Yingchun pondered for a moment.
"Your Highness, you may simply perform the proper greetings as you would to the Empress and Consort Zhao. The Empress Dowager is highly respected, kind, and benevolent. Even if you do something inappropriate, Your Highness, she will not hold it against you."
Xu Lejin nodded, but a look of worry still appeared on her face.
Half past 11 PM, Xu Lejin, dressed in a new light-colored palace gown and with her hair styled in an elegant double bun, adorned with a ruyi lily hairpin, walked towards Cining Palace with Yingchun and Zhishu by her side.
As Xu Lejin passed by the entrance of Yongshou Palace, she saw two palace maids arguing in the distance.
"Yingchun, go see what's going on?"
Frowning, Xu Lejin gave instructions to Yingchun beside her.
Yingchun bowed and replied, then quickly stepped forward to inquire what had happened. A moment later, Yingchun returned and lowered her voice to report to Xu Lejin, "Your Highness, it was Lvliu and Jiaoxing, who serve Consorts Guoluo and Xitala in Yongshou Palace."
"Green Willow and Delicate Apricot, on the orders of Consort Guo Luoluo and Consort Xitala, went to the Imperial Garden to pick fresh osmanthus flowers. On their way back, they met at the gate of Yongshou Palace and started arguing."
Xu Lejin nodded.
Yingchun and Zhishu exchanged a glance, then helped Xu Lejin continue walking forward. When they passed the entrance of Yongshou Palace, they paused for a moment. Xu Lejin glanced at the two palace maids, Lvliu and Jiaoxing, who had lowered their eyes and were sulking.
"Yingchun, what happens in the palace is none of our business. We don't need to take it to heart. Just treat it as a joke and laugh it off."
Yingchun paused for a moment, then said respectfully, "What you say is very true, Your Highness. You still have to go to Cining Palace to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager. You can't let some petty squabbles delay you."
"Um."
With a soft reply, Xu Lejin, supported by Yingchun and Zhishu, continued walking forward, leaving the two palace maids, Lvliu and Jiaoxing, to look at each other in bewilderment.
Green Willow and Delicate Apricot glared at each other, then, carrying their baskets, turned and entered Yongshou Palace.
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