Just then, a young eunuch ran over in a panic.
The old man who had just spoken to Peizhen looked displeased and scolded her, "What kind of behavior is this, so impetuous? What happened? How can you be so unruly? Can't you see that Miss Peizhen is here?"
The young eunuch quickly apologized, "It was my fault for being too hasty. I'm sorry to have made Miss Peizhen laugh at me."
Peizhen said, "It's alright. Why are you in such a hurry? It must be something important. The Imperial Household Department is responsible for all the expenses of the inner palace. Don't delay."
The eunuch's expression softened a bit, and he said to the agitated young eunuch, "Quickly tell me what happened?"
There must have been something wrong for them to behave this way.
The young eunuch glanced at Peizhen, then stammered, "Consort Shu of Yongshou Palace made a small box herself. Because some of the craftsmanship required the Imperial Household Department to make, she brought the box to our department to have it repaired. The box is now ready, and we originally intended to send it to Consort Shu. However, the newly arrived Eunuch Cheng put Consort Shu's box into a large pear wood box, and when we looked for it just now, we couldn't find anything."
That's why he's in such a hurry.
Everyone in the palace knows that Consort Shu is the most favored concubine in His Majesty's court. The box she made herself was sent to the Imperial Household Department for completion, but the people from the Imperial Household Department managed to get it gone. This was a huge problem.
Upon hearing this, Pei-zhen's father-in-law's expression immediately changed; he was afraid too.
"Have you searched every single box? Don't forget?"
"We've searched everywhere, and even turned the place upside down several times, but Consort Shu's box is nowhere to be found."
The little eunuch said with a bitter face.
They might all be finished.
Peizhen listened from the side and felt that the small box they were talking about looked familiar, so she asked, "Was Consort Shu's box made of woven thread?"
The young eunuch quickly replied, "Yes."
Pei-chen's question left her father-in-law with nothing to misunderstand. He slapped his forehead, realizing the mess she'd made.
The old man waved his hand and said to the young eunuch, "No need to look anymore, you can go back now."
The young eunuch left, completely bewildered.
After he left, the eunuch said to Peizhen, "Miss Peizhen, look at this matter, it's probably because the young eunuch below is not careful and delivered the box to the wrong person."
If the Imperial Household Department had provided that box for Consort Shu, it would have been easy. They could have simply gone to Yongshou Palace and told the Empress Dowager that she liked it. Even if Consort Shu was favored, she probably wouldn't have said anything.
The problem is that Consort Shu made that box herself, and there was only one of them.
That's why this matter is so difficult to handle.
My father-in-law has a headache.
Peizhen also felt a headache coming on. It wasn't a big deal in itself, but the box was made by Consort Shu herself. If it wasn't handled properly, the Empress Dowager's reputation for taking things from a favored concubine would be ruined.
Pei-zhen spoke first: "Father-in-law, what do you think is the best way to resolve this matter?"
The father-in-law first asked, "Has the Empress Dowager seen the box?"
Peizhen thought for a moment. When she arrived, Sumalagu was on her way to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager had probably already seen the box by now.
"I guess they saw it."
The eunuch sighed, "Please trouble Miss Peizhen to wait here a little longer. I'm going to Yongshou Palace. Consort Shu is easier to talk to. I'll explain things to her first, and I think she won't make things difficult for me."
After all, she is the Empress Dowager. At worst, the Imperial Household Department can just do a better job at Yongshou Palace in the future.
Pei-chen sighed, "That's all we can do."
At Yongshou Palace, Youqing is researching a new weaving technique.
"Your Majesty, someone from the Imperial Household Department has come to see you."
Youqing was generally quite polite to the people from the Imperial Household Department, after all, they could do so much for her and she couldn't afford to offend them.
"Then let's meet."
She guessed that the small box had been delivered, and she felt a little excited. After all, it was something she had made herself, and she had put a lot of effort into it, so it felt different.
"This servant greets Consort Shu."
Youqing first told him to get up: "Father-in-law, there's no need to be so polite. Please get up and speak."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Youqing then looked at him. He had come alone and hadn't brought any suitcases. She was a little puzzled, but didn't say anything.
"This servant has come to apologize to Your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Youqing's first thought was of her own box. Her heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Why would you say that for no reason?"
"The new eunuch in the Imperial Household Department is ignorant and put the Empress's small box inside the large pear wood box. Today, someone from Cining Palace came and asked for a batch of pear wood boxes. The people on duty on both sides are different and they did not know that the Empress's small box was inside the large pear wood box, so they sent them to Cining Palace together."
"Her Majesty's trunk should currently be with the Empress Dowager. Her Majesty's attendant, Aunt Su, is very fond of it. This is a dereliction of duty by the Imperial Household Department. This servant does not beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness, but only hopes that Your Majesty will give you another chance. This servant will immediately have the best craftsman in the Imperial Household Department remake the trunk for Your Majesty."
Upon hearing these words, Youqing felt as if thunder had struck her.
Seeing her father-in-law's troubled and anxious expression, Youqing wasn't actually that angry.
The main reason is that she didn't put herself into the role of the master, and she didn't think that the things she made by hand were particularly precious. In her eyes, it was just a box, like the scarf she knitted when she was in college. In fact, she wouldn't feel too bad if she lost it; at most, she would feel sorry.
Moreover, this box ended up in the Cining Palace.
Moreover, she understood the implication in her father-in-law's words: it was impossible to get the box back. However, she was still somewhat disappointed that she couldn't see the box.
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