"Did you like the pastries last time, Madam? If you are not satisfied with today's pastries, I can pack the same ones as last time and send them back to you."
Qingyin spoke eagerly to Madam Hu.
Madam Hu waved her hand, deliberately teasing Qingyin, "Don't be like that, Your Highness, you don't know how popular the pastries I brought back last time were. My brat is so old now, but his eyes lit up when he saw the pastries on my table. He grabbed a bag and stuffed it into his mouth, acting like he'd never eaten pastries before. He even complained about the ones I used to buy from shops outside."
Qingyin was amused by Madam Hu again. She covered her lips and chuckled softly, "Madam speaks so sweetly. Since your son likes them, why don't you pack some of the pastries from last time as well, in addition to today's?"
"Your Highness, this is far too precious. I was merely fulfilling my duties on these two occasions..."
Madam Hu bent down to express her gratitude, but Qingyin quickly stopped her and pulled her back.
"Madam, you are too kind. I should be thanking you for doing this for me, but you are thanking me instead. This is just a little food. If I were to be stingy, how could I face others?"
After Qingyin said that, Madam Hu dared not refuse.
In particular, she felt that the Princess Consort of Zhalute had also noticed her nature of being attracted to good-looking people, as those beautiful eyes, especially bright because they had been crying, were looking at her pitifully up close.
Mrs. Hu felt that refusing would be an insult to that pretty face.
Mrs. Hu finally agreed to let Qingyin bring home another gift package of snacks and tea.
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Having accepted the gifts, Madam Hu naturally began to diligently do things for Qingyin.
The Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Household Department.
The eight- or nine-year-old palace maid had delicate features and almond-shaped eyes that looked both calm and intelligent. She cleverly walked to the Imperial Household Department.
Palace maids usually received gifts from their families through an eunuch in charge of procurement at the Imperial Household Department.
Those palace maids from relatively good families and who were favored by their families also received things sent from their families in this way.
That's Qi Yue.
The Sixth Princess currently has three palace maids who can take turns on duty. She came out this time to visit the Imperial Household Department when her shift ended.
Remembering what her uncle had told her last time, and how her colleague, another palace maid named Hongdou, had told her that the Imperial Household Department had sent her some items, Qi Yue's eyes flashed, and she vaguely guessed the purpose of this gift.
If that's really what she thinks, then she won't have to worry about her future prospects by the Sixth Princess's side.
Sure enough, after registering with the rather arrogant eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Qi Yue received a set of extremely thick clothes, along with a letter.
On the surface, it says that her aunt said the weather was getting colder and she was worried that she was cold in the palace, so she sent her clothes.
Qi Yue touched the unusually thick clothes and already had a guess in her mind.
Sure enough, after taking the clothes back to her room, Qi Yue touched the coat from top to bottom and finally found the clues her aunt had given her: several hidden mistakes in the stitching. Qi Yue's eyes lit up, and she took out a pair of scissors, cut it open, and revealed two purses that looked like they were embroidered, but the stitching was unusual and they had a faint medicinal fragrance. At the same time, there were several thousand taels of silver notes and a note with a message written on it.
After reading and memorizing the note, Qi Yue quickly burned it to destroy the evidence. As for the purse and money, she figured she could give them to the Sixth Princess later.
In the afternoon, Qi Yue and the palace maids who were taking over the shift returned to Princess Mariki's side.
Marie was a lively princess, but after her biological mother left, she became quieter and more introverted.
Aside from visiting her biological younger sister Xinyu every day, Mary usually stays in her princess residence.
As usual, Maritch was practicing her calligraphy in the princess's quarters when she suddenly saw her newly recruited maid, Qi Yue, walk into her room.
She frowned. Although she was very young, the little princess already possessed the aura and majesty of a royal princess.
"Didn't I say that you palace maids are not allowed to enter my study?"
Qi Yue felt timid, but supported by her own ambition and plans, she still knelt down and bowed respectfully to Mary, saying, "This servant knows, but this servant does have something to report. Sixth Princess, why don't you wait until this servant has reported before you deal with this servant?"
Although her tone betrayed timidity, she still managed to speak clearly and decisively.
Marie hesitated for a moment, looking at the little palace maid on the ground who wasn't much older than her, but decided to listen to what the little palace maid had to say.
"Okay, go ahead and say it."
Qi Yue knelt down and took out the two purses and silver notes she had hidden in her bosom, handing them to Mary.
Maritch was shocked. "Where did you get so many silver notes? And what's with this purse?"
Qi Yue smiled and said respectfully, "These silver notes and purses were sent by Princess Zhalute to the two princesses. I am just passing them on."
Upon hearing this, Maritch was utterly shocked. The depression in her eyes vanished, replaced by a childlike liveliness. "It's actually my mother!"
She quickly ran to Qi Yue's kneeling side and helped her up, saying, "Get up quickly, you are your mother's person."
Qi Yue smiled faintly and did not deny it, but explained her family affairs: "Sixth Princess, you don't know, but my aunt is the wife of Physician Hu of the Imperial Physician's Office. Physician Hu once went out of the palace to take care of Princess Zhalute and became good friends with her. Therefore, Princess Zhalute found an opportunity to have my aunt deliver the item, which is how it ended up in my hands."
Mary's eyes were brimming with tears: "My mother is worried about me even when she's away."
"Did Mother embroider this purse for me? And the other one is for Xinyu?"
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