If Tang Mei continues to ask "why", Wei Yi Yi would tell her that, whether they are the boss or a simple employee, as long as they have a girlfriend, they would want to have a "plus one" and show off that girlfriend at the company outing!
So no matter what, Ye Ai Ning is a must!
And what would she do with just her Boss? If it really just them, whatever he wants or whatever he needed, she could only nod her head. For she would be stuck to accompany him herself and leaving hin whenever she wanted would be hard.
The important point is, that would be boring!
As for the other consort, she simply brought them because there"s a limit on being a thirdwheel. She wanted to be a wingman, not a sore eye.
Also, they deserved this additional incentive. They worked hard for that! Since we don"t have insurance, might as well pimp out all the bonuses!
By the time the servants were done with unpacking, the Empress has long been snoozing off on Tang Mei"s shoulder. It"s kind of amazing how she could sleep with a chaotic mind.
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Xie Yu"s steps were light as she made a beeline towards the empress" quarters. She was even humming softly while carrying a red sandalwood food box that was craved with magnolia flowers.
The empress gave it to her saying, "I"m no longer hungry and it"s a waste to throw them so let"s split them."
With a reason that she cannot refuse the empress, Xie Yu received them quietly but excitedly hide them.
Now that it was empty, Xie Yu proceed to find Wei Yi Yi for more.
"Niang Niang," the servant at the gates greeted her upon her arrival.
"Is the empress available right now? I"m here to return this to her majesty."
Xie Yu was very polite as she asked to be announced at the very gate. Unlike some concubine who doesn"t know what mt. tai is that would usually just waltz in the Empress" palace and only make known of their arrival at the very door of her inner chambers.
Those wretched ladies from third rates family! Taking advantage of the empress" mild personality and always giving the servants heart attacks!
"Please wait a moment Niang Niang. This servant will go immediately and ask."
The consort made a sound of acknowledgment and waited without a fuss.
If the servants were asked which one they wanted to serve the most, Consort Xie would be ranked at the top. Her status as a daughter from a distinguished family of scholars wasn"t just for show. She wasn"t simply educated, she put those knowledge on actions and incorporate it into her way of living.
Logical, reasonable, and elegant!
Even as a high ranked consort, Consort Xie doesn"t have any of the same arrogance that the other consorts carry with them.
The only problem is that she"s aloof. And too much aloof for that. She would claim to seclude herself to read from time to time.
Even now, she rather strolled alone than bring her servants with her.
Once the servant returned, she invited Xie Yu inside the main hall.
"You didn"t need to go out of your way just to return a food box," Wei Yi Yi said. She has just woken up from the short nap and full of energy. Someone just unknowingly sacrificed herself to be Wei Yi Yi"s companion.
"It"s not as unnecessary as the empress might think," Xie Yu said calmly. She sat in front of Wei Yi Yi and pa.s.sed the empty food box to Tang Mei. Actually, this food box belongs to Feng Lei so Wei Yi Yi would get it from her after some time.
"Really? Aren"t you busy? Did you come after settling down?"
"En. This younger sister also came to ask the empress something. I heard that the empress likes to read as well and so Yu"er is wondering if she"s allowed to see them."
"In the middle of the night? I did bring some with me but wouldn"t your eyes hurt?"
Wei Yi Yi hate the flickering light of the lantern when she reads at night. She could never get used to it. But then again, unlike her, people from this era, especially Xie Yu who spent most of her life reading, the issue of reading at moonless nights is not a big deal.
"No? It"s not that late yet, empress," She did make sure not to come at an inconvenient time. "Would it be a problem? Forgive me, your majesty. When I heard that the empress have her own collection, without thinking, I came to imposed."
"No. No. It"s alright. I just don"t think you would like them."
"Why?"
"It"s nothing similar to what I know you would read. Most of them are folk tales."
Wei Yi Yi is a reader. That"s a fact.
But not the academic reader like Xie Yu.
Just because she"s addicted to reading and could finish multiple volumes of the book doesn"t mean she could stand the sight of Mathematical 101. Those hardbound books that medical students read could kill literary and mentally. Throwing them is like throwing a brick.
It"s something that could make the eyes bleed.
"I do read anecdotes and watched plays. The well-written ones are full of beautiful poetical wording. I just don"t expect folktales to be interesting," Xie Yu was honest in her opinion. Folk Tales are usually baseless so information gathered from them are useless. If Xie Yu lives in modern times, she could be labeled as unreligious. "But since the empress took a liking on them, those pieces might prove themselves to be one of a kind."
"Then... I"ll send them to you in the morning," Wei Yi Yi said, agreeing
"Oh... I..." Suddenly, Xie Yu stammer.
"What"s wrong?" Wei Yi Yi asked but Xie Yu only pursed her lips.
"Ah! Empress do you how wearing a green hat relating to being cuckold came to be?"
Wei Yi Yi almost splats out blood. Didn"t she reprimand Su Mei Fan on talking about sensitive thing such as adultery just this morning? And she even said "cuckold" herself! Stick to the scrip! Aren"t you well read?! There"s a lot of sentences to describe it indirectly, remember?!