Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Huai and Ah Yuâs tacit understanding was very high, almost surpassing Chi Jiaâs. They looked at each other and knew what the other wanted to do.
Ah Yu could sense that these two Inner Palace experts did not have any ill intentions towards them, so she set her mind at ease and asked them for help.
The two of them were Empress Qinâs people. Emperor Minghua had arranged for them to protect them in the first place.
âYoung Master Qin, Little Miss Wang, sorry to offend you.â
The two of them were carried on their backs. The inner palace experts quickly moved through the imperial garden. During this time, they even passed by two palace concubines.
When Consort Gong saw a figure flash past, she screamed in fear, âThereâs an assassin! Catch the assassin!â
Another palace concubine held her chest and trembled. âSomeone, help!â
They had all seen it. It seemed that two assassins had kidnapped two people. They were afraid that the assassins would capture the two of them too, and their faces turned pale from fear.
When they flew past the man-made lake, Ah Yu patted the shoulder of the Inner Palace expert. âWeâre here.â
The two of them stopped and put Ah Yu and Qin Huai down.
After seeing the building in front of them clearly, the pupils of the two Inner Palace experts constricted. They hurriedly jumped away and hid again.
âHey, 1 havenât given you the jade yet!â Ah Yu called out for a long time, but the two of them did not appear again. Even though they knew that Ah Yu already knew their location, they only changed their positions and pretended not to hear her.
âKeep it for yourself.â Qin Huai put away the jade and stuffed it back into Ah Yuâs pocket.
Now, Ah Yuâs bag was already becoming more and more exquisite. It was no longer a simple diagonal shape. Instead, it was wrapped around and tied to her waist. The waist chain was a colorful bead strap woven by Qin Huai. There were three layers to the bag. The embroidery was Madam Maâs work, but the trims were Qin Huaiâs work. The small bag inside was also Qin Huaiâs design.
The colors and style matched Ah Yuâs clothes, enhancing her skin color and temperament.
âI promised to give them a reward, and I have a lot of jade like this. Forget it, Iâll give it to them next time. In any case, we still have to go back.â
The two Inner Palace experts who were hiding in the dark but could hear the words:ââ¦â
The little girl must be from the imperial family, right? Perhaps she had a deep relationship with Concubine Jing.
She was so good at calculating!
After making up her mind, All Yu did not hesitate anymore and pulled Qin Huai onto the small boat by the artificial lake.
This was a floating house that looked like a boat. It was about the size of a small house. Ah Yu and Qin Huai stood at the door and bowed before saying, âIâm Wang Ruyu from Hu Family Village in South River Town in Wangbei County. Heâs Qin Huai from the Qin Family in Wanning City. We took the liberty to visit because we have a request. Please help us.â
Ah Yu didnât know Qin Huaiâs family background, so she could only say that he was from the Qin Family of Wanning City.
Qin Huai did not ask who the person on the boat was. In any case, if All Yu wanted to seek that personâs audience, he would follow.
After waiting for a long time, no one came out.
Ah Yu was a little anxious. She asked in the spatial pocket, âElf, is the person you mentioned really in here?â
[Donât worry, there are three people inside. Wait a little longer.]
If the person inside still did not reply, it would buy a smelly pill and let Ah Yu throw it in.
Before Meatbail could put this plan into practice, the curtain inside the boat was lifted.
A person who looked like a palace maid walked out. She first sized up Ah Yu a few times before asking, âDo you know what this place is? How dare you barge in!â
âThere are rumors outside that within the palace, there are two formidable figures not to be trifled with. One is the revered Emperor, the sovereign ruler, and the other is the reclusive and esteemed Imperial Aunt,â Ah Yu spoke with conviction. âIf my guess is correct, the person living in the boat-like residence must undoubtedly be the Empressâs mother, the current Imperial Aunt!â
Imperial Aunt was a title the Empress Dowager gave to herself. Many people in the palace knew about it, but very few people outside the palace knew about it.
âHow audacious! Where did this little girl come from!â The palace maid shouted angrily. Her right hand formed a claw and she wanted to grab All Yu.
âQing Ye, let them in.â A gentle voice suddenly sounded from the boat.
Ah Yu raised her chin at the palace maid called Qing Ye and deliberately pretended to be domineering, angering the palace maid so much that she gritted her teeth and lifted her skirt as she stomped back inside.
Qin Huai also followed. When he turned his head and saw Ah Yu pretending to be unruly, the corners of his mouth curled up.
No matter what version of Ah Yu he saw, he felt that she was extremely cute.
At first, Ah Yu did not know who she was looking for. She had followed Meatballâs guidance.
As there were many restrictions in the palace, Meatbail could not penetrate all the corners in the palace. Only when All Yu got close could she know the identities of these people.
After entering the boat, Ah Yu realized that it was indeed too simple. However, it did not look shabby. For example, on the left and right sides of the boat, there were some famous masterpieces that looked simple, but their prices on the market were so high that it would make ordinary people gasp in horror.
âGirl, you said that youâre from Hu Family Village? Is that where General Huâs hometown was more than a hundred years ago?â Behind a screen, two figures appeared. One was lying on her side, and the other was massaging her legs.
Through the veil, she could see the outline of a woman. Although the voice she heard was more than elegant, she could also hear a hint of age in it.
After all, the Empress Dowager was already over 60 years old. Even if she took good care of herself, there were still marks left behind by the traces of time.
âYes, our village has General Huâs temple and a temple fair every month.â Speaking of Hu Family Village, All Yu became even more talkative, chattering non-stop.
The Empress Dowager was originally just casually exchanging pleasantries and was unwilling to continue chatting like this. In the end, Ah Yu pulled her along and chatted with her. From time to time, she would ask, âDo you know? You donât know? 1â11 tell you! What, youâve heard of it too? Wow, youâre so powerful. You know something so far away while in the palace. If I donât go out, Iâll never knowâ¦â
At first, the Empress Dowager was unwilling to talk. Later on, for some reason, she sat up from Ah Yuâs words.
Not only did she get someone to remove the screen, but she also set up two tables and asked Qing Ye to prepare tea and snacks for the two of them.
Ah Yu sat down and took two bites. She praised the food and continued talking with the Empress Dowager.
As she spoke, she sat beside the Empress Dowager and pushed aside the people who were originally massaging her legs.
That person glared at All Yu. Clearly, she did not like her very much.
Ah Yu did not mind and even brought the tea and snacks to her. âBig Sister Palace Maid, youâve worked hard. Do you want some sweet tea?â
Hearing the words âBig Sister Palace Maidâ, the woman became even angrier.
âLittle Miss Wang, this is our Princess Ruyi,â Qing Ye reminded Ah Yu in a low voice.
Princess Ruyi was the one who had just returned to the palace not long ago. It was said that she was the Empressâs biological daughter.
Hearing this, Qin Huai raised his eyebrows and glanced at her.
Her face was ordinary to begin with, and she was wearing plain clothes. She looked inferior to the palace maid beside her.
âRuyi, Iâm tired. Go back first. You donât have to serve me here today.â
âRoyal Grandma!â Princess Ruyi stomped her feet and pretended to be reluctant.
The Empress Dowager stopped looking at her. âGo on.â
Princess Ruyi could only leave.
After she left, Ah Yu chuckled and moved closer to the Empress Dowager. âEmpress Dowager, 1 think youâre similar to my Grandma!â
âHow audacious!â Qing Ye could not help but scold again. âYour Grandma is just a village old woman.. How dare you compare her to the Empress Dowager!â