Xiao Xixi casually picked a tender cucumber, wiped it with her handkerchief, and then started crunching on it.
Homegrown cucumbers tasted exceptionally crisp!
Next to the vegetable patch was a small wooden shed, inside of which mushrooms and bean sprouts were growing.
Seeing those fresh and tender bean sprouts, Xiao Xixi immediately shouted to the outside.
“I want to eat cold bean sprout salad for lunch!”
Baoqin answered her from afar, “Alright!”
For lunch, Xiao Xixi got her wish and ate the refreshing and delicious cold bean sprout salad, feeling immensely satisfied in her heart.
This kind of life of idling around and waiting to die was simply too wonderful!
She truly hoped she could live like this forever.
After eating and drinking her fill, she prepared to return to her room for a afternoon nap.
Baoqin reminded her, “His Highness the Crown Prince ordered people to deliver rewards. Aren’t you going to express your gratitude?”
“Haven’t I already expressed my gratitude?”
Baoqin was exasperated by her lack of ambition. “This servant means for you to use the pretext of expressing gratitude to show your face in front of His Highness the Crown Prince. Although you are protected by your identity as a member of the Mystic Sect and His Highness shouldn’t neglect you, wouldn’t it be even better if you could get a bit more of the Crown Prince’s favor?”
Currently, there was no Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace, only two Side Consorts, in addition to over a dozen others including Virtuous Consorts, Liangyuan, and Beauties.
No one said anything on the surface, but secretly, everyone was coveting the position of Crown Princess.
If Xiao Xixi were just the daughter of a fourth-rank general, she certainly wouldn’t be qualified to ascend to the position of Crown Princess. But she also had the identity of a member of the Mystic Sect, which meant she also had the qualification to compete for it.
However, Xiao Xixi just collapsed straight onto the bed, her entire body exuding a thick aura of a salted fish.
“Vying for favor is too tiring, I can’t do it. I’d better take a nap first.”
After saying that, she closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.
Baoqin: “…”
Although she had long been aware of her master’s salted fish nature, she still felt frustrated at this moment.
Xiao Xixi slept for a full hour.
While serving her to wash her face, Baoqin said, “Just now, Side Consort Bai sent someone over with an invitation, saying she is hosting a tea party at Cuiming Pavilion tomorrow afternoon and wishes to invite you to drink tea and appreciate the flowers.”
“A tea party? Will there be a lot of delicious food?”
“Probably.”
“Then I want to go!”
Looking at her highly excited appearance, Baoqin truly worried herself to pieces.
“This tea party is very likely a Feast at Hongmen. You must be careful when the time comes and don’t fall into their traps.”
None of the women in this rear palace were simple.
Yesterday, Xiao Xixi was locked into Lengxiang Tower, and everyone thought she was doomed this time. Who would have thought that in just one night’s time, she not only moved back to Qingge Palace but also received rewards from the Crown Prince.
One had to know that the Crown Prince was famous for his cold temperament. With so many beauties in the Eastern Palace, not a single one could catch his eye.
Now that Xiao Xixi had experienced such ups and downs, she had clearly caught His Highness the Crown Prince’s attention.
How could this not make people green with envy?!
Side Consort Bai sending an invitation at this time surely meant she had other motives.
Since Baoqin could think of this, Xiao Xixi naturally could as well. But as a salted fish, she was truly too lazy to engage in intrigues with those women.
Since someone invited her to eat delicious food, she would just go.
Free food shouldn’t be wasted.
Anyway, with her skills, all the women in the entire Eastern Palace combined wouldn’t be her match.
Luo Qinghan kept busy until evening before returning to the Eastern Palace.
Just like usual, he dined all by himself.
Even though there were many beauties in the backyard, he insisted on making himself live like an ascetic, practicing restraint and abstinence.
After he finished his dinner, Eunuch Chang presented a protective amulet with both hands.
“Your Highness, this is what Virtuous Consort Xiao asked this servant to pass to you.”