious, and she was willing to take this opportunity to move around.
There were also a few other matters, which she would handle under this pretense.
As she walked along, she saw that the peach blossoms and apricot blossoms had already withered. Only the lilacs were in full bloom, in shades of purple and white. Because the weather was sunny and the sun was shining, the fragrance was particularly rich.
Granny Xia couldn’t help but sneeze twice. She quickly pressed her hand to her ribs and said with some annoyance, “This floral fragrance is too strong; it’s drilling right into my nose.”
“Oh my, is that Elder Sister? I thought someone was sneezing with such vigor!” A person suddenly emerged from behind the weeping willow to the front left, startling Granny Xia.
Upon closer inspection, she scolded, “You old fool, why were you hiding there to scare people?”
The one who had scared her was none other than Hua Momo, the steward of the storeroom.
The two of them had actually entered the palace together and were once embroiderers in the Needlework Bureau of the Eighth Bureau.
Granny Xia was cunning and good at flattering, gaining favor with her Master, and was transferred to the front.
Hua Momo, on the other hand, had toiled in the Needlework Bureau for most of her life. Her back had become hunched, and her eyesight had deteriorated. Afterward, she was assigned to manage the storeroom.
However, they were old acquaintances and would occasionally meet in the palace.
“I was planning to look for you these past few days, and I ran into you here. It seems we are fated,” Hua Momo said with a smile, squinting her eyes. “Have you made any progress on the matter I mentioned to you last month?”
Granny Xia had actually forgotten about it. Hearing her mention it, she suddenly remembered and casually brushed her off, “Alas, you don’t know that we don’t lack personnel in our department. Any slight opening is quickly filled by those who are good at maneuvering.”
It turned out that Hua Momo had been seeking help everywhere, not wanting to manage the storeroom in the back, but hoping to serve in a Master’s courtyard.
The monthly allowance for managing the storeroom was meager. Apart from the customary rewards given by the palace during festivals, there were no other extra earnings.
Besides these, when it was time to leave the palace, if one served by the Master’s side, they would receive some retirement money. If the Master was generous, giving a few dozen or even a hundred taels of silver was not impossible.
“Elder Sister, I’m counting on you entirely! Please do put your heart into it for me,” Hua Momo was still unwilling to give up. She was a person who was always nagging. “We entered the palace together, and I want to be companions with you.”
Granny Xia didn’t want to talk to her anymore. She casually replied, “I understand, don’t worry! If there’s an opening, I’ll definitely mention it to Her Ladyship. Whether you’ll be hired is not something I can decide.”
Hua Momo was still happy to receive this assurance and thanked her repeatedly.
As she walked back, she saw Xiao Shunzi peeking around from a distance. It reminded her of the time she saw him slip something into Wen Mingqian’s hand.
It was clearly suspicious!
Hua Momo kept it in mind and followed Xiao Shunzi from a distance, wanting to see what he was up to.
Dong Gang had already paced back and forth dozens of times in front of a certain decorative gate before he finally saw Xiao Shunzi.
“Lord Dong, I’m truly sorry. I was sent on an errand and only just arrived,” Xiao Shunzi said, wiping the sweat from his forehead and smiling ingratiatingly at Dong Gang.
“Did the things I gave you the other day get delivered?” Dong Gang asked.
“Mission accomplished,” Xiao Shunzi chuckled.
“Good servant! You’re truly something!” Dong Gang happily punched Xiao Shunzi, making him stumble.
Xiao Shunzi grimaced in pain but still forced a smile, “Your punch is truly powerful! My arm is almost broken.”
“What are you afraid of if it breaks? I’ll have a golden one made for you,” Dong Gang said arrogantly. “Take this for now!”
With that, he untied the money pouch from his waist and threw it to Xiao Shunzi.
Xiao Shunzi quickly cupped it with both hands and couldn’t help but open it to look. It was a pouch full of gold ingots.
“Oh my, thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord! You are truly generous!” Xiao Shunzi was so happy he felt like he was floating on clouds, completely unaware of the pain in his shoulder.
“Little servant, I’ll tell you another trick. If you can get a return gift from her for me, I’ll reward you with another pouch of gold ingots,” Dong Gang said with a smile. “A handkerchief, a sweat towel, or even hairpins and jewelry, even a box of rouge she’s used would suffice.”
Dong Gang was a lecherous and extravagant man who would spare no expense for women, yet he considered himself heroic.
“This… I’ll try, servant!” Xiao Shunzi hesitated, unsure if he could accomplish it.
