Banxia quickly turned to the side and rubbed her eyes.
"It's nothing, just some wind getting into my eyes."
Fu Liu naturally didn't believe it, but Ban Xia was always tight-lipped, and Fu Liu had never managed to get any information about Guo Liangyuan out of Ban Xia.
Isn't this a perfect opportunity?
Fu Liu rolled her eyes, closed the window, and turned to go to her room.
"You still want to lie to me? Did one of the old women in the inner palace bully you? Those old hags, they take advantage of their age and never respect us. Tell me the truth, and I'll definitely find a way to get revenge for you!"
Banxia smiled and said, "Thank you, Sister Fuliu. I'm fine, really fine."
Fu Liu didn't ask any more questions and followed her into the house. When she saw that Fu Liu was about to throw the flower branches into the flowerpot, she couldn't help but stop her.
"Didn't you spend a long time making these candle flowers? Why are you burning them?"
Banxia pursed her lips: "My master doesn't like it."
"Consort Guo doesn't like it?" Fu Liu's eyes widened, her face full of regret. "This is much prettier than mine. Your hands are so skillful. You can do hairstyling and embroidery. Even your paper-cut window decorations are prettier than mine! It's a pity you weren't assigned to the East Side Hall. Otherwise, following our Master Xi, you would definitely be more valued."
Banxia paused, then gave her a push.
"What nonsense are you talking about! I was assigned to Guo Liangyuan's room a long time ago."
Fu Liu scratched his head. "That's true. You've been serving Consort Guo for several years now, haven't you?"
“It’s been three years. I was assigned here when I was twelve, and I’ve only just become a head palace maid. Unlike Sister Fuliu, who was lucky enough to become a head palace maid right away.”
Banxia's tone was filled with envy, and also carried a hint of barely perceptible jealousy.
Fu Liu pretended not to hear, and pulled her aside, laughing and telling her funny stories, even snatching the two candle flowers back from her.
"It's such a waste to burn these flowers, why don't you give them to me!"
Before Banxia could stop her, Fuliu smiled and slipped her a purse.
Banxia instinctively squeezed it and found it was a bracelet; she couldn't push it away with her hand.
When Fu Liu reported to Song Xibai again, she immediately told Song Xibai about the matter.
Song Xibai was quite surprised.
Fu Liu is indeed a talent for gathering information!
Even while recovering from his injuries, he still managed to win over the palace maids serving Consort Guo!
Without saying a word, Song Xibai took a gold-inlaid bracelet from her vanity case and handed it to her.
"Well done, consider this bracelet a reward for you."
Fu Liu was both surprised and delighted: "Thank you, Master."
Juqing, standing to the side, stomped her feet in anger.
Flattery! All they know is how to please their master!
She knew she wasn't as eloquent as Fu Liu, but she hadn't been idle these past few days, and she quickly presented the small bundle she was carrying.
"These past few days I haven't been able to make a coat, so I could only embroider some small things for you, my master."
Song Xibai took the small bundle, opened it, and found seven or eight pretty handkerchiefs and five or six sachets.
"You guys haven't had a break these past few days?"
Song Xibai looked at the two palace maids in front of him and really didn't know what to say.
These two are so stubborn!
Even when injured, they still work hard to meet their targets. No matter where you put them, you wouldn't want to punish them!
Song Xibai sighed, thought for a moment, and took out a pair of silver-inlaid jade gourd earrings.
“It’s not good for you to wear heavy things on your hands while you’re doing needlework, so here’s a reward for you.”
Juqing was flattered and wiped her hands on her clothes before solemnly accepting the gift, then glanced triumphantly at Fuliu.
Fu Liu's bracelet may seem more valuable, but if you disregard the portion she gave to Ban Xia, it's really not as valuable as her own jade pendant!
Juqing laughed so hard her eyes disappeared.
Fu Liu snorted but said nothing. She turned to Song Xibai and asked expectantly.
"Master, may I return to serve you now?"
"I was originally going to tell you two to rest for a few more days. If you feel better, then come inside and help me!"
"It's alright, it's alright, I'm all better now."
Fu Liu quickly waved her hand.
"That's true for me too. I'm tough and thick-skinned, those few lashes won't hurt me at all."
Juqing chimed in.
Song Xibai was amused by the two of them.
He then summoned Granny Fangqi and prepared to rearrange the palace maids' schedules.
She now basically needs two palace maids by her side at all times, in case one of them has to leave. Fortunately, Fangqi, Wei Hong, Fuliu, and Juqing make up four people, so they can be divided into two shifts and take turns.
As for Dingxiang, she's been researching how to use candle wax to "prevent theft" lately!
Moreover, Song Xibai told Granny Fangqi that Dingxiang was not a palace maid and there was no need to make arrangements for her.
Granny Fangqi knew of Dingxiang's special status and treated her with great respect.
After Granny Fangqi entered, she bowed as usual. After Song Xibai called her to rise, she quickly stepped forward, approached Song Xibai, and whispered something.
"Your Highness, the Crown Princess has dismissed several of the gatekeepers."
"Oh? Which ones?"
Song Xibai's heart skipped a beat: The Crown Princess is moving so fast?
Granny Fangqi gave three names: "Two of them are from the East Palace gate, and one is guarding the front hall."
"It seems that this Guo Liangyuan is indeed very capable! In just over a month, she managed to gather quite a few people," Song Xibai exclaimed.
“In my opinion, her influence extends far beyond these areas.” Granny Fangqi frowned. “The two maids in the laundry room, as well as the eunuchs responsible for carrying water, are all close to Banxia and Banzhi, who are by her side.”
“That’s true. Banxia is one thing, but as for Banzhi, people often come looking for her, and you can’t see her most of the time,” Fuliu quickly replied.
"Anything else?"
Song Xibai asked again.
"This old servant has only been here a short time, so I can't tell anything else yet," Granny Fangqi shook her head.
"They definitely won't be in the sewing room," Juqing offered her own guess. "But the small kitchen—it's full of food that goes into the mouth—Master must be careful!"
“A small kitchen is impossible,” Song Xibai said, shaking her head.
Everyone knows the importance of the kitchen, so interfering in it will attract the most attention.
Moreover, Song Xibai guessed that everyone in the small kitchen now was probably the Crown Prince's people.
Even the Crown Princess never assigned anyone to the small kitchen, which shows that she was aware of this.
Song Xibai snapped out of her thoughts and clapped her hands: "In short, as long as we manage our own little plot of land and don't give outsiders the slightest opportunity to take advantage, that's fine. You two can leave now. Granny Fangqi, you stay."
Fu Liu and Ju Qing bowed and withdrew.
Once they left, Song Xibai instructed Fangqi, "Granny, have someone keep an eye on those three people and see who they go to. Also, have you confirmed who moved things in my study?"
Granny Fangqi said solemnly, "We've already found out. It was done by a palace maid named Qingque."
"Qingque?" Song Xibai was taken aback. "Not one of the people from our East Side Hall?"
"No, they are the maids who sweep and clean the central hall."
Song Xibai touched his chin.
"This is interesting. How can Consort Guo actually command the Crown Princess's people?"
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