Xiao Shunzi"s voice rang from outside in response. Then he turned and walked out of Wu Ying Palace. As he turned around, he saw that Si Nan Yan was following him and he asked,
“Female Officer Si, are you not going in ?”
Nan Yan shook her head,
“His Majesty wants to eat with concubine Zhao Yi. How can this slave servant join them by eating there ?”
Xiao Shunzi went forward to look on either sides, but still could not help to stop and turn his head speaking to her again,
“Just recently, that tea, obviously you steeped it. How come——”
Looking at his regretful face, Nan Yan lightly laughed.
“What… Don"t tell me you want this slave servant to fight over a meritorious deed with concubine Zhaoyi ?”
“It is not that, it is just——”
“Alright."
Nan Yan waved her hand,
“If we do these things, we will not be rewarded. If by any chance we perform badly we will be facing an imminent catastrophe. If a good thing is sent in by concubine Zhaoyi, she can get a little "reward", is this not a good deed?"
Xiao Shunzi looked at her,
“You really did not take it to heart.”
Nan Yan just smiled,
“You go quickly and send in the order. After a while, if both of them become hungry. It will also be your sin.”
Xiao Shunzi nodded and hurried to the imperial kitchen.
Nan Yan looked at his back. After a while, she sighed gently and went back to the Lateral Courts in the Imperial Palace.
In a short while, the other palace maids that whined on for days, also came back.
Nan Yan listened to their complaints. But as she opened the door she only caught the sight of Ran Xiaoyu standing in the doorway with a sweaty appearance. Hastily she asked,
“Why are you worn out like this?"
When Ran Xiaoyu came in and sat down. She did not complain, but she looked very tired. Nan Yan poured a gla.s.s of water for her, as she heard her uttered,
“Today, we had to clean up the Imperial Garden. In addition, they wanted the entire area to be arranged neatly. Of course, it was arduous work for the few of us in such a huge Imperial Garden."
"What was driving you like this so urgently ?”
"Ah, I heard that tomorrow there will be a banquet in the Imperial Garden. No one knows who will be entertained there, therefore we are anxiously rushing.”
Upon speaking those few words, Ran Xiaoyu could not help reaching out to tap her shoulder.
Nan Yan reason out,
“Let me make it up to you.”
Then Nan Yan went to Ran Xiaoyu"s back and ma.s.saged her shoulders.
Ran Xiaoyu could not help, but laugh,
"You are already the Female High Advisor Official. But you live with me in this shabby place and knead my shoulders. Are you going to break my life ?”
"Let your short life be good.”
These days, the two of them had become familiar with each other. Nan Yan knew that Ran Xiaoyu"s temperament was cold and arrogant and she did not like to talk with people who were irrelevant. In fact she still very good to people she is familiar with. They, from time to time, are also able to tell a few jokes with each other.
However, she said that to let Ran Xiaoyu calm down.
After a long time, she stated,
“I will probably die young.”
Nan Yan was moved by her words.
These days, she heard her say this all the time. Obviously she was only a girl of eighteen or nineteen, but she was always showing a cold and gloomy look.
Nan Yan softly spoke,
“Xiaoyu, you——”
Ran Xiaoyu"s originally somewhat dazed eyes suddenly became clear again and she cast aside the emotions she just had before looking back at Nan Yan,
“You came back so early today, didn"t the emperor a.s.sign you an order ?"
Nan Yan shook her head,
“Concubine Zhaoyi was there. The Emperor is dining with her.”
“Oh, her…..”
When Ran Xiaoyu heard the name Xia Yunting her eyes flashed coldly.
Nan Yan knew that many people in the palace were dissatisfied with Xia Yunting, who had been trying to climb into His Highness Yan w.a.n.g"s bed at the beginning and was later conferred a t.i.tle as Concubine Zhaoyi. The people who often spoke ill of her were not only the concubines in the Harem, but also the Palace maids who used to be chosen to serve.
But what Nan Yan did not expect was that Ran Xiaoyu also seemed to despise Xia Yunting.
End of the Chapter