The layout of the west side was the same as that of the east side where Yong'an lived. When Meng Qi entered the courtyard, she saw Ms. Li talking to a female official. When they saw Meng Qi approaching, they hurried forward to greet her. Just as they finished talking, a voice came from the door and Fanghua walked into the courtyard, holding the hand of a palace maid.
Looking at Meng Qi standing at the door of the east wing, he frowned and asked, "Who arranged for Princess Rui to live here?"
There was some displeasure on Meng Qi's calm face. Did Fang Hua have to target her like this all the time?
The female official stepped forward quickly and said, "I just received an arrangement from the Imperial Concubine, saying that Princess Rui will be staying here for the next few days. I remembered that the last time the Princess lived in Kunning Palace, she lived in the east wing of the east courtyard, so..."
Fanghua waved her hands impatiently. "Last time, Sixth Sister-in-law was still the Fourth Young Lady of the Huainan Marquisate, so it was natural for her to live there. Now she's the legitimate Princess Rui, and you arranged for her to live in the East Wing? Was it your idea, or did Nanny Sang or the Imperial Concubine arrange it directly? I didn't know the Imperial Concubine could directly arrange matters in Kunning Palace."
The female official knelt down quickly and said, "It's my fault. I was in a hurry, so..."
"No matter whose instructions you followed, go back and tell that person that she miscalculated when she tried to get words of disrespect from me, your sister-in-law. I, Fanghua, may be a bit willful, but at least I have some sense. Get out of here, and don't show up in front of me anymore."
The female official lowered her head, not daring to say anything more, and stood up and hurried towards the courtyard gate.
Meng Qi slowly approached Fang Hua and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "How is it? Was I right? I win this round."
Fanghua looked up at Meng Qizhi's satisfied expression, her face flushed red. She wanted to say something, but she saw the servants in the courtyard looking at the two of them and curled their lips. "It's only one round, and you just said you wanted three."
"That's right. Take your time. I'll convince you eventually." Meng Qi tilted her head, stood up straight, and raised her voice. "So, it seems that the princess has a better plan for me?"
Fanghua rolled her eyes, "Qinxiang."
A voice responded from beside her. Meng Qi looked up and saw that it was the little girl who had served her for a few days when she lived in Yong'an Courtyard last year. Was she working for Fanghua now?
"Princess Rui, please stay in the west room of the main house."
After saying this, she didn't wait for Meng Qi and walked up the stairs. Meng Qi knew Fang Hua's temperament and followed her slowly without rushing. She smiled at Qin Xiang and said, "Please prepare a clean room for this concubine, Ms. Li, to live in."
Qinxiang kept saying that she didn't dare, and signaled the little palace maid beside her to take Ms. Li to the west wing.
Fanghua climbed the stairs and paused, "Why don't you ask that Ms. Li to wait on you?"
"How dare a servant live in the princess's main room, even in the west wing? The princess is so generous that it's already a bother to let me stay for two days."
Fanghua snorted, "But you have to know that since you don't ask her to come in to serve you, I don't have any extra palace maids for you." After saying that, she went into the main room.
Ms. Li did not expect Meng Qi not to ask her to accompany her. When she went to the west wing with the little palace maid, she thought in her heart that she had not yet entered the palace with the princess. It turned out that she received a message from Yuan Dong early this morning saying that she would accompany the princess into the palace. She was really happy.
Early in the morning, she heard that a eunuch had come to the palace to announce the decree. Although she didn't know what the news was, she heard that the princess had to go to the palace immediately. She also heard that the prince had gone there last night. Everyone knew that something big must have happened in the palace.
Before anyone could find out more, Yuan Dong arrived at the east wing and told them to pack up and accompany the princess to the palace. She also told them to bring a few extra sets of clothes, as they probably wouldn't be back for a day or two.
Ms. Li still remembered Ms. Zhang's expression when she stood at her door. Ever since Ms. Zhang had lost the favor of the princess—no, it should be said that neither of them had ever won the princess' favor—the princess looked down on Ms. Zhang even more, which was a slap in the face. Since the incident with the second young master, Ms. Zhang seemed to have given up trying to get close to the upper class. She still went to Yinyan Pavilion every day and used to go back to the back street a few times, but now she hadn't been there for a long time.
Although the two worked together in the palace and lived in the same courtyard, their relationship was not close. They both had their own ulterior motives, and their competition was about who had the ability.
Meng Qi followed Fang Hua into the main hall and exclaimed, "This is my first time here, Princess. It's really beautiful."
Fanghua sat down and said, "You don't have to pick nice things to say. It doesn't matter if you just say I'm vulgar."
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