"Please wait a moment, I'll go change and get ready."
"Time is of the essence, please hurry, Princess."
After closing the door, Guarjia Yuxi and Irgen Gioro Yiyun looked at Xiuning, whose face remained calm, with worried expressions.
"Can't we not go?" Guarjia Yuxi felt it was best to refuse.
“That’s the Empress Dowager, we can’t refuse,” Irgen Gioro Yiyun reached out and tugged at Guarjia Yuxi’s sleeve, her eyes glancing at the silent Xiuning.
"Who knows if it's true or not," Guarjia Yuxi said softly, thinking to herself that it would be too easy for a palace maid to come and say that the Empress Dowager had ordered it.
Irgen Gioro Yiyun: ...
However, there's no need to be so blunt. What is Xiuning supposed to do? Whether she goes or not is a problem; she can't just gamble that the other party is definitely lying.
Xiuning smiled and nodded, "No matter what, we should go and take a look first."
She bypassed the two people, returned to her room, quickly changed her clothes, and then went out again, leaving directly with the palace maid named Chunxi who was waiting at the door.
On the way, Xiuning tried to ask Chunxi a question, but he kept changing the subject, so it was clear that there was something wrong.
'Could it be that I've been acting too harmless lately, giving them the wrong impression that I'm easy to deal with, and thus they've been targeting me relentlessly?'
'Host, it's also possible that you are too much of a threat,' fearing that you might actually enter the palace and become an opponent, which is why they are willing to do anything to get rid of you.
'I'm truly honored by their high regard,' Xiu Ning said with a faint smile as she watched the palace maid's retreating figure.
"This doesn't seem to be the route to Shou Kang Palace, does it?"
While having the system monitor the surroundings, Xiu Ning seized the opportunity to question Chun Xi, who was leading the way.
“Reporting to Princess Xitala, this servant has chosen a slightly longer path. Although it is slower, the scenery along the way is quite nice.”
Chunxi had clearly prepared her answer in advance, and her reply was exceptionally fluent.
Xiu Ning said "Oh," and then smiled and continued walking with Chun Xi.
However, as soon as she finished asking her question, Chunxi's pace quickened noticeably, and the distance between the two gradually increased.
Xiuning observed this without offering any warning or speaking, until the path ended and she turned into a small garden.
'Phew, all that effort, just to lure me to this little garden?'
Xiuning stood there, now completely alone. Chunxi, who had claimed to be a palace maid from Shou Kang Palace, was nowhere to be found.
'Host, hide quickly, someone's coming!'
The system reminded Xiuning in her mind, and at the same time, a small map that clearly showed the surroundings appeared. The green dot on the small map remained still, while several red dots got closer and closer.
No sooner said than done.
Xiuning rolled over and squatted down, shrinking herself into a crevice or corner separated by tree branches.
It's a blind spot, but the trees obscure it, making it hard to spot someone hiding there unless you get right up to them.
Xiu Ning's keen hearing allowed her to hear footsteps approaching from not far away.
His voice was deep and resonant, yet deliberately suppressed.
The system was instructed to project the image directly, and Xiu Ning saw a man dressed as a eunuch.
'Oh ho, so you're planning to ruin my reputation and be done with it?'
It has to be said, that's ruthless. If this is confirmed by others, then she won't be able to enter the palace through the imperial concubine selection, let alone get married normally. At best, she'll spend her life with a Buddhist lamp and a Buddhist shrine; at worst, she'll have to atone with a white silk ribbon.
Tsk tsk, everyone says the imperial harem is a den of wolves and tigers, and they're absolutely right.
Muttering to herself, Xiu Ning watched the man pacing back and forth like a headless fly, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead and temples, clearly nervous.
The longer the time drags on and the task remains unfinished, the more predictable the ultimate fate will be.
The footsteps became disordered, and Chunxi, who had disappeared, reappeared.
Chunxi's expression became anxious as she and the man continued searching for Xiuning's whereabouts.
Unfortunately, in the end, they gained nothing.
The once quiet little garden was filled with human voices, leaving Chunxi and the man with no choice but to flee.
After watching the show from behind the tree branches, and confirming through the panel that the two had left, Xiu Ning clapped her hands, tidied her slightly disheveled hair, and returned to where she was supposed to be.
After standing there for about half a cup of tea's time, Xiuning saw a palace servant walking towards her.
Hello, may I ask where this is?
Before the other party could speak, Xiu Ning inquired about the situation and made sure to tell them her identity and why she had ended up there.
“Shou Kang Palace is very far from here,” the palace maid said in surprise. “Princess Xitala, please come with me.”
Xiuning nodded, turned around and followed in small steps.
On the way, Xiuning saw that they were heading towards Chuxiu Palace, and 'couldn't help' emphasizing her doubts to the palace maid, "Are we really not going to Shou Kang Palace?"
The palace maid smiled and shook her head. "I think that since that palace maid accidentally got separated from the princess, she must be worried about the princess's safety."
"Let's go back to Chuxiu Palace and explain the situation to the old woman. The Empress Dowager won't hold it against you."
Who knows if she's using the Empress Dowager's identity to do bad things? The palace maid wouldn't dare lead Xiu Ning over without any evidence and expose her.
Upon hearing this, Xiu Ning responded with an "oh," and then returned with the palace maid with a smile.
After explaining the situation to the head maid of Chuxiu Palace, Xiuning went back to her room to rest, while the head maid went back to Cining Palace with a serious expression.
"I understand. I will explain this to the Empress Dowager."
"There's only one day left. Keep a close eye on those young ladies-in-waiting, and report back immediately if anything happens."
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