Geng Youran followed Qingzhi to the side room where several senior palace maids lived.
Because the three head palace maids had to take turns keeping watch over Consort Hui at night, there was always an extra bed in the side room.
"Let's get this straight, none of us like other people touching our things. I'll go over and change Qingyu off from her night watch in a bit. You'll sleep in my bed tonight. Remember to call Xiao Anzi tomorrow and ask him to put another bed in this room."
Unlike the cramped and tiny side room where Geng Youran slept before, this side room could easily fit four beds.
"Sister, I'll just sleep on the floor again. You've already helped me so much tonight."
Qingzhi glanced at her without saying anything, then turned and left.
At this moment, Qingyu, who had been standing to the side, came over and tugged at Geng Youran's sleeve.
"You know, your sister Qingzhi is just feeling sorry for you."
After saying this, Qingyu looked in the direction Qingzhi had left:
"If her sister were still alive, she would probably be about your age by now."
Upon hearing this, Geng Youran turned to look at Qingyu:
"Sister Qingyu, what do you mean?"
Qingyu took Geng Youran's hand and walked towards the bed, sitting down and saying:
“Qingzhi is different from us. She was chosen from among the servants born into the Imperial Household Department. In other words, she was sold into the palace. Three years ago, Her Majesty wanted to grant her a favor and let her leave the palace, but she refused. Later we learned that her younger sister had been beaten to death by her stepmother.”
"I've never heard Sister Qingzhi mention these things before."
"Sigh, she's cold on the outside but warm on the inside; she wouldn't tell you these things. Anyone who can survive in this palace isn't stupid. Let me ask you one question: what exactly is going on between you and the First Prince?"
Geng Youran thought Qingyu was also a bit clueless, saying whatever came to mind, and somehow the topic ended up being about the First Prince.
But she still spoke her mind:
“The eldest prince is the master, and I am a servant. How can we be involved in anything?”
Qingyu nodded.
"That's good. I hope you'll always remember that."
"Sister Qingyu, I will."
After that, the two of them went to bed to rest.
Geng Youran lay in bed, feeling that the day had passed far too long. Someone like her, with neither high emotional intelligence nor high IQ, couldn't even handle one person, Lü Yao, let alone the next three years.
In the end, she didn't sleep a wink all night and got up early. After washing up, she went to the small kitchen.
She remembered that the Empress hadn't had a good appetite lately, and that she should eat something comforting in the morning.
Knowing that Consort Hui was a Manchu, she wanted to try making some of the Manchu people's usual breakfast foods for the Empress to try.
When Geng Youran arrived at the small kitchen, she saw that Qingzhi was already busy. Looking at the materials around her, Geng Youran realized that she and Qingzhi had the same idea.
"Sister Qingzhi, you didn't sleep well last night, so let me do this job. You should get some rest."
Qingzhi didn't stand on ceremony with her and handed over the things in her hand to Geng Youran as she reached out her hand.
"Is the bed installed?"
"Not yet, mainly because I haven't seen Xiao Anzi yet."
Qingzhi cursed in a low voice:
"That kid is probably slacking off again."
Geng Youran opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't help but say thank you to Qingzhi.
"Sister Qingzhi, thank you so much for last night. But, after all, I am only a second-class palace maid, so perhaps I should move back."
"Alright, stop making things worse. Your two older sisters and I will handle things with Her Majesty. Although our Her Majesty may seem a bit stern, she has a very kind heart."
"Thank you very much, sisters."
On the other side, Xinyi and Taohua felt a little uneasy when they heard that Geng Youran had moved into the side room.
They all entered the palace on the same day and were even classified as second-class palace maids, so why is she different from them?
While doing their own work, Xinyi and Taohua were each making their own plans.
Green Yao, who had been transferred to the outer courtyard to water the flowers, saw the expressions on both of their faces from not far away.
With a quick glance, Tao Hua, holding the kettle in her hand and pretending to be busy, bumped into her as she was heading to the small kitchen to visit Geng Youran.
"How can you do things like this? You can't even water a flower properly."
"Sister Taohua, I'm sorry. I was just distracted and didn't mean to bump into you."
"What happened?"
Tao Hua thought that Lü Yao just wanted her to say a few words in defense of her in front of Geng Youran, but little did she know that Lü Yao directly revealed a big thing.
After hearing what Lüyao said, Taohua temporarily lost the desire to go find Geng Youran.
Are you telling the truth?
"It's true. I happened to be outside the door that day and overheard it by accident."
However, Tao Hua knew that Lü Yao and Geng Youran had a grudge, so she didn't believe it completely. She just kept the matter to herself for the time being and decided to observe for a while.
Soon after, news of Kangxi leading his army back to the capital spread far and wide.
"You Ran, Xin Yi, I heard that the First Prince has returned to the capital and will come to visit our Empress after the morning court session tomorrow."
Xinyi was helping You Ran peel chestnuts at that moment.
Neither of them looked up. Geng Youran, not wanting to offend Tao Hua, took over the conversation:
"We're usually in the palace, so where did you hear this news from?"
Tao Hua raised her chin and said with a proud look,
"Hmph. I won't tell you unless you give me back the pair of pendants that the Empress gave you the other day."
Xinyi, standing to the side, looked up and laughed, scolding:
"You brat, You Ran finally got some good stuff from the mistress, and before she could even enjoy it, you've already set your sights on it."
Tao Hua didn't say anything, she just kept looking at You Ran, which made You Ran laugh.
"Alright, alright, I'll give it to you then. Honestly, I was planning to wait until your birthday in a few days to give it to you, but you're just too impatient."
Geng Youran took out a purse embroidered with peach blossoms and handed it to Tao Hua.
"Hehe, since I'm going to get it sooner or later anyway, I might as well get it done sooner. I don't mind."
Xinyi pointed to the purse in Taohua's hand and said:
“Hey, I embroidered that purse, so I should count this gift as part of my share.”
"Alright."
So Tao Hua told the two of them how she knew.
In fact, Tao Hua didn't have any source of information. It was just that the Grand Consort visited Consort Hui in the palace yesterday, which Qing Yu happened to overhear, and then Qing Yu told Tao Hua about it.
Little did anyone know that Tao Hua was a big mouth and couldn't keep secrets; she would blurt out any news she knew.
Yu Ran is once again drawn into the struggle because of Tao Hua's big mouth.
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