Zheng Nianru spent an entire afternoon deliberating before finally deciding to send Master Yin He away. This was not without the hard-fought advising from Zheng Haoyuan.
Such a capable individual, beyond Zheng Nianru’s control, could beco an unforeseen risk at any mont.
Zheng Nianru absolutely underestimated her own prior thoughts, simply believing she had gained a formidable guard. In her future consciousness, having such a strong guard serve her was the utmost honor for the other party.
Zheng Nianru had grown accustod to naturally enjoying such honors, thus she intuitively assud that this Master Yin He would follow her commands, striking wherever she directed, just like a extrely powerful weapon.
But now, to send such a terrifyingly capable person away was a rather tricky matter, and Zheng Nianru felt fortunate she hadn’t just thrown him out—otherwise, it might have been she who was stoned to death and not that monster.
Zheng Nianru unwillingly inquired about resurrection and eternal life, only to find that Master Yin He didn’t understand a single word and looked at her as if she were the butt of a joke.
It was then that Zheng Nianru realized not only had she smashed her hand, but she had also lost her troops, suddenly losing the desire to keep him by her side, especially since Fu Gong’s words weren’t without reason. Although Master Yin He had lost his mory, there was no telling when it might return, and with unpleasant experiences looming, keeping him was definitely troubleso for Zheng Nianru.
Hence, when Zheng Haoyuan proposed sending Master Yin He away, Zheng Nianru almost instantly agreed after mulling it over in her mind.
To leave him to Noble Consort Wen, Zheng Nianru did not agree. Even though she was Fu Gong’s Mother Consort, subconsciously, Zheng Nianru was sowhat repulsed by having killed Noble Consort Wen in her previous life—this ti, even if she wouldn’t kill her, she couldn’t bring herself to have a pleasant relationship.
Moreover, Noble Consort Wen had been secretly plotting against Zheng Congyuan, and Zheng Nianru later learned quite a bit about it; she even suspected that Noble Consort Wen was involved with that assassination attempt.
Zheng Haoyuan seed to have no intention of handing Master Yin He over to Noble Consort Wen, so he personally went to request Master Ling Yi.
Zheng Nianru took her entourage towards Chenhe Hall, with Yin He, who was used to his title, following quietly beside her, flanked like Eunuch Cang Er at Zheng Haoyuan’s side—both respectful and humble in deanor, fully adopting the role of a real eunuch.
Zheng Nianru couldn’t be bothered to remind him otherwise, and Fu Dong and Nian Xia weren’t particularly concerned with Yin He. Xing Yu, however, was very patient, occasionally exchanging a few words with him.
"As a servant, you go wherever your master goes. It’s not your place to ask," Xing Yu spoke up, admonishing him, and Yin He listened nervously, not daring to speak further.
But having been abandoned several tis before, every departure from Qishun Building evoked an unsettling feeling within him.
"Commandery Princess, look how bright those peonies are," Fu Dong said, pointing at a cluster of vividly blooming flowers, and Zheng Nianru turned to look, indeed, they were a mass of newly blossod flowers.
"Harvest them to make rouge," Zheng Nianru said.
Fu Dong and Nian Xia paused; Commandery Princess, aren’t we going to Chenhe Hall to send this boy away?
Yin He was taken aback, then hastened to pick the flowers. Fu Dong and Nian Xia, seeing this, could only spread out their handkerchiefs, waiting for Yin He to pick the blossoms.
"Commandery Princess, please give your silk handkerchief to this servant as well. Since you’re already picking, we might as well pick more." Nian Xia was in a good mood, oblivious to the situation and without any thought of caution, allowing Zheng Nianru’s servants to live quite carefreely.
Zheng Nianru did not get angry but took out her own silk handkerchief. Compared to the tragic deaths of these maids in her previous life, Zheng Nianru often tolerated so of their present behavior, which could be sowhat inappropriate.
After all, foresight, advantages and disadvantages of their positions—these things could not be learned in a place like Qishun Building, and Nanny Yun certainly couldn’t teach them anything beyond the Art House. Thus, apart from loyalty—and a rather foolish loyalty at that—the few people around her were utterly incompetent when compared to those belonging to Ju Nanyi.
Nian Xia happily accepted the handkerchief. Zheng Nianru’s silk handkerchief was much larger, and on sunny days, it could be used as a makeshift veil. The embroidery of begonia blossoms fluttering in the wind on the handkerchief was carefree and lively, showing delicate and fascinating needlework that looked impressively realistic upon closer inspection. Even the peonies piled atop it, vibrant and eye-catching, seed to lose their luster in comparison.
"Who dares to be so bold as to pluck all these clusters of flowers!" An eunuch, with slight anger in his voice, quickly bowed and hurried into the garden, and indeed found that the peonies they had been waiting for had all been picked clean. A few steps further, he saw people, including Zheng Nianru, who had moved to another cluster of peonies and were picking them.
The eunuch was startled because the master he followed was a Talented Lady, of low rank, and so his knowledge of clothing was limited. All he saw were two or three maids, only followed by one eunuch, which clearly indicated that they were not the retainers of a high-ranking master.
The eunuch imdiately turned back and relayed what he had seen.
"Outrageous! I have been waiting several days for these peonies. How could they let soone else get there first," Talented Lady Jing said angrily, leading her entourage of female servants and eunuchs toward Zheng Nianru’s direction.
Zheng Nianru finished picking all the blossoms with great satisfaction. This cluster of peonies was indeed of superior quality, having been carefully cultivated by the palace gardeners, and naturally could not match the quality that could be grown in the garden of Qishun Building.
"Stop right there—" Talented Lady Jing, with her rounded and delicate figure, charged forward and shouted at Zheng Nianru in anger.
Zheng Nianru turned her head in confusion, only to see two won dressed as imperial consorts.
When Zheng Nianru beca the Empress Dowager, the palace consorts were almost completely removed, but that did not an she was unfamiliar with this rank.
Talented Ladies, Chong Rong—these young won sent into the palace were treated as political goods. Zheng Nianru lowered her gaze, sowhat displeased with the unreasonable remark just uttered.
Yin He wrapped the silk handkerchief into a bundle, cradling it carefully in her arms, oblivious to the arrival of several people. Xing Yu walked up to Zheng Nianru’s side vigilantly, as the female servants beside that woman seed sowhat different, not so easy to deal with.
Talented Lady Jing narrowed her eyes at Zheng Nianru. The abrupt turn of Zheng Nianru caught her off guard and surprised her more—there was such a beautiful woman in the palace.
This beauty was a natural nobility and luxury that seed effortless. Just one glance was enough to make one’s heart tremble. In the next mont, Talented Lady Jing imdiately dismissed this feeling.
Clearly, it was just a very plain and simple dress and even its color was not particularly bright. The flowers embroidered on the cuffs were sparse and shapeless, nothing like the flamboyance and luxury of rich clusters of blossoms.
"You, you’re unreasonable. You’ve picked all the peonies in this garden; what about the others?" Talented Lady Jing spoke, finding the person in front of her to be doing sothing utterly outrageous, enough to anger anyone.
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