After finishing lunch, Guo Yichen left Fengyi Palace.
Lin Anran felt so full that she was uncomfortable, so she wandered alone through the courtyard to help digest the meal, secretly swearing to herself:
Next time, I absolutely will not overeat again.
Under the afternoon sun, the cool autumn breeze gradually made her drowsy.
She first went to check on Luo Li, and only after confirming the little girl was fine did she return to Fengqi Hall for a nap.
By the time she woke up, it was already three in the afternoon.
Since Lin Anran did not trust anyone else to care for Luo Li, she assigned Xia Mo to personally attend the child. As a result, all of Xia Mo’s previous duties now fell onto Chunhua’s shoulders.
At present, Chunhua not only handled Lin Anran’s daily affairs and external social matters, but also assisted with her hair and makeup.
Watching the busy Chunhua, Lin Anran spoke after a long pause:
“Chunhua, is there any palace maid in Fengyi Palace who is especially skilled at dressing hair and makeup?”
Chunhua hesitated before cautiously asking, “Your Majesty intends to have Xia Mo permanently attend the Princess?”
Lin Anran nodded.
She felt more at ease having someone trustworthy care for Luo Li.
Besides, Luo Li liked Xia Mo, and Xia Mo’s lively personality made it easy for the two to get along.
After thinking for a moment, Chunhua uncertainly suggested, “This servant knows two people who are both quite skillful. How about I bring them both here so Your Majesty can decide which one you prefer to keep by your side?”
Chunhua was steady and thoughtful in her work. She had her own ideas but never overstepped her place.
Lin Anran nodded. “Go bring them here.”
Soon, Chunhua returned leading two palace maids inside.
One looked around twenty years old, with delicate features and a meek, obedient appearance.
The other appeared closer to thirty. She usually handled rough labor. Her face bore sunspots, and her hands were coarse. She looked honest and reliable, more suited to close service.
“This servant greets Her Majesty the Empress,” the two women said respectfully as they knelt.
Lin Anran silently observed them.
Unhurriedly, she lifted her teacup for a sip while her cool gaze swept back and forth across both women.
At that moment, Xia Mo entered with Luo Li to pay respects.
Luo Li kept her eyes lowered and performed the greeting properly. “Mother Empress, did you rest well during your afternoon nap?”
Lin Anran reached out, pulled Luo Li over, and settled the child onto her lap.
Smiling gently, she said, “Mother slept very well. What about little A’Li? Were you obedient and did you take your nap properly?”
Luo Li nodded. “This child listened to Mother Empress today. I did not practice calligraphy and instead slept for a full hour.”
“My little A’Li is so obedient.”
Looking at Luo Li’s adorable little face, Lin Anran could not resist kissing her cheek.
Luo Li’s face instantly turned red, and she smiled shyly yet happily.
Only then did Luo Li notice the two kneeling palace maids.
The moment her gaze passed over the older maid, her body instinctively trembled slightly.
But she said nothing and quickly looked away.
Lin Anran was a careful person and immediately noticed Luo Li’s tiny reaction.
Her gaze shifted toward the older palace maid.
Sensing Lin Anran’s attention, the maid’s eyes flickered evasively, and she lowered her head even further.
“Chunhua, keep this one,” Lin Anran said, pointing to the younger maid.
Chunhua nodded and motioned for the older maid to leave. Then she instructed someone to take the younger maid away for registration and training.
Once everyone had left, Lin Anran gently asked:
“Little A’Li knows Chunfen?”
Chunfen was the name of the older palace maid.
After thinking briefly, Luo Li nodded. “Mother Empress, before this, this child once saw Chunfen secretly speaking with someone from Noble Consort’s palace in the imperial garden.”
Though Luo Li was young, she had been raised from infancy under the original host’s constant teachings about surviving within the deep palace. Influenced by that environment, she had naturally become extremely alert to everything around her.
Wanting to give Luo Li a happier childhood, Lin Anran smiled and deliberately changed the topic.
“What would little A’Li like to eat tonight? Mother will have the Imperial Kitchen prepare it.”
After spending two days and one night with Lin Anran, Luo Li had gradually become bolder.
“Mother Empress, this child wants to eat huoming shrimp roast.”
Huoming shrimp roast was essentially grilled shrimp in modern terms.
Because the Great Xia capital was neither near the sea nor beside major rivers, and fresh seafood transport was difficult in ancient times, seafood was rarely seen even within the imperial palace.
But since Luo Li wanted it, Lin Anran was determined to find a way to make it happen.
“Alright! Mother will definitely have the Imperial Kitchen deliver huoming shrimp roast for you.”
After chatting with Luo Li a while longer, Lin Anran let Nurse Jian take Luo Li away to the Hall of Broad Learning for lessons.
Luo Li attended two classes each day:
Morning cultural lessons covering music, chess, painting, calligraphy, literature, and etiquette;
and one hour of martial arts in the afternoon.
The martial arts lessons had been requested by Luo Li herself.
She said that when she grew up, she wanted to protect Lin Anran.
That statement had nearly moved Lin Anran to tears.
Lin Anran believed it was good for girls to learn martial arts for self-defense, so she agreed.
Ironically, this was what made Luo Li cry actual tears of gratitude.
The reason was simple—
the original host had once fiercely opposed Luo Li learning martial arts and had even punished her over it.
Today was Luo Li’s very first martial arts lesson.
Originally, Lin Anran had wanted to accompany her and watch.
But now a small issue had arisen, and she needed to resolve it quickly before she could feel at ease.
Lin Anran first sent Dongxue to the Imperial Kitchen with money.
If authority could not secure shrimp, then she would buy them instead—better than repeating the chili pepper incident.
Only afterward did Lin Anran summon Chunhua to ask about Chunfen.
“Have you thoroughly investigated Chunfen’s background?”
Lin Anran’s direct question immediately put Chunhua on alert.
Respectfully, she answered:
“Replying to Your Majesty, before entering Fengyi Palace, Chunfen worked in the Bureau of Clothing. Because her family was poor and her younger brother needed money to marry, she chose to remain in palace service after reaching the age to leave the palace. Since entering Fengyi Palace, she has always behaved honestly and dutifully. She currently handles Your Majesty’s clothing arrangements and has always been reliable and clean-handed.”
Chunhua’s evaluation of Chunfen was extremely positive.
And Chunfen herself did indeed appear exactly as Chunhua described.
If Luo Li had not personally seen Chunfen interacting with someone from Noble Consort’s palace, Lin Anran would never have suspected her.
As the saying went:
One can guard against thieves from outside, but not against thieves within one’s own home.
If Lin Anran wanted to comfortably enjoy her retirement life in ancient times, she absolutely could not allow spies near her.
Otherwise, retirement life might very well turn into prison life.
“Investigate further,” Lin Anran instructed. “Check whether her family encountered any difficulties recently, and whether those issues have suddenly been resolved. Also find out whether she has been in frequent contact with people from Noble Consort’s palace, or whether she regularly visits a certain place on fixed days.”
Listening to these instructions, Chunhua felt so shocked and emotional that tears nearly filled her eyes.
Her Empress had finally become capable.
Filled with relief, Chunhua eagerly accepted the order.
Though she was only going to investigate someone, she felt overflowing motivation.
Life finally seemed full of hope again.
Not long afterward, Dongxue returned.
“Your Majesty, the head steward of the Imperial Kitchen refused our money.”
Lin Anran raised a brow. “He refused to provide the shrimp?”
Dongxue shook her head. “This is what he said:
‘Your Majesty the Empress truly embarrasses this servant. How would this servant dare accept the Empress’s money? His Majesty specifically instructed that from now on, whatever the Empress wishes to eat shall be provided.
Your Majesty need only send any servant to inform us. How could we dare trouble Lady Dongxue to personally make the trip?
This servant will absolutely deliver the huoming shrimp roast to Fengyi Palace by dinner time.’”
Dongxue vividly imitated the Imperial Kitchen steward’s tone and expression.
Combined with her naturally somewhat wooden face, the performance looked utterly hilarious.