Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 78 Pastries

Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Pastries

Qi Zhu swept the floor, stealing glances at the two palace maids standing to the side. They wore aquamarine female servant uniforms, not attire from the palace, but since Nanny Qi had said so, they must be from the palace.

Qi Zhu had considered this possibility before, but after so many years, the Empress had never sent anyone to the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Why suddenly send two people now?

Qi Zhu paused. Had the Empress discovered something?

Cold sweat broke out on Qi Zhu, and before he could take any action, he heard Qi Jin rush into the room like a mouse escaping a fire, snatching the broom right out of Qi Zhu’s hand.

"Quick, quick, the Commandery Princess is here," Qi Jin spoke in a panic. Qi Zhu was again frightened into a cold sweat and, setting aside any further deliberation, immediately headed towards the two figures standing like posts next to the Crown Prince’s Study Room.

"Ladies, according to the rules of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, women are not allowed in the study. Please come with me," Qi Zhu said hurriedly, not allowing the two women time to respond, ushering them towards the back courtyard.

Yue Ke was about to speak out in surprise—before coming, Nanny had given them detailed instructions to serve the Crown Prince up close in the study, although they also knew that inside the study...

However, upon arriving at the Crown Prince’s Mansion, they should abide by the mansion’s rules. Yue Ke didn’t insist but lowered her head and took the lead, with Qi Zhu hurrying her towards the back courtyard.

With a clatter—just as Qi Zhu closed the door to the back courtyard, he saw from a distance someone entering the courtyard of the study room and took a deep breath, not sure if he was more afraid of the Commandery Princess seeing these two people or of them seeing the Commandery Princess.

"What’s going on, Yue Ke?" Gu Meng frowned. The way that guard had rushed them seemed incredibly urgent, as if driving them away. They were people personally sent by the Empress.

"Let’s go inside," Yue Ke said gently, comforting Gu Meng. It was only their first day, and being chased out of the study wasn’t entirely a bad thing. Taking things slowly and establishing a firm footing in the Crown Prince’s Mansion was what Yue Ke wanted most.

Moreover, Nanny Qi had quietly mentioned that the woman who was greatly favored by the Crown Prince was likely in the back courtyard. Compared to the Crown Prince, Yue Ke felt it was best to get to know this woman first.

...

"Commandery Princess, His Highness hasn’t returned yet. Would you like to sit for a while?" Qi Jin courteously led the way inside and personally held back the curtains.

"Qi Jin, I see you’re quite perceptive now," Nian Xia patted Qi Jin on the shoulder, and he chuckled along. How was he supposed to speak? Was it even possible for him to stop her?

Besides, Qi Jin didn’t really want to stop her anymore. He was more aware of the situation than Qi Yu. Without the Commandery Princess, the Crown Prince’s Mansion felt like a suffocating pressure cooker; everyone was careful, not even daring to speak. The Crown Prince would just keep reading memorials, forgetting to eat and sleep. They dared not advise him; only the Commandery Princess had the boldness to snatch the memorials from his hands.

"Commandery Princess, remember the cherry blossom-filled pastries you mentioned last time? The kitchen has learned how to make them. Shall I have them prepared for you to taste the craftsmanship? To see if the new pastry chef’s skills are up to par."

Zheng Nianru headed straight for the study room without replying. She had come on a whim today, remembering that Zheng Congyuan had recently acquired a beautiful jade bracelet. Although the quality wasn’t the finest, what made it rare were the three evenly distributed, lively colors—purple, green, and yellow—which would match her smoky rosy gauze skirt perfectly.

Zheng Nianru was somewhat surprised not to find the bracelet where she expected it on the desk.

"Commandery Princess, His Highness is attending court for the first time today and has many things to tend to," Qi Zhu explained immediately, as Qi Jin efficiently served tea.

Steward Hu was inspecting the shops today and was also absent, and since Qi Jin wasn’t usually the one serving directly, things were a bit chaotic at this moment.

"What are you looking for, Commandery Princess?" Qi Zhu asked while Fu Dong gave him a glare that said, ’You talk too much.’

Zheng Nianru pulled out a storybook from the bottom shelf, and Qi Zhu finally breathed a sigh of relief—she wasn’t leaving after all.

The kitchen became a flurry of activity upon receiving the news, but without Steward Hu to oversee and direct, things got chaotic with people everywhere. The kitchen’s head steward only managed affairs within the kitchen, while deliveries and transportation outside belonged to another steward, and the front courtyard had its own person in charge of affairs.

Chaos naturally provides others with opportunities.

The nannies in the inner court had not seen Yue Ke or Gu Meng, so when the two were there, although they were somewhat surprised, they could tell by their demeanor that they were not ordinary subordinates, especially since they had been personally sent by Qi Zhu.

And who was Qi Zhu? He was someone from the Crown Prince’s side.

"Sister Yue Ke, the Empress has instructed us to serve in the study room, if the Crown Prince returns and doesn’t find us, wouldn’t that be our fault?" Although Gu Meng was younger, she was spirited and assertive. Why should they be sent to the back courtyard? Serving in the study room offered constant proximity to His Highness, such a good opportunity.

"Sister Gu Meng, don’t worry," Yue Ke consoled her. This back courtyard of the Crown Prince did not match her expectations. Yue Ke also began to feel that something was amiss.

After asking a few female servants, there was no one in the main courtyard, nor in the several other courtyards; they only encountered female servants and nannies.

Yue Ke became uncertain, but the steward nanny who arrived was very polite; it was clear to her that these two were from the Empress’s Palace.

"The two young ladies must be tired. This small courtyard has just been cleaned, all the bedding and utensils are new, and if there is anything else you need, do not hesitate to tell me." Although the steward nanny was also a servant, she knew these were people from the Empress’s Palace and could not afford to slight them.

"Thank you, nanny," Yue Ke thanked her compliantly without a hint of temper as she set down her belongings.

"Yue Ke, come quick." Gu Meng had already gone out after putting down her package. After taking a round outside, she rushed back in, grabbed Yue Ke’s hand, and hurried outside.

"Gu Meng, what’s the matter?" Yue Ke held her back, cautious in her instinct that the Crown Prince’s Mansion was not as welcoming to them as she had imagined, "We’ve just arrived; we need to be careful with our words and actions."

"You don’t know, you can’t guess what I found." Gu Meng said indignantly, "Just now, while I was carrying the luggage, I passed by the front courtyard and saw that person in the Crown Prince’s study room."

Yue Ke was taken aback. Which person?

"You dummy, who else could it be? It’s the one that Nanny Qi mentioned. Didn’t the servant at the front courtyard say that without the Crown Prince’s permission, no one could enter?"

A startle crossed Yue Ke’s mind—had she already received such favor?

"The Empress personally instructed the two of us to serve in the study room, what does it mean for us to be in the back courtyard instead?"

"Forget it, let’s see how things go," Yue Ke said, feeling a bit dizzy from being rushed. She had started with full confidence, thinking that being from the Empress’s side would earn them prestige in the Crown Prince’s Mansion, but this place...

"If you’re not going, fine. I will." Gu Meng turned and left, and the steward in the back courtyard didn’t dare to stop her too much; Nanny Qi had specifically instructed them that these two were to serve in the study room.

Gu Meng then saw a female servant coming towards her carrying pastries, and she stepped forward.

"Where are these pastries being sent to?" The female servant was startled but assumed she was a servant from that area, otherwise she wouldn’t be so bold within the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

"They’re for the study room."

"I’ll take them—" Gu Meng immediately saw an opportunity, took the pastry box from the female servant’s hand, and the servant silently stepped back.

Gu Meng headed straight for the study room; even if she didn’t encounter the Crown Prince today, she could still see for herself what the woman Nanny Qi mentioned looked like.

Gu Meng considered herself to be quite beautiful, elegant and pleasant to look at, her features delicate, one of the standout beauties in the Empress’s Palace. She wanted to see for herself what this woman who was so favored by the Crown Prince actually looked like.

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