She moved as swiftly as the wind, slipping away in a flash…
Meanwhile, in the Tea Room of the Imperial Study, after Li Shutiao had left, Song Fuwen remained standing in place, crossing her arms and fuming for a while longer.
However, the two newly assigned Gong Nv were busy cleaning the tea sets and preparing evening refreshments, with neither showing any intention of comforting her.
Song Fuwen could only let her arms drop dejectedly. After a moment, as if struck by a thought, she furrowed her brows and muttered to herself, “It’s been quite a while since she left—why hasn’t she returned yet?”
The two Gong Nv exchanged a glance and, with tacit understanding, simultaneously lowered their heads and continued diligently with their tasks.
Song Fuwen stepped outside and was surprised to find that there was no one around anymore.
Where had she gone?
Driven by curiosity, she sought out a Xiao Taijian serving in the adjacent room, slipped a small piece of broken silver into his sleeve, and then inquired about Li Shutiao’s whereabouts.
The Xiao Taijian hesitated for a moment, unable to bear returning the silver that had been pressed into his hand. He then cautiously leaned in close and whispered into Song Fuwen’s ear, disclosing Li Shutiao’s destination.
Upon hearing that Li Shutiao had gone to the East Pavilion, Song Fuwen was immediately startled. “But didn’t the Emperor summon Guo Luoluo Guannuzi to accompany him today?”
Xiao Taijian: “Yes, but something must have happened in the rear palace today. After Granny Gui from Yanxi Palace came by, the Emperor took the Yu Nian and headed in the direction of Yanxi Palace…”
As he finished speaking, he realized he had inadvertently revealed too much and quickly raised a hand to cover his mouth.
Anxiously, he tugged at Song Fuwen’s sleeve. “Sister Song, you mustn’t tell anyone that I was the one who said this.”
Song Fuwen nodded in understanding. Revealing such matters would bring her no benefit, so why go through the trouble of offending someone in the Emperor’s service?
She turned and went back to the Tea Room.
The two inside were whispering to each other. When they saw her return, a flicker of embarrassment crossed their faces before they stood up from their small stools. “Fuwen, you’re back? Did you forget something?”
Song Fuwen’s expression shifted uncertainly, her eyes darting for a moment before she replied in a tone tinged with envy and sourness, “Do you know where Li Shutiao went?”
The two Gong Nv were instantly piqued with curiosity.
While secretly making a decision in her heart, Song Fuwen walked over with a troubled expression and lowered her voice. “She went to the East Pavilion!”
“I’ve heard before that she’s on good terms with Guo Luoluo Guannuzi. What do you think it means that Guo Luoluo Guannuzi specifically called for her while accompanying the Emperor?”
“Really?”
“That can’t be, can it?”
Both were somewhat incredulous.
Song Fuwen pressed her lips together. “I only heard it from someone. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her yourself when she returns.”
The two Gong Nv exchanged another glance. “What about you?”
Song Fuwen put on a fearful expression. “I’ll naturally be going off duty and returning to my room to rest.”
“After I get back, I’ll need to think about how to mend my relationship with her. After all, with her connections, who’s to say she won’t be leaving the Tea Room someday soon?”
She stopped short of saying more, leaving the two to endless speculation before gracefully turning and departing.
At that moment, Li Shutiao was still unaware that she was being gossiped about.
After washing their faces together with Qingyao and Lingluo, she went into the inner room to change into clean clothes.
When they emerged, the round table in the room was already set with seven or eight miniature yet exquisitely shaped pastries.
Lin Momo stood nearby with her hands clasped, a warm smile gracing her weathered face as she beckoned to them. “You must be tired? These are new pastries recently developed by the Imperial Kitchen. Even the mistresses of the inner court have praised them, and Tai Huang Tai Hou herself declared them exceptional. Come, try them quickly.”
Li Shutiao, holding Qingyao’s hand, cheerfully walked over and sat down.
After sitting, Li Shutiao subconsciously sensed something amiss and promptly stood up again. Adopting her former obedient demeanor, she addressed Lin Momo, “Momo, let me serve the young mistress with the pastries.”
Lin Momo: “…”
Guo Luoluo Qingyao: “…”
Even Lingluo felt somewhat speechless.
After all, she had even partaken of tribute offerings, yet only when eating pastries did she remember her duties as a palace maid—wasn’t that a bit too late?
Both Qingyao and Lingluo felt a headache coming on from Li Shutiao’s extraordinarily slow reaction time.
However, Lin Momo was familiar with Li Shutiao’s nature.
—Back when Eunuch Liang mentioned fetching a maid from the Palace Maidens Quarters to the Tea Room, she had discreetly investigated Li Shutiao’s family background, personality, and experiences since entering the palace.
She had even inquired with Rong Momo, who guarded the Warehouse, and combined with her observations of Li Shutiao during this period, she didn’t need to think twice to know these were exactly the words and actions to expect from her.
Her smile remained unchanged, only growing slightly more indulgent, as she said to Li Shutiao approvingly, “Very well, you may stay in the room to serve. I have other matters to attend to and will take my leave now.”
“Farewell, Momo,” Li Shutiao said, bowing with a curtsy.
Only after Lin Momo departed did she revert to the relaxed demeanor reserved for her closest friends, dramatically patting her chest. “That really scared me just now.”
“Qingyao, you have no idea how I’ve been treading on thin ice these days in the Qianqing Palace…”
She rambled on with many complaints and grumbles, growing increasingly agitated until she could no longer contain herself. Clenching her small pink fists, she gritted her teeth in fury, “I don’t know who arranged for me to be here, but if I ever catch that person—”
“What would you do?”
The more Qingyao listened, the more something felt off.
Why was Shutiao reacting this way? Wasn’t she at all happy about becoming a Tea-Serving Maid?
…Oh no, could it be that her well-intentioned act had backfired?
As anxiety crept in, she heard Li Shutiao’s final remark. Qingyao quietly raised her hands to her chest, pursed her lips, her voice filled with concern.
Then she witnessed Li Shutiao slam her modest pink fists heavily onto the rosewood table. The impact jolted several white porcelain plates slightly airborne before they clattered back onto the surface.
The clanging of silver forks against porcelain sounded like a death knell, making Guo Luoluo Qingyao’s heart skip a beat.
Li Shutiao pounded the table, trying to put on an even fiercer expression: “I’ll just beat him to death!”
Guo Luoluo Qingyao: “…”
Decision made—she would never tell her the truth even if she died!
After discussing this topic, they started eating pastries. Once they had somewhat satisfied their hunger, they huddled together to share whispers.
Guo Luoluo Qingyao recounted her experiences of outsmarting several Imperial Attendants in the Houweifang, while Li Shutiao complained about not making any close friends here because no one wanted to engage with her.
Guo Luoluo Qingyao could only comfort her: True friends are valued for quality over quantity, and having just her was enough.
Following this line of thought, Li Shutiao realized it made sense, and her worries instantly vanished. She returned to her cheerful, carefree little self.
The East Pavilion felt as if a few spring swallows had flown in—their chattering voices never ceased.
It wasn’t until Liang Jiugong sent someone ahead to make arrangements that Li Shutiao reluctantly released Qingyao’s hand. She glanced back with every step, dragging her feet as she left.
Unfortunately, the Emperor’s Yu Nian was moving exceptionally fast today.
After leaving the East Pavilion, Li Shutiao originally needed to bypass the main gate of Qianqing Palace, cross the corridor on the right, descend the steps, walk a short distance, and pass through several small gates before reaching her room.
She thought she still had time to linger, but as soon as she exited Qianqing Palace’s main gate, she saw a bright yellow Yu Nian rapidly approaching from a distance, about to stop at the foot of the steps.
Panic instantly seized Li Shutiao. Without a second thought, she turned and ran behind a nearby cylindrical pillar, kneeling with several palace servants to kowtow in formal salute.
—The servants were bowing toward the steps, while Li Shutiao found herself facing only a large, round red pillar.
At that moment, everyone kept their heads lowered to the ground, so no one noticed her improper posture.
Kneeling on the ground, Li Shutiao heard steady footsteps slowly ascending the stone steps. The sound paused after the final step.
Then a clear, mellow voice, like sweet spring water, spoke with a hint of fatigue: “Where is Guo Luoluo Shi?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, Lady Guo Luoluo is currently waiting for you in the East Pavilion,” came Liang Jiugong’s voice.
“Hmm.” The voice continued, followed by footsteps—likely just two or three steps—before suddenly halting again. “Is Guo Luoluo Shi still talking with her little… friend?”
Little friend? What a strange way to address someone.
Li Shutiao wondered inwardly.
She knew the Emperor was referring to her and that she could come to the East Pavilion to chat with Qingyao mostly because the latter had specifically mentioned her to the Emperor.
But she never expected Qingyao to refer to her privately like this—if she was the “little friend,” then what did that make Qingyao? A kindergarten teacher?
Some bizarre imagery seemed to form in her mind.
Li Shutiao quietly continued eavesdropping.
Liang Jiugong’s tone was not as deep and firm as when he spoke with them; it was slightly higher-pitched with drawn-out endings, inexplicably giving off an obsequious vibe.
He said, “This servant had someone inform Lady Guo Luoluo earlier. She should be waiting alone in the pavilion for you now, Long Live Lord.”
“Oh.” The Emperor’s voice betrayed no trace of emotion, neither joy nor anger.
Soon, the sound of footsteps continued, growing fainter and more distant until they completely vanished beyond the door, leaving no further trace of movement.
Li Shutiao swiftly scrambled to her feet from the ground. By the time she stood up, the palace attendants nearby were only sluggishly straightening their postures.
And by the time they had fully risen, Li Shutiao had already breezed past several pillars with brisk steps, then turned sharply to the right, her figure disappearing entirely from sight.
She made her escape.