In preparation for the garden party in the next couple of days, Gyokuyou was finalising her choice of outfit with her maids in the room.
Gyokuyou-sama, is it too plain after all? Infa tilted her head as she matched the accessories to the outfit. The colour of the dress was the sa hue she wore during her ti as a consort, red, but slightly darker. Isnt it kind of dull?
It goes well with the colours of the banquet. More importantly, were thinking of finding a good balance with his majesty. Honnyan, who had been combing Gyokuyous hair, answered. As if she, too, found the shade too composed, the head maid set down the comb and headed for the dressing room. She added another kanzashi hairpin to the accessories in Infas hands.
Moderation was probably difficult.
If it were the ti they were in the inner palace before, it would be natural to steal the march on the other consorts. So, with so common sense in mind, the maids had looked forward to how they can add so fun to it, but the circumstances were a little different this ti.
Honnyan-sama. Can we add that? Infa looked at the kanzashi Honyan brought over disapprovingly
Oh my, does it look strange?
I also think its okay, but hasnt she worn it before? Back then, the empress dowagers maid was scrutinising her outfit.
We cant use this then. Honnyan returned the kanzashi.
Fundantally, outfits worn in large banquets are not used again in another large one. Extravagant outfits will be altered down to trifling stylish wear for tea parties and such.
As for small accessories, they can be used many tis, but they cannot have people think that they only use the sa things.
But itll look too plain like this.
I agree.
The two of them groaned.
Gyokuyou didnt not understand their views. Colours aside, I want sothing that leaves a flashy impression. Like a large gem or the like.
Jade, they have in abundance, but it doesnt complent her current outfit. Sothing more transparent and draws attention would work better.
Like crystal.
As well as.
Like polished diamond from the West.
Searching for it at this point in ti will be difficult. If we do have so, well have to rush an artisan to make it though.
Though she said that, she was going to take a look. Honnyan headed for the dressing room again. Although Gyokuyou is said to be more modest than other consorts, she is currently the empress nonetheless. Shell have one or two crystals.
However
Its a little boring like this. Gyokuyou stuck out her tongue.
Amusents have decreased since leaving the inner palace. It was fun to pass the days with her children, and there were various worries from the position of the emperor and empress.
But Gyokuyou is a woman still not much older than twenty. She still retained her inquisitiveness from her younger days.
If we must, sothing amusing would be good. She grinned and got up from her seat.
And then she stealthily went off to get a certain thing. The two maids didnt recognise what Gyokuyou went to get and where she went.
Honnyan. Infa
Yes, what is it?
The two imdiately ca over. Gyokuyou showed them the rocks that had been wrapped up in cloth. There were three stones, highly transparent crystal; they could see through to the other side.
we had crystals like this? Honnyan was bewildered.
On the other hand, Infas eyes widened and she compared Gyokuyou to the crystal. Gyokuyou winked, and as if she knew what Infa wanted to say, raised her index finger out of Honnyans notice and replied,
I want it in this shape.
Gyokuyou went to the table for a brush and drew a simple picture. It was a picture of a kanzashi in the shape that resembled a ground cherry, that resembled a lantern. Have it in the shape of a cage and have the crystal visible inside it. She added an explanation to the two people and passed the crystal and paper to Infa.
Infa, go request it at once.
Gyokuyou-sama, if its a request, I can always Honnyan tried to take the crystal off Infa, but Gyokuyou blocked her way.
We can have Infa do it once in a while, right? Infa should know what to do.
Thats true, but Gyokuyou-sama, what are you plotting?
How sharp. As expected of the head maid. There was also the fact that Honnyan had been keeping an eye on Gyokuyou ever since she was a child.
However, like how Honnyan knew Gyokuyou, Gyokuyou also understood Honnyan.
I an, we cant always leave it all to Honnyan, right?
Gyokuyou dropped her gaze and looked at Honnyan with upturned eyes.
Seeing that, Honnyans expression stiffened. No, as Gyokuyou-samas head maid, I have to do my work properly.
But then you wont be able to get married, right?
At the words married, Honnyans expression changed completely. It was like she got stuck by lighting. M-married.
Honnyan is still healthy and pretty, but she has also passed marriageable age. Where people mostly married when they were in their mid-teens and early twenties, Honnyan is thirty two. Maomao, who has dical knowledge, had said that you can still bear children at that age, but the person herself is impatient.
Speaking of how impatient, when they were at the inner palace, she had even gone after Gaoshun even though hes a eunuch. By the way, Gaoshun isnt a eunuch, but has a wife from hell who is older than him, so he clearly turned her down.
Honnyan always does everything on your own. At this rate, once youre gone, I wont be able to do anything. You have to leave so work to the other maids at least.
As a consequence of being too capable, it was probably too difficult for gentlen to approach her as well.
Honnyan ca along when Gyokuyou entered court at the age of fifteen. A capable maid was needed when you go to the inner palace, which is, in a certain aning, an abode of demons. At the ti, there were a number of maids older than Honnyan, but they returned to their hotowns one after another, after being subject to getting their lives targeted when Gyokuyou was picked by his majesty. There were so who returned to their hotown for marriage, and others who collapsed from food tasting.
The ones remaining was Honnyan, and Infas groupthe three young and inexperienced girls. Honnyan probably stretched herself thin, thinking that she had to do it all herself.
Although she had temporarily employed a wet nurse when her daughter was born, Gyokuyou didnt know friend from foe as she had been raised in the desert, so they hadnt taken in any new maids.
Entering in the middle of that, was Maomao.
It was fun when that girl was here, Gyokuyou fell deep into her mories, but now wasnt the ti to think about it.
For Gyokuyou to kill ti, she had to give her all into misleading Honnyan.
Dad also ntioned it before. That we have to prepare a good marriage match for Honnayn.
Gyokuen-sama did. Honnyan was moved.
It wasnt a lie. Dad had said that Honnyans children will be excellent no matter their gender. And that its too late to have them as foster siblings, but they would serve us well.
Its also different from then, we have more maids now. You dont need to always get worked up.
Due to the crown princes birth, three maids had co in from their hotown, and the numbers increased further when Gyokuyou beca the empress.
I understand that youre uneasy. It may not be the inner palace, but this is still a battlefield for won. We dont know what will happen. But, you are no longer alone. Please think more about your future and live.
Gyokuyou was impressed by her eloquence. This personality of hers is fortunate. She might survive even in the battlefield of won.
Gyokuyou-sama, you think about this way Honnyans eyes were damp. I understand. From now on, I will call for Airan and Guien. Ill check to see how much I can entrust my work to them.
Imdiately motivated, she left the room.
Her side profile was flushed like a maiden.
When Gyokuyou was left alone in the room, she stretched out her hand for the writing materials on the desk again.
This goes beyond a joke. She decided to write a letter to Gyokuen in the capital to see if theres a good marriage match.
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