Purple Cloud Pavilion.
Han Guiren leapt up from her seat in shock after hearing Shui Yun’s whisper.
She rarely showed such surprise.
"Is this true?" Han Guiren lowered her voice, afraid that someone might be eavesdropping on her and her maid.
"It’s true; Shui Bai saw it with her own eyes," Shui Yun affirmed.
Shui Yun and Shui Bai were brought into the palace by Han Guiren from her family’s home, having grown up with her. Shui Bai had her method of gathering news, and since she witnessed this herself, it must be true.
"Noble, should we spread this news?"
Han Guiren gestured for silence, pacing back and forth.
The matter of the Emperor fighting with Prince Xuan was quite significant. If she were unaware, it would be another matter, but now that she knew, she had to take action. The question was how to "act."
"Earlier, Shui Yun learned from her father that the Emperor reprimanded Vice Minister Sun in the Imperial Study. It’s unclear how many times Noble Lady Ying has had to copy palace rules and when her confinement will end."
Han Guiren returned to her usual gentle and serene demeanor, smiling gracefully.
"Yes, I will make arrangements now," Shui Yun curtsied and withdrew.
In the kitchen, Yin Huang grumbled discontentedly, "I just saw the people from Luaxin Pavilion taking away a bowl of bird’s nest porridge. My master only asked for a bowl of ordinary lotus seed porridge, but there’s none available?"
Little Zhuzi, the eunuch in the kitchen, laughed, "Yin Huang, didn’t you say that was Luaxin Pavilion?"
Your confined noble cannot compare.
Although Little Zhuzi didn’t articulate this, Yin Huang felt he implied it, and retorted indignantly, "Why are you like this? So what if it’s not Luaxin Pavilion? Can’t you even give us a bowl of porridge?"
Her master hadn’t rested well due to copying palace rules for days, and rare was the time she had an appetite. These people are too bullying!
When Luaxin Pavilion was frequently punished in the past, they didn’t dare to rub it in.
"Why is Yin Huang so angry? The eunuchs in the kitchen have to care for so many in the harem; you should be understanding when there are oversights," Shui Yun walked over with a meal box, speaking lightly in support of Little Zhuzi.
"Oh, Shui Yun, what does Han Guiren want to eat?" Little Zhuzi saw Shui Yun, beaming as he welcomed her.
His attitude was worlds apart from when he saw Yin Huang.
Yin Huang flushed with anger but dared not say more.
"Hello, Zhuzi. Han Guiren wants to eat sweet crispy pastries and drink lotus seed porridge. Does the kitchen have any?" Shui Yun took a silver bean from her sleeve and discreetly slipped it into Little Zhuzi’s hand as she spoke.
Little Zhuzi quickly pocketed it: "It’s available, knowing that Han Guiren enjoys it, we prepared some. Shui Yun, please follow me to fetch them."
"Thank you, Sir,"
Shui Yun followed Little Zhuzi into the kitchen and soon returned with pastries and porridge.
Seeing Shui Yun arrive after her yet quickly obtain sweets and porridge, Yin Huang stamped her feet in anger: "This is outrageous, I’m going to Yikun Palace to tell Princess Consort De!"
"Yin Huang," Shui Yun stood before her, gesturing for silence, "This is the lotus seed porridge Noble Lady Ying wanted. Please come with me; I have something to tell you."
Yin Huang followed, puzzled why Shui Yun was helping her get porridge.
A quarter of an hour later, Yin Huang returned to Yunmo Pavilion with flushed cheeks, nearly foregoing decorum, as she announced breathlessly to Noble Lady Ying: "Noble, something terrible has happened—the Emperor and Prince Xuan got into a fight at Lotus Reflection Pavilion over Lady Li, and they are injured!"
...