《Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace》 Prologue Prologue Yui Mei was bustling around today, as well. She was one of the lowest-ranked courtdies working in the inner pce. It feels so satisfying now that everythings so lovely. She vigorously cleaned around the ce while humming a tune. Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Judging from the rxed pace, it must be some big shot strolling around. Yui Mei hid herself behind the hall pir. She bowed her head as she clutched her rag. Hey, stop crouching against the pir, somebodys gonna trip on you. A males harsh remarks resounded overhead. Oh, its just Li Yong. Seeing that its somebody she knew, Yui Mei raised her head and rxed her guard. She leaned against the pir. Youre disturbing my work so hurry up and go. Li Yongs eyebrows twitched as she waved her hand and shooed him away. Is that so? I got some snacks from His Highness the Crown Prince, its a pity you dont want any. Li Yong dangled a beautifully wrapped package in front of Yui Mei. I want, please give me some! Yui Meis attitude did a 180 degree turn upon hearing the word snack. Its confectionary bestowed by the crown prince, so the quality must surely be excellent. Wait for a bit, Ill just wash my hands! Go bring some tea while youre at it. Li Yong shouted after Yui Mei as she dashed off to wash her dirt-stained hands. If this was a different era, their status wont allow them toe into contact with each other. But the flow of time is so mysterious, and now both of them are here. Let us unfold their story by starting from the beginning. Chapter 1: Do you want to go to the capital? Chapter 1: Do you want to go to the capital? Chan Yui Mei lived alone in a remote vige near the desert. This young girl of sixteen had two secrets. One was that she retained her memories from her past life. Yui Mei lived in a country called Japan prior to her rebirth. She had no recollection of her name, but she did remember that she was a former registered nurse. After she retired, she spent her remaining years in the pursuit of her hobbies. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her so-called hobbies were Chinese dramas. South Korean dramas were not yet in trend, and Chinese dramas were all the rage at that time. As a result, she was thoroughly obsessed. She even went to China with her friends to attend fan events; not just once but multiple times at that. After her reincarnation, she was perplexed as to why her memories of the past life remained. She then noticed, amidst her confusion, that she was reborn into another world closely resembling Ancient China. She arrived at several conclusions as to where she might be, such as being reborn into a Chinese drama, or maybe a time slip, or perhaps reincarnating into a fictional universe that is simr to Ancient China. Despite her spections, it was also beyond her wildest dreams that shell be experiencing that fictional universe first hand. Yui Mei was born in a remote region of an empire called Sai. The empires capital was called Kyou. By the way, her vige was a nameless one, and people refer to it as the bordend vige. She lived in a dpidated shack located at the outskirts of the vige. She relied on the crops of the barren field in front of her home, and in the blessings found in the mountains to fill her stomach and get her through the days. Aside from her memories, she also possessed another secret that she might be the illegitimate daughter of the emperor of Sai. It was said that herte mother was a concubine in the imperial harem. Her mother became the emperors maid, andter on, she gave birth to his child. However, because of her lowly status, she became the target of jealousy and envy. Hearsay about the father of her child spread like wildfire. It was said that the child was not sired by the emperor, but by some other man that she brought into the pce. Eventually, Yui Meis mother was driven out from the inner pce due to these rumors. A woman did not have a choice but to spend her life in the nunnery after being ousted from the imperial harem. She brought her child with her, but the poor mother sumbed to depression, and thus took her own life. Yui Mei was raised in the nunnery until she turned seven; by then, she learned about her own story through the gossiping nuns. However, Yui Mei was skeptical about the credibility of those stories, seeing as there was no evidence to support them. The nuns gave Yui Mei a choice as soon as she turned seven. Apparently, it was the standard age to choose a profession. She was told that she can stay and be a nun, or else leave the nunnery and live on her own. Yui Mei promptly chose thetter. During this time, Yui Mei thought it would be a waste if she were to spend the rest of her life confined in such a small world. Since she reincarnated into an Ancient China type of world, she might as well make the most of it. Frankly speaking, the owner of the nunnery was surprised at the turn of events. The possibility that children raised in the nunnery might yearn for the outside world never crossed his mind. He assiduously tried to persuade Yui Mei that the world was such a horrendous ce to live in, but Yui Mei stood her ground. Despite her firm decision, she thought that the lord was a fair person, since he still gave her the choice. It was then decided that Yui Mei would then live in her present dpidated shack through the arrangements of the nunnery. And so, withplicated feelings, Yui Mei came to live in this remote vige, where everyone knew each other since birth, with betrothals decided early on. In this kind of society, Yui Meis existence was such that nobody spared any effort in proposing marriage, not even as ttery. It was no wonder, since she had never met her father since birth, her mother passed away, and she did not have a penny to her name. Moreover, her appearance was not attractive enough. Her beauty was mediocre at best, and her figurecked womanly charm. She only had her sky-blue eyesa rarity in this regionas well as her gorgeous hair as her praiseworthy features. Her ck hair was tinged with a shade of midnight blue; it was a marvelous sight, indeed. She was also secretly delighted with it, and it was her pride, but it was meaningless in the face of those feminine beauties. And so, Yui Mei was living solitarily, while maidens her age were preupied with choosing their marriage partners. Maybe it was for this reason that the vige chief decided to call upon her one day. Yui Mei, do you want to go to the capital? Huh? Yui Mei listened to the story with a raised brow. ording to the government official who arrived that morning, the capital was recruiting maidens to participate in the selection of courtdies for the inner pce. Their vige must also send at least one maiden, since a total of ten girls were required from the viges around this area. Well, how about it? Would you like to go to the capital Yui Mei? I know it has been hard on you, since you are living here all alone. The vige chief said that while grinning ear to ear. The courtdies of the inner pce attended to the needs of the emperor and the imperial harem. They had to do various duties such as cooking,undry and cleaning. There was also a possibility that they would serve the emperor. Once they entered the inner pce, they generally wouldnt be able to leave. with only a few exceptions. They could only leave when the emperor bestowed them on his retainers, or when they entered the nunnery (as was the case with her mother), or when they died. In other words, there was a huge probability that the womans whole life would be tied to the pce. A courtdy could also be promoted, and there was also a slim chance that someday, she might even reach the pinnacle by bing the empress, but that was mostly just a pipe dream. Therefore, it did note as a surprise that parents would rather have their daughters marry someone near than send them to the pce, unless the household was poverty-stricken and destitute. Well, I do understand, though. It was only natural that they would eye Yui Mei, who was not betrothed to anyone and had nothing to worry about the matter of bing a courtdy. The capital people also followed the same reasoning as this vige. Thus, regardless of their great poption, candidates cannot be selected from the capital alone. If numerousdies were selected from the capital, the number of males would outweigh that of the females, resulting in the decline of birth rate. It will then affect the future of the empire, since revenue would also decline. And so, it was decided that the courtdy selection will involve the whole nation uniformly. Simrly, there was also a period in Ancient China when the courtdy selection was held as a means of abducting beautifuldies;ter on, it was banned due to the harmful repercussions. Regardless, what kind of lecherous emperor is he that he would go so far as to recruit women from remote viges? Yui Mei was sorely disappointed in the emperor, though he was her father (possibly). The gist of the vige chiefs story was that they did not wish to send their maidens, and they were diplomatically getting rid of Yui Mei, who was an outsider living alone in the outskirts of the vige. Considering Yui Meis background, one might say that the pce was a ce that she probably would want to avoid at all costs. As to why, it was only natural, since it was the ce that drove her mother out. Although Yui Meis mother was a concubine, she also had the status of a beauty*or so they said. A beauty had the lowest status among the empress and the imperial wives. Moreover, she originally entered the pce as a courtdy. She was only favored because of her hair, which caught the eye of the emperor despite her inness. By the way, Yui Meis hair color was inherited from her mother. Apparently, she was promoted since she gave birth to the emperors child. And it also became the reason why she, a person with no connections, drew the ire and envy of the consorts above her. Indeed, the ce called inner pce was hell swirling with the grudges and hatred of women. Nevertheless, it was also a fact that Yui Mei was somewhat interested. The inner pce was a world that she obsessively stared at on theputer screen in her previous world, after all. Aside from that interest, she also nned to leave this remote area sooner orter. I understand. Ill go. Is that so!? You really agree! The vige chief raised his hands in happiness upon hearing Yui Meis decision. Theres no way someone as in as me will be able to make a ssh in the inner pce, right?. Yui Mei thought optimistically. She already lost against her desire to see a real life imperial harem. However, shepletely forgot that her mother became a concubine despite her mediocre appearance, all because of her hair. T/L Notes: * Aside from the normal context of appearance, beauty () also referred to the concubines with the lowest status in the imperial harem (for this story, anyway. Maybe it was inspired from the Song Dynasty, since beauties have higher ranks in other dynasties.) Hi everyone, Hanazakura here Hope you like what you read so far, and hope to see you in the next chapter of Housekeeper of Hundred Blossom Pce! Chapter 2: The Capital was Far Chapter 2: The Capital was Far Yui Mei finally reached the capital. Huff, heave-ho! With a grandma-like shout, Yui Mei secured the bundle on her back as she alighted from the baggage cart. Her possessions were already meager from the start. Since meals were provided by recruiters for the courtdy selection, all she brought with her were the few clothes she wrapped in a square scarf*. She left the big items back at home. Somebody should have taken those things by now. Nevertheless, the name bordend vige was not just for show. Their journey had been extremely long. In her previous world, she traveled to Chinas countryside by bus, and she dered back then that she did it in the name of pilgrimage. That was also a long trip, but the capital was definitely a lot further. To be fair, she was riding a cart drawn by a donkey this time around. It was not even a carriage. Besides, the road was terrible, too. Yui Meis bottoms were racked in pain from the stair-like bumpy path. Finally, it was time to part ways with the donkey cart. Yui Mei was standing in front of a rtively huge gate, in a corner of the city of Kyou. Kyous city structure was simr to Chinas Changan, with the grid pattern resembling that of a Go board. The perimeters were surrounded with a wall. The north, south, east, and west ramparts had three entrance gates constructed in each of them. There were no rules as to who can use which gate; however, there was a tacit agreement that the vermilioncquered gate in the middle was reserved for great personages. The ordinary citizens had to use the other two smallish gates beside it. And so, there was a crowd of people milling about in front of the city gate, where Yui Mei was. They also wanted to enter the city of Kyou. People d in gorgeous clothes scrutinized Yui Meis group while pacing to and fro. It must have been quite a rare sight for them to see country bumpkin girls appearing in the capital. However, Yui Mei and the girls paid them no heed, since they had already epted the fact that they were country bumpkins, indeed. They just continued observing their surroundings. They saw the disorderly pedestrian traffic, white earthen walls and the wooden buildings. Far off in the distance, an enormous vermilion building stood. It must be the home of the emperor. So those TV and movie sets were made quite realistically, huh. Yui Mei was moved by the sight as she delved into the memories of her past world. The girls surrounding her also looked around with shining eyes. They were also recruited for the courtdy selection, and had travelled with her in the same donkey cart from the countryside. Supposedly, these girls would spend their whole life in the rural areas; but from now on, they had to spend it inside the inner pce, instead. Even if someone proposes to take us as brides, unless the emperor gives his consent, we will probably never see this cityscape again. It was a disheartening thought. However, that scenery was originally something that she wouldnt have a chance to see in her lifetime, so she thought she already made a great memory just by standing there. The other girls were also chattering in high spirits. It was also their first time to go to the capital. Stop dilly dallying and making a racket! Hurry up and go! The middle-aged man, who had apanied them until now, clicked his tongue at the excitement of the maidens. Move aside! Just when they thought they heard a mans angry yell, somebody on horseback came charging with great speed. Whoa! Yui Mei hurriedly moved out of the way, and the surrounding people also opened a path. The horseback rider galloped on without bothering to apologize or give thanks, with clouds of dust rising in his wake. All that was left were the footprints of the horse, and the dirt-covered girls, including Yui Mei. Wait, isnt that too dangerous!? Shouldnt we capture him!? Some of the dust apparently went into Yui Meis mouth. It felt gritty, but she couldnt stop muttering angrily. The mister, who apanied them as their guide, suddenly grabbed her and ducked. Are you an idiot!? That was the armor of the Imperial Guards! Stop spouting nonsense or else our heads will fly! Heh, Imperial Guard is it? Yui Mei was shaken at the sudden arrival of the horse earlier, so she didnt see the appearance of the rider, much less his armor. She could have seen a real life Imperial Guard for the first time in her life. There might be opportunities to see one in the future, but chances were slim. After all, it was nearly impossible for an Imperial Guard, one of the pces elite, to cross paths with a courtdy, who was at the bottom rung. No, we still have a long way to go. It might be possible as long as I carefully n for it. Yui Meis curiosity burned. The other girls saw her grinning widely on her own. They were creeped out, so they backed away from her. Yui Mei was excluded from their group even though they all came from the countryside; however, she was too immersed in her passionate thoughts that she didnt mind being left out. Afterward, Yui Mei and the girls followed their guide. Their eyes were roaming restlessly, taking in all the sights around them. It was nearing the end of winter. The mountains were still thickly covered with snow when they left the bordend vige. The capital was in a more southern location, so it was already spring there. It was a great season for sight-seeing, as they could see cherry and plum blossoms blooming here and there. Its as if were on a field trip. Just as she was thinking so, Yui Mei was drawn to the delicious-looking fried manjuu* sold in a stall. A mouthwatering aroma wafted; the buns must be filled with red bean paste. The sun was already high in the sky. Usually, one felt hunger around this time. Yui Mei was staring at the stall too hard until the other maidens also noticed. They followed her line of sight. Someone finally blurted out that it looked delicious. Since they obviously slowed down, the mister leading them sighed. So troublesome. Alright, Ill buy one for each of you as amemoration of your trip to the capital. Hooray! The girls squealed in excitement, so only Yui Mei heard him mumble It might be the first andst time, after all. This was hard to say, but apparently, the girls didnt know what working in the inner pce truly meant. People living in rural areas were not well-informed regarding the rules of the inner pce. Just like what happened to Yui Mei, these girls were probably coaxed into submission, and were led away with nary an exnation. In fact, nobody expressed anxiety regarding their uing job. Based on the conversations they had back at the donkey cart, all they had was admiration towards the capital. Yui Mei did not want to incite anxiety, so she decided to keep mum about the matter of working in the inner pce. Yui Mei made the decision to be a courtdy herself, but some of the girls could have been sold as coteral to debts. They might be hiding their anxiety behind their cheerful demeanor. They would find it suspicious if Yui Mei knew too much about the Inner Pce, since she was also living in the remote vige, just like them. The capitals steamed buns are so sweet. It was not easy to obtain sweets and confections at the bordend vige, so she could only eat the nectar of the flowers that she gathered herself. Yui Mei, who had never tasted the confectionery of this world, cant help but smile broadly at the sweet taste of the steam bun. T/N: *Furoshiki, the traditional wrapping cloth of Japan which Yui Mei used to wrap her baggage with, and how Yui Mei might have looked like carrying her bundle. Layout of Changan city (Tang Dynasty) and fried manjuu Photo credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27an) https://.takaski/furoshiki-traditional-gift-wrapping-cloth-of-japan/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furoshiki https://item.rakuten.co.jp/surugaya-a-too/88981617-1/ https://.nippn.co.jp/recipe/sweets/other_sweets/detail/1207624_1939.html Chapter 3: The Long-Awaited Inner Palace Chapter 3: The Long-Awaited Inner Pce Atst, they finally reached the Imperial Pce. Yui Mei and the girls walked through the immense pce grounds. Their guide led them until they reached the end, where a staff entrance was located. He knocked on the wooden gate. This must be where the Inner Pce was. The door opened from the inside, and a middle-aged woman appeared. Hmpf, you sure they are all in great health? Of course, that is the most important requirement, after all. The mister bowed his head servilely as the woman sharply assessed the girls. So long, you guys. Work properly. The mister promptly scurried off after he received a hefty-looking bag from the woman. You alle with me. The woman instructed the abandoned girls, including Yui Mei, to follow her. After being led for a while by the woman, they finally set foot inside the Inner Pce. The intensity of Yui Meis curiosity matched the nervousness of the other girls, and her eyes were burning as she followed the woman past the wooden gate. The first thing they saw upon entering was the white earthen walls and the wooden building. It was different from the vermilioncquered building they saw from the street back then. It looked like a house for an ordinary citizen. Laundry was hung up, trash-looking objects were scattered around, and everything was a mess. A few women, who seemed to be courtdies, were wandering around restlessly. This would be the girls workce, apparently. Without breaking pace, they were taken into another building that looked like an assembly hall. They were first subjected to a physical examination ording to the womans instructions. All of you undress. Take off everything. All the girls except Yui Mei froze. The emperor resided in the Inner Pce. A physical examination waspulsory if one was to work there. Aside from that, it was to verify whether they were virgins, and to ascertain that they did not have venereal diseases. For this reason, even the most private parts were examined carefully. Yui Mei assumed this would happen, so she already prepared herself, but the rest of the girls were on the verge of tears. At least, there were no eunuchs present in this ce. After the physical examination, their listeningprehension was tested. They were asked questions such as their age and health condition, among other things. After the interview, the woman toured them around their workce. She exined about various ces in the building, including the kitchen, the dining hall, and the privy. Lastly, she took them to their lodging a huge room inside the house. This will be your sleeping quarters from now on. Folding screens were used to create partitions. A few people were sleeping, and their soft breathing could be heard. Yui Mei surmised that they must be the night shift courtdies. She headed towards her assigned ce. I see, so this is how it is. Yui Mei entered the space divided by the folding screen. Everything was within her expectations. There was a wooden bed*, as well as a round basket woven out of bamboo for her things. This was the only ce where Yui Mei could be free. However, if she was promoted, then someday she could also have her own room. The courtdy uniform was prepared on top of the wooden bed. Oh, its cotton!! Yui Mei was deeply moved by the cotton clothes. She had been wearing clothes made from hemp. It was fine during the hot days, but she would be freezing in the cold, since hemp could not block the wind. Layering did not help, so during the bitterly cold days, she would wear fur to keep warm. They were nothing fancy like the coats in her previous world. She would skin the animal, and then she would wear it directly afterward. She herself thought that she was like a bandit from some ce. The reality that she was in the capital hit her as she changed into the clothes made of cotton. It seemed that the other girls also felt the same, and she could hear them squealing in delight beyond the screen. The situation in the countryside didnt change that much, no matter where that may be. She needed to return back to the womans ce after changing clothes and leaving all her possessions. It was necessary that valuable possessions should be brought along instead of leaving them behind, as this was just a partitionedrge room, but Yui Mei did not have anything worth stealing. She just took two sheets of cloth and slipped it in her obi, with the thought that these mighte in handy somehow. She headed back to the assembly hall. After all the girls had gathered again, the woman started to assign their work. Your main job is to do theundry and cleaning. Do it properly. She would divide the girls into theundry group and the cleaning group. The number of people living in the Inner Pce would easily exceed a thousand if the courtdies were included. To sum it up, it would probably be a job wherein they had to doundry all day long every single day. Aside from that, touching the silken robes of the dignitaries was nothing but a pie in the sky. They first had to wash the clothes of the other courtdies. As for cleaning, it neednt be said. It would be foolish to assume that it could be aplished just by lightly sweeping around, considering the sheer size of the Inner Pce. It would definitely be a test of strength. Well, since this is just the beginning, I will let you choose. Cleaning orundry, what will it be? Her wish was unwittingly granted by the woman. Yes! I want to do the cleaning! Yui Mei had immediately hoped that she would be assigned to the cleaning group She finally came to the Inner Pce at great pains, so it was but natural that she would want her area of activity to be as wide as possible. She would probably start with cleaning the courtdies quarters and the surrounding areas around it, but if she was recognized, then it would be possible that she would be assigned to clean the areas around the dignitaries. Yui Mei was willing tobor in order to satisfy her curiosity. The other girls were drawn, too, after Yui Mei dered her intention, and they started to choose their jobs one after another. The woman could have chosen to automatically divide them without saying anything. However, the motivation and attitude they would show towards their work were bound to be different if it was a job that they chose themselves. Alright. Now, listen to your respective supervisors. With that, the senior courtdies that were summoned by the woman earlier led each of the separated groups away. The one assigned to Yui Mei was a woman in her twenties. She had a fairly pretty face, and had a womanly figure; she must be popr with men. Werecking manpower right now, so dont think you can have it easy just because youre a novice. The woman already put on airs right off the bat, and said that overbearingly to Yui Mei. Yui Mei was irritated, but she didnt say anything. The woman was not able to elicit any reaction from her, so finding it uninteresting, she wrinkled her nose and red at her. She then flung the tub with the rag onto the broom and dustpan. Follow me. Yui Mei picked up the cleaning paraphernalia that fell on the ground, and obediently followed her. She had been certain that she would be cleaning the area near the courtdies quarters. Contrary to her expectations, however, she was led further from the lodging house, and deeper into the pce. Wait, how far are we going? They arrived at a building that looked like it could be a concubines residence. You will clean here. Make sure you polish it beautifully. The woman left it at that, and she returned back the way they came. Wont you at least exin the details, like whos living here? Upon seeing that she was left all alone, Yui Mei grumbled. At first nce the ce looked like it was owned by a stylishmoner, but the ss windows gave it the air of luxury. It was also located in a corner near the courtdies domain, so even if it was owned by a concubine, her status should be rtively low. She peered through the window to check the interior, and she saw that the furniture was neatly arranged. That meant it was not an empty house, but upied, instead. However, not a single shadow could be seen, so the owner must have left. But isnt it too dirty? Even if the owner was someone low-ranking, it was still a ce where the emperor mighte, yet it was very dusty for some reason. She could also see some cobwebs high in the ceiling. Did anyone ever clean this ce? It really didnt seem that way. Clean this alone That must be the womans intention when she left Yui Mei on her own. However, it was already past noon, so there was not much time left until dinner. This country basically had two meals in a day. It was the norm for people to rise at daybreak, and retire at sunset. They did not have any electricity to illuminate the night; at most, they could only make do with papernterns and candles to spend the night. Compared to modern Japan, their activity period was much shorter; hence two meals would suffice. Their dinner was around the time when Japanese people had their afternoon snacks. In other words, the countdown until dinner began at past noon. That was the reason why Yui Meis allotted time was short. Alright, lets do this! Yui Mei was the type of person who would be stronger when confronted with tribtions. ___ T/N: I like the MCs personality already. shgi wooden bed https://.blueparrot.jp/?pid=137508739 Chapter 4: Systematic Cleaning Chapter 4: Systematic Cleaning Before she proceeded with her work, Yui Mei went back to the ce where trash was left lying around. A lot of time would be wasted if cleaning was not done efficiently, so she decided to prepare some items beforehand. Can I have the things here? Sure, well just burn them anyway. Yui Mei asked permission from a courtdy resting nearby. This was the garbage dumping site, apparently.Yui Mei took a bamboo pole and a worn-out old cloth, and returned to her work ce.She stepped on the tip of the pole to create a small crack, and she inserted the worn cloth in it. Alright, this will do. She fashioned a make-shift, long, cleaning duster for hard-to-reach cobwebs and dust on the ceiling. Of course, there must be tools for such purposes, but she doubted whether the supervisor woman would hand those over, and she would be wasting time if she were to look for it. As long as it did the job, it would be fine. She must also take note of two other things. First, she should be careful not to contaminate the ce she already cleaned. Second, she should not touch those dirty things to avoid infection. And so, Yui Mei took out the two pieces of cloth she brought beforehand. She used one as a hood to keep her hair back. She tied the other one to her face as a mask, so she could avoid inhaling dust and sneezing. Unfortunately, she couldnt do much as a countermeasure against infection, since there were no rubber gloves in this world. She could only wash her hands properly after she was done. She wanted to look for alcohol or antisepticster on. After finishing her get-up, it was finally time to start cleaning. She started doing the hallway, since she was not sure whether she was permitted to enter the room. Basically, cleaning should be done from top to bottom. She used the make-shift duster to reach the ceiling. She then swept the floor with the broom after. Next was scrubbing and wiping. She wiped the pirs, balustrades, and even the ss windows. She was so preupied with cleaning that she did not notice the sun was setting. Oh no, Ill miss my dinner! Yui Mei hurriedly tidied the cleaning paraphernalia, and prepared to go home. She was really grateful that the mister bought them fried manju before they entered the Inner Pce. Otherwise, she would not have the strength to do her job because of her empty stomach. One would get hungry when doing physically demanding jobs, so workers who did heavybor usually ate between meals, somewhat like having lunch. Ady, apanied by a maid, came just as Yui Mei was on her way to return with the tools under her arm. Thedy was not gorgeous, but she exuded an air of tranquility. She was wearing silken robes. Yui Mei surmised that she must be the owner of the residence, so she hastily bowed her head. Well, it has be lovely. Finally, they must have sent one of the cleaning staff. The maid said that in a relieved tone as thedy admired the surroundings. Apparently, Yui Meis job got a passing mark. Yui Mei did a tiny fist pump with her head still bowed. Technically speaking, however, it was far from finished. Yui Mei raised her head for a bit and reported. Pardon me, this one did not know whether permission was granted to enter the residence, so the interior is not cleaned yet. She did not want thedy to feel disappointed after entering, so she recounted that she was only done with the hallways that are visible from the outside. She suddenly noticed that she forgot to remove her hood and mask as she was speaking. Her muffled words must have been difficult to understand. She hurriedly removed them to show her face. That was dangerous. They might think Im some suspicious guy. Oh. The face behind the mask was surprisingly young, so thedy and her maid were both surprised. Did you clean here all by yourself? Thedy asked while blinking her eyes in amazement. It was as if she tacitly implied that it should have been the work of a few people. Naturally, the emperor and his imperial wives and concubines did not clean their residences personally, but it was possible that she witnessed some cleaning activities so she knew. There was no one else but me. Yui Mei answered honestly. It must have been hard on you. Thedy answered sympathetically, so Yui Mei couldnt help but be inwardly surprised. Normally, concubines were chosen among maidensing from well-to-do families. Those pampereddies would know nothing about the hardships of cleaning. However, thedy standing before her expressed that she had an inkling about those difficulties. Maybe she was a former courtdy. It was a usible story, since Yui Meis mother had been one. Yui Mei suddenly felt a sense of kinship after ruminating about it. Alright, please clean the interior tomorrow. The maid said while Yui Mei was getting arbitrarily hyped up at her self-perceived intimacy with thedy. Yui Mei would have loved to do as she said, but she was uncertain whether she would have a choice on her assignment. I will ask my supervisor. Yui Mei gave that answer for the meantime. In order to make it on time for dinner, Yui Mei briskly trotted back, with her cleaning tools ttering in her arms. She made it in good time, and a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen. But where should I put these cleaning tools? The supervisor-like woman strode towards her; she probably caught sight of Yui Mei earlier when she was looking for another courtdy to consult. Are you done cleaning? Contrary to the womans attentive tone, her expression betrayed her inner thoughts. It was as if Yui Mei did nothing worth mentioning beforeing back. Yui Mei looked straight at the woman and answered. Yes, Ive finished cleaning outside the residence, and I also received a request to clean the interior tomorrow. Its done? The woman muttered under her breath while frowning when she heard Yui Meis report. Why didnt you clean inside? The woman asked usingly, so Yui Mei thought it would be best if she didnt say she ran out of time. Regardless, even if she had enough time, she still wouldnt be able to enter the residence on her own. I wasnt given permission to enter, and there was nobody around to ask. The woman wrinkled her nose upon hearing Yui Meis response. It must be her mannerism. How insolent, even though youre just a country bumpkin. The woman spun around and grumbled over her shoulder as she strode away. It looked like the woman did not have any intentions of exining, so she deliberately withheld information. She must have nned to frame Yui Mei for stealing, had she entered on her own. It was the typical bullying trope used in Chinese dramas. What a pain in the neck. Yui Mei sighed, and went to ask another courtdy where the tools were kept. Chapter 5: Aunty Yang and Wang Mei Ren Chapter 5: Aunty Yang and Wang Mei Ren Yui Mei felt refreshed when she woke up on her wooden bed the next morning. She was grateful that she did not have any trouble falling asleep, even if her pillow and bed changed. Yui Mei headed to the dining hall to have her breakfast after tidying her bed and dressing up. If yesterdays agreement pushed through, she would be assigned to clean the interior of that residence for today. Interior cleaning was morebor intensive than normal, since she had to move the furniture aside on top of tidying up. Yui Mei wolfed down her food. She had to eat as much as possible. Can youe with me for a second? It was the middle-aged woman they first saw yesterday. Her name was Yang Yu Lin, and she was the overseer of the courtdies, and was in charge of guiding them. Yui Mei knew she needed to reply, but her mouth was too full; she couldnt even swallow. Ill wait, so make sure you dont choke. Aunty Yang looked exasperated. Yui Mei was not a glutton; it was the foods fault for being too delicious. She hastily chewed her food, and after gulping all of it, she asked anew. What might it be? A Beauty made a request regarding the maiden who cleaned her residence yesterday. Lady Wang wanted her to continue again today. Lady Wang? Yui Mei puckered her brows upon hearing the unfamiliar name. Aunty Yang made another disgusted face when she saw Yui Meis expression. Dont tell me you didnt know? Wasnt it you who cleaned Lady Wangs ce yesterday? Oh, so shes the owner of that residence! So she was a concubine with the status of a Beauty. It was the same as her mother, so Yui Meis feeling of kinship arbitrarily increased again. I was not informed beforehand, and I thought it would be rude to ask the person herself. That girl, really Aunty Yangs expression turned grim after Yui Mei exined her situation yesterday. Most likely, she never expected that the supervisor woman would not exin anything. Aunty Yang continued on. Apparently, Lady Wang was worried about Yui Meis response, so she negotiated with Aunty Yang directly. I also went there after hearing her story. You did well with just half a days work, and all by yourself, at that. Cleaning is all about grasping the essentials and proper nning. It was important to follow the cleaning procedures carefully, and the scope must also be established properly. She managed somehow, because she clearly decided that she would only clean the exterior. You know some big words, dont you. Aunty Yang suspiciously stared at Yui Mei, and then she heaved a great sigh. You were the only one who worked that hard on her first day. The rest of the girls just listened to their supervisors; they did not even do any work. So it seemed that right from the beginning, there was no intention to let the girls, including Yui Mei, work on their first day. Everything was due to the reckless behavior of that supervisor. The truth is I was hoping Mei would also work responsibly if shes paired with a novice. The supervisors name was Li Mei, and it seemed that she was a cker. They already knew the circumstances. Why didnt they assign that ce to somebody else? The trash piled up, and that residences condition was terrible. It was not that heavy a load if the residence was regrly maintained, but it was neglected for too long, so it became troublesome to clean. They didnt have to leave it in the hands of Mei; they could have deployed the other courtdies, instead. But since they did not do that, there must be a deeper reason behind it. This was the Inner Pce after all it bore all the grudges of women within its walls. Anyway, Ill leave the cleaning of Lady Wangs residence to you. Aunty Yang ced a manju wrapped in cloth on the table top. Hurray! Its todays treat! And so, Yui Mei gathered her cleaning tools after eating breakfast, and went back to the ce she cleaned yesterday. Lady Wang and her maid were waiting for her. We will be going now, so please clean the residence while we are away, the maid said. I understand. Is there anything I cannot touch? The vase and the mirror are gifts from the Emperor, so please take care in handling them. The maid paused for a while before replying to Yui Meis question. After seeing the two of them off, it was time to start cleaning. She wore her hood and mask just like yesterday. Please excuse me! There was no one inside, but Yui Mei still greeted in a loud voice as she opened the door. Yeah, even the air feels dusty in here. Yui Mei opened the windows to improve air cirction. Even if the climate here was warmer than in the remote regions, the wind was still cold, so Lady Wang and her maid probably left the windows closed due to this reason. Regardless, as long as it was cleaned, then venttion would improve, too. Finally, they must have sent one of the cleaning staff. The maid said that, so the dust must have umted since they didnt clean the residence themselves. If Lady Wang was indeed a former courtdy, as Yui Mei had guessed, then she must have been frustrated at the dirty condition. It must have been faster if she did the cleaning herself, but since she became an esteemed person, she could no longer do as she pleased. Menial jobs such as cleaning were the work of courtdies, so she would be mocked by the other concubines if word came out that she did her own cleaning. If that happened, then her status within the Inner Pce would plummet. The Imperial wives sure got it hard. But its not the time to wallow in sentimentality right now. After improving venttion, Yui Mei removed the nkets on the wooden bed and brought them outside to be sunned. She hanged them on the sunniest part of the balustrades she had cleaned yesterday. She took the make-shift duster and vigorously beat the nkets with the bamboo end. Whoah, so dusty! A cloud of dust flurried around. No doubt about it; one wont be able to stop sneezing if she were to sleep on them. Furthermore. it would be a total disaster if she had allergies. After doing that, Yui Mei moved the various small items outdoors, and put it all together in one ce. She removed the mirror and the vase, which were allegedly bestowed by the emperor, from the shelves. She put them in a ce where she can keep an eye on them, just for safety. She secured them right from the beginning, in order to prevent their breakage. After doing all these things, she did the same procedure as yesterday. She dusted the ceilings, swept the floor, and scoured and wiped everything as a finishing touch. She paid attention to ces that were prone to dust umtion. She thoroughly dusted and polished the small objects, vases, and mirrors, then returned them to their proper ces. She then took a break and ate the steamed bun she got from Aunty Yang. Thus, a whole day of cleaning passed, and she managed to finish everything before the sun set. Well, I did a great job, right? Yui Mei was praising her handiwork, when Lady Wang returned. Yui Mei took off her hood and mask, and bowed her head. How nice, everything has be so splendid. I can also breathe more easily. Indeed, mydy. Lady Wang was moved to tears upon seeing the clean, dust-free residence, and the maid also rejoiced along with her. Pardon me, but are you afflicted by any kind of illness? Yui Mei was drawn to Lady Wangs words, so she blurted out the question, even though she inwardly thought that she was being a busybody. Lady Wang answered her honestly. No, that is not the case. But it is true that I had been coughing a lot even in the past. There were severe instances when I did not stop coughing for a long time. However, it has been better nowpared to when I was a child. Maybe Lady Wang has asthma? It should have been tough for her, living in such a dusty condition. Furthermore, her cough worsened when staying indoors, so she spent her whole day leisurely strolling, or resting in sunny ces, from morning until sunset. The wind was still cold during this season, yet she was inflicting suffering on herself just to escape. I already cleaned the interior carefully, so please rest assured that your tussis will get better. Also, if possible, please boil some water indoors. The added humidity will help make this arid season bearable, and it will also help prevent colds. She wanted to give advice based on her experience as a nurse in her previous world, so she nosily said that, albeit unwittingly. Oh, is that so? We received great information. Lady Wangs eyes widened in surprise, while herdy-in-waiting nodded. The maid must be itching to prepare the hot water immediately. I am truly grateful for the cleaning work you have done. What is your name? It is Yui Mei. Lady Wang asked her while giving her thanks, so Yui Mei introduced herself. Well, Yui Mei, here is your reward. Lady Wang passed some mushipan to her maid. The caste-like aroma assailed Yui Meis senses, right before dinner time. Is it really fine for me to receive this? Of course. Didnt I tell you? Its your reward. Cleaning was Yui Meis job, so there was no need to reward her. But she was a little bit happy that Lady Wang did not take her service for granted. Then, thank you for the food. Lady Wang smiled at Yui Mei, who cant help but grin widely since she got some sweets. I am also happy that this ce became beautiful once again,for a reason apart from my own satisfaction. Lady Wang continued her story as Yui Meis eyes twinkled in curiosity. A Beauty also resided in this ce before me. I had the opportunity to ask the emperor before, and I was told that she was a very kind person. Yui Meis heart pounded. It might be far-fetched, but she thought the Beauty that was mentioned might be her mother. She was speaking in past tense, so that meant the person in question was no longer residing in the Inner Pce. There were numerous Beauties, but only a handful of them were chased out. Her mother stayed for only a short period of time as a Beauty, and she was driven out soon after, so it was probable. In that case, then Yui Mei might have been born here. Although this theory was to be taken with a grain of salt, Yui Mei could not dispel that nagging feeling of possibility. So this means Ive discovered my (provisionary) birth home. Should you summon me, I wille again to clean. Yui Mei bowed and left. T/N: Oh, curious coincidences ? *Lady Wang was a concubine with Beauty status, with the original text written as (). Since its weird to say Beauty Wang or Wang Beauty, I used the Chinese counterpart Mei Ren for the title, and then Lady Wang for the rest of the chapter, for the sake of a smooth reading experience (but mainly because Im toozy to make an intricate set of numbered footnotes, so please pardon me ? ) Also, the steamed bun Aunty Yang gave was manju, while Lady Wang gave her a mushipan. Both of them are variations of steamed bread. mushipan (Credits: /mushipan) manju (Credits: /manju/) ____ Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! Chapter 6: Li Mei’s Ambitions Chapter 6: Li Mei¡¯s Ambitions Half a month had passed since Yui Mei entered the Inner Pce. She had been very busy since the day she cleaned Lady Wangs residence, as she was flooded with requests continuously. Apparently, the other concubines heard about her from Lady Wang. Those jobs had something inmon; they were all under the responsibility of Li Mei, her supervisor. That person isnt working at all. Moreover, she hadnt seen Li Meis since that first day. Fortunately, Yui Mei alreadypleted a round of cleaning in those residences, so she no longer spent the whole day working. Today, she even managed to return to the quarters just past noon. Yui Mei finished her work, so she was carrying her tools as she walked, when a courtdy beckoned her. It was the woman who was resting at the garbage dumping site on Yui Meis first day. Come here, I have some ma hua. The courtdys name was Lu Mei Na, and she was around thirty-five years old. She was assigned to work in the kitchen. Today, she was also using a suitable stone as a seat to rest. Here, Ah Mei, theyre freshly made. Mei Na used a pet name to call Yui Mei as she handed the ma hua to her. It was Chinas version of karinto, and they were sweet and deliciously crunchy. Yui Mei frequently bought it from food stalls in China, but she had never tried it in this world. Sweets were luxuries in the countryside. Mei Na was working at the kitchen, so she could bring freshly made ones. Yui Mei took one from Mei Na, and popped it into her mouth. Hmm! So sweet, so yummy! Mei Na bitterly smiled upon seeing Yui Mei ecstatically beaming with her mouth full. Arent you unlucky, having to clean after Meis mess. Mei Na stroked Yui Meis head as she said that. Yui Mei already thought that she was carrying the can for Li Mei, but she didnt expect others to see it that way, too. Why is she so belligerent towards me, and right off the bat, too? Mei Naughed as she exined the answer to Yui Meis nave question. Mei was born in the city of Kyou. The other courtdies didnt mind, but those who were born in the capital were inclined to be haughty, and to throw their weight around. Oh, so thats why she said that Im JUST a country bumpkin. So there was a hierarchy among the courtdies, too. Rather than working, Li Meis true intention in bing a courtdy was to be promoted and enter the ranks of the concubines. That was the reason why she didnt bother doing any work, and spent all her time polishing her beauty. Cleaning Lady Wangs residence was also her responsibility, but she kept on ignoring it. Apparently, she cant forgive the fact that a person, who was not as beautiful as her, actually became a concubine. She also neglected several residences just for that reason. Just as I thought, those dusty residences were all owned by concubines with low status. Apparently, it was all due to Li Meis envy. But shed be scolded if she didnt work, so she just haphazardly looked for ces to clean, then did her job while cutting corners. But the emperor hasnt noticed her even until now, so she might be frantic. A courtdy must possess considerable skills in order topete with the imperial wives, but if that was not the case, then she could only rely on her youth as her advantage. Li Mei, who had no special skills to show-off, was already approaching half-past her twenties, so her time was running out. Thus, she made herself disagreeable toward the concubines with low status. Her courage knew no bounds. Maybe shes not the emperors type? Yui Mei tried to analyze why Li Meis ambition was not realized. Men have different strokes for different folks regarding women. Beauty was not a guarantee to a mans heart. Even in her past life in Japan, there was a woman who was unexpectedly popr despite being on the plump side. Yui Mei had not seen the empress or the higher-ranked consorts. However, based on the concubines who lived in the residences she cleaned, rather than being ostentatious, they were mostly tranquil, or gentle. Basically, they were all homely. Only the most beautiful women should have been selected for the positions of empress and higher consorts, since they represented the Inner Pce. However, perhaps the emperors true preference was women who were in Yui Mei secretly thought so. If thats the case, then I understand now why Mother was a Beauty. And why ostentatious Li Mei, who possessed a beautiful face, wasnt favored. It must have been mortifying for one who prided herself on having good looks. Yui Mei decided to set aside Li Meis affairs. She had long wanted to ask someone about a particr matter, but she wasnt able to, since she was previously busy cleaning until sunset every day. Mei Na, where is the clinic? This clinic was where the exclusive physicians of the Inner Pce permanently stayed. The clinic physicians were in charge of the Inner Pces courtdies, eunuchs, concubines, and the low-ranking consorts. The emperor, empress and high-ranking consorts were examined by the imperial court physician. Why, are you feeling sick? Mei Na puckered her eyebrows at Yui Meis abrupt question. No, I just want some utility-grade sake. Utility-grade sake was just another term for industrial alcohol. Indeed, Yui Mei wanted to create an alcohol-based sanitizer, and she needed the utility-grade sake for that. If there was anyone who uses industrial alcohol, then that would be a physician. Dont tell me you want to drink it? No, youre mistaken. I just want to use it for cleaning. Yui Mei exined honestly under Mei Nas suspicious gaze; she didnt want her to think that she was an alcoholic. Nevertheless, the desire to drink industrial alcohol was a symptom of an end-stage addiction. She was definitely out of that category. Then its fine. Mei Na taught her the directions to the clinic. After putting away her cleaning paraphernalia, Yui Mei headed toward the clinic. ___ T/N: So many Meis in this chapter, lol. The author used the chinese readings in her original work, and she ced the katakana in parenthesis for the benefit of the readers. Yui Meis namees from the characters rain() for yu, and Sister() for mei. Li Meis name came from season () for li and Plum () for mei. Lu Mei Nas name came from route () for lu, beauty () for mei, and grace () for na. This is just trivia to distinguish the multiple Meis ? Heres a photo of ma hua. Ma hua: /zuofa/15599 Karinto is a traditional Japanese snack. They are deep fried dough cakes shaped into short cylinders, coated with brown sugar. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%81%8B%E3%82%8A%E3%82%93%E3%81%A8%E3%81%86 Sake is Japanese wine. Chapter 7: Sudden Emergency Chapter 7: Sudden Emergency So, its here. Yui Mei almost lost her way, but she finally reached the clinic. It was quite an impressive building. Excuse me. When Yui Mei opened the door, she saw a middle-aged man who seemed to be a physician. He was in the middle of packing several things into his bag, so he did not notice her. He might be a physician, but he was definitely a eunuch, given that he was working in the Inner Pce. Ahm, excuse me. The physician noticed her when she called out. He stared at her with wide eyes. You! The courtdy over there! Just in time, go, carry my bag! Huh? Yui Mei stood perplexed at the abruptmand. We have to hurry! Hurry! Yui Mei just stood there, mystified at his momentum, while gripping the bag that was forcefully given to her. It was full to bursting. Come with me! The physician rushed off, not bothering to check whether Yui Mei was indeed following him. Eh, wait for me! What!? Whats happening!? Without rhyme or reason, Yui Mei could only clutch the bag and run after the physician. The physician was unexpectedly fast as he hurriedly ran towards a wide yard located in the depths of the Inner Pce. They saw a crowd of eunuchs gathered near a man-made stream flowing through the yard. Courtdies and maids surrounded them at a distance. Oy! Wheres the patient!? The physician yelled at the throng. We took our eyes off her for just a moment, but she fell to the stream by herself, and drowned. Yui Mei peeked through the gaps between the eunuchs, and she saw a drenched woman lying on the ground. Eh, she drowned!? Yui Mei couldnt believe those guys were just standing there. Anger boiled inside her, and she forcefully charged towards the crowd. Get out of the way! Everyone was shocked at her movements, so they spontaneously cleared the way for her. Excuse me, are you alright!? Yui Mei tapped the womans shoulder with some force. Girl, stop that. She ignored the remarks of the insensitive eunuch. No response even if I call her; no pulse and not breathing upon checking. Yui Mei calmly recalled the resuscitation techniques for drowned people. Since the woman was no longer breathing, they all thought that she already died, and thus left her as she was. Yui Mei was not sure how long the woman had been neglected, but if its only just a short time, she might make it on time if she revived her now. Yui Mei raised the womans chin to ensure the airways were clear and attempted to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The eunuchs were horrified as Yui Mei alternately pumped her chest and did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. What is that punk doing!? So disgusting. Shell be cursed! The physician stood confusedly amidst the murmurings of the other people, but Yui Mei ignored them all and frantically continued what she was doing. Still no response. Was I toote!? She had been doing the CPR for quite some time now. Seeing there was no change in the woman, Yui Mei was about to give up when suddenly Cough, cough! The woman spat out water. Good! Yui Mei smiled, relieved that she made it on time. She turned the womans face sideward, so she could continue regurgitating water. Continue doing that. The physician hade nearer without Yui Mei noticing, and he wiped the womans mouth with a beautiful cloth. He checked the womans airways for blockage. Yui Mei did as she was told and continued pumping her chest, when the woman vomited water again. After repeating for several times, the womans breathing returned, albeit still weak. Its okay now. The only remaining thing to do was to warm the chilled body. Somebody bring a warm cloth right now! Hurry! Whatever is fine! Nobody moved, so Yui Mei yanked the outer robe of a nearby eunuch, and wrapped the womans body with it. We need to bring her back to the clinic! Youre a nuisance if youre not going to move! Yui Mei forcefully kicked the leg of one of the eunuchs after seeing that they were still standing there. This is a patient! I will tell all the higher-ups that you are not doing your job! The physician also yelled threateningly at the motionless eunuchs. Upon hearing that they will be reported, the eunuchs finally moved. Yui Mei sighed as she watched the woman being carried away. The physician tapped her shoulder. Hey, courtdy. You got some skills back there. Thank you. Her body moved automatically due to her decades of working as a nurse until her retirement in her previous life. I am very sorry for meddling. Yui Mei acted without waiting for the physicians instructions, so it could be said that she did not give him any face. Although a persons life was more important, they still had to consider the position of the woman they rescued. Yui Mei is only a courtdy, after all. The physician smiled wryly as he looked at Yui Meis bowed head. Its fine, I wouldve kicked them myself if you didnt scold them. They couldve tried to revive her right after she drowned, but instead, they neglected her. It was outrageous. The least they could have done was to warm her up. The physician continued scolding those motionless men. What curse, pathetic bunch of grown men The physician scowled as he muttered under his breath. Curse? Speaking of the curse, Yui Mei did vaguely hear them say that while she was attempting CPR. Maybe those eunuchs had a reason why they did not want to touch that woman. The physician jerked his chin at Yui Mei, who was tilting her head. Lets go. Stay with me for a while longer. Yui Mei was also worried about how to return, so she decided to go along with the physician. T/N: Those eunuchs deserve that hard kick! ? Another insight on Yui Meis personality, seems like shes a sassy, no nonsense MC ? Hi guys, we have an early release, since there were changes in my schedule. Next release will be on Wednesday next week. Thanks for bearing with me, I apologize for any confusion. Hope you enjoy reading it! ? Chapter 8: Unexpected Encounter Chapter 8: Unexpected Encounter Yui Mei listened to the story of the physician as they made their way back to the clinic. They didnt have time to introduce themselves to each other earlier. The physicians name was Chen Ziliang. Apparently, he received a notice that his patient, who had high fever, left the clinic the moment he took his eyes off her. He then rushed out to look for her and to give her medical treatment. Maybe she was behaving abnormally due to the high fever, and then she fell into the stream. Isnt it the fault of the one who left her alone? Yui Mei unwittingly red reproachfully. There were a lot of times when feverish people say or do some weird things out of confusion. Children were more prone to developing such conditions, but some adults experienced it too. Why would they leave a fevered person by herself? The womans drenched clothes were snagged in the small stones of the stream, and several ces had been torn. Although they were in a wretched state, the designs were exquisite. Furthermore, it was made of silk. That person must be a concubine. In that case, she should have several attendants. Concubines were constantly apanied by their maids. Lady Wang also had her attendant, and various matters were also handled by courtdies and maids. Judging from her clothes, she must have a higher status than Lady Wang. She surely must have been surrounded by plenty of attendants. Yeah, that is correct. Ziliang nodded at Yui Meis dissatisfaction regarding the current situation. They reached the clinic while still in the middle of their conversation. The eunuchs who brought the woman had long been gone. They left the woman as she was. The woman was lying on the floor, without a single nket to cover her. I wont forgive those bastards! Yui Meis anger returned. They did not even botherying her on top of the wooden bed inside the clinic. She also wanted to know why those good-for-nothing eunuchs did not do their jobs. Theyre probably too scared. Ziliang pressed his temples upon seeing the womans state. We must change her wet clothes immediately. Please give me some cloth. Will this washed sheet do? Ziliang took a sheet from the shelf and handed it to Yui Mei. He also gave her a few more sheets to wipe the womans body. Alright, can you please go out of the room? She has to change. Im d I pulled you and took you with me. Ziliang praised his own decision as he closed the clinics door. Even if Ziliang were to ask other courtdies and maids, judging from how they kept their distance, he doubted someone would respond immediately. However, as a physician, there was no way he would have left the woman in her drenched clothes. If Yui Mei, that courtdy, was not here, it would have turned into an extremely troublesome situation. It would be very dangerous for Ziliang to change her himself. Even if the physician was a eunuch, he would not be able to escape unscathed should it be known that he saw the consorts bare body, moreover if there were only the two of them. It was only natural that he would want to avoid being suspected with adultery. By the way, the physicians had their own maid assistants in order to avoid suspicions regarding infidelity; unfortunately, they were few, since specialized knowledge was required. It was also for that reason that those few women became the imperial court physicians attendants, and they didnt stay around the clinic. Furthermore, there had been female doctors before, but in order to be one, they must undergo harsher trialspared to the men. Eventually, there were no female doctors anymore; thus, they were not seen inside the Inner Pce. Setting aside the clinics circumstances, Yui Mei must first change the womans clothes. Yui Mei took out the mask cloth she always brought with her, and wrapped it to her face. A mask was indispensable when nursing a person with high fever. Alright, lets change you now. Although Yui Mei knew that the woman was unconscious, she still talked to her just in case. She took off the eunuchs robe and the soaked clothes. She must remove all the drenched clothes before cing her on the wooden bed so she wouldnt wet it. Thinking about it now, there was also some merit with the eunuchs actions. But those guys probably did not have the same reasoning when they left her on the floor. Even if they couldnt change the womans clothes, they could at least wipe her clothes. Those guys did not even wipe the womans hair, and the infuriated Yui Mei vowed to tell somebody about what they did. She then set aside her grudges, and started to change the womans clothes. It was unusually difficult prying the wet clothes off. Though they were already ripped, Yui Mei did not want to tear it further. After painstakingly removing them, Yui Mei wiped the womans whole body. She also respectfully wiped her hair. She then spread the sheet, and arranged it so that no bare flesh could be seen. She then ced the woman on top of the wooden bed, and covered her with the nket. Yui Meis body frame made it difficult for her to maneuver the womans body, but she already had the skill to do it. Her profession as a nurse in her previous world was not just for show. Yui Mei mopped the floor. She then called out to the door. Its alright now. Then pardon us for the intrusion. A young-sounding voice answered. Yui Mei never heard it before. Eh, who? As Yui Mei stood dumbstruck, a fascinatingly elegant man with smiling blue eyes entered. His long ck hair flowed down his back. A eunuch his attendant, most probably and Ziliang entered after him. Huh, huh, huh? Yui Meis head was spinning. The Inner Pce was a womans ce. The only men who could enter inside were the emperor, and his heir, the crown prince. The rest of the males were eunuchs. Grasping that reality, Yui Mei stared at the man before her. He was around 25 years old, and his clothes were obviously not a eunuchs. Again, there were only two men who could enter the Inner Pce, and the emperor should be a forty-something old man. So this IS the crown prince!? The crown princes name was Liu Ming Xian, and he might be Yui Meis elder brother. Yui Mei always thought that it would be nice if she could take a peek at the crown princes face, but never did she dream that it would be this soon. Yui Mei was stupefied, so she forgot to bow. She stared unabashedly at the crown prince, and that was how she noticed that they had the same blue eyes. Rather than that, it was the first time she met someone with blue eyes, aside from her. Cough! The eunuch coughed intentionally, and Yui Mei returned to herself. She hurriedly bowed her head. The crown prince was also staring at her, though. Hmm? The crown prince muttered as he removed his eyes from Yui Mei, and he drew closer to the woman lying on the wooden bed. Chapter 9: What’s the Curse? Chapter 9: What¡¯s the Curse? I am d that you reached the consort just in time, Doctor Chen. The crown prince gently stroked the face of the woman, which had turned red with fever. So this person is the crown princes concubine. Yui Mei grasped the true identity of the woman. Now that she thought about it, the ce where the woman drowned was near the crown prince pce, or so she was taught. We are also gratefully relieved. It was all due to this persons foresight. The crown prince turned his head in surprise at Ziliang as he replied with a solemn expression. Doctor Chen, can she stay here? Ziliang knit his brows. Your Highness will not bring her back to the pce? Even if I did, no one would be there to take care of her. She will be pitiful. The crown princes face clouded over upon hearing Ziliangs question. Nobody will take care of her? Yui Mei had no idea when to straighten up, so she had bowed her head all this time. Theres no way thats true. Yui Mei mumbled in a barely audible voice. Is it because of the curse? Yes, a very troublesome matter, indeed. The crown prince continued their conversation with a dark expression. Yui Mei, who was not supposed to interrupt, couldnt keep it anymore. She raised her head. Excuse me, what is this curse that you had been talking about since a while ago? Yui Mei rudely butted in their conversation. She had a feeling the crown princes attendant was ring at her, as if saying Dont interrupt the Crown Prince!. She ignored him. She had always believed in the saying that it was better to ask the way, than to go astray. As for diseases, it was always necessary to ask the details; else, it would turn into something that one cannot recover from. Why, you didnt know about it? I just entered the pce, and have been very busy from the start, so I dont have the time to join in idle gossip. The crown prince was stunned that she didnt know about the curse, so Yui Mei answered him honestly. The eunuchs were stupefied at her ignorance, while the crown prince looked at her with deep interest. She exasperatedly thought that they were too strict; it was true that she was very busy until yesterday, so she couldnt help it. Ziliang heaved a great sigh, and then he told her the story. Apparently, it all started in arge outbreak of colds. We always have an outbreak of colds yearly at winter time, but this year was exceptionally harsh. The fever was higher, and most of the patients experienced fatigue and nausea. To make matters worse, it turned into pneumonia, and manymoners died due to dyed treatment. They tried to prevent the cold from spreading into the Inner Pce through strict control, but it was as if this epidemic had a life of its own. There was no way humans couldpletely control it. The regr merchants brought the colds, and in a blink of an eye, it spread. The clinic had already preparedrge amounts of medicine for themon cold, but they were ineffective. They couldnt eradicate the primary cause. They were currently trying to mass-produce a drug that effectively treats the symptoms. Wait, isnt this familiar? To summarize Ziliangs story, this years infection was worse, and it was easy to exacerbate the condition. Symptoms included fevers that were higher than normal, fatigue and nausea. If it worsens, it would turn into pneumonia, and there had been casualties among themoners. Cold medicines were not effective, and abnormal behavior could be observed. Isnt these the symptoms of influenza? Colds were transmitted through hand contact, whereas influenza infection could be an airborne infection, so its spread was instantaneous. The reason why those medicines were ineffective was because it was a different disease altogether. Be it western or Chinese traditional medicine, colds and influenza were treated differently. In short, everything had been a mess because it was not handled properly, and influenza turned into an epidemic. Then where did that story about the cursee from? In her previous worlds Japan, there was also an era when people med ogres for the spread of diseases. However, this Sai Kingdom was rtively more modern than that period, and medical care was considerably developed. Yui Mei thought about the reason why this disease was being med on a curse. Ziliang shrugged his shoulders at Yui Meis query. It was already known that when a patient has high fever, he may exhibit abnormal behavior. This knowledge has been passed down among physicians since a long time ago. However, those folks cant get used to it, and they thought it was creepy. That bunch of idiots made a ruckus, saying they were possessed, and the story spread. Rather than saying that they were devout, it should be said that they were just boisterous cowards. Ziliang tried to appease them through rification, but his words fell on deaf ears, as they were too panic-stricken. And then those Taoists came butting in, saying it was a curse, and the empress dowager supported their im. Whoah, what a horrid person! Yui Mei stopped herself from voicing her true opinions. The empress dowager was the mother of the emperor, and she stood at the pinnacle of the imperial harem. Apparently, she was a devout person, and had always participated in religious activities. Because of those Taoists, the treatment of patients could not proceed. I was also in a hurry to secure the patient before the Taoists got to her. If those Taoists got the patients first, they would exorcise them for long periods of time, all in the name of eradicating the curse. Of course, those methods could not cure influenza, and the symptoms would progress. asionally, there were resilient patients who managed to recover, but the Taoists would just im that their prayers had been effective. Influenza was a highly individualized disease, so those were probable instances. If they just gave them the right medicine promptly, then wouldnt their symptoms be mild, instead? To make matters worse, people were terrified of being acknowledged by the Taoists as having the curse. The number of people hiding their symptoms increased, so many were discovered toote. Because of that, arge number of people who could have recovered had they taken the medicine died. The Imperial Pce sustained heavy damage due to the influenza, and a lot of ces stopped operating. Of course, the Inner Pce alsocked manpower. Its no wonder they were anxiously gathering courtdies. So the courtdy selection was not done to lure beauties into the pce. Yui Meis misgivings about her father being a womanizer somewhat eased, and she was a little bit relieved. - T/N: This chapter was published in 2018, way before coronavirus, but totally rtable in our current time. I didnt think Id be encountering an influenza epidemic in this novel when I picked it; I was interested in the MCs refreshing character. So, how will the ancients and a reborn girl deal with this so-called curse in the harem? ? I havent read far into the story, so the future is also a mystery to me. That said, stay safe, everyone! ? Chapter 10: Disinfect, Disinfect! Chapter 10: Disinfect, Disinfect! And so, the consorts maids and courtdies feared the curse, and they refused to nurse her. The crown prince took over in narrating Ziliangs story, and he stated the reason why he didnt want the woman to return to his pce. The pce maids and courtdies attending to a high ranking concubine were brought with her from her family home, or they maye from well-to-do families. Because of that, they naturally valued themselves more than their jobs. It was a harsh reality, but if the position of concubine was vacated, then it would also be their chance. It was not surprising that there were courtdies and maids who did not take the initiative to do their work. So, Doctor, can you do me this favour? .Oi, Yui Mei. Ziliang, who was once again requested by the crown prince, looked imploringly at Yui Mei. Even if he didnt say it aloud, Yui Mei already knew what Ziliang wanted. He probably wanted her to nurse the crown princes consort. He had no choice but to rely on her, since there were no assistant courtdies avable. I understand. I can do it. But in exchange, please inform the higher-ups regarding the current circumstances. But before that Yui Mei crossed her arms before the crown prince, and dered. Your Highness, you and your attendant must be disinfected. If we do not do anything, you will be infected. You too, doctor! Disinfect, is it? The crown prince looked bewildered upon hearing the unfamiliar word, so she exined further. Disinfecting means eliminating the bacteriathe source of illness that adhered to your body. Yui Meis original purpose was to obtain the utility sake that she needed to make the alcohol-based sanitizer. After going in rounds, she finally reached her goal. And so, Yui Mei got the utility sake, and started to make the sanitizer. The form was easy; she just had to mix 7 parts of alcohol and three parts of water. She would have preferred if it was purified water for storage purposes, but since she would not be storing it, she made do with water taken from a well. She just had to put it inside a sprayer, and the preparation wasplete. What a novel use of sake. Apparently, Ziliang did not use alcohol to disinfect wounds, and so he was impressed. Then Ill go first. Yui Mei disinfected herself first. It was not to demonstrate that it was not poison; Yui Mei prioritized herself since she did artificial resuscitation earlier. Ill definitely get infected. That was also the reason why she did not remove her mask earlier despite standing before the crown prince, even when Ziliang kept on shooting her suspicious nces. She wanted to get some medicine from Ziliangter so she can drink it as soon as possible. Early medication was the key in dealing with influenza. Yui Mei disinfected her hands carefully before doing anything else. She put alcohol on her palms, and meticulously rubbed each of her fingers from the base to the fingertip, then the back of her hands, down to her wrists. After she was done with her hands, she sprinkled alcohol over herself, since she couldnt change her clothes as precaution. Afterward, she gurgled with tea as finishing touch. Tea had antioxidant properties, as well as anti-virus properties too, so it was surprisingly effective. It was the crown prince and the attendants turn. Please do it exactly as I did. Yui Mei instructed them to remove their rings and bracelets and other jewelry before giving them alcohol. She then advised them that it would be better if they refrain from wearing those things, unless absolutely necessary. The source of illness naturally sticks to jewelry, so they must be disinfected first. So it would be best if you remove it first. This disease will subside once the weather is warmer, so please refrain from wearing jewelry until then. You did say that it would be better to lessen the danger, am I correct? I understand. After getting the crown princes consent, Yui Mei vigorously sprinkled the antiseptic solution on the princes whole body. Ziliang quickly drew back in shock at the same time. Yui Mei, you sure have guts Ziliangmented as he watched Yui Meis natural movements. How will they progress if the doctor himself had that attitude? Be it the crown prince or themoners, everyones equal in the face of influenzas crisis. Besides, even if the newly sprinkled alcohol stank, the smell would dissipate soon enough.They just had to bear with it for a while. Yui Mei had them gargle tea afterward. Tea is very effective in killing the source of the disease. Hmm, is that so. The crown prince was impressed at Yui Meis exnation. People who drink tea are less prone to catch colds. It is also known among the physicians. Ziliang also supported Yui Meis ims. Apparently, the properties of tea had also been discovered in this world. After Ziliang was also done disinfecting and gargling, Yui Mei sprayed the antiseptic solution on the handle of the clinic door, which was touched by everyone. She did this to prevent the spread of infection. It is important to note the rooms venttion and the level of humidity to prevent contagion. This disease thrives in arid and stagnated air. So pay attention to the airflow, and boil water in the middle of the room to raise humidity. Yui Mei warned the eunuch. The eunuch probably thought she was a physicians assistant. Regardless of his suspicious stare, he did listen obediently, so she did not dare disclose the fact that she was a low-ranking courtdy. Speaking of which, I heard that boiling water has recently be popr among Fathers concubines. The crown prince said, as if he just recalled it. That was probably started by Lady Wang. I see, so it became a trend, huh. Indeed, she did exin it as protection against colds. At that time, she didnt know the whole picture, so it might be considered as luck. It was said that the concubines poured hot water in several beautiful containers, and since its a good opportunity, they also dripped perfume oils in it to enjoy themselves. The lives of the concubines were also in danger should they get infected with influenza, so they must have been willing to try anything no matter how trivial it may seem. Aside from that, this method was cheaper and more convenientpared to buying high-grade medicine. This was also one of the factors why it became popr. Then, it is also time for me to return to the pce. The crown prince seemed to be in high spirits. By the way, you said your name is Yui Mei? Yes. Yui Mei was taken aback when the crown prince suddenly questioned her, so she wasnt able toe up with a lie, and just answered honestly. Were you born on a rainy day, perhaps? The character Yui was written as rain, and Mei, written as sister, could also mean girl. The history of her name could be gleaned with just a single nce. Indeed, I was a girl born on a rainy day, so its Yui Mei. I also wished my parents carefully thought it out before they named me. The crown prince narrowed his eyes at Yui Mei as she pouted and grumbled. Oi, give me some of that antiseptic solution, I want to bring it back. Alright, Ill make some more. The eunuch was observing the crown princes interested demeanor, so he requested Yui Mei to give him some. She obligingly made another container of sanitizer, and she also taught him the method. But there was something strange about this eunuch. Eunuchs were castrated males, and hormonal imbnces caused them to have feminine appearances and high-pitched voices. But this eunuch attendant of the crown prince, though possessing a beautiful face, was exuding an air of indomitable masculinity, and his voice was also attractive, albeit low. Lets not think about it too deeply. Yui Mei instincts, being the die-hard Chinese drama fan that she was, screamed that it was not something that she should meddle with. T/N: Suspicious eunuch, indeed. ? Chapter 11: Nursing, Nursing! Chapter 11: Nursing, Nursing! Yui Mei sent the crown prince off after he learned how to disinfect. She started to nurse the crown princes sleeping concubine back to health. Yui Mei learned from Ziliang that the consorts name was Jiang Yu Xiu. The crown prince, who had yet to choose a future empress, favored this Honored Consort the most. So thats why he came to see her in person. This fact added a grave weight to Yui Meis responsibility. With regards to nursing a patient, one must take precautions to avoid dehydration from excessive perspiration. ording to Ziliang, it was the cause of death in this illness. Apparatus such as intravenous drips were not yet discovered in this world, so there was no other way but to let the patient drink water through her mouth. Giving water to a patient is harder than I expected. There was a risk of aspiration if it was not done properly. Therefore, one must pay careful attention to fluid intake. Alright, lets try once more to make you drink water. Yu Xiu slightly opened her mouth when Yui Mei brought the cup near. At first, she could only lightly lick the spilled drops on her lips. However, even if it was just enough to dampen her mouth, as long water was patiently given to her, she would gradually be able to swallow more. The amount being given would then be increased to match her intake. Yui Mei administered an oral rehydration solution made from water, sugar, and salt to Yu Xiu. She gave it to her in small amounts and encouraged her to sweat. If in water was given, minerals that were lost would not be replenished, blood would thin, and in worse cases, disorientation and loss of consciousness could ur. Medicine intake should be possible as long there is water intake to some degree, since it could be dissolved in water. There was also fear of pneumonia from aspiration, so food must wait until the patient was fully conscious. In any case, it was just water first. Ultimately, people could survive on water for two to three weeks only, anyway. Yui Mei continued nursing the patient until the sky darkenedpletely. Yui Mei, I got your dinner. Ziliang, who entrusted the patients care to Yui Mei, returned while carrying a tray with some rice gruel on a bowl. They both missed dinner, so he went to the kitchen to get some. There were also some manju, but it was obviously a bonus that was added by someone. Hooray, we got food! Yui Mei left Yu Xius side for a while and cheerfully went to the table where Ziliang ced the bowls. It was also important for the caregiver to replenish her strength. One shouldnt be restrained when it was time to eat, or else both of them will perish. How is she? Her fever is not that high anymore, and its beginning to go down. The medicine is probably taking effect now. Yui Mei ate her porridge and nced at the wooden bed where Yui Mei wasid. When she was just brought in, she was almost on the brink of death after drowning. Her breathing was faint, but as her fever rose, it also becamebored. However, it gradually calmed down. Yeah, its a disease that is fatal when not treated right away. Ziliang had a bitter expression as he remembered the people who died because they were not given medicine immediately. This person will surely survive. Yui Mei made her resolve to not contribute to the casualties further, even if its just one person. She expressed her determination by gobbling down her gruel. Even so, it seems you know this disease well. Ziliang eventually asked. As expected, it was not a question she could evade. However, Yui Mei already prepared an answer as to why she was knowledgeable about that disease. I was raised in a remote region, so I sometimes heard stories from travelers. Yes, she nned to bluff with the story of hearing it from a traveler well-versed in medicine, who passed through the remote regions. Ziliangs eyebrow shot up when he heard Yui Meis reason. Oh, so an erudite traveler passed by. Ziliangs tone said he didnt believe a single word of it, but the first to react would lose. Yui Mei avoided his eyes and reached for a manju after she was done with her porridge. So, what did that erudite traveler say about this disease? Is it a variation of cold, or is it another disease altogether? Ziliang stopped prying, and he asked another question, instead. He probably thought that Yui Mei also had her circumstances. Well, those circumstances referred to the memory retention of her previous world, though. It is a totally different disease from a cold. The initial symptoms were simr, so it is easy to make a mistake, but effective medicine is different. Ziliang grinned when he heard Yui Meis words. Is that so! The physicians are also divided regarding this matter, but I stand on the opposite side. Ziliang happily stated, since he was overjoyed that he had another supporter of his theory. And so, the two of them passed the night nursing the patient while having discussions about the field of medicine. The day broke, and dawn came. Yu Xiu had a low-grade fever, and some of her color returned. Her temperature is still slightly elevated, but shes already safe. Indeed, really, Im relieved! Yui Mei and Ziliang raised their hands and rejoiced. Yu Xiu finally opened her eyes after a while. This is? It is the clinic. It was His Highness the crown prince himself who requested that you stay here for the meantime. Yu Xiu asked in a hoarse voice, and Ziliang told her the whole story. His Highness did. Tears welled in Yui Xius eyes when she heard the name of the crown prince. This person is Yui Mei. She was the one who nursed you, changed your clothes, and wiped your sweat. Ziliang introduced Yui Mei. He intended to rify that it was not him, a male, who did all these things, but a courtdy, instead. Indeed, I was the one who apanied you constantly. .Is that so, thank you. A vague smile passed through Yu Xius face upon hearing Yui Mei and Ziliangs words. Yesterday, the crown prince mentioned that no one would take care of her even if she went back to the pce. Yu Xiu was the prime candidate for the seat of the empress, so she had a lot of enemies. She would probably be too preupied in trying her best to disy her power to the bastards who wanted to take advantage of her illness. It was not the ce for her recuperation. Otherwise, in normal circumstances, the maids and courtdies would have already stopped her abnormal behavior when she tried to go to the stream. So the person who wanted her to fall in disgrace should be one that is close to her. That desire was hindered by Yui Meis intervention. Yu Xiu should get better, so she could cultivate the power to fight those malevolent people. Do you have an appetite? Would you wish to partake of some food? Yes, I do feel very hungry. Yu Xiu answered Yui Meis question with a troubled expression. For a woman who was raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, hunger must have been a novel experience. It is good that you feel hunger. It means the body is trying to recover. Yu Xiu was relieved when she heard Yui Meis words. Even though she wanted to eat, she must avoid rich foods since her stomach was still weak. Well then, I will go and prepare some soup. Ah, but will the crown princes pce prepare Honored Consort Jiangs food? Yui Mei thought that it was a hassle if she were to get it from there. No, the courtdys kitchen will prepare the food ording to the crown prince. So get our breakfast, too. Ziliang ordered from her side. I understand. And so, Yui Mei headed towards the kitchen to secure their breakfast. - T/L Thoughts: Refreshing to see the story unfold from a protagonist who is currently a bystander, and not the target of those malicious scheming. Ah, but I was wondering how long it wouldst, till Yui Mei draws the ire of the concubines, or whether she will, in the first ce. Also, I changed her way of speaking to a more polite, servile tone, to reflect her Japanese intonation. T/N: *I couldnt use noble consort, as only one woman could use that title the consort one step below the empress. Noble concubine is also different from the noble imperial concubine, which is used for the emperors concubine. Edited to Honored Consort Jiang since she is apparently a Guifei. Sorry took so long to correct this, I only discovered it recently ? Chapter 12: Celebrate Recovery Chapter 12: Celebrate Recovery Mei Na was in the kitchen when Yui Mei arrived. Ah Mei, I heard about it, was hard on you. Mei Na approached Yui Mei as soon as she saw her, and she patted her shoulder. Apparently, Mei Na also knew the story about how Yui Mei rescued the consort who drowned. There were a lot of rubberneckers, so it was only natural that the story spread in a blink of an eye. I was involved in something remarkable. Oh, since you already knew about it, does that mean Mei Na was the one who sent that manju? Mei Na beamed broadly at Yui Meis question. Yeah, nursing a patient makes one hungry, after all. Yui Mei thanked Mei Na, and she ryed her agenda. I would like to have some soup suitable for a sick person, and can we have breakfast for two along with it, please? Alright, got it. By the way, Ah-Mei, isnt it difficult to breathe with that cloth on? Mei Na nodded, then she peered at Yui Mei. Indeed, Yui Mei did not remove her mask. She cannot remove it. Although she took the medicine from Ziliang, a nurse in her previous world, she did not want to be a source of infection. Its not like that once you get used to it. Yui Mei waved her hand. Hmmm. Alright, wait a bit for your breakfast takeaway. Needless to say, Yui Mei disinfected Mei Nas hands with the sprayer containing the antiseptic solution, before she returned to the kitchen. Currently, Yui Mei was a walking pathogen. When Yui Mei returned to the clinic, Yu Xiu was already sitting and drinking the oral rehydration solution by herself. Please pardon me for beingte. Yui Mei ced their breakfast on the table, and then she moved to hand the tray with the soup bowl when it struck her. Ah, does your Ladyship need a poison tester? Yui Mei suddenly remembered that dignitaries had poison testers, so she asked Yu Xiu. No need. I want to have something warm, just this for this asion. Yu Xiu received the warm bowl of soup with a smile. She took her time and finished the soup. She did not vomit, so it seemed they passed the critical stage. Yui Mei was relieved from her duty, since Yu Xiu could already eat on her own. When they informed the crown prince that she woke up, he sent an announcement that someone would take over to care for her while she was at the clinic. I heard from Doctor Chen earlier that it was Yui Mei who saved me when I drowned in the stream. You have my utmost gratitude. Yu Xiu bowed her head deeply as she said those words. Bowing towards a courtdy was something that a prideful consort could never do. Maybe this is the reason why she was the prime candidate for the crown princes future empress. Certainly, beauty alone was not enough. On the contrary, it might be a point that would irritate and annoy the other concubines who were fighting for the empresss position. If Yu Xiu would stand in the pinnacle of the harem in the future, then the Inner Pce would be a pleasant ce to live in. Yui Mei was convinced that Yu Xiu must not be discouraged and should continue striving. Tomorrow, I will visit and bring some snacks. Well, I am looking forward to that. Yu Xiu looked genuinely happy when Yui Mei said those words. This would warrant a careful selection of snacks. Lets consult Mei Na. Aunty Yang was waiting for Yui Mei when she returned from the clinic. Thanks for your hard work, Xiao Mei. Did Honored Consort Jiang recover? Aunty Yang rushed through her greeting, and asked about Yu Xiu. Yes. Her fever went down, and she ate her soup by herself when she woke up in the morning. Ah, what a relief. The crown princes pce managed to evade a storm. Aunty Yang looked relieved when she heard Yui Meis story. Xiao Mei, you stayed up all night, right? Rest, you dont have to work today and tomorrow. She also said gratifying words. Thank you very much. Hurray! Its my first day-off! Yui Mei was so happy she was practically skipping on her way back to the lodging room, despite herck of sleep. Hmmmm. Yui Meis happiness withered away when she reached the ce. The few courtdies, who were in the room when they first came here, were still sleeping. ThisTheyre not night-shift courtdies, I guess. She already had her doubts the other day, and it was confirmed after she listened to Ziliangs story. They were sleeping because they had influenza. Since thisrge room was dedicated for the low ranking courtdies, then it might have been discreetly converted into a quarantine room. In any case, if they were left sleeping this way, then their body condition would probably worsen. I should clean first before sleeping. And so, Yui Mei quietly cleaned the room without disturbing the sleeping people. She opened the window to improve venttion. Though it was being partitioned by folding screens, this room was way smaller than the concubines residence. She hurriedly swept with a broom, and she sprayed the disinfectant on the surroundings of her sleeping space. Of course, she did not forget to get some hot water to increase the humidity. Incidentally, she also checked the condition of the sleeping women. There were three of them. She had a feeling the numbers decreased, but it was possible that they got better so they went out. As I thought. To avoid unpleasant conjectures, Yui Mei softly peeked through the gaps in the folding screen. Would you like me to bring you some water? Dunno who you are, but water, please. She called out to one of them. The person replied in a hoarse voice, so she might have been slightly dehydrated, but at least she was conscious. The other two also answered in the same way, so Yui Mei went to the kitchen to make some oral rehydrating solution. She used a teapot in lieu of a feeding cup, and brought it over. Ill help you, can you drink it? She tipped the teapot to gradually pour water, but the three women unexpectedly finished all. It was not enough, so she went to the kitchen to make another batch. What are you doing instead of sleeping? Mei Na was exasperated to see her. After everything was done, it was finally time to turn in. Ahh, Im beat. Needless to say, she fell asleep the moment she curled in her nket. Chapter 13: Ming Xian and Zhi Wei Chapter 13: Ming Xian and Zhi Wei It was the day after Yu Xiu woke up in the clinic. Liu Ming Xian, the crown prince of the Sai Empire, had been walking along the pce hallways with his most trusted confidante since morning. He headed towards the study of Zhi Wei, his father. Good morning, Father. He called out from outside the door. Zhi Wei, who was surrounded by several officials, looked up from the memorials that were spread on his table, and nced at him. Ming Xian. What brings you here so early in the morning. His side profile revealed his apathetic and unmotivated expression. His demeanor exuded lethargy, as if humans were not worth his interest. His condition is still the same as usual. It was said that he was a valiant and wise emperor twenty years ago, but now, his appearance was as if he were a ghost. Zhi Wei disregarded Ming Xians inner thoughts. Isnt Honored Consort Jiang bedridden? The ruckus yesterday also reached Zhi Wei ears. You shouldnt be here right now. It was as if Zhi Wei was tacitly implying that with his words. However, Ming Xian shook his head. There is no need to worry. Yu Xiu has recovered. I went to visit her yesterday evening. She was lively, albeit still weak. Doctor Chen, the clinics physician, said that she could return to the pce in two to three days time. Is that so. That is good. Zhui Wei narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin as he listened. Aside from Zhi Wei, the rest of the officials in the same room also heard about it, naturally. With this, the person behind the scheme would learn that their n to eliminate Yu Xiu through the disease had failed. They targeted Yu Xiu in order to prevent her from bing Ming Xians empress. The true wielder of power in the Inner Pce was not Zhi Wei, the emperor, but his mother the empress dowager. Ming Xian was not the son of the empress, who was the niece of the empress dowager. Ming Xians mother came from a household that belonged to a faction that opposed that of the empress dowagers family. During the changing of dynasty, only the empress dowager, being the mother of the emperor, remained in the Inner Pce. If this continued on, the empress she raised would have to leave the pce. Her power would then weaken. The empress dowager was a power-greedy person, and she made several schemes in her desire to continue wielding her power even onto the next emperor. This n was one of them, as she intended to make one of her blood rtives to be Ming Xians empress. And so, she sent a barely ten-year old child to Ming Xian. With this excessive action, Ming Xians anger was immense. He was fed up. The girl herself was just an ordinary child, so she was bewildered from being separated from her mothers side. Ming Xian decided to take her under his wing, so he let her enter the crown princes pce. He intended to betroth her to the person she would like in the future. She was just a pawn; she was meless. Yu Xiu also agreed. However, should anything happen to Yu Xiu, then that girl would automatically be the prime candidate to be the empress. Their n would have been sessful if the usual attendants were not there when she fell into the stream. For Ming Xian, it was their good fortune. The recement of courtdies and maids attending to Yu Xiu did not push through, and they were able to forestall the circumstances of the incident. Ming Xian frankly thought that destruction had brushed past him. From the information he gathered through the rubbernecking courtdies at the scene, that girls actions were queer and ghastly as if she was possessed by a curse. She was kissing the corpse, and assaulting it by beating the chest fiercely. Those were the words of the frightened courtdies. However, ording to Doctor Chen, the girls actions were a form of life-saving method that came from a foreign country, and was not well known among the physicians. Without her, it would have been difficult to attempt that rescue method. Well, it would have been difficult had Doctor Chen be the one to ce his lips on my consort. Even if it was in the name of medicine, he would be used of adultery in a crowd of bystanders. It was a blessing in disguise. Thanks to that girl, Yu Xiu was saved. Moreover, he now had a reason to push the me onto the useless people to drive all of them at once. He would be able to secure her safety by surrounding her with people that he trusted. Yu Xiu was safe now in the physicians clinic, andter on, he would send the courtdy he had picked beforehand to go there as an attendant. He also made arrangements to station secret guards around the clinic for their safety. Instead of the crown pces kitchen, he sent his subordinates to the courtdies kitchen to prepare food that was safe. I will never let that empress dowager interfere. It was a good resolve; however, it was not the purpose of his visit to the emperor. I obtained something interesting, so I would like to present it to Father. Ming Xian smiled as he drew closer to his fathers desk. Did you acquire something rare? Indeed. Please see it for yourself. Ming Xian gestured to Li Yong, his subordinate standing behind him. Li Yong handed a tray covered in cloth. Ming Xian removed the cloth himself. It held a sprayer. ,,,Is there something wrong with that sprayer? After he gave those insinuating words, Zhi Wei brows puckered at the seemingly ordinary sprayer. Father, the contents are important. Ming Xian took the bottle, and sprayed it onto Zhi Wei. What!? It stinks of sake! Indeed, it contains watered down sake, after all. Ming Xian deepened his smile at Zhi Weis wry face. A person at the clinic told me that this is very effective against the current disease. Apparently, it must be sprayed on the hands frequently. Ah, drinking tea is also good, ording to her. I didnt hear anything like that from the physicians. Those quacks. The face of the court physician floated to Zhi Weis mind, and he scowled. That physician used money and became the empress dowagers underling, so his ability can easily be surmised. It was troubling that a mere physician from the clinic was morepetent than the court physician who was in charge of the emperors health. I offer this to you. I am praying for your health, Father. Is that so, then I will receive it with gratitude. Zhi Wei closely inspected the sprayer upon receiving it. T/L Thoughts: What might have happened to the emperor during those twenty years? The crown prince and the emperor seemed to get along, too. Interestingly, it was the empress dowager who was power-hungry. The emperor was not what I imagined he would be, based on Yui Meis perspective in the first few chapters. Any thoughts on this? Would love to hear your theories/ insights ? Chapter 14: Zhang Mei Ren Chapter 14: Zhang Mei Ren After Ming Xian was done with his business, he excused himself from the study. He strode on with nary a word for a while. Is it really fine without saying anything? Li Yong, his subordinate, whispered when they reached a deserted corridor. What do you mean? About the girl that was in the clinic. Li Yong chose his words carefully, but the corners of Ming Xian lips lifted in a smirk. Really, why on earth did that girl decide toe here? Ming Xian was reminded of the courtdy he saw at the clinic, and he gave a strainedugh. The girls hair was novel, with its marvelous tinge of midnight-blue. Also, the hue of her eyes was the noble blue. She said she was named Yui Mei, because she was a girl born on a rainy day. She even sulked, saying that she wished her parents gave it a bit more thought when they named her. If It was just the hair color, then there must be others who have something simr. It was the same for the eye color. The noble blood could also be inherited, even if it was far down the lineage. However, possessing both qualities was a different matter altogether; moreover, she was also named Yui Mei. It was definitely not a coincidence. Even if the name Yui Mei was helplessly perfunctory, it was still a name bestowed by Zhi Wei to that infant. ording to Yang, the person who managed all the courtdies, Yui Mei was a maiden recruited from the border regions. If it was the bordends then it would be the location of the nunnery where Lady Zhang, one of the Beauties, was banished. Lady Zhang was the victim who bore the brunt of the power struggle. Indeed. Kind and calm, such an unfortunate person. At Li Yongs words, Ming Xian casted his eyes down as he recalled the past. In order to strengthen her power and control, the empress dowager forced her niece on Zhi Wei to be his empress, just as she did to Ming Xian. Unfortunately, Zhi Wei did not have the power to resist her at that time. The empress dowager was the one who gave birth to the emperor, so her pride was extremely high. That trait of hers was also inherited by her niece. Despite her great beauty, the empress was quick-tempered and highly irritable, so Zhi Wei finally found it unbearable. Therefore, Zhi Wei nned to be husband and wife with her only for appearances sake. However, being the birth mother of the emperor was far more important in the Inner Pce, more than being the empress. The empress dowager kept on pestering them for a child, to the point that even their intimacy was monitored by her. Zhi Wei had no intention of letting the empress bear his child, so he devised a n. He fed the empress with sleeping pills in order to pull through the situation. The empress, who was raised as a sheltereddy, fell for that puerile trick. She thought that nightly activities were conducted like that. Due to the savage circumstances, It was only natural that the emperor would seek out respite among the tranquil concubines. And it was to Lady Zhang the emperor gave his heart to. At that time, he also had a son, Ming Xian, from another concubine, so he felt he was relieved of his duty, since he already had an heir apparent. Shortly after, Lady Zhang bore the dragon seed in her womb, and she gave birth to a princess. On the other hand, the empress fretted over the turn of events. The other concubines gave birth, but the empress still did not have a child. It was only natural, since nothing happened between her and the emperor. However, it was enough to breed malicious rumours that the empress was infertile. In order to dispel those rumors, the empress nned to secretly obtain seed from the emperors rtives. She then conceived and gave birth to a male child, and she imed that child as the crown prince. Unexpectedly, Lady Zhang also gave birth at this time. However, the emperor made a huge ruckus by stating that it would be impossible for the empress to conceive, as they never did the act. A man who frequently visited the Inner Pce in secrecy was also identified, so things escted to the point of censure, thus the empress dowager interfered. My maid saw that mane out of Lady Zhangs chambers. By the empress dowagersmand, Lady Zhangs residence was searched, and an object that purportedly belonged to a man was found. I never saw that man, much less that item! However, they turned a deaf ear to Lady Zhangs words. Lady Zhang did not have any backing, so even if Zhi Wei wanted to shield her, she did not have a chance against the empress dowager. In the Inner Pce, the empress dowagers words carried more weight than the truth. Adultery by imperial wives was a capital crime, punishable by death. That was the desire of the empress dowager, but Zhi Wei vehemently protested, thus she escaped death by a hairs breadth. However, Lady Zhang was eventually driven out of the Inner Pce, and along with the new born princess, they were forced to live in the nunnery located in a remote region. Afterward, news came that Lady Zhang took her own life. Since there was no news regarding the baby, they thought the infant died with her. The empress, who was the true perpetrator of adultery, was still in the harem, due to the protection of the empress dowager. However, Zhi Wei fervidly refused to acknowledge her child as the crown prince, so the boy left the Inner Pcest year when he turned fifteen. However, the empress continued to scheme to make her son the crown prince, so she tried to poison Ming Xian countless times, and she even sent assassins after him time after time; it was a restless life. Thanks to that, she did not have the time to bear an heir, so she remained childless. The stalemate continued, and sixteen years had passed. Who would have thought that such an existence would be mixed among the maidens of marriageable age gathered for the Inner Pce. Ming Xian had the opportunity to hold Lady Zhangs child just once. He remembered how those blue eyes the same as his had stared straight at him. It would be boring if he were to know about it so easily, Ming Xian muttered. What in the world was Yui Meis purpose for returning to the Inner Pce? Along with anxiety, Ming Xian felt exhrated. It was as if a lovable, boisterous bird wandered inside a ce where the atmosphere was stagnant since the wind stopped blowing. If the identity of Yui Mei, who had no support, was revealed, then Lady Zhangs history might repeat itself. It was not certain whether Yui Mei knew this, but she did not assert her birthright, and she was working as an ordinary low ranking courtdy. ording to Yang, she was an industrious person. Initially, he thought she was working at the clinic, but surprisingly, she was just a housekeeper. What a waste of ability. Moreover, she could read. She even exined the origin of her name when asked the other day. From that alone, it could be surmised that she could write, and she knew the meaning of those letters. Yang did not notice that Yui Mei could read, but this might be her own unsubstantiated assertion. She doesnt want to be conspicuous. Ming Xian also decided not to say a word about it to Yang. In addition, without scheming for it, she obtained Lady Wangs request to clean her residence, which formerly belonged to Lady Zhang. The residences of some of Shi Weis residences were neglected, and were in a terrible state, but there was no move for improvement. All of these concubines were daughters from families belonging to the faction opposing the empress dowager. The empress dowager pulled strings to send useless workers. Her repeated interference, and the shortage ofborers due to the epidemic, caused even Yang to struggle. The empress also regarded Lady Wang as her enemy, since she reminded her of Lady Zhang, who was also a former courtdy. It must be destinys hand that Yui Mei was the one who saved that Lady Wang. It was also Lady Wang who started the trend of cing bowls of hot water in the room, and it became popr among the concubines. Apparently, it was also Yui Mei who taught her those things. Creating a trend would boost ones position in the inner harem. In the midst of concubines shaking in fear of the curse, Lady Wang and the other concubines, who were suppressed by the empress dowager, were slowly gaining their foothold. In the garden of women, one rumor could trigger an avnche, for better or for worse. If the identity of Yui Mei, who was living unobtrusively, was brought to light, then the empress dowager and empress would definitely find a way to either expel her, or capture her. If Yui Mei was acknowledged as a princess, then the empresss adultery would also be judged. Thats why, Li Yong, observe Yui Meis condition regrly. HuhWhat? Li Yong answered reflexively, and he looked befuddled. Did you meanme? Indeed. If it was anyone else, then wouldnt a misunderstanding ur? If spections that Ming Xian was trying to summon Yui Mei arose, then Yui Mei would be in an unfavorable spotlight. Ming Xian intended to observe Yui Mei, and then report her true motive for entering the Inner Pce to Zhi Wei. Revenge against Father is also a likely reason. After all, it is usible that a child would harbor resentment against the father who abandoned her in a nunnery. More than anything, it was urgent to know the extent of Yui Meis knowledge and her views regarding herself. I am also currently in a precarious situation, though. I leave it to you, Eunuch Wang Libin, said Ming Xian to Li Yong, who was looking sullen. Libin was Li Yongs work name. Li Yong also had his own struggles. Oh, things are getting busy now. Contrary to his words, Ming Xian looked like he was enjoying himself immensely. - T/L Thoughts: Merry Christmas, everyone! We have a triple release for today! Bonus chapter for Kof-fi, and another as my gift to you guys. I also released them earlier than the scheduled time, while Im still free. Hope you enjoy reading them. Please leave a rating in NU, if you do ? I did not expect Yui Meis mother would be the one true love of the emperor. It was truly unfortunate that though she escaped the death penalty, she did not escape death. Maybe we can do a fanfic with her as the protagonist, so she can be reborn and take revenge against the empress Rebirth and Revenge of the Calm Concubine. Lol. Well, the harem drama exins why the emperors concubines were not gorgeous beauties like the shrewish empress, but in women who exude tranquility, like Lady Wang. Chapter 15: Visiting the Sick Chapter 15: Visiting the Sick While Ming Xian and Li Yong were discussing those things, Yui Mei was preparing to visit Yu Xiu. She felt refreshed after sleeping like a log, so she thought she would fulfill her promise. Good day, Honored Consort Jiang. Yu Xiu was already awake and sitting up on the wooden bed when Yui Mei entered the clinic. Oh,e here, Yui Mei. Yu Xiu was in better spirits, so she greeted Yui Mei with a smile. Thank goodness, your Ladyshipsplexion looks better. Please ept my gift. Yui Mei also respectfully bowed to Yu Xiu. Afterward, she took a package wrapped in paper from her breast pocket. It was mushipan, especially made by Mei Na. It is freshly steamed, so it is still warm. Oh my, they look so delectable! Yu Xiu was thrilled with the warm buns. Her appetite was proof that she recovered. Can you please brew some tea? Join us and lets eat together. Yu Xiu called out to the courtdy beside her. The adorable girl had her hair up in two buns above her ears. She seemed younger than Yui Mei. Yes! The courtdy straightened up, and started to make tea. She gave the impression that she was also a novice, rather than someone seasoned with experience. The crown prince sent this girl. Yu Xiu noticed that Yui Mei was staring at the maiden, so she exined. Apparently, the crown prince personally selected this person to avoid bringing harm to the patient, and to take care of her necessities. A, ahm, please. The courtdy nervously served the tea. Yui Mei thought she was her senior, since she was not included in their recruited group, but she was strangely timid. Nice to meet you. Im a novice, and I just entered the Inner Pce recently. Yui Mei tactfully expressed that there was no need for her to be so nervous. Oh, yes, please take care of me too! The courtdy straightened her back, rigidly bowed, then replied with formal words. Maybe its her personality. She was trembling like a leaf, reminiscent of a small animal, so it was easy to feel soft towards her. Maybe the selection was done to recruit unexpectedly soothing personnel. The crown prince was also someone who cannot be taken lightly. Yu Xiu also rose from her wooden bed, and she sat at the same table beside Yui Mei and the courtdy. She elegantly tore the mushipan into bite-size pieces, and then ced one in her mouth, and smiled. It is perfectly done. Very delicious, indeed. Yu Xiu was fond of Mei Nas deluxe mushipan. It was carefully selected with the patients weak stomach in mind. Ill tell Mei Nater that Honored Consort Jiang was ted. Yui Mei thought about how Mei Na paid careful attention to the quality of her snacks. I was always servedvish dishes since I became a consort, but the opportunity to eat freshly made food lessened. Yu Xiu sadly recounted as she ate the bread. After the kitchen finished cooking her meals, they passed through a lot of hands before they were served to her. The carriers were obviously part of those, but it also took time to test the food for poison. Yu Xiu was relieved from such formalities while being in the clinic. Bigwigs truly live a constrained life. Perhaps, her mother was the same. It must have been hard for her, not being able to taste warm foods. Yui Mei contemted as she sank her teeth into the bread. Hey, wheres my portion? Ziliang, who was evidently in the back room, suddenly appeared. No worries, here you go. Yui Mei took another package out and handed it to Ziliang. The four of them sat together as Ziliangid out the ns for Yu Xiu. Noble Concubine Jiang will be staying in the clinic until tomorrow, as nned. She will return to the pce the day after. I already informed the crown prince regarding this. Well, it is as expected. Yui Mei nodded at Ziliangs medical judgement. In her previous world, the patients could return to their own homes to do self-quarantine two days after the fever abated. The disease was most contagious during the recovery period, so it would be a wise decision. What a relief, Lady Yu Xiu. The courtdy was ecstatic that the discharge date was set, and they could return to the pce. Yu Xiu nodded at the maidens happiness. Yes. When I was suffering from fever, I really thought my time hade. Certainly, one suffering from influenza would have high fever, and it would feel as if their heads were boiling from the elevated temperature. The whole body and joints would also feel painful, and there would be a feeling of extreme fatigue, nausea, and splitting headaches. It was only natural that one would think they were on the brink of death. Yui Mei never contracted the flu in her previous life, but she did hear about how it felt from her patients. ording to the crown prince, nobody tended to Yu Xiu, having neglected her, so she must have suffered needlessly. I had a near-death experience, but I believe it is a great fortune that I was able to meet a person like you. Again, thank you. You have my utmost gratitude, Yui Mei. Yui Mei smiled after being thanked again. It is my honor, Honored Consort Jiang. Yu Xius recovery wasrgely due to Yui Mei conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation just in time. However, medicines and treatments would all go to waste, without the persons resilience. Yu Xius desire to live triumphed against influenza. Please treat your stay in the clinic as a vacation, and rest leisurely until you return to the crown princes pce. There are plenty of delicious snacks, too. There was nobody here with prying eyes, so it would be good if she were to rx to her hearts content, and to nurture her strength. Yu Xiu giggled at Yui Meis words. Yui Mei, you really say such amusing words. To treat a disease as vacation.. It was apt to think of a disease as a misfortune. However, an ill person should rest, so it would be good if she were to do so with her heart at ease. There was no rule that said one should mop around when sick. Well, it is good. Besides, this mushipan is truly divine. The people in this kitchen have great skills. Yu Xiu narrowed her eyes in bliss as she ate another piece. Her appearance was truly adorable, full of expressions. She was a very pretty woman, indeed. So, (provisionary) elder brothers type was someone like her. Yui Mei thought he had great tastes. T/L Thoughts: Merry Christmas, everyone! We have a triple release for today! Bonus chapter for Kof-fi, and another as my gift to you guys. I also released them earlier than the scheduled time, while Im still free. Hope you enjoy reading them. Please leave a rating in NU, if you do ? Chapter 16: Rumors about Yui Mei Chapter 16: Rumors about Yui Mei It was the day after Yui Meis visit to Yu Xiu. Alright, back to work again today. Yui Mei felt motivated. She went to the dining hall early, and had gobbled her food with great gusto. Surprisingly, she did not contract the flu. Influenzas incubation period was one to two days. It was rtively short, so she should already exhibit symptoms had she contracted it. My immune system really did a good job, if I say so myself. Come to think of it, she did not contract the disease in her previous world, too. All her colleagues were infected, and had to leave their workce. She felt she struggled hard that time, being the only one who was not infected. However, she should not let her guard down. Influenza was most prevalent during the changing of season from winter to spring. And so, she started to teach the importance of disease prevention to all those around her. She did it on the pretext that it was an instruction that came from the clinic physicians. Unfortunately, her efforts were in vain. Half of those who heard her were firm in their belief that it was not a disease, but a curse. Hmmm, that curse nonsense is unexpectedly deeply rooted. Seems the empress dowager supports behind all these. Another problem arose. Hey, isnt it that girl over there? Youll be cursed if youe near her The other girls who were in the dining hall kept on whispering about her. I can hear you, though. Yui Mei retorted inwardly, but she tried her best not to show it on her face. She hated how they deliberately raised their voices just enough to let her hear as they whispered in that exquisite tone. Yui Mei is the source of the curse that story was being spread around as a usible truth. They thought the CPR that Yui Mei did to Yu Xiu was peculiar, and the spectators at the scene spread those rumors. The eunuchs were the most aggressive among them. They were an ipetent bunch, but they were quick at this kind of jobs. They must have wanted to make me the bad guy, and erase all traces of their uselessness. ording to the entirety of the rumor, the eunuchs who fearlessly wanted to save Yu Xiu despite the curse, were all pushed away by Yui Mei, saying that they were in the way, and then she casted the curse. That rumor perfectly suited the circumstances of those useless eunuchs. But it would have been good if it was only this rumor. The mayhem was further fanned by the jealousy of her colleagues. Yui Mei nursed the favored concubine of the crown prince, so she was branded as a disgusting, promotion-seeking, scheming woman. Those rumors spread while she was fast asleep. Apparently, gossips of this kind spread in the blink of an eye. The jealousy of a woman was deeper than the sea. Yui Mei already knew that about this since she had many female coworkers in her previous world, but she had underestimated the inner harem. Yui Mei was busy since the first day she entered the Inner Pce, so building rapport with her colleagues had been dyed. She was aware how solitary she was in the midst of the courtdies, and now, this situation urred. Due to that, no one wanted to be with her; so be it meals, or work, she was left all alone. To say she was lonely was an understatement. Mei Na was the only one who cared about her. Ill sit here. Mei Na brought her tray of food to the table where Yui Mei was, and she sat down with a thud. It was her rest day, so she was wearingfortable clothes, instead of her courtdy uniform. Good morning, Mei Na. Noble Concubine Jiang was very pleased with the mushipan you sent her. Mei Na seemed to be very busy yesterday after Yui Mei got the mushipan, so she immediately told her about the news today. Really!? Wow, Im d. Yu Xius meals were prepared in the courtdies kitchen since her first day at the clinic, probably due to its proximity. However, Ziliang also mentioned that it was the crown prince who gave the order, so he probably did not trust the kitchen staff of the crown princes pce. The crown prince must have arrived at the conclusion that the courtdies kitchen would be less dangerous than the one in his residence. The crown prince must be doing his best reorganizing the pce while Noble Concubine Jiang is away. Yui Mei bolted down her food as she contemted. Oh A group of three courtdies entered the dining hall. They saw Mei among them. She was Yui Meis supervisor, but it was the first time she saw her since that first day. She often brings those gals with her. Mei was leading a few courtdies, but they seem to be from the capital, as well. Aside from the courtdy uniform, they were dressed up with fashionable hair ornaments and scarves, and they were wearing beautiful cosmetics. When seen through with the filter of a provincial persons inferiorityplex, their appearance was exuding an aura of being capital-born. They came from affluent families who could afford to send allowances to them. Those good-for-nothings are the ones saying that Ah Mei is a scheming, ambitious woman. Mei Na whispered to Yui Mei. Well, I already thought they were the ones, though. The people who spread the rumors were strangers who did not have anything to do with her. However, the catalyst who conceived those malicious rumors must have a person with a deep grudge against her. An indifferent person would be the same as air; rumors were impossible toe from such a person. The only person who had a direct rtion with the loner Yui Mei was none other than Mei, who had already expressed animosity right off the bat the first day Yui Mei came to the Inner Pce. Some of the courtdies were sold to the Inner Pce as coteral for loans, while maidens like Mei were sent to the pce to catch the emperor or the crown princes fancy. No matter how ostentatious they were, it would mean nothing if they did not be concubines. And as the years passed, their youthfulness also faded. They were also in a perilous position, so to speak. These women couldnt help but be envious of Yui Mei, who managed to be closer to the crown princes favored concubine despite being a novice. They must be aggravated, since Ah Mei was favored by the higher-ups because youre doing your work properly. Mei Na said that they should just stop cking and work, whileughing sarcastically. They had no intention of working right from the start, though. If their aim was to be a concubine, then they must havee from well-to-do families. In that case, they would be the type who left all the work to their servants. Being raised and pampered in such a way, they must have been told that they need to catch the eye of the emperor or the crown prince once they enter the pce, and they themselves must have nned to do so. In other words, they must have thought inwardly that cleaning,undry, and cooking were things beneath them. That was the reason why they did not work, and as a result, they were not promoted to maid status, either. Mei was a high ranking courtdy due to the years she spent in the Inner Pce; however, in order to be promoted to a maid, an exam was necessary, as well as the rmendation from the higher-ups. Obviously, no boss would dare rmend a courtdy who was an idler. In short, she was only paving the way to her own destruction. T/L Thoughts: Merry Christmas, everyone! We have a triple release for today! Bonus chapter for Kof-fi, and another as my gift to you guys. I also released them earlier than the scheduled time, while Im still free. Hope you enjoy reading them. Please leave a rating in NU, if you do. Thanks, and happy holidays! Chapter 17: Suspicious Eunuch Reappeared Chapter 17: Suspicious Eunuch Reappeared Mei and herpanions strode towards Yui Meis table. Youre pretty thick skinned, arent you? Youre the source of the curse and yet there you are, brazenly sitting. What the heck do you mean by this? Yes, thats so true. Go and disappear right now. Mei started an argument, and her minions sang the same tune. Good morning. Its still early yet everyones pretty energetic. Yui Mei could not retort, since Mei was her senior, so she decided to greet them, instead. They were waiting for her to grimace and show a bad attitude. However, Yui Mei shut them up with her seemingly ordinary demeanor. This evasion technique was her method of saying she wont go with their flow. Mei and the other girls flinched, but they soon regained theirposure. Youre such a shameless person. Youre spreading the curse so the courtdies decreased, yet there you are, selling yourself without batting an eye. The other girls affirmed Meis outrageous exaggeration. Really, she shouldnt be allowed to enter here. Everyone will be cursed. They continued inciting the other courtdies, until everyone stealthily left the dining hall while carrying their bowls. Rather than bothering Yui Mei, it was Mei and the girls who were expending unnecessary effort. Sorry for troubling you guys. Yui Mei regretted disturbing the other courtdies breakfast, even though it was Meis party who made a ruckus. It seemed that Mei and the girls would continue pestering them, so Yui Mei decided to counter attack. You said I sold myself, but I was only doing the cleaning jobs at that time. Since Mei is my supervisor, they might also favor you if you work with me. Yui Mei implied that it was their fault for neglecting their duties and ying around. A tinyugh resounded from the kitchen. Even if the dining hall was deserted, the kitchen staff was still there. Mei blushed furiously after beingughed at. Anyway, the uproar regarding the curse started way back before Ah Mei came, isnt it? Dont tell me you cantpute the days, Mei? Mei wrinkled her nose when she heard Mei Nas consecutive cutting remarks in defense of Yui Mei. She went through great pains to doll up with cosmetics, but it was ruined by her ugly scowl. You dare strut around just because you caught the crown princes fancy! Mark my words, when I became His Highness the crown princes concubine, Ill definitely send you off to do heavybor!! Hey, Mei! Wait! Mei angrily threw those words, and briskly walked away, followed by her minions. Yui Mei and Mei Na were the only ones left at the dining hall. So that person is targeting the crown prince, huh. Thats why she was extremely vexed that Yui Mei met the crown prince directly. Really, what an awful guy. Mei Na heaved a deep sigh and grumbled. Yui Mei shrugged. Lets leave them be, theyll be happier if we pay attention to them. She would just get tired if she were to confront them, so it was best to ignore them. Mei Na was amused at Yui Meis remark. Ah Mei, youre quite farsighted for your age. Yui Mei also acknowledged that she sounded too old-fashioned, since she had memories of her previous world. Nevertheless, she still intended to enjoy the feelings of a maiden her age. Yui Mei felt tired after dealing with Mei; however, she had to work after eating her breakfast. Todays another day of cleaning Yui Mei hummed as she walked through the corridors while carrying her tools. She then saw a eunuch approaching from the other end. It was someone familiar. Wait, isnt that the crown princes attendant? A eunuch had a questionable existence, but no mistake, they had a higher statuspared to her. Yui Mei stood to the side and bowed her head, so as not to obstruct the other persons path. Hurry up and pass quickly. Yui Mei inwardly said, but contrary to her expectations, the eunuch stopped before her. So you were here. Good, I dont have to go to the courtdies lodging house. His low voice, which was something one wont often hear in the Inner Pce, made Yui Mei extremely ufortable. However, apparently, the eunuch had some business with her. How may I help you? Ahm Yui Mei raised her head to ask, but she suddenly stopped when she remembered that she didnt know the name of this eunuch. Wang Libins the name. You can call me Libin. He noticed her uncertainty, so he introduced himself. The surname Wang was verymon in the Inner Pce, so he wanted her to distinguish him from the rest. Yui Mei also knew a handful of people with that surname, including Lady Wang, and five courtdies. I understand. Libin, how may I help you? Yui Mei repeated her question. Noble Concubine Jiang was delighted with the mushipan you gave her. The crown prince heard about it, and was also pleased. He sent me to bestow his reward upon you. So he came to deliver the reward. For the crown prince to be satisfied, it is truly an honor. The courtdy who made the mushipan will also feel d. Yui Mei replied to Libin. . Libin did not reply. Yui Mei thought that since the conversation ended, it was time to return to her work. However, it was quite explicable that this man came looking for her just to ry those words. Well, this is much more preferable than if the crown prince himself came here instead. Yui Mei was already sticking out like a sore thumb; she did not want to be conspicuous any more than this. She didnt know what rumors would fly should someone see her alone with the crown princes attending eunuch; moreover, with just the two of them. If that is all, then please excuse me. Yui Mei turned to go. Are you always wandering around with that appearance? Libin suddenly asked. Indeed? Yui Mei was wearing her courtdy uniform, and her mask. Speaking of, she forgot to remove it. She thought he was pointing it out, however Cover all your hair with a cloth. Libin stood behind Yui Mei. He gathered her hair and skillfully coiled it into a bun, before covering it with the handkerchief he took out from his bosom. This should be fine. Libin removed his hand, and Yui Mei touched her hair. It was more beautifully arranged than how she did it. What a dextrous guy. Yui Mei wanted to see how it was, so she peered at her reflection on the ss windows. Libin stared at her from behind. Standing out in the Inner Pce is not a good thing. Your hair is too ostentatious. It would do you well to hide it. .Huh. Well, sorry for disturbing you. Libin waved his hand at Yui Mei, who nodded uncertainly, before returning to the corridor. Yui Mei followed his retreating figure until he was out of sight, before touching the hood wrapped around her head. This is silk, though. She must have looked ridiculous, wearing a hood that was a lot more expensive than her clothes. Since it was not made with cotton, Libin probably came from an affluent family. Then why on earth was he a eunuch? He was also very manly; he couldve chosen to be a gate guard. No, I shouldnt bring this up. She reminded herself, trying to suppress her curiosity and desire to solve a mystery. She was sure it must be a troublesome andplicated matter. In the meantime, she took the kerchief off, and changed it with the cloth cover she used during cleaning. She pulled it low to cover her eyes. This silk handkerchief mighte in handy someday, so Yui Mei decided to treasure it, T/L Thoughts: Yui Mei and Li Yong meet again ? Is that a keepsake from our male lead??? (based on the synopsis, no spoilers intended). ? Chapter 18: To Be Inconspicuous Chapter 18: To Be Inconspicuous Yui Mei always wore her hood and mask after Libin pointed it out. She only removed them at mealtimes. Libin told her that her hair was conspicuous, but was she the only one who thought this getup was way more suspicious? It was the equivalent of pulling the hat over the eyes and wearing a mask; just add sses and it would be the perfect image of a pervert. But then, its really dangerous if my blue hair stood out. It was just as Libin said. Her mother drew the attention of the emperor because of this hair, too. It was truly eye-catching. People were starting to know her as the girl with the bluish hair in the residences she cleaned. Yui Meis mother was in the Inner Pce sixteen years ago. The young courtdies in the lodging house may not know her, but older concubines and maids might have some memory of her. Though she did not go to the ces of the high-ranking consorts, it would not hurt to be more careful from now on. Nevertheless, she did not think hiding her hair would be Libins personal idea. First of all, she did not have any recollection of getting along with Libin. What was the crown princes purpose for sending Libin to warn her? Perhaps, the crown prince knew her mother? Well, I shouldnt have any unnecessary expectations. Yui Mei did not possess anything that would prove her lineage. After all, it was only a story told by the nuns. There was also a possibility that her parents had been a travelling couple who had passed by the bordend, and they might have died from disease or met an ident, so the nunnery took her in. Perhaps, the heroines tragic tale was made up in order to cheer the orphaned child. Those nuns loved to gossip, after all. She also had a faint desire to know whether her family members were here. However, it was not her priority. She did note here to be acknowledged by the emperor. Her motive was still watching the inner harem. In this way, Yui Mei found a clear exnation regarding her birth. She spent her days as usual, despite being treated as a dubious person. On the other hand, influenzas menace had not abated yet. Yui Mei wanted to avoid being infected by the flu, so she religiously cleaned-up, washed her hands, gargled, and thoroughly disinfected herself using alcohol sanitizers. Their lodging was previously messy since a lot of people entered and exited, but thanks to her, it gained the reputation of being tidy. However, despite the sleeping quarters being clean, the courtdies still perceived gargling and use of alcohol disinfectant as queer. She was branded as a suspicious person, since she only showed her eyes. They all distanced themselves from her. However, Yui Mei just ignored them. Xiao Mei, wont you do something about that appearance of yours? Atst, Aunty Yang asked as she ate her breakfast one day. Is it not allowed? Well, rather than saying its not allowed Yui Mei was not affected despite being told off, so Aunty Yang had a troubled expression. Part of the girlsined and said that they do not want to stay in the same room as you. Well, I certainly look suspicious. She also acknowledged it, so she did not intend toin that she was being excluded. However, she nned to stop wearing her mask when the flu season was over, so she thought their suspicions would be reduced by then. It is a protection against colds, so Ill remove it when the flu season is over. Hmm, about that Apparently, theinant couldnt wait for that long. However, the lodging room was only for the low ranking courtdies. They only returned to the room to sleep. Whether they like it or not, it was not a personal space they could be picky about. At most, they can only move their wooden beds to a further location. Thats why even if she was told that someone did not want to be in the same room as her, she could only respond with so what?. What would they like me to do? There was no room under that floor. They proposed that we either assign them their own personal rooms, or to toss you out to the shed. Well, the majority of the girls are fine closing their eyes, though; since youve been cleaning the room for them. Yui Mei became alert due to Aunty Yangs words. Meis faction is behind this ruckus. There were a few capital-born girls among the courtdies staying at the lodging house, so those girls must haveined to her. Since the courtdies were short-handed, there were vacant rooms avable; however, only the high-ranking courtdies were allowed that privilege. It was impossible to give preferential treatment to the low ranking courtdies staying at the lodging house. Moreover, the girls involved with Mei did not have a hardworking personality. From Aunty Yangs expression, it seemed that the status of the people making a fuss was still far from being promoted. If Yui Mie was transferred to the shed, then they would feel at ease. However, if that was not the case, then they would be able to get their own rooms. Either way, it would be a favorable oue for them. Hmm, how sinister. They were moring for it, and some of the girls were also beginning to be influenced. So I was wondering what to do. Aunty Yang griped. If she gave way to the bunch kicking up a fuss, then the hard-working courtdies wont stay still. If she let them get their way, then it would be a precedent for the others, since they would think that making a racket would get them what they want. If that happened, Aunty Yang would have to go with their flow. However, Yui Mei would not bow down, either. She would continue advertising the importance of prevention regarding diseases. In fact, some girls also started wearing their mask to work secretly when there was no one around. Actually, masks were created for populous ces, but it would also aid in preventing dryness of the respiratory tract. Unless Yui Mei stopped wearing her suspicious get-up, she had no choice but to leave the lodging house. However, she did not want to go to the shed, either. However, she had set her heart on a rtively nice ce. I am fine leaving the lodging room. Are you really okay with living in the shed? Aunty Yang widened her eyes, but Yui Mei shook her head. There is an extra storage room beside the lodging room, isnt it? If the number of people decreased, then the number of things would also decrease. Presently, there were several unupied storage rooms everywhere. If the items inside were transferred to another storage room, then it would be an empty room. Besides, even if it was called storage, it was still bigger than the modern business hotel rooms. There is a window for venttion, and if I clean it and put my bed in it, then I think it would be a fine room. With this, Yui Mei would not concede to those who denounced her, and she would also get her own room; thereby killing two birds with one stone. Xiao Mei, are you really okay with that? Thats a storeroom, you know? Yui Mei smiled at the bewildered expression of Aunty Yang. The storage room got its name because of the things stored in it, but if people will live in it, then it can be a chamber, isnt it? Well, that may be so Aunty Wang was still doubtful, but eventually, she decided to let Yui Mei use the storage room. Hurray, its a private room! The other courtdies pityingly stared at Yui Mei as she prepared to move, but Yui Mei was ecstatic. That was when she suddenly realized that it would not be odd if Aunty Yang was one of the people who might remember Yui Meis mother. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best!- Chapter 19: Moving Out, Moving Out! Chapter 19: Moving Out, Moving Out! Aunty Yang let Yui Mei have a day-off the day after her change of residence was approved. Yui Mei hurriedly cleared the things inside the storage room. She was busily working on her own since early morning, but some of the courtdies wereughing mockingly, while some stared at her with pitying eyes. Say whatever you want. Her experience of working in a ce with a high proportion of women in her previous life was not just for show. Just as she told Mei Na, she did not have any ns of stooping down to their level. Besides, in this situation, there was no difference between those who were mocking her and those who sympathize; they were all observers from a distance. It was a given for those who thought she was stupid; however, even among those who sympathize, there were people who felt reassured while looking at someone who was more unfortunate than they were. True allies were not easily seen from their outward appearance. Those who are off-duty are understandable, but those rubberneckers should just hurry off and do their jobs. Yui Mei decided to just let them be. She cleaned the room after it was emptied. She removed the cobwebs and dust, and she also wiped the walls and floor. After the room became immacte, she then moved her wooden bed and nkets, and she was done. She got an old carpet from another room. She beat it to shake the dust out, then she took it outside to be sunned while she was cleaning. The room became more like a chamber when she ced a cushion on top of the carpet. By the way, the cushion was handmade by Yui Mei. Yesterday, a courtdy sneakily gave her arge piece of beautiful cloth, saying that it might help make the storeroom more pleasant. She was one of the courtdies Yui Mei gave water to when they had to stay in bed. You reap what you sow, huh. This was a great example of the phrasepassion is not for the benefit of others.* Yui Mei borrowed the sewing kit from Aunty Yang yesterday, and she worked on the cloth after her job. She cut the cloth into an appropriate size, and sewed a pouch. She stuffed it with small strips of worn out cloth, until it had the shape of a cushion. She turned the remaining cloth into a wall decoration, and the ambiance of the room brightened. While she was at it, she also made a rug and ced it on the front door, and she treated that area as a genkan (T/N: the traditional Japanese entryway). It was normal to wear shoes inside the house in this region. Since she was a former Japanese person, she wanted to remove her shoes before entering the room. Anyway, Yui Mei quickly removed her shoes, then sprawled on the carpet and hugged her cushion. She enjoyed this luxurious feeling of rolling around. Hehehehe, its a solo room, a solo room!! She did not think that she would be able to obtain her own room within a short period of time. She felt fortunate, indeed. In her previous life, she lived in the school dormitory. She had no choice but to live with arge group of people, so she understood how stressful it was not to have ones privacy. Yui Mei blissfully sighed. Ah Mei, are you done? Mei Nas voice resounded as she knocked on the door. Apparently, she came to check on Yui Mei. Yes, Im done, pleasee in, Yui Mei called out. The door opened, and Mei Na stood there holding a tray. Her eyes widened in disbelief after looking at the change in the storage room. Aye, you remodeled the whole storage room, huh. Ah, please remove your shoes on the rag over there. Yui Mei instructed Mei Na as she entered the room, so she stopped and obediently removed her shoes and ced them on the mat in front of the door. Yui Mei, did youe from the South? I remember those courtdies from over there doing it this way, too. No, but it has always been my dream to do this. Yui Meiughed when Mei Na pointed it out, and she replied while hugging the cushion. In the mansions of the elite, shoes were covered when inside the home instead of taking it off; however, if it were not properly done, it would still be dirty. In the end, it was still best to remove the shoespletely. But all the same, I think this way is nice. One can rx since the floor wont get dirtied. Next time Ill try this too. Mei Na sat before Yui Mei as she was speaking, and she took the parcel on the tray. There were some manju inside when she opened it. You must be hungry, since youve been busy working like a mule all day. Its still warm, so eat up. Yahoo, thanks for the food! The sweetness of the manju permeated Yui Meis tired body. Mei Na also brought some tea, so she gratefully drank it. Hehehe, with this I can eat some sweets brazenly at night. Yui Mei grinned from ear to ear, while Mei Na had a wryly smiled. Meis group were gloating since they knew that you transferred to a stock room, but I think their eyes will fall out in bitterness if they were to see this room. Yui Mei imagined Mei biting her handkerchief in mortification. It matched her perfectly, so Yui Mei snickered. T/N: *- Basically, it was a Japanese phrase saying that you should be kind to be everyone since you reap what you sow; what goes around,es around. Its another version of the golden rule. Compassion given to others would ultimately benefit yourself. Genkan Traditional Japanese entryway. People remove their shoes here before entering the house. Happy New Year, everyone!! ? I sincerely wish you all happiness this 2021. Thank you for reading our novels, please take care of us this year, too! This is an early chapter since I wont be onler. Hope you enjoy it! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best!- Chapter 20: Rumors Spread Like Wildfire Chapter 20: Rumors Spread Like Wildfire It was a bright day after Yui Mei moved out to the storage room. Yui Mei was cleaning Lady Wangs mansion as per her request. Lets do some cleaning She had special feelings toward the ce, since it could be her birth home. She hummed as she vigorously cleaned the ce. Alright, Im done! Yui Mei was satisfied with her own handiwork. She tidied her cleaning tools. Oi, Yui Mei. A male voice called her out. She turned towards the direction of the sound, and she found Libin standing in the garden with a grim expression on his face. Libin, what brings you here? The crown princes pce was far from Lady Wangs residence, so it must have taken him quite some time. She wanted to ask Libin why he came to see her, when Libin wordlessly strode towards her. Is it true that you were bullied by your colleagues? He interrogated her. Eh, bullied? Yui Mei tilted her head. She had a rough idea what Libin was pertaining to, but she wouldnt consider that as bullying. Yui Mei thought she was fortunate that she did not have to lift a finger and yet she got her own room. Is that a mistake? Libin realized that it was different from what he imagined, so his tightly crunched brows somewhat rxed. Libin, may I know what kind of story you heard? There were senior courtdies who saw you as an eyesore, so they framed you to chase you out from the lodging house. Libin responded frankly to Yui Meis question. There must be a spy of the crown prince in the lodging house. Indeed. I transferred to the storage room. Huh!? Libins eyes widened at Yui Meis affirmation. Really, I dont have to be so reserved when getting my own room, after all. Wait, wait. The room youre talking about is the storage room, right? Libin retorted at Yui Meis earnest reply. It seemed like he did mind that part. Everyones so fussy about that ce. If theres nothing inside that storage room, then wouldnt it be just an ordinary room? On the contrary, if things were ced inside a room meant for a person, then it would also turn into a storage room. In short, the perspective and intent were all that would matter with how a room was used. Libin looked sullen. But isnt it too narrow? Well, certainly it wasnt arge room, but Yui Mei did not mind that it was narrow. It would be a different story if she were to spend the whole day there, but it was more than enough as sleeping quarters. Besides, she was grateful that she secured a space where she can rx. It is a narrow room for those who live inside a mansion, but it is more important to me that I have my own room, narrow as it might be. Its easier to have privacy. She could stay upte since she got her own room. She was actually excited for her future life. But thats the storage room, you know? So what? After the repeated bouts of asking and answering questions, Libin confirmed that Yui Mei was really satisfied in moving out. Is there anything that you need? Libin finally asked. Will you give it to me? Then please, I would like to have a shelf. If it is small enough to disy ornaments and other small articles, then that would be better. I looked through the stored things, but I couldnt find one that I liked. Without any reserve, Yui Mei requested the thing she currently wanted to have. After Mei Nas visit, she sneakily took some of the scraps of cloth that the courtdies didnt need. It was her own room after all, so she wanted to decorate it. She also wanted to make a few things out of those scraps. In that case, then Ill choose one for you. Yui Mei beamed in satisfaction when Libin said that. She thought that her remodeling project progressed one step further. Yui Mei, I have some snacks for you when you are done cleaning. Lady Wangs voice floated from inside the residence. Thank you very much, it is already finished! Libin bowed his head beside Yui Mei when he heard her reply. Lady Wang saw them. She was surprised. Oh my, isnt it Libin from the Crown Princes residence? May I know why you are here? Apparently, Libin was not someone who normally stayed around this area. Libin lifted his head slowly and responded to Lady Wang. It was due to a minor concern with the person here. He pointedly looked at Yui Mei. Lady Wang batted her eyes. A eunuch attending to the crown prince, and a courtdy whose duty was cleaning it was difficult to see any rtion between the two. Well then, since its a rare opportunity, would you like to eat a manju with us? I am grateful for the offer. Libin bowed at Lady Wang. So he came to eat manju. Yui Mei thought he was somewhat reserved, though. Her thoughts were written in her face, so Libin fiercely red at her. Its rude to refuse! Is that so? Yui Mei genuinely thought he agreed because he was hungry, and that he thought it would be delicious. Well, you two look like you get along pretty well. Lady Wang pleasantly smiled at the sight of them whispering together in low voices. We only talked around three times, though. As expected, was this number enough for two people to be friends? Yui Mei doubted it. That person also had aplicated expression, so he must be thinking the same thing. Pleasee in, I also prepared some tea. Thank you very much. The two of them respectfully gave thanks to Lady Wangs favor, when suddenly, a person came. Seems fun. A voice called out in the garden, and a man, who seemed to be forty-five years of age, walked towards them along with his attendants. A lot of people came today. ..! Libin suddenly forced Yui Mei to bow down. What are you doing!? Yui Mei hissed as she tried to resist Libin, but he pushed her head down with greater strength. Shut up, its His Majesty, the emperor! Libin murmured. Yes? - T/L Thoughts: Lol at Yui Meis thought process. She thought Libin was the same as her, being the glutton that she was. So cute ? And now, the emperor appears! What will Yui Mei do? ? Happy New Year, everyone!! I sincerely wish you all happiness this 2021. Thank you for reading our novels, please take care of us this year, too! This is an extra chapter in celebration of the new year. Hope you enjoy it! Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best!- Chapter 21: An Encounter, At Last Chapter 21: An Encounter, At Last ording to Libin, the person who appeared in the garden was no other than His Majesty, the emperor. This man was standing at the pinnacle of this country, and was spected as being Yui Meis father. Yui Mei wanted to steal a nce at the persons face, but Libins hand exerted strength to prevent her from doing so. It hurts, let me raise my head for a bit! Yui Mei was fine with just one peek, so she kept on trying, while Libin kept on pushing her head. All the while, Lady Wang calmly was calmly talking to the emperor. Oh, Your Majesty, it is rare for you to be here at this hour. I wanted to spend a while and drink tea with you. Unexpectedly, the emperor rushed to visit because of tea.* It seemed his affection might run deep, considering she was a concubine with a low status, and she had been staying near the edge of the Inner Pce. In that case, its only natural that her ce was left dirty. It must be the work of somebody who wanted to distance her from the emperor. While she was having a silent battle with Libin, the emperor nced at her. Arent you someone from Ming Xians ce? He addressed Libin, who was beside her. It was not surprising that the emperor was familiar with him, since he was a eunuch attending the crown prince, after all. Libin slightly raised his head, since the emperor already noticed him. Yes, this servant** arrived at this ce by chance while searching for this courtdy. Libin exined, apparently making it clear that he did note here for Lady Wang. Its poor taste to hear the crown princes attendant being close to the emperors concubine , after all. Taking advantage of the moment Libins hands loosened while he was talking to the emperor, Yui Mei slightly raised her head. The first thing that she saw was the emperors blue eyes. Yui Mei only met two people who had blue eyes in her entire life. First was the crown prince, and second was the emperor. This is Dont tell me. Just when Yui Mei was stupefied at the possible meaning behind those blue eyes, the emperor turned. It was like a spark flew between them as their eyes met. Yui Mei was flustered and she hurriedly bowed her head; at the same time, Libins strength seemingly returned. Because of that, her forehead almost touched her knees. Ouch! My back and waist hurts!! Im bending too much! Did the emperor hear Yui Meis groan? Libin retracted some of his strength, so Yui Mei was able to revert back to a 90 degree bow. Unfortunately, the emperor was staring hard at her. Your Majesty, I have prepared warm tea, so pleasee in. Lady Wang invited the emperor inside the residence, since she realized Yui Mei and Libin wont be able to get up as long as the emperor was still there. Is that so. Eventually, the emperor removed his gaze, and he followed Lady Wang. The remaining two people had their heads bowed still, only raising them after a while had passed. Yui Mei lost her strength, and she copsed on the floor. Whoah..So scared Although she knew the emperor lived in the Inner Pce, only a handful of people could see him in person. A lowly courtdy should prepare her heart first before meeting the noblest personage. Ah, butpared to meeting the crown prince back at the clinic, this encounter was quite ordinary. It was natural for the emperor to visit his own concubine. Yui Mei was caught by surprise, but that was only because she had been careless. Nevertheless, the shock made her hungry. Is it alright to eat the manju? Yui Mei thought whether she would actually get the manju Lady Wang offered as a snack. Libin was dumbfounded at Yui Meis worry. Youyou just saw His Majesty the Emperor, you know? Isnt there something else that you should be saying instead of that? Libin thought that she was unbelievable; thinking of manju even though the emperors and her eyes met, albeit for a second. Yui Mei also began to question herself. In the first ce, Yui Mei did not harbour any special feelings towards the emperor. Even if the story she heard at the nunnery was true, her mother was just one of the many wives of the emperor. That was why since a long time ago, she already conditioned herself not to seek him out. As for the matter of interest and concern, what happened for her to be this way when it came to choosing between manju and the emperor. Ah nope, I dont think theres something else other than manju. Libin looked at her as if she was some kind of exotic animal. You are Apparently, Libin wanted to say something, but he ended up swallowing his words. Yui Mei waved her hands to him. I thought it was good luck that we met. Will there be anything good for tomorrow? Libin heaved a deep sigh as he looked at Yui Meis carefree appearance. As for the conclusion, Lady Wangs maid gave them their share of manju, so she decided to eat it with him. Its really delicious, right. Its just the ordinary taste of manju, though. Yui Mei was chuckled happily as she munched, while Libin woodenly chewed. The conversation ended. It was a subtle, calm time suitable for eating snacks. Afterward, Yui Mei talked to Mei Na as thetter ted food for her during dinner. I saw His Majesty today. Oh, youre lucky, Ah Mei. Something good will happen, for sure. Mei Na replied as shedled soup into the bowl. Just like Yui Mei, she treated the emperor as a lucky charm. However, that was the only thing they could do with regards to the emperor. His existence for them only amounted to such. It couldnt be helped, since their status as emperor and courtdy was like heaven and earth. T/L Corner: We have a triple release for today, since we reached our goals! Our ko-fi goal was achieved again thanks to our very generous supporter, I.M. Gibbon. ? Thanks to all of you for the 25 ratings in NU! Though this is not mandatory, I nevertheless feel happy that readers enjoy the novel, and it pumps me up! ? Thoughts: *Lol at Yui Meis reasoning. She always thought it was for food. First, Libin came for the manju, then the emperor came rushing for tea. Im not sure anymore if shes wise, or shes nave lol.. Makes her so adorable. (Yes, I like the MC, I bet you already notice lol). The fateful meeting with Father Emperor finally happened! Libin was hell bent on not letting them meet probably, though. At least, they were able to look at each others eyes ? Cant me Yui Mei for callously treating Father Emperor in her heart though. Though Im guessing (not a spoiler, pure spection) Father Emperors interest was piqued due to the sanitizer Ming Xian brought him so he went to the inner harem? That, or he just wanted to be soothed by his calm concubine. Nevertheless, did he recognize her blue eyes? What do you guys think? **Japanese do not typically use pronouns (even watashi is used sparingly in conversations). So I took liberties and used this servant so it would be appropriate for addressing the emperor to make the reading experience smoother. Original phrase and trantion would be as follows: Yes, I was looking for this courtdy due to some matters, and I identally came here. Which is, you know, not the way Chinese people addressed their emperor at the time, so please pardon me >,<> Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best!- Chapter 22: The Crown Prince’s Confidant and the Women of the Inner Palace Chapter 22: The Crown Prince¡¯s Confidant and the Women of the Inner Pce Ming Xian was reading memorials in the study. Even though the ministers were responsible in doing government affairs, the final decision was still handed over to him. The emperor and crown prince were supposedly sharing the burden, but recently, the emperor lost his motivation, so Ming Xians workload increased. Ming Xians work revolved around reading the memorials and stamping them. Your Highness Ming Xian, this one has returned. The subordinate called out while knocking on the door of the study room. Come in. Li Yong entered once he obtained permission to do so. He was Ming Xians foster brother, and the man that he trusted the most. He was currently one of the Imperial Guards, and to ensure the crown princes safety, he also went as far as fabricating his personal documents to work as a eunuch by his side. He was called Libin when disguised as a eunuch, posing as the twin brother of Li Yong. He was deployed to investigate the rumors currently circting around. You are all dismissed. Ming Xian dered to the ministers, and they wordlessly left the room. After making sure they were already far away, Li Yong closed the door. How was it? Li Yong faced Ming Xian and replied. Yes. Yui Mei was indeed harassed by the senior courtdies. Indeed, the rumors regarding Yui Mei became widespread, to the point that it also reached the crown princes pce. Those rumors were proactively spread by the eunuchs who did not help Yu Xiu, along with those senior courtdies who bore ill intentions towards Yui Mei. The crown prince could not turn a blind eye against the incident, so he had Li Yong investigate directly. It was also true that she was driven out to live in the storage room. Ming Xian furrowed his brows as he listened to Li Yongs words. The pce was currently experiencing shortage of manpower, so it was not the time to bully the novices. If they did not have any connections, then their actions would surely affect their promotion. Apparently, those senior courtdies did note from well-connected families. The true viiness living in the Inner Pce would achieve her goals without lifting a finger herself. The rumors this time revealed the perpetrators; their methodology was inept. They were extremely stupid. There are also women like that here in the Crown Princes pce, though. They were just born in the capital of Kyou, yet they were so full of themselves, thinking they were better than anyone else. With regards to being a courtdy, they would indeed be in a higher position if they were given allowances from their own home. However, being a concubine was a different matter altogether. Concubines were chosen based on strict standards. The courtdies would be selected based on the assessment of their lifestyle and work; their physical appearance would not have that much bearing. Rather than that, it was imperative that they were healthy. As for the reason, it was because all the women in the pce had the possibility of bearing the emperors child. The most important criterion was whether they would be able to give birth to a healthy child. On the other hand, it was a different story for the maids apanying the women who were sent to the pce as concubines. If something happened to their master, they would be candidates to rece the concubine. Therefore, it was necessary to exercise vignce against the women attending to the concubines . It was precisely due to this reason that Yu Xiu suffered from illness. The circumstances of those women should be set aside for now. As for Yui Mei So, what is Yui Mei doing now? He did not believe Yang, the courtdies manager, was someone who would tolerate outrageous demands such as driving one to live in the storage room. Li Yong surprisingly made aplicated expression at Ming Xians question. She was ecstatic about moving out to the storage room, saying that she obtained her own room. Ming Xian nked out for a moment after hearing that. Wouldnt one normally get mad, or elsein in tears when in that outrageous situation? The truth was, he sent Li Yong in order to intervene. He thought Yui Mei could be a maid, instead. What a peculiar girl. I also thought the same. Li Yong also agreed after he finally expressed his impression. I tried to glean the details while I asked whether she was dissatisfied, but our conversation was cut short because Lady Wang arrived. Apparently, Yui Mei was summoned to clean Lady Wangs residence, and was offered manju after her work was done. Lady Wang must be pleased with her, since she even prepared snacks for a courtdy with low status. I was also invited to join them since we were together, but His Majesty came, and they identally met. So his father sneaked out of the study, and went to his favored woman. Its no wonder the amount of memorials suddenly increased. How was it? What reaction did Yui Mei have in front of the emperor? Ming Xian leaned forward on his desk. Li Yong solemnly replied. Apparently, she thought manju was more important than His Majesty. Although she was initially shocked at meeting the emperor, she did not show any extraordinary reaction. She was even concerned at the manjus oue, because the emperor came. For her, the emperors priority was way below the manju she got after working. What a peculiar girl. Ming Xian repeated, and Li Yong once again agreed. T/L Corner: We have a triple release for today, since we reached our goals! Our ko-fi goal was achieved again thanks to our very generous supporter, I.M. Gibbon. ? Thanks to all of you for the 25 ratings in NU! Though this is not mandatory, I nevertheless feel happy that readers enjoy the novel, and it pumps me up! ? Thoughts: *I cant bring myself to include (sama), its been an ongoing internal debate, really. Having the Japanese honorifics retained would make it a lot easier to express reverence, but on the other hand, the setting of the story is China, so that would be totally weird. Technically, it would be: Ming Xian sama, I have returned. But I feel its weird, considering he was addressing the crown prince after all, and Ancient China ced great importance on distinction of status. And so, instead of saying I directly, I resorted to using this one, this servant this humble one etc. since those weremonly terms used in chinese web novels I read ? Ah, but when they were alone, Li Yong naturally used I, though his tone was definitely formalpared to how he addressed Yui Mei. What do you guys think? ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 22.1 - A Day in the Life of the Crown Prince’s Escort - Part 1 (Side Story) Chapter 22.1 - A Day in the Life of the Crown Prince¡¯s Escort - Part 1 (Side Story) Mornings began early for Li Yong, the escort of Liu Ming Xian who was the crown prince of the kingdom of Sai. Li Yong was already training near the room of Ming Xian even before daybreak. Ming Xian had his own hidden guards, so it was not necessary for Li Yong to be with the prince at all times; however, he still stuck to him for his personal assurance. It was also due to this so-called assurance that he had to enter an awkward situation. He had to pretend to be the Eunuch Libin, his fictitious twin brother they had fabricated. Thus, he had to spend his days in a precarious situation, since he treated Ming Xians life as far more important than his own. In any case, he was currently working under the alias Libin to escort Ming Xian in the Inner Pce. It was time for Ming Xian to rise. After sweating it out and changing his clothes, Li Yong was informed by Noble Concubine Jiangs maid that the concubine, who was the bedrooms proprietress, had already left; therefore, he headed to the room to attend to Ming Xian. It didnt matter that Li Yong was Ming Xians close aide; even as a eunuch, there was no way he would be permitted to see the appearance of the consort after waking up. And so, he entered the room, but what greeted him was the sight of Ming Xian still curled up in his nkets on the wooden bed. Your Highness Ming Xian, please wake up. The skies are getting brighter outside. Hm. However, the reply that came from the wooden bed was indistinct. The truth was, mornings were extremely difficult for Ming Xian. Noble Concubine Jiang also tried to wake him up; however, it would be time for ablutions, so she had to leave the room. Li Yong heaved a deep sigh at Ming Xian who wont rise. Should I ask that girl a technique on how to wake up more easily? Li Yong suddenly remembered the face of the girl with the bluish hair he got to know recently. Perhaps, the girl might know something about this, since she was knowledgeable about strange things. While thinking these things, Li Yong pulled the nkets, forcefully pulled Ming Xian up, and pressed a cold, wet cloth onto his face. Ming Xian resignedly woke up. Cant you be more gentle when you wake me up? If you rise up earlier, then I will also be gentler. This scene had been a daily urrence. Li Yong assisted Ming Xian in his preparations, and it was time for the morning meal after. Ming Xian preferred light dishes for breakfast, so it was his usual porridge. He had a stoic expression as he slowly ate the gruel which had long turned cold after undergoing various poison testing. It was during these times that Li Yong couldnt help but feel sorry for his master. If it was that rookie courtdy, she must be blissfully enjoying piping hot meals at the dining hall with the other courtdies. How ironic that those below Ming Xian enjoyed food that was more delicious than what he had. After Ming Xian was done, he requested tea, and Li Yong switched with the maid attending to the crown prince to have his breakfast in a separate room. By the way, Li Yongs meals were heavy, in consideration to his muscr build as an imperial guard. Though it cant be said that those meals were as warm as freshly made food, they were not as cold as those of Ming Xian either, so it was much better. After ensuring that Ming Xian had left the Inner Pce and was headed towards the Imperial Pce, Li Yong went to a specially prepared room at the borders of the Inner Pce. He deftly changed his eunuch outfit to the garb of an imperial guard here, and then he hurried to Ming Xians side. Once Ming Xian entered the Imperial Pce, he could also brazenly walk around as one of the Imperial Guards, so for the time being, he felt relieved. He would use this time to show his face at the training area, attend briefing sessions with his supervisors, and fulfill his duties as an imperial guard. For Li Yong, this was the best time for him in the whole day. Be it as an emissary or as an imperial guard, he could move unimpededly. On the other hand, males were banned from the Inner Pce, so he couldnt dispatch the Imperial guards; therefore, no matter how vignt they were, there was still a weak spot in their defenses. That was also the reason why Li Yong was in an awkward situation, since he had to lead a double life. This was the only time he had respite; however, it was increasingly bing uncertain these days, Boss, the crown prince summoned you. After being called out by his colleague, Li Yong heaved a sigh. Ming Xian was also aware that this was Li Yongs time to rx, so he normally wouldnt call for him; however, this was threatened to be broken. That rookie courtdys the source of everything, though I heard you summoned me? Li Yong went to Ming Xians office. Li Yong, I want you to deliver this over for a moment. Ming Xian handed a box full of sweets to Li Yong. Even without saying where or for whom it was intended, Li Yong had already thought Again?. His destination at these times was already set in stone. I just have to give those sweets to Yui Mei, right. It was understandable that Ming Xian would want to dote on that courtdy, but if he was excessive, it might blow up into something troublesome. And so, he could only prepare things and had someone else carry out the task. It was not as if Li Yong did not understand his feelings; just that it was troublesome on Li Yong who brought it. Unfortunately, there was no one else that was up to the task. If Li Yong brought those things, outsiders would only think the courtdy had a great rtionship with the eunuch. That was also part of their calction. I understand. Then, Ill be off. Consequently, Li Yong could only reply in the affirmative, and the first thing he had to do was to change his clothes. T/L Corner: We have a triple release for today, since we reached our goals! Our ko-fi goal was achieved again thanks to our very generous supporter, I.M. Gibbon. ? Thanks to all of you for the 25 ratings in NU! Though this is not mandatory, I nevertheless feel happy that readers enjoy the novel, and it pumps me up! ? Thoughts: Lol, poor Li Yong. How could the ML (?) win the heart of the maiden, when hes going around as a eunuch lol.. The road to a dense wifey is quite long, too.. ? At least, elder brother Ming Xian unwittingly started to pave it for his lil sis and best bud ? But then, Ming Xian and Li Yong could also star in their own BL series. Loved how merciless Li Yong was when he woke Ming Xian. lol. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 22.2 - A Day in the Life of the Crown Prince’s Escort Part 2 (Side Story) Chapter 22.2 - A Day in the Life of the Crown Prince¡¯s Escort Part 2 (Side Story) Li Yong must change from his imperial guard uniform into the eunuch garb, but doing it multiple times in a day was really troublesome. He had a feeling he already mastered how to swap outfits quickly. After disguising into Libin, Li Yong decided to look for Yui Mei, when Ming Xians secret guard, who was staying in the Inner Pce, appeared and wordlessly pointed him to another direction. So thats where the girl is today. Li Yong slightly raised his hand towards the secret guard to express he understood, and he strode towards the ce he pointed to. He saw Yui Meis figure after a while. She was leaning against a tree as she gulped water from the bamboo tube. She appeared to benguid and seemed despondent. What happened, are you feeling unwell? Li Yong called out to her. In that case, it would be good if she asked for medicine from Doctor Chen, the clinic physician, since she seemed to have a great rtionship with him. Yui Mei nced at Li Yong, and then mumbled. .Im hungry. So she was feeling down because she was hungry. Apparently, she missed the chance to get something to eat as a snack today. Well, theres a box here full of snacks, though. Can I have some!? Yui Meis eyes were shining as she stared at the box Li Yong showed her. Its a present I received, but I thought Id share it with you. Go ahead and eat. Thank you so much for the food! Ming Xian instructed him to exin it as such, since it was uncertain whether there were eavesdroppers around them. Yui Mei let it slide, and she looked around for a ce they can sit safe from prying eyes, then she sat down on the stone steps under the eaves of a storage shed. She was truly a very simple girl. Wow, its go!! Lets might as well eat together, Libin! Yui Mei beckoned to Li Yong. He contemted his next move. She invited me, so it would be rude to turn her down. Besides, I was made to go on a round trip to and fro the Imperial Pce and Inner Pce, so I guess this much is fine. Li Yong made excuses for himself, and sat down beside Yui Mei. Hmmm, so delish! Ah, but it cantpare to Mei Nas freshly made go! Yui Mei was grinning ear to ear while stuffing her cheeks with the cake as she expressed her impression. Indeed, freshly made cakes were truly delicious. If Ming Xian were to hear about it, he would surely be envious, since it was far beyond his means. That was why Li Yong could never reveal that he would sometimes use food sampling as pretense to snitch food at the crown princes pce kitchen. To emphasize once again, being a guard was a test of ones stamina, so if he didnt eat, he would ruin his health. Following this line of thought, Li Yong suddenly remembered the incident that morning. By the way, Yui Mei, do you know a good method to help a person who has difficulty waking up in the mornings to rise more easily? Please sleep early. Yui Mei replied with an obvious answer to Li Yongs question. Li Yong already knew that kind of answer without asking, so he was slightly miffed. Ahh, another thing, even if the mind is tired, if the body is still full of energy, itll be difficult to sleep. I rmend doing light exercises in the sun So , is His Highness weak in the morning?, Yui Mei added, and finally asked. Its confidential. Li Yong evaded the question, then he ruminated on Yui Meis answer. Exercise, is it. Maybe I can make him blend in with the Imperial Guards to run for once. Li Yong half-seriously thought. After eating go, he parted ways with Yui Mei, and once again, he changed from his eunuch clothes into the uniform of the Imperial Guards, then he returned to Ming Xians office. Wee back, Li Yong. The memorials in front of Ming Xian obviously increased. Probably, the emperors share was also passed on to him. It was a regr urrence, but he couldnt help but feel it was worsening over time. Ming Xians desk work was too overloaded. Previously, he still had the time to train with the sword and to move his body around, so surprisingly, Yui Meis advice might be right. Besides, Ming Xian was serious, so he would stillplete his work withoutint, but if one were to think about it carefully, the country would not copse immediately even if Ming Xian left behind some of his work. Your Highness Ming Xian, we have nice weather outside. Would you like to leave your work for a while and take a stroll? Its rare for you to say that, Li Yong. Fundamentally, Li Yong never interfered with his masters itinerary, so Ming Xian blinked. Yeah, thats good. Ming Xian broadly smiled. He ignored the ministers protests as they told him that it should not be done!!, and went on a stroll under the pretext of observing the imperial guards training. Those guys should spend more effort in making His Majesty stay at his own office, instead. The ministers were taking it lightly, since Ming Xian would readily stand-in for the emperor. Their stroll was an abrupt change of schedule, but it brought unexpected change. When Ming Xian went back to do office work, he noticed that after observing the training, the pile of memorials had lessened. So, a lot of work which did not require His Highness Ming Xians perusal got mixed in. Even if Ming Xian rejected those kinds of jobs, it would still take him a lot of time to check all those memorials. That useless time would give pressure on Ming Xians day. Yui Meis advice this time was rtively great. Li Yong decided to use this strategy again. Thanks to the decrease in his workload, Ming Xian had some free time, so he dismissed all the ministers, asked about Yui Meis condition, and for the first time in a while, he was able to rx in his office. Really, that girl truly loves to eat. Indeed. Ming Xian narrowed his eyes as they conversed. It was as if he wanted Yui Mei to enjoy freedom in his stead, contrary to his shackled self. Yui Mei and Ming Xian had aplicated rtionship, but Li Yong thought it would be good if Ming Xians ways changed for the better. They returned to the Inner Pce after work ended, and Ming Xian had his dinner at an earlier time than usual, afterward, he slept soundly that night. The next day, he woke up by himself. Everything turned out as Yui Mei said, so Li Yong came to know of her strength once again. Maybe I could give her some manju as thanks. It would be troublesome to change his clothes again, but despite this, Li Yong still thought it would be good to go and see her again. - T/L Thoughts: Go is cake in chinese. The original character can also be read as round dumplings. Yes, thats right, Li Yong, its good if you often go to see Yui Mei ? examples of Go: Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 23: The Skinny Child Chapter 23: The Skinny Child A few days had passed since the first encounter with the emperor. Lets clean up ! Yui Mei was cleaning vigorously today, too. She just met the emperor who was possibly her father, yet she was still calm. I was shocked that my heart wasnt moved the slightest, even though I say so myself. When the moment of the actual encounter with the emperor came, Yui Mei expected it would be like the drama she watched in her previous life, with lines like That is my father! coupled with overflowing emotions. However, when they actually met, she could only muster enough emotion to think that Ah, hmm, so thats the emperor. They are my biological parents in this life, but I cant feel anything for them. It was no wonder since she couldnt remember receiving any warmth from them. Her mother already passed away by the time she developed an awareness, so she didnt have any special feelings toward her mom. She died due to the fate of being a woman in the inner harem. To Yui Mei, that information was all she was. Her father was the same. She never met him, and they were like heaven and earth, so it was only natural that she didnt feel anything for him. She might seem heartless, but humans were generally like this. Rather than the parents who did not appear in her memories, she treasured Mei Na who gave her sweets more. Yui Meis job for today was cleaning the corridors with another courtdy. The corridors of the Inner Pce were very long, so even if the work was divided among a few people, the area they had to clean was still rtively huge. If somebody cked here, it would be really difficult to make up for the loss. Yui Mei could already foresee her hardship should a cker like Mei be assigned here. For the time being, the other courtdy in charge seemed to be cleaning properly, so Yui Mei was relieved. She continued cleaning, and it was already noon by the time she finished her charge. Alright, break time! Yui Mei finished tidying up her tools, and she looked around for a ce to rest. She spotted a boulder that was hard to see from the corridor.She promptly went to that stone and sat down. She removed her mask, and gulped water from the bamboo container. Fufufu. Yui Mei beamed as she took a package from her bosom. It contained some delectable manju that she got from Mei Na. Thank you for the food! Yui Mei wanted to immediately gobble her food. Just as she was about to sink her teeth into the manju Rustle. It was the sound of the thicket shaking behind her. Is it an animal? This was an expansive site, afterall. No matter how good the management was, there were instances when stray dogs, stray cats and sometimes, even monkeys got in. Yui Mei deftly wrapped the manju again and ced it in her bosom. She did not want it to be snatched away by those animals. She stared at the thicket, waiting for whoever it was to go away, but instead of leaving, she heard it approach. Finally, it appeared. Ah. The one who poked his head out of the thicket was just a boy. He didnt expect Yui Mei to be there, so he batted his big eyes. He had well groomed ck hair, and blue eyes. The only children who lived inside the Inner Pce were the emperors, or the crown princes. The crown prince supposedly did not have a child yet. Then he must be one of the emperors children. In that case, then this is Yui Mei suddenly remembered her manners, and she hurriedly jumped off the boulder, and respectfully bowed her head. I apologize for surprising you. I am just in the middle of taking a break. The prince wordlessly climbed out of the thicket. He did not say anything regarding Yui Meis attitude. She did not know where he came from, but he was covered all over with leaves, although he was wearing magnificent and luxurious garments. Ahm, there are a lot of leaves sticking to you. Would you like me to remove them? ? She had a sense of difort, but she ignored it, and took out all the leaves. Look, youre all clean now. Thank you. Yui Mei smiled brightly, so the boy gave thanks in a tiny voice. Regardless, His Highness was a prince, so he could have walked normally through the corridors. Why would he go through the thicket toe to this hidden ce? Yui Mei was perplexed, then she remembered her uneasy feeling earlier. Isnt this child too skinny? Children this age should be a little bit more rounded. However, this prince was malnourished, and he had a sickly pallor. What on earth was happening here? Yui Mei held her suspicions, and they stared at each other wordlessly. What are you doing? A male voice came from the corridor. Yui Mei directed her gaze towards it. It was the eunuch, whose appearance she had totally be ustomed to seeing. Ah, Libin. You, if youre taking a break then be more Libin started toin about Yui Meis resting ce as he walked towards her. However, the princes figure entered his field of vision, and their eyes met for an instant. Come here for a bit. Libin beckoned to Yui Mei. T/L Thoughts: Its the start of a new arc, with another blue-eyed prince! Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 24: The Imperial Prince and the Maid Chapter 24: The Imperial Prince and the Maid What is it? Yui Mei put her water container on top of the boulder, and she went to Libin. Suddenly, her head was grabbed. Ouch! Are you involved in another weird matter? Libin whispered while staring at the prince. We met by chance, but isnt that His Highness the Imperial Prince? Libin sighed deeply at Yui Meis statement. Indeed, he is the imperial prince born by the Consort Hu the Lady of Bright Deportment of the empress dowagers faction. After hearing his exnation, Yui Mei pondered about it. This was the first time she heard about Consort Hu, but wasnt the empress dowager the one who aggravated the influenza turmoil? Incidentally, she was also the one who drove out Yui Meis mother, ording to the gossip of the nuns. At that time, even if she was involved in a dispute with her fellow concubines, they should not be able to chase her out of the Inner Pce. The one who made the decision was no other than the master of the inner harem the empress dowager. Though Yui Mei harboredplex emotions against her, it did not change the fact that she was the leader of thergest political faction. If it was a prince that belonged to that faction, then he should have received great treatment. And yet hes so thin, isnt it weird? Why would a blessed child like him be malnourished? Just as Yui Mei ruminated Your Highness, Your Highness Youren! A womans shrill voice was heard from the corridor. Ah The imperial prince started to quiver the instant he heard that voice. Apparently, His Highness Youren referred to him. Perhaps, the reason why he passed through a strange ce was because he was running away from that voice. Somehow, he is trembling pitifully, though. Yui Mei felt she couldnt leave him alone, and she wanted to hide him somewhere else. However, she did not know the reason why the imperial prince ran away, so she couldnt act carelessly. How should we handle this? Nothing. Really, it would be good if this doesnt turn into something troublesome. Libin furrowed his brows at Yui Meis question. She could see right through him that he didnt want to get involved. Well, thats understandable. ording to the rumors of the courtdies, the crown prince was not on good terms with the empress dowager. Rather than that, they were at odds with each other, apparently. The crown prince was not the child of the empress dowagers niece, so she probably thought that rather than cute, he was an enemy who would eventually drive her away. Unnecessary suspicions could arise if it was known that the crown princes attending eunuch happened to meet the imperial prince, who was part of the empress dowagers faction, in the ce where he ran away. Yui Mei, who was together with the crown princes attending eunuch, would also be at the receiving end of those unnecessary rumors, as well. Ahm, then I Yui Mei thought for a second about what she should do, then she tried to hide in Libins shadow. Libin had a sour face for being treated as a wall substitute. Your Highness, so you were there! A gaudy looking maid briskly walked towards them at that time. She was wearing high-quality clothes, and she was resplendently decked with jewels. She was obviously either someone with a high status or a person who came from an affluent family; perhaps, it could also be both. Of course, when she discovered the imperial prince, it was only natural that Yui Mei and Libins figures also entered her field of vision. You are The maid red at Libin. She was extremely impudent, even daring to address the eunuch attendant of the crown prince disrespectfully. Yui Mei closely stuck to Libins back in order not to catch that persons eye. I am a shadow, I am the air! Yui Mei inwardly chanted, but the maid ignored her, and went past Libin, acting as if she did not have the time to spare on them, and briskly strode towards the imperial prince. Your Highness Youren, what do you mean by running away! The imperial prince who was fiercely scolded trembled. Its because You do know the consequences of this, right? She carelessly grabbed the arm of the imperial prince who was not able to utter a single word. The imperial prince staggered at her force, but she did not even bat an eye. Lets go! Keeping hold of his arm, she walked inrge strides, and the imperial prince could only desperately trot to keep up with her as she pulled him. Youll know what will happen if you say something unnecessary, right? She scathingly remarked, yet Libin just wordlessly gave her a slight bow. She was annoyed at his attitude, so she pulled the imperial prince and strode away. When they could no longer see their figures Theyre gone. Libin called out to Yui Mei. Haaa Yui Mei took a deep breath. She had been holding her breath with utmost effort. Theint was directed to Libin only, so it seemed she had sessfully hid herself. Thank goodness this eunuch had such a great physique. Somehow, shes amazing on so many levels. Libin pinched and rubbed between his brows when Yui Mei said that about the maid. We were interrupted because of that woman, but why were you together with the imperial prince? As I said, I met him by chance. I finished cleaning, so I was about to eat my snack on that stone, when he suddenly came out from the thicket. At Yui Meis exnation, Libin looked like he was enduring a headache. This time you met the imperial prince. Really, do you like looking for trouble? Yui Mei was also bothered after being told off. Youre making me look bad. It was idental, idental, I said. Who could have predicted an imperial prince would emerge from a thicket just as she was about to eat her snack. This was definitely force majeure. T/L Thoughts: That maid was truly audacious. Why does she get away with that treatment? Poor younger brother ? * The actual Japanese term used was (Sygi in Japanese, and Zhao Yi in Chinese). Both positions were one step below the Empress. Just like how the Mei Ren position was called Beauty, Zhao Yis position was called Lady of Bright Deportment. Since the ranking of Zhao Yi differed in the various dynasties, I opted to just call her Consort Hu. Fuu, since this is a Japanese novel with Chinese setting, my buddies now are Sir Wiki and Mr. Google, for consistency of names and terms. ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 25: The Cursed Imperial Prince Chapter 25: The Cursed Imperial Prince Somehow, you cant see whos the master between them. No matter how you look at it, that should not be the behavior of a person taking care of the imperial prince. Libin gave a small sigh at Yui Meis scowl. It cant be helped, thats a maid that apanied Consort Hu from her maiden family. Aside from maids being promoted from their courtdy status, there were also instances when they were brought along from the consorts family to serve. Just like the case with Noble Concubine Jiang, there were many people like her among the maids deployed from the parental abode. Well, personnel like her must have heard about what would happen when the timees. In order to prevent other households from snatching the position of second wife in case the concubine died, they would arrange the woman who could be the substitute to apany the concubine as her maid. Those kinds of muddy scenes were also depicted in the movies in her previous world, so she deduced that that maid might have been sent for that reason. But saying she wont let him run away sounds disturbing, right. Yui Mei looked at the thicket where the imperial prince emerged earlier. If he really ran away, then it would make sense why he appeared from that ce. The way the maid took him was also overbearing, short of saying she wont ever let him go. There must be a reason why he was so thin, no doubt about it. As Yui Mei contemted the imperial princes circumstances, Libin replied. Hey, dont get involved too deeply. Imperial Prince Yourens situation is not that good. What do you mean? Yui Mei wanted to hear about the full story. You dont know about this, too?, Libin grumbled and sighed. Imperial Prince Youren was branded as cursed by the empress dowager, so he is currently in a precarious situation. A curse again. That empress dowager really loves curses! Perhaps, she might be the type of person who would chalk it up to a curse if she did not understand something. Then that was the same as refusing to think critically, but what would be the implication if it was an eminent person? Rather than that, what was the curse? Does heugh suddenly, or break into a dance? When Yui Mei stated the symptoms of curses she recalled, Libin frowned. That is also creepy, but itspletely different. Apparently, there were a lot of instances when Imperial Prince Youren would start behaving abnormally during meal times. After the empress dowager witnessed it for herself, she dered that he was possessed by a curse. So it was during meal times, huh Yui Mei hummed. With regards to children, food, and losing weight, she had an inkling as to what it was. I would like to know more about the imperial princes specific behavior when he is having his meal. Libin raised his brow at Yui Meis words. What do you mean, do you know something? It was only natural to be asked like that, however, she did not intend to divulge information while shes stillcking information. I do have an idea, but I want to confirm it first. Yui Mei stared directly at Libin as he said hmm while he deliberated. If Im not mistaken, His Highness the Crown Prince was also present when the empress dowager censured him. In other words, he was suggesting they ask the crown prince. He was probably in his office at this time. Can I eat my snacks there? Yui Mei was concerned about the package containing manju hidden in her breast pocket. If it was not allowed, then she nned to eat it before going there. You are Well, we can at least serve some tea. Even though Libin looked exasperated, he did give her the go- signal to bring her snack. Moreover, there would be tea, so it must be a splendid ce. Suddenly, Yui Mei became eager to go. Alright, lets go and listen to that story! And so, Yui Mei headed towards the crown princes pce. Crowds of beautifully dresseddies went to and fro the crown princes pce. It was only natural that a low-ranked courtdy led by the crown princes attending eunuch would draw attention as they walked through the corridors. Whats with that girl. Shes being led by Libin, though. She was being ogled and whispered at from all directions but Yui Mei ignored them all, as she was busy observing the building. Oh, Its not that ostentatious. Yui Mei muttered as she looked around. The furnishing gave off an unexpected vibe since they were surprisingly low-key, or in rude terms, in. It must be because apart from decorations such as engravings on the building itself, there were few tall vases and other ornaments that could be seen. His highness is not fond of such decorations. Yes, indeed. Its easier for the cleaner if there were no unnecessary ornaments. She walked while contemting this, and they arrived at a certain room. We have returned. Come in. Libin called out in front of the door, and the crown princes voice resounded from within the room. When the door was opened, the crown prince was sitting behind the front-facing desk, and his writing figure greeted them. There was no one else inside the room except for the elderly maid attending to him. Wee backOh, if it isnt Yui Mei. The crown princes eyes widened at her as he greeted them with a smile, so Yui Mei bowed her head. Raise your head. Its rare for Yui Mei toe here, did something happen? Yes, the truth is The crown prince put his brush down and asked Yui Mei, but Libin exined in her stead. T/L Thoughts: Is it just me, but with the number of times Libin sighed, he could already blow up a hot balloon. orz Honestly, Im quite surprised that maidsing from the maiden family are portrayed as viins in this novel. Although it depends on who stationed those maids, they were usually loyal to the MC, with only a few exceptions. Those who betray their masters were usually nted/ bribed by the stepmom/ viinous main wife/ viins. The main reason for this is because masters in Ancient China held the life contracts of their ves so they could not act impudently. Well, at least its a new perspective. So, how will Yui Mei solve this curse involving lil bro Youren? ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscordchannel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have ourNovel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 26: The Truth About the Imperial Prince’s Curse Chapter 26: The Truth About the Imperial Prince¡¯s Curse After listening to the brief exnation of what had transpired until now, the crown prince was convinced, and he nodded. I see, so you met Youren. Not only that, you came across a bad scene. Eh, he wasnt surprised about the matter of the imperial prince running away. Conversely, Yui Mei was the one surprised, but the crown prince started talking again. Yui Mei, do you want to drink some tea before we talk? I also want to take a break. Then, I will prepare immediately. At his words, thedy-in-waiting was about to begin preparing the tea, when Yui Mei shyly asked. Ahm, would it be alright if I ate some manju? Thedy-in-waiting smiled when Yui Mei took out the bundle of manju from her bosom. Then, let us reheat it? I just lit the fire to boil water. Furthermore, she made a delightful proposal. She was truly gentle towards a low ranking courtdy. She was vastly different from the other maid who took the imperial prince away. Yes, please! With this, it became a snack time with warm manju and luxurious, flower-scented tea. Hmm, so delicious! Yui Mei savored happiness as she bit into the manju. In a world with no microwave oven, eating warm snacks was the highest form of luxury. The crown prince watched her with a smile as he had his tea. He held a beautiful, leaf-shaped baked sweet while he rxed for a moment. Libin did not take a break, and remained on standby. It seemed as if Yui Mei was a guest in this ce. It was a strange feeling since she was a courtdy with the lowest status. After Yui Mei finished her manju and was feeling rxed, the crown prince got down to business. So, Yui Mei, regarding the matter of Youren. Ah, yes. Yui Mei who hadpletely rxed, nodded in a fluster. That was close, I had been too happy that I forgot my purpose! Libin red at her, seemingly seeing through her thoughts, but she ignored him and maintained a smooth expression. The crown prince pretended he didnt see their silent attack-defense interaction, and he began talking about the imperial prince. The first time I saw that spectacle was at the banquet hosted by Father. The young prince Youren was taken by his mother, Consort Hu, to greet his father, and afterward they were guided by thedy-in-waiting to their seat, then they started the meal. However, right after the meal started, he started to struggle abnormally. Imperial Prince Youren supposedly ate the same food as everybody else, but he was the only one suffering, so the venue was in an uproar. Naturally, it was suspected to be poison, but the tester for poison did not have any abnormalities, and the other people who ate the same food were also the same. No poison was detected even after examination. The matter was concluded with the exnation that his body must have been unwell at that time. However, the same thing happened at every gathering. It would leave a bad impression if the urrence was repeated frequently. Eventually, the empress dowager could not take it anymore. That child is possessed by a curse, get him out of my sight!, she yelled. I see. So he lost weight because of an eating disorder. A person who had a hard time during mealtimes would then shirk at the very thought of eating. It would be in line with the reason why an imperial prince who was supposedly blessed with food, became so thin to the point that it was very obvious. Anyway, the circumstances behind the imperial princes problem became clear. Were the dishes served at the banquet made to suit the taste of His Majesty? The crown prince shook his head at Yui Meis question. No, Father was not picky about his food, in fact, he is indifferent about that. Thats why most of the time, the dishes served would be ording to the preference of the empress dowager. I see, mumbled Yui Mei. The empress dowager will eatvish dishes for sure, right? Well, she loves luxury, so that is for certain. She would always have them use high-grade ingredients, after all. The crown prince shrugged at Yui Meis words. In any case, the Inner Pce was a ce where a huge amount of money would be gone in a blink of an eye. If the empress dowager who was at its pinnacle preferred extravagance, then her followers would also imitate her. Perhaps, the crown prince was experiencing headaches due to financial problems. I would like to ask one more thing, does His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren eat manju? The crown prince was stupefied for a moment due to the sudden change of topic from the banquet, but he then answered properly. He can eat it, I think? He supposedly loved manju. Hmm, hmm. Yup, just as I thought. The crown princes eyes shone at Yui Meis convinced expression. Yui Mei, perhaps you know the truth about the curse? Yui mei nodded her head distinctly at the crown princes query. Rtively, yes. Really!? Well Libin and thedy-in-waiting were also taken aback, so she replied. After hearing the exnation just now, there was one reason that came to my mind. Food allergy, in other words, it is hypersensitivity. Everyone fell silent at her words. Alerji? Hypersensitivity? Hearing these unfamiliar words, the crown prince looked at Libin and thedy-in-waiting, but both of them could only shake their heads. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule!We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be everyMon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at ourdiscord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updatespage, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing anextra chapter for every 25 ratingswe receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched myKo-Fipage! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters.Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal (every 100%) is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 27: In Order to Help Chapter 27: In Order to Help What on earth is that? The crown prince asked, so Yui Mei exined. There is a condition wherein the body reacts to specific foods due to hypersensitivity. This must have been what happened to His Highness, Imperial Prince Youren. This condition was widely known in her previous world. She often witnessed cases when children were mistakenly served food containing ingredients they shouldnt eat, so they had to be transported via ambnce. Why would that ur? The body has a mechanism that eliminates infection-causing things. Thanks to that function, health is maintained. However, there are people who have physical constitutions that would try to eliminate harmless agents. So there is a physical constitution that eliminates harmless agents. There is a great variety of ingredients that could cause it. That is why all foods must be treated as having the potential to cause hypersensitivity. Libin and thedy-in-waiting listened to the crown prince and Yui Meis discussion with bulging eyes. Apparently, it was really their first time to hear about it. The crown prince hmm at Yui Meis words. I see. If it is due to the physical constitution, then only Youren would have those symptoms, so testing a person with a different constitution for poison would be pointless, then. Exactly. If the symptoms are light, then the skin will feel itchy, but in the worst case, it may cost him his life. Hearing that it may cost him his life, Libin became serious. Meaning to say, it would not be strange even if Youren died? It would depend on the situation. While eating, did His Highness the Imperial Prince Yourens skin turn red and itchy, and did he coughboriously? The crown prince replied Yeah to Yui Meis question. He coughed to the point that we thought he would vomit blood, and his breathing wasbored. It is indeed hypersensitivity; moreover, it is the severe kind. Imperial Prince Youren must have been in pain that was severe enough he almost died. Yui Mei grimaced when she imagined his suffering state. Since it was a severe illness, it should have been treated promptly; instead, he was denounced as having a curse and reprimanded. Perhaps, the empress dowagers disposition was such that she couldnt be kind to vulnerable people, Regardless, there was no way the court physician was not on stand-by since the emperor was also present in that feast. Even though they were doctors, what were they doing, letting the patient bebeled as cursed. Go study again and change yourselves! I really want to scold them! Yui Mei was extremely furious. Libin had aplex expression as he stared at Yui Meis indignation. However, even if we know that the ingredients are the culprit, it was a feast. Various dishes were served side-by-side. Besides, it is very difficult to search which ingredient was it. Aside from that, we would be deemed suspicious if we were to examine the food being served in Consort Hus pce. Indeed, in a country with no means to do blood tests, it would be an arduous task to examine everything. Certainly, it would be strenuous to investigate the source. The crown prince and Libin wore bitter expressions, but Yui Mei replied easily. There is no need to do those things. Her manner of speaking came off as heartless. Libin glowered at her. Why, wont His Highness Imperial Prince Youren die at this rate? Do you n to leave him as he is? Libin had a what a hassle look earlier as he stood with thedy-in-waiting since a while ago, but apparently, he didnt want to force a child to his death. Yui Mei looked straight at him, undaunted despite his harsh remarks. Of course I want to help him. That was not what I meant; there is a way to predict which ingredients could cause hypersensitivity. At these words, the crown prince and the others stared at her wide-eyed. Yui Mei, what do you think is the cause? The crown prince asked, and Yui Mei responded with her inference. Right now, eggs and milk are the biggest suspects. Examples of sources for this type of hypersensitivity are eggs, milk and wheat. However, if Imperial Prince Youren liked manju, then he must be fine with wheat. It would be more efficient if these two were examined before suspecting other ingredients. When the ingredients were announced, thedy-in-waiting who had been quietly listening to the conversation mumbled. Eggs and milk, what an extremely luxurious illness it is. Yui Mei also nodded at her impression. Wheat would be a cause of rumors among themon people, but they seldom consume high quality eggs and milk. The consumers were overwhelmingly small so it was not acknowledged until now. The empress dowager loves luxury, so eggs and milk are naturally included in the menu. Comprehension dawned on the crown princes face after hearing Yui Meis opinion and he replied. Indeed, the empress dowager prefers dishes with milk and eggs. Moreover, Youren likes manju, but he cannot eat mushipan. Eggs are used in mushipan. People with hypersensitivity would naturally shirk from the source of difort. Yui Mei knew her inference was correct based on the crown princes words.. So, its decided that it was eggs, huh. Mushipan, which uses egg, was a high-ss snack that Yui Mei would normally be unable to eat, since she was a low-ranking courtdy. She was lucky if it was served as a snack at Lady Wangs residence, and even the mushipan she brought during her sick call to Noble Concubine Jiang were specially made by Mei Na. Mushipan was served to him because of his status as an imperial prince, but it was ironic that it was harmful. However, since it was about the bodys constitution after all, so it was still possible to live in good health if appropriate treatment was done to remove the source. But forcing a child until he bes thin to that extent With fury in her eyes, Yui Mei red fiercely towards the direction of the empress dowagers pce. Yui Mei did not notice that the crown prince was looking at her with deep interest. Afterwards, they brainstormed on ways to help Imperial Prince Youren. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We reached our 10th chapter milestone, hurray! Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce will now have a set schedule! We will be releasing a chapter three times a week from now on. It will be every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 28: The Court Lady Named Yui Mei Chapter 28: The Court Lady Named Yui Mei The conversation ended, and Yui Mei left. Inside the room, Ming Xian was drinking tea that thedy-in-waiting freshly brewed. Libin, also known as Li Yong, was not present because he sent Yui Mei off. Really, Im totally caught by surprise every time I see that girl. Shes like a little storm. Ming Xian leaned back in the chair and exhaled deeply. Isnt it great that shes sprightly? The chucklingdy-in-waiting who said that as she brewed the tea for Ming Xian was called Wang Xiuling. She was the wet nurse of Ming Xian and the mother of Li Yong. Ming Xians mother became depressed due to the various harassment from the empress dowager, so she secluded herself in her own pce. In the midst of these, Xiuling became the person who treated him with a mothers warmth. Therefore, Ming Xian couldnt put on airs in front of her ever since. Xiuling, what did you think of Yui Mei? Xiuling answered Ming Xians question after contemting it for a while. She is quite a clever youngdy. It seems that she had adapted well in this ce even though she had just arrived. Indeed. ording to Li Yong, that girl seemed to be always having fun. It was said that Yui Mei was harassed daily by the senior courtdies who regarded her as an enemy, but she remainedpletely unaffected. Contrary to that, she became friends with the people who gave her snacks, and her appearance while stuffing her cheeks with manju seemed to show that she was enjoying life in the Inner Pce. In fact, her personality seems cheeky, no? Ming Xian softly remarked, and Xiuling replied as she served the newly brewed tea. There are traces of Lady Zhang in her visage, but she seems to be more temperamental than her, I suppose. Really, who did she take after? Yui Meis parents shouldnt have that kind of personality. Her mother, Lady Zhang, was kind and too timid to live in the Inner Pce. Rather than that, Yui Mei did not inherit her mothers temperament but she had a strong personality, ready to rush when she saw a weak person. Had Yui Mei been able to live as a princess, she would have been a tremendous help to Ming Xian. Really, what a waste to keep her as a housekeeper. While Ming Xianmented her talent, he also thought about a different oue. If Yui Mei was a princess, she would not be a courtdy in the Inner Pce. There was a high probability that Yu Xiu, who was saved by her, perished. With that consideration, it could be said that it was a good thing that Yui Mei was a courtdy And just as she helped Yu Xiu at that time, she would surely help Youren. It was Ming Xians role to protect Yui Mei from the hands of the empress dowager. This time, I will protect that girl. When Ming Xian expressed his resolve, Xiuling bowed deeply. We will obey your desires, Your Highness. Ming Xian was grateful and at the same time apologetic towards Xiuling and the rest who would faithfully follow him anywhere. Because of that, Li Yong had to work harder, though. The empress dowager would be provoked If Ming Xian made a move himself. Therefore, the only one he could confidently entrust Yui Mei to was Li Yong. However, he felt pained to increase Li Yongs workload since he was already masquerading as a eunuch on top of being an imperial guard. Xiuling smiled sweetly at Ming Xians distress. Being useful to Your Highness is that childs happiness. Please use him to your hearts content. No need to worry, my son is not one to be exhausted with this much. Ming Xian thought the way she smiled was like a lion dropping a child in the valley. Achoo! Libin was walking in front of Yui Mei as he sent her off when he suddenly sneezed. Do you have a cold, Libin? No, I dont. I feel like someone is talking about me behind my back. Libin replied to Yui Meis question as his nose itched. Usually, someone is badmouthing you during those times. Libin puckered his face while Yui mei teasingly told him about thatmon belief. Im sure its my mother. Yui Mei did not hear him whisper, but in a sense, the feelings got through due to their mother and child bond. T/N: Another early chap, sorry guys a lot of stuff ongoing in rl ? figured it would be better to post early thante hehe. Hope you enjoy this! Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 29: At the Clinic Chapter 29: At the Clinic It was the day after the discussion at the crown princes pce. Yui Mei visited the clinic after she finished her work for today. Hello! Oh, if it isnt Yui Mei. When Yui Mei opened the door after calling out, Doctor Ziliang was inside mashing some kind of grass. He turned his head towards her. Did youe to get a poultice again? He then said that. As a matter of fact, Yui Mei frequently came to the clinic to get poultice at the request of the other courtdies. Seems like everyone doesnt like going to the medical office. A lot of courtdies seemed to dislike physicians. Perhaps it was due to the bitterness of the prescribed medicines. However, todays errand was not poultice. Nope. I came to y and I bought some snacks. After saying so, Yui Mei showed him the ma hua Mei Na made. Hey, you brought something good, shall we have some tea? Ziliang seemed pleased as he put away his tools, and he excitedly went to boil some water for brewing tea. In the meantime, Yui Mei cleaned up the messy table, and she ced the ma hua on a suitable te. In this way, it had be snack time for both of them. This ma hua is so delish. Right? Mei Nas ma hua is a masterpiece. By the way, is it true that you were chased out of the lodging room? Unexpectedly, Yui Mei became a celebritysince rumors about her even reached the clinic. Yes, I moved out of the lodging room into a private room. Yui Mei casually said that, so Ziliang was puzzled. Private room? Wasnt it a storeroom? Well, you see With this, Yui Mei had recounted the details of her change in residence for innumerable times already. You are how should I say this, well, from their point of view, bullying you is useless. I am not obligated to fulfill their wishes, after all. Ziliang stared at her in amazement, and Yui Mei retorted as she tossed ma hua in her mouth. Normally, it would take her a long time before she could obtain her own room, so she treated this event as godsent. Afterwards, they engaged in small talk until all the ma hua she brought were gone. So? Do you have any troublesome matters? Ziliang asked her. Whats up with saying that so suddenly? After all, you donte to the clinic unless you need something. Although she had feigned ignorance once, Yui Mei easily smiled ingratiatingly after she was exposed. Ziliang was a very sharp man. Actually Yui Mei then began to talk to Ziliang about Imperial Prince Youren. Hmm, hypersensitivity, huh. How excellent. Ziliang expressed his impression after hearing the gist of it. Eh, should that be the first thing to be concerned about? To be impressed with the name of the disease Yui Mei thought of a possibility, so she asked. Perhaps, these symptoms are not well known? Ziliang stroked his chin as he agreed to Yui Meis doubts with a hmm. I asionally heard about some cases who developed rashes after consuming wheat, but as for the number of patients Rather than saying they didnt know the current situation, it seemed that the statistics for patients with this disease was vague. Mei Na knew the symptoms of wheat allergy when Yui Mei asked her earlier at breakfast. She knew that people with weak bodies will break out in hives if they eat wheat, but apparently, she also heard that they shouldnt give wheat to those people. A lot of patients considered it as a curse rather than an illness, so they would go to the Taoists priests. Apparently, it was because patients did not depend on the physicians. The Taoists priests were also interfering in this aspect. Aside from that, there are more devotees from the capitalpared to the rural areas. Too many people did not know about it because of this. The capital had arge poption and they could not conduct surveys as they pleased, so elucidation of information was also dyed. However, Yui Mei had an uneasy feeling about this conversation. I think those in the rural areas will believe those stuff more readily, though. It was strange that although people from the countryside were more religious, even worshipping a mountain god, more people in the capital city were devotees of the Taoists priests. However, now that she thought about it, she rarely saw Taoisits in remote viges. Even if she did see them, they were travelling Taoists just passing by on their way to the capital from foreign countries. I wonder why? This mystery was exined by Ziliang. Those guys are doing business, after all, you know? Since barter is the norm in the countryside, it wont make them money. Understanding dawned on Yui Mei. On the other hand, Ziliang was pondering about the ingredients that Yui Mei said were the cause. Even so, eggs and milk, huh. I wont pry on where and how you got that information of yours. Even if the symptoms are investigated, the people to be examined for these foods are too few. Basically, they are foods that can only be consumed by the wealthy, right. Except for those who raised chickens and cows, these ingredients were beyond the reach of people in the countryside. Moreover, wealthy people lived in the capital. If the capital-based citizens became ardent devotees of Taoist, it was expected that physicians would have difficulty knowing about it. And because of that, Imperial Prince Youren was forced to bear the outrageous notoriety of being cursed. A child shouldnt have to endure such misfortune just because of an allergy. Yui Mei stared straightforwardly at Ziliang. I want to prove that Imperial Prince Youren is not cursed, and that he had a constitution that is hypersensitive to food. Doctor, please help me. Ziliang remained silent for a short while, before scratching his head. Well, I do owe you one. Well, its fine. As Ziliang said so with a sigh, Yui Meis countenance brightened up. Thats the spirit! With this, her allies in entering the enemy territory increased. T/N: Early chap again, guys. My schedule for this month posts is out of order, thanks for bearing with me ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 30: Hu Zhaoyi Chapter 30: Hu Zhaoyi Mornings startedte for concubines in the Inner Pce. Imperial Concubine Hu was no exception. Customarily, she would wake up when the sun was already high in the sky, and she would eat her breakfast leisurely. Because of that, the maids,dies-in-waiting and courtdies who worked ording to their mistress schedule led an easier lifepared to the courtdies and maids who had to work at daybreak. However, today, that leisurely morning time was broken by the noise resounding throughout the mansion. It was just before breakfast and Consort Hu had barely finished changing from her nightdress. You people, what is it that you want and what do you mean by this!? An elderly maid stood at the entrance where themotion wasing from, and she was ring at the uninvited guests. A group of three people a tall eunuch, a petite courtdy and a physician stood there. Yes, it goes without saying that it was Yui Meis group. This one is a physician ordered by His Majesty to check on His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren. Please make way. Ziliang bowed his head as Libin calmly replied to the maid with aposed attitude. Yui Mei was also one step behind them, bowing her head and restraining herself. This was the n they hatched with the crown prince the other day, known as Medical Examination for the Health of Imperial Prince Youren. Instead of sneaking around searching, it would be better to get a good pretext and then imposingly demand to examine him. By the way, Yui Meis position was Ziliangs assistant. She covered her head tightly with a scarf and wore her cloth maskpletely. It was Yui Meis characteristic style that she always wore, but for the maid, her appearance was absolutely shady. It was understandable that she was thoroughly eyed with suspicion. Libin was also here as the emperors messenger. The crown prince told them that if it was only Yui Mei and Ziliang, it was possible that they would be driven away without a chance to exin, but with Libin the crown princes attendant, their credibility would also rise. Under His Majestys orders, you say? Then arent we supposed to summon the usual court physician? Libin resolutely replied to the maids dubious face. That is also His Majestys will. It was not a lie, the crown prince did ask for permission from the emperor. Naturally, however, the other party did not believe that to be true. We will confirm this first; until we get the results, you will not be permitted to enter. Then we will be troubled. His Majesty ordered that we move with haste. Libin refused outright, and invisible sparks flew between the two of them. A war of words was about to unfold between the maid who obstructed the entry of the suspicious bunch and Libin who wanted to push his way through. It was at that time. Whats happening here? A woman followed by several maids appeared from the inside the pce. The maid bowed her head with her entry, and even Libin bowed, so Yui Mei hurriedly did the same. That person is Imperial Concubine Hu. Libin whispered behind him to Yui Mei while maintaining his lowered posture. Apparently, themotion reached the mistress of the pce, so she came to check the situation. What on earth is the matter here? Imperial Concubine Hu asked the maid. She was a beauty, but her physical appearance was not shy. One might even say she was the slender type. Ahh,pared to Lady Wang, she seems to be His Majestys type, though at the very limit. Perhaps that was the reason she gave birth to an imperial prince. Libin, indifferent to Yui Meis gossipy musings, turned the conversation towards Imperial Concubine Hu. Under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, we havee for the medical examination of His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren. Instead of interrogating Libin when he raised his head and said that, Imperial Concubine Hu stared at him in wonder as she listened. Arent you His Highness the Crown Princes attending eunuch? His Majesty the Emperor gave his order through His Highness the Crown Prince. Setting aside the sequential order of events, it was indeed the truth, so there was no w with Libins words. Even so, Libin-sama, you kept on running the words His Majesty continuously, huh. Apparently, he would thoroughly use a pretext that he could use. I have requested that they wait while we verify the authenticity of their words. However, His Majesty ordered that we should execute this matter immediately. The maid reported to Imperial Concubine Hu, but Libin immediately rebutted. Imperial Concubine Hu watched the twos silent fight, then she tilted her head in thought. Either way, Youren is needed, from what I understand. Where is Youren? That is At Imperial Concubine Hus question, the elderly maid averted her eyes . The curse acted again this morning, so treatment is currently on going. Is that so? Imperial Concubine Hu responded sadly to the maid who talked as if she was groaning in a low voice. Darn it, were toote, huh. Libin muttered under his breath as he listened to their conversation. Yui Mei and the rest studied Imperial Concubine Hus behavioral pattern, and they nned to charge in before breakfast. Unfortunately, Imperial Prince Youren had already eaten his breakfast. In that case, all the more we should save him! Based on Imperial Concubine Hus expression when she heard the word treatment, she got the impression that it must be something disagreeable. Please pardon my rudeness, but I have to say this! Imperial Concubine Hu and the rest of them trained their eyes on Yui Mei when she said this, as she had been restraining herself earlier at the back. We have beenmanded toe here so that we could clear the truth about that curse. Please grant us an immediate audience with His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren! Yui Mei raised her head, and she stared directly at Imperial Concubine Hu. Though her whole face was covered with the kerchief and the cloth mask, only her eyes were seemingly zing with strong determination. ..! Imperial Concubine Hu unwittingly gasped when she saw those eyes. A moment passed. I understand. Please guide these people. Imperial Concubine Hu then said. T/L Thoughts: The plot thickens! Even Imperial Concubine Hu seemed to recognize sassy Yui Mei based on her gasp :0 Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 31: Yui Meis Fury Chapter 31: Yui Mei''s Fury Yui Mei and the rest were led by the maid to a wide room. However, smoke was overflowing from the gaps in the window. Whats that, a fire? Despite that, the maid didnt have a single trace of panic. Both Libin and Ziliang also looked dubious when she nced at them. The maid who was walking ahead turned around and locked her eyes on them. No matter what you see, do not cause a fuss. After whispering, she softly opened the door to avoid making a noise. .! Yui Mei was dumbstruck at the scene that emerged before their eyes. Smoke filled the room lighted with incense and it stung their eyes; meanwhile, Youren was sitting on the floor with his upper body naked. The gaudy maid was hitting his exposed back with a block of wood. What, what the heck is this!? It was only natural that Yui Meis blood rushed to her head. Stop that, you child abuser! She yelled unwittingly as she dashed forward. Ah, hey! Libin closed the gap between them in an attempt to stop her, but Yui Mei already rushed forward andnded a flying kick on the maids back. Hyah! Ugh! The maid who didnt notice Yui Mei and the rest despite the door being opened, fell down while still gripping the wooden rod. Would a normal person attack by herself? Libin was exasperated, and he saw that Ziliang and the elderly maid were taken aback, but he couldnt do anything about it since he also didnt manage to stop her. Come, this way! Yui Mei peered into Imperial Prince Yourens face and tried to take him outside. What? Youren stared at her like a deer in the headlight, seemingly confused at the current situation. However, his appearance was extremely pitiful. His face was smeared with tears and snot, and his lips were bleeding, possibly because he had been fiercely biting them as he desperately tried to endure the pain. He must have been hurt, scared and miserable Yui Mei carried his petite frame, dashed out of the smoke-filled room and called Ziliang. Doctor, treatment! Got it! Ah, so pitiful, hes bleeding. Ziliang promptly started to treat him; on the other hand, that gaudy maid slowly stood up. Who dared disturb us? While the maid moved her neck in a circle, Libin swiftly stood in front of Imperial Prince Youren as if to hide him. She mistook him as the person who kicked her, so she red at him with loathing. You again! What are you nning by disturbing the curse removal!? Yui Mei felt her temples throb at the maids scathing remarks. Curse removal, nonsense, youre wrong, youre venting out your frustration! Yui Mei stepped forward, stood beside Libin, and shouted. His Imperial Prince Youren is not cursed, its just his constitution! However, it was the first time the maid noticed Yui Mei. Who do you think you are? She scrunched her brows at the unfamiliar courtdy. It was only natural, since the first time they met, Yui Mei was hiding so she didnt notice her existence then. Impudent, a lowly courtdy like you should butt out. The maid roared, but Yui Mei red at her without backing down. Whos the impudent one! As the person who should be taking care of His Highness the Imperial Prince, you didnt even notice his condition, didnt even try to determine the cause yet carelessly jumping to conclusions, shame on you! Yui Mei roared back, and the maid grimaced for an instant after being scolded. This person When Yui Mei saw her reaction, her conviction was strengthened, so she looked daggers at the maid. But her opponent wouldnt stay still. I am only following the will of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager! Telling me that it was nonsense and disturbing us, I will not forgive you! People would normally back down when they heard the name of the empress dowager. She also said it now with a triumphant look. However What is the matter here? A males low voice suddenly resounded. .! Yui Mei immediately stood beside Libin and respectfully did the servants bow. Ziliang and the elderly maid also did the same. The maid stared dumbstruck at the person who arrived in the midst of the tension while being apanied by Imperial Concubine Hu. Your Majesty the Emperor However, the maid soon regained her senses and hurriedly bowed. The emperor sauntered in then looked around at everyone present. I heard from Ming Xian regarding Yourens important matter, but what on earth is thismotion? The maid lifted her head and responded to the emperors words. I have been religiously following the orders of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. That low-ranking courtdy impudently barged in and falsely used me She faced the emperor and insisted that she was in the right. Wenjun, raising your voice in the presence of His majesty is disgraceful. Consort Hu intervened. Apparently, this gaudy maid was called Wenjun. Consort Hu then stepped forward and faced the emperor, and then she asked him in a voice that everyone could hear. I am afraid I have to inquire about this, Your Majesty. Is it true that these people have been sent by Your Majesty? T/L Thoughts: There goes Yui Meis signature kick! Father Emperor is also present, things are really getting exciting ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 32: His Majesty the Emperor Chapter 32: His Majesty the Emperor It is the truth. It was discovered that the court physicians are quacks, so Ming Xian rmended that Youren be examined by other physicians, so the order was given to the clinic. Imperial Concubine Hu had a relieved expression upon hearing the emperors words. Finally, a saving grace was extended to her son who was branded as cursed by the empress dowager. It was a matter of course that she would feel reassured. But thats On the other hand, Wenjun faltered with a bbergasted expression. What did Her Majesty the Empress Dowager say!? It is known that we should leave cursed people in the hands of the Taoists! Wenjun regained her momentum and anxiously spoke to the emperor, but he looked at her coldly. The master of this ce is not the Empress Dowager, it is Zhen. Empress Dowagers opinions are not needed. Yui Mei inwardly sighed in relief as she looked at the two of them. That person failed coz she didnt keep her cool, huh. Taking into ount the fact that the empress dowager failed to make the son of her niece the crown prince, it could be inferred that the two of them had a rocky rtionship. To utter the name of the empress dowager here despite that it was a brainless move. If their opponent had the empress dowager as their backing, then they must have a suitable support behind them, too. That was why the crown prince arranged for the emperor to be their backing. I was really nervous whether he would reallye, though! However, the fact that the emperor came to take a look after hearing the crown princes opinion would mean that he was also concerned about Imperial Prince Youren. The emperor turned his eyes towards Ziliang who was treating Imperial Prince Youren. So, that doctor over there, how is Youren? Imperial Youren was frightened, and he curled himself. The problem started at the banquet hosted by the emperor, so he must have thought the emperor himself was an existence that was to be feared. Ziliang felt his trepidation, so he gently grasped Imperial Prince Yourens shoulders as if wrapping them in his arms. Imperial Prince Youren was soothed by the warmth of skin, and strength left his body. Seeing this, Ziliang replied to the emperor. The medical examination is about tomence. However, before we could proceed, there are some necessary matters we must attend to. Imperial Concubine Hu, are the preparationsplete? Yes, they are here. At Ziliangs query, Imperial Concubine Hu gestured to the maid on stand-by to bring the basket in. These are the items you have requested. I understand, thank you very much. When the maid handed the basket to Yui Mei, who was there as an assistant, the emperor expressed his interest. What is that? Please, do confirm. Yui Mei showed him the contents. Eggs and milk, huh? Indeed. We requested to borrow these from this pces kitchen. They are necessary for the medical examination. Yui Mei exined briskly while the emperor stared at her curiously. You, arent you the housekeeper from back then? He must have remembered her appearance from their encounter at Lady Wangs residence. It was only natural that the emperor had some impression of her, as she was the only one in the entire Inner Pce to wear a hood and a cloth mask. Yui Mei replied to the emperors puzzlement. I do cleaning jobs, and I also help Doctor. It was not a lie, her job was indeed a housekeeper, though being an assistant was something she volunteered to do. Imperial Concubine Hu called out to them in the middle of their conversation. We have prepared another room since we could not settle down for the medical examination in this ce. With that, they moved away from here and it was decided that the medical examination wouldmence anew. It was a wide room where everyone could sit, and Yui Mei and Ziliang began their preparations. First, they ced a small amount of egg and milk in separate containers then watered them down. The emperor did not understand their actions, so he took it all in with shining eyes. What are you doing with those? Ziliang turned to face the emperor upon hearing his question. These are prepared for the examination of the body constitution of His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren. The details will be exined by this assistant with your permission. Along with those words, Yui Mei stepped forward and bowed. What do you mean by examining the body constitution with those things? Yui Mei responded to the emperors inquiry. It is to examine whether His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren has food hypersensitivity. Afterward, she stated the same exnation she gave to the crown prince. The body would treat food, which wasnt even a poison, as a foreign substance, so eating would lead to the urrence of symptoms such as inmmatory response. Depending on the person, it could even lead to death. Several food items had the possibility of eliciting symptoms, but eggs, milk and wheat had the highest urrence so she exined from start to end. After hearing these things, the emperor nodded with a hmm. Isnt it because the ingredients are spoiled? It is not. For example, wheat is poison to a person hypersensitive to wheat, even if it is fresh. A person jumped from her seat in the midst of everyone else who was listening to this conversation silently. Stop spouting nonsense! The person who yelled was Wenjun, who had remained silent in front of the emperor. Ive never heard of such a thing! She probably couldnt hold it back anymore, but the emperor just nced at her wordlessly as she butted in the conversation. Yui Mei retorted quietly. Never heard of it means youre justzing on your studies. Even the courtdies at the kitchen knew about it. Wenjuns cheeks med after being indirectly told that she was inferior to a courtdy. Are you insulting me..! Silence, you are in the presence of His Majesty. Wenjun charged so she could vigorously grab Yui Mei, but she was controlled by Libin. Your insolent manners in front of His Majesty are unforgivable, so leave obediently. Libin stood in her way, so the maid could only grit her teeth bitterly. Libin had been constantly fine tuning his movements in this room in ordance to his status, and he constantly and deliberately stood between them. That way of paying attention really isnt eunuch-ish. Yui Mei thought as she took a sidelong nce at Libin. Having the ability to calcte and predict movements in order to protect others was more like a soldier, so she thought. - T/L Thoughts: Shout-out to Rynea for giving me a generous dose of Ko-fi! Thank you so much for your support and Im really d you like this novel ? Yui Mei must be (just a guess, a tler guess!) bowing her head down, since servants were supposedly forbidden to look directly at the emperor, so maybe thats why the emperor didnt notice her blue eyes again. He must have recognized her solely due to her getup. That said, I wonder if the royalty of this story have mixed foreign ancestry, with blue eyes as dominant genes that were passed onto the emperors offspring Im also excited how Yui Mei would uncover the truth behind Libins disguise, sharp as she is. Poor Youren, I couldnt imagine how fearful his days were in the pce, with that maid as his attendant. If he died, then maybe we could have another spin off The Reincarnated Allergic Prince Swore Revenge! Fortunately, our MC intervened and he didnt kick the bucket ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! havebe confronted withMore (Definitions, Synonyms, Trantion) Chapter 33: Medical Examination of the Imperial Prince Chapter 33: Medical Examination of the Imperial Prince Even with all thatmotion, Yui Mei and Ziliang were finally able to examine Imperial Prince Youren. Your Highness Imperial Prince Youren, I will now touch your arm. Ziliang drew nearer to where Imperial Prince Youren was seated, and after a brief notice, he took his arm, and put a drop each of the water-thinned milk and egg respectively onto the inner side. I will be inserting a needle for a bit, please tell me if it hurts, okay. After saying that, Yui Mei injected a needle in the skin with the mixture, then she waited for a while. Currently, Yui Mei and Ziliang were conducting an allergy skin test. This method yielded results in a short period of time, so Yui Mei and the rest could examine them for themselves right before it would ur. Yui Mei did not have any reaction towards eggs, milk and wheat, and so was Ziliang. They further asked the cooperation of eunuchs who were sticking around, and two of them reacted slightly from the milk. When they were told that they had a body constitution that was hypersensitive to milk, they said no matter, drinking such expensive food as milk is a rarity for us but they did agree to be more careful from now on. As for Imperial Prince Youren, he did not have any reaction to the milk, but the response to eggs was fast. The area that was pierced by the needle started to turn red and swell, and it was obvious. The inmmation urred rapidly, right. And the manner of swelling is also terrible. Yui Mei and Ziliang whispered to each other. It continued to swell painfully, obviously showing that it was a severe case. Imperial Youren scrunched his face in an attempt to endure the painful itch. Doctor, the medicine. Yeah, right. Ziliang wiped the ce where the needle was inserted, then he applied medicine that would reduce the inmmation. During that time, Yui Mei turned to face the people who were observing them. Your Majesty the Emperor, everyone, please look at this. The swelling urred at the area smeared with the egg mixture. Judging from the inmmatory response, we concluded that His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren has a severe case of egg hypersensitivity. Oh my How Color drained from the face of Imperial Concubine Hu, while the emperor was greatly surprised upon hearing the words of Yui Mei. Currently, we smeared the egg mixture onto Imperial Prince Yourens skin, but the same inmmation urred in his body, too. If the internal organs swell like this, the pain he suffered must have been unimaginable. Imperial Prince Youren was also dumbfounded at Yui Meis words. Apparently, he could not keep up now that the source of his condition was finally identified. Eggs are frequently served in his meals. Imperial ConcubineHu mumbled. As expected of a high-ranking concubine, eggs were part of their regr diet. Imperial Prince Youren is picky about his food, so eggs were frequently served since they believed that it still provided nutrition despite the small amount. The elderly maid looked at Imperial Concubine Hu with an anxious expression. It was only natural that they would impose something if they did not know that it was the cause of his pickiness. The pces kitchen staff would probably turn blue if they heard about this. Yui Mei counseled Imperial Concubine Hu, who was crestfallen after receiving shock. Symptoms of food allergy are often alleviated as they grow, so please do not worry about it too much. Is that true? Yui Mei nodded vigorously when Imperial Concubine Hu whispered her query. Yes, its true. Thats why Imperial Prince Youren should consume an appropriate diet to build up his physical strength, and strive to have a healthy body. If he did that, time woulde when his body would ovee the egg. It was fortunate that he did not react with milk. Milk was very nutritious, so it would be good if he drank it proactively. Youren Imperial Concubine Hu slowly drew nearer, then she knelt in front of Imperial Prince Youren and took his hands. Please forgive your foolish mother for not understanding your suffering. From now on, I will do my best to prepare food that you can eat, so please get well as soon as possible and be healthy. Mother. Imperial Youren could no longer endure his pain, and tears overflowed from his eyes. The emperor who had been watching over Imperial Concubine Hu and the rest, stood up from his chair. I see, from what I heard now, I finally understood his suffering at that banquet. It was not a stupid nonsensense like a curse. The emperor said that, then he turned his gaze towards Imperial Prince Youren. Youren, a different doctor should have been sent to you sooner. Zhen apologizes for taking so long. No, I Imperial Prince Youren was unnerved by the emperors apology. From this moment on, Imperial Prince Youren was relieved from being assessed as cursed. Afterward, Yui Mei also spread this gossip among the courtdies she interacted with, so his bad reputation was also instantly whitewashed. He might also leave a mark in history as the person who let the world know about a condition called hypersensitivity. Yui Mei wished that Imperial Prince Youren who suffered from a tender age, would grow into apassionate person. Anyway, goal achieved! For Yui Mei, it was a grand finale worthy of saying case closed. Meanwhile, there was a person being excluded among them. This kind of thing. Wenjun muttered provokingly as she bit her lip tightly, and she red with hatred at Imperial Concubine Hu as she hugged Imperial Prince Youren. Yui Mei silently stared at her figure. - T/L Thoughts: One more chapter and its the end of this volume! Im d that the emperor witnessed for himself how Yui Mei solved this allergy test. That maid really is up to no good, huh. Early chapter today, but the one on Wednesday might bete because Ill be travelling the whole day, will post them asap, though. Thanks lot guys! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 34: The Maid’s Crime Chapter 34: The Maid¡¯s Crime Afterward, Ziliang treated the traces of beatings on Imperial Prince Yoruens back, which had been given first aid earlier. The emperor sojourned at the pce, and they spent quality time as a family. Imperial Prince Youren was still scared of the emperor, but that would probably improve gradually. In a deserted corridor away from the peaceful familys ce This, this isnt supposed to be like this. Wenjun muttered furiously as she stomped off. I should appeal to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager once more so that woman will be However, soon after, Wenjun noticed the tall and short figures of two people standing at the end of the corridor. It was Yui Mei and Libin, who supposedly left the room earlier. Yui Mei wanted to talk to Wenjun, so she and Libin went ahead. I have something important to say to you. When Yui Mei said that, Wenjun clenched her fists forcefully. Brat, its all because of your needless meddling! Wenjun shrieked, and she tried to grab her with a demon-like expression. However, Yui Mei was not one to flinch from this. Compared to the wild animals at the bordend, she looked cute, even. Dont underestimate a country-born! Yui Mei posed, ready to counterattack. Shut up, unsightly woman. Libin stepped forward in a natural and smooth movement, and just as she thought he had grasped her arm, the next second, Wenjun was already mmed against the floor. Yui Mei was captivated by Libins fluid motion for an instant. This person is a eunuch, thats a lie, thats absolutely a lie! Yui Mei was distracted at her intensifying doubts regarding Libin. Tsk. A mere lowly eunuch as you dared to do this to me, you know what will happen to you, huh!? Yui Mei was brought to her senses when Wenjun yelled while being pressed down. You too, dont think you can escape from this. Yui Mei looked down at Wenjun as she spoke, and in response, Wenjun raised her heard and retorted, her spit flying. Dont say such nonsense, why do I have to escape, huh!? Yui mei coldly stared at Wenjun, who didnt seem to understand. You already knew that His Highness the Imperial Prince couldnt eat eggs, right? For a moment, Wenjuns eyes popped and she gasped. What the heck are you babbling about, theres no way I would know about that kind of nonsensical story, right!!? Wenjun said shrilly, then she averted her face.. What a bad liar. Yui Mei relentlessly hounded her as she continued on. A person with the same body constitution as His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren would be aware about the food items he couldnt eat. Even if only a small amount of egg was used, he would definitely try to avoid it. In fact, ording to the crown prince, Imperial Prince Youren couldnt eat mushipan, and he probably already sensed that he couldnt eat eggs. The exnation why he couldnt eat it was probably too difficult for him, so he didnt understand. It was known that failure was not permitted at the feast held by the emperor, yet His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren ate the eggs and caused a great tumult. I cant help but feel that this is too odd. Not all the dishes served during the banquet had contained eggs. It would have been good if he ate those food, but he was purposely given dishes with eggs, resulting in his suffering plight. Moreover, the same thing was repeated over and over again. However, if we think that it was not His Highness the Imperial Prince Yourens own volition, and he was forced feed, instead, then everything will make sense. Wenjun bit her lips fiercely as she listened to Yui Meis words. Afterward, you did not show any surprise when I mentioned Imperial Prince Yourens body constitution. If it was the first time she heard about it, then she would have a dubious expression just like crown prince and the emperor. However, Wenjun was scowling during that time. For Yui Mei, her attitude was as if she was saying Stop saying unnecessary stuff. Those are all false usations! Whether they are false usations or not, lets have an investigation to clear it up. Libin coldly responded to Wenjuns retort. If it was found that you deliberately fed him, this will be a case involving His Highness the Imperial Prince Youren, it will be forwarded to His Majesty. In other words, this will be a grave sin of defying His Majesty. Wenjun started to tremble from fear when she heard Libins unsparing words. She then shrieked with bloodshot eyes. I, in truth, I was the one who was supposed to be chosen! Brat, if youre not here, then I could have driven that eyesore of a woman and child from the Inner Pce! Its all because of you butting in and meddling! Wenjun scolded Yui Mei, but it was as if she was looking at something else despite looking at her. That in woman got chosen, then I became an attendant? Dont joke with me, I should have been more suitable to receive His Majestys favor! Wenjuns expression was overflowing with fury, but traces of sadness could also be seen. Yui Mei silently stared at Wenjun with an inexplicable feeling. She probably grew up while being told that You will be the empress. She also lived for that purpose, but at thest minute, she was told that she will be the maid. Imperial Concubine Hus maiden family must have seen through the emperors preferences. That was why instead of Wenjun, who was the original candidate, Imperial Concubine Hu who had a in appearance was chosen. She also pitied Wenjun, since her expectations were manipted by her family. But there must have been more to a womans happiness than just receiving the favor of the emperor. Because she did not be a concubine, she couldve grasped freedom more than Imperial Concubine Hu. She could love somebody else, and they could have had a future together. Turning her back on a bright future, and binding herself to the fate of a woman living in the Inner Pce she was truly a pitiful woman, indeed. Wenjuns face became extremely distorted when she saw Yui Mei looking down at her. Dont look at me, dont look at me with those pitying eyes! I shouldve been the one to receive the emperors favor, but why!? Wenjuns wails echoed futilely throughout the corridor. *** That day, Wenjun was arrested for attempting murder on Imperial Prince Youren, and they heard she was imprisoned while awaiting her punishment. To think that I had been hated to that extent Imperial Concubine Hu already knew that Wenjun did not like their mother-son pair. However, Wenjun had more power in their family, so when she thought about that, she could not bring herself to make a strong front. Besides, she also felt obliged for snatching the position which was originally Wenjuns. When talks about Wenjun bing Yourens attendant came up, she couldnt stop it because she had a higher position than her. If she had firmly objected at that time, then perhaps Wenjun didnt have to be astray. Imperial Concubine Hus thoughts of what ifs swirled around her mind. Imperial Concubine Hu felt like she was in a quagmire, but that doctors assistant led the way towards the clear waters. It seemed that the emperor knew that girl, but she remembered toote that she hadnt asked for her name. Normally, if circumstances permit, one would introduce herself without asking, What is the name of that helper girl? Im afraid I do not know, except that she is the doctors assistant. The answer was uncertain even if she asked the elderly maid who was pouring her tea. However, only one thing was clear. That girl had blue eyes that shone brightly. The look in those blue eyes resemble His Majestys eyes long ago. The maid did not hear Imperial Concubine Hus whisper. - T/L Thoughts: Sorry for thete chapter, just got back ;D Did not expect Wenjun to be the original Imperial Concubine Hu. So she wanted to rece Imperial Concubine Hu, and was in cahoots with the empress dowager. I get why she wanted to harm her, but as to why the empress dowager wanted to dispatch her, when they were in the same faction well Im guessing that it all boils down to the empress (empress dowagers niece) jealousy, perhaps? Especially since Imperial Concubine Hu was the emperors type, and she gave birth to his son. On a side note, I saw a review on NU about the impudence and stupidity of Yui Mei, considering she is a fan.. Well, heres my take on this shes a modern person, and a Japanese at that, so no matter how much of a die-hard fan she is, she realistically wouldnt be able to act the part first because she was a nurse, second because she did not live in the capital despite being transmigrated there, third, there was no one to teach her and fourth, she thought she was a mere spectator. I am a fan of ancient chinese novels, but if I transmigrate there, I am 100% sure I wont be able to master the etiquette and the subtleties unless I was born in nobility and have been taught about it since birth. Besides Im not a Chinese hehe, so fat chance of bowing perfectly towards the emperor if I did not have the necessary background ? Watching, doing tours versus living in that world are two very different things ? Chinese protagonists who transmigrate to Ancient China at least have cultural ties, and some of them have cheats and systems and others experienced repeating their lifetimes for a do over:) But thanks for thement, it is a nice discussion point, I would love to hear your opinions, too ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 35: Court Lady Arousing Curiosity Chapter 35: Court Lady Arousing Curiosity After the incident of Imperial Prince Youren, talks about food hypersensitivity instantaneously spread. Many concubines began to drop in unexpectedly at Ziliangs ce with requests of Please examine my body constitution, so he was currently in a whirl of busyness. On the other hand, the empress dowager did not like this flow of events. The emperor overturned the conclusion she had drawn, making her lose facepletely. Because of that, the agitated, shrill shrieks of a woman was heard incessantly from the pce of the empress dowager. With this, the situation in the Inner Pce became stormy. One day, the emperor visited Lady Wangs residence under the pretext of taking a break from work. Oh, Your Majesty, it is an honor for you toe here. Lady Wang, who went outside by chance, ordered the maid beside her to prepare tea, and she led the Emperor inside. What have you been doing just now? It is getting warmer, so I wanted to admire the flowers in the garden. They made their way towards the room as they did small talk, and the tea and snacks were then brought in after a while. Then please excuse us. After arranging them on the table, the maid then bowed and left, taking the emperors attending eunuchs with her. Therefore, only the emperor and Lady Wang were left inside the room. The emperor didnt take the initiative to say anything, and he wordlessly sipped his tea. During this time, Lady Wang would also refrain from talking to the emperor. She also silently drank her tea. She understood that the emperor came to visit because he wanted to rx in a tranquil ce. After a brief period where only the sound of clinking teacups and leaves rustling in the wind could be heard, the emperor mumbled. A while ago, there was a courtdy who came here to clean. Lady Wangs eyes flickered at the emperors sudden words. Only that girl woulde to her mind when a courtdy cleaner was mentioned. Aah, it must be Yui Mei? Yui Mei, you said? When Lady Wang replied with a smile, the emperors eyes widened for an instant, and then he muttered. Oh? , Lady Wang thought upon seeing the emperors reaction. Is there another girl with the name Yui Mei? The name Yui Mei was somewhatmonce, so it was not surprising if others also had this name. Thats why a girl with the same name must be within the empire, or perhaps, a person near the emperor had this name. Lady Wang did not show the doubts she carried in her heart on her face, and she continued the conversation. She was an energetic and adorable girl, isnt she? She ate the sweets you give her while brimming with happiness. She is as cute as a small animal, so I always prepare them as thanks for cleaning. Lady Wang recalled Yui Mei stuffing her cheeks with manju, and she smiled. The emperor stroked his chin, a mannerism he did when deep in thought. Thats true. She was like that when she was here, so I thought she was a mere housekeeper courtdy, so I was surprised to learn that she was also a doctors assistant. Lady Wang was perplexed at these words. No, I heard from Yang that Yui Mei is a housekeeper? However, she does seem to be an erudite, seeing that she is knowledgeable about various things, so it would not be surprising if she was indeed an assistant. .I see. The emperor had a pensive look upon hearing the words of Lady Wang. Afterward, the emperor didnt stay for long, and he left right after they enjoyed their tea. Did hee just to inquire about Yui Mei? In the Inner Pce, the emperor expressing his interest was tantamount to being viewed as a prospective concubine. However, the emperors current appearance had a different feel to it. Listen, do you know somebody named Yui Mei? Lady Wang asked the question that had been bothering her to the maid who was clearing up the tea sets. It must be the housekeeping courtdy who alwayses here. The maid replied with those words. Not that Yui Mei, I was thinking if there was somebody else. Im afraid not? I do not have any recollection. When Lady Wang kept on pressing for an answer, the puzzled maid shook her head. Apparently, even a courtdy older than her did not know another person named Yui Mei. Yui Mei, huh Lady Wang tried to search in her memories, but she came up with nothing. Maybe she was making a mountain out of a molehill, but oddly enough, she couldnt stop thinking about it. After a while, Lady Wang suddenly remembered Lady Zhang, the beauty who lived in this mansion before her. She was an infamous person within the circle of courtdies, for she had been rapidly promoted from a lower courtdy to a beauty after receiving the favor of the emperor. At that time, Lady Wang had just entered the Inner Pce as a novice courtdy, so she knew little about it. Didnt she give birth to a daughter before she vanished? However, she didnt know the name of that daughter. The empress dowager dered that she was not the child of the emperor, so her existence became a taboo. Only very few people knew about it; for example, the people, such as Yang, who had helped her give birth. Originally, she should be living luxuriously as a princess, what a pitiful baby. If she were alive, then she should be around the age of Yui Mei. While thinking of this, Lady Wang recalled the first time she met Yui Mei. She remembered that Yui Mei had beautiful, mysterious blue-tinged hair under her hood. However, since that day, she hadnt removed her hood, so she thought it was such a waste. Now that I think about it, Lady Zhang also had beautiful, wondrous hair. She never met her, so she didnt know its definite shade, though. However, thismon feature bothered a corner of Lady Wangs heart. T/L Thoughts: Start of the a new arc Volume 4: Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet. ? More and more people are making the connection! Hello guys! I finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by.;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters for only 3$. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 36: Festive Court Ladies Chapter 36: Festive Court Ladies The season gradually became warmer recently. The Inner Pce also got past the peak of influenza, and its influence was gradually abating.With this, it was the advent of spring atst. Yui Meis mood was great, and her work also progressed smoothly as she admired the beautiful yard while cleaning. The snackss level of deliciousness rose up one level as she ate them while viewing the flowers in the garden. The flowers of the garden plum trees would fall anytime soon; in exchange, the period of the full blossoming of the cherry trees was also fast approaching, so it was a very impressive sight. One certain day during the height of spring, she was asked during breakfast at the dining hall about therge-scaled event that was soon to be held. Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet? Yeah, the nobles are holding a feast while admiring the flowers. Yui Mei was perplexed as she ate her breakfast, so Mei Na exined. At first nce, it was just like the cherry blossom viewing parties, but on this day, a special event would ur that would separate this feast from the others. Apparently, the grownup children of the emperor who left the Inner Pce were permitted to enter during this day so they could spend it with their mothers. I see~, so thats why everyones so excited. Yui Mei looked around as understanding dawned on her face, and she saw everyone gossiping loudly about which prince was doing what. For the courtdies, this Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet was an opportunity to be seen by the various princes. Yui Mei couldnt care less about those princes, and shes more concerned about something else. Apparently, the merchants woulde soon to open stalls for the women who wanted to dress up during the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet. I want to buy a new hairpin. Is there a good color of rouge? The courtdies were itching to go shopping, and they were gossiping here and there. It seemed that though the world might change, the womens love for shopping wouldnt. Yui Mei was not particrly interested in essories, but she wanted to shop. Bartering self-produced items was the norm in the bordends, and shopping was an activity far beyond their means. Even the wages handed to them in time for the opening of the booths had currency she never saw before. She nned to carry out her desire to shop that hadnt been fulfilled yet in this world with all her might. Will there be something good? Anticipation swelled in her chest, and finally, the long awaited day of the merchants arrival came. Alrighty, time to go shopping! Yui Mei speedily finished her work, then she headed towards the square where the stalls were. Yui Mei was excited, but she couldnt forget that the Inner Pce was a hierarchical society. It was also reflected during shopping in the stalls, as the senior courtdies had their turn first. What would happen in the end. The stalls werepletely ransacked by the swarms of courtdies and maids, and only dregs remained. Well, this is bound to happen, I suppose. The shopping situation of low ranking courtdies was such that they could only choose from the left-overs. Yui Mei already expected this much, so she wasnt too affected. There was also good fortune among those surplus, so she was excited to find a good bargain. By the way, the merchants would go directly to the concubines, so they wouldnte here. Thedies-in-waiting would also be graced with the favor of shopping there, so the courtdies also dreamed of that exclusive position. Those matters should be set aside for now. She cast a sidelong nce towards the courtdies who desperately looked for essories among the remaining goods, then she squatted at the stall offering other items aside from ornaments. Judging from the various merchandise disyedpared to the other stalls, it seemed that it was not that frequented. Misceneous things such as pots and sewing kits were lined-up at the stall Yui Mei was looking at. Apparently, all the items aside from the leading ones were squeezed in here, all mixed-up. Heh, theres a lot of different stuff. The merchants gawked curiously at Yui Mei as she rummaged through the goods, but she ignored them all. Yui Mei stared intently at the goods, when a ss bottle containing different colored candies and covered by a pot caught her eye. This might be good, I can eat one piece every day! I want to buy this please! Yui Mei raised the ss bottle of candies, and the merchant said Thank you for your purchase! with a smile. Okay, payment huh Yui Mei took out her pouch that she brought as a substitute for a wallet to pay the merchant. You could have bought other things aside from that. A males voice came from above her. When Yui Mei looked up, Libin was standing diagonally behind her. Did Libin alsoe to buy something? She couldnt think of any other reason why he was here, so she asked. Im already done at the crown princes pce. However, the answer was tantly obvious, and Yui Mei also agreed, Yeah, I thought so. So what was he doing here? Libin extended his hand and dropped some change on the merchants palm, ignoring Yui Meis bewildered face. Is this enough? Yes, more than enough, you still have change. Eh? Yui Mei tilted her head, perplexed at their conversation. Could the money just now be payment for the candies? Why did this guy pay for it? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. Hello guys! I finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by.;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters for only 3$. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 37: The Hairpins Meaning Chapter 37: The Hairpin''s Meaning No need for change, keep it. Thank you very much. And so, the purchase waspleted just like that; moreover, it ended with the richs lines of No need for change. Libin, are you bribing me with the candy, perhaps? Under the unrelenting gaze of Yui Mei, Libin lightly sighed. What a cheap bribery money. I wont gain anything from bribing you in the first ce, you know. Indeed, there was no merit in bribing a housekeeping courtdy who wasnt even ady-in-waiting of a high-ranking consort. Apparently, it was not a bargaining point for something else. In that case, then Libin must have genuinely bought the candy for her. Then, thank you very much for buying it for me, I will eat it with pleasure. Yui Mei clutched the bottle of candies and she beamed as she thanked him. They were in the way for standing too long in front of the stall, so Yui Mei and Libin left that ce. Yui Mei stared again at the bottle of candies. Fufufu, its sooo beautiful. Being able to eat with pleasure while appreciating it, isnt this the best? Libin looked at Yui Mei grinning broadly while thinking those things, then he spoke. If you are shopping then you could have chosen to buy an essory. He then nced at the courtdies who were gathered where the essories were lined up. They were scrutinizing each of the goods in the hopes of finding something better despite being left-overs. Hes telling me to mingle with them, huh. It was probably Libins kind advice; unfortunately, Yui Mei had no intention of buying those things. Im not interested, and I couldnt use it everyday since it will get in the way of cleaning. Libin scrunched his brows when he heard Yui Meis resolute remarks. Good grief, it is just as the crown prince feared, huh. After saying those with a sigh, Libin took a package wrapped in cloth from his bosom. It was thin and roughly the size of a palm, and he held it out to her. What might this be? Youll know, so open it. Libin thrust it towards the suspicious Yui Mei. Somehow, he looks like a swindler, though. The thought that he might demand for arge sum afterward passed through her mind. Faster. Yui Mei lost to the intensity of Libins stare, so she ced the bottle of candies on the ground, and unwillingly opened the package. Inside was a Hairpin? Indeed, it was a petite hairpin embellished with cute little red flowers suitable for young girls. Why a hairpin? Yui Mei could not understand why Libin gave her a hairpin. What is this? Yui Mei waspletely bewildered as she looked up at Libin, so he heaved another deep sigh. Women normally be happy with this, though. Libin grumbled like that, but she thought unhappiness also depended on the attitude of the person who gave it. Even Yui Mei knew exactly what it usually meant when a man gave a present to a woman. Handing an essory then confessing was amonly used scene in the dramas she watched in her previous life. However, the man standing in front of her had an austere face, and if he had that intention when he handed the hairpin, then the answer would be no. Their conversation did not seem to be a confession, and that kind of mood was also absent. She couldnt see Libin hiding his embarrassment at all. I wish he would stop talking to me as if Im thickheaded, though. Libin talked to the wholly unsatisfied Yui Mei with a straight face. The Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet is soon. It would be troublesome if you dont wear at least one hairpin, How on earth was the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet rted to a hairpin? Rather than that, was it an event where all were required to attend? Honestly, I do not care for the princes who areing from the outside. Yui Mei thought she would grab some left-over food and rx in some corner. It was her n, but Libin shook his head. It is a grand, extensive banquet, so there is no way you would be permitted to skip. You cannot wear that kerchief in that showy ce. ording to Libin, the festivities were done so that all the women in the Inner Pce, including the courtdies, would be enlivened. The courtdies might also serve during the flower viewing. That was why even the lowest of all the courtdies had to be presentable. This Inner Pce cherry blossom viewing is that troublesome!? It would be better if they can just drink alcohol on their own and get drunk. Just as Yui Mei was thinking in that fashion, a problematic issue was brought up. You probably heard this from somebody else, but princesses and princes were invited to attend. A courtdy with nary a hairpin would easily catch the eye of other people, particrly the princes. In that case, then all the efforts of the courtdies in shopping so they could catch the fancy of a prince were all in vain, then. Libin raised his brow at Yui Meis doubts. Youre a guy with a peculiar reasoning, huh. With no one to give her a hairpin, no money to buy one, they would think it would be easy to crush her. I see, so shed be a target of assaults, then. It was a situation that must be avoided at all costs. T/L Thoughts: Cant help but notice how Libins brows were doing acrobatics in this series lol ? Shoutout to I.M.Gibbon for being our first ever patreon!! ? Thank you so much for always supporting our work <> Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. Hello guys! I finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? I alsounched my Ko-Fi page! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 38: Even Yui Mei is of Age Chapter 38: Even Yui Mei is of Age If they were the crown princes brothers, then that would mean they were also Yui Meis (provisionary) brothers. She was not interested inmitting incest. Furthermore, if the emperors children were called princes, then the emperors brothers were also princes. They would also possiblye, so she began to think that it was truly a bother. Moreover, with the way Libin said it, even if she was assaulted and a child was born, it probably would not be acknowledged. Rather than that, they would be thrown into the nunnery. For her to fall into the same predicament as their mother and daughter she would absolutely not let that happen. Do not go near the princes during the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet, alrighty, Ill keep it in mind! After burning that warning into her brain, the next thing she was bothered about was the origin of the hairpin. Who prepared this hairpin? Libin shrugged his shoulders at Yui Meis query. I did. The crown prince wanted to buy it for you, but him sending a hairpin to a courtdy would cause misunderstandings. Yui Mei also didnt want to raise rumors that she was a courtdy involved with the crown prince. But did Libin-sama choose this hairpin himself? When she scrutinized it again, it was not ostentatious, but it was not in, either; it was a cute but elegant hairpin. If Libin chose this, then he had great tastes. With that clever way of choosing gifts, if he was not a eunuch then he would certainly be popr. There were doubts about him being a eunuch, but for now, she set them aside. And so, it was now clear to her that Libin was the one who gave it to her. Then the next question would be how to use this hairpin. I have never used this kind of thing, though. At any rate, it was not an essory that was readily avable in her previous life. Yui Mei did not know what to do with the hairpin, and was just idly swinging it. .Cant be helped then, hand it over. Libin took the hairpin from Yui Meis hand, then he removed the kerchief, and he arbitrarily fixed her hair and inserted the hairpin. Its like this, as expected, I was right in choosing the red flower. After arranging her hair, Libin took a step back and checked the result. She already thought about this before, but he was a man skilled at fiddling with hair, arranging it in such a short time. And apparently, Libin did choose the hairpin himself. How should I say this, hes a person with no slip-ups. Anyway, Yui Mei also wanted for herself to see how it was after it was done. I wanted to see it! Is there a mirror somewhere? Theres a mirror here. When Yui Mei tried to look for a ce that could reflect her appearance, he handed her a small hand-mirror. Rather, bringing a mirror everywhere, there should be a limit to how prepared he was. Anyhow, she hurriedly peered into the mirror. Ah, I look cute! The red flower was set off by her hair, giving her a gorgeous ambience. Yui Mei smiled as she looked at her appearance in the mirror from various angles. She did not have any intention of dressing up to be chosen by the princes, but she would also feel happy when she looked good. While looking at Yui Mei circling around as she looked in the mirror, Libin softly mumbled. Unexpectedly, you also have a feminine side to you, huh. Fortunately, these words were not heard by Yui Mei who was in high-spirits. Afterward. All the courtdies became very busy as the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet approached. Of course, Yui Mei was not an exception. She polished the interior of the Inner Pce until it was sparkling, and she took out the tables and chairs that would be ced in the garden and polished them too. In short, only polishing jobs were awaiting her. The kitchen staff Mei Na was also upied with working on the pre-made foods. There was a refrigerator using ice in the Inner Pce, but its capacity was not huge. That was why the dishes that would require fresh ingredients were to be made on the day itself early in the morning. However, foods that could be preserved were already prepared a few days prior. That was why the kitchen lights were still litte into the night. In this manner, all the courtdies involved in the preparation run around until becamepletely exhausted, and the day of the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet finally arrived. Yui Mei was inside her room fighting in front of the slightly warped mirror she had borrowed from the storage room. Hmmm, so difficult. Her opponent was the hairpin she got from Libin. Even if she did not n to dress up especially, she wanted to do something about her hair, so she had been trying to arrange it through trial and error, but it wasnt going well. Will I get used to this at this rate? Yui Mei was about to give up on the hairpin because it was too troublesome, and she was overwhelmed. Ah Mei, are you there? Right at that time, Mei Na came to visit. What is it? I am currently preupied though Yui Mei poked her head out to receive her, and Mei Na heaved a sigh when she saw Yui Meis hair in a jumble. I was worried so I decided to take a look, and there you are. Yui Mei, dont tell me you n to go to the banquet with your bare face. Eh, I n to go as is, though? It couldnt be helped since she didnt have any cosmetics. Mei Nas eyes widened in disbelief at Yui Mei who had those thoughts. Theres no way that would be okay! Afterward, she took her shoes off and entered the room, then she seated Yui Mei in front of the mirror. She put the box she was carrying on the floor, and when she opened the lid, there was a make-up kit inside. Alright, be still! Mei Na pressed Yui Mei down as she said that, then she started to put face powder on her. - T/L Thoughts: I KNOW that hairpin was not special in any way to Libin, but I couldnt help but squeal when he arranged her hair. Lol. Its the second hairpin from him. I hope they get to the romance part sooooonnnn. And do you have any suggestions on wording how to heave a sigh? Haha.. These characters loved to sigh a lot ;D Also, even if I didnt put honorifics when she was talking to Libin because, well, it was Ancient China, I still added it to her inner monologue (if the raws did, since she didnt use them in some cases), since shes a former Japanese anyway, so it would make sense if she addressed the higher-ups with honorifics. This was the answer I came up after contemting how to tl the honorifics thing.. hehe.. thanks to S4TY4 formenting on this, it helped me realized I had to rify it here, too ? Thank you so much for reading!! I appreciate everyonesments, and please feel free to point it out if I missed some typos/ grammatical errors btw ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 39: The Start of The Banquet Chapter 39: The Start of The Banquet Yui Mei is also a woman, so you should at least dress up. Mei Na was strangely enthusiastic about this, but Yui Mei was troubled. Ahm, I dont want to stand out too much. Yui Mei said as she desperately tried not to sneeze from the face powder; however, Mei Na smiled and replied. Rx, people who are more eye-catching than you are scattered all around you. Ah Yui Mei recalled each and everyone of the courtdies who was were too invested about this to the point that they were running around like headless chickens. Well, thats true, though there are also people who looked like theyre participating in a costumepetition. Mei was the leader among them, though. She stuck an extremely gaudy feather on her head; anyway, the result was truly something to look at. Really, one could only say amazing. Compared to that, a little bit of make-up did seem in. While she was thinking about whether she should be relieved with that stark contrast, color was lightly dabbed on her cheeks, and rouge rubbed on her lips. Alright, your done! You have a face that takes well with powder, huh. Mei Na was brimming with satisfaction, and Yui Mei raised her brow at her remarks. That means my face is mediocre, isnt it? The effect of powder could be more readily seen on people with in facespared to those who had distinct features. Anyway, it was the arrangement of hair after the face was done. Mei Na deftly fixed her hair beautifully, then she took the hairpin that was lying there. Whats with this hairpin? I thought you didnt have a hairpin? Mei Na curiously asked as she inserted it in her hair. Yui Mei didnt usually have such a thing, and she never saw this in her room before. After Libin put it on her, she took it off soon after, so nobody saw it. Somebody gave this to me. Yui Mei didnt know how to lie, so she told her the truth. Oh, even you cant be left in a corner, huh. Mei Na was somewhat grinning, so she must be anticipating an amorous story. Sorry to disappoint, but she would not go along with her expectations. A eunuch I frequently talked to told me to own even just one, so he gave it to me. Mei Na had aplicated expression when she heard her exnation. Did you hook up with an eunuch? Might be good, but might be futile. Well, that impression is natural, huh. Mei Nas reaction as a courtdy was ordinary. Even if she partnered up with a eunuch, a child was impossible, so no matter how much of an Adonis one was, it was difficult for them to be his partner. Leaving that aside, Yui Meis appearance was in good order as one of the flowers in the flower viewing all thanks to Mei Na. After the flurry ofst-minute preparations, the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet finally began. The garden became the venue for the event, and the concubines who were gathered there engaged in pleasant chit chat while sipping tea. How splendid. The flowers are blooming beautifully this year as well. Their figures were elegant as they exchanged words like this. Yui Mei stood absentmindedly at the edge of the venue, and she gazed at them from afar. Mei Na and the rest of the kitchen staff were busy with cooking and food preparation, but the low-ranking courtdies like Yui Mei did not have work anymore. To put it strongly, their job was to stand there in a line as lively staff. I cant sneak a bit of food at this rate. In that case, Yui Mei had nothing to do but observe the people. In order not to stand out with her bluish hair, she mixed in with the tall courtdies, and she peeped at the concubines from behind them. Yui Mei was assigned to a ce different from where the people from the crown prince pce was, so she didnt see the crown prince nor Libins figures. In exchange, she could clearly gaze at the higher-ranking concubines. Oh my, those hair ornaments are new, I presume? Likewise, your clothes are dyed ones that came into fashion recently. Theyplimented each other as they enjoyed the flower viewing in harmony. However, if one looked closely, one would notice that these women gathered into two groups. They were naturally divided into the group who was further into the garden where the scenery was most wonderful, and another group who huddled together in a distance. Empress dowagers faction, and those who are not, I guess. She tried to strain her ears so she could hear what courtdies were whispering about, and she learned that the elderly woman sitting in the middle of the group of concubines who were further into the garden was the rumored empress dowager. Indeed, lively voices flowed from that direction. That woman over there, serve wine over here. Bring the dishes here. Men who were not eunuchs ordered the maids and courtdies around inmanding tones. There were several men serving around the empress dowager, and no matter how you looked at them, they seemed to be from the same generation as the emperor. They were probably the brothers of the emperor. Aside from them, there were also young men who chatted happily with the concubines. They must be the brothers of the crown prince. Going near them is a no no, huh. Since she was buried among the courtdies, she probably wouldnt enter their field of vision, so it would be fortunate if she managed to stay still in ce. Unfortunately, she discovered a problem. Even though it became warmer, if she stood in ce without moving, her body would gradually be colder. When it gets colder, it would also be natural that she would get the urge to use the toilet. Excuse me, I will go to the washroom for a moment. Yui Mei exined to the courtdy nearby, then she left that ce. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 40: A Small Cherry Blossom Viewing Chapter 40: A Small Cherry Blossom Viewing Yui Mei separated from them to go to the washroom, but she ended up walking for a while. Geez, why did the toilet have to be so far. Although it was not that urgent, Yui Mei had been walking with perseverance until she finally got miffed. She didnt know where the restroom was, so she had been circling around uselessly. She told herself that she must properly check the location of restrooms from now on. Afterward, a lot of time had already passed, so she thought it would be better if she returned back to the original ce through a shortcut. She passed through a small path. Kyahahaha! A familiar childsughter resounded. It wasing from an unpopr ce. This voice, dont tell me. Yui Mei, softly peeked towards the direction of the voice. This is warm! Yes, the courtdy in the kitchen warmed it again. A young girl was conversing with Imperial Prince Youren at the ce she was looking at. They had spread a mat on thewn in a ce surrounded by thickets, and a few dishes were lined up together. They were probably having their own cherry blossom viewing with just the two of them; rather than a feast, it looked more like a pic. The girl must be the newly appointeddy-in-waiting. She ced the dishes on small tes, and she also wiped the stains around Imperial Yourens mouth, clearly doing her best to take care of him. What a relief, looks like hes healthier now. Imperial Prince Yourens expression was clear with no traces of fear. Since Wenjun, the maid attending to the imperial prince, left, his life also improved. While Yui Mei was gazing at the two of them, Imperial Prince Youren suddenly turned towards her, and their eyes met. Ah! Imperial Prince Yourens expression brightened in an instant, and he took one of the manju from the tes. Afterward, he stood up and rushed towards her. Your Highness, what happened!? The maid was surprised at the suddenness of his movements, so she hurriedly stood up to follow. Imperial Prince Youren left the maid on her own as he stopped in front of Yui Mei and greeted her energetically. Hello! When Imperial Prince Youren greeted Yui Mei while grinning broadly, her option to leave this ce sneakily vanished, and she bowed her head deeply. Good day, Your Highness the Imperial Prince Youren, your health is our greatest fortune. Imperial Prince Yourens countenance radiated when he heard Yui Meis words. As I thought, that voice, you are the assistant that time, right! May I ask how did you know so well? Yui Mei was perplexed as Imperial Prince Youren happily remarked. At that time, Yui Mei had covered her face with a kerchief and a cloth mask. Despite that, how did he know that it was her? Imperial Prince Youren told her the answer. I wanted to thank you no matter what. When I asked Elder Brother, he told me that it was a person with bluish hair, so I thought thats it. Apparently, the crown prince was the source of information. The one who told Yui Mei to hide her blue hair was Libin, who was supposedly sent by the crown prince. At that time, he did tell her do not stand out, if she was not mistaken. She had thought that it was a warning from the crown prince which he sent using Libin as the messenger. It was as if he was saying she already did an eye-catching thing, so it would do her well to refrain from standing out more than this. However, the crown prince himself taught him about her; whats with that? Being an imperial princes acquaintance was one of the things that would make her stand out more, though. Perhaps, Imperial Prince Youren pleaded with the crown prince and because he was bothered, he unwittingly said it. But, maybe I could use this to pester him to give me a mushipan as an apology. Yui Meis objective was to watch the Inner Harem inconspicuously, so she wasnt happy that her personal information was revealed. Imperial Prince Youren, unaware of Yui Meis resentment against the crown prince, continued to speak while beaming. Because of you, I am now very healthy! Imperial Prince Youren was still skinny, but it was now within the healthy range. It seemed like he was eating properly. Did his face be a bit rounder? Hisplexion is good, too. Yui Mei gauged Imperial Prince Yourens health as she gazed at him. Ahm, this manju is delicious! Imperial Prince Youren said as he offered the manju. Yui Meis eyes glittered when she saw that. Perhaps, you would like to give this to me? Yes, I heard from Elder Brother that you like manju! What have you been saying, Your Highness the Crown Prince? Being told that she loves manju, isnt that tantamount to being told to be a glutton? Besides, it was not like Yui Mei was a glutton. In this country where the standard was two meals a day, aborer needed to eat one more meal in between. Besides, it was not like manju was Yui Meis favorite; she would be happy to receive mushipan and ma hua, too. Manju made her stomach full, so she only preferred it because of that. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 41: Suspicious Man Chapter 41: Suspicious Man Yui Meis heart received a slight blow after being thought as manju-loving by Imperial Prince Youren, but she couldnt just leave him while he offered the manju to her. While she was inwardly debating whether she would receive this, the girl attending to Imperial Prince Youren spoke to her. Ahm, would you like to have tea over there if you will eat it? The girl said timidly, or to be more precise, she said so with nervous diffidence. Even though there was no need for her to be so scared, somehow, she was frightened. This reaction was somewhat simr to that of the maiden serving Yu Xiu. She and this girl, why would they be so awkward in front of Yui Mei? Am I scary? Or do I look imposing? She had been told she was exuding the aura of a veteran since she was young in her previous world, but was it the same in this world? On the other hand, Imperial Prince Yourens eyes were shining as he looked up at her, perhaps anticipating that she would eat together with him. If she rejected him outright, he would probably be dejected. Besides, there were courtdies who did not return for a long time after going to the washroom, so they must have been taking a breather somewhere else. And so, Yui Mei decided to imitate them. Then, please let me apany you for a little while. ! Well then, lets go to that mat over there! When Yui Mei nodded, Imperial Prince Youren quickly took her hand and pulled her towards the mat. Your Highness, you will fall down if you hurry like that! Im fine! Imperial Prince Youren ignored the maids warning. Nevertheless, why did it seem like Imperial Prince Youren was having a pic in such a ce? Ordinarily, he should be one of the VIPs at the banquets main venue; it was unnatural that there were only the two of them in this ce. However, Yui Mei was also aware of the reason. Because of the incident with Imperial Prince Yourens food hypersensitivity, the empress dowagers deration had been negated, causing her displeasure. Imperial Concubine Hu must have secretly arranged for him to have the flower viewing here in order to avoid harassment from being within the empress dowagers surroundings. She must have feared that since it was already known that Imperial Prince Youren could not eat eggs, somebody might intentionally feed him by mixing it with the other dishes. But its unexpectedly more enjoyable this way, probably. Even though there were only the two of them, it was more pleasant by a long shotpared to the banquet they had at the main venue. It would not be fun for a child if he had to look at theplexions of the adults around him while looking at the flowers. In this way, Yui Mei enjoyed the cherry blossom viewing with Imperial Prince Youren without worry for a short time. After interacting with Imperial Prince Youren, Yui Mei then made her way back to the banquet. Alright, Ill do my best for the remaining time! Yui Meis footsteps were lighter after her body was warmed by the manju and tea she received. Yui Mei happily walked through the corridor, then she could see the garden where the feast was being held from afar. It was at that time. Hey, that courtdy over there. From a secret ce in the corridor, a young mans voice stopped her. Yes? Yui Mei answered as she turned towards the direction of the voice. There was a man who obviously did not have the bearing of a eunuch. If he was not a eunuch, then he must be an imperial prince. However, the strange thing about it was that he did not have a single attendant with him. Excuse me, how may I help you? In order to avoid unnecessary connections with this man, Yui Mei softly inquired with a smile. There had been plenty of men making merry among the imperial princes who came for the once-a-year visit to the Inner Pce. She also observed some of them energetically drinking, and there were also those who behaved carelessly. She also agreed with Libinsment that wearing a hairpin would be for her self-defense after watching those guys. In short, she could see at a nce that it would be terrible to have anything to do with those guys. If the imperial princes went out of the city towards the red light district, they would find plenty of ymates over there. It would be a good n to avoid those who deliberately mess around with a woman looking after them and assaulting her. On the other hand, however, Yui Mei could sense that the man before her was different from them. He did not have the smell of alcohol on him, he didnt seem drunk, and he didnt look like he made merry. Rather than that, was this imperial prince in that garden? She could see that he was young, probably around her age. If he was an imperial prince, then he must be the brother of the crown prince, but Yui Mei did not remember seeing him in the garden. Besides, even if he was not in the garden and was staying at another ce, him being alone without a single attendant gave her a sense of unease. I see, the blue hair is just like the rumors She heard his faint whisper. Whats with this person. Yui Mei knit her brows. Did this person call out to stop her because of her bluish hair? - T/L Thoughts: Hi guys, sorry for the superte chap! Its been a super hectic day posted as soon as I could. Thanks a lot for your patience and understanding. ? And this is also a bitte, shoutout to Guerin, thank you so much for being my patron! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 42: Unexpected Help Chapter 42: Unexpected Help The only way a man would know about Yui Meis bluish hair despite living outside the Inner Pce was that he must have gathered information deliberately. She did not have a good feeling about it as she thought about what his purpose might be. However, no matter how inwardly suspicious Yui Mei was, it was a fact that he had a much higher status than a low-ranking courtdy like her. Ahm, please pardon me, but I am currently in a hurry Yui Mei backed off as she politely gave an excuse. I do not have the intention to take too much of your time. However, please give that hair to me. The man calmly uttered those outrageous words. Huh? Yui Mei did not understand for a moment what he was babbling about. What do you mean by getting my hair? Yui Mei wasnt able to respond as she stood dumbfounded when suddenly, the man walked towards her inrge strides, closing the gap between them, then he reached out to her. Hiii! The man knit his brows when Yui Mei hurriedly shifted her body to avoid his hand. I will bestow an appropriate reward, so there is no need to fear. Nononono! Being scared is normal, right!? Yui Mei inwardly protested against the mans selfish words. How many women in the world could keep their calm after being told Give me you hair by a stranger? She knew it would be better to escape from here, but her escape was hampered by the possibility that her opponent was an imperial prince. If he called out to herter, things might get out of hand. Isnt there a good way to escape? She evaded his hand while trying to think, but the guy persistently approached until he touched Yui Meis hair. He then grabbed her hair, then he pulled the hairpin and threw it on the floor, disheveling her tied hair in the process. It was the hairpin she got from Libin, and it was the hair Mei Na styled for her. Yui Meis blood rushed to her head after those things were treated so roughly. However Whoa, what a smooth sensation. The man wound Yui Meis hair around his hand and rubbed it on his cheek absorbedly. Whats with this guy, so creepy! Yui Meis fury went down, and goosebumps rose on her entire body. Aaarrggghh! Let go of my hair! All thoughts about the possibility of him being an imperial prince flew out of her mind, and Yui Mei pulled vigorously, bent on getting her hair back. Even if this was a hair fetish, the extent was a bit different from the usual. Come, I will now obtain this. He ignored Yui Me, and he took out a dagger as he said that. The de was pointed towards Yui Meis hair. Does he n to keep it at his ce after cutting it!? In that case, Yui Mei wont be able to sleep with worry about the fate of her stolen hair. Let go, let go I said! Yui Mei began putting strength on her feet, prepared to kick the man. Xiao Mei, what are you doing!? Aunty Yangs sharp voice resounded in the corridor. Aunty Yang!? When Yui Mei looked at the direction of the voice, Aunty Yang was standing behind the man. He was too absorbed in trying to cut the hair with the dagger so he didnt notice her presence at all. Goodness, thought I didnt see you at your post, stop cking off! Aunty Yang strode towards Yui Mei while scolding her. Fortunately, the man was surprised at Aunty Yangs sudden arrival, and his grip loosened. Taking advantage of this moment, Yui Mei pulled her hair away, then she briskly took the fallen hairpin and ran towards Aunty Yang. She looked angry, but Im saved! Fleeing from that guy was more important than being punished by Aunty Yang. Aunty Yang bowed her head deeply as she stood in front of that guy as if taking the ce of Yui Mei who escaped. Your Highness the Imperial Prince Dawei, this one is an immature novice courtdy, so I would like to apologize on her behalf as her supervisor for any mistakes she might have made. Apparently, that guys name was Dawei. Aunty Yang addressed him as His Highness the Imperial Prince, so there was no doubt now that he was indeed an imperial prince. No, I seemed to have disturbed her work. Imperial Prince Dawei stopped being violent at the arrival of a third person, and he pretended toply with Aunty Yangs apology as he casually put the dagger he was holding away. Naturally, all women in the Inner Pce were candidates for the emperors bride. If it was known that he attempted to injure one of them, even if he was an imperial prince, it would not be settled with just a scolding. Yui Mei was relieved that she was safe for the time being. Aunty Yang then asked her. Xiao Mei, did you properly finish the errand I entrusted to you? Eh, errand? Yui Mei had no recollection of being sent on an errand by Aunt Yang. However, if she responded with I dont know anything about that, Imperial Prince Dawei would surely say If you do not have anything to do, then apany me to her. Eh, No, Err. Aunty Yang gripped Yui Mei when she saw her worrying about how to respond. Its alright, go with the flow. She then very quietly whispered. Not yet. I apologize! Yui Mei remorsefully apologized, then she did a 90-degree bow. Goodness me, what a helpless child. In that case, then hurry up and go. Aunty Yang pushed her towards a certain corner, and she saw the familiar figure of a eunuch hiding from view. Its Libin-sama! Yui Mei turned around, and Aunty Yang nodded imperceptibly. It seemed like she was urging her to hurry and escape. Yes, please excuse me! Yui Mei bowed towards Aunty Yang along with Imperial Prince Dawei, then she briskly strode towards where Libin was. At any rate, she wanted to remove this creepy guy from her sight as soon as possible. T/N: Whoa, pervert alert! d Yui Mei was saved by the bell, thanks to Aunty Yang. I have a few guesses regarding his identity, whats yours? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 43: A Reassuring Place Chapter 43: A Reassuring ce With this, Yui Mei managed to flee from Imperial Prince Dawei. Libin apparently moved away from the corner of the corridor since he was waiting for her in a ce the Imperial Prince Dawei couldnt see. When Yui Mei reached him, strength left her limbs and she sank to the floor. Perhaps it was because she thought that she finally came to a safe ce. Im saved, my hair is safe! Her hair was disheveled because of being crumpled, but at least it was intact for the time being. Nothing made her more happy than this. Yui Mei was also a woman, so her hair was important to her; besides, being cut with a dagger not a joking matter. She was d that it did not happen, but she also wanted to wash her hair as soon as possible. She wanted to banish the sensation of Imperial Prince Dawei rubbing it to her cheeks from her mind. Its still cold, but well water would do! Yui Mei thought about these things, and for the time being, she exhaled deeply to calm herself. Libin watched her silently. Good grief, I came to call you due to some matters, but you werent at your post, and when I searched for you, you were caught by a dangerous personage. What the heck were you doing. He said that with a sigh, so Yui Mei looked up and retorted. I never had an inkling that that dangerous personage would be loitering there! Who would think that an imperial prince would walk through the corridor all alone? Concubines, more so imperial princes and princesses never moved on their own, and they have attendants who would do their bidding. Meeting Imperial Prince Youren, who came out of a thicket with leaves sticking on him, had been an exception. Nevertheless, she felt chills run down her spine when the dagger was pointed to her. There was no guarantee that the de would not have cut Yui Meis body and hair. Oh no, Im terrified now Fear washed over Yui Mei, and her body started to tremble. Because she grew up in the countryside, she could move her body better than those who were raised in the capital; nevertheless, it was not a life that would warrant facing a de. It was no wonder that she would break out in a cold sweat when she recalled how Imperial Prince Dawei suddenly tried to swing his dagger down. Just earlier, her body had been warmed as she pleasantly ate manju with Imperial Prince Youren, but now she couldnt help but feel cold all over. Libin saw Yui Meis condition. He crouched before her, then he gently stretched out his arm and ced his hand on her head with her hair still messed up. Are you alright? He then softly whispered. I thought my hair would be cut. Yui Mei mumbled while quivering, and upon seeing that, Libin gentlybed through Yui Meis disheveled hair with his hand. You must be frightened. Yui Mei felt her shoulders rx when Libin said that while fixing her hair. His hands are so warm. Even if they were hands all the same, it was still different from Imperial Prince Daweis. These hands never brought her any harm. Feeling reassured, Yui Mei felt her chilled body gradually warming up. Libin stayed with her like this for a while. Can you stand?, he then asked when he saw that Yui Mei calmed down. It would be troublesome if you meet His Highness Imperial Prince Dawei again, so we have to go quickly if you can move. Yui Mei hurriedly stood up when she heard those words. She absolutely didnt want to encounter that imperial prince again. Next time, she would throw all courtesy out of the window and flee while shrieking. Im going, Im going now. Oh, by the way, were you looking for me? Yeah. thats why were leaving. Libin said that, then he took the hairpin that Yui Mei had been gripping, and he easily rolled her hair and inserted it so that she was a bit more presentable. And so, Yui Mei did not return to her previous station, but was led towards another ce. She felt that Imperial Prince Dawei would appear if he heard her voice when she speak, so she silently walked, trying to mute her footsteps as she followed Libin. The ce Libin took her was apparently the crown prince pce. Just as I thought! It was just as she had partly expected. Libin must havee to fetch Yui Mei after being told by the crown prince, so this was the only ce they would go. Even in the crown princes garden, she could see the concubines enjoying food and wine as they chatted with each other. The person in the center noticed Yui Mei as she was being led by Libin. Oh my, Yui Mei, its great that youvee! The person who said that as she sauntered towards was no other than Yu Xiu. Yu Xiu was the person who had the highest probability of bing the empress, so the other concubines and attendants trained their eyes on her. Im standing out, Im standing out! Yui Mei did not want to stand out due to various reasons so she wanted to hide somewhere, thus, she tried to hide quickly behind Libin. Be obedient, acting suspiciously will make you stand out all the more. However, Libin pointed that out and she realized that it was true, so returned to her original ce. Yu Xiu finally reached them while she was in a fluster. Its been a while, Yui Mei. Noble Consort Jiang, it has been a while. Yui Mei bowed her head deeply when Yu Xiu called out to her. It was the first time she met Yu Xiu after the influenza incident, but herplexion is now good, and she seemed to be healthy. At that time, she was almost skin and bones, but now, she regained her soft womanly curves. I am truly relieved that you have been well. Yu Xiu beamed when she heard what Yui Mei said. Indeed, it is all thanks to you. Thank you, Yui Mei. Yu Xius impression when she was gaunt during her illness was strong. However, now that she was healthy, she had a lively expression, and not only was she beautiful, she was brimming with confidence and inner strength. Yui Mei inwardly agreed that she was indeed suitable to be the empress. Ahm. She felt she heard a childs voice. - T/L Thoughts: Ahh, progress! That first part was quite fluffy; even if it might be a suspension bridge effect (for Yui Mei), Im still happy ? Oohh, is that Imperial Prince Youren, or a new character perhaps? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 44: Shocking Facts Piled Up Chapter 44: Shocking Facts Piled Up Eh, a child in the crown princes pce? The crown prince supposedly didnt have a child yet, so Yui Mei confusedly looked around her surroundings. A small figure poked her head behind Yu Xiu. She was a girl d in a gorgeous outfit, and she looked older than Imperial Prince Youren. However, she looked barely ten years of age despite that. Assuming she was the child of the 25 year old crown prince he had be an adult just recently, so she must have been born even before that. It was not as if that was impossible, but it was also very likely that the crown princes younger sister came to y. Various conjectures ran through Yui Meis head. The girl stared at her and tilted her little head. Is this person the courtdy who saved Elder Sister? Yu Xiu gently chided the girl after she said that. You should greet her first, no? Oh, thats right! The girl replied with a start, then she turned around and faced Yui Mei with a smile on her face. I am En Xiao Hui, the Pure Consort of His Highness the Crown Prince. I am pleased to meet you. She greeted her very politely, but Yui Mei wasnt focused on that. Pure Consort!? This child!? Yui Meis jaw dropped. She was too dumbstruck that she forgot to bow her head. There were four consorts, and Pure Consort was one of them, along with Honored Consort, Virtuous Consort and Worthy Consort. In other words, she had the same ranking as Yu Xiu, who was the Honored Consort. It was impossible not to be shocked by this. ahm, if I may ask, how old is Consort En? Yui Mei nervously asked. Perhaps, Xiao Hui had a young appearance, but she was already an adult was what she thought, so she inquired. Xiao Hui just turned ten years old, right? Yes, my birthday was two months ago! Yu Xiu gently negated that thought, and it was also affirmed by Xiao Hui. She was indeed a child just like how she appeared to be. In that case, the crown prince had her when he was fifteen years old. However, the emperor also had concubines who were that young, so that age difference was not a big deal. There were also political marriages, and some people also say Age gap doesnt matter when ites to love! She understood that values differed among people. However, taking a child as a bride was something else. Perhaps, the reason why the crown prince didnt have a child was because he had that kind of disposition? Yui Meis eyes spontaneously turned upward due to her misgivings regarding the crown princes preference for children. Its good that youvee, Yui Mei. A voice called out to her from behind, and Libin bowed his head at the same time beside her. Yui Mei turned around. The crown prince in question was standing there, apanied by thedy-in-waiting she saw earlier. Errthanks, Your Highness. She perfunctorily bowed her head deeply, but it couldnt be helped that her answer was slipshod since she was suspicious that he was a pedophile. The crown princes eyes widened in surprise at Yui Meis suspicious gaze, and he muttered What an incredible expression, huh. with a wry smile. Yui Mei looked back and forth at the crown prince and Xiao Hui, then she pulled Libins sleeves since he was beside her. Libin! This is reeking with crime! Libin scowled when he heard what Yui Mei mumbled. Stop saying idiotic things, His Highness also has his various circumstances. He also whispered back, but Yui Mei became concerned about the specific details behind the word various. They were whispering right in front of him, so there was no way the crown prince himself didnt hear it. Sorry to disappoint you, but I am innocent, alright? The crown prince deepened his smile as he replied. He was smiling, but his eyes were scary. Apparently, he couldnt turn a blind eye against being suspected as a pedophile. Oh my, Yui Mei. Yu Xiu was watching their exchange and she giggled. Xiao Hui had a nk look on her face. She did not understand what they were talking about, apparently. It was obvious from this that she was not summoned to perform the duties of a concubine. If they were truly husband and wife, Xiao Hui would assert her rtionship with the crown prince more forcefully. Im d, Bro (provisionary) isnt a loli! Yui Mei was relieved, and the crown prince talked to her once again. My wives wanted to have tea with you, so I had you summoned. However, youre considerablyte. After being pointed out by the crown prince, Libin opened his mouth. A small dispute arose. It was easily settled. Ah, Mother, could you please arrange her hair? Libin talked to thedy-in-waiting, but she felt she heard another shocking truth. Eh, this person is Libin-samas mother? She was the crown princes personal attendant, so she must have a high ranking among the maids. Family background should be one of the standards being considered during recruitment for this post. Perhaps, Libin was the son of a rtively respectable family? It was truly a mystery why a person such as he would serve as an eunuch. Thedy-in-waiting approached Yui Mei who stood frozen on the spot with her eyes popping out. Oh my, its truly messy. What happened? Libin replied in a small voice as she fiddled with Yui Meis hair. Actually, we met His Highness the Imperial Prince Dawei midway. T/L Thoughts: Shoutout to Tanhya and Callum for being my new patrons, and for Ryneas generous ko-fi! ? Your support means a lot to me, thank you so, so much! ? Pure Consort Shufei, one of the concubine rankings in Ancient China. Based on this, Yu Xius ranking should be Guifei Honored Consort. In some cases it was Noble Consort, so from now on Im following the Tang Dynastys harem system for consistency. I used the other dynasties system, so I didnt realize right away that it was Guifei as in Honored Consort since those dynasties I referred to didnt have shufei. Hmm I think I should go back and find the chap where Yu Xiu was introduced, and rify this. And I should also fix the titles of Consort Hu (who should be Imperial Concubine Hu) and Consort Jiang based on the Tang Dynastys imperial harem system. >. Ranking: Honored Consort>Pure Consort> Virtuous Consort>Worthy Consort, although author-sama said Yu Xiu and Xiao Hui had the same status. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri, at 8:00 GMT. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 45: Imperial Prince Dawei Chapter 45: Imperial Prince Dawei He then briefly exined what happened. Oh my, poor thing, you must have been very scared. She hugged Yui Mei tightly in her indignation. Her ample chest wasnt obvious from her clothes; it was hard to breathe being pushed to her bosom. Wait here, Ill go get a mirror and ab first! She rushed like the wind after saying that. Im not worried about it, though~ And was it really fine leaving the crown prince just like that? I think I need to talk to you, so lets go to the room first, shall we? It was no longer the time to rx with tea. Yui Mei then recounted the details of the event once again in the crown princes room. Libin brewed the tea in ce of thedy-in-waiting as Yui Mei told them what had transpired. Hmm, I made a detour when I went to the washroom. She encountered Imperial Prince Youren on her way back from the privy, and she was invited to join them for tea. The crown prince nodded and said I see after hearing about this. I was thinking why Youren wasnt around. So he was doing that. The crown prince seemed worried whether Imperial Prince Youren was bullied by the empress dowager. It was fun, and they looked like they were having a pic, you know? I also got some manju from them. She then exined that she was on her way home from having tea when the encounter with Imperial Prince Dawei happened. She was saved from danger thanks to Aunty Yangs timely appearance, and Libin also yed a supporting role. Because Libin came to call Yui Mei under the order of the crown prince, Aunty Yang had to go find her, apparently. The courtdy stationed at the same ce told her that Yui Mei went to the washroom so she went to search within the privys vicinity. The crown prince sighed deeply after hearing Yui Mei and Libins story. What a disaster, I didnt know Dawei woulde unexpectedly. I heard he didnt participate in the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet, so I was surprised. Aunty Yang came so I was saved, if that was not the case then. With the crown princes grateful tone, a shiver ran down Yui Meis spine as she recalled how revolting it was when he rubbed her hair on his cheek. She was saved thanks to Aunty Yang, but if she had been alone with that Imperial Prince Dawei, Yui Mei was certain that she could only ept that her hair was taken. Just imagining it was already dreadful enough. If I knew that pervno, I mean, peculiar Imperial Prince came, I wouldnt wander about. Yui Mei was filled with resentment, so she almost slipped and said pervert. Though she did try to correct it in a fluster, it couldnt be helped that she let out a bitterint. Regardless, the person she fought with was an imperial prince. It was already clear who had the upper hand between a courtdy and an imperial prince. Even if Yui Mei appealed that her hair was cut, if he said I dont know anything about that then of course his opinion would be favored. Courtdies like Yui Mei could protect themselves if evidence wasplete. That was why she wouldve appreciated it if they were told that there was such a dangerous imperial prince beforehand. The crown prince bitterly smiled when he saw Yui Mei being like that. Well, it cant be helped if hes denounced as a pervert, so I understand how you feel. I thought Dawei wouldnt show his face because of various reasons, though. If I knew, I wouldve sent Libin to warn you. Since the crown prince didnt wash his hands of the incident, Yui Mei also calmed down. She started to contemte it. Yeah, everyone was talking about imperial princes, so its weird that I didnt hear about him. She never heard about that dangerous prince during the daily gossips about the imperial princes. It was also strange that nobody was on guard about a person who would forcefully cut someones hair. Hmmm. Tthe crown prince exined more about Imperial Prince Dawei when he saw Yui Mei deep in thought. Dawei is the only child of Her Majesty the Empress. Yui Mei also heard about the rumors surrounding the empresss imperial son. The empress did various methods to instate her son as the crown prince; unfortunately, all her efforts were in vain, and he had to leave the Inner Pce eventually when he came of age. With that situation, I think it wont be past him to enter the Inner Pce frequently. A proper rival wouldnt visit his mother and grandmother repeatedly and assert that he was the one suitable to be the crown prince, though? Yui Mei was still confused, so the crown prince continued. Rumors said that Dawei was born due to Her Majesty the Empresss unfaithfulness. Ahh, so its a typical muddy situation frequently shown in dramas. It had been a popr trick to bear the offspring of a guy from somewhere else. It was due to the very nature of the Inner Pce; there was a guarantee that only the emperor could sire any children. There was no such thing as DNA testing in this country, unlike Japan, so it was a good cheat if they didnt get caught. However, it was naturally suspicious if the child did not resemble the emperor, and instead looked like a different man. Moreover, the number of men who could enter the Inner Pce was already known. So suffice it to say that this trick was simple yet fraught with danger. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 46: Undesirable Fate Connection Chapter 46: Undesirable Fate Connection In the empresss case, the adulterer man got caught, so they had to solve the problem that arose. The empress dowager dered that it was not the empress who summoned him, but a particr woman with the status of a beauty, and her testimony became the truth. That beauty also conceived around the same time as the empress, and this became her misfortune. She bore the brunt of it and was driven away from the Inner Pce, and the allegations against the empresss adultery subsided on the surface. Somehow, I feel I heard this story already, though. Yui Meis expression wasplicated at this point as she listened. She knew the details of this familiar story. Was this a coincidence, perhaps? The crown prince stared at her puckered face as he stated his next words. The beauty who was chased out of the Inner Pce was a person called Lady Zhang. I knew it! Yui Mei almost screamed out, but she caught herself in time and tried to refrain from doing so. It was exactly as the nuns had said, so logically, she already heard about this before. For Yui Mei, her mother losing against the empress was a no-brainer. She did not have a backing, yet she fought with the woman who had the second highest status in the Inner Pce- of course she did not stand a chance. The crown prince continued on, indifferent to Yui Meis inward turmoil. Lady Zhang was pitiful for having to leave the Inner Pce, but the imperial prince who was left behind was also in a pathetic state. On the surface, misgivings about his birth ceased, but a rumor remains forever. Well, thats also true. They wouldnt say it to his face, but it was only natural that people would talk about him behind closed doors. For women, it was a good material for gossip after all. Without anyone knowing how it started, Imperial Prince Dawei became twisted after bearing the reputation of bastard imperial prince for so long. Indeed, that kind of environment was not suitable for a child. Between him and Yui Mei, who grew up surrounded by nature while being protected by the nuns despite being poor, who had a fortunate childhood? At the very least, Yui Mei despised that kind of environment. Although he did be a little bit twisted, we all thought that Dawei still grew up normally. Then a problem manifested itself when he became an adult. He became extremely obsessed with bluish hair. Do tell me, I pray, does that mean he prefers maidens with bluish hair? Sympathy started to sprout within Yui Meis heart, but when she recalled how Imperial Prince Dawei rubbed her hair on his cheeks, goosebumps rose all over her skin as she asked. If only that was it, then it would have been cute. However, he would cut the hair of women whose hair had a bluish hue under the light. During those days, he would ambush them in dark ces and cut their hair, much like a random attacker, causing a lot of damage. It became a huge problem when they discovered that it was Daweis doing. Whats with that malicious cutting crime!? Was Imperial Prince Dawei collecting blue-tinged hair? It would be horrendous if he kept that in a room. But it would be more terrifying if her hair was also mixed in there. Dawei did not stop despite being rebuked by His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. He was nearly under house-arrest at the pce of the Empress, and he was sent out of the Inner Pce the moment he came of age. To be honest, the courtdies and the maids were relieved, so they said. I see, in short, he was an awfully problematic child. Then, perhaps the reason he did not be the crown prince was due to the impact of that peculiar taste of his rather than the suspicions regarding his birth. No government official would dare send his daughter as a concubine to such a dangerous guy. It would be a different story if the emperor only had Dawei as his son; however, there were others. She also understood why not a single courtdy gossiped about Imperial Prince Dawei. They did not want to draw the ire of the empress dowager. He was wandering alone, perhaps to avoid being stopped during his hair collection excursion. Maybe he even shook his attendant off, thats why he was here. At that time, Imperial Prince Dawei said bluish hair ording to the rumors. Was Yui Mei being excessively self-conscious for thinking that he purposely attended the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet because he heard from someone about the courtdy with the blue hair. She was hoping his obsession with azure hair wasnt because of her mother, though. It was not surprising if Imperial Prince Dawei held interest regarding Lady Zhang after hearing the messy stories about his birth. Counting his age, he had just been born when her mother was kicked out of the Inner Pce. He did not see her with his own eyes, but the rumors he heard mustve left a deep impression on him. Well, there was nothing she could do even if that was the case. Anyway, Dawei will leave once the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet is over, so until then, be more careful, alright? Yes, understood. Yui Mei frankly nodded after hearing the crown princes warning. The long story was over, so she moistened her throat with the tea that had long grown cold. Here, have some mushipan. The crown prince urged her, so she did not hesitate to bite the mushipan. After munching for a short while, she heard the crown princes whisper. Xiulingste. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 47: Surprise Visit Chapter 47: Surprise Visit Now that you mention it, shes taking too much time fetching the mirror andb. Libin looked out of the window, apparently concerned, too. It seemed that Xiuling referred to thatdy-in-waiting. Maybe she went to the restroom on the way? And maybe she was stopped by someone on her way back from the toilet, just like her. Xiuling returned while Yui Mei was thinking about it. She then spoke the moment she opened the door. His Majesty the Emperor hase. Gh!? The tea is served. Yui Mei almost choked on the big chunk of mushipan she had just stuffed in her mouth when Xiuling said that. Eh, His Majesty the Emperor!? Why did hee!? Usually, a notice was given when the Emperor visited, and they would be perfectly ready to receive him. Why would he make a surprise visit, just like that time when she met him at Lady Wangs ce? Besides, wasnt he busy since the imperial family members were visiting from outside the pce during the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet? However, only Yui Mei was shocked; the other two did not change their expression. Father always hurriedly left after he showed his face at the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet, yet he went out of his way just toe here. The crown prince remarked with a wry smile. It seemed that this visit was not unexpected. Ill go receive him, so Yui Mei should stay here and rx. Afterward, the crown prince left with that easy-going demeanor, taking only Xiuling with him. And so, Yui Mei was left behind with Libin. Even if you say rx Yui Meis face was not thick enough to say Ah, alright and do just that. She couldnt help that she was also curious why the emperor dropped by. One reason could be that he just wanted to see the crown prince, so he came to meet him. Another reason was that he had an important matter. Usingmon sense, it was highly probable that it would be the second. Following this hypothesis, if it was thetter, it would be difficult not to connect it with the earlier incident with Imperial Prince Dawei. ording to the crown prince, the emperor was also worried about the preferences of Imperial Prince Dawei. But there was also the saying about the parents blind affection for foolish children*. If he receivedints such as theres a rude courtdy then maybe he came to settle those grievances. Should I run away now, while I still can? Or should I obediently stay put? Yui Mei was restlessly pacing around the room, her anxiety mounting. Libin watched her, and then he sighed deeply. Calm down. Youre too fidgety. If you mind it that much then do you want to hear their conversation? Huh? It never crossed her mind that Libin, the crown princes attendant, would suggest eavesdropping. Wont we be scolded if we did such a thing? What, if its not discovered then what is there to scold. Yui Mei said the right thing, but Libin didnt budge. Thats true, but! Libin spoke airily without a trace of guiltiness, so Yui Mei felt that she was the wrong one. Besides, he surely knew a ce perfect for eavesdropping. Afterward, Yui Mei sumbed to her curiosity despite knowing that it was wrong. She followed Libin as they sneaked through the garden. What am I doing. Supposedly, she would spend this day standing absentmindedly, but why was she sneaking around like a spy now? Anyhow, Yui Mei was cautious so her steps wouldnt make a sound. Suddenly, Libin stopped. Ugh! Yui Mei knocked her face on Libins back since she was following behind him. What will I do if my nose gets tter more than this! Yui Mei started to grumble, but Libin gestured, be quiet. Right after that Ming Xian. The emperors voice was closer than she expected, so Yui Mei was startled. It was only natural that the emperors voice could be heard nearby, since he and the crown prince were standing in a corridor located diagonally upward from where Yui Mei was. Ill freak out, so say something like were near! Yui Mei wanted to snap at Libin, but she didnt want to speak out for fear of being discovered by the emperor and the crown prince, so she could only put up with it. I heard your eunuch took a courtdy named Yui Mei. Yui Mei heart jumped when she heard what the emperor said. As I thought, did hee to find me because of theint!? Yui Mei huddled, and the crown prince replied. Indeed, Yui Mei is in this pce. My concubines said they wanted to enjoy the tea with her. The emperor groaned when he heard the crown princes cheerful tone. Ah, how to say this. I heard she got involved with that guy Dawei. The emperor said reservedly, and they heard the crown princes chuckle. Your Majesty is indeed kind for worrying about a mere courtdy. Yes, she almost got injured due to Daweis disturbing tendencies; however, it seemed that help arrived at the right time. She was upset afterward, but she has already recovered since then, and is happily eating mushipan now. Is that so. There was a trace of relief when the emperor muttered that. T/L Thoughts: * literally foolish children are more cute. This saying meant that the more difficult a child is, or the more silly, foolish, etc he or she is, the more affectionate the parents be. Maybe because they could not leave that child alone, always worrying, and ended up doting on them morepared to their obedient, upright children. Cant say how true this is, though ~ And whats with that relief, Emperor!? Do you have an inkling already? (O.O) Im dying to know, too ~ Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 48: Name Chapter 48: Name The conversation between the crown prince and the emperor was cut off here, and there was only silence for a while. Eh? Theyre done talking? The emperor didnt say Hand over that courtdy after that, either. What an anticlimax. Yui Mei had been on guard, so it was quite a letdown. Shes satisfied though that she was able to listen to their conversation. She tried to urge Libin quietly so they could return quickly without being noticed. Rustle. Maybe it was because Yui Mei rxed, but she ended up touching the leaves of the thicket, making a fairly loud noise. Hm? The emperor nced towards their spot. Oops! Libin stared at the flustered Yui Mei, his eyes implying Are you an idiot? to her. She couldnt refute it since she also thought so. Anyhow, she tried her best to erase her presence even if the emperor were yet to notice their existence. It would not end well if it was discovered that they were eavesdropping here. Im the wind, Im the air! Yui Mei held her breath while chanting inwardly. Its just a stray cat, Father. I frequently see them these days. The crown prince helped them just in time. It would have been perfect if Yui Mei could imitate a cats cry, but it seemed like itd be cat gargle instead, so she gave up on that. Only a cat is here, so hurry up and go! Yui Mei fervently hoped that would happen. Oh right, Father. The crown prince continued the conversation as it was. Yui Mei wished that they would go to a room elsewhere and have tea if they wanted to talk. That Yui Mei said something, though. She was grumbling that herte parents didnt give it a thought and just gave her that name because she was born on a rainy day. The crown prince cheerfully said that out of the blue. What? Why are you saying that so suddenly? Yui Mei almost stood up in her surprise, but Libin pushed her head down. Didnt give a thought, thats not.! The emperor raised his voice, but he fell silent mid sentence. If its Father, what do you think were the feelings of herte parents when they named her as such? When Yui Mei heard those words, she felt her heart pounding in her chest as if horses were galloping, ready to burst. What, whats happening? Yui Meis mind was in total chaos. Libin was pushing her head down, so she couldnt peek at the emperor. Yui Mei had never felt her parents were real. Frankly speaking, she couldnt care less. She had guarded herself. Shed rather believe that she was the daughter of a traveling couple, than epting the improbable story of being a child of the emperor. Recently, she thought that maybe it would be better off not knowing the things she had longed to ask before but couldnt. However, the clues about the truth that she didnt want to know were now within her grasp. Dont tell me, His Highness the Crown Prince knows? That Yui Mei was the daughter of the courtdy who was driven off from the Inner Pce Lady Zhang. The emperor was silent for only a few seconds, but to Yui Mei, it seemed tost for hours. She was drenched in cold sweat, and her heart was racing. Indeed. The emperor opened his mouth. That girl was probably born in the year of the tremendously severe drought. Rain didnt fall for days on end. Food was distributed in order to alleviate the hunger of the people, but many people did not make it. Yui Mei did not have an inkling about the event the emperor was speaking about. It was the first time she heard that she had been born in a harshly difficult year. She didnt hear about it from the nuns, either. Perhaps, the bordend was not affected by the drought. The rain that fell for the first time in the midst of that was truly a rain of blessings. The name Yui Mei was given with the hope that she would grow into a caring, kind maiden, just like the rain that enriches and heals this great earth. That is what I think. The emperors words silently seeped through Yui Meis heart. And before she knew it, tears were running down her cheeks. Yui Mei, you Libin was stupefied to see Yui Mei crying, but she couldnt stop her tears no matter what. Even if Yui Mei had the memories of her previous life, it was not enough to make-up for her feelings of loneliness. It was precisely because she remembered the love of her family in her previous life that she yearned for that same love. However, she tried to be an adult and give up on the love of her parents. Perhaps, somewhere in her heart, there was still the young Yui Mei who cried as she craved for love. She had been trying to suppress it, saying that it couldnt be helped. So the name Yui Mei was filled with so much hope, huh. Now that she knew she was loved before, the young Yui Mei in heart basked in happiness with that name as her proof of love. The crown prince left together with the emperor. Yui Mei couldnt move from her spot as she curled in on herself and silently wept. Oy. Libin called out to her after the corridor had been deserted for a while. Give me a moment, please. Thank you, Dad. Actually, Yui Mei wanted to run after the emperor and scream that. However, if she put it in words, it would definitely leak out somewhere. If that happens, Yui Mei could no longer remain at the Inner Pce. The emperors children who became of age had to leave the Inner Pce, after all. Its alright, this is enough for me. It was enough that she knew she had been loved when she was born into this world. She could indulge in that deep emotion anytime, but now, she had something else she must do. Alright, lets go back while were not yet discovered! Yui Mei wiped the traces of tears and stood up. She beamed at Libin as she said those words. The crown prince probably already knew that the two of them were here, but pretending not to know that was the adult thing to do. Besides, theres still some mushipan remaining back in the room. I got hungry after crying, so lets hurry up and return! Her rumbling stomach pulled her back to reality. Indeed, Yui Mei did note here to be acknowledged as the daughter of the emperor. After all, shes an Inner Pce spectator. T/L Thoughts: Onion ninja was beside me while I tled it, sniff, sniff. So, does this chapter imply that Daddy Emperor KNEW her identity!? Our crown prince is so mischievous, prying like that on purpose ;D But super d for Yui Mei now that she knew the truth behind her birth, and it was so sweet that the emperor put so much thought and hope in naming her. And this marks the end of volume 4!! ? Start of new arc next chap ? Double chapter for today! Thank you so much for I.M. Gibbon for the very generous ko-fi, wepleted our ko-fi goal again thanks to all the ko-fi supporters!! So much grateful to you, guys ? Patreons also received a double release, btw ? Thanks too for all the readers for taking the time to read this novel! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 49: Summoned Chapter 49: Summoned The season gradually warmed after the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet passed. One would naturally wish for cold drinks during a hot day. Yui Mei was sitting outside on a stone, happily relishing the douhua that Mei Na gave her. Douhua was a pudding-like food made from tofu. Sweetened boiled beans and fruits could be added; one could also pour honey in it. On the other hand, it could also be seasoned to be a spicy side dish. It was a truly versatile dish. She was currently eating the sweet version of douhua with plenty of honey in it. So yummy~ Yui Mei squirmed as she scooped the pudding-like douhua into her mouth. It was a great day. The sky was clear as it can be, and on top of that, it was her day-off too. The douhua tasted more delicious as she slowly savored it. Yui Mei was in cloud nine. If one were to ask whether her circumstances changed after the Cherry Blossom Viewing Banquet, no such thing happened. Even though she suspected that the crown prince already knew her identity, they didnt talk about it. She also saw Libin from time to time, but they only made some small talk, so her days passed peacefully. Well, peace is still the best, after all. Yui Mei didnt have any dissatisfaction in her current life. She was even grateful that they never said a thing. Thanks to that, she could also enjoy delicious treats just like now. Hmm, so tasty, so happy! Yui Mei felt she was going to melt because of the douhuas luscious taste. Xiao Mei, youre eating something good, huh. Aunty Yang called to her, so she hurriedly stood up from the stone. It was her day-off, so there should be no problem even if shezed around. Of course, she couldnt ck off in front of her superior, though. I bet thats from Mei Na, right? Maybe I should also get someter. Aunty Yang usually ignored it when Yui Mei ate manju, but she narrowed her eyes at the douhua; maybe she liked it. However, she did note here just to get some douhua from Yui Mei. Ahm, is there anything I could help you with? Yeah. Its fine, finish that first thene to me. She got that reply to her question, but that didnt mean she could say Alright and continue taking her time eating it. She hurriedly gobbled the douhua. Ahh, I had wanted to savor it more She was determined to request Mei Na to make it again for her next time. She took her bowl back to the kitchen then returned back here. Alright, lets go. This way. Aunty Yang led her through the corridor to a small room where a guest was already waiting. Eh, Libin? Yui Mei was perplexed why he was here. Libin replied. Im the one who called you here. Is that so. Then for what purpose? Stuff always urred when she met up with Libin. Yui Mei unwittingly became guarded. Aunty Yang spoke. His Highness the Crown Prince wanted Xiao Mei to apany him as his attendant during his trip, apparently. Attendant during the trip? Basically, women of the Inner Pce could not go out. However, there were exceptions. They could leave the Inner Pce if they were to apany the emperor or the crown prince. Of course, that was limited to the women within their vicinity. A lower-ranking courtdy like Yui Mei, who didnt even serve nearby, normally did not have this kind of luck. May I ask why? If its just attendant, then there were plenty of people who could do so within the crown princes pce. Yui Mei didnt understand why the crown prince went out of his way to send Libin over just to summon her. Libin sighed deeply when he saw Yui Mei being suspicious. You, normally people would be over the moon at this time. Id be troubled if you say it that way. Yui Mei did not intend to react in such a weird manner. It was just that Yui Mei did not expect this opportunity tond on herp, and she did not feel suffocated within the Inner Pce, probably because of its sheer size. A person born in the capital would beg to differ since they did not experience being destitute, butpared to the poverty-stricken rural areas, this lifestyle was already good enough. Theres no end to the things youll want if you start focusing on it. Besides, theres no convenient stuff like the ones in Japan even if I went out. Because of that, her desire to leave wasnt that strong. It was clear to Yui Mei, but Libin and Aunty Yang found it strange. What an odd girl. I totally agree. Libin wholeheartedly nodded in agreement to Aunty Yangs slightly rude observation. Im not odd, its just a personal preference! And so, it was decided that Yui Mei would apany the crown prince. Come after you wear this. Theres no way they would take her along in a wretched state, so a suitable outfit was handed to her. Go on, hurry up and change. Dont make the crown prince wait. She returned to her room and did as she was told. The clothes were made out of cotton, but it had a stylish designpared to her uniform. Whoa, isnt it cute? Even Yui Mei would also get excited wearing a fashionable outfit. Yui Mei changed into the clothes she received, garnering attention from her surroundings as she headed towards the border between the Inner Pce and the Outer Court at the appointed time. - T/L Thoughts: Douhua ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 50: Invitation to the Outside Chapter 50: Invitation to the Outside The crown prince and Libin were already there. Libin also changed his outfit, and he wore a sword at his waist. They were wearing in clothes, looking like the sons of some merchant family. She was curious why they were donned as such, but she had to apologize first for making them wait. I apologize for the wait. Yui Mei bowed deeply, and the crown prince smiled in return. No need to worry, Im the one who summoned you suddenly, after all. That was absolutely true, but the crown prince didnt seem to bring any other maid with him. Pardon me, may I ask for what reason did the Crown Prince summon me? Where are thedies-in-waiting? The crown prince answered her. I dont want to move the maids and courtdies I trust from the pce as much as possible. People with ill-intentions abound. It meant that the crown prince saw Yui Mei as a potential substitute for the people he trusted. In other words, Yui Mei was not considered as a malicious person. Ahm, how about the other people? None, were travelling incognito. It was the first time Yui Mei heard that this excursion would be done covertly. No, that exined the crown princes outfit. However, guards were necessary, but only the eunuch Libin was here. Ah, how about the Imperial Guards? The crown prince chuckled at this question. Li Yong is more than enough. Li Yong? Not Libin? So this man with the sword was not Libin? Li Yong, perhaps you have a twin? Li Yong slightly raised his brow. Lets leave it at that. It was not even a yes nor a no Yui Mei did a poker face, but she was scowling fiercely inwardly. What an absolutely troublesome guy! Would it be alright to escape now? Of course, there was no way she could do that. Thus, it was decided that Yui Mei would apany the crown prince in travelling incognito alongside this extremely fishy guy. Supposedly. Whats that!? Oh, how rare So fascinating Currently, Yui Mei was wandering around on her own among the street stalls along the highway. Meanwhile, the crown prince and Libin no, Li Yong were idly standing at the side, waiting for her. It was not clear who was the attendant of whom in this situation. The crown prince was supposed to ride a carriage to leave the city of Kyo. However, for the sake of Yui Mei who had never left the Inner Pce before, he decided to walk through the main street stretching from the entrance of the Inner Pce to the gates of the Outer Pce. She had been worried about the crown prince walking on foot through the mainstreet. The crown prince seemed ustomed being in the city though, as he blended well with the people walking down the road. And the one whopletely didnt blend in was Yui Mei. No, initially, Yui Mei also thought shed obediently follow behind the crown prince. It was not like she could get convenient tools like the ones in Japan, and she didnt think she was longing for the open air. Yui Mei was already posed beside them, however, she wanted to take back what she said. Sorry for trying to be tough, didnt think the outside world would be so fun! She unwittingly stopped when something fascinating caught her eye. When she came to her senses, the crown prince and Li Yong were waiting for her a few steps away. This was repeated several times. Its alright, go ahead and look around until youre satisfied. The crown prince gave his permission, so she started to go around with more vigor. Seeing her like that makes her seem like an ordinary girl, right. Theres no end to it if you wait, women take forever to shop. The crown prince was beaming, chuckling as he said that while he watched Yui Mei absorbed in wandering around the street stalls. Li Yong then replied sagely. Yui Mei must have heard their exchange, but she was too preupied staring at the thing in front of her. She might never have the opportunity to go around the street stalls with the permission of the crown prince. The city of Kyo was near the harbor, so there were also imported goods. While plenty of the items were new to Yui Mei, there were also products that were simr to modern Japans convenient things. She was particrly interested in the iron te that had animals and flower patterns engraved on it. It was roughly the size of a small hotte, and she could make cute fried eggs on it. Maybe she could ask Mei Na to make pretty snacks with it. Yui Mei stared at the iron te raptly. Do you want it? The crown prince called out to her from behind. Hmm, rather than saying I want it, its like its something rare, ah but Im thinking if I really do want it, or something like that Since she was already an adult, she thought she could suppress her desires, but in the end, her desire won. Storekeeper, how much is it? And so, Li Yong paid for it. Apparently, they would buy anything she fancied. This iron te was to be delivered to Yui Meis room. She returned to the crown princes side, finally satisfied after wandering around the stalls. After a while, they reached the gate, and the coachman was sitting on the horse-drawn carriage, waiting for them. Whoa, its the first time Ill ride a horse carriage! Yui Mei became excited as she stood in front of it. Commoners rode in carts with no walls nor roofs, and the journey from the bordend had been difficult. However, only the crown prince and Yui Mei was to ride in the carriage. Li Yong was to ride a horse as the Imperial Guard. Yui Mei became conscious about it, so she inched closer to Li Yong. Ahm, I know were going incognito, but its the crown prince, after all, so would it really be alright? Li Yong raised a brow at Yui Meis question. You just cant see them, but there are outriders, too. So thats how it was, shadow guards were also present. T/L Thoughts: The crown prince really doted on Yui Mei, what a caring brother ~ ? I doubt hed allow Yui Meis actions if she was somebody else. He indulged Yui Mei precisely because of who she is. And Yui Meis tourist mode was switched on! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 51: Destination Chapter 51: Destination Yui Mei was relieved, so she climbed inside the carriage. Afterward, she asked the crown prince where they nned to go. Were going to Jozhou. Oh Even if you say that, wheres Jozhou in the first ce? Actually, Yui Mei did not have an inkling about the geography of this ce. Well, itd be more appropriate to say that geography was not something amoner would have any knowledge of. As for the reason the military handled information such as geography directly, so it was not publicized. She also knew that even Ancient Japan treated detailed maps as top secret information, and this point did not change no matter what world and what country she was in. That being the case,moners only knew the surrounding towns and viges from where they lived. Further than that, they could only say so this country had that kind of ce, thats the level of awareness they had. Im sure you didnt know where that is, so heres a map. The crown prince handed a simple map to Yui Mei, as if reading the question in her mind. It was the kind of map even illiterate people could understand, with ces drawn as exnation. ording to this map, this country was divided into nine provinces, namely: Kizhou, Enzhou, Seizhou, Jozhou, Youzhou, Keizhou, Yozhou, Liangzhou and Yongzhou. Yongzhou was directly under the emperors control so it was the central state, and the provinces were arranged clockwise around it, starting from Kizhou. The border region surrounded with desert where Yui Mei came from was located northwest, and the sea was located at the southeast part, where Jozhou was. They were currently headed towards Kai, the city of Jozhou which was surrounded by the sea. As for the reason Were going to visit my sister. ording to the crown prince, the princesss name was Pan Yu, and she had been married off* to one of the sons of the Hong family which governed Jozhou. Yu was eighteen, two years older than Yui Mei. In other words, she was Yui Meis older sister. The crown prince then exined the reason they were visiting Yu. Yu caught a terrible cold at the end of winter. Her cold was cured, but her energy did not return, apparently. Is that so. Cold, huh. Yui Mei recalled the influenza that gued the Inner Pce before spring. That influenza was a formidable enemy, but even normal colds would be troublesome if aggravated. Irritated nostrils and inmed throats even though fever subsided, various prognostic symptoms in short, guard shouldnt be lowered against this illness even if it was already cured. I heard her appetite decreased and she lost weight, so I wanted to see her situation as well as bring her some get-well gifts. But if I went there ostentatiously, they would have to receive me ostentatiously as well, right? Thats why were stealthily going there. Oh, so thats how it is. Yui Mei nodded in understanding after listening to the crown princes exnation. If the crown prince took a lot of people to visit her as usual, Yu had no choice but to get up as well for the sake of hospitality. That would be mistaking the insignificant for what was essential. It would take a while to travel to Kai, Yus current home, but since the roads here are maintained, it will take us a day to leave Yongzhou, and two more days before we reach Kai. Yui Mei understood it based on the crown princes words, so she had to work hard as the courtdy chosen to apany the crown prince in this journey. If they were in the Inner Pce, it would be Eunuch Libins role to take care of the crown prince. However, for some unknown reason, this Imperial Guard guy Li Yong was the one here instead of Libin. Moreover, this Li Yong might also require taking care of. It was understandable that they could not mobilize people who did not know the subtleties in this area, but Yui Mei was the only courtdy here, so why did the people she had to take care of increased? There was a limit to thatbor shortage reason, and Yui Mei was only a mere housekeeper at the Inner Pce, so this burden was quite heavy for her. Therefore, Yui Mei took advantage of the break when the carriage stopped to take a rest. She furtively drew closer to Li Yong. Ahm, I had never experienced doing the work of an attendant. Thats why Yui Mei wanted to plead with Li Yong so he could realize the things that were impossible for her. She knew caregiving thanks to her previous worlds profession, but she had never tried serving nobility in both worlds. Li Yong sighed at Yui Meis honest confession. .. The crown prince is aware of that, so just do what you can. I can manage myself. Roger! She promptly answered, relieved that Li Yong was no longer under her care. Yui Mei went on to gather some withered branches to boil water for tea, and fed them to the fire. Afterward, she took the teapot and ced it on top to brew tea. Hey wait, whats with that method? Li Yong had been watching Yui Mei from the side, so he interrupted her. It seemed that the way she made tea was odd. Even if you say so For Yui Mei, making tea meant just putting the tea leaves into the hot water and its done. Indeed, the tea served at the crown princes pce was very elegantly brewed, but the tea brewed with the aforementioned method was more than enough for her to drink. In the first ce, beforeing to the Inner Pce, she could only drink in hot water, and she had never experienced drinking tea in the bordend. And in her previous world, there were convenient packets for making tea. There were also those who tried their hand in making Chinese tea among her friends who were addicted to Chinese dramas, but she was satisfied being the drinker. With a background like that, it would be totally impossible to make a perfectly delicious tea here. Such thoughts ran across Yui Meis mind but since she could not voice them out, she opted to remain silent, scowling a bit. Li Yong furrowed his brows. Youll get embarrassed if you didnt even know how to brew tea, you know. Sigh. And so, it was decided that Li Yong would demonstrate it to her. T/L Thoughts: Ancient China had these Nine Provinces, with the same letters, but author-sama provided a different reading Torn between which one to use, but ended up using Japanese first letter sound coupled with the Chinese zhou instead of shuu to make it more fictional, except for Liangzhou and Yongzhou. ? Heres the Japanese vs Chinese one: ()Kishuu vs Jizhou ()Enshuu vs Yanzhou ()Seishuu vs Qingzhou ()Joshuu vs Xuzhou ()Youshuu vs Youzhou (although they had the same letter as Aunty Yang) ()Keishuu vs Jingzhou ()Yoshuu vs Yuzhou () Ryoshuu vs Liangzhou (adapting Liangzhou as it sounded more Chinese) () Youshuu vs Yongzhou (I think this is typo in the part of author-sama, or maybe theyre homographs since we already have Youshuu. Anyway, Yongzhou it is. To know more about it, heres the link: /item/%E4%B9%9D%E5%B7%9E/6127 *Pan Yus marriage was that of an Imperial princess to a subject. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 52: Faultless Guy Chapter 52: Faultless Guy Li Yong poured hot water into a lidded bowl called gaiwan in lieu of a teapot, warming it up. He then transferred it into a chakai, something that looked like a ceramic milk pitcher, then he carefully poured it into a small teacup to warm it before throwing the hot water away. After warming all the bowls, he put the tea leaves into the gaiwan, ced the lid back on, and steamed it. When the tea leaves had been infused to a certain degree, he tilted the gaiwan, pouring the tea into chakai while using the lid as strainer. Afterward, he divided the tea into the teacups. Drink it. Li Yong handed a teacup to Yui Mei, so she obediently took it. Whoa, what a clear, golden tea! How surprising that this guy could produce such a beautiful tea. She slowly sipped it, and the sweet, refreshing aroma filled her mouth. It was very delicious, and her tea could neverpare with it. He could wlessly arrange hair, and he could brew tea perfectly how great was this guy? No, the one who was great in hair arrangement was his twin brother Libin. But was it normal for an Imperial Guard to brew such a delicious tea? Yui Meis thoughts were racing because of the talented guy in front of her. Try to brew it just like how I did it. Li Yong ordered. Wasnt this tea enough already it didnt seem like she could say that. Ahm The crown prince was beaming as he watched over Yui Mei when she took the tea set. It was like the smile of a doting mom watching over her kindergartener, who was trying to do chores. No, no, I can do this better than a preschooler, of course! Yui Mei shook herself, then she recalled Li Yongs steps as she brewed the tea. The resulting tea was a bit cloudypared to the one Li Yong brewed. She tried drinking it, but the taste was also somewhatcking. She was perplexed as to why it was different, so Li Yong tried to drink it, too. It wasnt steamed enough, but its passable. Li Yong subtly acknowledged it. After sampling was done, its time to serve it to the crown prince. She asked whether it would be better to serve Li Yongs tea, but the crown prince refused, so theres nothing she could do. Yui Meis heart pounded while watching the crown prince ce the teapot to his lips. Yeah, I could feel Yui Meis earnest efforts in this tea. The crown prince smiled after drinking a mouthful. In short, the taste was so-so. Seemed like she had to improve in this aspect as the crown princes attendant. Yui Mei imagined the path to delicious tea, and she felt a bit down-hearted. Here, Yui Mei, have some taosu. The chief cook of my pce made it. The crown prince offered a bundle of cookie-like, appetizing baked sweets. Is it really alright? Of course, I had them wrapped for this journey, after all. The crown prince took a piece and ced it in Yui Meis palm when she asked that. Since it was especially given to her, Yui Mei didnt hold back and bit the taosu. It crumbled in her mouth right away, and the fragrant taste spread through her mouth. It was made more delicious by the walnuts inside. Fuwaa.. Yui Meis expression loosened up because of the deliciousness of taosu. How simple. Isnt it fine, shes adorable. Li Yong and the crown prince were saying something, but Yui Mei was already lost in the taste of the sweets. After all the snacks were finished, break time was over and the carriage started to move again. They would probably lodge somewhere before reaching their destination. May I ask what will be the lodging arrangements for tonight? The crown prince answered Yui Meis question right away. Well be staying in the inn for one night on the way. Yes? It was impossible not to be surprised. Werent the imperial family supposed to stay in mansions exclusive for their use, or else in houses of the vassal lords of that particrnd during their journey? Is it really fine staying in an inn? However, it was not Yui Meis ce to object to the crown princes schedule since she was just a mere courtdy. The carriage continued running towards the city where they nned to stay. By the way, Yui Mei was informed that they would stay the night after they already departed, so she didnt manage to pack anything. However, all she needed was ab, a handkerchief, and a yukata if she was to take a bath. Oh, I shouldnt forget the underwear, too! By the way, womens undergarments were called , something like the undershirts worn under the kimono. Underneath was bare, no panties, basically. Because Yui Mei retained her memories in Japan, she couldnt ept that situation no matter what, so she had been sewing her own since long ago. They were string bikinis because there were no rubbers. It was regrettable that she didnt manage to bring those underwear. What should I do. She brought some pocket money just in case, and she also had a sewing kit in her sash for emergencies. So she nned to go out after the crown prince entered the inn to go shopping, and then sew those panties inside the inn afterward. Yui Mei was preupied with these thoughts, when Ahh, yeah. Ill stop by the shops when we reach the city, so you should buy your personal things there. The crown prince offered. T/L Thoughts: Faultless, wless guy indeed. Lol at the doting mom crown prince, who could sometimes do mind reading. ? Heres how Li Yong poured the tea..ctto all photos Chakai Gaiwan Taosu Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 53: Let’s Go Shopping Chapter 53: Let¡¯s Go Shopping No, no, no, wait a moment! No, thank you, but you dont have to go out of your way, Ill go buy some things on my own after we reached the inn. Yui Mei politely declined, but the crown prince just smiled. I havent given you any housewarming gift after you moved to your own room, even though Libin was prepared and he also bought you some things. Indeed, Libin gave her a small shelf as requested, and she also got a hairpin from him. Speaking of small things he also bought her candies. But theres no need for the crown prince topete with him, though. However, the crown prince beamed, refusing to back down. As a result, it was decided that they would go shopping first after reaching the town. Eh, seriously? Didnt matter whether its Libin or Li Yong, just stop the crown prince already. Shopping with him would be bad for her heart. Unfortunately, Li Yong was outside, riding on horseback. Afterward, the carriage travelled on smoothly and they reached the city where the inn theyre going to stay was located soon enough, just as scheduled. In this country, inn towns were located at a standardized distance from the town roads, but this inn town had a remarkablyrger scalepared to the others. Oh, its really bustling, huh. Yui Mei peered at the cityscape of the main street from the window of their carriage. Oh right, I have a rule I wanted you to keep, Yui Mei. The crown prince then said. What might this be? The crown prince grinned at Yui Meis question. Yui Mei already learned during this short journey that he had something up his sleeve behind those smiles. Im just Ming here, do you understand? The crown princes name was Ming Xian, so he got that Ming from there. In short, he was hinting that she shouldnt call him Crown Prince. Ahm, Lord Ming? Yes, thats fine. Even if the crown prince was alright with it, others wouldnt be. Yui Mei asked Li Yong, who had been sticking to the side of the carriage since they entered the town, through the small window. Ahm, thats what he said, but is it really okay? They were at the same eye level since Yui Mei was riding in the carriage. Li Yong lightly shrugged. Just go along with his hobby. His tone was oozing with helplessness. Maybe the crown princes attendants had to put up with a lot of unreasonable demands. As they conversed, the carriage finally stopped in front of a building. The building stood out from the rest, probably because of the western-style elements mixed in the exterior design, rather than its impressive style. Is it here? Yui Meis jaw dropped as she looked up to the building after alighting from the carriage. It was clearly different from the kind of shops she nned to go to. They also handle imported goods here, so I think you can find rare items here. The crown prince didnt mind that one bit, and he immediately entered. Li Yong left the horse, then he walked beside Yui Mei as they followed after the crown prince. Cr, er, Lord Mings well-acquainted with this. Yui Mie looked up to Li Yong and said that, and he raised his brow as he looked down back at her. In the first ce, hes not the kind of person that liked being confined inside the pce. Perhaps his pent-up frustrations umted since he couldnt go anywhere these days. So thats how it was. The crown prince was originally a proactive person. However, he had been holed up inside that pce recently . Dont tell me its because of covering up for me? Cold sweat ran down Yui Meis back when she recalled how she had been in the care of Libin. Nevertheless, they were already here, so Yui Mei decided to focus on shopping. Even if Yui Mei wasnt girly, she still loved shopping. Most of the goods sold in the Inner Pce consisted of ornaments and decorations, and only few of them had practical use, so she wasnt interested in them. But if there were cute items for everyday use, she would like to buy them. She looked around the shop with that thought, when something caught her eye. Ah, theres a hairpin! She found something that looked like a modern hairpin for the first time. Moreover, it had differently-sized artificial flowers, so it was really cute. They would probably hold her hair longerpared to the hairpins here, since Yui Mei always tied her hair up when cleaning. And so, she chose a set with small decorative flowers, but the crown prince insisted and gave her a set withrge flowers, too. After that, she also got ab and hand towels. She looked for the undergarments called yufu, but since this shop handled imported goods, only western-style clothes were avable here. They were something new in this country, but for Yui Mei, they were nostalgic clothes. Moreover, every single one of them had a premium feel, so they were definitely high quality goods, so she had no choice but to turn a blind eye. Furthermore Yui Meis hair is a rare beauty. The crown prince gave her some powdered shampoo for her hair. When she told him she was looking for cloth, he also gave her silk. She never had the luxury of wearing silk panties even in her past life, though. Afterward, they finished shopping and left the shop with the goods in their arms. They then rode the carriage once again, and headed towards the inn they would stay in for tonight. When they finally arrived, it was amoners inn. So it isnt the officials inn. There were two types of inns in this country one for government officials, and one for themoners. Officials were part of the privileged ss, so of course their inns would be better. Just like the modern Japanese hotels, there were several facilities so a person could stay even if hes alone. Compared to that, you had to cook your own food in ordinarymoners inns. Cheaper inns would also have rooms for rent only. When Yui Mei left the bordends, the inn they stopped in didnt even let them use kitchen tools. Therefore, they had to pack a lot of ingredients and daily necessities and tools on their journey, so it somehow became something akin to moving house. Because of the small amount of baggage they brought with them, Yui Mei thought they would be staying in an officials inn. Regardless, the inn that the crown prince chose was excuding an air of luxury, so maybe they targeted those well-to-domoners. T/N: Shout out to Gregory, thank you for being my Patreon! ? <> Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 54: In the Inn Chapter 54: In the Inn The innkeeper rushed out of the shop as soon as they drove the carriage beside the building. Wee, thank you foring. Yeah, well be in your care. They were politely weed, and the crown prince replied in a rxed manner. Although the receptionist didnt know that he was talking to the crown prince, he probably gauged that he was wealthy due to their carriage. If they looked poor, then they might have been refused, but thankfully, there was nothing to dispute. And so, they entered the inn without trouble, and their travel documents were verified. How about your preferred room arrangements? The receptionist directed her gaze at Yui Mei while saying so. Apparently, there were rooms allocated for servants, and he was hinting that she could also stay there. In worst case scenarios, servants did not have rooms so they had to stay in the stable, but since this was a high-end inn, the service was also extraordinary. However, the crown prince turned him down, and he made them prepare the same type of room Li Yong, who was an Imperial Guard, had for Yui Mei. Im fine with the servants quarters, though. Because this was an excellent inn, the rooms for servants wouldnt be too shabby, for sure. However, she was also grateful that she got to stay in an elite room, so she unwittingly grinned. Ahm, thank you very much. She quietly thanked the crown prince, who then beamed. No worries, dont want to be thought of as a stingy lord. After deciding on their rooms, they were oriented about the inn. Just like the official inns, this inn also had all the necessary facilities, and even the meals were provided. Wealthy people could travel infort, so it seemed. The first floor was a restaurant, and they could see how bustling it was when they passed by as they were guided to their rooms. Oh, I can look forward to the meals, then! Moreover, they could also use the bathtub for washing up. Having an amenity that could use hot water in the midst of their trip proved that this was indeed a luxurious inn. Yui Mei was guided to a huge room with a splendid wooden bed and soft nkets, and a stylish table, all of them with high quality. It was the most extravagant sleeping ce she had been to since she came to this world. Yui Mei wanted to slowly rest right then and there, but she was told that it would be better if she took a bath first. Since there was still a while before dinner, it would be better to feel refreshed before eating. Alright, then lets hurry to the bathroom! And so, she obediently followed her guide to the bath house. Surprisingly, an attendant was waiting for her. She was provided great service. Her hair was washed and then wiped gently. She probably thought Yui Mei was not a servant, but a daughter from a well-off family. This country did not have anything like a hair dryer, so she could only let her hair dry naturally. Since the attendant wiped it for her with a soft cloth, it dried faster. Thanks to that, she had a refreshed appearance when she headed towards the dining room. They did not have their meals in the restaurant on the first floor, but in a separate room of the inn. When she arrived, the crown prince and Li Yong were already there. Yui Mei had the longest bath, apparently. I apologize for making you wait for so long. Its okay. Were you able to rx, Yui Mei? Yes, it is all thanks to Lord Mings generosity. You are always working so hard, so this is your reward. After saying that directly, the crown princeughed, seemingly having fun. Regardless, both the crown prince and Li Yong were oozing with sexiness, maybe because they just came out of the bath and had their hair let down. On the other hand, Yui Mei had also looked at herself in the mirror, but not even an atom of appeal came from her. Whats up with this huge difference? Anyway, Yui Mei arrived, so it was time for their evening meal. If they were in the Inner Pce, the crown prince would eat ahead of them while Yui Mei and Li Yong were on the side serving him, or else doing poison-testing somewhere else. However, the crown prince urged them to sit with him. I wanted to eat with someone at times like this. Even if he said so, there was no way she could say thats right and take her seat. She turned to Li Yong since she didnt know what to do. He already took the seat opposite the crown prince. Theres no way you could change his mind in this case. Hurry up and sit. Since the Imperial Guard Li Yong already said that, Yui Mei meekly sat down. The dishes were served immediately, and dishes of appetizers were lined up. Alright, lets eat. Right after the crown prince said that, Li Yong extended his arm, and took bite-sized pieces from the dish with his chopsticks. In normal cases, though, the superior ate first. As I thought, poison testing, huh. Poison was probably not a concern in the dining room of an inn like this, but maybe it was important that they followed protocol regardless of whether it was necessary or not. However, the one who should do the poison test was supposed to be her, the person with the lowest status among them. Yui Mei noticed that with a start, so she took her chopsticks and te and imitated Li Yong, getting bite-sized portions from the serving tes. Li Yong raised a brow, but she ignored him and ate one piece. So yummy! The thin noodles dressed in sauce was refreshing, and the char siu also aroused her appetite. Cr, er, Lord Ming, its very delicious! Really? Thats great. Yui Mei unintentionally reported, and the crown prince who was about to get his food paused andughed happily. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 55: The Deliciousness of a Dish Chapter 55: The Deliciousness of a Dish After the starter round whet their appetites, the main dishes were brought in one after the other, and scrumptious aroma wafted from there. And most surprising of all Theres a fish dish! They were not dried fish, moreover. The entire fish was baked in a pan, garnished with ginger and other various herbs, and drizzled with hot oil. It was a perfect example of a dish made from fresh fish. They could also eat fish in the Inner Pce, but it was mostly freshwater fishes, or dried fish with too much salt. Nevertheless, the chefs worked their magic, so they were still ptable. Since they were not using dried fish here, this city must be located some distance away from a fishing harbor, near enough to have fish delivered here. Ahm, is the sea near this ce? The crown prince widened his eyes, saying that its surprising that you notice it. He then exined. Kei has a huge harbor, and its only a half-day trip from here. Its also our destination, though. Oh, so that means the rumored princess was living in a port city. How fortunate for her to marry into a ce where she could eat fresh fish to her hearts content. Its a port, so thats why there were many imported items here. Yui Mei had never seen the sea in this world before. Was the sea here blue, too? Yui Meis thoughts rushed to the sea as the crown prince stared at her. Since were already here, might as well stretch our legs at the port on the way back. Im sure there must be a lot of things that are rare for you. The crown prince offered such a proposal. Apparently, he mistakenly thought that Yui Mei didnt knew anything about the sea, so he suggested something that would make her very happy. Maybe I can eat fresh fish, then!? Yui Meis heart started to race in anticipation shed immediately go there, if she could. However, before enjoying those tasty seafoods, she must first focus on the dinner right in front of her. Just like earlier, she took bite-sized portions once again from all the dishes. Everything tasted heavenly. The egg cai tang, or egg soup, was simple, but the vor was rich. The gyoza was also juicy, but more than that, she was truly moved by the delectable fish cuisine. But Yui Mei wasnt the only one who was touched. The happiness of savoring freshly made food is truly exceptional. The crown prince heartily said that from across the table. Freshly-cooked dishes were also beyond the concubines means. The crown prince had been staying in the Inner Pce since birth, so it was rare for him to taste warm foods. As I thought, being an eminent person is awfully hard. Yui Mei could sympathize with the crown prince, who carried on. Also, the dishes you can eat outside the pce are far more delectable than those served inside. Isnt it incredible? Even though all the ingredients in the pce are of the highest quality. The crown prince found it ridiculous, but it wasnt really that strange. Thats only natural, meals should be enjoyed with the five senses, after all. Yui Mei looked as if she was stating the obvious, but both the crown prince and Li Yong just gaped at her. What do you mean by five senses? Yui Mei tilted her head after being asked with a strange expression. Eh, you mean to say this kind of thinking isnt normal? She apparently said something peculiar, but she couldnt get her words back. Since it couldnt be helped, Yui Mei exined the principles of dietetics from her previous life. Sight, Hearing, Touch, Taste and Smell these are what we call the five senses. Lord Ming usually eats the meals that had been tested for poison, so a considerable amount of time has already passed since they were prepared, and theyre no longer in the best condition. And so, he couldnt enjoy the crackling sound of hot oil, nor the piping hot temperature of freshly made foods, and the aroma would also be gone. So it couldnt be helped that the dishes would be unptable. That was also precisely why he enjoyed the food from outside the pce all the more, because he could savor it using his five senses. I see, so theres a proper reason why foods from the outside were far more delicious. The crown prince was moved. He then softlyughed before muttering so thats why under his breath. You know, Father also loved to sneak out with his beloved maiden, and they apparently enjoyed eating dishes from the stalls.The girl was amoner, so she was used to walking around the town. Apparently, she was the one who taught him about the world he couldnt see while being cooped up in the pce. Yui Meis heart jumped at the unexpected reminiscent tale about the emperor. That must be about Mother. In that case, her mother sure did a great job, since she was able to go on a sneaky date to the street stalls with the emperor. Yui Mei couldnt help but treat her mother as a tragic heroine. She felt relieved that her mother also had some fun memories, and not just the suffering from living in the Inner Pce. It was also great that she got to eat with the crown prince and Li Yong while having fun conversing with each other. This might be what they call as happy family circle. Yui Mei grew up with the nuns, so she was trained not to speak while eating. However, because she had the memories of bustling meals during her previous life, the contrast made her feel lonelier. Consequently, the lively atmosphere during meal times with the other courtdies was fresh to her, and this amiable conversation while eating was also enjoyable. Fun meals make the food more delicious. After that reaffirmation, Yui Mei grinned. The crown prince and Li Yong who were looking at her only exchanged nces, but they did not say anything. And so, Yui Mei returned to her room after eating that scrumptious meal until shes full. The nkets seemed to beckon to her, but she still had something to do, so she resisted. Indeed, she had to sew her panties first. She spread the cloth they brought earlier, but since she did not have shears with her, she made do with the thread cutter, finally cutting the pieces. Shes already used to doing this so she was fast. Two panties werepleted after a while. Alright, this would do! She immediately changed, then she went to theundry area that the innkeeper pointed her to, and washed her used ones. She then hung them inside the room to dry. She could finally sleep, so she jumped right into the nket, and promptly sank into dreand. - T/N: Bonus chapter for today, we hit our goal for reviews (its 50 now at NU)! Rating is absolutely not mandatory, this is just my way of saying thank you for all those stars ? Thank you so much everyone for supporting Hundred Blossom Pce! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 56: Meeting the Princess Chapter 56: Meeting the Princess They spent a rxing night in the inn, then they set out at dawn the next day. The skies were clear, its fine weather for travelling, indeed. Yui Mei and the rest left the inn and rode the carriage once again, heading towards Kai. She engaged in idle chat with the crown prince as the carriage approached a small hill. Yui Mei, look outside. The crown prince abruptly said. Yui Mei obediently peeked outside the window, and a sparkling scenery below the hill stretched before her eyes. Its the sea!! So Isekais ocean was also blue. The gentle wind that blew on her face had the feel of the sea. Even if the world changed, the scent of the sea breeze is still the same, huh. She was unusually moved, so she kept on sticking her face out until Li Yong scolded her, saying, Its dangerous if you fall!. Anyway, the carriage kept on moving towards the sea, and they arrived at Kai by noon. The ce was also bustling just like Kyo, the capital, but the atmosphere here was a bit different. The buildings also have that touch of the West. The inn they stayed in previously was also western style, but here, the entire city was a mixture of both Chinese and Western its appearance resembling the townscape of modern HongKong. Yui Mei was overwhelmed with nostalgia, and she remained frozen, staring at the scenery before her. The crown prince chuckled when he saw her like that. The townscape is pretty unusual, right? The harbor part of Kai has blended with civilization beyond the sea, so their buildings are also peculiar. Yes, indeed While conversing like that, Yui Meis thoughts drifted to another direction. In other words, a country with a western civilization existed beyond this sea. In that case, perhaps, ready-to-wear panties were also imported here, so maybe shed find them if she searched this city, and she absolutely wanted to do that while staying here. Just as Yui Mei was immersed in these thoughts, the carriage they were riding in entered a huge mansion in the center of the city. This mansion was also built in western style. She also saw the residences of the other princes from afar when she left the bordend, but they had structures that looked like fortresses. Compared to that, thispletely western mansion blended with the surrounding townhouses, although it had the distinctive characteristics of a nobles residence. ording to the crown prince, the husband of the princess living here was called Huang Li Min. Arge crowd gathered and kowtowed in front of the mansion, waiting to receive the carriage that was heading towards them. When the crown prince alighted, a young man got up and drew closer. He was probably Li Min. Your Highness the Crown Prince, wee and thank you for gracing us with your presence. Long time no see, Li Min. The youth bowed deeply, and the crown prince beamed. As expected, he was Li Min. Your Highness the Crown Prince, please pardon us for our tardiness in receiving you. Li Min said that as he bowed his head once again. Usually, the Huang family should have weed the crown prince the moment he set foot in the territory that they governed. Li Min was apologizing for not doing so. Li Min and everyone, rise. Theres no need to apologize since we did not notify you beforehand. When the crown prince said that, all of the people started to rise in all directions, and a lone woman walked towards them. Your Highness the Crown Prince, Yu is here. It has been a long time since we met. Apparently, she was Pan Yu the imperial princess bestowed to one of the governing subjects and Yui Meis older sister. Yui Mei had been wondering what kind of person she was all throughout their journey. Shes quite skinny. No, thin was an understatement. Her jaw was very angr, and although her body was wrapped inyers of clothes, it was obvious at a nce that she was skin and bones. Yu, your figure The crown prince was rendered speechless upon seeing her, so that meant her current appearance was not normal for her. However, Yui Mei did not have an inkling as to how different she was back then. What did Princess Pan Yu looked like before? Yui Mei whispered to Li Yong as they stood together behind the crown prince. If youre asking how she was before, how to say this, she was..well nourished. Li Yong maintained a poker face while exining this, but his words made Yui Mei understand. Oh, so Princess Pan was on the plump side, huh. So it was only natural that he was shocked because became too thin. Yu, I heard that you lost weight, but what on earth happened here? Princess Yu averted her eyes when the crown prince unwittingly blurted that out because of extreme shock. Ever since I caught a cold, I could no longer muster an appetite. Princess Yu said so with her face turned down. Apparently, she did not want to expose her current figure to other people, but she had no choice but to wee the crown prince who especially came to visit her. Her body was quivering with shame because her skin and bones appearance had been seen by her brother. Li Min extended his arm around her shoulders, and patted her. Your Highness the Crown Prince, it would be a long conversation not suitable in this ce, so please do enter our humble abode. Yes, youre right. Lets go. And so, Yui Mei and the rest of them entered Li Mins mansion. They went to a room overlooking the garden. Whoa, I can see the sea from afar! If Yui Mei was alone, she probably rushed towards the garden immediately. Perhaps the scenery was exceptional, so they were led to this room. However, she firmly held herself back, and stood behind the crown prince together with Li Yong. - T/L Thoughts: Shout-out to Chriistine Govinden-Loh for being my patron! ? Your support truly means a lot, thank you! How tactless dear crown prince was! Weight is such a sensitive issue, yet he was so shocked, he ended up making a huge blunder. (0.0) Author-sama loves to name her characters in homophones, which could be confusing in English. Li Mins Li is which means profit, while Li Yong and Libins Li is , meaning rise. By the way, trivia, Pan Yu means river jade, apparently, though Im not 100% sure about this. A real consort (Guifei, at that) with the name Pan Yuer lived during the Chinese dynasty in Southern Qi, and some say she was the one who started the lotus feet binding tradition because her manner of walking was very beautiful (she herself was gorgeous), although it wasnt proven that she bound her feet. Lol, thanks for bearing with the trivia ramblings. ? ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 57: Abrupt Consultation Chapter 57: Abrupt Consultation Soon enough, the tea was brought in and served to the crown prince and the Huang couple. First, please have these. At the crown princes words, several people carrying various gifts came into the room. Those gifts were get-well gifts for Princess Pan, and they were transported by a different group than Yui Meis trio. Since they are from the crown prince, its only natural that everything was of high calibre, so they were transported with utmost security the number of guards probably exceeded that of the crown princes group. We feel utmost gratitude for receiving such care from Your Highness the Crown Prince. Li Min and Princess Pan bowed their heads in unison as he said that. I heard that you caught a cold, Yu, but perhaps it was a more severe illness? The crown prince was worried, and Princess Pan just smiled weakly. No, it is just amon cold. However, I lost my appetite, and after dragging things around, I became this thin. I also encouraged Lady Yu to put on some more weight, but she truly didnt have the desire to eat. I have summoned several physicians, to no avail. Li Min also exined that he did not neglect Princess Pan, and it was apparent that he was very worried about her. Losing appetite after having a cold, huh Only one possible condition struck Yui Mei, but she also had her doubts. She stroked her chin, lost in her thoughts. The crown prince abruptly turned to face her. Yui Mei, what do you think? Her eyes widened when the crown prince suddenly asked her in front of Li Min and Princess Pan. Her previous actions didnt escape the crown princes keen eyes, so its only natural that he thought she was contemting something. Eh, youre asking me right here, right now? Li Min and Princess Pan Yu both turned their gaze on Yui Mei. But of course, a low-ranking courtdy like her was treated as air in this kind of situation, after all. But the crown prince was persistent. If theres something bothering you, feel free to talk about it. He urged her once again, but was it really fine to say whatever was on her mind? Perplexed, Yui Mei turned to Li Yong for help, who then said Its fine, so speak while nodding. Then that meant the crown prince wont back down. No, dont me me then! Yui Mei stepped forward. Alright, please allow me to ask you some questions, Princess Pan. What might it be? Yui Mei was really going to speak up, so Princess Pan was shocked, but nevertheless, she still listened. It would be rude to ignore the conversation that the crown prince started. Under the crown princes authority, Yui Mei started to interview her. Princess Pan, do the dishes served to you taste delicious? Li Min scowled when he heard those words. Are you implying that the dishes served in this mansion doesnt suit Lady Yus taste!? Li Min rebutted, but that was not what Yui Mei meant. That is not true. I am concerned about Princess Yus sense of taste her ability to taste the food. What do you mean by that? Compared to bewildered Li Min, it seemed that the crown prince grasped her meaning. Yui Mei, is there an illness that would cause you to have difficulty distinguishing the taste? The crown prince asked, and Yui Mei nodded in return. Indeed. It is the aftereffects of having a cold. Taste disorder and loss of taste might possibly ur after such illness. Taste disorder, and loss of taste? Li Min was still perplexed, so Yui Mei continued. Yes, in short, its an illness that makes you have problems in taste and smell. Colds are considered one of the culprits when taste impairment happens, and because the nostrils are inmed, you also have difficulty distinguishing the scents. Li Mins brow shot up when she heard Yui Meis fluent exnation. Please pardon me, Your Highness the Crown Prince, but I have never heard of such a thing. Isnt that girl just spouting nonsense? In the first ce, how would you confirm such things about taste? He dered the first part to the crown prince, and thetter part to Yui Mei. Maybe he was worried that the crown prince was being involved with a quack. Fraudulent merchants who sell questionable items in the name of curing severe illnesses also spread far and wide in this country. It was extremely rude to be wary of someone apanying the crown prince, However, they could sense his desire to protect Princess Pan Yu from unwanted hearsays, so the crown prince didnt take that against him. You heard what Li Min said. Do you have a way to verify that, Yui Mei? He posed that as a question, but the crown prince firmly believed that Yui Mei wouldnt open her mouth without having a way to prove her words. Of course. In line with these, there are some things we need the mansion to prepare. And so, Li Min ordered the servants of his residence to follow all the instructions that were stated by Yui Mei. Thus, several saucers were arranged on the table in front of her. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 58: Examination Results Chapter 58: Examination Results Let us now begin. Yui Mei prepared four types of solutions with different tastes, and she promptly began the examination. The saucers were lined up, each containing one of the four vors sweet, salty, sour and bitter, ranging from thinned to very concentrated. She would then ce each of them at a specific spot on Princess Pans tongue, and have her answer which taste was it. Princess Pan, please answer as follows. No taste if you didnt taste anything, Not sure which it is, but theres a taste if you sense anything but cant distinguish it. After exining that, Yui Mei took a little bit with a spoon from one type and ced it on top of Princess Pans tongue. How is it? None. They started with the lightest vor, but Princess Pan couldnt taste anything. They continued on until they reached the rtively strong vored ones, but Princess Pan still shook her head. Ah, what is this taste? She finally reacted, but no matter which vor it was, she could only taste those that were concentrated. It was decided, then. As I thought, Princess Pan has a taste disorder, and it is serious. Yui Mei dered the results, then she had the other three taste the salty solution Princess Pan reacted to as having a slight vor. All of them puckered their faces after tasting it. Whats slight about this? Its so salty that its intolerable. The crown prince said, and the other two agreed. Eh, no way Princess Pan was dumbstruck when she saw their reactions, and Yui Mei then further exined. You also have a little loss of taste. Well, with that rich color, you should be able to identify it by its smell. True, its easy to know which liquid is sour just by the odor. Li Min also nodded at Yui Meis words. Indeed, the liquids that Princess Pan finally reacted to were emitting a strong smell despite their small amounts. Salt was a usually odorless seasoning, but this one had a strong briny smell. With this, its only natural that Princess Pan Yu would lose her appetite. No matter how scrumptious the meal is, since she couldnt taste nor smell them, its the same as eating sand and stones. We might think that only the tongue is used for tasting, but in fact, the smell, appearance, sound, and texture of food are also very important. She already told the crown prince about this yesterday, but Li Min also agreed with what she said. Thats understandable. The freshly made foods sound arouses the appetite, and the delicious aroma is also enough to make one salivate. Indeed. Li Min earnestly said that, and Yui Mei agreed. Mealtimes that seemed like shes eating sand and stone must have been a terrible experience for the ill Princess Pan. However, she still had to eat in order to live. Princess Pan Yu, perhaps, you have been requesting porridge and simr foods that are readily consumed, in order to finish your tasteless meals as soon as possible? Thats Princess Pan averted her face and fell silent, so Li Min said Thats right. Apparently, he already had confidence in Yui Mei. She could totally understand Princess Pansck of appetite for those tasteless foods. However, chewing was also very important. If she continued drinking without chewing, her jaw would weaken, and it would not be good for her stomach and intestines. But still. Li Min then asked the crucial question, believing that Yui Mei would have the answer since she understood Princess Pans illness. Will Lady Yu be cured!? Of course. Yui Mei answered Li Min, who appeared very serious. However, she also had some misgivings as to why it reached this point. The taste disorder that happened because of a cold usually doesnt have long-term effects. However, Princess Pan Yu caught the cold near the end of winter, is that right? Yes, this illness had dragged for far too long. This stumped Yui Mei. It was a more serious illness than normal, so perhaps there was something different it was only natural that she thought that way. Sorry, but please let me ask you a question. Before catching a cold, did Princess Pan Yu properly eat her meals? . Princess Pan remained silent once again, and Li Min answered for her. Actually, Lady Yu had a small appetite, and she disliked meat and fish, only preferring to eat vegetables. Yui Mei raised her brow when she heard the answer she was expecting. So thats why the after-effects of her illness was worse. Her taste had already weakened even before. She wascking in Zinc, the important nutrient for taste, and it is especially abundant in meat, fish and seafood. No way Princess Pan was shocked at Yui Meis revtion. She already knew that she should be eating them, but she didnt realize that it was important to this extent. But, I dont want to eat meat and fish Princess Pan tried to reason out, but Yui Mei asked her another question. Also, Princess Pan, do you usually drink plenty of water? I dont really like drinking. When she heard Princess Pans answer, Yui Mei tried to stop herself from grimacing. Princess Pan, you shouldnt do that. Since your intake of fluids had been reduced because youve been eating less, you need to drink more. Taste disorder can also ur if theres not enough saliva, and the mouth is dry. My goodness, if I had been more diligent in persuading Lady Yu to eat and drink, this would not have happened Li Min was depressed after he heard the reason why Princess Pan became this way. Princess Pan bit her lip as she stared at him. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 59: Reason Behind the Illness Chapter 59: Reason Behind the Illness HmmStill.. Yui Mei saw plenty of people insisting they didnt want to eat nor drink water in her previous world. Your Majesty the Crown Prince, Lord Huang, can you please give me time to talk to Princess Pan privately? Yui Mei asked the crown prince and Li Min. Only you and Yu? The crown prince thought it must be a secret conversation, so he nced at Li Min. We wont leave the room, and it will not take too long. That corner is fine. Li Min was scowling at first, but he nodded when he heard that they would not go to a ce he couldnt see. I understand. Please take care of Lady Yu. The maids then prepared a table and chairs in the corner of the room. Yui Mei nned to talk while standing, though. Wait, so she became so thin that she couldnt even chat on her feet? Yui Mei held those doubts. When Princess Pan finally came to this side, she whispered. Princess Pan, perhaps youve been conscious of your figure, so you were trying to lose weight? Princess Pan gasped, dumbstruck. Indeed, Princess Pans words echoed the sentiments of people who did extreme dieting in Yui Meis previous world. The princess heaved a deep sigh after a moment of silence. Youre a sharp girl. Princess Pan admitted that she was trying to lose weight, but her method of doing so was inappropriate. Princess Pan, its easier to gain weight when you started to eat again after getting thinner, right? !? Indeed! Thats why I thought I needed to lose more! Princess Pan enthusiastically joined the conversation that she had been avoiding so far. Aah, just as I thought Princess Pan, I understand your sentiments, however, not eating to lose weight is a mistake. Your body would think that its starving, so it would conserve the fat in your body, instead, in order to live. And just like quicksand, she would fall into a situation that would make it difficult to escape from. It was verymon in Yui Meis previous world. The hospitals would then treat the people who damaged their bodies after failing with diet. Dont worry, theres a method to lose weight safely. I will teach you how, so please nurse your body to good health by eating properly. However, Princess Pan disapproved. Wont I get fat when I eat, then? Eating is not the sole gauge for getting fat. Think of it this way. If the bnce scale of food and exercise tipped more on the food side, the person will then get fat. Food and exercise, huh Soldiers probably had this knowledge gained from actual experience. Princess Pan, however, was a pampereddy doing nothing all day, so she mustve have difficulty grasping this point. This is not a short term, day by day matter. It is important to consider the long-term effects. If you manage to return to your previous weight, it would be easier to control your weight gain. In short, properly eating to build up your body is important in losing weight. Eating is important to get thin Nobody told me such a thing. Princess Pan was extremely shocked. This country didnt established the proper weight loss method, it seemed. Heh, it might even be tied to a curse again, or something. Princess Pan, please do not be deceived by tonics and pills sold for weight loss. Losing weight relies on ones own behavior, not on external things like that. When Yui Mei said that, Princess Pan averted her eyes. Seemed like she did buy some tonics and pills, after all. Well, a lot of stuff iming easy weight loss were also sold in Japan, too However, resorting to short-cuts would definitely result in rebound. No matter how thin you became, if youre not healthy then it would be meaningless. Healthy weight loss will be the right choice. Princess Pan could rte to some of Yui Meis words, since she also lost weight. You said you know how to do that healthy method for getting thinner, is that correct? The princess stared earnestly at Yui Mei, and she energetically nodded in return. Alright. Would you please teach me that proper method? Yui Mei folded her arms as she responded affirmative to the determined princess. Afterward, they returned back to where the crown prince and the rest were waiting. Seems like both of you had a good chat. The crown prince was observing Princess Pans expression. Indeed, the princess seemed to have loosened up, probably because she was able to vent out the problem that she had been carrying on her own. Maybe she also wanted to consult somebody else about this weight loss matter. One problem, though, Yui Mei unwittingly brought out the nurse-mode of her previous life once again and had promised to help without consideration to her current status. She was the crown prince attendant in the first ce, just an extra. How would she obtain permission to stay in this mansion, then? She needed to talk to the crown prince before that, too. However, she wanted to avoid disclosing Princess Pans weight loss failure, in respect for the princesss honor, too. How should I handle this? Yui Mei was troubled on how to bring this up to the crown prince. At that time Ahm, Your Highness, I have a request. Please do let this girl stay for a while with us in our mansion. Princess Pan straightforwardly told the crown prince. T/N: To all people who could rted to Princess Pan, just want to send all of you some virtual hugs, I know the struggle is real, be it losing weight or trying to gain it (suffered from this, too) Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 60: The Crown Prince’s Goal Chapter 60: The Crown Prince¡¯s Goal Yui Mei? Shes my precious attendant, though. The crown prince was surprised, but Princess Pan bowed. Ahm, please do not be mistaken, I do not wish to get her from you. It will just be for a while, so please do consider my request! The crown prince couldnt ask Why? after seeing the princesss desperate expression. However, he seemed to have guessed that it had something to do with Princess Pans current affairs. The crown prince turned back to look at Yui Mei. Yui Mei, are you fine with that? She vigorously nodded. Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. If that is alright with you, please allow me to stay here for a while. Oh dear. The crown prince groaned at Yui Meis answer. Its for Yus sake, so theres no helping it, Ill lend Yui Mei to you for a while. ! Your Highness, thank you very much! The princess kowtowed when the crown prince gave his permission. Yui Mei also hurriedly kowtowed. Alright, Yui Mei, you remain here with Li Yong, and relieve Yus anxiety. Eh. Li Yong too?? Yui Mei abruptly raised her head, and the crown prince smirked, his smile full of hidden meaning. A banquet was held that evening at the hall of the mansion. Princess Pan did not attend, apparently tired from the excitement during the day. Yui Mei exined the separate menu for the princesss evening meal in great detail to the cook. I didnt know that the Lady couldnt taste the dishes. If I learned about this earlier, I couldve done something to improve her meals. The head chef heard it from Li Min who had been there while he and Yui Mei were talking about the meal n for the princess. That Yui Mei girl is really an erudite. To think that she knew so many things about seafood, even though shes not a fisherman from the port city of Kai Li Min was thoroughly impressed, but it was only natural that he found it puzzling, given that Yui Mei grew up in the bordend. Besides, although Yui Mei was moved by the sea on our way here, she wasnt surprised to see it. People who had never seen the sea before would usually be shocked by the water that seemed to continue on without end. In fact, Ming Xian was also like that before. He tried asking about this to Yui Mei. I heard it from a traveling person long ago. That was what Yui Mei said. She suspiciously averted her eyes, but Ming Xian decided not to pry further. Just because she was knowledgeable about seafood didnt mean it was a bad thing. Since its the glutton Yui Mei theyre talking about, theres also the possibility that she had gone to the sea before to check the food she wanted to eat. Speaking of, since he told her that hed be sitting here and she must also enjoy the delicious food, she had already rushed off like a bullet as soon as the dishes were lined up. Seemed like she was excited about the seafood cuisine. The crown prince beamed as he watched her, when a voice called out to him from behind. Your Highness, are you sure you would like me to remain here? When he turned around, Li Yong, who was acting as his escort, was standing there with a brow raised. Of course, it would be good if he returned with him to the pce. However, he wanted him to apany Yui Mei this time around. Actually, I also wanted to stay here, but itll be dangerous to leave the pce for far too long. The crown prince shrugged, then lowered his voice. The emperor is also keeping an eye on the influence of the Huang family, who governs the sea. Of course, the empress dowager isnt turning a blind eye, either. Thats why, Id be more relieved if you are here to be Yui Meis ally, you know? Yang was doing a great job hiding Yui Meis existence, however, she could still be discovered since she was in the political center stage. He didnt want Yui Mei to be alone when the time came. At any rate, Yui Mei was also trying to be inconspicuous, but when she discovered someone in trouble, that vignce would fly out the window right in an instant. Add to that, she had that abundant medical knowledge. Yui Mei was very well versed with the medicine of foreign countries that even Doctor Chen was only slightly familiar with. Well, its intriguing, what kind of person raised her? Doctor Chen was also perplexed when he answered that perhaps the person who was very knowledgeable in that kind of medicinal art was someone living outside the capital. Yui Mei was raised by the nuns, and it was highly improbable that they had any kind of medicinal knowledge. If that person was that erudite, then rather than staying in the bordends nunnery, it would be more profitable to establish the reputation in a bigger ce. Perhaps, that story about the travelling person Yui Mei talked about might be true. Maybe that person drew the ire of the people governing the foreign country, so he was banished. He then found his way to the bordend, where he taught Yui Mei. Its like a tale, but it was also usible. Yui Mei was mysterious and unfathomable, but for Ming Xian, she was his long lost sister that he didnt think he would ever meet again. Thats why he wanted her to live safely and healthily. I beg you, Li Yong. Protect that girl. Faced with Ming Xians heartfelt plea, Li Yong could only make a helpless expression. I understand. I will devote all I have to fulfill your order. He bowed his head after saying so. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 61: Activities Commenced Chapter 61: Activities Commenced The crown prince stayed the night at Li Mins mansion. The next day, he and the imperial guards other than Li Yong prepared to depart before noon. Whoa, I didnt know theres so many Imperial Guards with us. Yui Mei was shocked that so many people were lurking around them all the while. Regardless, the number was still too little for a crown princes entourage. Anyway, its actually weird that only the four of them, including the driver, were travelling around. The Huang family also sent arge number of soldiers, probably to secure the safety of the crown prince while he was still inside the fief. Im expecting great travel stories from you, alright? The crown prince told Yui Mei and Li Yong, then he waved his hand and climbed the carriage. Depart! Hemanded the Imperial Guards, and the carriage moved on, until they could no longer be seen. Hmm, so, how should we move from here. Yui Mei could not stick to Princess Pan for an extended period of time. She had to return Li Yong to the crown princes side as soon as possible. She had approximately one month for overseeing Princess Pans weight loss training. Before leaving, she wanted to be able to do everything she could. Therefore, her first priority would be to return Princess Pan to her previous healthy condition, so she had to interview the princess again about her meals and daily activities. Yui Mei and Li Yong headed towards the room that was prepared so they could converse in private, and Princess Pan and her attendant were waiting for them inside. This attendant was the one who prepared the table and chairs when Yui Mei had a one-on-one chat with the princess. She was older than Yui Mei, but her bun hair was adorable, and she was busy as a bee, looking like a small animal moving around while preparing the tea. Thank you, you can withdraw. I understand, please call me if you need anything. After the preparations werepleted, Princess Pan told her so, and she went to a spot beside the wall after bowing down. The princess and the attendant looked rxed as they conversed, so their rtionship must be good. She must havee from the maiden home of the princess to apany her when she married in. Aah, but if Im not mistaken, Princess Pan grew up in the Inner Pce. Unlike the imperial princes who grew up in the Inner Pce until they reached the age of maturity, princesses were taken outside to be raised in the maiden homes of their mothers. Well, its probably limited to households who have financial resources to wee the princesses in their home and provide education that was good enough not to embarrass them. Princess Pans mother was also the daughter of an influential person, however, she didnt want to part with her daughter, so she didnt let the princess live in her maiden house. Thanks to that, Princess Pan and the crown prince became friends with each other. However, this attendant was bestowed by the emperor in lieu of her maiden home during the marriage, so she must be someone they trusted a lot. Well, such internal affairs should be set aside for now, and its time to work. Li Yong was already informed beforehand, so he would be quietly listening in this ce. Princess Pan was ufortable talking about her weight issues in front of a man. However, Li Yong also served as a bodyguard so that she could order the other people of the mansion to leave, thus, she endured her embarrassment. So, Princess Pan, please tell me all about your regr meals. After everything had been arranged, Yui Mei started to interview the princess. How are you in the mornings? Hmm, well, thats Yui Mei talked in an easy manner so that the princess wont feel shes being cross-examined. It was then revealed that Princess Pans waking hours were irregr, so she normally skipped breakfast, only eating during dinner. Apparently, she got this habit back when she was in the Inner Pce, and the attendant girl also said that it was true. Seemed like this girl really came with the princess from the Inner Pce. Well, thats kindamon in the Inner Pce, though Since the princess was already waking up sote and she didnt do anything else within the day, that meal was probably enough. However, before losing weight, Princess Pan would eat twice the normal amount for dinner because shes hungry. In short, even if she missed breakfast, she would make it up in the evening. And unlike people who wake up at dawn and sleep at sunset, the princess would stay awakete into the night, and so, it was normal for her to eat some midnight snacks. Princess Pan, eating a huge meal before bedtime is a no-no for the body. Is that so? Princess Pan leaned her cheek on one hand. Apparently, it was the first time she heard about it. Nobody seemed to have taught her these things. Well, it did seem that this country didnt really know anything about how the internal organs worked. Yui Mei was a little bit anxious that she couldnt confirm thismon knowledge with Doctor Ziliang. However, for the sake of Princess Pan, she could only push on, risking being thought of as the weird girl. Princess Pan, arent you tired when you wake up? The princess sighed when she heard Yui Meis question. True, my body feels so heavy, so its hard to rise. So her body rhythms out of whack, huh. And so, Yui Mei exined the rtionship of sleep and meals. T/N: Hello guys, our chapter for tomorrow is moved today, since Ill be too busy tom >. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 62: Method of Having a Meal Chapter 62: Method of Having a Meal Whether the stomach is empty or full, it would still affect the quality of sleep. Our stomach is still working even when were asleep, after all. If one ate a lot before sleeping, the stomach would continue its work, and the brain would also be stimted, resulting in difficulty sleeping or shallow sleep. Moreover, the stomach moves a lot slower in the night, so not all of the food will be digested, leading to that heavy feeling in the belly when she wakes up. On the other hand, an empty stomach meant hunger, so the brain wouldnt be able to sleep because of that. In order to wake up from a good nights sleep, its important to let the stomach finish its work first before turning in for the night. Thats why, lets have a long rest-time between meals and sleeping. In case she couldnt sleep because her tummys hungry, then she could have some warm milk or soy milk; barley tea was also okay. The warm drinks would soothe the hunger, and since they did not have caffeine, she could sleep easily. If you lessen the food you eat at dinner, then youll get hungry enough to eat breakfast. Princess Pan was troubled with Yui Meis advice. But I dont like eating so early in the morning. Yep, shes having a hard time waking up in the first ce. People vary, some would be full of appetite for breakfast, others ate light, so it didnt mean Princess Pans body constitution was bad just by this. It doesnt mean you have to eat so extravagantly in the morning. Its okay even if you have in warm water and fruits. The vegetable soup tang cai is a good choice. Hmm, thats right, if its tang cai then I can drink that. It was the first time Princess Pan proactively responded to Yui Meis suggestions. It seemed like the princess finally heard a suggestion that she could do, so she was relieved. Once her stomach has gotten used to that, then the number of vegetables can be increased until she could eat more for breakfast. She would then be able to naturally adjust to being active in the morning. This way, her body clock would then be reset. After coaching her on breakfast, its time to move on to dinner. Its very important to eat meat and fish for dinner. Even if they are not to your taste, they are still important nutrients acting as building blocks of the body, after all. I really thought meat and fish would make me fat, so I avoided them. Princess Pan confessed. She then ate vegetables to tide her hunger over. In her previous world, there were also vegetarians who ate vegetables because of personal beliefs and not for losing weight. However, they were still able to meet their protein needs through very careful nning, so it was quite different from just living on vegetables. Eating meat and fish will make you fat that is not true. Building muscles by eating meat would help in metabolism, so it can also be a protection from getting fat. Thats why meat and fish are still very important ingredients. However, if youre going to eat too much fatty foods, then you will really gain fat. So it would be good to eat it in moderation. Especially since your tummy is currently weak, so cuisine with steamed and lightly vored dishes will be best for now. And since Kei has a port, if you can, its also good to eat oysters. Theyre packed with Zinc, which can help restore your taste. Princess Pan scrunched her brows. Oh, oyster, is it? It looks weird, so I dont like it. Indeed, eating shellfish depended on freshness, so only those living near the sea could eat them. Its understandable that Princess Pan would have difficulty eating something she saw for the first time. However, its very delicious once you get used to its appearance. Oysters are known in foreign countries as the milk of the sea, thats how very nutritious it is. I love milk. Im a bit curious now that you said it that way. Princess Pan wanted to try the oyster after it waspared to her favorite food. The rest would then depend on the chefs skills. Hopefully, the princess would discover the appeal of oysters. By the way, Yui Mei was an extreme oyster-lover, enough to binge eat them in her previous world. Thats why she wished she could eat oysters to her hearts content during their stay here in Kei before they leave. Anyway, after counseling her on meal matters, its time to move on to the method of eating. Please chew your food well during your meals. In doing that, you would feel full with just a small amount of food, so its a prevention for overeating. Princess Pan stared at her nkly. Thats it? Arent I supposed to learn a more special kind of way or method? That so-called special method must be what the frauds said to draw the princess in. However, meals were different. If anything, eating deliciously and properly was the only way. Theres no miracle method for losing weight. And nothing is prohibited, either. In short, everything must be done in moderation, thats the key. And so, she also rmended that the princess move carefully during the day, and walking should also be included in the schedule, just so the princess would not be sedentary. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 63: Princess Pan’s Circumstances Chapter 63: Princess Pan¡¯s Circumstances Gaining weight would depend on the amount you are eating, as well as your exercise. If you exercise more than you eat, then youll get thinner. On the other hand, if you eat more than you exercise, youll get fatter. Princess Pan nkly stared when she heard the word exercise. Shall I swing the sword like the gentlemen? Or perhaps train in martial arts? For people in this world, exercise was referring to the training that soldiers do, apparently. Yui Mei shook her head. No, taking a stroll is fine. That is also a good exercise. However, right now, Princess Pan doesnt have muscles in your legs and arms. You do get tired just walking normally, right? Indeed, thats why I also find going out troublesome. So she really did her best just to wee the crown prince. Lets build your body so that you can go around the mansion for even just one round. Yes, Im already making Lord Li Min worry too much, Ill do my best. Princess Pans truly motivated now with Yui Meis help. With this, the instructions for the princess meals had been exined, their initial goal was also decided, and the reason why she wanted to lose weight had also been asked. She was fine when she was in the Inner Pce, so why did she suddenly want to lose weight? If the princess refused to answer these doubts, they would not be able to solve the problem from the roots. Besides, voicing her concerns was also a step towards healing. The reason why I wanted to lose weight, huh. Princess Pan remained silent for a moment, but she eventually started to talk about it. The princess was chubby since she was a small child. However, she did not notice that fact when she was in the Inner Pce. Her mother had a rtively great influence there. Thats why, not a single maid and courtdy faced the princess directly to tell her about her body weight. Well, they must have been gossiping about me behind my back though. Despite that, not a single word reached the princesss ears. Besides, her own marriage was decided to be with one of the emperors subjects, so it seemed that Princess Pans lifestyle wasnt really affected by her figure. The emperor decided to bestow me in marriage, but the one who wished for that marriage was Lord Li Min. Li Min also led the navy in battle against the pirates, so its natural that he would live beside the harbor. That also meant it would not be a refined lifestyle that maind residents were used to. Thats why Li Mins side had requested that it should not be a delicate, art-like woman. Its actually unheard of for a subject to make a request to the emperor when a marriage is being bestowed. Well, the Huang family is the exception, though. Princess Pan smiled vaguely as she said that. The crown prince also mentioned this, but the Huang family was widely known as the lords of the sea, so they were not docile and meek towards the emperor. Ahh, so Princess Pan was bestowed in marriage to monitor them huh. And so, Princess Pan was chosen under this situation. Im not too concerned about getting sunburned, unlike my older sisters. The princess had already given up on the notion of being beautiful, because of her heavy figure. That was why she was not against the idea of living in a port city, unlike her sisters who hated the sea breeze, and were very concerned about their hair and skin being sunburned. She was even ecstatic to see the sea that she had neverid her eyes on before. Yui Mei could also emphatize with how she was more inclined towards feeding her curiosity than taking care of her appearance. If I had grown up in the Inner Pce, maybe we got along as sisters, huh. With those feelings in her heart, Princess Pan finally arrived at Kei. However, everything changed once she set her foot inside the Huang family. The mansion servants kept on gossiping about me within earshot, and deliberately, at that. They were saying things like Lord Li Min is so pitiful for having that kind of fatty princess forced on him. Eh, can a mere servant nder the daughter of THE EMPEROR like that? That was sphemous, and if they were in the Inner Pce, no, even in the Imperial Pce, their heads would probably fly already. Yui Mei was perplexed. Li Yong was listening to the whole story behind her, and when he saw her like that, he drew his face nearer and whispered. The Huang family had absolute power in this area. Thus, the residents here also revered the Huang family more than the emperor. I see, so its within their territory, huh. Princess Pan bitterly smiled as she watched them muttering to each other. Well, the Huang County Lord, in other words, Lord Li Mins aunt and her esteemed daughter had the real influence among them. The county lord was the title given to the princesses of the lords governing the territory. The Huang Family had such a huge power, so of course the Huang County Lord was also someone who had a very high status. The Huang County Lord, or should I say the person who was supposed to be the bride of Lord Li Min, was supposed to be chosen among the daughters of the Huang family. However, Grand Duke Huang had talked to the emperor and selfishly took me in, so they were extremely furious. Grand Duke Huang, the present head of the family, is already advanced in age, so apparently, he wanted to pass on the title to his son sooner orter. That son is Lord Li Mins esteemed Father. The princess then heaved a deep sigh, and Li Yong continued from behind Yui Mei. Aah, so that means Lord Li Mins bride will be the future madam of the Grand Duke, huh. So it must be a very fiercepetition. Dont tell me, maybe the Grand Duke didnt want the muddy strife within the Huang family, so he brought an outsider maiden in? It was a wild guess, but it was highly probable that he was already aware how the emperor would easily slip in the Huang family when he dragged the princess into this mire. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 64: Source of Anxiety Chapter 64: Source of Anxiety Besides Princess Pan fell silent, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. The Huang County Lord held a grudge against Father His Majesty the Emperor, when he did not choose her as his concubine when the Huang Family sent their daughters. Since the Huang family held such a great influence, it was only natural that one of the daughters from their family entered the Inner Pce. Imperial Concuble Hu was also like that the battle for the concubine seat starts within the maiden family, huh. And the concubine form the Huang family must be a high-ranking one, possibly one of the four noble consorts of the emperor, even. Yui Mei was cleaning around the area of the concubines ranked middle and below, so she had never met one of them. Ah, but even if you said that, how about the Huang County Lords daughter? If the Huang County Lord aimed for the seat of the emperors concubine, then her daughter should be around the age suitable to be the crown princes partner. Yes, that person is younger than me by two years, and she had been raised to be His Highness the Crown Princes consort, however. Princess Pan answered evasively. However, if that person wasnt in the Inner Pce, that meant she also lost the seat of the crown princes concubine. The mother and daughter pair both lost the chance to be the concubine, so the Inner Pce mustve be their Achilles heel. Moreover, they must have shifted their target on bing the grand duchess, but the princess came as a bride. It wont be surprising to say Are we hated!?, huh. Plus, Princess Pan not being the typical Inner Pce woman was also a disaster. They mustve thought that theyre treating us as fools!. Princess Pans status would naturally evoke an outburst of anger. So thats why the princess condition worsened - she mustve been very anxious. She must have tried to improve her figure that she didnt focused on before, In order to be acknowledged even for just a little bit. Princess Pan exerted great effort and proactively tried to get along with the mansions servants. However, part of her efforts had been done improperly, so her body condition worsened. Her anxiety levels shot up after the Huang mother and daughter joyously attacked her. The vicious cycle was repeated, and her getting the cold became the decisive blow on her. Because I have be this weak, the Huang County Lord mes His Majesty the Emperor for forcing a defective good onto the Huang family, stating that he had done so because he holds the Huang family with contempt. She appealed to the Grand Duke to have Li Min-sama divorce me. If that happened, I, who had sullied the great name of His Majesty, would have no choice but to enter the nunnery. Princess Pan sighed deeply after saying those words. Whoa, so its a critical moment, huh! When Yui Mei heard that the princess would be a nun, her mother, who took her own life after being driven out of the Inner Pce, came to her mind. The difference between living as a princess and living as a nun was like heaven and earth. There would be nunneries who would ept the princess, but could the princess endure living there? Wouldnt she repeat history and be just like her mom? Yui Mei couldnt leave this be. Princess Pan, attain that gorgeous figure and make the Huang County Lord and the people of the mansion look at you twice! can I do this? Yui Mei energetically dered, but the princess recalled all her weight loss failures, so she asked doubtfully. Of course you can, thats why I remained here. Princess Pan just ced your efforts in the wrong direction. But as long as you have that strong will-power and continue doing all your efforts, youll be able to lose your weight healthily. My efforts. Princess Pans eyes widened in surprise. It had been a string of failures, yet Yui Mei called it effort. Sickness and health start with the mind, they said. We must first look forward and start with nurturing your body back to health. Indeed, I will try. The princessdy-in-waiting sped her hands on her chest and tears flowed from her face as she watched Princess Pan agree. And so, Princess Pans Weight Loss Program had begun. It was imperative that her stomach, which had weakened because of her long-term lifestyle, must recover first. And so, her first goal was to be able to eat normally. It was important that Yui Mei talked to the chef about this. Yui Mei and Li Yong decided to immediately go to the kitchen, so they headed towards there as they strode through the corridor. Look at that girl. Why is she still here? Maybe shes here to pester them for money? Yeah, anyway, the royalty are a bunch of people who only knew how to spend the Huang familys money for luxury, right. The maidens who seemed to be servants in this mansion didnt even bother lowering their voices as they kept on ncing towards the two. Hey, theyre really creepy. If this was the Inner Pce, they were already scolded for gossiping about their superiors. However, these girls didnt seem to care, so maybe this ce was a lot more rxed than Inner Pce. Or maybe its just as Princess Pan and Li Yong said, theyre looking down on the emperor. Thats why the people rted to him were also being loathed. Yui Mei thus observed as they walked. Hmpf, the master here doesnt know how to control his servants. Li Yong grumbled as he walked beside her. It was the Huang family mansion, so he wasnt armed, and he was donned in casual clothes. Nevertheless, his military aura was truly intimidating, so when he red at those girls, they couldnt help but fearfully leave. As a eunuch, Libin wouldnt let them feel that overwhelming sense of intimidation. What a shrewd guy. Ah no, wasnt it said that theyre different people from the start? Really, what aplicated man. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 65: At the Kitchen Chapter 65: At the Kitchen Anyway, that matter should be set aside for now. What was he talking about? Not managing the servants well.. Are you referring to Princess Pan? The corridors were now deserted after those girls left. Li Yong stopped when he heard Yui Meis question. Ah, no, thats not what I meant. Rather than talking about that, we should go talk to the Head Chef at the kitchen, right? Well, thats right. If they didnt hurry, the preparations for the evening meal would soon begin. Yui Mei was bothered about what Li Yong said, but they had a goal, so they strode towards the kitchen. Pardon the intrusion, may we take some of your time? She called out to a young chef washing vegetables beside the well near the kitchen. Daring to show up in this ce, city-breds really are so shameless. The chef red at them, but Yui Mei just ignored him and continued on. We came because of work, is the Head Chef currently here? The Head Chef is very busy, he doesnt have the time to deal with city-breds that are just messing around. Yui Mei thought again, huh when he curtly retorted. This was the second time they met with this chef. The first time was during the banquet, when she came to inquire about Princess Pans meal. She was also driven away that time after being told that outsiders shouldnt meddle. Yui Mei was also bothered by being treated as a city-born person since she was a girl raised in the bordends. Besides, many courtdies werent born in the city, either. However, for this snarky chef that only wanted to grumble about the guests of Princess Pan, such details did not matter. She was still able to talk to the head chef previously, but what should she do now? Yui Mei was stuck in a dilemma, when Li Yong stepped forward. Hoh, do you mean to say the Huang mansions kitchen is bothered if guestse? The chef jumped to his feet when he heard Li Yongs words. Who do you think you are. Li Yong remained unfazed at the chefs intimidation. Youre extremely bent on driving us away. So, is this kitchen hiding something worrisome that guests arent allowed to know? Youre serving food from such a suspicious ce to Lord Li Min and Her Highness the Princess this is not a small matter. We should hurry and report this to Lord Li Min. The chef was shocked when Li Yong turned on his heel. Nobody said anything like that! Im just saying that outsiders like you shouldnt hang around here like some self-important big shot! Hoh, so youre treating the crown princes attendants that the princess herself acknowledged as outsiders, huh. The Grand Duke will probably rebuke Lord Li Min for his questionable training of his subordinates. Wha, where did thate from!? Besides, theres no way your words would reach the Grand Duke in the first ce!! What nonsense, we are currently acting as the crown princes deputies. Of course, something like sending word to Grand Duke Huang is a mere childs y. Yui Mei was left behind while the two engaged in a verbal sword-y, and it seemed that Li Yong had the upper hand. The chef was cornered by Li Yong, when all he wanted was to find fault in these city guests that he didnt like. However, it turned into questioning Li Mins integrity, so his face turned purple with rage. Even if thisnd held the emperor in contempt, there was no way a chef would be greater than a royalty. Anybody would of course grit his teeth in this case Hey, how in the world did Lord Li Min do his personnel selection? Yui Mei felt a headacheing from this situation. Too noisy, shut yer mouths! An angry voice echoed from inside, and a short and stout man emerged from the kitchen. This man was the head chef of this mansion. The head chef intervened when Yui Mei was almost beaten by this chef in his irritationst time. He said that Chefs dont raise their hands except when cooking! It seemed that the chef was about to be scolded again, so he was in a fluster as he tried to reason out. But Head Chef, this outsiders Theres no outsider or insider in cooking! However, the head chef mmed his words down. If you wanna keep on being a chef, then go move your hands, quit wagging your tongue! bbermouths aint needed in here! Youre taking your sweet time, you done washing em vegetables!? The Head chef red daggers at the chef, who then scowled for a moment. Thats because these outsiders.. He spat those words, then he picked up the basket of the vegetables he finished washing, before scurrying into the kitchen. The head chef bowed deeply to Yui Mei and Li Yong. Sorry for that, you guys. Since His Highness the Crown Prince came, its been tough dealing with those restless bastards. It must have been hard on you. Yui Mei could sympathize with the head chef from the bottom of her heart. However, they must leave this be, and discuss the important matter they came here for. And so, they entered the kitchen, and started talking while looking at the ingredients. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 66: The Chefs Chapter 66: The Chefs All the other chefs trained their eyes on them as soon as they entered the kitchen. However, Yui Mei was not bothered in the least, her eyes glued on the thing on top of the table. It was a fresh, plump fish. As expected of a port city! This fish is gorgeous, and it looks so tasty! Do people here eat sashimi? She really loved tuna tsukedon in her previous world, so she was fascinated with the fish, but she had to prioritize her work now. Yui Mei did her best to endure and tore her gaze from the fish, and whirled around to face the head chef. Head Chef, we would like to talk about Princess Pans meals from now on. Yeah, the dinners about to be served, should we go on? The head chef replied to Yui Meis words. In fact, she also consulted him about Princess Pans evening meal previously during the feast. Ahh, yeah, he disagreed with me that time. Yui Mei recalled yesterdays incident. The head chef naturally didnt take suggestions from outsiders well. Noobs should stay out of it, he said. However, Yui Mei persistently tried to talk to him, and when he saw that she was not mistaken, he also started to listen. Can you please make a delicious and nutritious porridge for Princess Pan? Porridge, huh. What to do. Yui Mei finally told him her request, and the head chef promptly thought about what kind of porridge he will make. However, this time, she had opponents within the kitchen. A porridge is something the apprentice chefs could make. Dont waste Head Chefs time just for that. One of the senior chefs working suddenly butted in, then jutted his chin towards one of the apprentice chefs that were also working. Its as if telling them that they should talk to that guy, instead. Well, his view was also understandable. The more skillful the chefs be, the more difficult the dishes they make. Most especially since this mansion is owned by one of the candidates for bing the Huang grand duke, so the chefs here disyed their greatness during the feasts. Something as simple as porridge was of course suited for the apprentices. However, the one who would eat this porridge was no other than Princess Pan. So what did he mean by an apprentices fine with that. The head chef also disagreed. Im the one in charge with the princesss meals. The preparations for the banquets almost done, gonna leave the ting to you guys. The chef was disgruntled after being pped in the face with thatment. He then red towards Yui Mei, his dissatisfaction apparent. Its not that she wasnt affected, she just decided to let it slide and focus on the discussion with the head chef. Princess Pan had been eating only in the evening before she became ill, and they were heavy meals, so Ive heard. And so, we would like her to have a lighter dinner, so that she can have an appetite for breakfast. The head chefs expression wasplicated as he listened to Yui Meis words. Breakfast, huh. Never served that before. Were told no need right off the bat. Indeed, I confirmed that Princess Pan is having difficulties in the morning because of her body constitution. However, she informed me that if its the vegetable soup tang cai, then shes fine with that. In order to restore her body condition, it is important that she eat nutritious foods, even for just a bit, in the mornings. And so, Yui Mei requested that the princess eat tang cai in the mornings, and light meals in the evening. For the evening meals, please avoid rich foods if possible, and rece them with steamed dishes. I also particrly wanted to rmend oysters, can you please make a dish that ind residents can also enjoy? Oyster, huh. That ones a bit special, but wille up with something. Their discussion went on smoothly and rapidly, while the chefs around them were increasingly agitated. Why is the head chef listening to that amatuer? Thats because people who came from the city are just like that. They can hear the chefs whispers. By the way, people who came from the city didnt just refer to Yui Mei and Li Yong. Actually, the Head Chef was also pulled out from the city during the marriage of the princess. It would be good if you ate something you are used to, the considerate Li Min had said. The previous head chef was then demoted into being the deputy chef. Speaking of the deputy chef, it was the senior guy who disputed their discussion about the porridge. T/N: Sashimi~ My favorite!!! Yum yum!! Raw fish sliced thinly, best dipped in soy sauce ~ Some love it with wasabi, the horseradish green paste thats super spicy ? Tuna tsukedon simr with sashimi, but with vinegared rice under it. Its different from sushi because they mold the sushi in their hands before topping it with raw fish, octopus squid, egg, with nori or none, but tsukedon is like sashimi topped on rice served in a bowl. Tang cai ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 67: Mansion Filled with Contention Chapter 67: Mansion Filled with Contention There was a reason why the former chef submissively stepped down, even though the abrupt change of head chef could have turned into a nasty feud. Thats because the deputy chef could not produce dishes worthy of being served in a banquet for invited guests. Apparently, Li Min did not bring his guests into the mansion, and if he needed to entertain them, he would bring them to a restaurant outside. Not only that, Li Min himself usually didnt eat in the mansion, so the kitchen was instead dedicated to making the meals of the servants. The deputy chef was also hired for that purpose. However, everything must change now that Princess Pan was wedded over. They must prepare dishes of a different caliber, and guests would also surelye. The current head chef was employed hastily because of this. He had been working in a high level restaurant until that time. However, even if the deputy chef understood the reasoning behind this, it didnt mean that his dissatisfaction would disappear. The contentious atmosphere was not limited in the kitchen only. Just like the head chef, there were also employees that Princess Pan had brought with her when she was married into the family. The original servants couldnt help but feel resentment against the changes. Lord Li Min had been almost always absent from the mansion before they were married, so the servants were used to doing whatever they wanted, huh. Thus, they said that they didnt want to be told by outsiders who had popped out of nowhere about being mindful of how they receive the customers, or refraining from behaving in a manner that would shame the Huang family. I know its weirding from me, but the servants of this mansion werent used to receiving guests from the outside, right? Why didnt they just rece all the personnel of the mansion instead of just the people in charge? Itll be less troublesome that way. Yui Mei asked when they reached a deserted ce on their way back from the kitchen. Because Kai had a huge harbor within its territory, the residence of the people who governed thisnd can be considered as the embassy of her previous world. Although they had been entertaining the guests in a different restaurant previously, they could not continue doing so because Princess Pan was here. Wouldnt it be better to just fire these narrow-minded people, especially since the residence would now receive guests with varied backgrounds. If this continued on, the invited esteemed guests might go home offended and distrustful. Li Yong nced at Yui Mei as she knit her brows because of the bleak prospect of this situation. Going back to our previous conversation In normal circumstances, the one who should manage the mansion should be Princess Pan, the bride. However, because the servants are looking down at the royal family and the city residents, I dont think theyll obediently follow. Well, you have a point. Yui Mei also agreed to what Li Yong said. Its extremely difficult to make use of people who are prejudiced right from the start. Thats why the princess also felt so pressured. But, in that case, Princess Pans pitiable since itll be considered her fault. Hmm. Yui Mei was deep in thought, when Li Yong followed up with But If were diving into the details, it should be Lord Li MIns role, because he was the one who requested this marriage from the Emperor, all the more because it was the Huang family who started it. Yui Meis eyes widened in surprise. Eh, so its true that this marriage talk didnte from the Emperor? Yeah, thats right. I remember how Grand Duke Huang abruptly requested an audience from the Emperor, and how hastily this proceeded. Even if the princess told them this story, Yui Mei thought that there mustve been someone pulling the strings behind the scene, so she did not expect that it was true. Thats the circumstances, so they shouldvepleted all the preparations to receive the bride, and the people in the mansion shouldve been arranged properly. However, after seeing this predicament, its only natural that Lord Li Mins management is being questioned. Yui Mei couldnt find a single reason to refute Li Yongs scathing remarks. He seemed like a nice person when we talked to him earlier, though. Li Yong red at her when he heard her words. Virtue and capability dont alwayse hand in hand. In the first ce, Yui Mei, have you ever seen such vulgar courtdies in the Crown Princes pce? none, huh. Yui Mei sank again in deep thought, then she shook her head after a moment. She visited the crown princes pce a few times already, but no one directly threw spiteful words at her right in the face, even if she could see unfamiliar courtdies whispering in the shadows. Thats because even if Yui Mei was just a mere courtdy, she was still the crown princes guest. If they couldnt even bear that in mind, they shouldnt have worked as courtdies in the first ce. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 68: A Man named Li Min Chapter 68: A Man named Li Min Li Yong continued on. Be it courtdies, eunuchs, or soldiers, people love to gossip when theyre gathered together. However, it is the duty of the lord of the pce, in other words, His Highness the Crown Prince, to forbid that and smooth it over in front of the guests. If the crown prince so intended, the skills of the wives will then be questioned. Yui Mei tried to sort out the information in her mind. In short, the servants were looking down on us because Lord Li Min is also taking us lightly? Otherwise, criticizing the royal family has been a daily urrence that they no longer think anything of it. Ahh, thats also possible. There are people in the world who think that their ownmon sense ismon to all. If badmouthing royalty was just a trivial matter for him, he probably wouldnt rebuke them. Not only that, Lord Li Min isnt interested in the troubles inside the mansion. Yui Mei raised her brow when Li Yong said that. Not interested, isnt it his own mansion? Wouldnt it be nicer if theres no quarrels there? Li Yong refuted that thought. Most of the men of the Huang family are seafarers. Thats why, they prioritize their lives onboard rather than inside the mansion. If the things in the mansion be too troublesome, they would board the ship, thinking that theyd just return once everything settled down. Thats how it is. Actually, Li Min was no longer in the mansion. He boarded the ship, saying he wouldnt return until a few dayster notwithstanding the guests that the crown prince left behind were still staying here. Yui Mei asked a servant this morning regarding Li Mins whereabouts. She was told that we do not know when he will return with a justified expression, so she didnt know what was told to them. Even if its a joke, hes the one who sought to marry the princess. Is this really fine? Of course its not fine. Thats why His Highness the Crown Prince came. He was also worried. Visiting the sick was only his front, he probably came to probe into that son and heir. Indeed, that was also possible. And Li Min also had one more problem. Moreover, Princess Pan mustve heard an earful from the Huang County Lord, but in spite of that, he did nothing topensate for those words, so its only natural that she will be anxious. Ahh, theres that problem too. It was impossible that no one would be present when the Huang County Lord, the big shot of the Huang family, came. Even if Princess Pan didnt say anything about it, that incident would definitely reach his ears. If Li Min told Princess Pan, lets do our best together, she probably wouldnt end up in such a state. Yui Mei couldnt help but think that Li Min was such a no-good guy based on what she heard so far. Maybe Lord Li Min couldnt handledies pretty well? Li Yong made a subtle expression when he heard Yui Meis question. As Ive said, the Huang family men are men of the sea. He mustve been an exemry leader on board, so this harbor was ced under his charge. Naturally, the people on the ship are all men. Ahh, so hes been the type thats surrounded by guys until now. Then surely hes ignorant about women. Even though he said hes worried, Li Min still let Princess Pan reach that state. Her anxiety was the result of shing against the women of the Huang family, but how much of this did Li Min understand? Hmmmm, so the problem originally lies in Lord Li Min, huh. Yui Mei was wracking her brains, and Li Yong also lightly sighed. If Lord Li Min excelled in womanly affairs even just by a bit, then he probably took a daughter from within the Huang family as his bride. The Huang familys local government is in conflict with the emperor. If Li Min had wedded a Huang maiden, there would be no opportunity for the emperor to intervene, and the family would settle harmoniously. However, Grand Duke Huang must have thought that Li MIn did not have the ability to control the women of the n, judging from the fact that his bride did note from the Huang family. In that case, Princess Pan losing weight wont solve this problem. Father, you shouldve put more thought into Elder Sisters marriage circumstances! It would have been better if the emperor couldve settled the servants of the mansion since its for the princess. He mustve been strangely reserved, probably because of the conflict with the Huang family.. But even if he provided her with plenty of household items and furniture, itd be difficult if she stumbled in her rtionships with people. This, it seemed that Yui Meis work wont end just by Princess Pan losing weight. T/N: Shoutout to my new patreon, War Knight! Thank you so much for your support, hope you enjoy the chapters! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 69: Strategy Implementation Chapter 69: Strategy Implementation Princess Pans Health Restoration Program started early this morning. If she ate properly, her weight would gradually increase, and because she was young, it would be easier for her return to great health. It would be better to do exercises as she gained weight. Li Yong was surprisingly cooperative in this aspect. Yui Mei oversees the management of her physical condition, but he was the one teaching her how to move her body. Hes a guard, so hes an expert in exercises, huh. It is inevitable that he would be injured every now and then, because his upation involved fighting. Therefore, he was also proficient in methods that would help retrain the legs that have been weakened after lying down while getting treatment. This is the so-called rehabilitation. In Yui Meis previous life, there were professional physical therapists who expertly oversee the rehabilitation process, and Yui Mei was also familiar with the structure of the human body. However, she fell short when it came to devising exercises. And so, Li Yong was the one providing a brief lecture to Princess Pan. Did you understand? You shouldnt rush on putting weight on your legs, they are still weak. Move only as much as you currently can, and then gradually increase what you can do. Injured soldiers do not take up the sword right after recovering. They gradually regain the ability to move freely first. He emphasized that forcing weakened muscles to bear load would not help, and it would cause further injuries, instead. Well, its true that when a fractured leg healed and the cast removed, it would be numb at first with no feeling whatsoever, as if its not part of the body. Many soldiers do not understand this, so they end up exacerbating their injuries. Alright. I will follow your instructions. Princess Pan obediently nodded to Li Yongs exnation. Once her willingness was established, it was time to start the body-building program. Even though she could recover her physical strength through eating, Princess Pan was someone who did not engage in exercise in the first ce. So of course she experienced shortness of breath right away. However, Li Yong already understood that, so even if the princess was already struggling after a few steps, her breathing rough, he did not have an annoyed expression. Well, there are people who are a lot worse in the Inner Pce. For example, normally, they do not walk, and even if the distance was short, they would still ride a sedan chair. And its not the level of going to a nearby convenience store via car in her previous world. Even if the destination is only a dozen steps away and they could already see it, they will still ride the sedan. When Yui Mei saw that happen during the banquet, she couldnt help but scream Wait, seriously!? inwardly. Compared to that, Princess Pan wasmendable, because shes exerting effort. However Im so useless. Princess Pan was disappointed for theck of progress in one day. Yui Mei thought she was doing great, and shes walking a few more stepspared to yesterday. Besides, she did not have to push herself too much, since shes not like the athletes who prepared forpetitions in Yui Meis previous life. There was no reason for the princess to be downhearted. Princess Pan, building the body is not something you can do overnight. You should view it from a long term perspective. Yui Mei tried to exin to her. Its okay even to be frank. Im such a useless person who couldnt even manage her own body. The princess cast her eyes down, wiping her eyes. Actually, her attitude was not something new. She had been grumbling right from the start of their Health Restoration Program. Well, at least she was still trying, and the strategy was going well. Her self-confidence is super low. Those who said these things were the ones addicted to dieting based on Yui Meis experience. It was also somethingmonly observed in patients who came for diet counseling and treatment in her previous life. However, no one could perfectly manage his or her own body. If everyone could perfectly treat themselves, then doctors would no longer be needed. Unfortunately, there were many patients who came for diet counseling and treatment that would say Im so useless, so I cant do this because they did not understand that fact. And the reason for their poor self-image are the remarks that they heard since they were young from the people around them. Princess Pan was protected because of her mothers status, so even if she was chubby, she was raised not to mind it; nevertheless, the whisperings in the shadows probably still had an effect on her. Hmm, what should I do with this. Yui Mei was thinking how to respond, when Li Yong stepped forward from the ce where he had been watching over them. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 70: Looking Ahead Chapter 70: Looking Ahead Princess Pan, I believe the ability to recognize your own failures is trulyudable. Li Yong said. It is troublesome dealing with failures who do not do anything when training soldiers. Those people are particrly great ining up with excuses not to do anything, and they are extremely slow to act. Unlike them, Princess Pan is still actively trying to change. I think that it is a very good quality to have. Princess Pan found it iprehensible. Indeed, I also think thats true. Yui Mei agreed with his opinion. Among those patients that needed diet treatment, there were those who failed while taking action, while there were also those who failed while doing nothing. Those who fail while taking action would then be able to learn from their experiences, and they can use that to move forward. However, those who do nothing didnt even have a starting point. Li Yong then continued on. Also, people who are excessively confident, even though their pride is groundless, would stil push through despite several warnings against doing so. Then, if they got severely injured, they would keep on grumbling andining. We do not wish to work with those people as much as possible. Yes, thats also true. Yui Mei agreed once again. Having a low self-esteem is worrying, but having too much is also a cause of anxiety. She also had colleagues who did not listen to advice no matter what, saying Im totally fine!, full of pride without anything to show for it. Then when they screwed up, they would reverse the me, saying why didnt you say so!, Those were some fine memories, indeed. Compared to those guys, Princess Pan was much better off, because she was taking action despitecking confidence. And if she seeded in this Health Restoration Program, she would also gain confidence in herself. Indeed, something like confidence can also change. Indeed, there are people like that, too. Princess Pan was nkly listening to Li Yongs words, but she eventually started to giggle. Most of the servants around the princess are capable. Besides, there are also those who had good looks and figures, too. She didnt encounter failures among them, and so, she would needlessly think of herself as a failure, and fall into negativity. Her self-esteem was low because of her excellent environment. Princess Pan, improving oneself isnt something that can be aplished in an instant, it will take time. In the first ce, if it is easy to build your body, then anyone can be a strong soldier, dont you think? Well, youre right. Princess Pan seemed to have a eureka moment at Yui Meis words. Actually, there were people whose physical constitutions are suited for work-outs, while there are also those who were the opposite. Thats why it is futile topete andpare oneself to others in this aspect. Princess Pans body isntparable to others, because it is the Princesss own body. That is why its okay to go with the pace that is most suitable for you. In the first ce, even if you try hard to build your body in a short period of time, it will be meaningless if you get sick and have to stay in bed. It is important that you do not forget your goal and be healthy. Princess Pan mumbled True, thats right when Yui Mei reminded her of their original goal. What am I being so impatient for? The princesss strength left her shoulders as she mumbled. Anyway, the princess Health Restoration Program was slowly, but surely, advancing. Initially, she would make a round trip around the corridors, then she moved on to taking short strolls in the garden, and then she would walk from the entrance of the mansion to the gardens doorway, increasing the distance bit by bit. Fortunately, the mansion was as wide as small-scale shopping malls in Yui Meis previous world, and the range was suitable for walking. And so, Yui Mei was steadily aplishing the work she came to do. One day, Princess Pan suggested that Yui Mei take a day-off. You have been constantly apanying me, so you havent gone out at all, right? You came all the way to Kei, after all. I also wanted you to see the sea. ording to the princess, there were stalls that sold grilled seafood near the harbor, and it was a very bustling ce. I was also amazed at the sea when I first arrived here, and Lord Li Min also took me together with him frequently. Really? When Princess Pan said those words, Yui Meis imagination instantly flew to seafood cuisine. Of course, they were served with dishes made with seafood everyday in this mansion. However, they were all made to suit Princess Pan, so all the dishes were refined. They were really delicious, but Yui Mei was a bit unsatisfied. If they went to the harbor, then they would probably encounter food that were more popr, or the so-called junk food of her previous world. Maybe they have grilled squid? Yui Mei loved the grilled squids served in stalls during festivals in Japan. Do they sell those here in Kei? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 71: Seafood Eating Tour Chapter 71: Seafood Eating Tour And so, Yui Mei gratefully epted her day off, and she set off towards the port and for some reason, Li Yong was also with her. Well, it would be unfair if Li Yong didnt take a break, too. However, it was a mystery why he had to go with her. Im fine even if Im alone, you know? Yui Mei looked up at Li Yong as they walked side by side. He red at her in response. Your status right now is that of the Crown Princes attendant. Youll invite unnecessary trouble if you act like you always do at the Inner Pce. He then retorted. Well, thats true. There might be people who would kidnap Yui Mei in order to have her ry their words to the Crown Prince. Shes also fully aware of that fact. However, she wanted to eat around the port, and Li Yongs presence beside her bothered her a bit. It feels like Im being guarded, so I wont be able to enjoy this. She grumbled as she led Li Yong towards the harbor, when the scent of seafood wafted to Yui Meis nose. Ahhh, what should I eat, huh. Yui Mei giggled, unable to contain her excitement at that moment. She was happy with whatever fresh food cuisine was avable, but her main goal was grilled squid. Itll be nice if theres squid, squid~y squid squid~ Li Yong nced down at Yui Mei as she skipped to her own song. arent you having fun. Yui Mei heard Li Yongs whisper, but it was just a trivial matterpared to the seafood cuisine thats waiting for her. They finally reached their destination while having this conversation. The ambience in the port didnt change despite this being another world. Various fishes and seafoods were being hauled to the fishing boats that lined up the harbor. And there! There were the food stalls that cooked those fish! Paradise, thats the paradise! Yui Mei was about to pounce a food cart with her eyes shining, but Li Yong stopped her. Dont recklessly plunge into a crowd of people. Youre a stranger here, so youre the prime targets of pickpockets. Hmpf Yui Mei stopped on her tracks when she heard Li Yongs fair reasoning. She felt like a dog being told stay. However, everything that she had now was given to her by the crown prince, of course she didnt want to be robbed. In case she needed to do reparations, her entire sry as a mere housekeeper would never be enough. Ill go with you, so promise me you wont leave my side. So, which store caught your eye? Li Yong will apparently lead her, so he asked. Ill start with the stores at the edge for now. Yui Mei answered. If hes going to insist walking with her, then might as well treat him as a second stomach, then. If theres too much food, then she could share it with Li Yong. And so, just like what she said, they started walking towards the end of the row of stalls to buy seafood. There were skewered foods, grilled foods, and boiled foods in the stall. They had plenty of options. The skewered,rge shellfish was especially popr. It was spicy, and many seamen around them were eating this with a sake in one hand. If Yui Mei was also an adult here, she probably would have eaten this with alcohol, too. She also tried the grilled fish that was dried and salted overnight; it was spongy, and the broth with a whole shrimp was also a superb masterpiece. As for delicacies, they also sell turban shells and sea urchins. Yui Mei was currently holding a turban shell that was cooked in its shell. Hmmmm!! Sooo yummmy!!!!! Yui Meis face was stuffed as she ate the turban shell. .Its amazing how you can eat that stuff. Li Yong was looking at Yui Mei as shes something weird. Apparently, this guy was not that familiar with seafood. Well, there are folks who cant ept this appearance, right. It also had a unique bitter taste, so people who werent used to it probably wouldnt try this dish. However, if they get used to it, it would be a habit. And so, Yui Mei kept on eating a lot of things, and when she thought she couldnt eat anymore, she would pass it to Li Yong. Well, she didnt give him the ones she directly bit into, so she made him ept them. Just when they already finished their eating tour halfway through most of the stalls, something caught Yui Meis eye. They were hung to airdry likeundry in front of the shop. Thats.Squid!!?? And the thing being grilled beside the hanging squids, brushed with a fragrant sauce, was no other than grilled squid. That, I want to eat that!!! Another weird thing Yui Meis eyes were shining brightly, while Li Yong grimaced beside her. Dont say that its weird, thats too rude! Its super tasty, you know! Yui Mei left those words, briskly striding away, and Li Yong could only follow. Please! Yeah, thanks for buying! Finally, she secured a grilled squid wrapped in oil paper from the stall. For the sake of squid novice Li Yong, Yui Mei requested the shopkeeper to chop it in bite size pieces, then she handed a rtively small piece to Li Yong. Thanks for the food! Yui Mei immediately bit into the grilled squid. Ahhhh, Im in heaven. Yui Mei was spellbound as the fragrance of the grilled squid spread throughout her mouth,bined with the exquisite taste of sauce. T/N: (Provisionary) First date! Although its more like the chaperone taking a kid to the amusement park ahahah. (:3) Li Yong: Promise me you wont leave my side. Yui Mei: Gotcha, binge eat with me then!! Li Yong: Sigh. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 72: Capturing an Unexpected Person Chapter 72: Capturing an Unexpected Person Li Yong also strengthened his resolve and tasted his own portion when he saw that Yui Mei was in a blissful daze as she ate the grilled squid. It has a strange mouthfeel, but yeah, it is delicious. Right? Hating it without tasting is a no-no. Li Yongs eyes widened in surprise, while Yui Mei had acent smile stered on her face. The sauce was a bit different from the one she was used to in Japan, nevertheless, she was extremely satisfied with it. They then divided a freshly grilled one into half and ate it. Yui Mei, wipe the sauce around your mouth. Li Yong wiped the sauce from Yui Meis mouth. Indeed, her face was messy and sticky. However, it was only natural when eating grilled squid. He wiped it for her with a silk handkerchief; the texture was great, but it was not absorbent, so she thought cotton would have been better. Still, they ate the same way, but Li Yongs mouth and lips were clean. What was different? Perhaps, it was the difference in breeding? Yui Mei finished off her grilled squid while thinking about that, then she looked around once again, looking for more seafood to try. Ah, whats that!? A new fragrant seafood dish wafted, and she tried to dash off after a sniff. Whoa!? She almost collided to a man apanied by a woman, when Li Yong grabbed the scruff of her neck to stop her. But Im not a cat, you know. However, thanks to him, she was able to avoid bumping and falling over, so she still had to give her thanks. Ahm, thank you very much. She nced upward to Li Yong, but he wasnt looking at her. He had seized another person with his other hand that wasnt holding Yui Mei. It was the guy Yui Mei almost bumped into, and he was well-dressed. Besides, she felt like she had seen this guy somewhere. What are you doing in such a ce, Lord Li Min? Ah!? Indeed, he was Li Min, the husband of Princess Pan. Li Min, who was caught by Li Yong, looked really dumbfounded. .I should be the one asking you that. What are importantcity folks like you doing in this harbor? Normally, you guys hate this ce, right, saying stuff like This kind of dirty ce. Indeed, normally, the big shots of the city didnt like going to the port. No way, of course we came here in order to eat delicious seafood dishes. We came here looking for grilled squids, especially. I am her escort. Li Min was a little bit taken aback when Yui Mei honestly stated her goal. A city guy and squid? Dont city folks normally kick up a fuss when they see that, saying its a monster. Li Min was grumbling, but Yui Mei didnt have anything to do with that kind of normal. If its Li Yong, then perhaps he did think it was a monster. Eh, but didnt Princess Pan say that she also asked Lord Li Min to take her to the harbor, right? Perhaps, this was a nonsensical behavior for a person from the city. In that case, Princess Pan has that drive to act despite being a person with low self-esteem. Anyway, theyre in the way if they were to talk here. Nevertheless, Li Yong stated that we need to talk, and he stood his ground, so Li Min didnt have a choice but to agree despiteining, cant be helped then. He led Yui Mei and Li Yong and they entered a certain shop. It was a restaurant, and it was quite crowded. Hey, gonna use the room at the end, kay. Gotcha, enjoy your stay. Li Min called out to the shop assistant, and got a hearty reply. It seemed that it was a friendly shop. By the way, the woman that was with Li Min disappeared without a trace before they knew it. She probably inferred that he was caught in a dispute. Anyway, Li Min was incredibly familiar with this ce, and they followed him towards a private room at the deepest part of the restaurant. As soon as they entered, Li Min sat on the chair with a thud. So? You guys got anyints? Kai is like my house, so theres no problem even if I go wherever, right? He red daggers at Li Yong. What a punk!? Li Mins rough, rude words was totally different from how he spoke back at the mansion, so Yui Mei was shocked. I see, so thats your true nature. Li Yong still had a poker face on. Lord Li Min was such a calm guy back then. When Yui Mei mumbled that, Li Yong nced at her. I already told you, the men of the Huang family are seafarers. Seamen dont talk so eloquently like the government officials in the Imperial Pce, in the first ce. Well, now that he put it that way, it was true; his current bearing was more consistent to her image of a seafarer. Yui Mei agreed, then they also took their seats, and immediately asked Li Min to talk. So. What were you doing, not returning to the mansion and leaving Princess Pan all by herself? Li Min shrugged at Li Yongs question. Nah, just thought that shed be relieved if I didnt hang around, you know. Anyway, she probably didnte here coz she wanted to, right. I dont like a suffocating life myself, so were just even. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 73: One Should Listen to Both Sides of the Story Chapter 73: One Should Listen to Both Sides of the Story Yui Mei knit her brows at Li Mins shamelessness. The Huang family was the one who requested Princess Pans hand, and yet. Nah, it doesnt have anything to do with me, that old geezer was the one who decided that on his own. Apparently, the story they heard from Princess Pan was very different from Li Mins perspective. He mighte off as heartless, but then, its also possible for a political marriage is just something like this. And despite having a sharp tongue, he didnt seem to harbor ill will or grudges towards the princess. Yui Mei pondered about this. Li Yong then continued on. So, did you leave Princess Pan on her own while knowing that she was ill? Li Min goggled at Li Yong when he asked that prying question. No no, I was also shocked! It had been really busy at sea the recently, so I couldnt go home to check on her. But the guys at the mansion sent me a letter saying theres no problem at all, you know. That set me at ease, you see, but when I finally saw her again, she was already like that. So that meant her condition worsened while he was away. Li Yong did notment on this, and continued on with his interrogation. Did Lord Li Min live in that mansion from the beginning? Li Min shook his head. Nah, my old man owned that mansion before, and I usually slept at the ship or stayed in my regr inns. Then out of the blue, they just said your marriage has been decided so take charge of the house you know. Its only been a short while since they forced that ce on me. The old servants in that mansion were they already there from the time of your Father? Nope? He took the guys hes familiar with back to his own mansion. The left-overs were all underlings, thats why the empty positions were hastily filled. So that was the case. Even Li Min wasnt used to being in that mansion. If he didnt lived in the mansion, then it was understandable why the servants were not trained. Li Min just summoned people who can do the job, thinking that they can do something about managing the mansion. However, one cant wrap up human rtionships with just doing recements. There was not a single person left in that mansion who could help them adapt. The staff of the shop took this opportunity to serve the tea, as if they already predicted that it would be a good time to do so. Yui Mei and the rest took a break from the interrogation, and they sipped the tea. But still, I already did a great job glossing over it, but you guys still saw right through us. Well, you already ryed this to Lady Princess, I guess. Li Min leaned on his chair and tilted his head backwards as he grumbled. .Im not sure about that, though? Yui Mei said skeptically. Huuuhh? Li Min red daggers at her at this. Whats with that. Yeah I get it, you wanna stick up for Lady Princess, but theres no way that woman is that perceptive, right. She seemed dull, too. Li Min smirked roguishly, but Yui Mei stared at him with reproachful eyes. Lord Li Min doesnt understand a princess status, it seems. For women in the Inner Pce, the ability to infer the other partys real intentions and ulterior motives is truly indispensable. A princess is far superior than the other women in the Inner Pce, so theres no way she possessed that. Li Yong also agreed with Yui Meis opinion. Indeed, that is true. Princess Pan really did excel in that area. . Li Min sullenly shut his mouth when Yui Mei and Li Yong negated his thoughts. Princess Pan already knew, but she probably chose to keep mum about it, and while attentively watching over Li MIn. It was the ideal method in order to survive in the Inner Pce, after all. She then fell ill because of the piled up stress she was keeping to herself. This husband and wife seem like they dont really understand each other. They didnt dislike each other, but both of them were holding back, so they end up misunderstanding each other. Anyway, Princess Pan is currently doing all she could to restore her health. Lord Li MIn should also watch over her, and talk it out with her, too. If the mansion remained that way, then the Princess will just fall ill again. Li Min scrunched his brows at Yui Meis warning. Blimey, being onnd is sooo troublesome.Cant be helped, gonna go home. He gulped the tea after saying that. Thud thud thud thud. The heavy, hurried footsteps resounded from outside the private room. Big Bro!!! This is bad!!! A youngd came charging in. He was wearing a sailors garb, so he must be Li Mins underling. Youre too loud in front of the guests! Li Min scolded him, but he still repeated This is really bad!. A merchant ship got targeted offshore, theyre in battle!! Some of the ships already sailed off the harbor to support em, but theyre at disadvantage! Merchant ship? Battle? Heh, what a cocky attitude, and right in front of me, to boot. Sorry, cant go home now. Sorry. Li Min dropped those words, then he dashed out of the room without a single nce at Yui Mei and Li Yong. After a while, Yui Mei broke the silence in the room. What about the bill? Did he settle the bill before leaving, seeing he was in that state? Li Yong calmly answered her question. It seems that hes familiar with this shop, so theyll probably put it on his tab. Well, theres no way the Crown Prince will let his subordinates leave a restaurant without paying, so lets settle the bill. And so, they left the shop after Li Yong paid for the private room and tea, and it was a sizable amount. Yui Mei and Li Yong naturally headed towards the harbour. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 74: Trouble brews Chapter 74: Trouble brews Yui Mei, why are you headed towards the harbor? Yui Mei nced up at Li Yong when she heard that. Same to you, Lord Li Yong, with the current affairs, its dangerous at the harbor, you know? Li Yong snorted. Im a soldier, a fighting scene is just a trivial matter to me. But its better for you to stay at the restaurant. Ill fetch you after I check the things there. Yui Mei objected to thatment. If its a battle, then there might be injured people over there, right. Both of them stopped on their tracks and tried to stare each other down. Cant be helped then. Dont stray from my side. Yui Mei refused to back down, so Li Yong gave in. With this, both of them started to walk again towards the harbor. And the ce was in chaos. No more ships!? There are guys falling into the sea, we have to pull them out! Lord Li Mins going!! Different voices rang out all around them while Yui Mei tried to take a peek by standing on tiptoe. There was a huge ship, and several midsize boats swarmed around it. Are thosepirates? This close to the shore? Yui Mei wracked her brains when she heard Li Yongs murmur. Dont they usually do piracy in ces that no one would pass through? Help could readilye at this distance, so the pirates would be at a disadvantage in this ce. The boat returned with wounded people onboard! Yui Mei forgot all about her question when she heard that shout. Here! I can help with that! Where are the wounded!? Yui Mei raised her hand and yelled, and the crowd spontaneously parted. Over here!! Dont know who you are, but thats a relief! She dashed towards the voice. Li Yong was right on her heels while mumbling cant be helped, then. They saw the boat being pulled into the harbor. There were several injured men onboard along with the rower. They were shed. The gashes are shallow but theyre bleeding too much. Li Yong stated that as he stood beside Yui Mei. In that case, they had to treat the wounds and warm their bodies right away or else it would be dangerous. Excuse me, please get some cooking water! Do not use sea water! And get some clean cloth, too! Yui Mei shouted at the people around her, and they brought a pot of water from a nearby restaurant. She soaked the cotton cloth that she brought in the water and started to wash the wounds. By the way, its been her habit as a housekeeper to always bring this cotton cloth with her so she can readily wear her mask and head scarf. Yui Mei then ripped the new cloth into bandage strips, then she tightly wrapped the wounds up to their chests, near their hearts. Keep it like this until the blood stops. Gently carry them to a calm ce and change their drenched clothes! Y, yeah. The people were dumbfounded as Yui Mei energetically handed out instructions, but even if somebody mumbled who is that girl taking charge?, but they never said that directly because of Li Yongs intimidating presence beside her. Yui Mei continued giving first aid until all the injured men were treated. Hey sis, you got some great skills there, huh! Were gonna go bring the wounded guys in, soe along with us! A guy called out to her from one of the fishing boats when they finally reached the harbor. Yes! Hey! Dont go answering on your own! Li Yong scolded Yui Mei when she replied immediately, but he still went with her. And so, both of them decided to board the boat and set off to the sea. Help!!! The guys were thrashing their arms in a frenzied attempt to swim towards the boat, and the people on board started to grab on to them and they heaved them over one after another. Yui Mei checked their condition, while Li Yong helped in pulling them up. Li Yong stared at the merchant ship while rescuing the men. That is not the work of pirates. Really? Yui Mei also looked up and turned her gaze towards the merchant ship. Theyre too organized. Those guys must be well trained. Oh, Lord Li Min also said the same stuff as you, bro. The owner of the fishing boat replied to Li Yongs words. Heh, the same thing as Lord Li Min, huh? In that case, this was really suspicious. Yui Mei was perplexed. What on earth is happening here? While they were conversing this way, the boat finally reached its maximum capacity, so it was decided that they would temporarily return to the harbor.. It was at that time. Ssh!! Just when they thought that waves sprayed over them, a drenched man grabbed on to the boat. Theres a woman on deck! The man grinned lecherously as he hollered. Apparently, he was one of the mysterious pirates and he swam over towards them. Hiiii, were followed!? The men thought they were saved so they hurriedly scrambled away from him in terror. Because of that, the boat started to sway vigorously. Uwaah Im gonna fall, were gonna fall, so stay still!! Yui Mei hastily held on to the gunwale, but a hand stretched out from the sea and grabbed her wrist. She shrieked. Some of hisrades were apparently in the sea, too. Yeah, its really ass, shes in but shes a chick, no doubt about it. in!? She knew she was homely, but anyone would get angry if that was said to her face, naturally. Yui Mei scowled, then something suddenly flew past her face, and the man was thrown into the sea. Keep your filthy hands off her, you scum. Li Yong had kicked that guy. He was gripping a short sword in one hand. Li Yong usually carried a much longer sword, but its difficult to handle that in a crowd of people, so he brought this de with him just this time. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 75: Seasick Chapter 75: Seasick Yui Mei and the other people were on a fishing boat, which wasnt huge in the first ce. Theres not much room to move around, but that didnt deter Li Yong. He whirled around like a deadly dancer, and the guys who gathered to climb up the boat were all sent flying back to the sea with a ssh, while blood flowed from the others who were struck by his de. Whats with this bastard!? Hes strong!! One of the men who were thrown into the sea shouted as he struggled to stay afloat. I thought there are no fighters in the port right now!? Another guy shrieked. Hm? It sounded like the guy was spouting inexcusable words right now. Yui Mei peeked at Li Yong, but he was also ring at the robbers who were thrown into the sea. I wanted to capture them if we had leeway, but Li Yong directed his gaze to the boat as he muttered. Unfortunately, they could no longer afford to bring the pirates with them because they already reached the boats full capacity. Oh well, its fine. Our aim was to aid the rescue. I shouldnt hope for more. Li Yong immediately changed his mindset. He told the owner that they should leave this area of the sea immediately, and he also helped row the boat. And so, they slowly headed towards the harbor, when they met a huge shiping from the port. Oh, its Lord Li Min! Those guys are gonna retreat for sure now. The boats owner gleefully said. Li Min probably arrived at the harbor at the same time as Yui Mei and Li Yong, but getting a ship as huge as that to start probably took some time. In that case, then they were really the first one to arrive at the crime scene. Itll get rough from here on, so we better hurry and return to the harbor. Yeah, youre right. The owner agreed with Li Yongs words, then he energetically pulled the oar. Yui Mei was staring at the merchants ship, so she saw how the sea robbers hastily started to retreat the moment they saw Li Mins ship. Yui Mei was really perplexed at how quick they were to flee. Suddenly, a strange feeling surged within her. I feel sick. Yeah, weve been swaying too much after all. Li Yong calmly replied to the pale-faced Yui Mei. Finally, the boat carrying the wounded people and the seasick Yui Mei safely arrived at the harbor. Ugh, the world is spinning. Yui Mei was also lifted up along with the injured, and she copsed to the ground. Drink this, its good for seasickness, they said. Li Yong had been talking to somebody earlier. He returned to Yui Meis side, then he offered a cup to her. Thank you so much. Yui Mei dizzily took the cup. It was a ginger tea mixed with honey, and the fragrance somehow soothed her. She slowly sipped it, and the refreshing taste of ginger calmed her queasiness, and the honey revived her spirit. So tasty She was d she got something sweet for her weakened body. Yui Mei was moved to tears while drinking the ginger tea, and relief was written all over Li Yongs face. If you can drink that, then youre fine, I guess. Sorry, I dont understand how you feel, since swaying and such doesnt really affect me. Li Yong was a little worried, but Yui Mei agreed that there were people like that. It cant be helped, since resilience against motion sickness is a body constitution that is predetermined at birth. Its also my first time to know that Im prone to seasickness. I never had a problem when we travelled to the capital, though. Actually, Yui Mei had no experience with ships in her previous world, too. She usually took the car, or traveled by ne, and she didnt experience motion sickness with them. Well, the shaking of the boat earlier was on a different level, nevertheless, it was the first time she learned about this. Thats because the swaying movement of a carriage is different from that of a ship. I had only boarded a river boat before, so I was also surprised that it would shake more than I thought. He was surprised and yet he didnt get nauseous the semicircr canals* in his ears must be strong, quite suited for him. Now that she thought about it, imperial guards rode on horseback, which was also a very shaky mode of transportation. Horseback riding may have made him more resilient. Anyway, Yui Mei immediately started to treat the wounded after being revived by the ginger tea. Suddenly, someone shouted Lord Li Min returned! Isnt it too fast? Yui Mei whipped her head to look at the sea, and she saw the merchant ship side by side with Li Mins ship headed towards the harbor. Li Yong was beside her, straining to look at the ships, too. Its a bit far, but the ships body doesnt seem to be damaged. Li Yongmented. Oh, now that you mention it, it doesnt seem to be broken anywhere. She thought that the ship and crew would suffer heavy blows when assaulted by pirates. It was actually strange. Thats only natural, you know. A fisherman nearby interjected. T/N: semicircr canals three tiny, fluid-filled tubes in your inner ear that help you keep your bnce Is it just me, but Li Yong is bing more concerned with Yui Mei? Espst chaps keep your filthy hands off her line, and that relieved face.. :3 Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 76: Peculiar City Slickers Chapter 76: Peculiar City Slickers Isnt it a matter of course? Yui Mei asked, and the man replied with Yep, thats right. Those guys aim to harass the ships that use this harbor. Hoh, harassment, is it. Li Yong raised a brow when he heard that. During their conversation, the injured people were carried in, and Yui Mei was almost buried under them. The ship was huge, so it stands to reason that the number of passengers would also be many. Due to the sheer number of injured people, It would take too much time and effort to examine each one of them thoroughly, and there was a risk of overlooking the seriously wounded. Thus, Yui Mei decided to divide the severely injured from those with light wounds. This was a method mostmonly carried out in the emergency outpatient department in her previous life. Those with grave situations were gathered in a tavern that had been converted to a temporary clinic. Yui Mei treated them there. Li Yong also helped, since he also had some experience during training soldiers. Yui Mei was absorbed in treating the patient before her, when she heard a voice. So this is where the injured are all gathered. She looked up and saw Li Min talking to a woman who seemed to be the hostess of the tavern. Both of them were talking at the entrance. Sorry for using your ce, Madam. Theres no need to worry, we should help each other since we are all in the same boat after all. Li Min slightly bowed his head, and the hostessughed as she responded. So, the fishermen guys told me a woman and a guy took the injured guys over here, and theyre treating them skillfully, is it true? Yes! The mistress nodded her head when she heard Li Mins question. Thess andd are over there. The mistress then darted a nce at Yui Mei and Li Yong. Li Min lightly sighed when he saw them. I thought so. Even though theyre city slickers, theyre reallymendable, huh. Oh, are they the guests that are staying at your ce, Lord Li Min? The hostess was surprised when she heard Li Mins grumbling. On the other hand, Yui Mei and Li Yong nced at each other. Li Yong, we do not seem to be city dwellers, huh. Its not we, its you, right. Yui Mei whispered, and Li Yong retorted back. Well, thats only natural, since Yui Mei was a ruralite from the bordends, after all. Li Min strode towards them while theyre busy whispering. Let me say my thanks first, Im grateful for your help. Then he continued on. Were lucky we didnt have casualties this time around, and I heard that because of the early treatment, many of the lightly wounded guys managed to weather it out. Li Min bowed his head after saying that. It was totally different from his earlier arrogance, so Yui Mei was shocked. Seems like I cant make a fixed impression when ites to this guy. Yui Mei tilted her head in confusion, while Li Yong replied with a stern gaze. Do those pirate-like guys frequently appear here? Yui Mei didnt hear anything like that from the crown prince during their previous briefing. The emperor wouldnt let the crown princee into such a dangerous ce, and he would probably call Princess Pan back from Kei if he knew about it in the first ce. Li Mins face hardened when he heard Li Yongs query. It cant be helped then, youre already sticking your noses in, so theres no use keeping mum about this, huh. Im telling you everything, so lets switch ces. Ah, in that case, please wait for a while. Li Min prompted them to change their venue, but leaving her work halfway through this didnt sit well with Yui Mei. And so, she made Li Min wait while she finished examining all the people in the tavern and instructing the other people about what should be done next. They finally moved after she was done. Youre such a granddy, making Lord Li Min wait like that. The local folksmented, but it wasnt as if Li Mins story would change just because she didnt chose to listen first Besides, neglecting those injured people would aggravate their wounds, so she was just setting her priorities straight. Plus, Lord Li Min didnt seem to mind. Li Min knew how to grasp the situation, and he was also probably appreciated as a leader. Contrary to that, people who prioritized themselves without regards to the situation were not weed in such situations. But that must be set aside for now. Li Min took them back to the restaurant where they had their conversation before the pirate uproar. Gonna use the inner room, bring some alcohol, too! Li Min instructed the staff, and he strode towards the inner room. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 77: ‘Girl Talk’ Before Explanation Chapter 77: ¡®Girl Talk¡¯ Before Exnation They entered the room they previously stayed in, and the staff brought some alcohol, snacks and tea. Please enjoy your stay. The staff said, and they withdrew. Li Min started to talk after they were gone. I have a request before everything else. Please dont say anything about this to Lady Princess, alright? Li Min then bowed deeply, while Yui Mei nced at Li Yong in surprise. He also looked startled. We should ask why, right. Li Yongs tone was hard, so Li Min replied with Of course, thats only natural. See, I dont want to scare her. Yeah, its been messy around here recently, but its a peaceful and bustling ce on normal days Shes starting to like the sea, you know Li Min hanged his head down, and he mumbled theter part. Oooh? Yui Mei was taken aback by Li Mins unexpected reaction. It was like a youth experiencing spring for the first time. Pardon me for rifying this but, Lord Li Min, does that mean you do not dislike Princess Pan? Li Min red at Yui Meis frank question. Yui Mei also realized that she said too much, so she reflected inwardly. Yui Mei, you should go a more round-about way with those kinds of things, you know. Li Yong interjected, so Yui Mei grimaced and retorted back. Dont expect such skill from me please. Anyway, Yui Mei was just a mere housekeeper, after all. Hey, both of you dont know how to hold back, you know. Li Min stated, looking as if he swallowed something unpleasant. Its not like that. But Lady Princess had been treasured and brought up preciously, right? How to say this, Im not sure how to get along with her. Ohh, so thats what it is. In other words, he didnt know how to close the gap between them. They have been living in apletely different world, so thats only natural. But, you know, you can get closer to each other by living together and spending time with each other every day. Theres no way they wont close the gap between them if they understood how each of them lived. Li Yong interjected once again when Yui Mei said that. Hey Yui Mei, Im afraid that even if Lord Li Min understands that, he is probably too shy to make a move. Dont go driving him into a corner by being too direct. Eh, no, youre the one driving him to a corner, Li Yong. Li Yong was trying to help Li Min, but he didnt seem to be cut for this. Is tactlessness an indispensable ability that an attendant to the Crown Prince must have? His Highness the Crown Prince likes doing things at his own pace, after all. A meek person probably wont do as the crown princes attendant. Yui Mei contemted this. Hey you guys, show some respect to me. Li Min voiced out his grievance. Well, they didnte here to talk about this in the first ce. It seems like theyre having girl talk at this rate, consulting each other about the matters of love. Lets eat! Lord Li Min, were going to listen to your love story on another day, okay. Who said anything about love! I mean, were husband and wife in the first ce!!! Li Min retorted while blushing furiously when Yui Mei tried to redirect their conversation. No, no, marriage and love are separate things, you know. Li Min and Princess Pans marriage was a political one, so it was only a matter of course that their feelings were not connected to each other. It would be a good thing if they nurtured love in their rtionship. This Li Min, he was already a grown man, but he might still be wet behind the ears regarding this matter. Li Yong once again interjected when they seemed to derail again from their purpose. Lord Li Min, are those pirates really just that? Oh, yeah. I was surprised that theyre venturing so close to the harbor, though. Li Min snorted when he heard Li Yong and Yui Meis questions. Hey you guys, youre probably thinking that mountain bandits and pirates are the same, right. Well, thats true in a sense, theyre doing the same stuff, after all, but they got definite differences, you know. Differences? Li Min further exined when he saw Yui Meis confusion. Pirates want to possess thend. They want to im their own territories. Li Yong nodded in understanding, saying I see. Theres no way people would spend their entire lives living in the sea alone. Yup, they have to get their food on thend, after all. But theres no way were gonna give up thend like that, so we stationed strong soldiers around here. Thats the reason why those guys avoided Kai. Li Min then sighed after exining this. But, the reality is that they came attacking like this. Li Min had aplicated expression when Yui Meimented on their present condition. Yeah, and the raids have been going on and on, so the soldiers are also tired. Huge ships are also in danger, so theres less of theming into Kai. Li Min then gulped his wine. Thats terrible. Li Yong furrowed his brows. - T/N: How adorable, Li Min. This guy is the epitome of first impressions neverst, and dont judge the book by its cover lol. Sorry guys for the dy, just had a dental appointment yesterday, finished prettyte and the pain afterward prevented me from posting earlier, or doing anything, for that matter ? Thanks for understanding. ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 78: Pirates and the Huang Family Chapter 78: Pirates and the Huang Family ording to the crown princes exnation, Kai was an important business location for the Huang Family. The ie they generated would be less if the number of ships entering the harbor was also lessened. That would be a heavy blow to the Huang family. Where did those piratese from? They are being investigated naturally, I presume? Li Mins expression turned grave when he heard Li Yongs words. Well, this case is something you guys would understand sooner orter, anyway. Actually, its the work of the Huang family. What? The Huang family attacked their own harbor? Theyre a separate part of the Huang family, to be exact. Theyre not fond of me. Li Min then started to open up about the Huang familys internal affairs. My old man dominates the properties of the Huang family now, but it wasnt decided to be like that. The emperor was also keeping an eye on this Huang family. The grand duke was considered to be the head andmander, so many people naturally covet that position. In the midst of that, Li Mins father managed to maneuver his way, skillfully aiding the current grand duke, and now, he was considered to be the prime heir candidate. However, his brother-inw was considered to be the second most influential person, and he was also aiming for that position. Hes the husband of my old mans older sis should I say aunt and shes one greedy fe, you know. That aunt was supposed to be a candidate to be the emperors concubine, however, just as Princess Pan had told them, she lost during the harsh battle of the Huangs inner yard. She then picked a person from her consanguine family, and she remained in one of the branch families. And, shes one of those powder-stinky old crones. She hates me, actually. She tried to make her daughter do the same thing she failed in by attempting to make her the crown princes concubine, but that didnt turn out well, too. Li Min then shrugged. Maybe that mother and daughter pair had a fatal w. The person who was being groomed to be the sessor of the Grand Duke Huangs title would surely have a high status. Maybe thats the reason why they didnt manage to forcefully grab that status. The Huang family probably didnt want to bring shame to their n by sending a ridiculous woman to the pce. At any rate, because of those circumstances, Li Min was on guard against the princess who came from the pce, since he did not know what kind of person she was. He was probably wondering what to do if she turned out to be someone like that mother-daughter pair. Honestly, I was totally relieved when she turned out to be different from those two. I see. Perhaps you got the urge to take Princess Pan to the harbor to see the sea because of that relief? Li Min was at a loss for a moment when Yui Meimented, then he muttered So thats also possible. Actually, I was thinking now that I shouldnt have taken Lady Princess around the harbor. Its messy and dirty, to boot. Shes in poor shape, so maybe she got sick because of that. I also regret that, you know. Li Min hung his head, while Yui Mei widened her eyes in surprise. This guy was worried for the wrong reasons, it seemed. I dont think thats true, though? Princess Pan had a great time, you know? She said Lord Li Min took me, and she seemed really happy. She also rmended that we go sightseeing around the harbor, too. .Really? Li Min jerked his head up when he heard Yui Meis words. So this pair of husband and wife kept on missing each other, huh. Yui Mei was a bit exasperated. Li Yong then spoke to Li Min. In my perspective, Princess Pan was also somewhat peculiarpared to the other esteemed personages who lived in the Inner Pce. That might be the reason why she was the one sent to be a bride of the Huang family. Thats why, please set aside your preconceptions about the princess and try to connect with her. Got it, Ill do my best. Li Min meekly replied to Li Yongs advice. It would be good if misconceptions between them were eliminated. It turned to Li Mins love consultation once again, but now its time to return to the story. It seemed that the greedy aunt hadnt given up on the position of Grand Duke Huang yet. Kai is the ce entrusted to the sessor of the Grand Duke Huang for generations. They left it to my father and now its entrusted to me, plus I got Lady Princess as my bride. They probably couldnt stay still, since they probably cantpete at this rate. Li Min said. Li Yong sipped his tea, then asked him. From Lord Li Mins perspective, that aunt and her husband, what kind of people are they? Theyre pigheaded, in a word. Plus, their greed for money and power is exceptional Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 79: All Fired Up!! Chapter 79: All Fired Up!! I really like this Kai port, being the seafarer that I am. Thats why I want the fishermen to fishfortably, and itd be great if different sorts of shipse into this harbor. But if that womanes into the picture, then shed wring this port dry from raking in money and the port will be a mess for sure, thats the only future I see. Li Min seemed to dislike that from the bottom of his heart. It seemed that he would never see eye to eye with his aunt. Actually, it was more than that. It was absolutely a power struggle. Your Majesty the Emperor, you should have researched more before sending Elder Sis as a bride! Yui Mei sent a barrage ofints towards the Imperial Pce inwardly, then she asked L Min. So, is that why your aunt, that Huang County Lord, torments Princess Pan? Ha? What did you say? Li Min shook his head at Yui Meis words. Hey, dont tell me you dont know anything about this? Yui Mei had a bad feeling since it seemed that it was the first time Li Min heard about this, but she still exined the reason why Princess Pan fell sick. She had to ry the crucial information, even if she needed to keep up about stuff like the princesss desire to lose weight. That hag, taking advantage of the fact that I was out at the sea! I never heard about that, either! Li Min banged his hand on the table in frustration. It seemed that he really didnt know anything about this. Princess Pan kept mum so that she wouldnt be a burden to Lord Li Min. However, the fact that no information came from your retainers is not something you can turn a blind eye to, right? Li Yong then stated the problem that he found in the mansion. st it, those bastards mocking me. Li Min roared with a re. Li Yong tried to sort it out for him. ording to Lord Li Min, the Huang County Lord treats Princess Pan as an eyesore foring as a bride to Kei, the ce that she coveted. Meaning to say, if the Princess makes a fuss and asks for a divorce, then Lord Li Min status will be in jeopardy. The princess must be in an unfavorable situation if her allies are only a handful, right? Li Min scratched his head wordlessly when Li Yong and Yui Mei gave their advice. That Lady PrincessHow is she now? He then asked Yui Mei. Yes, her appetite is good, and she can eat her meals properly. Her sense of taste has improved. The problem was caused by malnutrition, after all. She is also cooperative, so shes doing great while she tries to regain her stamina and strength. Really, thats a relief It would have been fine even if she didnt want to lose weight, you know. Li MIn was relieved when he heard Yui Meis answer, then he sulked. Yui Mei was surprised. Eh, did you know the reason why Princess Pan wanted to lose weight? Li Min furrowed his brows, then he whispered in reply. Dont all women think alike. But, I neverined about her body, you know? The only condition I required was that do not stop me from being a seafarer. Li Min gulped his wine after that. This husband and wife couple really had an endless amount of misunderstandings. If he had properly informed Princess Pan about that, then maybe the situation would note to this. Besides, Li Min was frequently absent because he was busy dealing with the pirates, and that probably exacerbated the situation. In that case, Yui Meis goal became more concrete. She did not remain here in order to be involved with the difficulties of the rules, after all. She was here in order to help Princess Pans body recover. Alright, I should do my best! Alright, we should polish Princess Pan to shut that Huang County Lord, so she wont be able to find any ws with her! Yui Mei jumped to her feet and eximed, shocking both Li Yong and Li Min. Well, we just have to crush all the weak spots, huh. Li Yong soon agreed, but Li Min grimaced. Oy, oy, I dont like thin, weak-looking women, the type that looks like shes applying to enter the Imperial Pce, got it? Fufun, no need to worry. Im going to make you see the woman that I deem beautiful! Yui Mei puffed her chest out at Li Mins words. Beauty shoulde from within. She would use all her knowledge from her previous life, and she would show them the true meaning of beauty. Yui Mei was a girl who would be all fired up if she had an opponent. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 80: Efficient Method of Exercise Chapter 80: Efficient Method of Exercise Still, isnt Princess Pan already doing her utmost now? How do you n to raise the bar with that, Yui Mei. Li Yong said, as if pouring a bucket of water to Yui Meis enthusiasm. Indeed, the princess was currently engaged in diet therapy and therapeutic exercises, and for a person exhausted and weakened by illness, these things were already taxing. However, it was only natural that once the body had recovered to a certain extent, they had to take the rehabilitation program to the next level. Li Yong is in charge of guiding Princess Pan during her exercises. Now, I want something that will increase her load. Li Yongs expression was grim when he heard her words. Dont tell me you want the princess to undergo the training for soldiers? As if, why on earth would I want the princess to hold a sword. Li Yong red at Yui Mei, so she shot down his words. Female knights frequently appeared in Chinese movies and other stuff, but Yui Mei had no intention of turning the princess into something like that, although the idea itself was tempting to her. But, that must be set aside for now. So, people in this world equate exercise with soldier training. They did not have anything like the exercises in her previous world. Besides, what would happen if you increase the burden that the princess have to bear? There was a reason why Li Yong persistently questioned this thing. Nobility such as the princess were not allowed to live aborious life. They had to maintain their elegant bearing at all times, most especially if there were other people around them. That was why Li Yong was very particr about the presence or absence of people whenever he coached Princess pan. Naturally, Yui Mei was also considering the possible methods so that Li Yong and Princess Pans status wouldnt be jeopardized. Li Yong fully grasped the daily to day behavior of a person with the status of a princess, so he probably guided her based on that viewpoint. Yui Mie thought that a baby barely learning to walk moved a lot more than the princess. Even so, it was effective enough, and that made her realize just how abysmally minimal the movement was that the princesss normal routine required. But, if we consider Princess Pans situation, then this isnt enough. However, aside from that situation, they also had to consider her concern that there are people watching her if Yui Mei wanted to increase the Princess level of exercise. Moreover, she was prohibited from participating in long term outdoor activities, because white skin was prized as beautiful in this ce. Beauty Wangs previous conduct was an extreme exception to the rule, because the situation called for it. And so, Yui Mei considered all of these things and she came up with this solution. I propose that Princess Pan do indoor exercises a way for her to move her body inside the room. Huh? Indoor? Li Yong looked doubtful, as if saying What nonsense is this girl spouting again?. Well, thats only natural, I guess. Exercise should be done outdoors that was considered asmon sense in this kingdom. Rather, there were no ces such as gymnasiums and indoor facilities in this country. A huge space was necessary in order to move freely indoors. Because they treated soldier training as equivalent for exercise, there were dedicated spaces for a crowd of people to swing their swords around. It would cost an enormous amount of money if they were to build a spacious building for the sake of that, and so, it was understandable that people would think that they didnt have to do that, since they could just do the exercise outdoors. Yui Mei had been swamped with work, so she did not have the time to exercise outdoors, so she was also worried about her bby body. Well, nurses were required to be on their feet and to move around most of the time, but work was different from exercise. Not all muscles were used during work, after all. And so, because of that, she ended up buying health rted equipment. She bought various stuff, and her family would sarcasticallyment with You might earn a lot if you rent these out for 100 yen per 10 minutes. Ah, I think I put them in the closet and forgot all about it Anyway, she should aside her affairs in her previous life. There is a way for her to move her body all she wants in a narrow space without the fear of being spied on by others. Oh, whats that? Li Min had been silent while Yui Mei and Li Yong talked, but now his interest was piqued. Do you know any craftsman who can create something ording to the figure that Im going to tell him? Li Min considered Yui Meis words for a moment. Do you mean to say you wanted to make something from scratch and not a ready-made thing? Yes, thats it. Hmmm. Li Min thought as Yui Mei nodded her head. I know a lot of skilled guys, but if thats the case, then only that guy would do, huh. Li Min knew a skilled craftsman, it seemed. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 81: In the Slums Chapter 81: In the Slums And so, it was decided that Yui Mei would visit the guy Li Min mentioned. It should be around here. Yui Mei was currently walking at a narrow alley while looking around her. We wont stay here for long. Public order doesnt seem to be that good in here. Li Yong followed behind her with a grim face. They were at the border of the slums, home to the good but poor people. Although they felt doubtful, they finally reached a remarkably dpidated house. Is it really here? Theres the signboard that Lord Li Min mentioned, see. Isnt it here, then? Yui Mei looked above the nted door while replying to Li Yong. There was a wooden signboard, and Hus Workshop was written on it. The craftsman was named Hu Tian ording to Li Min. Hello? Is anyone home? Yui Mei knocked on the door. The door leaned further due to the impact, and she hurriedly tried to right it again. Hey, no matter how many times you return, I already told you I dont have money. A mans voice resounded from inside the house. He probably thought Yui Mei and Li Yong were here to collect debts. Lord Li Min rmended this ce, so I came here. Li Min said what? The sagging door opened when Yui Mei called out. A shabby middle-aged guy with messy hair stood there. Are you Mr. Hu? Yeah, Im Hu. What did Li Min say? He stared suspiciously at Yui Mei and Li Yong while scratching his hair. He had dropped the honorifics when he talked about Li MIn, so they were probably close to each other. Yui Mei tried to peek at the interior of the house. She saw several things all jumbled up behind Hu. She didnt know how to use almost all of the stuff in there. ording to Li Min, this Hu guy had studied under a famous crafter as an apprentice. He would always add a lot of things that were uncalled for without managing to fulfill what was ordered, so he had been fired. Despite that, he didnt learn from that experience, and he continued to tinker with and create a lot of strange things. Li Min said that he was an interesting guy, and he supported him so that he wont go broke. But this guy would invest all his money in making weird stuff, so he ended up destitute. Wait, that sounds like he has the characteristics of being an inventor? She knew someone simr among her acquaintances in her previous life. These kinds of people would often be too absorbed in whatever they were enthusiastically doing, forgetting everyone and everything around them. They require a person who would care for their daily necessities. Yui Meis gaze wandered around the room while thinking those things, when a certain object suddenly caught her eye among the jumbled things. It had a huge wheel, and there were two smaller wheels standing side-by-side behind it, with various parts attached. It was made entirely from wood. Is that a bicycle? Indeed, the design was a little crooked, but it did look like a bicycle. No, it must have been a tricycle, to be precise. Excuse me, is that thing working? Hu had a puzzled look when Yui Mei pointed to it. That one? Ah, its currently in the prototype stage, but it will move properlywait a sec, girl, do you know what that is? Yes, thats a vehicle, right? Vehicle? Where on earth would a person ride on that thing? Li Yong butted in when Yui Mei answered. You can ride over the wheel. Hu pointed to it after he said that. There was a wooden box that had been ced simply on top of the bigger wheel. It wasnt a chair, and it looked painful to sit on. I thought that there were no vehicles that people could ride independently, without being pulled by another person, a cow or a horse. Unfortunately, i cant find anyone who can ride it, including me. So yeah, its a defective product. A defective product? Thats outrageous! Yui Meis eyes were shining, and she knew that. She already found the solution to her problem. She wanted to request another product, but she never expected that she would encounter a pseudo-bicycle. Yes! I want to ride that! She raised her hand energetically as she eximed, while Li Yong and Hu were both dumbfounded. T/N: I think it mustve looked something like this, minus the handles ? Taken from History of the Bicycle: A timeline, Brown University. ctto. https://.brown.edu/Departments/Joukowsky_Institute/courses/13things/7083.html Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 82: Convenient Thing Chapter 82: Convenient Thing Thus, they all moved to another location so Yui Mei could test run the tricycle. It was a wide path nearby. The people were shouting Whats up? and Whats happening? around them, but mumbles of Ahh, its him were also heard when they saw Hu. Hu was treated as an entric person, apparently. Anyway, Yui Mei straddled the box so she could ride the tricycle. Hmm, its quite unstable, huh. It was more of a unicycle than a tricycle, with wheels added unnecessarily behind it, and it felt like they were just supporting the unicycle marginally. It didnt even have handle bars, so it was difficult to stabilize her body. Well, I can ride a unicycle, so its fine, I guess. Unicycles were extremely popr when she was a kid, so she frequently rode it andpeted with her friends. She pushed the pedals of the unstable tricycle while thinking that, and she managed to make it move, albeit a bit wobbly. Whoa!? Its moving! Hu was brimming with excitement as he followed Yui Mei while she rode the tricycle. Ohh. Li Yong also gazed with admiration. On the other hand, Yui Mei was Ouch, my butt, my butt hurts! She was sitting on a wooden seat, and there was nothing on it to absorb the impact, after all. Thus, her bottoms received impact directly when she rode on the bare ground, and it was painful. Finally, she stopped the tricycle and got off when her bottoms reached their limit. Thats amazing!! Hu enthusiastically ran towards Yui Mei, and he pped her back passionately. Stop, I can feel your ps on my butt! Yui Mei hastily ran behind Li Yong to protect her bottoms. Yeah, its working, but what is it for? Its faster to run. Li Yong asked as he looked at the tricycle while being treated as a wall by Yui Mei. I think the speed will depend on future improvements. Li Yong frowned when Yui Mei said that. It wont stand a chance against a horse, though. You dont get it, huh. Hu grumbled. This thing has merits that a horse doesnt have, you know? Theres no need for horse or feed, after all. Hu said, but Li Yong was puzzled. Well, even if you say theres no need for a horse It didnt look like it couldpete with a horse at this stage, so it was understandable that he didnt get it. However, for Yui Mei, who knew what bicycles could do based on her previous life, it was already a huge step. Besides, it was exactly what she needed right now. Hu, there is something I want to make based on this. Oh, right, Li Min did tell you toe here, huh. What do you wanna make? Thats Perhaps it was because of the tricycle, but Hu was easily baited. Yui Mei grinned in satisfaction as she exined it in detail. Hmmm, I seeI think I get it, or maybe not. Hu was a bit confused at Yui Meis exnation, but he still promised to do it. Yui Mei also gave more suggestions to improve the tricycle while at it, passing them off as impressions from the person who rode it. If you add handles on the front wheel, like this, then itll be easier to ride, I think. Also, maybe you can move the seat a little more to the back Yui Mei was drawing Japans tricycle on the ground as she spoke. I see, those handles make it easier to change the direction, huh. Hu stared intently at Yui Meis drawing while mumbling. Yup, yup, just like that, do your best to make it! It was more like a childrens tricycle that pedaled the front wheel, than Japans bicycle that moved the rear wheel. If she wanted something like that, then they had to develop a chain-like thing. However, this was already enough at this point. Yui Mei also wanted one after it waspleted. Moving around the Inner Pce would be an easy task for her if she had one. If a basket is attached, then she could put her cleaning tools inside. Is this really that good? Li Yong was the only one unconvinced, but that was probably because he was the most familiar one with horses since birth, since he was a soldier and probably a young master, too. Therefore, he probably couldnt imagine how this new invention would surpass a horse. A few days had passed since then. They were scheduled to return to Hus ce today. What kind of thing did he manage to make? Yui Mei was practically prancing in excitement as she walked alongside Li Yong. What kind of thing, huh. I dont get it, somehow. Li Min was trying to imagine it behind them He couldnt help but think about Yui Meis order, so he decided to tag along and see it for himself. Even though he was the young master of the Huang family, he was ready to do things himself. He~y, Hu. Yui Mei called out at the dpidated shack, and she heard him say Yeah from inside. Hu opened the door. Pride and tion was written all over his face as he stepped outside. Your orders done. Hu pointed to a single wheel object that was fixed on a pedestal so it wouldnt move from its ce. The handles were fashioned so that they could support the body, and instead of a wooden box, the seat was made from leather and stuffed with cotton. Yup yup, its close enough, isnt it!? Yui Mei had requested Hu to make an exercise bike. T/N: Sorry for thete post guys, just swamped with work huhu Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 83: Unveiling Chapter 83: Unveiling Hey, whats this? It was the first time Li Min saw such a thing, and his eyes widened in surprise. Hu replied to him. Its requested by Little Miss over there, and its based on this. Hu then took out another object from inside. Whooaahhh!? How is it, I already addressed all the problem points, see. Hu was bursting with pride while Yui Meis eyes were shining in delight and awe. It was the improved version of the tricycle, and it was no longer a mock model. A basket was attached to the upper part of the rear wheels. So you put a cage, huh. Yeah, I want it to be more stable. I thought itll add some weight. Yup, yup, it looks like the mommy tricycles in Japan! Yui Mei was so moved that she almost rubbed her cheeks on the tricycle in affection, but Li Yong looked unconvinced. He probably thought that she was an oddball, but if he only knew how convenient this was, then he would surely change his opinion right away. Still, how on earth are you gonna use that if its not gonna move? Hu didnt understand the purpose of the exercise bike, notwithstanding he was the one who made it, so he was truly puzzled. Fufufu. This thing would help you move your body! Lord Li Yong, can you please try to pedal it? . Its fine, I guess. Li Yong was singled out by Yui Mei, so he rode the exercise bike with a furrow in his brows. It was fixed so that it wouldnt go anywhere, so even Li Yong didnt have any problems riding it. He then cautiously started to pedal. I made the wheels more difficult to turn, just like what you said. Thats correct. Yui Mei didnt know what kind of mechanism he used, but he probably installed something that could stop it with friction, like a break. Li Yong was earnestly pedalling away, so the resistance might be too much for Princess Pan, though. After pedalling for some time, Li Yong stopped pedalling and went down from the bike. Its tiring, and it also helps move the body parts that arent usually used. You moved your body quite a lot, right? Yui Mei asked when Li Yong expressed his impressions. Well, youre right. Li Yong assented, then he took out a handkerchief from his bosom pocket and wiped his sweat. The feet were not the only ones moving during a cycling workout. Even though he was pedalling with his feet, he unconsciously engaged the muscles of his entire body, since they were all connected, after all. How is it? It wont take a lot of space in the mansion, and theres no need to be conscious about being watched by other people. I see, so thats how it is. Li Yong had been skeptical about this at first, but now that he tried it firsthand, he couldnt utter any sort ofint. Heh, what an interesting thing you made. Li Min was curiously staring at the exercise bike. The phrase I wanna ride, too was written all over his face. Yui Mei called out to him. By the way, about this single-rider vehicle, dont you think its convenient when going around the city? Hu was also baited by Yui Meis sales talk. Its a lot more stable than the prototype, so it should be easier to use. I also rode this earlier, at any rate. Well, I had to ride it first before deciding whether thats true or not. And so, it was decided that Li Min would take it for a spin first to confirm whether it was as Hu said. They went to the same location earlier, and this time, the young master of the Huang family was with them, so a crowd of curious spectators gathered again. They could hear people saying Whats up to each other. Li Min straddled the bike in the midst of them. He slowly pedalled at first, steadily gaining momentum, until he was running fast. He then deftly turned the handles to return back to where Yui Mei and the rest were. Because it was a tricycle, the wheels stopped moving as soon as he stopped pedalling. Yui Mei thought that it would be better if a stopping mechanism like a break was added to it for safety, since it could gain speed, unlike the ones little children used. She decided to discuss thister with Hu. Whoa, that was amazing! I feel so refreshed! Li Min was exhrated like a kid, and he seemed smitten by the experience of riding the tricycle. It seems interesting. Is it like a cart? There were more peopleing to check what the fuss was all about, and they crowded around the tricycle. Li Min thoughtfully expressed his opinion. We have many narrow paths and alleys that are difficult for horses to enter here at Kai, but I think this thing might do the trick? It will be easier to move if youre carrying heavy items, too. Yui Mei alsomented on that. Perhaps its also suitable for short-distance travel to ces that are far enough, but not appropriate for using horses. Even Li Yong said that. It costs money to use a horse, and it might be unwise to use them for certain distances. Anyway, Li MIn also ordered one tricycle for himself as a result of him doing the test drive. The one he used was a little bit small for him, so he requested one that had the appropriate size. Will His Highness the Crown Prince want one, too? The prince loved novel things, unexpectedly, so he might be happy if she brought one as a souvenir for him. T/N: Early chap to make up forst time ? How nice, I want one too ~ Heres the mommy tricycle, so nicknamed because theyre frequently used by mommies in Japan. ? And did you know, they also have a version with two front wheels and one wheel at the back :0 Version 2 Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 84: Princess Pan’s Enthrallment Chapter 84: Princess Pan¡¯s Enthrallment Yui Mei and the rest of them left Hus house and returned to the mansion. Li Min said he had work to do, so he headed to the harbor. They went to the room that Li Min decided on after Yui Mei consulted him, and she left the exercise bike in it. They also put the tricycle in a ce overlooking the yard so that she could exin its originter. Princess Pan, can I have a moment, please? The princess was having her tea when Yui Mei called her out, then they went to the exercise room. I requested to have this made so that you can exercise more effectively. Lord Li Min introduced me to a craftsman. Oh my, Lord Li Min did? Princess Pan smiled when Yui Mei mentioned that Li Min had a hand in this. She probably took it that he still held some interest in her, since he helped them, so she was ted. Yup yup, you build your rtionship by umting trivial experiences, just like this! Li Min would probably think that they were patronizing him if he knew that she purposely told Princess Pan about what he did. However, it was a subtle, tricky problem. Although it wasnt good for them to meddle too much, they might also end up fanning their anxiety if they didnt say a word. Afterward, Yui Mei then exined how to use the exercise bike, and she also showed her the tricycle to her. She told the princess that this was the model for her exercise bike. Oh my, this is such a rare sight! So, Ill be the one to move this vehicle? It doesnt need anyone else to pull it for it to move? Princess Pan was unexpectedly enthralled. Hey, perhaps the princess likes novel things? She would probably thrive in this harbor city, where new items were always being introduced from different countries, because she wasnt quick to judge or feel repulsed with things that she didnt know anything about. Princess Pan wanted to see how the tricycle operated, so Yui Mei obliged. Oh my, oh my, oh my! Can I also ride it!? It might be possible, if you practice. Princess Pan was truly enthusiastic like a little child, so Li Yong answered her question. Yui Mei was relieved. Alright, got her attention now! The princess was more open-minded than Li Yong, so Yui Mei immediately rmended the exercise bike to her. Princess Pan slowly pedalled while Yui Mei, Li Yong, and her maid looked over her earnestly. This is so amazing! Princess Pan beamed, and her maid also nodded. Indeed, we could avoid the prying eyes of other people, and unwanted rumors, as well. As I thought, its hard to avoid being treated as an oddball, huh. No matter how motivated the person was, the opinions of other people around her wouldnt change that easily. That was why Yui Mei thought it would be better if the Princess regained her strength using this for the meantime. *** Princess Pan was thoroughly absorbed in using the strange vehicle that Li Yong brought together with Yui Mei. On that night So, what should we do now Li Yong muttered to himself as he stood in the yard. They could already see the effects of Princess Pans medical treatment, or should they say rehabilitation to a certain extent. The princess seemed determined and motivated to do her best in her own endeavors, so it could be said that they reached the point wherein they could be relieved from their duty. However, they hadnt solved the root problem of the princesss illness yet. The princess got dragged into the Huang Familys feud in the first ce. They couldnt just leave this situation be, because there was the possibility that she might fall into the same predicament once again. They had to help so that her life might be easier. What did Yui Mei think of that? Yui Mei was strangely drawn to the Princess. She had gradually understood that she couldnt really leave the oppressed and weak people alone, as was the case with Prince Youren. She probably wouldnt be able to go home with peace of mind if they didnt make sure that Princess Pan was living peacefully. Hm, in that case, then we have to destroy the root of the problem to a certain extent, huh. However, if Li Yong, who was considered as the representative of Ming Xian, interfered, then his masters position would be jeopardized. If he could do something about this without taking that risk Li Yong fretted. Hmpf, you seem troubled, kiddo. A males hoarse voice came from overhead. ! Li Yong abruptly raised his head, and his eyes widened in surprise. I heard from my subordinates that your group came. However Li Yong and Yui Mei were the only ones who openly interacted with the people of Kai, but arge number of Ming Xians guards were hiding in the shadows. Those shadow guards had ryed the information that there was another group working aside from them. They had operated until this point without any contact from each other. The emperors people had now contacted him. That was good, but the problem was I didnt expect the big boss to go on an official trip. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 85: Pirate Extermination Chapter 85: Pirate Extermination The man snorted, when Li Yong expressed his surprise. Hmpf, just got too much free time the past few days. Theres no way the big boss of the emperors shadow guards could afford to have that much time in his hands. Li Yong stared at him dubiously, but the man looked nonchnt. Hey, its not something torturous, you know. His Majesty just ordered me toe here, so yeah. No idea why, and didnt ask questions either. I just had to carry out my duty. The man grinned. That youngdy looks familiar, but it doesnt have anything to do with me. Was ordered to protect her, so protect her, it is. Besides beating up those ruffians is just a piece of cake. Still, its been a while since I saw that fervent gaze from His Majesty, you know. Your Majesty Zhi Wei must have been concerned about his long-lost daughter that had unexpectedly returned to his side, so it cant be helped that he was probably flustered, now that the daughter in question had traveled somewhere out of his sight. Well, it was understandable given the flow of events, however, for him to lend the head of his shadow guards. Sure, he must be feeling super secured about himself, however, wasnt it overkill for him to do this? Besides, Zhi Wei was putting his own safety at risk here. Was Lady Zhangs memento more important than his own life? Li Yong felt a headache iing, so the big boss further exined. Anyway, this youngdys safety is guaranteed, so kiddo, you can do whatever you want. There are things you can do precisely because youre out in the open. Li Yong ruminated on the big boss words. Li Min might be airheaded in some aspects, but it couldnt be denied that he had the ability to take action. Besides, he had been watching over his people carefully. He could soar to greater heights, particrly if he had someone capable supporting him. If Princess Pan was the one to be his pir, then how great it would be. Thus, it was imperative that Li Min and Princess Pans rtionship be strengthened. They were spending too little time together, and Yui Mei was also worried about this. It was important to eradicate the threat of the pirates, which was the main reason for Li Mins absence. Will the pirates act rashly if the Crown Princes envoy joined Lord Li Min on the ship? They would probably think they couldtch on a golden thigh that was far more superior than the Huang family if they got ahold of the crown princes envoy, so that would be the ideal situation for them if that happened. There was no way the pirates would pass up such an opportunity. And if Li Yong was gone, those who wanted the crown prince and the princess people out of the picture would probably make their move, too. If they could catch all the pirate bunch, then it would also aid Grand Duke Huangs publicity. Then Ill gratefully ept your offer. A few days passed. Li Yong stood aboard the ship, the salty breeze whipping around him. The crew surrounded the crown princes aid, who suddenly joined them without rhyme and reason, from a distance. Li Min strode towards Li Yong. Hey, you sure its really alright that youre going out of your way toe here? Li Min never expected that Li Yong would tell him that I want to participate in the eradication of the pirates, so he had been continually asking Are you reallying over and over again. Li Min didnt stop questioning him even though they were already out in the sea, so Li Yong shrugged. I cant help it, they told me that theyre having a hard time moving around when Im there. I also dont want to spend too much time staying here. Li Yong stared at Li Min as he said that. Its alright, there are guards protecting Yui Mei and Princess Pan, so theres no need to worry about them. Li Yong already informed Yui Mei that there were other guards beside him. She seemed to have noticed about them already, or she probably guessed it. She wasnt even surprised. Yui Mei said Take care nonchntly, as if he was about to take a stroll outside. Ha! So Lord Crown Prince didnt leave you alone here, huh? Li Yong ignored Li Minsment, and asked him instead. Lord Li Min, didnt you leave Princess Pan in that mansion all by herself until now? Dont you think its toote to worry? Indeed, this man had been really worried about the Princess. He was probably at ease when Li Yong had been staying in the mansion. Li Min stiffened for a moment, then he started to talk after a while. You know, I left reliable guys I trust over there just in case. But theyre not a refined bunch of people who could move elegantly around the mansion, and even if they do well in fighting, they dont have any idea how to handle stuff like how the bigshots do. So that was the case. He did consider the immediate danger and acted ordingly. Well, Yui Mei is with her, so she can handle any discord with the servants over there. We just have to focus on achieving a grand victory to bring home to them. Im feeling rustytely, so lets do it with a bang, shall we? Li Yong smirked daringly as he stood on the ship. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 86: Yui Mei Stayed Behind Chapter 86: Yui Mei Stayed Behind Yui Mei was walking all alone inside the Kais Huang family mansion. Several maids were whispering as they watched her from afar. That girl isnt a big deal if shes alone, huh. I heard she was dumped, you know? Serves her right. That person must prefer Kai women over those from the city, Im sure of it. That man will settle down here in Kai, it seems. Yui Mei ignored them all as she passed by them. Those girls think Li Yong fell in love with a Kai girl, huh. They seemed really deluded, but then, there was a reason why such rumors spread like wildfire. Actually, Li Min had decided to attack the headquarters of the pirates who were trying to invade the harbor. Li Yong told him that he wanted to join him on this pirate extermination trip. There were people who protested, naturally, given Li Yongs status as the envoy of the crown prince. It didnt sit well with them that such a person would apany them. His crew told him that we cant calm down if theres royalty onboard, or Lord Li Min doesnt trust us and such. However, Li Min just said got it so it was settled that Li Yong would go with them. The people in the mansion were all perplexed with Li Yongs behavior, though. Thus, spections that he probably fell in love with a Kai woman, so he joined the pirate extermination circted among those people. Li Yong went to the sea amidst those rumors, but the majority of the servants in the mansion also thought that there was one less person who would boss them around. Li Yong was being treated as a nuisance either way, I guess. Li Yong might seem arrogant because he was a person of high caliber, and he also had a great physique so he was extremely intimidating. They probably thought he was reliable as a partner when ites to work, but he was considered a nuisance otherwise. As for Yui Mei, she was a young, petite girl, so they looked down on her most of the time. Li Yong and Yui Mei were basically always together, so many of them still listened to her whenever she expressed her opinion, out of fear from Li Yongs overbearing aura as he stood behind her. However, now that Yui Mei was all alone, many of them started to ignore her, even though she was just requesting the same thing as before. She could feel that reality in the kitchen. Princess Pans amount of exercise dramatically increased since she started using the exercise bike, so her meal portions should also be increased, and it should incorporate nutrients that would help build her muscles. She would frequently consult the head chef regarding this matter. And you know what Whats up with that. Ahahahaha The men were sitting near the entrance of the kitchen, and it seemed like they were blocking the path as they chattered while preparing the vegetables. They acted as if they didnt notice that Yui Mei wanted to enter the kitchen. By the way, these guys were also the people who wanted to drive Yui Mei away before. Doing the same thing over and over again, huh. Not that I care. Yui Mei gave up and turned around, and when the men saw that, they became even more boisterous,ughing their head off while saying we won! Well, Yui Mei would meet the head chefter anyway, so it didnt really matter if she didnt manage to pass through now. She just wanted to kill some time, so she decided to visit the head chef to save him trouble. Besides, receivingints and getting tired from being ndered were all part of a job. Those people are X. Yui Mei took out a piece of paper from her bosom and she marked it with xs. It was the list of the mansions personnel that Li Min handed to her. He had requested that she chose the people who seemed reliable on his behalf. Li Min nned to dismiss the people who were difficult to use, and rece them with a fresh batch of employees, but he was too busy to recruit people. He could have left it to a servant in the mansion, but it seemed counterproductive to do that, given the current situation. In that case, they still needed those foul servants to run the mansion, at least until the preparations for the new personnel were done. Yui Meis presence was a great catalyst in filtering the servants. Those who could interact normally, without any prejudice, were the ones who would be retained. Well, it would be easier to just rece all the servants except those that had been picked by Li Min earlier. However, from the standpoint of the servants, it would be detrimental to their life if they were dismissed from their jobs. Because the Huang family ruled thisnd, their lives would be miserable for sure if they were discharged from their mansion. They wouldnt be able to find new jobs once their dismissal became widespread among themoners. If that happened, people who bore grudges against the Huang family particrly Li Min and Princess Pan would appear. Princess Pan, who was weak, would be their target. Li Min wanted to avoid that. And so, he enlisted Yui Meis help in order to avert such an event that would leave a bitter aftertaste. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 87: Despondent Princess Chapter 87: Despondent Princess Besides, these guys clearly have a backer, too. Yui Mei was checking all the names that she marked with x up until now. It didnt matter if they were living in the Huang territory and the locals here were antagonistic towards the Imperial family; going against powerful people was truly a bad idea. Normally, they should only watch the flow of things from afar. However, many servants, starting from those chefs, were trampling on the envoy of the crown prince out in the open. They must have thought that even if they were dismissed, their lives afterward were already secured. These guys are probably minions of Lord Li Mins aunt, I guess. The strategy of attack from the outside and work from within was an old trick, nothing special. Yui Mei was not a Chinese drama otaku just for show. Chinese dramas had lots of fighting scenes, so she was also very familiar with the tactics and strategies they used. Anyway, Yui Mei folded the paper and put it in her bosom again, then she headed towards Princess Pan. Princess Pan, may Ie in? Yui Mei called out from outside the room, and the maid appeared and opened the door for her. Princess Pan seemed down as she pedalled away on her exercise bike. Shes probably worried about Lord Li MIn, huh. Li MIn didnt go on his usual pirate extermination voyage this time around. They would attack their of the pirates. There was the possibility of the tables being turned on them, of course. Untactfulforting wouldnt cut it during such an uneasy time. It might be counterproductive, too, since it might draw her ire. She might even say What do you know, so it was better to handle it properly by trying to act as normal as possible, and to wrack her brains to find ways to do that. Princess Pan, arent you pedaling too fast? The princess finally noticed it herself when she heard Yui Meis words. Really? Yui Mei nodded her head firmly. You can look forward to taking a stroll at the harbor with Lord Li Min once he returns. The princess looked at Yui Mei fondly as she imagined the future scene she had said. True. I easily ran out of breath before when Lord Li Min took me to the harbor. I didnt know back then that Kai has many ces where carriages cant pass through. Indeed, Kai was a port city, so the houses were built right beside each other, so it gave off thatpact feeling. On the other hand, Princess Pan, being a person raised in the Inner Pce, was used to being carried in a sedan in order to move around the pce. It was very rare for her to walk on her own two feet, so a simple stroll was already very hard on her. So thats what happened. Still, next time around, you will be able to enjoy walking around a lot more. Lord Li Min will be surprised, for sure. Fufu, you think so? It might have been light, but finally, Princess Panughed. Just when Yui Mei thought about that, the princess suddenly turned to her. Oh, Yui Mei, arent you worried about Li Yong? What? Yui Mei suddenly stiffened. Ah, no, no, not at all, if anything, I should be more worried about myself, right. Yui Meis current role was to be the decoy, after all. *** Lets turn back the time for a while, just before Li Yongs departure. What are you nning to do? Yui Mei had pulled Li Yong towards the corner of the mansions yard, and she pressed him for the answer. She couldnt believe her ears when she heard that Li Yong, who was the crown princes envoy, would participate in Li Mins pirate extermination n. It was the Huang familys problem, after all. This guy isnt the sentimental sort of person, after all. Yui Mei had been helped a lot of times by Li Yong, or should she say Libin, but he didnt do that because he already anticipated it would happen beforehand. He was always with Yui Mei, not because he wanted to, but because it was what the crown prince wanted, so she already had a grasp about this persons personality. Basically, he wouldnt show sympathy in things that didnt concern him. And yet, this person volunteered to join Li Mins expedition. Princess Pan has almost recovered now, so its good if her surroundings are fixed after that. That was what he said. Fixing her surroundings are you saying you want Lord Li Min to return back to Princess Pans side as soon as possible, so youre participating? Li Yong snorted when he heard what Yui Mei said. As if, theyll be able to deal with those pirates even without me, after all, theres no way those guys would win against the military power of the Huang family. Well, youre right. No matter how strong those pirates were, they were just a bunch of guys who gathered together, so there was no way they would win against the well-trained military troops. T/N: So its confirmed, cats out of the bag already for Li Yong, huh. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 88: Scheming Li Yong Chapter 88: Scheming Li Yong We still have a bigger problem, right. The enemies here in the mansion pose a more dangerous threat to Princess Pan since theyre near. Li Yong turned his gaze towards the mansion. Yui Mei tilted her head and pondered his words. Well, I understand your point. So, aside from the bunch inside the mansion, there are still others outside? Yeah, they probably want to stage an ident right in front of the Crown Princes envoy so they can deal a conclusive blow to Lord Li Min. For example, if the envoy or Princess Pan was murdered inside the mansion, that would push the me on Lord Li Min since hes the head of the household here. Hell be sacked for sure. Li Yong painted such a nasty scene. The murdered crown princes envoy mentioned in his story was Yui Mei, in this case. It would be the perfect opportunity for their enemies If Li Yong, a soldier, left since only the two of them would remain inside the mansion. Ugh Yui Mei groaned and scowled. So this guy wanted to use her as bait to lure their enemies out in the open. Wait a minute, what about me, isnt this n too terrible? Li Yong ced his hands on Yui Meis shoulders when she sullenlymented. Hey, Yui Mei, you know, I really want to leave this ce AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. He stressed each word as he stared right at her. Well, in fairness to him, Yui Mei also thought that this trip had been dragged on for far too long. It should have been over after she fixed the princess meals and exercise program, but because the servants were like that, she and Li Yong would probably be worried about whether the same problem would recur when they were gone. If they leave and the princess health deteriorates again or worse, if she died it would be an unspeakable disaster for all of them. However, even if that was the case, Li Yong also had his own duties and obligations to fulfill, so his thoughts must have been in turmoil, too. At any rate, he was also ying a dual role he never admitted to this, though just so he could stick to the crown princes side. It was not an exaggeration to say that he was the crown princes lifeline. Yui Mei fully understood where Li Yong wasing from. Still, what will happen to my safety in that case? Yui Mei was bothered about this the most, but Li Yong assured her. I already thought about that, of course. Did you think only the two of us are left in this ce? As I thought. They were definitely apanied by shadow guards who didnt show their faces out in the open. Well, I guess youre right, Lord Li Yong is the Crown Princes most precious close aide, after all. Yui Mei nodded her head. Li Yong looked like he wanted to say something, but he kept mum in the end. *** So, let us return to the present time. Yui Mei recalled their conversation, so she replied to the princess. No, hes the kind of person I dont have to worry about, after all. The crown prince entrusted himself to that guy. He was probably a high-level fighter, if not the ultimate. If not, he wouldnt volunteer to participate in the pirate extermination for sure. Still, if hes wounded severely during their expedition, then Im going to nurse him, at the very least. And maybe snicker at his ultra-rare, pitiful sight while at it though on her own, of course. Those were Yui Meis thoughts. Oh my, for you to trust him so much your bonds are very strong. I see, I should trust Lord Li Min with all my heart, too. Princess Pan then sighed. It seemed that she misunderstood. Yui Mei could only smile vaguely since she couldnt correct her in this situation. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 89: Yui Mei Educates Chapter 89: Yui Mei Educates However, it seemed that it wasnt good to let the princess misunderstand further by remaining vague about some things. Princess Pan summoned Yui Mei one day, and she instructed her maid to stand guard and not let anyone near them. And the topic that she wanted to discuss in the deserted room was Yui Mei, do you have any idea how married couples spend the night? .Yes? Yui Mei was stupefied for a moment. Princess Pan continued on. You know, Im not actually familiar with a lot of things. Thats why I wanted to consult you. How do you spend the night with Li Yong? No, we dont spend it together, in the first ce. Well, for arguments sake, they were indeed staying in the same room for the meantime, but Yui Mei had the feeling that she was arbitrarily discussing medicine, desserts and sweets with him during that time. Li Yong would also continue with his never-ending sermon at other times. And when they finally felt sleepy, they would put a partition between them, and sleep on their respective sides. Li Yong and Yui Mei were surprisingly simr in that both were very dense regarding these matters. Still, Yui Mei wondered why the Princess brought this up to her. Princess Pan. With all due respect, I do not think you should ask me about these things. Please pardon me for asking, but werent you taught about these matters when you were in the pce? It was the so-called education for affairs in the bedroom. There was no way the princess didnt undergo this before she was married. When Princess Pan heard Yui Meis question, she smiled, but she seemed troubled. Actually, nobody taught me anything regarding the affairs of a husband and wife before I came here. The marriage had been very abrupt ording to Princess Pan Nobody imagined that the princess would be the one to be wedded. After all, the Huang family was considered as one of the most influential and powerful families in the entire Sai Kingdom. If it was the matter of the bride, then they would choose a princess, naturally. And at the same time, there were a handful of princesses who were more beautiful and had higher status than Princess Pan, so they all thought that one of those women would be chosen. However, not a single princess wanted to marry into the Huang family because of their idiosyncrasies, so the opportunity fell on thep of the princess. Because the marriage was so sudden, the preparations were in a whirl, and everybody was busy, so it couldnt be denied they had been sloppy in handling a lot of things. I was told that the wife should listen and obey her husband without a word, and if there were things I didnt understand, I should ask him. Yui Mei could feel her cheeks twitching. It might not be thoroughly incorrect advice, but their slipshod way of teaching was absurd. Ahm, how about the affairs of the bedroom? Yui Mei carefully asked, although she knew she was being totally rude. Affairs of the bedroom? However, the princess looked perplexed as she threw a question back at her. Dont tell methey totally forgot to orient the princess? Perhaps. the people around the princess assumed that she was already knowledgeable, having been raised in the Inner Pce, considering it was such a ce? Ahm, pardon me, but how did you spend your first night of your marriage with Lord Li Min? Yui Mei tried to suppress the thrill of prying into the princess private matters that she partly felt, and she asked the princess with her usual expression stered on her face. Yes, I didnt have any idea what to do on the so-called first night, and so, I asked Lord Li Min if there was anything I needed to do. Uwah,so she asked him.. Yui Mei couldnt imagine Lord Li Mins feelings when she asked him, but he must have been very shocked. And? Lord Li Min just smiled and told me that there is no ceremony. We then slept beside each other afterward. Uwaahhh. Yui Mei felt a headacheing. His new wife and the princess who was bestowed by the emperor, to boot asked him with all innocence How many men could exin the affairs of the night in such a situation? And they even slept beside each other. Yui Mei was a woman, but she couldnt help but pity Li Min. In the end, the princess didnt even know how babies were made, and she held onto the fairytale that mystical cranes bring the babies. What a disaster. Was this one of the reasons why Li Min and the princess rtionship becameplicated? Li Min was always in a rush to get out of the house and board the ship, as if his bottoms were on fire. Maybe it was because he found it difficult to look at his wife who was still pure. However, this situation shouldnt continue on. If she didnt have any idea about child-makingactivities, then she might be tricked by men with ill-intentions. After all, a princess was always surrounded by servants, and she was even dressed by other people. She was used to showing her naked skin to others, so she might not have any qualms about thatpared tomoners. If an evil guy took advantage of that and tricked her, then she might be deflowered right there and then. I understand. Even though I, Yui Mei, am ipetent, please let me orient you with the affairs of the bedroom. And so Yui Mei, pushed by her sense of duty, fervently exined,plete with illustrations, how a child was made to the princess. Alright, lets do this the way they taught me in elementary school. And so, Yui Mei drew a picture of a man and a woman on a piece of paper. If the princess still didnt understand, then they should start with her own body first. As for a mans body, Li Min could just show it to her in the future. So, all men have this thing on them. And thats. The princess didnt seem to feel bashful after learning about the night activities based on the illustration, but she was thoroughly stupefied. When she finally knew how to do the deed, her expression turned very grave. Yui Mei, wont my body break by doing such a thing? How did you fare, Yui Mei? Even if she was asked that, her present body was still that of a pure maiden. It was actually worrisome if the princess assumed that she was already experienced in this matter. Well, this ce was not the Hundred Blossom Pce, but still, it would spell nothing but trouble for Yui Mei if a situation came up and her purity was doubted. If it was her previous lifes experiences, then it would be easy. However, it would be terrible if the princess mistakenly assumed that she was not talking about medical information, but her own experiences at present. For this very reason, Yui Mei generalized it, and she didnt refer to herself, nor did she use the pronoun I when she exined, just as a precaution. However, if she answered I do not know to Princess Pans question, then she would only cause the princess to feel unnecessary fear and anxiety. Thus, Yui Mei could only smile ambiguously. There is no need to worry, your body wont be broken, and it is not a scary thing. Really? Well, if Yui Mei said so, then that must be true. The princess felt relieved at Yui Meis assurance. Now, all that was left was for Lord Li Min to do his best. T/N: Lol. Go, Yui Mei ? Oh my, just imagine if the princess told the crown prince about Yui Meis and Li Yongs night activities and advice lololololol. Not sure if thats going to happen though haha.. (not a spoiler). Folks might say, why didnt Li Min just demo/ exin it to Princess Yu, but then, this was a very conservative era, and men and women werent that open about these stuff, so Li Min would probably die of mortification before he could exin, or do anything for that matter because the princess asked him, lol ? Plus, he was actually inexperienced, too, since he practically lived among men all his life. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 90: The Men’s Return Chapter 90: The Men¡¯s Return A long time passed since Li Yong left to join the pirate extermination. Yui Mei realized that it could be quite ufortable when a person that had been constantly with her was gone. They spend a lot of time together aspared to when they were in the Hundred Blossom Pce, after all. Yui Mei had basically done everything the way she wanted to on her own. Thats why when Li Yong entered the picture, she felt a bit irritated because she felt she was being chaperoned. However, when the irritating existence disappeared, what she felt was a sense of loss rather than a feeling of liberation. Finally, word came that the boat that carried Li Yong, who was the root of all those feelings, had entered the harbor. Lord Li Yong, are you safe? Yui Mei was not a cold-hearted person, so of course she was also worried about him. However, it didnt mean that she spent sleepless nights tossing and turning while thinking of him, though. One of Yui Meis pride was her ability to sleep like a log through the night, wherever and whatever situation she might be in. Still, she thought that it would be better if she saw that he was safe in person, so that this faint uneasiness would also settle, too. However, Li Yong had explicitly instructed her to Never ever leave the mansion until I return. Since she could not go to the harbor to meet him, she decided to just wait patiently inside the mansion. On the other hand, Princess Pans anxiety levels shot up. Dark circles surrounded her eyes because she couldnt sleep well at night. Unfortunately, the princess couldnt go to the harbor for security reasons, regardless of how much she wanted to. Thus, she had been pacing restlessly at the entrance of the mansion since the news came, and she actually looked like a bear in the zoo. Yui Mei apanied her, and she also waited at the same ce. Both of them waited, although their enthusiasm differed for a bit. After a while They could see a group of people down the road, and they were headed towards the mansion. Oh, theyre back? Li Mins figure was very obvious since he was leading the group, but Yui Mei couldnt confirm whether Li Yong was with them. She had been rxed before, but she suddenly felt a rush of uneasiness. What will I do if hes severely wounded? She already prepared a medical kit beforehand as a precaution, but she decided that she would immediately dash towards him to treat him. She would leave the mansion in that case, but he just had to turn a blind eye in that case. And in the worst case scenario, a one-in-a-million chance, that he died.she would ask for a proper burial, and she would definitely take part of his hair and bring it back to the crown prince. Such thoughts swirled inside Yui Meis head. Wee home, Lord Li Min! Princess Pans voice resounded, and Yui Mei saw Li Min as he passed through the entrance. Li Min didnt have a trace of blood, either from him or sshed from his enemies, so he must have changed his clothes, but the scent of blood faintly wafted. He probably didnt have enough water to wash his body on the ship. Still, he prioritized going back to the mansion right away, instead of stopping at the city to fix himself. Indeed, I have returned, and we have achieved the fruits of ourbor. Ugh!! So troublesome!! Li Min greeted her with formal words, but he was fumbling and the words didnte out properly, probably due to his excitement. Congrats to us, Lady Princess, we won! Li Min grabbed Princess Pans shoulders and he excitedly shouted in his own dialect. Princess Pan was stupefied for a moment because of the rough greeting. Still How marvelous! All the people of Kai will be able to live in peace. The princess sweetly smiled. Yeah. Li Min was also dumbfounded when the princess didnt have any trace of revulsion at his crudeness, but he was very happy. Looks like this couple is okay, right? Yui Mei felt pleasantly warm as she gazed at the two of them. Hey, Yui Mei, Ive been watching you for a while now, and youre acting like a geezer. Yui Mei spun around when she heard that voice, and Li Yong was standing right beside her. Ah, youre alive! Those words unwittingly spilled from her mouth. Li Yong red at her. What, you wanted me to die? No, no way, I was just thinking about all the possibilities. Yui Mei retorted, then she promptly inspected him all over. He doesnt seem to be injured, judging from his appearance. Lord Li Yong, please walk over there, just to that spot. Li Yong raised his brow at Yui Meis abrupt request. Why? So Ill be satisfied. Li Yong sensed that Yui Mei was keeping something from him, so he wordlessly strode towards the ce that she pointed out and returned to her side afterward. She was relieved to see that there were no abnormalities in his gait, and he didnt seem to have broken any bones. Great, you seem perfectly healthy to me. Alright, let me do this over again. Wee back, Lord Li Yong. Ahh, I see now. Youre so hard to read. Yui Mei beamed at him, and Li Yong lightly sighed. Whats so hard about that!? Wasnt itmon sense to check first if the person in question was truly alright, before congratting him? Well, she set that aside for now. Li Yong, strange, you look so clean. Indeed, Li Yong did smell of sweat, but his armour didnt even have any trace of gash or blood. Was he part of the logistical support or something? There were still a lot of things to do even if he didnt participate in the battle. Heh, dont pair me with those noobs who get sshed with blood with that level of enemy. Li Yong looked a bit offended as he retorted. He probably thought that Yui Mei was being sarcastic when she pointed that out. Sorry, that was rude of me. Yui Mei honestly apologized. Still, he must have been swinging his sword a lot, and yet he managed to remain spotless Maybe this guy belonged to the high-caliber, powerful soldiers? Like those highly skillful surgeons who can operate with minimal bleeding. Was it really okay that the crown prince left such an excellent human behind with her? T/N: Yui Mei lowkey missing Li Yong ? Lol at her thoughts, though ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 91: Li Yong Got Involved Chapter 91: Li Yong Got Involved The entire Kai was brimming with liveliness after Li Min seeded in subjugating the pirates. A banquet was held in the mansion for the celebration of his victory. It was an extremely hectic day for the people in the mansion, especially since the influential people and bigshot ship owners were invited to thisvish feast. They also threw a banquet for the crown princes arrival, but it was a bit more rxed since he was the only person they had to entertain. Thus, the servants fixed the venue for the banquet, then left all the rest to Li Min and the princess back then. However, this time around, they had to entertain a whole lot more, so the servants couldnt just retreat and ck off at this crucial time. Everyone had to be present at the venue to wee the guests. Some of them got excited over this, while others were baffled, but the people who really stood out in their jobs were the ones that Yui Mei picked. The servants who had good reputations were stationed in key positions, while those who were the opposite were given the menial jobs, so the preparations were somehowpleted without a hitch. Of course, those who were assigned to do the worthless jobsined unceasingly. Shut your mouths, I dont need a bunch of useless people here. Li Min shut them up with a single re. The people who had been endlessly grumbling thought that it was fine even if they acted out of line, since Li Min hadnt seemed to care for the princess. However, ever since he returned, Li Mins attitude towards Princess Pan did a 180, so they felt as if the rug had been pulled under their feet. Li Min felt relieved that the princess epted his true nature. The mansion became a morefortable ce to live in now that he didnt have to pretend any longer, and he could act the way he was when hes aboard the ship. They also needed an heir, so it wouldnt be good if both of them remained strangers to each other. Yui Mei felt reassured now that Li Min and Princess Pan truly became a family/ And speaking of family, what happened with the princess education? The day after Li Min returned, the princess told Yui Mei could take the day off. Li Yong just returned from the sea, so Yui Mei thought it would be in bad taste if she dragged him outside just to y, so she decided to take a stroll in the mansions garden, instead. Hey. Li Min happened to pass by and he called out to her from the corridor, so she walked towards him. Good job. Li Min softly mumbled, and Yui Mei instantly realized what he was referring to. Oh my, thats great. Yui Mei beamed, so Li Min hurriedly left the scene with his face entirely dyed in crimson. Ahh, hes unexpectedly pure, too? However, it wouldnt be good for her to tease him because of this. Li Min had been staying on the ship with only males for hispanion, and he just came back from subjugating the pirates. His nerves must be tingling in exhration, but despite that, he never went outside to spend money in thepany of women. Perhaps it was Li Mins way of being sincere, however, having desires was something normal and nothing to be ashamed of, and abstinence in their rtionship wasnt healthy, too. The couple finally became husband and wife in the truest sense, so Li Min was able to rx and be at ease, too. In fact, Li Mins men were also relieved because of this. They were also worried about their captain, who still continued on with his seafaring activities despite being a newly-married man. The sailors who went in and out of the mansion observed the difference in Li Min, so he was d that Lord Li Min finally stopped being annoyed at everything. It seemed that their husband and wife rtionship had affected him, as well. However, Li Yong was the only one ignorant about this affairs. Princess Pan called out to Yui Mei, right when she was together with Li Yong. Lord Li Yong, please dont be unreasonably rough on Yui Mei, alright? It sounded like she was warning him. Huh? What do you mean? Li Yong looked baffled. Ah It was then that Yui Mei realized she hadnt cleared the misunderstanding with the princess, yet. Li Yong red at Yui Mei, and they wordlessly went to a different ce. So? What was she talking about? He asked Yui Mei with a scary face when they were finally alone. And so, she didnt have a choice but to spill the beans about the contents of the princess education honestly. .. Li Yong looked like the world just crashed on him as he turned frozen solid and rooted on the spot. Ahm, earth to Li Yong~? Yui Mei slowly waved her hand in front of his eyes, and he finally moved. Hey, Yui Mei..Theres a lot of things I wanted to say, but first, why, tell me, why the heck do you know this stuff? Being pure was one of the prerequisites of being a courtdy, so it was totally expected that Li Yong would ask her that. Its just knowledge, of course. Im just one of those girls who knows a lot of things about the deed. Yui Mei just nonchntly waved her hand, as if to dismiss his question, but Li Yong was persistent. Not only that, why did she say that Im being unreasonably rough!? What and how the heck did you teach her?? Thats a secret between us girls~ Yui Meiughed lightly as she tried to gloss over it. Li Min might have some unique fetishes and peculiarities, so she taught the princess some of the deeper stuff just in case. But she probably had to take that secret to her grave. T/N: LOL!! Yui Mei had sessfully led the princess to the dark side ~ lol just kidding. And I can imagine Li Yongs expression absolutely priceless. XD Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 92: Grand Duke Huang Was Troubled Chapter 92: Grand Duke Huang Was Troubled [Authors note]: Theres a little depiction of gore. *** The Grand Duke Huang, who was the Lord of Xuzhou, was troubled. He received a set of packages from Kai, the port city he had entrusted to his grandson. A few freshly severed headsy before Grand Duke Huang. Some of the servants fainted in terror upon seeing such a sight. A letter was also pasted on the forehead of one of the men with a familiar face. Divine punishment on the n who gave grief to the beloved child The details of how the freshly severed heads reached their plight were also written in the letter. Thus, they understood that these assassins failed in their mission to attack the mansion of the Huang family in Kai. Goodness me, this must have been the work of some big-shot. Grand Duke Huangs close aide muttered. The grand duke bitterly scowled when he heard those words. As if, its that stupid daughters younger brother-inw. Indeed, the one with the letter pasted on his forehead was none other one than the younger brother of his daughters husband. The Duke had many daughters, but this daughter was aiming for the seat of the leader of the Huang family. Her target in particr was the grandson entrusted with governing Kai she viewed Li Min as her enemy. This woman was very fond of luxury and extravagance, so she had wanted all the fortune that Kai had. If he did what she wanted, he could already see the oue all the ships would avoid Kai, and the port city would surely fall into ruin. Both this daughter and her husband didnt have a single ounce of talent for governance, yet they were still aiming for that position. Howughable. They were not a n who would allow such a fool to trample all over them. She probably thought I was a coward for taking the initiative to reconcile with the emperor. The history of the Huang family was entwined with wars. They had expanded their territories through wars, until they finally reached prosperity. However, they couldnt continue engaging in bloodshed. The popce were the ones who enlist in the army, so if all they did was war, then there woulde a time when no one would be left to provide and produce the food rations and supplies. Their victories would be meaningless if the people would die in starvation. However, many members of the Huang family didnt understand that reality, and there were still some who moured for warfare. Thus, there were many who were apathetic, or else held grudges against Grand Duke Huang, because he abruptly stopped the territory expansion and also established harmony with the emperor. He restrained the n with force, and because it was the time to pour all their energy to establish peace and tranquility in Xuzhou, he was eyeing his rtively calm but highly intelligent son, as well as his grandson. Hmpf, seems like thatd Li Min is ready to make his move, huh. Grand Duke Huang muttered, with a faraway look in his eyes. That grandson was smart and beloved by his people, but he had a trait that needed attention. Thank goodness that he was finally willing to get up and do his job. It seemed that getting him a wife was the right decision. Previously, news hade that the bride had fallen ill, but she had recovered, so it was a relief. It was actually surprising that they hade this far when somebody else interfered. Its unbelievable that Zhi Wei was going to butt in. Did he dote on that princess this much? We havent heard about anything like that. The crown princes subordinates are staying for a long time, too, so its only natural if we follow that line of thought. The grand duke agreed to that. At any rate, they had to suppress the uing strife regarding the session of his position. That idiotic daughter paid a huge sum of money to buy the pirates on their side, but Li Min already crushed all of them. Still, that guy Zhi Wei aint a coward, huh. There was a glint in Grand Duke Huangs eyes as he intently stared towards the direction of Sais capital. Those ignorant n members probably thought that theyre going to win because that guy is weak. They didnt realize how terrible that was. What a bunch of fools. Well, ignorance is bliss. Grand Duke Huang snorted, and his close aid smiled wryly. Mistaking a weakened beast for a rabbit and petting it was just courting for death. Only those who actually fought against it knew the reality of this. T/N: Not much gore.. Well author did say little XD Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 93: Celebratory Banquet Chapter 93: Celebratory Banquet The days passed in a blur since Li Min seeded in obliterating the pirates. His mansion was brimming with guests since early morning. Various bigwigs and the n members around attended the banquet held for the celebration of his sess. You guys should attend too, alright. Li Min also invited Yui Mei and Li Yong. They would participate as envoys of the crown prince, but public appearance had also its own troublesome points. That included Yui Meis clothes, as she needed to dress up ording to the asion. At first, Yui Mei didnt feel the need to change her dress, because the clothes that the crown prince gave her were much, much better than the courtdy uniform. Nah, were representing the Crown Prince here, so you cant go around looking so drab. Li Yong pointed that out. Well, well, if this was drab then how did he see the uniforms of courtdies? Was he trying to imply that they were rags? Well, its fine, I guess, since I dont have to worry no matter how dirty the uniform bes. The courtdy uniforms were made of easilyundered fabric, too, and that was its advantage. Still, she needed to find a suitable dress, at any rate. Yui Mei was thinking about what to do, when a certain package suddenly crossed her mind. Oh yeah, theres a set of clothes among the stuff that the Crown Prince bought for me on our way to Kai! The clothes hadnt been sent to the capital, so she still had them with her. She hastily dashed towards her room to take it out. The clothes design was quite peculiar, and it looked like a mixture of Chinese and Western clothing. The bottoms resembled the baggy, wide red pants from her previous life. She hurriedly tried it on, and the fabric felt great against her skin, and there was a lesser chance that she would be lost in the crowd because of the unique design. Besides, Yui Mei felt that it had been a long while since shest wore pants, so it was easier to move her legs. Alright, Im going to wear these! She went to show them to Li Yong. His Highness chose them, so theres no way theyll be bad. And so, it seemed that it was fine to use this. Well, actually, it seemed that he also remembered this dress, so he wanted to tell her to use it. He even reproached Yui Mei for being heartless and forgetting all about it, despite being gifted with it. However, Yui Mei didnt really have much space in her brain for objects that werent sweets-rted. Besides, Li Yong had been nagging her about this, but he himself was wearing the same soldier uniform as usual. Youre the only one taking it easy, the nerve! Yui Mei wanted toin, but Li Yong told her that there was no need for a soldier to stand out. In that case, a courtdy doesnt need to stand out, too! was what she wanted to say, however, right now, Yui Meis position was not a mere courtdy, but the envoy of the crown prince, so there was nothing she could do about it. Ugh!! I wanna go back to my easy-going life! Yui Mei still attended the banquet, despite all the chaotic thoughts she had. There was also another person, who was probably not used to such an event, just like her. Yo, so youre still in Kai, huh. Hu Tien called out to her. Oh, Hu, youre here. Yep, told him I dont have any clothes to wear so I cant show up, so he pushed this on me. Hu pinched the clothes he was currently wearing and showed it to her. Still, even if Li Min considered Hu as his inventor friend, he was still living in the slums, so it was highly probable that people would talk negatively about his presence in such an event. What were the circumstances behind his participation? Yui Mei curiously asked, so Hu said Its that thing as he pointed to arge object covered with a cloth in the corner of the venue. She asked him to show her the hidden thing, and what she saw was a tricycle underneath. Hus purpose was to sell the tricycle, and he said that Li Min had requested so. Hey, arent you way too fond of this tricycle, Lord Li Min? However, the tricycle also yed a major role in Princess Pans recovery, so it was also possible that he summoned Hu because of that. Aside from Hu, a lot of Li Mins crew also attended the event. Well, it could also be said that this celebration was their moment. Thus, it was a garden party rather than a formal one. The guests walked around the garden, and they also had pleasant conversations in their respective ces. However, in a certain part of the garden Why do I have to be in the same ce as that bunch of extremely vulgar people? Really, does Li Min even know what dignity is? Two women had stationed themselves at the dead center of the venue and were loudly talking in loud, shrill voices. T/N: Double chap as promised (in discord anyway hehe), to make up forck of update on Monday. Thank you so much for bearing with me XD Shoutout to Xyooj for the hot choco ko-fi!!! Thank you so, so much <> Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 94: Debut Chapter 94: Debut The nerve, theyre not even invited in the first ce. Li Yong exasperatedly red towards the group. Is that the Huang County Lord, Lord Li Mins aunty? And the younger one must be her daughter. He nodded when Yui Mei whispered her question. The mother-daughter pair was extremely pale, looking sickly white like a sheet of paper. They looked simr to the concubines she frequently saw in the Hundred Blossom Pce. Even their outfits were designed to look like the clothes from the capital, showing just how conscious they were about the Inner Pce. On the other hand, Kai is a port city, so many of its citizens, be it men or women, had tanned skin with great body built. Most of the people in the venue were also like that. Well, they wont look out of ce if this is the Hundred Blossom Pce, though, since there are a lot of people looking like that. However, they were in Kai, so they were extremely conspicuous, if she was to be frank about it. Most of the guests that Li Min invited looked different from the Huang County Lord, so the pair looked like they were foreigners mixed in this ce. Wait a minute, whats with those decorations? Hurry up and take that trash down! When the Huang County Lord and her daughter finally settled down in their seats, they started ordering the mansion servants to do a lot of things regarding the venues setup. The servants were thoroughly confused, though, so they were slow in doing what they weremanded to do. Yui Mei heard from Princess Pans maid that when they previously visited the princess to bully her, they acted as though they were the mistresses of this ce. Well, it was pretty obvious that they were saying all thosements because theyre continuing to act that way. Mm, the people they sent were already fired by Lord Li Min, after all. This time around, they couldnt go through them, so this annoyed the Huang County Lord to high heavens. Because of the Huang mother and daughter pair, what was supposed to be a fun, rxed and easy-going banquet turned into one with a highly charged atmosphere. Lord Li Min and Her Highness the Princess Pan have arrived!! Li Min and Princess Pan came out of the mansion. Whoa, its Her Highness the Princess Pan! Rumors said that she lost weight because she fell sick, but she looks like shes fine now. The venue was filled with the chattering of the guests. The princess had been confined at the mansion for a long time, so it had been a while since they saw her appear in public like this. Still, was she like that before? Right, it seems like shes more beautiful now? Thedy guests looked at Princess Pans appearance while murmuring among themselves. Yup, yup, what a great reaction! Yui Mei grinned from ear to ear as she observed the guests situation. Unfortunately for Yui Mei, her only memory of the princess was when she looked like skin and bones. However, ording to Li Yong, she had been quite chubby back when she was in the Hundred Blossom Pce. She was white as snow, so she had been ridiculed as the white pig by bullies. Princess Pans current figure was lean and toned. Her glowing, tanned skin was not as wheat-colored as the Kai citizens, but she was not as foreign-looking as before. She had been taking care of her skin, and it was a healthy color, to boot, so she looked truly captivating. Fufun, pale and slender aint the only standard for beauty, you know! The ideals of beauty changed ording to the ce, so Yui Mei followed the standard of Kai for Princess Pan. Yui Mei was in cloud nine, as if the buzz in the venue was referring to herself, while Li Yong looked impressed beside her. Seems like it had been the right idea that the Kai tailors made the princesss outfit. Indeed, Princess Panmissioned a dress for this day, and she drew inspiration from the foreign design and incorporated it into her own style. Thus, it had a different design from the dress that Yui Mei received from the crown prince. Yes, all of Princess Pans previous clothes came from the capital, after all. They were made to suit fair skin, so they wouldnt match Princess Pans current skintone. Actually, the clothes from the capital were designed for slender body types, so they only emphasized the princesss plumpness all the more. On the other hand, the Kai women were more on the stocky type, so the designs of their clothes gave the illusion of hiding those curves. When the two designs werebined, a wonderful, alluring dress was born. And now that the princess wore it, it would possibly be a fashion sensation among the citizens that would take root in Kai. ps resounded throughout the ce the venue had been full to the brim with guests. The princess seemed taken aback by the warm round of apuse, and Li Min put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her. He then started his speech. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to offer my heartfelt apology to all of you for my ipetence. We had suffered from the hands of the pirates for a long time. However, that suffering is now a thing of the past! From now on, our conversations will be filled with the brightness of hope for the future! Cheers! Cheers! Deafening cheers and apuse rose up once again. Lord Li Mins unexpectedly good at delivering speeches, huh. His voice is clear, and he can talk quite well. Well, a seafarers voice should be loud and clear, after all. Lord Li Min cultivated his abilities aboard the ship. Just being a good speaker and being capable isnt enough. Itll be meaningless if people dont follow you. So, he didnt got this position merely due to his fathers connections, then. At any rate, only the Huang County Lord mother-daughter pair showed an odious expression in the midst of everyone else who were caught up in the festive atmosphere. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 95: Huang County Lord Chapter 95: Huang County Lord It turned into a no-holds-barred party after Li Min was done with his speech. Hus tricycle was in the spotlight, being the most popr thing amidst the festivities. Sure enough, the merchants who frequentlye and go to the port took the bait It was truly a revolutionary product the size was perfect for carrying items to longer distances without being too bulky like wagons and carts. Moreover, it was also good that Princess Pan also tried it with Li Min, and she rode it without a hitch. With this, it was shown that even women could use it,pared to horses, which was a bit more difficult. Thus, Hu promptly received an invitation from one of the prominent merchants who was well connected all over Kai to coborate and sell the products together. Yep, yep, and hope youll also sell it to the Hundred Blossom Pce! That would help make the work of courtdies lighter. Everyone was all fired up, but Lord Li Min couldnt stay with the princess all the time. He had to reward the seafarers, and Princess Pan also had to mingle with the women present in the banquet. Yui Mei and Li Yong had been aimlessly wandering around the couple. Li Min drew nearer and whispered to them. Sorry, do apany her for me. Understood. Please leave her to us. Li Min then left the princess when he heard Yui Mei and Li Yongs response. However Your Highness the Princess Pan, it has been a while. Indeed. The Huang mother and daughter pair appeared, as if they had been waiting for that exact moment. Oh my, Huang County Lord, it truly has been a while. Princess Pan seemed disconcerted for a second, but she soon regained herposure. She shed a brilliant smile to them. Annoyance flitted across the Huang Country Lords face, but she fixed her expression right away. Your Highness, it must have been a dreadful experience for you. What a pity it is. The Huang County Lord raised her voice and started to talk exaggeratedly. Besides, I heard that you had been bedridden for a long time, werent you, dear? Im sure that the fishermens temperament didnt suit the capitals people, wont you say so? Indeed, Im truly worried about you, you know? Easy for you to say, you hag. Yui Mei had been trying to restrain herself as she stood near them, but she couldnt help but snort at that. The Huang County Lord was trying to show to the other guests that Princess Pan held Kai in contempt. Oh my, I am grateful that you are so worried about me. Indeed, I was not used to such apletely different environment, so I became ill for a while when I arrived from the capital. However, thanks to Lord Li Min, I am able to enjoy the delicious fresh seafood and fish served here. I am thoroughly captivated by Kai now. Huang County Lord stiffened, because she never imagined that the princess would easily parry her words. Is that so. She barely managed to respond. ording to Li Yong, Princess Pan was originally a very eloquent person to begin with. She could keep up with the discourses among the women of the pce. However, she was sent to a foreignnd to be a bride, and she didnt even have enough allies, so she lost heart. Thus, the Huang County Lord thought she was just a weakling, a pushover that she could trample on. Moreover, Li Min had cleaned his entire mansion, and all her minions disappeared, thus, the current situation had not been ryed to her. The Huang County Lord eyes darted around, looking as if she swallowed a fly when she didnt get the reaction she was expecting from the princess. Yu, what are you talking about with Aunt? Li Min left the sailors and returned back to where they were. Moreover, he didnt address her as Princess Pan, intimately calling her by her first name, instead. All the guests were dumbstrucked when they heard this. Lord Li Min, we have been talking about how lovely it is to live in Kai. The problem about the pirates have been solved, so maybe we can go again to the port? Im really looking forward to when Lord Li Min will take me there again! Princess Pan coquettishly begged Li Min. Actually, she was not acting because the Huang County Lord was there, but because it was truly her desire to experience the harbor once again. Thus, her smile was full of sincerity, and her lively voice was filled with expectation and excitement. Oh, really, then I have to show you my ship, too, since were already near then. Really!? Im so d! The Huang County Lord and her daughter strode off without a word, away from the couple who were caught up in their own world. Normally, it would be extremely rude to leave without saying anything to the person who had a higher rank than them. However, they couldnt even show the minimum courtesy towards them. Yup, it was just a hunch before, but yup, Princess Pan IS a natural! And so, word that the Huang familys young master and his wife are harmonious spread among the guests, as they watched the couple who were immersed in fervour, as if they were just newly-weds. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 96: Things Didn’t Go Well Chapter 96: Things Didn¡¯t Go Well The Huang County Lord hastily left the banquet. Her daughter was with her as they rode the carriage home. Normally, the Huang County Lord would always stay in Li Mins mansion whenever she visited Kai. She had taken for granted that Li Min would always prepare a room for her, and that he would take the initiative even if she didnt inform them beforehand that she woulde. This was Kai, territory of the Huang family, so it didnt matter even if Li Min took a princess for his wife. It was only natural that the Huang family was above all else, even the imperial family, within thesends. Thus, the Huang County Lord never attempted to ingratiate herself towards Princess Pan. And so, the Huang County Lord intruded in Li Mins mansion, and haughtily ordered the servants to prepare her usual room. However, she never expected the response that she would get. What did you say? I cant use it? The Huang County Lord fiercely scowled. She was infuriated, because she had never been refused or rejected before. The steward only bowed politely. Indeed, the room you are referring to is currently upied by someone else. The Huang County Lord had always stayed in the most spacious room in the mansion. The only reason why Princess Pan didn;t use that room was because she couldnt see the sea from there. Li Min had suggested that since she was to live in the port city of Kai, it would be a waste if she didnt enjoy the scenery. And so, Princess Pans room was the secondrgest room, which afforded a panoramic view of Kai. The Huang County Lord didnt know this backstory, and she didnt even have any interest in the sea. Thus, she had assumed that the room was dedicated exclusively for hers. Besides, they always prepared that room wordlessly. So why on earth did he say that she couldnt use the room, when she didnt even inquire if it was avable or not? Li Min didnt interact much with high-ranking nobles and officials, preferring instead to mingle with the people working in the port. Thus, his guests could only be part of the lower ss that was what the Huang County Lord thought. Then just drive them away! Who do you think I am!? The Huang County Lord yelled at the steward. And why was this guy the one managing things here, in the first ce. She didnt know this man at all. Where was the steward that she had nted here? Her people had been reced before she knew it, so the Huang County Lord could no longer hide her irritation and anxiety. The servants would wee her pompously whenever she visited the mansion. However, this time around, this steward, who came from goodness knows where, asked her whether she had an appointment. She flew off the handle and scolded him, saying that why did she have to be subjected to such prying. Where on earth did the people that she had gone out of her way to prepare and nt in the mansion go? The Huang County Lords thoughts were in chaos, while the steward, on the other hand, was bothered. I cannot do that since the people staying there are His Highness the Crown Princes envoys. What did you say? The Huang County Lord was dumbfounded. Yes, she knew that the crown prince had visited Li Min. It was said that he came to visit his sister who had fallen ill. However, she received word that he left soon after, and she didnt heard anything about that afterward. Thus, she thought it was not a big deal and that he really dide to see his younger sister, so she no longer paid attention to that matter. She couldnt believe that the crown princes envoys were still staying here. Where were they? .She tried to recall the banquet earlier.] They were not among the people who greeted her, thats for sure. Besides, each and every single guest that attended had that ugly tan, d in clothes characteristic of the citizens of Kai, so she couldnt pinpoint whether there was such a person there. For the Huang County Lord, the only people she deemed worthy to associate with her were those from the capital. To be more precise, they were the influential people living in the pce. Come to think of it, there was a guy who looked like he could be a soldier from the capital in that ce. She thought that he was probably one of the guests from the capital, but then, he was apanied by a girl d in clothes that she couldnt imagine a person from the city would wear. She assumed that maybe he must be dismissed from his position in the capital, so she no longer thought anything of it. Could it be that he was the envoy of the crown prince? At any rate, the Huang County Lord had to retreat if the other party was the crown princes people. What in the world is going on? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 97: Upon Reaching Their Destination Chapter 97: Upon Reaching Their Destination [Authors Note]: Warning! Gruesome depiction ahead! The Huang County Lord had always received preferential treatment, no matter who she was dealing with. However, much to her chagrin, that treatment did not extend to the Inner Pce. She had been extremely mortified at this blow and disgrace, and considered this as a stain in her life. The Huang County Lord, being the power greedy and extravagant person that she was, then ced her hopes on her daughter, to no avail. Thus, they turned their target to the seat of the Grand Duke, but there were still obstructions, in the form of Li Min and his father. They had been preupied in seafaring so they never entered her eyes, and yet now they stood in her way. When news came that Li Min weed a princess for his bride, she came in person to check it out, and was relieved when she saw the person herself. She thought that Li Min had been forced into this marriage. Besides, this was a princess, a woman raised preciously inside the inner pce, treasured and treated as if she was flower and had lived all her life in thep of luxury, so the Huang County Lord thought that she would never get along with her sailor husband. And yet, what on earth happened today? Princess Pan didnt look anything remotely like the Four Consorts rumored to be the most beautiful women in the Hundred Blossom Pce when she appeared at the banquet. However, she couldnt tear her eyes off her for some mysterious reason, even if her appearance had been totally different from Huang County Lords standard of beauty. She couldnt help but think that the princess was gorgeous. Theres no way, theres no way that she can appear so beautiful! The Huang County Lord gritted her teeth in frustration. Mother, I dont want to stay in an inn in Kai, its stinking of fish. Her daughter grumbled as she sat across the Huang County Lord. She herself thought the same, but still, she red at her daughter who carelessly aired her frustrations. What, do you want that stay inside the storage rooms of that mansion? The rooms in Li Mins mansion were never used as storage rooms. However, for the Huang County Lord, she considered any room aside from the one that she always used to be narrow storerooms. She had even mocked Princess Pan, by calling her princess of stockrooms. Of course I dont want that. Huang County Lords blood boiled in anger at her daughters never endingints. Did this girl really understand the reason why the Huang County Lord had to go through great pains to scheme? Besides, she never expected the rumors that the pirates had been annihted to be true. She had attended the banquet in order to confirm the rumors. Why didnt she receive any urate information about this? What happened to her brother-inw that was moving together with the pirates? Everything didnt seem to go as nned, so Huang County Lord was getting more anxious by the minute, when suddenly, their carriage stopped. Are we there? My goodness, what kind of city is this that we cant even use a proper carriage. The Huang County Lord grumbled as she opened the window of the small carriage and peeked outside. She wanted to check whether the inn was suitable before they alight, and if not, then she nned to order the coachman to turn around and look for another one. However, she never expected the scenery that she would see outside. What is this? Mother, what happened? Her daughter asked when she saw her mother knit her brows. However, the Huang County Lord paid her no heed. There was no inn outside. Actually, they couldnt even see the townscape of Kai. Pure darkness surrounded them. It was already sunset when they left Li Mins mansion. However, if they were still in the city of Kai, then they should see the lights of the several shops in it. Then why was it pitch ck? She wanted to know the answer, so she opened the window towards the coachman. Hey! Where are we right now!? The Huang County Lord yelled, but she soon realized that there was nobody sitting on the drivers seat. What on earth is happening here? The confused Huang County Lord uneasily scanned the area for a hint of the drivers presence, and when she didnt see anything, she turned back towards the other window. Right on cue, a cloth bundle was hurled into their carriage through that window. Hii!! What!? Her daughter screamed. The bundle was dyed reddish ck, and an unspeakably horrible, stinky odor wafted from it. It wasnt tied securely, so the content was bared to their eyes. Hiiii!!!!! Kyaaaaahhhhhh!!!!??? The Huang County Lord couldnt even let out a scream as her breath hitched, while the daughter shrieked on top of her lungs. A severed head rolled out of the bundle. And it was someone very familiar to them it was the head of the Huang County Lords husband. T/N: Sorry! I made a mistake, the hubby is not with them in the carriage! Fixed XD Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 98: Attack Chapter 98: Attack [Authors Note]: Warning! Cruelty and gruesome depiction ahead! No!!! Put it away!!! The Huang County Lord could barely recognize the head as that of her husband. Her daughter, on the other hand, did not recognize her own father in the slightest, probably because the appearance changed with death, and she kept on kicking the severed head away from her. Oh my goodness. Her brother-inw had been with the pirates, but she never heard from him again at some point, and he didnt return, either. Moreover, her husband attacked Li Mins mansion, taking advantage of the fact that the security was weak given that Li Min went all out in order to subjugate the pirates. However, she became uneasy when she didnt meet him in Kai this time around. She couldnt imagine that he would be disfigured to this extent. Whats happening here!? Huang County Lords unwittingly asked. I thought you already knew very well whats happening here? Bam! The door forcefully opened right after she heard someone speaking outside the carriage. Nice to see you again so soon, Huang County Lord. It was the soldier that she saw at the banquet, the one who looked like he came from the city. You, are you His Highness the Crown Princes envoy!? The man scoffed when he heard what the Huang County Lord said. You dont even know such a trivial thing. Its really obvious that nobody entertained you back in that banquet, huh. Im the guard, and the envoy is another person. The man pulled out his sword and sauntered towards them. I-impudent! You know what will happen to you right? Disrespecting me like this, and you even did this to my husband! The Huang County Lord shrieked, but the man just raised a brow. Hoh, so Huang County Lord, you dont really understand the situation you are in right now, huh. Then let me enlighten you. That owner of that severed head had tried to kidnap and rape either Princess Pan or the maiden who was the envoy of the crown prince. He did such an abominable thing, so of course he would end up like this. So her husband fell from the hands of the enemy. However, wasnt it supposed to be the best time for Huang County Lords party to make their move and seize the mansion in one fell swoop? Her husband was not an easy person to deal with, considering that he was also part of the Huang family. Moreover, not to mention the princess, this man said that her husband had tried to kidnap the crown princes envoy. Her husband was fond of young women, so he apparently targeted the maiden, too. However, she couldnt remember any girl who looked like she could be from the city among the attendees. The girl beside this man didnt look like she could be one, so it was probably a different girl. I dont know anything about that! Besides, why did you do such a savage thing!! Savage? Im sure you already know the fate that awaits whoever made a move against the emperors child. You treated the imperial family too lightly, so this happened. Immediately after the man said those words Kyaaahhh!!!! Her daughters mind could no longer endure the situation, so she tried to go out of the opposite door while screaming in panic. However, she was stopped soon enough. Hii! A sword was thrusted in front of her daughter. Several men d in ck, looking like they blended into the night, surrounded the carriage. I-I am the Huang County Lord!! Grand Duke Huang will never let this pass if something happened to me! That Grand Duke Huang already told us to do whatever we wanted with you. He already treated you as an eyesore, it seems. T-thats impossible! Understanding finally dawned on the Huang County Lord, and she realized just how precarious her current situation was. She trembled in horror. Her status, which had been the foundation that she relied on, had crumbled underneath her. Mother, help!!!! Gyahhh!! The screams of her daughter outside the carriage rang into the night, but the Huang County Lord couldnt move a muscle, let alone secure herself. She could only copse on the floor shaking, so by the time she noticed the sword from the drivers window, it had already pierced her body. Ah.. That weak cry became thest words of the Huang County Lord. I dont want such dirty things to enter the princess sight. The man Li Yong raised his hand and gave the signal after he said those words. The men in ck shot arrows of fire towards the carriage. Because it was in the outskirts of Kai, it was already the next day before the charred remains of the carriage were discovered. T/N: And were almost done with the Kai arc, just a few more chaps! ? Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 99: Buying Souvenirs Chapter 99: Buying Souvenirs Listen carefully, Yui Mei. Do not leave the room until I return. I already requested Lord Li Min to take care of your safety. Huh, well, okay. Li Yong said that and left right after the banquet ended. Yui Mei didnt have anything to do outside the mansion that would warrant her sneaking around while Li Yong was gone. Rather than that, she preferred to rest, because she had been truly tired from all the preparations for the banquet, so she just slept immediately, too. Li Yong had already returned to the mansion when she woke up refreshed the next morning. What did he dost night? Maybe he probably went out to y with some beautiful girls.or not. Yui Mei recalled his serious demeanor as he departed yesterday. Actually, his expression resembled the ones that the director of the hospital where Yui Mei worked made whenever he was considering personnel affairs. Li Yong looked like he was scheming something that might be disturbing or dangerous, even. He didnt mention anything about what he would do, so she assumed that there was no need for her to know about the particrs. It would be a lie to say that Yui Mei didnt feel curious about it, but then, she also knew that there were matters that she shouldnt mistakenly pry into. Curiosity killed the cat, after all. The perception to know the boundaries and limits was necessary for her to survive peacefully inside the Inner Pce. Thus, she decided to let the matter be, and focus on the n for today, instead. Yui Meis job waspleted when Princess Pan made her debut at yesterdays banquet. That would mean they could now return to the capital soon. I want to buy some souvenirs for everyone before we go home She wanted to get something from the port for Mei Na, Aunty Yang, Doctor Chen. And so, I want to go outside to shop for some souvenirs! We still need to prepare for our departure, but yeah, we can take some time for that. Li Yong gave his permission, so Yui Mei went to the harbor together with him. They borrowed a small carriage from Li Min, and they alighted when they reached a narrow alley close to the harbor because it couldnt enter. They then walked towards the port area. Whoa, its a lot livelier than thest time were here! Yui Mei looked around her with shining eyes, taking in the sight of the stores lined up on the street within the harbors vicinity. Yui Mei hadnt gone to this ce to sightsee again since the day they encountered the pirates. They went to Hus house, yes, but they didnt have enough time to walk around in this area. The ce had been bustling with activity that day, but it was nothingpared to now; she even felt that the port was empty back then. And look, they are using tricycles! Mass production of tricycles wasnt achieved yet, so there were probably only a handful of them, and the ones who got them now were probably connected to Li Min. The tricycles weaved their way through the crowd, drawing the eyes of those around it, and it also blended into the ports scenery just fine. Ahh, tricycles are really good! Indeed, all was good. Li Min had included two tricycles among the rewards and gifts he bestowed as thanks for their job one for the crown prince and one for Yui Mei. Li Yong had also been staring at the tricycles as he stood beside her. Actually, the poption growth in the city has created a number of problems recently, especially the congestion of wagons. Well, maybe the tricycle will help solve one of those problems, huh. Hemented. Indeed, there was no difference, be it in Japan or this country, there were problems that a flourishing city must address. Setting that aside for now, Yui Mei and Li Yong continued strolling in the bustling streets, when a fragrant smell wafted from one of the stalls. Alright, grilled squid first! Hey Yui Mei, do you really like that weird thing that much? Yui Mei turned around and headed towards the stall that was grilling squid, while Li Yong heaved a sigh, a bit reluctant. Apparently, even though he managed to eat it before and the taste was okay for him, he still couldnt get past its appearance. Yui Mei just ignored him, and she decided to buy the whole piece instead of the ones already cut into small pieces. . Li Yong averted his eyes from the squid that Yui Mei was holding, and he actually wanted to put some distance between them, but he had no choice but to put up with it because he had to guard her. He seemed troubled, and he cast a sidelong nce at Yui Mei every now and then, watching her as she sank her teeth into the squid while they walked. Oh, youre thessiest time, huh. Somebody called out to her from the side. Yes? Li Yong already moved in front of her before she could turn around. She peeked behind his back towards the direction of the voice, and she saw a fisherman standing there. When she looked closely, it was the owner of the ship they were riding during the attack of the pirates. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 100: Food over Souvenirs Chapter 100: Food over Souvenirs Thank you very much for letting us board your ship at that time. Li Yong also noticed him, so he nodded while maintaining his position of covering Yui Mei. Nah, were the ones who were in your care! The uncle waved his hand in dismissal as he broadly grinned. Are you perhaps selling fish? Yui Mei poked her head from behind Li Yong,menting as she stared at the fish lined up before the uncle. Yep, and theyre freshly caught this morning, you know? Fish are rare for city folks, right. Have you ever seen this before? Its the first time Ive seen it since I came to Kai! Yui Mei said honestly as she watched uncle brimming with pride. If she did not take her past life into consideration, then it was indeed the first time in this life that she saw fresh fish that was still intact. I also thought theyre different from the fish in the river. Haha! River fish aint got nothing against sea fish when ites to taste! The uncle seemed mighty pleased when Li Yong said that. It was obvious that the sea was his pride, from the bottom of his heart. Ahm, can we eat fish that has been grilled whole? She ate fish in Li Mins mansion, too, but all the dishes had been beautifully ted, and there was not a single grilled whole fish among them. Yeah, you can grill it by the beach. ording to the uncle, there was a fishermans store in front of the beach, and they could grill the fish in the bonfire there. Yehey, I want to eat that! And so, Yui Mei bought horse mackerel, turban shells and huge shrimps before heading towards the beachfront store. The fishermen were also gathered around the fire, apparently having their lunch, too. Yui Mei mingled with them, and she hastily started to prepare the fish. She borrowed a knife from the fishermen and took out the innards of the horse mackerel. Hey, arent you one of the city folks? Your skills aint bad, eh! The fishermen were all amazed. I just heard about it from somebody. Yui Mei glossed over it since Li Yong was also listening to them. Li Yong, on the other hand, stared at her work with deep interest. I never did that with river fish, though. Seafish has poison in them, so you have to remove the innards. A fisherman answered instead of Yui Mei. She skewered the fish and shrimp then grilled them in the fire, while she ced the turban shells just beside them, then waited for it to be done. Is it okay already? A fragrant aroma wafted in the air. Yui Mei took the mackerel from the fire and bit into it. Yummy! Yeah, its tasty. Li Yong also tried the fish and agreed with her. Yui Mei then took the shrimp skewers. This shrimp is also delish~! It was plump and sweet, and it was delicious enough even without seasonings. Really, how can you eat that thing. Li Yong was okay with the mackerel, since it looked like river fish, but the shrimps appearance was unfamiliar to him, so he had some qualms about eating it. Well, he doesnt know anything about the sea, so that perspective is a given, I guess. Shrimp was definitely served back at Li Mins mansion. However, the dishes had been modified so that they no longer retained the original appearance, in consideration for the people from the city. This was probably the reason why the head chef had been pulled out from the city. It was the first time Li Yong saw the real appearance of shrimp. Eh? But then, didnt you eat fish when you were aboard Lord Li Mins ship? She thought that it was the perfect opportunity to eat a smorgasbord of fish. Its difficult to handle fire on a ship, and thats true even in the river. So we ate preserved foods, just like what we do during military marching. If it was a long voyage, then it might be different, but it seemed that they didnt cook food when the trip onlysted for a few days. One of the fishermen also butted in, and she learned from him that cooking would need water, and they simply didnt have enough extra space for water, no matter how big the ship was. They had the option to eat raw fish if they didnt want to use fire, but they didnt do it unless emergency due in order to avoid food poisoning, which was one of the things they needed to watch out for. A scrumptious aroma also wafted from the turban shells while Yui Mei was being taught about those things. These turban shells were probably the creepiest looking thing among the seafood that Yui Mei bought, but Li Yong liked it, surprisingly. He had been extremely reluctant to try it at first, but when he did, it seemed to suit his taste. Thats why you shouldnt refuse food without trying it first! She wouldnt be able to eat seafood again when they returned to the capital, so Yui Mei decided to enjoy them to the fullest while they were still here. Alright, its not over yet, lets eat to our hearts content! Hey, dont forget to buy the souvenirs. Yui Mei was already captivated by the taste of seafood, so Li Yong tried to drag her back to reality. T/N: Hello! Im finally back! it feels so good to be able to tl again! Thank you so much for your patience ? Im sorry I cant do a mass release, because I also have work in rl to catch up, but please expect a daily release (Mon-Sat) for two weeks to make up for theck of release! ? Huhu, we reached the 100th chapter of Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce today!! Cheers!!!! Thank you, dear readers, for sticking with us till here! More chaps toe! <> Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 101: After Shopping (Without Forgetting) Chapter 101: After Shopping (Without Forgetting) Yui Mei didnt forget to choose the souvenirs after enjoying all the seafoods to the fullest. Okay, what should I buy Yui Mei left the beach and returned to the road to stroll among the shops. The journey to this country was considered difficult, so there werent any tourists, much less groups who came to sightsee, and there were no souvenir specialty stores in this area. Thus, Yui Mei could only hope that they would be able to find good items here. What should I get? Yui Mei consulted Li Yong. It was her first time to shop for souvenirs gifts in this world, so it was only natural that she had difficulty choosing. Why not go with wine? It wont go bad, after all. Oh, I see. Indeed, the journey home would be long one, the essential condition of her choice should be something that would not rot while they were in the midst of traveling. And so, Yui Mei decided to listen to Li Yongs suggestion and buy some kind of rare wine, something that was delicious and could be used for cooking, too. Kai was a port city, so there were a lot of items gathered here, and some were for export and while others were imported. Thus, she had plenty of varieties to choose from. Yui Mei decided to buy sweet wines for Mei Na and Yang, and a spicy wine for Chen. Her business was done after she finished buying them. Were already here, so might as well y in the sea! she didnt have any opportunity to go enjoy the beach since she came here in a city near the sea. Youre still spouting unusual stuff Li Yong frowned. He probably never imagined that one could y in the sea, since it was a ce for fishing. However, Yui Mei wouldnt back down, so it was decided that they would take a stroll along the beach to make some good memories, ording to her. They went to a ce farther than the fishermans store, and no one else was there. Because people ying in the sea was something umon, the thought of ying by swimming probably never crossed their minds. Thats why not a single tourist ventured to this ce, probably only those who were interested and wanted to do so from the get-go, like Yui Mei. Kyah, so cold! Yui Mei could no longer endure her excitement, so she hastily took off her shoes and dipped her feet into the water, enjoying the sensation of the waves rising and falling beneath her feet. She wanted to swim, but because swimsuits didnt even exist in this ce, where the sea was considered unswimmable. The fishermen themselves were wearing normal clothes that could get wet whenever they enter the sea. Yui Mei couldnt get wet, so she could only satisfy herself by submerging her feet and ying with the waves with them. However, this was too dull. Oh, right, I can go look for seashells instead! Seashells were also great as souvenirs from the sea. She started to pick shells, while Li Yong followed and watched over her from behind. Oh, Li Yong, you know how to swim, right? Yui Mei suddenly stopped what she was doing and asked Li Yong, and he looked peeved. If I didnt know how to swim, then theres no way Im going aboard Lord Li Mins boat, right? Well, he got a point. Yui Mei agreed to Li Yongs answer. It would turn into a huge mess if his own guest drowned while aboard his ship. I trained in the river, but then, a river is very different from the sea. Yeah, and the seawater is stickier for some reason. Yui Mei replied back to affirm what Li Yong said, when a mischievous thought crossed her mind. Hyah! Yui Mei squatted down and sshed water towards Li Yong. He easily avoided it. Hey, what do you think youre doing! Li Yong scolded her, but Yui Mei just snorted and scowled. Its such a waste, you know. Youre in front of the sea and yet youre making such a lo~ng face. You should rx your guard a bit and enjoy the sea! telling a guard to rx his guard is absurd. Li Yong said with the air of a soldier, but Yui Mei just stood up and sshed another wave at him. Argh, stop it I said, and thats low of you to do that! Li Yong avoided being sshed yet again, so Yui Mei suddenly got the urge to make him wet no matter what. No, it was fine even if it wasnt seawater in this case, so she started kicking sand towards him. I already told you to stop! Li Yong became exasperated at obstinate Yui Mei, so he also started kicking the sand towards her. Yui Mei was also annoyed at this, so in the end, it became a sand throwing contest until Li Yong came back to his senses. In the end, they were both covered in sand when they returned to Li Mins mansion, giving Princess Pan a fright when they happened to meet her. What are we doing, the two of us. Yui Mei burst outughing as she changed her sand-covered clothes and brushed the sand off her hair. Doing something meaningless has been quite refreshing. They made a good memory of the sea before they left Kai. T/N: Li Yong, the king of exasperation ? not a chapter had gone by without a description of the furrow in his brows haha, so its funny how childish he was when he kicked sand back to Yui Mei. And yey!! Last chapter for this arc!! What a cute way to end it XD Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 102: Autumn-time Chapter 102: Autumn-time Time flew so quickly, and it was almost the end of the autumn season. Yui Mei had already returned to the Hundred Blossom Pce from Kai, and she already finished handing the souvenirs and talking about all their adventures. What awaited her now was her usual day job as the housekeeper in the Inner Pce. Hmm, its so quiet now More leaves were falling recently as the season went by, and they piled up on top of each other on the ground. Yui Mei grumbled as she swept those leaves, looking up every now and then to stare at the clear, blue sky. The Mid-Autumn Festival was drawing closer. It was celebrated on the eight day of the lunar month and was considered to be the night of the harvest moon in Japan. The border town where Yui Mei lived before celebrated this day by eating yue bing, moremonly known as mooncakes, as part of their tradition. These mooncakes were frequently sold in Japan too for the Tsukimi, or moon-viewing event, and they were sweets the size of a palm. The ones they made back in the border town were as big as a whole cake, though. The women of the vige would make them together, then they would distribute them to each of the households, dividing them among the many people so everyone can enjoy them. I never had a share back then, coz nothings left by the time its my turn. Yui Mei had been living at the very edge of that border town, so by the time it was her turn to get some, all the mooncakes were already gone. It was unknown whether it was on purpose, or perhaps just a coincidence, or maybe they thought that shes all alone in the house, so she didnt need such arge piece it was actually difficult to tell what the reason was. Well, its true that its such a waste if a whole cake is given to someone who is all alone! But then, the vige never thought of making a smaller cake for such a situation. Yui Mei had been bitter about it, so she had made her own mooncakes in recent years. Unfortunately, the ingredients she could get her hands on werecking, so she hadnt been able to make a mooncake she could be satisfied with. The process of making mooncakes was a deep matter for her. This year, however, she made a promise to make mooncakes with Mei Na, who also came from a ce that ate mooncakes as part of tradition. The customary food for the Mid-Autumn Festival differed in each region for example, the others would prepare dumplings so Yui Mei was also looking forward to sampling them, too. Yui Meis considered autumn to have its own vor, and it invokes a corresponding appetite in her. One fine day, Yui Mei was in high spirits since early morning as she went about her job. The reason was simple, it was a fortunate day for her, because she finally won the assignment of cleaning near the chestnut trees in the garden.. Chestnuts are definitely part of autumn, right! Of all the delicacies associated with autumn, Yui Mei loved chestnuts and roasted sweet potatoes the most. Chestnut trees dotted the garden of the Inner Pce, being nted here and there, and the the great job of cleaning around the chestnut trees included harvesting the ripe chestnuts. They would pick and collect the ripe ones that had fallen to the ground and distribute them among the concubines of the Inner Pce. Of course, there was never enough chestnuts to go around every single concubine, given that there were only so many trees nted in the garden, so they would procure some from outside the Inner Pce. The chestnuts harvested in the Inner Pce were divided among the concubines ording to their status, and were preferred over the ones bought outside. It was actually just a trivial matter of eating chestnuts, but the concubines should still be mindful over this. Why cant they just enjoy it normally, and happily at that, while saying stuff like Its so delish! right? By the way, the deformed ones among the harvest were rejected, and the courtdy assigned in this case, its Yui Mei were allowed to have them. Despite the great bargain, it was not a popr job among the courtdies, and that was the reason why it was assigned to Yui Mei, considered as having the lowest rank among them, being the novice that she was. ording to the courtdies who didnt want the job, they consider it to be fraught with danger because of the pain they felt after being stabbed by the prickly shell, as well as when the fruits fell on their head, and yet the reward (the rejects) they could eat was shabby, so it was an unsatisfying job. Yui Mei wanted to retort that they shouldnt eat the chestnuts for the rest of their life if theyre going to grumble about such trivial things. Yeah, the fruits might be small, so what? Even if they got therge ones, that didnt mean it was automatically delicious. And so, Yui Mei was filled with determination and willingness to go through all that trouble just to eat delicious chestnuts, even if it would mean she would get hurt when a chestnut dropped on her. I love chestnut rice, and it also goes well with manju, and oh! Theyre great with moon cakes, too! Yui Meis desires all piled up the more she thought about it. And so, she headed towards the garden where the chestnut trees were, with a spring in her step, but Xiao Mei, can I have a moment? Aunty Yang called out to her just as she passed the corridor. T/N: Mooncakes! Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 103: Chestnut! Chapter 103: Chestnut! Yes? How may I help you? Yui Mei had a silly smile pasted on her face as she thought about the chestnuts, but she hastily pulled herself together as she turned around towards Aunty Yang. Eh, what might it be? Wait a moment, she wont tell me that I mustnt pocket too many chestnuts, will she? Did she read my mind? Inwardly, Yui Mei thought a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, but she didnt disy that in her expression as she faced Aunty Yang. Xiao Mei, you know a lot about illnesses, right? Yang suddenly said. Ah, well, I guess so. Yui Mei felt relieved that it wasnt about her gluttony, and she straightened her back and listened carefully. May I know who is sick? WellAn old friend of mine is depressed, and hes moring that hell stop working and whatnot. If we take his job away, hell be a drunkard, thats for sure. Yang heaved a deep sight after saying those things. Is that person someone very close to her? Judging from her tone, they seemed to be intimate, amicable friends. She had always treated her well, so Yui Mei always wanted to do something for Yang, too. If its within my power, then do tell me what it is all about. Yang was relieved when Yui Mei dered those words. Ah, thatll be a huge help, then. That person hates doctors, you see, and he doesnt like drinking medicines. Ahh, yes, indeed, there are people like that. Yui Mei nodded her head as Yang grumbled. The characteristic stated by Yang wasmonly seen among people with robust bodies, and people who seldom fall ill. They loved to criticize the doctors and treated medicines as a suspicious threat in order to mask their abnormal fear towards such things. Well, Xiao Mei isnt a doctor, so if you go there under the pretense of being my errand girl, he wont reject you, and youll be able to talk with him easily enough.. In other words, she wouldnt be driven away if she went there as a simple courtdy. On the other hand, if she said she was a doctor, then that person would never meet her. That person was a hard-core doctor hater, it seemed. And someone with a high status, perhaps? Based on Yangs words, that person doesnt seem to be someone they could meet on a whim, and he seemed to have an attendant, too. How about it, will you go check on him? Ill reward you. Yang asked pushily, but Yui Mei just smiled. No need for that, Ill go. Really, thank goodness! Ill prepare a guide for you. Yang looked relieved when Yui Mei gave her reply. And so, Yui Mei started gathering chestnuts doing her cleaning job. Great~ harvest, good~ harvest Yui Mei swept the leaves underneath the chestnut tree while picking up the nuts that had fallen on the ground and throwing them to the basket she carried on her back. Falling on the ground was actually proof that the nut was ripe already, and there were some who were still trying their best to cling to the branches. It would be an unfortunate event if a person happened to be right underneath the tree the moment they became ripe, because they would then fall on that person, pricking them with their burrs. This was exactly why the other courtdies hated this job, but Yui Mei believed in the saying of no pain, no gain. Okay, lets see, did we get some big ones? She still had to sort the chestnuts after she finished picking them up. Cracking chestnuts opened was Yui Meis specialty, and she skillfully stepped on the the burrs, applying some force, then she collected the nut inside. Hey Yui Mei, so youre here. Libin, the crown princes confidante eunuch, called out to her. So youre assigned on chestnut picking duty, huh. It must be hard. Libin looked at Yui Mei with pity, so she couldnt help but feel annoyed, thinking What, you too!? What are you talking about! Youre being too rude to the chestnuts who are letting us experience something delicious! It seems like everyone hates burrs, but you know, its there to protect the delicious chestnut, so if you think that way then its only natural that youre gonna love those thorns! Is that so, if youre okay with that, then its fine, I guess. Libin took a step back away from Yui Mei, who had be all fired as she expressed her love for the chestnuts. So, is there anything you need from me? Yui Mei was already ready to drive him away after inwardly vowing never to give him a piece should he ask her to divide her harvest with him. Yang requested me to be your guide. Oh, so he didnte here to talk about the chestnuts. Yui Mei realized that this guy was the guide that Yang had referred to. Then, that means Yangs old friend must be one of the Imperial Guards? Actually, she already had a hunch that this guy was leading a double life under the pretense of being the twin brother of Li Yong, who was one of the Imperial Guards, but that must be set aside for now. Alright, please wait for a moment, Im still in the middle of sorting these chestnuts out! Is that so, Ill help you then, itll be faster that way. Libin also helped Yui Mei open the chestnuts, and she ended up with a considerable amount of chestnuts for herself after they sorted everything. Yui Mei grinned broadly as she put away her cleaning tools and the chestnuts, then she followed Libin towards where Yangs friend was. T/N: It feels weird to call Yang by her name without calling her Aunty. ? But then, she looked like a gorgeous olddy in the manga too ? not sure if I already posted it, but reposting for good measure ? Chapter is a bit early, theres a storm in our area so not sure when the power will go out (hope it wont)! Stay safe, everyone! Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 104: Outside the Imperial Palace Chapter 104: Outside the Imperial Pce Yui Mei went to Yang to get the things she would need as the errand girl on her way to put the cleaning tools back to where they were stored. She then headed to the Quianqing Gate with Libin. This so-called Quianqing Gate was the border gate that separated the Inner Pce, where the harem was, from the Outer Court (or Outer Pce), where the various rites, ceremonies, and court councils were held. Courtdies working in the Inner Pce rarely pass through this gate. Granted that they were allowed to go out of the Inner Pce on some kind of errand or duty, they would still not pass through here, because it was considered to be the main gate of the Inner Pce. They would have to go through the rear entrance. When Yui Mei and the other girls entered the Inner Pce for the first time, they were taken to the rear gate located at the eastern side. There was only one time when Yui Mei passed through the Quianqing Gate, and that was when she apanied the crown prince. Yui Mei and Libin finally reached their destination. Wait for me here, itll just take a while. Libin stopped Yui Mei from taking another step, then he went to a tiny building that looked like a storage house just beside the gate to the Outer Court. Yui Mei obediently waited for a while. Thanks for waiting. When he emerged from the storehouse, he was no longer donned in his eunuch garb. He was wearing the uniform of a soldier. Erm Lord Li Yong? Yui Mei hesitated at first, confused on how to call him, but she eventually decided to use this name. Yeah, thats right. Its good that you picked up quickly. Li Yong assented before briskly striding off. So thats how it is. This is the ce where he does his transformation, huh. There was nothing wrong with eunuchs and guards entering the storehouse. Yui Mei wondered whether there was a hidden room inside where no one else could enter. She chased after Li Yong while filled with these thoughts as they headed outside the Quianqing Gate. Still, it was usible that Li Yong would be able to move more easily at their destination if his identity was that of an imperial guard. Who will we visit? Li Yong raised a brow when he heard Yui Mei asking about the person they were about to meet. You dont know? Yes, Aunty Yang didnt exin the details. She just told me its an old friend of hers. Yui Mei honestly replied what she knew. Li Yongs expression turnedplicated. So she left out the other stuff, huh. Well, its no wonder shed do that. He then heaved a sigh after saying those words. Eh, is he someone with a particr background story or something? Oh well, if he didnt have that, then Aunty Yang probably didnt have to go through the pains of entrusting this errand to Yui Mei, who wasnt even a doctor, and she wouldnt rely on this guy that was leading a double life, which was already a suspicious move from her as it is. Yui Mei contemted this. Were meeting my superior. Oh, so hes an imperial guard too, I guess. Yui Mei nodded her head in understanding. Alright, hurry up and move along now, lets go to the Outer City. Outer City? Yui Meis eyes widened in disbelief at the words she just heard. Before exining the particrs of the ce called Outer City, it was necessary to describe the entirety of the imperial pce. The pce where the emperor lived was divided into two sections the Inner Court (Pce) and the Outer Court. The boundaries were inhabited by the people that were needed to run the pce, and it was called the Inner City. It was connected to the Inner Court, and government officials and thedies-in-waiting possessed houses here. Li Yong looked like a young master from a well off family, so his family house was probably in the Inner City, too. The southern part of the Inner City was called the Outer City, and it was where the people who worked for the Imperial Pce and the Inner City lived. It was the castle town, so to speak, and there were shops and inns here, so it was also considered to be the most bustling ce in the entire area. Since the person they would visit was Yangs friend, Yui Mei assumed that he was living in the Inner City. No, maybe were going to catch that guy, given that we have to go to the Outer City. Yui Meis mind was swirling with all the possibilities as she considered what kind of person they were going to meet, and before she noticed, they had already left the Outer Court and were walking on the path that was surrounded by fences, still within the Inner City. She didnt think that they would also pass through the Zhengyang gate, which was the main gate of the imperial pce. The Outer City was situated beyond this gate. So, in what pub can we catch him Li Yong was a bit worried as he stood still. Eh? Pub? Yui Mei was astonished once again. T/N: Oof, what an anticlimax!!! I was expecting more from the grand reveal of Li Yongs dual nature uwuwuwuwu.. Oh well, we get to see a new setting now, at least Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 105: Searcher Chapter 105: Searcher Li Yong, is that person in a pub? Its not like I can pinpoint his exact whereabouts, but I have a general idea. Li Yong readily confirmed Yui Meis spections when she tried to probe. He ruminated on which alley they would start their attack. Why a pub? Yui Mei thought he would be frequenting a store that sold armour in the Outer City if he was part of the Imperial Guards, so she was taken aback when told that he might be in a bar. However, now that she thought about it, Yang did describe him as a drunkard. Did that mean it wasnt a condescending statement, and that he was really a boozer? Yui Mei, be more alert and look around for a drunk person. Were looking for a short, stocky, bearded, grim looking fellow. Yui Mei scanned her surroundings under Li Yongs direction. Wait, so its decided that were searching for a boozer? Yui Mei was astounded, and she couldnt help but think Just how much of an alcoholic is he? as the two of them walked along the street, checking out every single pub they saw on their way. She discovered that even themoners drank good booze here, as expected of a capital city. The liquor avable in the bordend was mostly watered down to the point that the level of fermentation was low. On the contrary, they could already smell the aroma of booze wafting from the pubs just by passing through. Moreover, there were a lot of bars due to therge poption of people living here. Still, it was too early for dinner, and although the pubs were open, it wasnt the time for drunkards to be loitering around the ce. The only drunk people at this point should be the ones who spend the whole day drinking, but they didnt find any of them brazenly wandering in the streets. After looking around for a while he is here. The sun was already setting by the time Li Yong dered that he found the person they were looking for after peeking into a bar in the third alley that they scoured. Wee. Excuse us. Please excuse us for the bother. Li Yong and Yui Mei responded when the barkeeper greeted them as they entered the pub, then they headed towards the innermost seat. There was a drunkard sprawled on the table. He was exactly like how Li Yong described him a middle-aged, short, stocky, bearded, grim looking fellow with a red face and reeking of alcohol. Lord Ming, please wake up, Lord Ming! Ugh.. Li Yong tapped his shoulder several times while calling his name. The man Ming groaned. Hmm? A few doubts crossed Yui Meis mind as she stared at Ming, but she decided to set those thoughts aside. He was lying down on his face, so she turned his head to the side for fear that he might get suffocated before going to the barkeeper to ask for some water. She then ced the cup beside the half-asleep Ming. Hello, excuse me, Id like to have a word with you! Thoughts of this is impossible crossed Yui Meis mind as she tried to wake him up by patting his back. That person will not wake up just by doing that. The barkeeper called out to Yui Mei and Li Yong, implying that theyre just wasting their time. He always sleeps through the night just like that until the gates close and he can no longer go home. The pub owner looked exasperated as he sighed. In that case, then Ming must have spent the whole day either drinking or sleeping, then. Heh, so she is right, he really is a boozer. Yui Mei now understood why Yang was concerned about Ming. Sorry for all the trouble. Li Yong bowed his head towards the barkeeper. True enough, a guest staying until morning would be a huge nuisance to the bar. They wouldnt be able to close the bar after all. No, they might just throw him out in front of the street when it was closing time. However, that in itself would already require a great deal of effort. Yui Mei and Li Yong didnt have the luxury to wait until he naturally woke up. What will we do? We cant leave this as is. We wont be able to properly talk in this case. It cant be helped, we just have to carry him home. Li Yong concluded. And so, Li Yong decided to pay for Mings booze money first, but apparently, he already paid in advance. It was probably Mings consideration, because he knew he would forget to pay after drinking. Oh, so in that aspect, hes admirable, huh. Maybe there was a deeper reason why he was drinking, and not just because he loved booze. In any case, Yui Mei tried to ease his drunkenness. She pinched his nose, and when he woke up in pain, she made him drink the water on the table by saying Lets drink some more, here you go, this is wine. She repeated that several times. Yui Mei, youre great at dealing with drunkards, huh. You think so? Yui Mei nonchntly replied to Li Yongs admiring words. She had been working as a nurse in a highly stressful workce in her previous world. Back then, she also asionally experienced drinking with a colleague who would overindulge in alcohol as a means to vent out all that stress. All her coworkers admired her skill of making her colleague drink water, even though that person clutched the bottle of alcohol tightly without any intention of letting go. They left the pub, and Li Yong carried the man on his shoulders as they headed towards the Inner City. The man had a house there, apparently. Inner City, huh. Actually, it was the first time that Yui Mei would set foot in the Inner City. They were going there because they would bring this drunkard home, but Yui Mei couldnt help but feel a little excited as she followed behind Li Yong. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 106: Come, To the Inner City! Chapter 106: Come, To the Inner City! Li Yong carried Ming on his back, and he was grimacing. There were several times when Ming almost fell off, and Li Yong had to repeatedly adjust his position. Hes stinky. Yui Mei smiled wryly when Li Yong grumbled. Youre right, even his body odor reeks of alcohol, too. Yui Mei said that, but she was keeping her distance away from the obnoxious smell of alcohol, and Li Yong could only look at her reproachfully. Anyway, let us set that aside. To reiterate, most of the liquor that was generally avable was usually toned down until it was almost water. Thus, unless a person had a constitution that couldnt tolerate alcohol, it was almost impossible to get drunk to the point that even the body odor itself would reek of booze. He must be a very wealthy person since he could drink high quality liquor until he became like this. Well, hes probably rich since he is probably one of the high ranking imperial guards. Yui Mei kept a reasonable distance away from Li Yong as he carried Ming on his back. They passed through the gate that separated the Outer City from the Inner City. However, it was not the gate that they passed through earlier when they left the Inner City, but the one on the eastern side, used to transport goods such as liquor. The reason for that was simply because it was closer. Yui Mei thought it was strangely amusing that they were bringing in a drunkard reeking of booze through a gate that was used for liquor transportation. She couldnt help butugh. She tried to hold back her giggles as Li Yong presented his imperial guard identification. They let Yui Mei in without further ado because she was wearing her courtdy uniform. Pleasee in. They entered the gate without a hitch, and finally they were inside the Inner City. The scenery that greeted them was akin to an exclusive residential district. The reason why the streets were wide was because carriages were frequently running here. There was enough space for two carriages to pass by each other. No matter where she looked, the houses that lined the streets were all mansions with well maintained gardens. Hmmm, even the ambiance is oozing with weath! Thats how it feels! It was Yui Meis first time to set foot in the Inner City proper, and she was taking it all in with deep interest as she looked around. This way,e on. Li Yong didnt concern himself with Yui Mei as he hurriedly strode on. Apparently, he wanted to get rid of the stink of alcohol as soon as possible. He must be suffering from the odor. Mings face rested on Li Yongs shoulder as he carried him, and the stinky breath would hit his nose whenever Ming exhaled. If he carried Ming as if he was a baggage, then he would be able to escape from the smelly breath; but then, the ssic repercussion of blehhh would be waiting for him. Carrying him in his arms would definitely be more stinky. Thus, it was decided that he would carry Ming this way after considering that. Even his clothes must have soaked in the booze stink by now. Yui Mei couldnt help but pity Li Yong now that she thought about it, so she suppressed her curiosity and quickened her pace, almost running behind him. She also asked a few questions about Ming while they were walking. Mings full name was Ming Yong, and he was one of the major yers in the army as the captain, and even the generals recognized him. He must be very capable if even the generals remembered him, but now, he has be a disappointing wreck of a drunkard. Yui Mei was curious about his work, so she asked Li Yong, but he only told her that he is on leave because his body is not well. So does that mean that even if hes on leave, he is still wasting his time being drunk? How to say this, what a good-for-nothing person. Yui Mei further asked about the fundamental issue that Yang entrusted to her. You mentioned that his body isnt well, but what do you mean by that? Can you be more specific about it? Li Yong shot a nce behind his back, before answering in a hushed voice. You also hear about it asionally, right? How the joints of the body ache so badly to the point that you cant work its that strange disease. Because of that, it had been difficult for him to do his job as a soldier, but he still gained many meritorious awards. It was said that the disease heals from time to time, so he was told to rest his body in the hopes that his body will heal. So, the troops were waiting for him to return. But he wont heal at this rate even if he can, if hes going to live like this. He doesnt like mingling with doctors, to boot. Yui Mei pointed that out, while Li Yong heaved a deep sigh. ording to Li Yong, the imperial guards also tried to take care of him, but the person himself was too stubborn, and didnt wee any of that, choosing to remain in this state. Hmm, I think I get his situation now. So thats the reason why Yang was worried about him, and Yui Mei agreed. Yang normally didnt say anything beyond the job, but because it was an unusual request for her, Yui mei decided to ept it out of sheer curiosity, but now, it made her want to poke her nose and meddle a bit. They finally reached his residence while talking about it. It was a splendid mansion of a different caliberpared to the other mansions so far. T/N: I forgot to mention, I based the trantion of on Chinas Inner City and not Japaneses Inner Fort/ Pce (Naijou), and the crown princes surname Ming () has the same character as this drunkard Ming ? Im itching to know if Author-sama has a purpose for that. Anyway, Ming means bright and clear, Yong here means eternal. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 107: House Visit Chapter 107: House Visit Excuse me, excuse me! Li Yong raised his voice as he stood in front of the door. However, it was not the front entrance, but the back door. Li Yong considered Mings face, and in order not to disy his drunken, wasted appearance to the public in front of the mansions main entrance, they opted to do this instead. Yes, who might it be? The door opened slightly, and an old woman poked her face out. Oh, Master. Her eyes widened the instant she saw Ming on Li Yongs back. We came here to send the boss home, but is it alright if wee in? Li Yong asked, and the old woman opened the door wider in answer. She then invited them in. Come in. Then please excuse us. Sorry to disturb you. They entered the house, and Yui Mei whispered to Li Yong. Is she a member of his family? Nah, shes a servant. Lord Ming is a bachelor, as far as I know. Oh, so a drunkard bachelor, huh. What aplicated guy. Of course there were bachelors who could take care of themselves even if they lived alone, but there were also some who would turn to alcohol as a form of escapism from the loneliness of an empty home with nobody waiting for them. Yui Mei and Li Yong walked in silence after that as they followed the olddy deeper into the mansion. Finally, she led them to a bedroom. Please bring Master here. Yeah, got it. The old woman prompted Li Yong, and he lowered the snoring Ming onto the floor. He finally got rid of the stinky smell of alcohol on his back, so he took deep breaths while the old woman bowed her head deeply. Masters subordinates, I could only thank you deeply for bringing the Master back home. With regards to the Master, sleeping on the bed properly is still the best for his body. The olddy grumbled as she gave her thanks. It seemed that she thought Yui Mei was also one of Mings subordinates, so did that mean there were also maids at the imperial guards workce? Well, there were probably some maids in charge of cleaning up and taking care of misceneous duties. Besides, the uniforms of the lower ranks were simrly designed, be it a maid or a courtdy, so it was understandable that she would be mistaken. Rather than rifying it, Yui Mei asked the thing that bothered her. Does Lord Ming not sleep in his own home, perhaps? When Yui Mei asked that, the old woman heaved a deep sigh. Indeed, he always returned in the morning, reeking of alcohol. I wish he would consider the servants who stayed up all night waiting just in case he would return in the middle of the night. Perhaps it was because the grudges had piled up within the olddy, but she couldnt help butin in front of Yui Mei and Li Yong. And then, will he return to drink again after resting for a while? Thats right. The olddy nodded at Yui Meis question. Thats bad for his health. Falling asleep after drinking, then drinking again after waking up his lifestyle could already be considered crippled. Does Lord Ming love liquor that much? Yui Mei asked again, and Li Yong tilted his head in thought. As far as I know, he can no longer let go of drinking. Oh, so its been like this since long ago. No. Yui Mei reaffirmed, but the olddy refuted it. Master didnt touch a single cup of wine back when he was a youngd. Besides, he was even considered weak against liquor, because he couldnt even tolerate cheap booze. The olddys detailed exnation took Yui Mei by surprise, so she exchanged nces with Li Yong. Have you known Lord Ming for a long time? Yui Mei posed another question, and the olddy nodded exaggeratingly. Yes, I even washed his nappies back then. Oh, its no wonder then that she ran her mouth without any reserve since earlier. Then, I wonder if he messed up his work or if something bad happened, and Im not sure when it started, but he started drinking every single night, until he reached his current situation. Really, how pathetic The olddy coudnt stop talking now. Li Yong, on the other hand, seemed like he wanted to disappear as he stepped back. This guy seemed to be weak against his own mother Xiuling, too. Actually, he must be someone weak against women. Or, maybe it was more urate to say that his personality was such that he couldnt behave assertively against women. Hmmm Yui Mei, on the other hand, was considering the old womans words. Weak against liquor, yet getting drunk, huh. Maybe there was a reason for that, but that would be a separate story. In short, Mings body constitution couldnt metabolize alcohol well. There are some things that I want to confirm, but can I please touch Lord Ming for a bit? Yes, you can, but young girls like you dont like touching drunk men, isnt that so? Yui Mei requested permission, and the olddy nodded while staring at her like shes someonemendable. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 108: Illness of a Drunkard Chapter 108: Illness of a Drunkard With that, Yui Mei called out to Li Yong, who was taking refuge behind them. Li Yong, its a bit hard to see, so can you please help me turn Lord Ming so hell be lying on his back? Yeah. Li Yong drew closer once again, and he held Ming so he wouldnt move after turning him on his back. Afterward, Yui Mei touched Ming here and there, and she also rolled his sleeves up. The old woman was mortified, so she let Li Yong calm her down as she inspected Ming all over. I see, I have a general idea now. Yui Mei released Mings body as she sighed. She couldnt help but be amazed that Ming didnt wake up despite being touched everywhere, not to mention she also moved his hands and feet. However, that must be set aside for now. Lord Ming exhibited an exemry model of a specific illness, to the point that I want to sketch him to leave that for the future generations. What did you discover? Li Yong asked Yui Mei while she was immersed in amazement at the results after the physical examination. Yui Mei decided to exin it to both of them, since the old woman also seemed perplexed at what was going on. Yes, based on the examination earlier, I can conclude that Lord Ming is suffering from tngfng, or simply put, gout. Gout? Li Yong and the old woman asked in unison. Apparently, it was the first time they heard such a term, so Yui Mei exined further. This gout is also called tngfng based on the characters of for pain and for wind, because it was said that the slightest stimulus of the wind blowing would cause the patient to experience extreme pain. Of course, Yui Mei was also concerned about the intense stink of alcohol, but the thing that bothered her the most was his feet. It was obviously swollen. Moreover, the ankles, joints, and even the ears were slightly swollen, and this symptom was a distinct one exhibited in patients with gout. The pain from gout is sporadic, or to simply put, the fits will ur from time to time, but it will eventually lessen. The cycle of repeated pain and healing will eventually worsen until even the other internal organs will be affected. When Yui Mei said those words, realization dawned on the old woman as she mumbled now that you said that There were times when Master would suddenly roar without any warning in the past. The other servants thought that he must be possessed, so they would resign in twos and threes from time to time. That is how a gout patient is. Just like its name, just the touch of the wind must have caused him pain. Ming was textbook worthy; he had all the symptoms. Yui Mei really felt that it would be good if she could draw his pictures and write all the symptoms and conditions one by one so she could leave that for the future generation. At any rate, since it was treated as a strange disease with no other information avable, there was no way for them to know about the existence of uric acid. Even in her previous life, gout had existed since ancient times. However, it was only recently that the cause of the disease was discovered. Yui Mei harbored that ambition. Li Yong then timidly asked her. Ahm, so, whats the cause of that gout? Perhaps Just as Li Yong thought, in Lord Mings case, its because he drank too much. Yui Mei frankly confirmed Li Yongs fear. Strictly speaking, the root was uric acid, and it was a by-product when the body metabolizes the food we eat. However, alcohol would produce a huge amount of uric acid. Thus, it was an illness that wasmon among the drinkers. I tried pressing his back but he reacted painfully, so his kidneys er, the organs that are responsible for making pee probably have some stones, too. Perhaps he doesnt pee that much? If uric acid builds up in the kidneys, their function would be impaired, and peeing would be hindered. If stones formed, the area where they formed would be extremely painful. It was highly likely that Ming had this condition. If he left that untreated, even the pathway where the urine flows will be blocked with stones, so every time he has to go, he will experience pain akin to hell. Well, we cant really say, but maybe he already experienced that. Really? Li Yongs face stiffened, probably because he imagined the scenario, and Yui Mei solemnly nodded. Gout is attained because of gluttony and heavy drinking. Really, everything must be in moderation. I cant believe that the rumored tngfng illness is something like this. Li Yong could only shake his head as he muttered oh goodness, but the story was far from over. Furthermore, based on Lord Mings body odor that reeks of alcohol, it is possible that he might even have another illness along with it. Even reeking of alcohol is an illness? When Yui Mei mentioned another sickness, the words theres more? was written all over Li Yongs face, so she nodded once again. Yes, its an illness. If he was healthy, then he wouldnt stink to this extent. Too much drinking could also impair liver function. If the liver is impaired, the body wont be able to get rid of the alcohol from the body, and as a result, the body will adjust by disposing of it as sweat. Thats why he reeked much more than normal. It was alreadying from inside his body, so a bath wouldnt solve it. The color drained from the old womans face when she heard all of this. She posed another question for Yui Mei. Ahm, is Master suffering from a severe illness? Yes, it is a sort of a grave illness, but it is possible to heal him. Yui Mei answered. She was concerned about the extent of damage to the liver, but it doesnt seem to be the worst yet. Really!? Relief washed over the old woman. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 109: What About Dinner!? Chapter 109: What About Dinner!? It was good that Li Yong and the old woman were made to understand Mings condition. However, the most crucial thing here was to exin the situation to the person himself. Ming was totally wasted and fast asleep with no signs of waking up. Ahm, so what should the Master do from now on? It was the old woman who asked in his stead. First, the most important thing for him now is to stop drinking, buthmmm. Yui Mei said that while looking at Ming. Isnt that impossible, in this case? Li Yong bluntly expressed Yui Meis worry as he stood beside her. Yes, you have a point, Master just turns a deaf ear to all my advice. The old woman also heaved a sigh of frustration. Ming must be a pig-headed person, seeing as how everyone thought it was impossible. But then, wasnt it said that he didnt like drinking before? He seemed to be drinking heavily, so maybe he is an alcohol addict? People like that were also usually affected by mental stress, but was that the case for Ming, too? The old woman seemed to hint at it too, with the way she was speaking. Yui Mei decided to ask Yang about this. There was nothing more they could do for today. It seems like this person will just continue sleeping at this rate, so maybe we should call it a day? Yeah, thats better. It isnt good for us to stay thiste. Li Yong agreed to Yui Meis proposal. It was alreadyte when they found Ming at the pub, so the sky had long since darkened by this time. Huh!? Then in that case! Yui Mei suddenly realized something important. What about my dinner!? Dont tell me I already missed it!? The old woman was shocked when Yui Mei suddenly shrieked, while Li Yong looked stunned. I thought something happened, so it was just that, huh. What do you mean by just that! Yui Mei retorted and grumbled when Li Yong just treated her words lightly. It was not an exaggeration to say that Yui Mei lived for her meals. For her, it was already a huge problem is she missed dinner, which was considered as one of her precious meals. No way, dont tell me I have to wait until morning with a rumbling stomach!? If she had known earlier, then she wouldve bought something to eat while they were still in the Outer City. At that time, she wanted to finish Yangs matter first, so she refrained from making a detour. She didnt expect that it would backfire on her You can just eat it now. Ah, but the courtdys kitchen closes early, so even if you went there now, theres probably nothing left. On the other hand, its too troublesome to return to the Outer City just to eat. Then, do you want to go to the imperial guards ce? Im sure they still have something over there. Li Yong made an unexpected suggestion. The imperial guards kitchenmessroom where is it? Its at the end of the Outer Court. Its in the corner of the building used by the Imperial Guards. Its not that far from here. Ahm, is it okay for me to go there? Well, theres no rule forbidding outsiders. The imperial guards dining hall was unexpectedly nearby, and even Yui Mei could enter. Because of that, Yui Mei suddenly felt curious about that ce. What kind of menu did they have? She was pretty sure that there were no female knights in this world, so did that mean it was different from the courtdys dining hall in that they only served mens meal? By the way, the reasondies were forbidden to be knights didnt lie in gender inequality, but because the Inner Harem decided that it wouldnt be good if the emperor and the crown prince would develop a rtionship between man and woman with their female knights, since they were spending time close to each other. Anyway. I want to go to the imperial guards dining hall Yui Mei rose from being depressed into extremely excited in the blink of an eye, so Li Yong chuckled, saying that was fast, you changed your mind, huh. Alright, were going to the Outer Court. Thanks, weve disturbed you. Sorry for the disturbance. Once that was settled, they decided to move immediately and leave Mings mansion. No, we are grateful that you send Master home. Thank you very much. The old woman had been perplexed when the two suddenly engaged in a lively discussion, but she still sent them off. She then mumbled to herself when she couldnt see the figures of Li Yong and Yui Mei anymore. Now that I think about it, I feel like Ive seen that girl somewhere before? But then, when was it Yui Mei had no idea about what the old woman said. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 110: I Can Go Anywhere for the Sake of Food Chapter 110: I Can Go Anywhere for the Sake of Food Yui Mei and Li Yong headed towards the imperial guards dining hall in order to have their dinner. Yui Mei donned her trusty headscarf before they entered the Outer Court. She removed it earlier so that she wouldnt stand out too much. You never know where someone might be! The night was dark so it was supposedly okay even if she was seen, but she still wore it just in case. She didnt know if a person like the perverted, hair-cutting prince she encountered before was lurking somewhere nearby. Finally, Li Yong led her to the imperial guards building, and true enough, it was at the edge of the Outer Court. Bigwigs would gather here for some chit chat from time to time, so the design was different from that of the courtdies lodging house. In the first ce, imperial guards were not stay-in unlike the courtdies, so there was no reason for them to gather around to have their meals together at the same time. On the other hand, the imperial guards worked on a shift basis, and someone would be working , so there was no way they could follow the twice-a-day meal schedule. Thus, they would basically prepare the meals even untilte at night, and even if they went there now, there would still be meals avable. This way. Li Yong led Yui Mei into the building. The first thought that came across her mind the moment she set her foot in was Uh, the air reeks of mensomehow.. She probably felt this way because she had been spending almost all her time surrounded with women ever since she came to the capital. It wasnt clear if the lights were turned off. Although there was a faint light, it was predominantly dim inside the building, and it was quite eerie. Combined with the stench of mens sweat, the atmosphere gave Yui Mei an explicable feeling. After finally getting through that agony, she could see a bright space at the end of the hallway. A delicious aroma wafted through the air, so that must be the dining hall. Wow, its pretty neat in here. Hey, just what kind of impression do you have of an imperial guard, huh? Yui Mei unwittingly mumbled her true thoughts, so Li Yong retorted. Ah, no, well, think about it, youre all men, right? Yui Mei replied ambiguously with augh. Cleaning and being able to keep things tidy and orderly didnt really depend on the gender, but based on Yui Meis observation in her previous world and in this world, too, there was a tendency for a ce to be dirty if it was filled with only men. The hall was reeking with mens body odor, and it cant be helped that I think of this ce as such, right? Yui Mei honestly said. Li Yong raised a brow, and replied with Yeah. Holding my breath when walking down that hallway became my habit, I guess. The stench leaks out from the storerooms, so thats why it is so stinky. They shouldve just washed the weapons right away instead of piling them. Thats dangerous, isnt it? Weird insects wille, you know, attracted to the smell, Im pretty sure of it. Yui Mei warned Li Yong as she looked around the dining hall. The imperial guards werent the only ones inside the hall. There were also eunuchs and civil officials here and there. She wondered whether they came here for a reason, and were having their meals while at it. Some of them were drinking booze when she looked around, so they were probably having a drink after work. They dont have to go out of their way to the Outer City if they can drink here. What a good thing to do Yui Mei was amazed, when suddenly Hey, Li Yong, its rare for you to bring a woman here, huh! Somebody called out from the side. When she turned around, a brawny, huge man wearing simple clothes was standing in front of them before she noticed it. Yui Mei was dumbfounded as she raised her head to look up at the bear-like man, when suddenly, the bear man grabbed her head. And its an unfamiliar chick, to boot. Wa-wait, youre too strong, too strong!! The bear man turned her face from side to side vigorously, and Yui Mei desperately clutched the hood on her head because it was about to fall off. I took her outside because of an errand, but we missed dinner. Sheined about it too much, so I brought her along with me here. Li Yong respectfully replied to the bear man. Based on the way he phrased things, Yui Mei seemed like a glutton and that irritated her, but she couldnt mutter anyints because it was true that itd be painful if she had to remain hungry. I see, I get it now, thats also possible, huh! If youre hungry you cant swing the sword, and youre going to die on the battlefield if you have a stick for a body! The bear man continued pressing Yui Meis head, but it felt like her back would break so she wanted him to stop. Besides, Yui Mei would only get fat if she ate a lot more than usual, and she didnt have any ns of going to the battlefield. However, she understood that the bear man didnt stop her from eating a meal at this dining hall, so she hurriedly bowed her head and scampered away from his hand. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 111: Meeting the Bear Chapter 111: Meeting the Bear Chapter 111 Meeting the Bear Nevertheless, that bear man must be his superior, based on Li Yongs attitude. Yui Mei wondered who had the higher position between him and Ming, whom they met just earlier. She was curious about it, being the Chinese drama fanatic that she was, but right now, satisfying her hungry stomach took precedence. The way they used the cafeteria was the same as the courtdies. Yui Mei thought she might as well taste their specialty dish since she was already here. She went to the chef in the kitchen to inquire about it. I rmend the meatball soup for today. A young guy who was not much older than Yui Mei answered. He was probably the same age as her and had juste of age. Yui Mei wanted topare the seasoning of the soup with the ones served to the courtdies, so she could tell Mei Na all about it. Todays a hit, it seems. I can smell something delicious. Li Yongs words bothered Yui Mei a bit. Was there such a thing as hit or miss in a cafeteria? What kind of cook do you have here? The gathered courtdies were divided and assigned to their jobs. How about here? What kind of talents gathered in this ce? The cook was apparently a novice, low-ranking soldier. The head chef was a great veteran, but the people under him frequently changed. The taste changes depending on the skills of the neer. The veteran watches over him, so it wont taste bad, but it wont be delicious, either. But it seems were in luck today. It made sense. Yui Mei thought about the chefs in charge of preparing the sumo wrestlers meals. She heard that the taste of the dishes was also influenced by the skill of the person preparing them. But why do they have to do it that way? Its part of the camping n. If we dont train the soldiers to cook, then we wont have a choice but to gnaw on jerky and dried sweet potato during expeditions. I get it now, so its important training, too. All the same, they wouldnt be able to let all the novices experience this, but they could give precedence to those who seemed to have the potential. They got their meals while talking, then they went to a table and sat down. The baozi was filled with sweet yet spicy meat. She would probably be full just by dipping it into the soup and eating it. Li Yong also ordered stir fried meat in addition to this. As expected of an all male household, all the rmendations were about meat. Yeah, it really varies depending on the cafeteria, I guess. Well, the difference between the courtdies dining hall must be pretty hugepared to here. Li Yong agreed with Yui Mei, whose eyes were twinkling as she passionately stared at the dish before them. The first difference was the size. The meatballs in the soup were hugepared to theirs. Perhaps it was because of the difference in palm size, but it was so big that her mouth would be full to bursting if she were to eat it whole. Yui Mei watched Li Yong stuff his mouth with a whole piece while she split hers in half. She thought the dishes would be hearty because it was a dish geared towards men. Much to her surprise, the meatballs had a soft mouthfeel, and she unwittingly broke into a huge grin. The nights were cold ever since the autumn season started, so the warmth of the soup soothed her body. So memifious. Swallow first before you speak, you might choke on that. Yui Mei had wanted to express her impression immediately, but she got a lesson from Li Yong instead. He supposedly stuffed a lot more food in his mouth, but it seemed that he already swallowed them all did he even chew them properly? But then, he must be as hungry as Yui Mei. Both of them were starved, so they shouldnt be nagging each other about such things. Yui Mei ate the baozi next, and was immediately immersed in pure bliss. Wow, youre a girl who eats with such relish, huh. The bearman from earlier said this as he sat down at the table next to Yui Meis. The Crown Princes attendant and a low-ranking courtdy, huh. What a strangebo. How did you end up together? The bear man poured himself some booze into the cup he was holding and gulped it down. Madam Yang asked me to take this girl to Lord Ming. She wanted her to meet him. Oh? So you went to Mings? He casually said Mings name, so he was probably somebody with a higher status than him; nevertheless, Yui Mei didnt stop eating her soup. Eating warm food while it was still warm that was the proper etiquette, after all. T/N: Sorry for the superte post, I was a bit exhausted from work so I took a nap didnt think it would turn into a deep sleep of several hours. (O.O) Wondering how I would be able to sleep again now T.T Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 112: The Bear is a Distinguished Person Chapter 112: The Bear is a Distinguished Person Actually, rather than saying we went to his house, its more urate to say we captured him in a pub. HahHe is still the same as ever, huh. The bear guy heaved a deep sigh when he heard Li Yong, and it sounded like the groan of a bear. Still, there was no hint regarding the identity of the bear man in their conversation. Ahm, excuse me, may I know who this esteemed person is? Yui Mei gulped her food, then softly whispered. Li Yong was taken aback. Oh, didnt I tell you? This is General Li, of Defense. His status was totally unexpected. Yui Mei heard about this General of Defense, but wasnt he the strongest person in the present military troops? There were higher ranked military positions such as suprememander during times of crisis such as wars, but because the present era was peaceful, the army was directly under the emperors control. spearheaded that army, so he was considered to have the highest position in the military. The current emperor wasnt interested in expanding his territories by raid and invasion, so that meant he didnt receive any special positions. Yui Mei naturally knew about these things thanks to the information from the gossipy courtdies who dreamed of marrying into wealth. They would talk about the most sessful people with great gusto even without being asked. This man, who was supposedly at the pinnacle of the army, was casually pouring himself a drink and gulping it down right before Yui Meis eyes. Yui Mei was more shocked than when she met the emperor for the first time. At any rate, she already expected that she would sooner orter bump into him if she was fortunate enough, because the Inner Pce was his home. However, people would only meet generals in the battle-field, wasnt that so? So what was this person doing here, d in the garb of an ordinary soldier? Yui Mei was flustered, and she hurriedly tried to pay her respects to this unexpectedly distinguished person. However, she was holding the soup bowl on one hand and the baozi on the other, and they were in the way, so she became even more flustered on her own. Calm down, put your food on the table first. Dont be too formal, Im just an ordinary drunkard here. The bear man General Li waved his hand as he said that, as if to cover up Li Yongs advice. Yui Mei put the soup bowl on the table promptly, then she timidly asked General Li. Ahm, pardon me for asking, but may I know what are you, a distinguished person, being the General of Defense, doing here? He couldve drank wine in a better ce instead of the cafeteria for the ordinary soldiers. It might be weird saying this, but the liquor here was the cheap kind. General Li grinned, as if he read Yui Meis mind as she wondered about it. Hey, for booze, it doesnt really matter what youre drinking, but who youre drinking it with, you know? If I go outside to drink good wine, the guys will go Lord General, Lord General nonstop. Too noisy. He had a point there. Apparently, different kinds of people would flock over him, and he didnt like that. So youre popr, Lord General? Yui Mei wanted to confirm. Li Yong nodded. In the capital, yes. The only guys who dont know anything are those who just came from the country like you. It seemed that Yui Meis country bumpkin background was exposed because she didnt know who the general was. It was the truth, and there was nothing to be ashamed of, so Yui Mei didnt care. So? Who are you,ss? In the end, General Li also asked about her, but Yui Mei didnt want to introduce herself as much as possible to the higher-ups. She wasnt sure about the persons connections, and her personal history might be discovered. I am just a humble person not worthy of naming myself before you, Lord General, but just as you said earlier, I am indeed a low-ranking courtdy. Yui Mei thus exined, and Li Yong didnt have anyints like How can you be so rude!. General Li, on the other hand, seemed to have thought of something, because he leaned closer to peer on her face. The feeling of being in the presence of a bear became stronger when he drew his face closer to hers. General Li suddenly hit his knee. Hoh? Dont tell me, are you the girl Ive been hearing so much abouttely, the one who always raises a ruckus? What a weird revtion to make. Did I ever make a ruckus? Me? Im sure you do. Li Yong answered Yui Meis question with no hesitation whatsoever. T/N: Hello, sorry for thete post! Very busy with work ? Will resume with the thrice weekly posting of Hundred Blossom Pce since we already caught up with all the missed chapters ? Thank you so much <> Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 113: Rapport with the Bear Chapter 113: Rapport with the Bear General Li permitted her to go ahead and eat while the dishes are still hot, so Yui Mei resumed eating without holding back. So, why does thisssie have to meet Ming? It wasnt a matter that must be kept a secret, so Yui Mei answered General Lis simple question frankly. Its for a medical examination. Im quite knowledgeable about medicinal arts, but Im not a physician, so Aunty Yang thought that he wouldnt drive me out. Ohh. General Li raised his voice in admiration after hearing her exnation. Thats a rare skill for a courtdy. Hey, if you work as a physicians attendant, youre going to be stackin loot for sure. Yui Mei was about to sink her teeth into the baozi when she heard it. She grimaced. I dont want a job like that. I like my current job! She firmly made her stand known, just in case General Li identally made a rmendation for her. All of them were saying the same thing, but rather than raking in money, she wanted to live while enjoying her hobbies in this world. She had great pride in her profession as a nurse in her previous world, but she no longer wanted to work as if she was dedicating her entire life to her job like before. General Li was shocked at Yui Meis determination. Huh, what a strangess. Oh well, not that it matters. So? How is Ming, based on your observations? Can he still return to being an imperial guard? General Li changed the subject from Yui Mei to Ming. Recovery is possible if he will stop drinking liquor. General Li raised his brow when Yui Mei stressed the word liquor. Liquor, huh. Well, that guys way of drinking aint fun, true enough. General Li gulped a mouthful of booze, then he lifted his eyes to the ceiling. His expression was quite strange concern and sadness blended on his face. Ahm, I dont really know much about it, but may I know the reason? Why does Lord Ming drink like that? Li Yong inquired beside them. Ah~ General Li groaned after a while, then he turned his gaze towards Li Yong. Its not like I can say something about this, but to sum it up, its regret. But its not his fault, the one at fault was Nah, lets stop here. Seems like I drank too much. General Li stood up and left with those words. Li Yong and Yui Mei stared at his retreating back, before exchanging nces. Any idea what that was about? Nah, honestly, I dont have any inkling either. Both of them were puzzled. Yui Mei decided to finish her meal first since theres nothing they could do about it no matter how much they wrack their brains, then she headed home. It should be fine even if she did the reporting to Yang tomorrow, instead. Yui Mei was tired after walking around at night for the first time in a while, but she was still lively when morning came. She went to the dining hall to have some breakfast. Mei Na was apparently on her day off, since she was sitting on a table, beckoning Yui Mei toe over. Yui Mei got her breakfast first before heading towards Mei Na. By the way, the meal was chicken meat and lotus dumpling soup, and steamed lily bulbs with mushrooms. It was the first harvest of the lily bulbs for this season. She couldnt help butpare the meal to the soupst night. Good morning, I heard you went out yesterday? Mei Na immediately asked and Yui Mei nodded. Yes, I was on an errand for Aunty Yang. Listen! We missed our dinner because of that, so we slipped into the imperial guards dining hall! Heh! What was it like over there? Mei Na seemed interested at the other dining hall as she leaned closer to Yui Mei, who then exined the ce animatedly. Oh, so the kitchen is also part of their training.The soldiers also have it rough, huh. Yup. Also, both the cook and the diner must be miserable if you went there to eat and its a miss. The two of them were excitedly talking about such things when Yang suddenly appeared. You guys, what a lively bunch, so early in the morning. Good morning, Aunty Yang. Yui Mei greeted her, and she said Yeah, good morning in return. Sorry for keeping you sotest night, Xiao Mei. So, how was it? Yang sat down beside Mei Na as she inquired. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 114: Another Request Chapter 114: Another Request Yui Mei recalled Mings condition yesterday. We did see Lord Ming, but he was in a pub, totally wasted and asleep. Conversation was impossible. Is that so? Seems like he has be a lot worsepared to how I know him. Aunty Yang sighed. However, I did manage to check him. His illness stems from drinking too much liquor. He will get well if he changes his lifestyle into a normal one, and if he abstains from alcohol. Yui Mei stated the essential points, and Aunty Yang was relieved to hear that. Alcohol, huh. Hes not really into alcohol from the start, so even if hes a drunkard, he probably didnt enjoy it as much. What are you talking about, is it Yangs friend? Yang seemed a bit gloomy as she said that. Mei Na was sitting beside her, so she curiously asked. She could interject without any reserve, probably because thats her personality. Yang didnt have anything to hide, so she exined readily. Yeah, this guy came from the same region as me, and both of us entered the capital at around the same time. We did have a good friendship, but recently, I heard nasty rumors about him so I wanted to check his situation. From Yangs words, Yui Mei learned something new that she didnt hear about yesterday. So Lord Ming is your contemporary from the same vige? Oh, I didnt tell you about it? Well, you can say that, since I started working at the Inner Pce, and he started his job as a soldier at the same time. Yang seemed to reminisce as she said those words, and it made Yui Mei think. The olddy in Mings mansion said that she had been the one who changed his nappies. In that case, Ming had been living with servants at the very least, so he probably came from a wealthy family. She deduced that Yang also came from a good family, because she was acquainted with Ming. In that case, then Yang didnt enter the Inner Pce to work as a courtdy, but to be a maid? If thats what happened, then there was also a possibility that they were in a rtionship. Yui Meis mind was filled with such guesses, but then, there was no point in it. Its just that her addiction to Chinese dramas made her want to pry into it. On the other hand, Mei Nas thoughts had also taken a different turn. Hey, is that guy a bachelor, by any chance? I think so, theres only an elderly woman taking care of the house, and I didnt see anyone who seemed to be his madam. I see, I see, well, its easy for a bachelor guy to indulge in booze. Mei Na also thought the same thing that Yui Mei consideredst night. If hes the same age as Yang, then he must be pretty old, huh. If hes an imperial guard then he should be popr among the women, so maybe hes a guy with some kind of problem? Mei Na tilted her head in confusion, while Yang heaved another deep sigh. Well, if its a problem, then yes, he has one. Hes still harboring regrets from the past no matter what. So, Xiao Mei, I have another favor to ask. What is it? Yui Mei had a feeling that she already knew what Yang would say, but she still asked. And Yangs reply was You can take the day off, so can you go to that guys house, and properly ask him about his body condition? Oh, can you stop him from going out to drink while youre at it? Im not saying you have to go alone, Im going to prepare someone to help you. It was exactly as Yui Mei thought, and it made her wonder. Why would Yang go to such an extent for that Ming guy? Was being contemporaries from the same vige enough reason to go this far? Its a different story if they are rtives, but at the end of the day, even if they were from the same vige, shes still an outsider Yui Mei herself probably wouldnt bother this much. Well, she was aware that she was a nosy, meddlesome person, and that she wanted to help the people around her as much as possible, but she wouldnt go so far as meddle in the business of people who were out of her sight. She had to set the boundaries, or else there wouldnt be an end to it. In that case, maybe Yang didnt consider Ming to be outside her scope, even if he already took a break and had be a drunkard? Aunty Yang, why do you have to go this far for Lord Ming? Yui Mei asked frankly. Aunty Yang closed her eyes, then replied. I figured its high time he woke up from his dream. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 115: Bear Appeared Again Chapter 115: Bear Appeared Again And so it was decided. This day turned into a day-off for Yui Mei, and in return, she was to visit Ming in his mansion this morning. At any rate, it was a good thing that he had someone like Yang to worry about him. There were times when a person might think that the people worrying about him or her were too nosy, but in the end, they would also be the inspiration to strive to be better. On the other hand, solitude was actually a scary thing, because it might be the root cause of worsening illness. Yui Mei vowed to do all she could in order to ensure that this concern of Yang would properly get across to Ming. Still, who will help me today, I wonder? Yang told her that she would send someone to go along with her today, too. Yui Mei thought that it would probably be Li Yong again as she headed towards the Quianqing gate that they passed through yesterday. Oh there you are! hey! Lassie! The familiar bear man stood near the gate, waving his hand. HUH!? Yui Mei was startled, and she froze on her tracks. It was General Li, the person she just metst night was he the aid Yang referred to? No way, he was considered to be the strongest soldier here, so it was impossible that he would apany such a low ranking courtdy as her, even as a joke. However, Yui Mei couldnt think of any other reason why General Li would be cheerfully waving his hand at her. Yui Mei was standing still while General Li vigorously waved his hand it was quite a spectacle even from a distance, so the nearby soldiers guarding the gate couldnt help but throw strange nces at them. This couldnt go on as it was, so Yui Mei reluctantly approached General Li. Ahm, pardon me for asking, but why is General Li here? Yui Mei timidly asked, and was answered with a bright smile from General Li. Im here to apany you. So its true!? Her bad premonition came true. Nevertheless, who on earth had chosen such a conspicuous person to be herpanion? It couldnt have been Yang, for sure. What happened to Li Yong, aka Libin, who had seemed to be Yui Meispanion by default ever since? I actually thought Li Yong woulde with me again. When Yui Mei mumbled, General Liughed hard. You two get along well, dont you. The higher-ups told me about it, so I volunteered. Its bad for the Crown Prince if we keep on recruiting Li Yong, right.. She wondered how Li Yong felt when General Li arbitrarily acknowledged that they were chums. He had always thought of her as a weird woman, so he must have been filled withplex emotions, for sure. Aside from that, Yui Mei already knew that Li Yong was a busy guy, but that didnt mean General Li would have a lot of time on his hands. Moreover, he mentioned that the higher-ups told him. There was no way Yang would be above General Li, so where did he get this story? Aunty Yang, really, who on earth did you ask to be mypanion!? Yui Mei was actually shocked that mysterious persons were assigned to be near her. Moreover, there was this bear guy that volunteered toe here. Ahm, is this really okay with you, Sir? Im going to make you work hard, you know? Yui Mei asked as if challenging him. General Li broadly grinned in return. Thats fine by me, though? If its just strength then I have more than enough. Really, I dont want that Ming guy dwelling on this for too long, its also worrying me. General Li wouldnt back down, it seemed. And so, Yui Mei headed towards Mings mansion with the person standing at the greatest soldier in tow. They passed through dark roadsst night, so Yui Mei was lost and didnt know where to go. General Li guided her and they briskly walked on. Once they reached the mansion, she was again at a lost, but General Li led her straight to the back door. Oh, its you, so youre here again? The old woman they met yesterday peeked from the door, and was surprised to see Yui Mei. Yes. I had been tasked to prevent Lord Ming from drinking so early in the morning. Hey, Granny, so youre still alive? The narrow door covered General Lis figure, so he poked his head from the side while Yui Mei and the old woman talked. Oh my, if it isnt General Li, its been a long time. The old woman was startled to see General Li, but she didnt be overly respectful towards him. Now that she thought about it, Ming had been an outstanding person that even the generals recognized. Still, General Li and Ming must be good friends, given that he even knew where the back door was, and was even acquainted with the servants. They smoothly entered Mings mansion. Yui Mei and General Li were guided towards Mings bedroom. Ming had just woken up, cking off inside. Yui Mei was pretty much still a maiden, so she preferred not to see a middle-aged guy who just woke up, but she had to endure for Yangs sake. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Master apparently had a great nights sleep since he was properly lying down on his bed. Hisplexion and mood are both great this morning. The old woman chattered while leading Yui Mei and General Li to the bedroom. The stench of alcohol started to cloy to their nostrils as they drew nearer. It seemed Ming was really here, but it was a bit unpleasant to be identified with that odor. He reeks, really turned into a booze- crazed guy, huh. This is a lot more severe than what Ive heard. General Li muttered. The old woman entered the room first and started talking to Ming. Master, the person who tended to youst night is back. Whaaat? Liii Yooong? A voice that was obviously Mings floated from inside the room. Yui Mei and Li Yong didnt introduce themselvesst night, but the old woman remembered his name when Yui Mei called out to him. . Unfortunately, it is not Li Yong. Thats when General Li barged in. Your Excellency!? Why are you here!? Ming blurted out in surprise. Unfortunately, General Li was standing in front of Yui Mei and she couldnt see what was going on. Nevertheless, she was curious about hisplexion since the old woman mentioned that it was better, so she poked her head out from behind General Li. Ming was sitting on the bed. He looked disheveled and listless as he nkly stared at General Li. Indeed, hisplexion was a lot betterpared to yesterday. Yup, as expected, sleep is essential. The moment Yui Mei nodded, her eyes met Mings. Suddenly, Mings eyes widened in shock, and all the color drained from his face, which rapidly turned as white as a sheet of paper. Yui Mei was also taken aback with such transformation. N-no way, Hui.!? He suddenly shrieked, and at the same time, he curled himself into a ball. Eh..eh? Sorry, forgive me!!! Yui Mei could only tilt her head in confusion at his strange behaviour, while Ming kept on screaming the same thing over and over again. Whats this, what happened? What is he talking about? General Li was also taken aback, so he asked, but Yui Mei could only shake her head, because she didnt have an inkling about this. Master, what happened!? The old woman shook Ming, but Ming only muttered sorry, sorry while tears streamed down his face. General Li had been observing the situation, but he eventually sighed deeply. Seems like nothing wille out of this. Lets go. Indeed. Yui Mei also agreed that they wouldnt be able to have a proper conversation, given how frightened the poor soul was. Oy, Ming, stop drinking for a while! Im watching you! General Li bellowed at the cowering Ming before leaving that ce. I am deeply sorry, even though you went out of your way to visit him. The old woman ran after them, bowing deeply in apology. Its fine, welle again. We will visit you again. General Li waved his hand in dismissal and Yui Mei smiled, then they left the mansion. Silence reigned between them for a while as they strode on. Theyhad turned a corner, and the mansion was no longer in sight, when General Li suddenly stopped and turned around. Pretty sure His Majesty will be depressed if he learned about Mings state. General Li reluctantly muttered. His Majesty the Emperor!? The sudden mention of the unexpected name gave Yui Mei a jolt. General Li rubbed his chin as he continued. That Ming was once His Majesty the Emperors favorite attendant. Yui Mei blinked in surprise when she heard that. Is that like how it is with Li Yong, the Crown Princes attendant? Well, something like that. General Li nodded. Yui Mei heard from Li Yong that Ming was so excellent that even the generals eyed him, but she didnt expect that he even caught the eye of the emperor himself. His Majesty had great faith in him, and he even made the shadow guards escort him. Thats the emperor regarded him highly and relied on him, then. Yui Mei responded to General Li with such words while thinking about the story the crown prince told her. He would take his favorite outside and they would travel incognito. There was also another point that bothered her. Hui, the name that Ming shouted earlierthat was Yui Meis mother in other words, it was Lady Zhangs former name. T/N: Ohh!! So Ming knew something about the past, huh? Maybe were going to learn more about what really happened to Lady Zhang. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading, Im grateful to you guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce schedule of release is every Mon, Wed and Fri. Please feel free to join us at our discord channel for release updates and more! Hope to see you there! We also have our Novel Updates page, if you enjoy what you are reading, feel free to leave a star rating and review, we appreciate it. Ill be releasing an extra chapter for every 25 ratings we receive, as my token of appreciation. I also finallyunched my patreon! If you enjoyed the chapters and feel like you want to read more, please feel free to drop by. ;D Currently, you can get 5 advance chapters. This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? MyKo-Fi page is also up! Please do check it out if you would like to support me as I strive to provide high quality, manually tranted chapters. Extra chapters will be released when Ko-fi goal is met! Thank you very much (deep bow)! Ill continue doing my best! Chapter 117: Thinking Makes Me Hungry Chapter 117: Thinking Makes Me Hungry Actually, aside from the same hair color they shared, Yui Mei and her mother didnt look exactly alike in terms of facial features and posture. Of course they were simr in that both of them were homely, and there were enough resemnce for people to see they were mother and daughter. ording to the nuns, the air is different, so they dont look alike at first nce, apparently. And yet, the fact that Ming called Yui Meis mother the moment he saw Yui Mei meant he must have known her well, even if he just based it on the color of her hair. Maybe Lord Ming watched over Mother and Fathers dates? Still, even if that was true, what on earth happened for him to apologize while calling her name? No matter how Yui Mei thought about it, she couldnt guess the answer. Mmm, thinking about a lot of things is making me hungry The brains main source of energy was sugar, so the sugar in her system probably wasnt enough now. Besides, because of a few things, Yui Mei had to walk quite a considerable distance to leave the Imperial Pce and head towards the Inner City. At any rate, the only carriages that run in the Imperial Pce belonged to the nobility, or else were carrying goods. There was no such thing as a horse-drawn carriage for themoners. Thus, the lowly people didnt have a choice but to walk inside the Imperial Pce, which was as big as an entire city. As such, Yui Mei definitely had to get her hands on some sweets in order to be more energetic. At any rate, she didnt have any jobs today, so she wouldnt receive any snacks. However, in order to obtain something sweet, she could only return to the Imperial Pce, or else go to the Outer City. She probably wont be permitted if she wanted to go to the Outer City. And so General Li, arent you hungry? Youre hungry, right!? Yui Mei desperately pleaded, trying to turn him into a fellow hungryrade. General Li chuckled. Haha, youre a glutton just like rumors say, huh. Alright, since were here, wanna go outside to get some grub? He unexpectedly approved the trip to the Outer City. So this bear man was a great bear. When they stepped into the Outer City, General Li didnt head towards the high end restaurants lined up along the main street, nor did he go to the pubs along the alley they went yesterday. He strode towards the marketce. Its a bit unexpected, but at the same time it feels like its just like him It was strange for a general to be there, but as a bear man, the marketce suited him like fish in the water. He was aplicated guy. ording to the bear man Eating in this kind of ce fits me more. Sitting in pretty restaurants is a bit He scratched his head while muttering those lines. Even if you say that, you still have to attend to meet and dine with people, right? Yui Mei pointed the obvious, but General Li scowled. Thats torture, you know, torture. I dont even remember what the food tastes like. Oh, in short, this bear man preferred the so-called junk foods. Yui Mei observed how the people in the marketce called out to him lightheartedly, saying Lord General, we have something delicious for you!, so General Li was probably a regr to this ce. They hunted for some sweets while conversing. Oh, arent you the girl from yesterday? Somebody called out to her from the side Eh? Yui Mei turned around to check if he was referring to her. Hey, who are you? However, General Li already stood in her way, and his huge, broad back hid the person from her sight. Perhaps the general was protecting her, but because he was both too tall and too broad, he already blocked her view. Yui Mei felt as if she had turned into a dwarf. At any rate, she wanted to check the person who called out to her, so she poked her head from behind General Li. The owner of the pub they went to yesterday was standing before them. Ahh, hello! Yeah, so its really you, I got a bit nervous thinking I might be mistaken. So youre with Lord General today, huh? The pub owner seemed relieved when Yui Mei waved her hand at him. It must have been really scary being intimidated by the bear man. General Li, this person owns the pub where Lord Ming was drinking himself to death yesterday! General Li backed down and stopped intimidating him when he heard Yui Meis exnation. Really, sorry then. Thanks, my subordinate was in your care. No, no. General Li lightly nodded, while the pub owner shook his head. Actually, we should be the one saying thanks. You helped us a lot by taking that customer with you. That customer didnt stop drinking for a long time. The pub owner seemed bothered while showing a strained smile. Chapter 118: Worrying with a Manju in One Hand Chapter 118: Worrying with a Manju in One Hand Eh, but arent you d with that? The more your patrons drink, the better it is for your business, aint it? General Li half teasingly remarked. The pub owner scratched his head, replying true enough if you put it that way. Still, its a pity for the wine to be drunk like that. Wine is also painstakingly created to be enjoyed, no? The pub owner uttered those words with sadness before heaving a sigh. He then continued on. But then, he will just leave and drink somewhere else if we nag him. Our pub is still a business, so theres no way we can tell him that were not going to sell any more liquor to him. And so, when he first came to us from another pub, we gave him a strong one to make him sleep faster. So thats what happened. Yui Mei felt inexplicable when she learned the backstory of Mings drunkennessst night. This person must have been worried about Ming whenever he wasted himself in booze. Ahh, sorry, I made the mood gloomy. The pub ownerughed brightly when he noticed that Yui Mei looked dejected. Nah, its fine, its just like you said. Also makes one want to stop folks from drinking if they cant drink wine appreciatively. General Li agreed with him, and Yui Mei also nodded her head. Thats right! If I see someone eating my beloved manju with a sour face like its something disgusting, it will also make me want to yell dont eat it for the rest of your life! to that person! Yui Mei dered, and the pub owner happilyughed. Yeah, yeah, I also hope that that guest will also understand this feeling, ah. The pub owner replied, then he suddenly pped his hands, saying Oh, right. Speaking of manju, the shop straight ahead sells delicious manju, so Ive heard. Ooohh! Yui Meis interest was piqued when she heard his rmendation. She wanted to check it out. And so, Yui Mei and General Li headed towards the aforementioned store after parting with the pub owner. Ah, that must be it? Yui Mei pointed to a crowded store. Hoh, rumors must be true that its delicious seeing how many people gathered there? General Li seemed interested, too, so both of them lined up in front of the store. Wee, these are todays manju! Yellow manju were disyed in front of the lively shopkeeper. Is something kneaded into it? Yup. Yui Mei asked, and the shopkeeper nodded his head. I kneaded some gourd into it. Gourd, huh.. Even though he said it was gourd, that nt had a lot of varieties. Yui Mei was curious about the taste, so she bit into the manju. She immediately recognized it with a single bite. This taste, its definitely squash! Indeed, squash, as it was called in her previous world, was kneaded into this manju. There were several kinds of gourds that resembled squash in this world, but they were often eaten for their seeds, not their fruits. And yet, here it was, a rare kind of manju with squash in it. She could really taste the vor of squash, and it was quite tasty. This is the gourd harvested in the south, right? Isnt it unusual to use the fruit instead of the seeds? Wow, you know a lot about it. The shopkeeper widened his eyes as he answered Yui Meis question. Yep, youre right. Getting only the seeds and throwing the rest of the fruit seem wasteful, and I thought that maybe its edible, so I tried a few things until it turned out like this. It was a magnificent trial and error experiment. Yui Mei wished he would continue on until he developed dishes made from squash. Yui Mei also loved pies and puddings made from squash in her previous life. When Yui Meis belly was finally bulging with all those manju, she started to think anew. Still, seems like my moms the catalyst, huh. Yui Mei didnt know anything about her mother aside from the nuns stories about her, so she didnt have a concrete idea about what really happened. Additional information had been trickling to her recently, but the general gist still remained the same. However, now that it hade to this, Yui Mei had that feeling of wanting to know no, it was as if there was the urge to know what kind of life her mother led inside the Inner Pce. At the very least, she wanted to know what Ming was worrying about when he desperately apologized while calling her mothers name. If her mother was the reason why Ming turned to alcohol as a form of escapism, then she should help him all the more. It would only make her depressed if she didnt do that.. Hmmm, who on earth can I consult about this.. Yui Mei mumbled, then she sank her teeth on the manju again while wearing a bothered expression all the while. General Li looked amused as he stared at her. - T/N: Just taking a moment to appreciate how down to earth this Bear General is, coz I forgot toment that in the earlier chaps ? Big Uncle Bear ? Chapter 119: I Want to Hear All About It! Chapter 119: I Want to Hear All About It! Yui Mei returned to the Inner Pce after filling her belly, and she went to Yang to report. Wee back, Xiao Mei, how was it? That is Yui Mei first recounted her shock when she saw General Li waiting for her at the gate. Oh my, General Li, what in the world is he Yangs face was twitching, so she probably didnt expect this, too. Ahm, Aunty Yang, so youre not the one who asked him? Yang stiffened when Yui Mei asked that. As if I had the means to do that! I only asked somebody else if they can prepare a person who can go with you, thats all. Yang seemed to have a headacheing as she replied. Who on earth did she ask that it would reach General Lis ears? She wanted to ask, but had the feeling that she shouldnt it was perplexing. Okay. So, I managed to meet Lord Ming when he was awake. Unfortunately, he was terribly frightened, so we couldnt talk properly to him. What was that guy doing Aunty Yang exhaled heavily when she heard what Yui Mei said. So, it was a useless trip, huh. Sorry, Yui Mei. Yang apologized. Ahm, in this case, I cant help but be bothered about why Lord Ming was so terrified. Yui Mei didnt n on telling Yang that Ming called out her mothers name. Actually, Yui Mei felt that it would be better for her to just forget about what happened for the sake of peace from hereon, but no matter what, she couldnt let go of it even if she wanted to erase it from her memories. Regardless, it was difficult to say Please tell me! out loud, so she tried asking that, albeit hesitantly. Aunty Yang stared at her intently. Do you want to know? Yui Meis heart skipped a beat as she looked at Yangs intense gaze, and she nodded. Yes, I want to know. Otherwise, wont it look like Im some kind of demoness for scaring such a huge grown man like that! Yui Mei stressed those words out. Yangs expression softened. You really are an unshakeablessie, arent you. Alright then, theres someone who knows all about the details. If you want to know the story, then I can arrange for you to meet that person. Yang said those words, then she stared into Yui Meis eyes. You really want to know? .! Yes, please! Yui Mei replied with great gusto before bowing. And so, it was decided that Yang would setup a meeting between Yui Mei and that person in the evening of the next day. The period after dinner was considered Yui Meis free time, but that person was only avable at that time, apparently. It was already sunset and the autumn wind was chilly, but Yui Mei endured it as she stepped into the buildings shadow. She was at the corridors nook where they were supposed to meet. Sorry for the wait, Xiao Mei. Yang came, apanied by someone. That person was looking down as he walked towards them. He was probably the one who would talk to her. He was d in the garb of an eunuch. Yui Mei wondered about his rtionship with Lord Ming, so she trained her eyes on him. How strange, I feel like Ive met this guy somewhere before That thought suddenly crossed Yui Meis mind. Still, it was not a very familiar face, and she had a feeling that she only met him a handful of times. However, Yui Meis circle of acquaintances wasnt that wide, and Libin was the only eunuch that she knew. And also Doctor Chen. So, other than those two, which eunuch did she work with, enough for her to remember that face? Hmm~. Yui Mei hmmd, and the eunuch raised his head when he heard that. Her stomach dropped the moment their eyes met. Blue eyes stared back at her. She realized just who this person was. No way, His Majesty the Emperor!? Yui Mei was frozen solid because of the shock, and she even forgot to bow. She didnt immediately notice that he was the emperor because he didnt have a beard. In this world, the beard was treated as the proof of manliness. Commoners usually shaved their beards because it was too troublesome, but the elites would grow them. However, young men should have to be careful not to grow their beards because they would be considered pompous if they did. And yet, would the emperor, who was considered to be the person standing at the pinnacle of this country, shave his beard and impersonate a eunuch? - T/N: Lol at thest sentence.. I mean, why not? haha :3 ( not a spoiler, just imagining the things this Doting Daddy Emperor could do, all for the love of his daughter Yui Mei :D) How nice it would be. I remember seeing a post about a dad who wore a mermaid costume for his daughters birthday so they could be matchy-matchy. Salute to these awesome dads ? Chapter 105: Chapter 105: the Legend was a ssic series that a a fairly simple structure. It world and the demons who opposed this point, but in the followed a very traditional clich, consisting demon Mahwa of fresher such a name that made about it. It was because they Yo-Ma Great War abination of the said that by picking only bloomed and by were called Mahwa, name if you think about it expired milk and get settled on the out of it. out of it too. They absorbed of everything like leeches and parasites but the worst thing became they humans. Isnt that right, right, animals and by the bodies. Even more nice if we could have the Mahwa first appeared, everyone thought encroached on it Seeing of to a by there young man was killed really his have been because of the After killing their energy, took over their bodies. their identity to arge-scale were unless from a high priest. So it and hunt But why are you talking the one who was sensitive those who were still humans, those and those who had to be terrible kind of enjoyed the game had no way urgency to make their backs was extreme cases, time they were able to save really a together to fight them Eventually, Mahwas distinguish were able to their fertility rate by Bernard studied with his friends, but was because Bernard, a genius alchemist, and the same reason Bernard appeared two alchemists with Leo Arpeta, the reason, Yo-Ma Great War 2 was great that Evan why couldnt you head as it was starting He coughed for to differentiate among them, it kill them all. Moreover, in the process of persuading the Silkline King able to in some way The real problem continent or more precisely, Hoomi, located to the fertilend and country responsible for exchanges, the people of each country had improved greatly because the production the worst was because of Escarotti. more the Mahwa Oh! Bernard just said, havent even met world is already over. Its not Queen. I caught what a detective Demon after eating somehow sent back, and the Rose the Queens Ah sigh. that in the the current heroes the storyline, as he better unfair as to how Bernard and let the next generation take this and me I have done my best. They that Mahwa would again, and even the priests. effective. Otherwise, for found it one day continent. The Oh Yes, the vast majority the development of the upon seeing Evans reaction and spoke because so badly The fertility of If I say this, you will began to erode only monsters. The great King had already us remains, and he exined the matter so a serious one of the humanity if it event that showed room for of mankind will be about the future, Ie in contact with variant. Moreover, as it this, Evan the only was. story must be his problems. This damn world say there is something you want ask about the strains. myself about this every time, of Yo-Ma Great War to respond as if do his Evan could still was why he didnt doubt help You? there was no information Evan had umted so hoax. Just to study the Elixir, he who also hard. I also want to now, itll help us in In fact, this is the most whatever you end,ughing. happy exterior but knew was worried. However, anything decided was concerned was really need to know, you flicked Evan on the forehead Chapter 120: Eunuch Du Chapter 120: Eunuch Du Was the man who appeared here the emperor himself, or was he just a eunuch that looked exactly like him? Yui Mei wasnt sure about this, so she peeked at Yang in an attempt to find the answer, but the woman just turned her head and wouldnt meet her eyes. Aunty Yang, you wont help me!? Yui Mei imploringly stared at Yang, when the eunuch suddenly cleared his throat. I am Du Jun. Are you the person who wants to know the story of Ming Yong? The eunuch said while smiling amicably. Hmmm, which is it? Yui Mei only heard the emperor in a sullen voice, but she couldnt help but think that if he were to speak in a clear and cheerful manner, then this would be his voice. Since she couldnte up with the answer no matter how hard she tried, it couldnt be helped that she was searching for hidden meanings, right? At the very least, even if it was the emperor himself, he came here looking like a eunuch. In that case, no matter how suspicious he looked, he was a eunuch now. It was just like the case with Libin, if she thought about it carefully. Oh, so thats how it is! It was as if a heavy burden was lifted the moment she realized this. This eunuch was a person who happened to have the exact same face as the emperor if he donned his beard. So even if Yui Mei treated him as such, she probably wont be scolded. Once the answer came to Yui Mei, she tried to calm herself by taking a deep breath. Yes, I want to know why Lord Ming turned that way. Is that so, then let me tell you the story. Du started to discuss the main topic when he heard Yui Meis reply. Have you heard about the Beauty who was driven out of the Hundred Blossom Pce into a nunnery in the bordends? ! Yes, I heard about it, somehow. Yui Meis heart dropped for a moment when her mother was mentioned right at the start of the story. Du continued on. It is quite a famous story, so its no wonder that you know about it. That Ming was the man personally tasked by the emperorHis Majesty to take that Beauty to the bordend nunnery. Really!? It was the first time that Yui Mei heard about this story, so she unwittingly raised her voice. Come to think of it, her mother had been exiled to the bordend nunnery, but she didnt think too deeply about how a woman could have gotten to that ce on her own. She just assumed that she was probably sort of escorted there. However, the reality proved to be harsher than that. In the beginning, the person who gave the order to banish that woman arranged it so that she would set off all alone, with not a single piece of clothing on her back nor any other thing she could bring. The news of the beautys exile had been spread far and wide, even to the neighboring viges, prior to that, and an official notice was also circted, thoroughly ensuring that nobody would take her in to offer protection. If that happened, then it wasnt even sure whether she would reach the bordend. The only probable ending was that she would die on the roadside somewhere. The emperor inferred that, so he entrusted the beauty to the hands of his most trusted imperial guard, to escort her safely to the bordend. The emperor also had another ulterior motive. Ming was a guy who was fond of that woman. Du suddenly revealed another love story about her mother. Oh my, how should I say thisMother, you were so popr!? Yui Mei was unconsciously leaning forward, hanging on to Dus every word. He continued on. Ming escorted his Lord and the Beauty during their secret trips outside the pce, and he secretly fell in love with her, but it was out of his control, wasnt it? The emperorHis Majesty was aware about it, but he decided to just turn a blind eye. May I know why? Yui Mei had been trying hard not to butt in while he was talking, but she couldnt help it this time. If this was a Chinese drama, that alone would have been enough to spark jealousy and envy and it would be the start of a muddy rtionship. And yet, why did he let it pass so easily? Well, I guess theres nothing better than harmony, huh. Yui Mei was torn between her current reality and her Chinese drama fanatic mind. Du continued on with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. He was a most trusted aide, and at the same time a precious friend. The bond was enough to consider bestowing the Beauty to him as his bride, should the Beauty say that she wanted to be liberated from the Hundred Blossom Pce. However, the emperor apparently considered doing that because the worst case scenario happened. Ming answered I will apany the Beauty, and will do as MiLordmands. It was probably for the best if they eloped, disappearing without a trace. ording to Du, the emperor had repeatedly urged him, so he bowed deeply, and he left the capital to chase after the beauty. However, her mother reached the bordend nunnery, and Ming returned to the capital. Lord Ming didnt choose to elope, it seems. Yui Mei muttered. Du agreed, saying thats right. Ming escorted the beauty until they reached the bordend nunnery, then he returned to the capital. He received the news of the beautys death right after that. So thats what happened In other words, Ming parted with her healthy mother, but he heard about her death as soon as he reached the capital. The time it took to deliver the letter probably wasnt that different from the time it took Ming to return, which meant that her mother took her life soon after Ming left him. Ming must have been devastated because of that. Chapter 121: Connected Hearts Chapter 121: Connected Hearts I dont really understand. He was such a great man, did I force him too much? What was the best course of action at that time so that everyone could have been happy?.is what His Majesty the Emperor is worried about until now. Du had changed course at thest minute, as if taking back the bitter words that steadily spilled out of his mouth while a painful expression was painted on his face. Even Yui Meis heart became heavy while looking at him like this. Everyone loved Mom, and they all thought about a lot of things. Yui Mei didnt have a single memory of her mothers figure, so it was a bit difficult for her to imagine it, so she could only picture the drama stories in her mind. However, all their actions had been based on love from the start. Love could be the motivation that pushed people forward, or it could be a curse that would bind them. Her mother had already passed away, so nobody could confirm her thoughts; thus, they couldnt escape from the curse. This curse was currently binding Ming. People could not remain bound while they were living. That also applied to this person before her he wasmenting that he had been the one who caused their misery and suffering. Yui Mei had initially wavered, but she now stared straight at Du, finally strengthening her resolve. Can I please express my thoughts about the matter? What is it? Du urged her to speak, so Yui Mei replied with Then allow me. First would be the point about why Ming chose not to marry the Beauty for life, and just escorted her to the bordends nunnery. It might be just my opinion, but even if Ming loved that Beauty, he probably knew he did not have the resolve to let her bear the hardships of being a fugitive with him? At any rate, it wasnt easy for a person to throw away everything that he had and was in order to start a new life all over again. Ming seemed to be a young master of a well-to-do family, and it must have been hard for him to mingle among the farmers and live like one. On the other hand, if he were to use his experiences as an imperial guard to be a soldier, there was still the possibility that he would eventually be discovered by the empress dowagers subordinates. In short, Ming didnt choose the life of a fugitive who would live the rest of his life trying to evade their pursuers. He probably considered this would she be happier if she could live in safety within the nunnery, even if she was poor? It was never a choice that was worthy of criticism or me. Her mother must have also recognized that, because she agreed to go to the bordend together. I see, Du nodded after Yui Mei exined. Ming was not only loyal and serious about the orders given to him. He was indeed a man of deep thoughtsRegardless, he could have exined it, and no one would condemn him for that. Du lowered his eyes sadly. If the Beauty didnt take her own life, then Ming wont probably me himself this much, but then, it is useless to talk about that now. Du then remained silent for a brief moment after muttering those words. He then raised his head again, saying alright as if trying to pull himself together. I came here to answer your questions, but I didnt expect that you would dispel all my doubts. Du cheerfully chuckled, and there was no trace of the sadness earlier on his face. Yui Mei was amazed at how quick he was in switching his emotions. What a wise girl you are, Yui Mei. I am sure your dear mother must be happy, too. Du praised her along with calling her name, even though Yui Mei didnt introduce herself. There was a possibility that Yang, who had been standing beside them without a word, told him about it on their way here, but Yui Mei decided not to think too deeply about it. It is my honor to be praised by you. Thank you very much for letting me listen to your story. It has benefitted me. Yui Mei bowed deeply, but Du raised a brow. Hoh, it benefitted you, huh? I think its a story that might be depressing for such a young and promising girl, though. Yui Mei nodded in agreement to Dus words. Indeed. I learned a lot from this. Can you tell me what kind of knowledge you obtained from this? Dus eyes were shining with curiosity, so Yui Mei looked at him squarely in the eye. No matter what kind of thing it is, as long as you dont know the truth, you cannot go forward that is what Ive learned. I see, yes thats true, indeed. The truth is sometimes cruel, but if we manage to get over it, we can grasp happiness. Du was touched deeply, and he nodded. Yup, humans, no matter who it is, cant run away forever, after all. There were times when it was necessary to escape. However, it was difficult to sustain that. The only one who could change these feelings was the person himself. Right now, Ming had to learn something in order for him to stop running away so that he could move forward. And it was the truth about her mother. T/N: Hohoh~ what a nice daddy and daughter talk this was ? and yeah, nice one, its not only about healing the gout, but healing Mings heart as well ? Chapter 122: Visiting Ming for the Third Time Chapter 122: Visiting Ming for the Third Time It was the morning after Yui Meis chat with the emperors doppelganger. Yui Mei was about to pass through the gate once again. She was on her way to visit Ming for the third time because of Yangs request. Im definitely going to talk to him today! She strode on with firm resolve towards the gate. It was then that she saw the person who was assigned to apany her. She trained her eyes towards the gate, curious about who it was. Oy, Lassie! A beefy man was energetically waving his hand while yelling. Yes, it was the bear man once again. Well, it was also possible that it was just a coincidence that he was at the gate, and he had other matters to attend to. Yui Mei approached General Li while wondering which of the two was true. Will you apany me this time too? She tried asking for the meantime. General Li nodded in return. Yeah, well, even if they didnt ask me, I still want to knock some sense into him! General Li punched his fist onto his other palm. Ah, dont tell memaybe that eunuch is the one who sent General Li! That person seemed to be concerned about Ming. At any rate, Yui Mei already met General Li here, so they decided to move along. They walked on the path leading to Mings mansion. It was already the third time, so they were familiar with the road. Is he home? Yui Mei was worried in case he went to the pub again, but General Li just smirked. Hes there for sure. I already ordered my subordinate to guard him so he cant go out. Oh, he did say that Im going to watch you! when they visited Mingst time, and he actually did it. Yui Mei saw well-built men standing in front of Mings mansion as she and the general drew closer. They bowed when they saw General Li. They might be wearing civilian clothes, but they were probably General Lis subordinates. By the way, both the front and the back gate were being guarded. Whats the situation inside? Well, we already prepared ourselves that we might have to fight with Lord Ming. However, it is strangely quiet inside, and he didnt leave the mansion, not even once. The man standing watch was also bewildered while saying those things. General Li and Yui Mei exchanged looks when they heard that. Seems like he had been really terrified out of his witsst time. Could it be that he was still shaking in fright ever since he mistook Yui Mei for her mothers ghost? Yui Mei was bothered about this thought while General Li led her to the backdoor. Oh, youre back. The old woman looked at Yui Mei and the general, but she wasnt surprised. There were guards standing watch, so she probably expected their arrival sooner orter. How is Ming? Well, thats The old woman sighed in response to General Lis query. It seemed that he wasnt in a good condition. She just said Please do meet him at any rate, and she guided them towards Mings bedroom. The sight of Ming slumped on the bed with dark shadows under his eyes greeted them. Uwah Yui Mei unwittingly mumbled when she saw his ghost-like appearance. Ming turned towards her when he heard her voice. Hiii! Hui!!! He shrieked once again, and he fell to the floor, terribly horrified. Youre here again, youre really ming me! He didnt attempt to get up, his entire body shaking crazily. What the, do I look like a ghost or something? Yui Mei was already exasperated beyond her worry, and her enthusiasm when she left the Inner Pce also died down. People apparently became calmer when someone was quivering before their eyes. I didnt have the guts, so you died because of me! Im sorry, Im sorry! General Li was bothered, and he asked What happened to him? as he stared at Ming, who kept on apologizing while all curled up with his bottoms facing Yui Mei. Chapter 123: Speak Out Chapter 123: Speak Out Oy, Ming, calm down first. Hiii, sorry, sorry! He didnte back to his senses even if General Li called him out. In the end, the task of getting things under control fell on Yui Mei. Argh, cant be helped, then. Yui Mei approached Ming. She spread her feet and nted them firmly on the ground behind him, then she took a deep breath. STAND UP!!! Yui Mei roared threateningly with a deep voice, and her yell resounded throughout the entire mansion. Hiii!! Ming reflexively stood up, his face still messy with tears and snot. Good. Yui Mei nodded, satisfied. The head nurses roar that could silence anyone in just a single attempt no matter how much of a chaos the situation was seemed to be effective in this world, too. Whoa, that sounded like the warcry of a battalionmander. General Li was shaking his head heavily, apparently from the buzzing of ears that he got from the sudden roar. The old woman, on the other hand, had already escaped outside. She probably sensed something would happen, as expected of the wisdom of age. Huh, Ah? Although Ming stood up, he apparently didnt know the reason why he did, because he had a nk look on his face. He also caught sight of Yui Mei once again, but he no longer trembled in fear like before. All the terror must have been blown away after Yui Mei shouted. Im saying this once and for all, Im not that Hui or whatnot that youre talking about. Dont go around getting scared just because you mistook me for someone else, youre being a nuisance! Yui Mei crossed her arms and retorted, and Ming was taken aback. General Li, on the other hand, couldnt seem to find the connection between the name Hui and Yui Meis appearance. That was also the case when they first visited this ce together. It seemed that even if he did know about Mings background story, he didnt know the specific name and appearance of the emperors beauty. Well, it was understandable, given that her mother lived in the Inner Pce, and the people she met were only limited. It was no wonder that she had never met the general. Li Yong entered the Inner Pce by masquerading as Libin while she met Ming because he was the shadow guard of the emperor, but both of them were rare cases. I am just a novice low-ranking courtdy and subordinate of Aunty Yang. Yangs subordinate? Different? Ah, now that you mention it, youre young? Yui Meis bted introduction finally reached the ears of the confused Ming. She then continued chattering nonstop in order to prevent Ming from having another panic attack. I heard about your situation. I heard how you escorted His Majesty the Emperors Beauty to the bordend nunnery no matter what. It must have been a very difficult journey, given that the road that leads to the bordend from the capital is really terrible. I know, since I am from there. You came from the bordend Ming was shocked but Yui Mei continued on. Back when I was still in the bordend, I also heard about a woman who had the same circumstances as the beauty in the story, and it was from somebody who knew that woman. Both Ming and even General Li were taken aback by her sudden revtion. Of course, when Im telling the story I have to use that special move Its the story of my friend! Thus, this story would then belong to somebody she knew. It was definitely not Yui Mei herself who said it, so there should be no effect on her current position. It was the same technique that Du, the Eunuch, used earlier. Yui Mei continued on in front of the stupefied men. ording to that acquaintance, a woman came to the nunnery and she was from a ce that was far from the bordend, which was pretty unusual. She was a person of lowly background, but by a stroke of good fortune, she entered the eyes of a noble person, and she also gave birth to his child. That happiness was more than she could imagine. However, that happiness was short-lived, and she and her child both came to the bordend nunnery. Yeah Mings eyes dimmed while Yui Mei told the story of her mother. He also knew that part of her story. However, the main issue of Yui Meis story started from here on. That woman told this to the nun that she became friends with. I dont want to continue living like this, because I might eventually hate that person, so I want to carry this happiness within me forever, thats what she said. After a few days, she took her own life, so they said. Mings eyes popped out when he heard the conclusion of Yui Meis story. What, what the!!! Ming moaned as if hes straining his voice, when Yui Mei shouted BUT!! That woman is pitiful, but at the same time, I think shes a fool. Why did she decide that she would never be happy again? Was her child, who was definitely with her at that time, not enough to bring her happiness? Maybe that child could have brought her joy that would withstand all the pain of the past, and yet. Yui Mei had never told anyone, not even the nuns, about her feelings of resentment towards her mother, but she did so now, in a quiet but firm voice. Lassie General Li muttered, his eyes also widening. Ming was thoroughly taken aback, and his jaw dropped wordlessly. Chapter 8.1: Meeting the Six Kings Executives - Ten Demons Arc â‘  Chapter 8.1: Meeting the Six Kings'' Executives - Ten Demons Arc ¢Ù There''s something I''ve been thinking about for a while. The people who lent me a hand in my match against Shiro-san Even though it would be difficult to thank everyone, I would like to directly thank the executives of each of the Six Kings'' camps, which can be considered as their representatives. It took me a while, but I had already bought a few souvenirs and thanked everyone I knew. As for the rest of the people I''ve never met, I''ll have to ask a fellow executive or their King to introduce me to them. It would be hard for Kuro''s side since they don''t consider any of Kuro''s followers as executives, but of the people I''ve never met, I heard that Funf-san is one of the oldest members and yed an active role in the battle against the God Realm. Regarding her, I''m thinking of meeting her with Sieg-san on her day off, and I will thank her then. As I knew everyone, I had already thanked the War King''s executive subordinates, the Five Generals. As for Isis-san, I have already thanked Iris-san for her help, and as for Pris-san, the neer who recently joined the group, she hasn''t participated in the battle with the God Realm. So, there is no need to ask again about the War King and Death King camp. The remaining camps would be the Dragon King, the World King, and the Phantasmal King''s camps As for the Dragon King''s executives, the Four Great Demon Dragons, I''m already acquainted with Fafnir-san and Frea-san, so there are two among them that I''ve never met. I''ve never met any of the Seven Princesses other than Camellia-san, so there are six here. As for the Phantasmal King''s executives, the Ten Demons, I''ve never met any of them except for Pandora-san and Catastro-san, so I''m not acquainted with eight of them In this situation, I think it would be better to meet with the side that has the most people first, so I''ll thank the Ten Demons first. Moreover, Alice is always around, so it''s easy to ask her for an introduction. With that in mind, I told Alice that I wanted to meet her executives in person and thank them for their support but for some reason, Alice had this reallyplicated expression on her face. Eh? What''s with that response? " " [I see, I could understand how you feel, Kaito-san. But even so, I''d like to give you a suggestion.] [Unnn?] [How about you just ignore my executives? Well, I don''t think they need to be thanked or anything.] [No, there''s no way I could do that. Even if they were doing it for themselves, they still helped me in that battle] [I see, well, if that''s what Kaito-san wants Haahhh] Hmmm, seriously, what''s with her reaction? Rather than affirmation or rejection, it feels like there''s resignation mixed with her voice As I tilted my head at Alice''s unexpected reaction, she took out something that looked like a magic tool and spoke. [Pandora, get over here ASAP.] Seconds after Alice talked through the magic tool, Pandora-san appeared in the room and looking at me once, she bowed her head. Arehh? Doesn''t the atmosphere around Pandora-san feel kinda different? She look kinda sharp As I was thinking about this, looking as if she understood my doubts, Alice nced at me before exining. [Ahh~~ I kind of understand what Kaito-san is thinking, so I''ll exin This girl, she''s actually excellent. Her personality is usually outrageous, but that''s because she''s just showing her true colors when she senses that the atmosphere wasx to some extent, but she''ll get serious when need be. Moreover, I don''t need to tell her in advance that "this stuff''s serious" or anything like that, as she can already tell from my voice and the atmosphere around me when I called her. As for her capabilities, putting aside theirbat power, I feel like she''s on the same level with Ein-san.] [That''s amazing] It''s amazing, but for Alice to just naturally attach Ein-san''s name with "all-around excellence" No, well, I guess it''s amazing how much I can understand that And I guess that goes for Pandora-san too. She must be really skillful if Alice is saying that much. It was just that her perversion was just too much that that part of her was standing out too much, but there''s no doubt that she''s incredibly talented to be called the Head of Phantasmal King''s billions of subordinates. Come to think of it, Alice once said that "if only her sexual inclinations were normal, she would have nothing toin about", so I guess she really is amazing. However, arehh? The excellent Pandora-san heard Alice''s voice and decided that "today''s matter is serious"? Isn''t that strange? [Shalltear-sama, what seems to be the matter?] [Kaito-san wants to personally thank you for that matter back then, and he wants to be introduced to the executives.] [.] Yes, I was just asking to be introduced to the Ten Demons. That shouldn''t be anything that could be considered as an emergency but why is it that Pandora-san also has thatplicated expression on her face? [I see, Shalltear-sama. It might be impertinent of me, but I have a suggestion.] [Say it.] [I will now depart, and "sealing up half of them and drown them in the sea", so why don''t we have "someone stand in" for them until Miyama-sama finishes his greetings?] [That''s a very attractive proposal.] Wait a moment there! What the heck are you two talking about with such serious expressions on your faces? Eh? I''m starting to feel freaking uneasy here are the Ten Demons really that dangerous? I do remember hearing from Alice a little bit about how many of them have bug-level loyalty but Eh? Are they on the level that you''re even hesitating to make them meet me!? Serious-senpai : [Choosing to meet the pervert group first, isn''t that like starting with the climax?] ? ? ? : [Seriously, can''t we just temporarily quarantine some of these perverts] Chapter 124: Incompetent Guy Chapter 124: Ipetent Guy Silence reigned for a while, but Ming suddenly came to his senses. No, if you put it that way, then it sounds like Hui abandoned her child? She was definitely not a cruel woman Ming was trying to gloss over it so that they wouldnt think her mother was bad, but he couldnt properly say it. Yui Mei sent a gaze that was more exasperated than it was cold towards Ming. Mings grief was directed towards her mother Hui, and the child she gave birth to was thoroughly left out. Then, did he think that Hui was just a woman he loved, and that she was not Hui the mother? Really, are all of them a bunch of lovesick fools!? Love is everything, love is life such a love story was good enough for reading for amusement. Both Ming and her mother lived in that tale of love. However, it was difficult for two people to spend the rest of their life together just by being head over heels in love. Yui Mei, who had died in peace in her previous life, knew this fact very well. She thought that Ming and her mother were both pitiful people who didnt see the reality because they chose to wallow in their grief. If that woman chose to live then she could have enjoyed a life full of love with her adorable child, so its better for her to regret it in the afterlife! Otherwise, its disrespectful to all those people who are trying their best to live! Ming wanted to say something when he heard those words that came from the bottom of her heart, but he kept his mouth shut in the end. If thats not the case, it would be too unfair for the Yui Mei within me. Yui Mei met the emperor, who was her father, because both of them were still alive. However, she would never meet her mother again for eternity, because she had already passed away. It was the same for her mother, who lost the chance to watch her own child grow forever. What is the real worth of the happiness that she herself chose to give up? In this world, both happiness and misery exist in bnce In order to possess them equally, one must live their life to the fullest up to the second that they had. Only those who did so would be able to understand what real happiness was. However, her mother didnt choose that path, and instead arbitrarily decided that her happiness was already over. She didnt have any pursuers probably because they knew what kind of personality she had. If they really wanted to kill her, she would never reach the bordend alive. They would murder her right after she left the capital, even before she met Ming. Yui Mei couldnt help butpare her to the emperor. They had only met for a handful of times, but she never heard the name Hui from that esteemed persons mouth. Even if Yui Mei hid her hair, the emperor had already considered her existence as Yui Mei right from the start. This emperor already had a few children, but he never forgot his child that went to the bordend faraway. Yup, Im starting to think that Dads a better person now. Yui Meis opinion of the emperor had improved a little. Ming, on the other hand, was crushed after Yui Mei talked him down. Ahh, you really arent Hui. Hui will never say such things. Shes just weak and gentle, thats why I had to protect her From Ming words, which sounded like hesmenting and grumbling at the same time, Yui Mei deduced that he was the type to pamper people. Her mother had a spoiled nature, so thats why they were probably a good fit. I didnt give Hui a reason to live. What an ipetent man I am Ming shoulders drooped after saying those words. Because of their protector and ward rtionship, her mother didnt manage to gain the strength to stand on her own, even during their harsh trip to the bordend. Still, shes supposed to be a courtdy before, so she must have known a thing or two about hardship, right. Perhaps, it would only take a moment for a person to indulge in afortable life. Ming had been wavering for ages, so Yui Mei replied frankly. Oh my, isnt it good that you understand how ipetent you are? People are like that, they fall in the face of most challenges. Once you acknowledge that, it will be the beginning of your new lifewas what a traveler that I met long ago said. Ipetent I see, yes, Im an ipetent guy from the start Ming was depressed even more after he heard what Yui Mei said. Perhaps, he was expecting that she wouldfort him with something like No, thats not true, but unfortunately for him, Yui Mei didnt have any obligation to shower him with such kindness. As a former nurse in her previous life, she knew that she couldve used the right words and attitude to handle a wounded heart such as Mings; unfortunately for him, Yui Mei was still irked that he had treated her as a ghost all this time. Lassie, what a confusing chap you are. I dont know if youre trying to lift Mings spirits up, or if youre crushing him down. That was General Lis impression. Chapter 157: Chapter 157: "Wasn''t it hard for you toe? O, oh I can see youve grown up. Im proud, yet also felt sad at the same time." Since when did he take care of me like that? I grabbed the hem of my skirt, hiding my ridiculous innermost thoughts. After bending my knees lightly, I replied in a cheerful voice. "Thank you, Your Majesty." "Why do you thank me?" "Your Majesty, the father of the empire, took care of the empire well so that I can grow up nicely. That''s why I should always be grateful to His Majesty." Hey, old man. This is my fourth life.'' The emperor burst intoughter after hearing my ttery. It was a skill I acquired after being a beggar. "Lady really makes me happy." "It''s an honor." "Oh, right. When you go back, take the imperial carriage. You''ll be able to get around morefortably than Dubbleds carriage." I didn''t hesitate to shout "Wow!" and said my thanks. When a superior gives something, it is better to receive it and be happy than to decline it. As expected, the emperor grinned with a happy face. "Have a good time in the Imperial Pce. Send my regards to empress dowager." "Yes, I will." The emperor nodded with a gracious face and walked past me. Then Laura, who came with me, whispered with a happy face. "Even His Majesty doesn''t know what to do because you''re pretty." Of course Ill be pretty in his eyes. I have Gods sentence on my feet, Im useful to him. And I''m gonna take advantage of this too. I nced around. The courtiers walking after the emperor were busy averting their eyes. Yes, parrots. Go and spread the rumors that the emperor is very fond of me.'' To me, the emperor was a sly old man, but to others, he was the sun of the empire. My status would rise when the rumours are spread. Good, good.'' I hummed my way to the pce of the empress dowager. "I greet the empress dowager." As I opened my skirt wide and spoke, the empress dowager quickly grabbed my hand. "We don''t need courtesy between us. Come on, child. Sit here. What kind of tea did you enjoy? Asam? Darjeeling? I already have the chocte scones you said you liked." The Gods sentence impact is amazing.'' Not long ago, the empress dowager was pretty hostile to me. Because of the godmother incident, my bad rtionship with Elizabeth, and my influence in Princess Ingrids divorce. However, since the rumour about the sentence got out, she changed her attitude immediately. "I heard that you faint. It must be hard." The empress dowager spoke in a worried voice and gently stroked the back of my hand. "Thank you for your concern. But I''m fine now." "Yes, youre so brave. But why do you faint?" She nced at my feet, asking in a subtle tone. She seemed to be desperate to see my feet. I answered snarkily as if I knew nothing. "The doctors said its because of shock after receiving Gods sentence." "God''s Sentence! Oh, can you show me?" I nodded and carefully took off my shoes. I counted the signals inside, one, two, three. I prepared my mind and poured divine power to the tattoo drawn by Trigon. The empress dowager looked at the sentence that came to my feet with trembling eyes and shut her mouth. "Oh my." Look, doesnt it look real?'' It is highly usible if she knew about God''s sentence since she had good rtions with the pope. "I knew it. Child, I''ve never doubted you. I believed you were the daughter of God who would bring the empire good luck. Oh, I''m so happy!" She tried to calm her excitement by covering her mouth with both hands. After a while, she opened her mouth again after emptying the cup of water. "Child" "Yes, Your Majesty." "I always stayed in the pce and its boring to do the same routine. As a result, there are quite a few people who tell me various stories." What is she trying to say?'' As I closed my eyes, she lowered her eyes and continued, "Are you close with Camis grandson?" "Godmother''s grandson ah, Lionel?" I corrected her but she frowned when she heard the word godmother. "Yes, he seemed to be following you. He even offered flowers to you, right?" Aha, she was worried that I might be connected to her grandson.'' If someone from the imperial family took in the true child of fate, they will have more legitimacy. It seemed like she was worried that Lionel would take me. "No. I became friends with him identally, he looked up to me like a sister." "Is that so?!" The empress dowager nodded with a happy face. When she realizes that her innermost thoughts were revealed too much, she smiled awkwardly. "I was just curious about Lady''s well-being, but I heard the story. How have you been?" I nodded as if I didn''t know her dark innermost thoughts. "Yes, I''ve been well." "I haven''t heard from youtely. What are you doing these days?" "I read books and draw pictures." "It''s a nice day, but why don''t you go and see the flowers?" "I could see the flowers in the greenhouse. I like violets, so the gardeners keep them in bloom all year round." "That''s great. There''s a swallowtail butterfly in the pce''s greenhouse. Do you want to see?" "Can I see it?" "Of course." I arrived at the conservatory under the guidance of the empress dowager. But as soon as we arrived, the empress dowager''s attendant ran to us with a troubled expression. "There was amotion in the Imperial Pce." "Amotion. Who dares to do that?" "Empress Yvonne" "What?" Her attendant looked at me and whispered to the empress dowager. She sighed and looked at me. "Ive got something to do. Just take a look around for a second. I''ll be right back." "Yes, dont worry about me." "That''s nice of you." The empress dowagerughed and stroked my hair. And she left the greenhouse, her expression hardened, perhaps because it was quite urgent. What''s going on?'' I ordered the chairman to check and went inside the greenhouse. It''s been a long time since I first came here. Thest time I visited here was in my second life. It is a very beautiful ce as it is the garden of the most important people in the empire. There were well-groomed trees, an artificial waterfall with clear water, colorful scenery created by all kinds of flowers, and butterflies gathered along with the sweet smell of flowers. The garden was impable. Its so pretty but somehow looks bleak.'' While I was walking with that thought in mind, I heard a scream. "Can''t you hear me?! You son of a bitch!" There was a subtle scream, as if the scream was muffled. I turned my head to the direction where I could hear the voice. Above the wall made of rose vines, I could see a glimpse of dark curly hair. He was a boy who dared to shout in the imperial conservatory, and he has the same color as Empress Yvonne. Prince Andre.'' He is famous for being a jerk, and I have suffered from his wrath firsthand in my first life, I immediately frowned when I thought of him. I shook my head and turned away. It''s better not to run into Prince Andre as much as possible. While I was about to run away, "You still don''t get it, Adrian." Adrian? I turned my head in surprise. Then I looked down again, I saw familiar blonde hair. "Then tell the emperor. Your victory in swordsmanship was all a trick." "You bribed the referee and even tampered with the sword." "You bastard!" Andre grabbed Adrian''s cor, who was sitting, and lifted him up. The two were born in the same year, but Adrian is much taller, although Andre, who is pampered by Empress Yvonne, should be taller since he ate nutritious meals. "Don''t be silly and do what you''re told! Who do you think he will believe? Do you think the halo of Duke Dubbled was on your back when themoner orphan girl offered to be your escort? Dont speak recklessly if you know that." "Take back your words." Adrian''s voice was lowered. It was overwhelming. To the point where Andre was even shocked. Adrian flinched but replied, "What do you want me to cancel? Am I wrong? "Shes not amoner orphan. Shes Leine." "What?" Andre burst into a grin as if he was dumbfounded. "Youre right. Shes the child of fate with a shallow bloodline. Amoner who will be used by the nobles-" Wham!! Andre rolled on the floor with a loud sound. Adrian looked coldly down at Andre, as he was stunned. "Y, you." Adrian has never retaliated since he was born. This is because the empress dowager died and Empress Yvonne took control, so he couldnt act recklessly. But "H, how dare you hit me?" Blood dripped down from Andres nose. He was even more stunned after seeing the blood from his nose. I felt like I wanted to scream. Hey, you idiot! Why would you do that!'' At that moment, "Lady, you were here oh my." "Andre!!" The empress dowager came back with Empress Yvonne and the emperor behind her back. Adrians eyes widened when he realized that I was here. "Second prince, what in the world happened!" "M, mother." When Andre put on a pitiful face, I burst into tears. "Huwaaa!" Lets save Adrian first. Click here to be a supporter and get to read 10 chapters ahead of time. For any mistakes errors and issues Please contact me through discord:-https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 125: A Girl That Was Bad for the Heart Chapter 125: A Girl That Was Bad for the Heart Ming kept on mumbling to himself for a while, before turning his attention to Yui Mei. Whats your name? He seemed curious about her name, albeit btedly. However, Yui Mei just smiled in response. Im not a person who is important enough to name herself. Im just a lowly housekeeper at the Hundred Blossom Pce. Housekeeper? With that intimidating aura of yours? Intimidating what a rude thing to say to a young maiden. Ah, I hate this guy. Yui Mei etched that grudge in her mind, then she retorted. Well, I asionally provide nursing care upon request. Just like this time, Im here because Aunty Yang asked me toe. Yang did? It could be said that it was the first time they could hold a proper conversation with this Ming, whose eyes were currently popping out in shock. Yui Mei heaved a sigh. It had been quite a ride before they could finally start the errand that was entrusted to her. Argh, what a troublesome adult guy you are! And so, my true job begins now. Im going to do a quick full body examination, so General Li, please strip this guys clothes! What!? Gotcha, leave it to me! It didnt take long for General Li to strip the frightened Ming down to his underwear. So what happened after that? They requested Doctor Chen to especially pay a visit to Mings mansion. Whoa, all the symptoms are so obvious and theyre so easy to grasp!! Amazing!! Chen already heard the situation from Yui Mei beforehand, but he was still brimming with excitement when he saw Mings condition. He asked his painter friend that he had taken along with him to draw Mings portrait. The medical arts will advance thanks to this, right. Yeah, this is a major lifesaver. I didnt expect that hes a perfect model for this condition. People normally go to their grave first before they reach this stage. Oh my, then that just shows how sturdy Lord Mings body is. Ahaha. Yui Mei and Chen wereughing together while Ming shivered in terror as he stared at them. Youre a chicken-hearted guy in a strange way, huh. General Li, who was present as his supervisor, watched him with disgust. Mings portrait would be used from now on to exin the disease called gout. With all these happenings, it was already the Mid- Autumn Festival before they noticed. *** The kitchens of all pces were busy making mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The festive events of the seasons were held as mboyantly as possible, because it was said to raise the prestige of the pce. In the midst of such festivities, Li Yong carried some sweet dumplings and mooncakes wrapped in the bundle as he passed through the Qianqing Gate on his way to the Inner Pce. Ming Xian was worried about Yui Mei when he heard the matter about Ming, so he was on his way to check on her. She probably already had some mooncakes too, but knowing Yui Mei, even if it was redundant, she would still happily gobble them up whileparing the taste. He checked his surroundings first. He was about to enter the storage house and go to the hidden room he used when changing into his eunuch garb, when Hey, Li Yong. Somebody called from behind him. General Li was standing there when he turned around. Oh, youre on an errand now? yes. Li Yong stopped and nodded in response to General Lis query. General Li was one of the handful of people who knew about Li Yongs double life. Such a person purposely went out of his way to call out and stop him, so maybe he had something urgent that he wanted to discuss? Li Yong became nervous at the thought. Thatssie that you took along that time shes quite a dignified girl, isnt she. I really cant see her as a little chick that has juste of age. So it was about Yui Mei. So, its true that General Li apanied Yui Mei on her trip after that. Li Yong frowned when he recalled one of the pieces of information that bothered Ming Xian. There was no one else who could order General Li except for the emperor. Then, what was that esteemed persons purpose for making General Li apany Yui Mei? And was Ming important enough to make him do that? Ming Xian was extremely bothered about this point. Did that girl do something? Li Yong carefully asked, but General Li shocked his head in response. Thats not it. Thats one heck of a little miss you got there, huh. Shes so unpredictable. Well, I do understand where youreing from. Rather than unfathomable, Yui Mei was a person who said and did things that usually didnt make sense, and Li Yong was already used to it. However, General Lis next words caught him off guard. Yeah, that roar isnt something that belongs to assie who doesnt really know anything about the world. She sounded just like His Majesty when he was on the battlefield. Roar? What the heck did that girl do in front of General Li! Li Yong was about to have a headache so he tried to endure it, when General Li suddenly turned his sharp gaze towards him while broadly grinning. Aside from her birth, there are a lot of things about her that make you wonder, no? That gaze of his was like looking at the enemy on the battlefield, so Li Yong straighten his back. Indeed, I also noticed them. Youre not curious about what those are? It sounded as if General Li was grilling him for answers. Li Yong hesitated for a bit, before answering him. It will be a lie if I say that Im not bothered. Perhaps, she must be Yui Mei, with all that queerness included. His Highness Ming Xian must have also thought the same. Hoh. Li Yong responded tly, so General Li raised a brow. The way she speak and act is strange, more or less. But if it werent for those things, wouldnt it make you feel a bit unsatisfied? General Li widened his eyes when he heard Li Yongs words, then he burst intoughter. I see, thats probably true! General Li looked satisfied, then he turned and drifted away to somewhere else. Good grief, making me all worked up. Li Yong heaved a deep sigh. That girl was really bad for the heart, even though she was not with him. Chapter 126: Autumn Moon-Viewing Chapter 126: Autumn Moon-Viewing Chapter 126 Autumn Moon-Viewing It was finally Yui Meis favorite seasons Mid-Autumn Festival. They were blessed with fair weather this year. It was dusk, so there was still time before the rising of the full moon. Severalnterns lit the square in front of the dining hall. The courtdies happily chatted while sitting around the tables that had been set up in that ce. Yui Mei was also there, sitting alone, and a feast distinctive of the Mid-Autumn Festival was spread on the table before her. There were several types of mooncakes ones filled with the chestnuts that she harvested during the several times that she volunteered to gather them, ones that were made based on the squash buns that she had seen at the food stall the other day, ones with sweet potato filling inside, and there were also several different mooncakes that Mei Na made with the help of Yui Mei. These mooncakes were the size of a small palm unlike those giant ones that they made in the countryside. They were very convenient to eat. There was also roasted duck aside from the mooncakes. Mmm, all of them look so yummy! Yui Mei was filled with bliss at the pleasant view. How elegant was it to be able to enjoy such good autumnal food while admiring the moon? This was the first time Yui Mei experienced such a splendid autumn feast in this life. Mei Na made all of these, so Yui Mei couldnt help but see her as a fairy from the moon. Mei Naughed when she saw her eyes glittering as she stared at the table. Hey, Ah Mei, dont just stare at it and start eating. Okay~ thanks for the food, lets dig in! Mei Na urged on Yui Mei, so she immediately stretched her hand towards the table. She started with the mooncakes that she also helped make. The taste of the red bean taste wrapped in the smooth, fragrant skin was mellow, with the bits of chestnut giving it a great contrast. The sweetness was also on point. Yup, chestnut mooncakes are really delish Yui Mei broke into a wide grin. I didnt crush the chestnuts too much, so its a bit grainy. Tastes good, right? Mei Na also nodded while eating the chestnut mooncakes. These gourd moon cakes are also delicious, you know? Gourd fruit can be quite sweet after steaming, huh. Ive only ever eaten the seeds, so its the first time I learned about this. Mei Na rmended the squash mooncakes that she tried making for the first time. The filling was made from squash as it is, so it brought a nostalgic feeling to Yui Mei. Its Mei Na were talking about here, so she was probably thinking about whipping up more recipes for squash. Mei Na, I hope youll discover squash pudding some day! Yui Meis mouth was filled with sweetness due to eating only mooncakes, so she also took some of the duck from time to time. Youre doing great, huh. Libin appeared, and he ced his bundle on the table. Oh, Lord Libin, happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you! Yui Mei extended her seasons greetings first. I pray that you enjoy the blessings brought about by the full moon. Libin returned the greeting, but it was too stylish. Libin, isnt the Crown Princes Pce also celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival? Li Bin raised a brow at Yui Meis question. Thats over a long stretch of time, and I cant stick around there all the time. I see. Ohh, true, the big wigs are night owls, after all. Unlike the courtdies who had to sleep early in the evening, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet over there probably hadnt even started there. Yui Mei was musing over it, when Libin offered the bundle that he brought. Heres a present for you. Were talking about you, so I thought that the more mooncakes you have, the better it is for you. Surprisingly, Libin also brought some mooncakes for her. As expected of Libin, he really knew Yui Mei too well. She opened the package right away. It contained a stylish box, and even the mooncakes inside were elegant. This is probably from His Highness the Crown Prince. Libin could also obtain something like this on his own, but it was more probable that it was from him. Nevertheless, being surrounded by mooncakes was truly such a blissful sight. Yui Mei stuffed her cheeks with the mooncakes, while Mei Na rmended the mooncakes on the table to Libin. Libin, these are new products. Ah Mei wanted to eat mooncakes made from gourd fruit, so I made it based on that. Oh, thats something new, indeed. Libin took one of the squash mooncakes and bit it. Mm, its slightly sweet. Right? So theres a lot more to gourd. Libin and Mei Na nodded to each other. It seemed like squashs poprity would increase steadily from now on. And so, this ce turned into a mooncake party. Is it alright if I join you this Autumn Moon Viewing? Yui Mei turned around when she heard a mans voice. Yang carried a bundle, apanied by Eunuch Du. T/N: Fake eunuchs want to join in on the fun! XD Chapter 127: Mooncake Festival Chapter 127: Mooncake Festival Libin choked on the mooncake he was munching when he saw Dus appearance, so Yui Mei patted him on the back. Are you okay? Do you want to drink some hot water? Yui Mei was worried about him, but Libin just red at her. She already knew what Libin wanted to say in that look of his. Please dont say anything. That person is the Eunuch Du, apparently. Libin looked like he wanted to retort something to this exnation, but he held his tongue, in the end. Well, it wasnt like Libin could say as if theres a suspicious eunuch like that! . If he said those words, he would definitely get a rebuttal at the speed of light. Aunty Yang~, why dont you choose the people youre going to invite in this moon viewing! Nevertheless, Yui Mei was just a mere low-ranking courtdy, so she wasnt in the position to drive people away. Mei Nai stared at the unfamiliar eunuch with interest. Oh, the number of eunuchs increased. Is he an acquaintance of Yang? Well, yes. I thought were already here, so we might as well watch the moon together. Yang replied when Mei Na cheerfully asked without a care in the world. Really! Well, yeah, in these kind of things, the more the merrier, right! Mei Naughed when she heard her response, then she pulled a table nearby to make some space for Yang and Du. Yui Mei was amazed while looking at them, inwardly thinking that Mei Na was awesome. Mei Na had probably never seen the emperor before, so she didnt have any misgivings or doubts toward Du. Be that as it may, this persons aura was too strong, or should she say too intimidating for a eunuch, and it wouldnt be a wonder if people would harbor a sense of fear towards this person. The air was simr to Libin, but Dus aura was far more ufortable. Rather than saying he couldnt hide his aura, its as if he isnt even attempting to hide it at all Libin worked hard to act like a eunuch, butpared to him, Du looked like he only perfunctorily changed his appearance, and that was the difference between them. Anyhow, the two neers seats had already been settled, so Yui Mei also arranged the mooncakes on their table. Hoh, these mooncakes look delicious. Yui Mei was happy when these mooncakes were praised, no matter who the other person was. Its Mei Nas creation, and I also helped her a bit! Du narrowed his eyes as he watched Yui Mei puff her chest with pride. Really, so you also helped make this I gratefully ept. Du said that as he took one of the mooncakes, then he tore a piece and ate it. His movements were extremely elegant. The mooncake that he chose was the squash one. What is this? Its unfamiliar, but it tastes good. Thats made from gourd. Du was perplexed, so Mei Na exined it. Hoh, I didnt know that there are sweet gourds. The gourd supplier said its from the South. Du tore a piece again and ced it in his mouth during their conversation. He seemed to like it. Congrats, squash, the most important person in this country is eating you! This moment could surely be the first step of the squashs invasion of the Sai Empire. Yui Mei was filled with happiness because of the sess of squash, as if it was her own triumph. Oh, right, Yui Mei. Du called out to her. Yes? Yui Mei faced Du properly, and he continued on. I heard that you didnt name yourself in front of that guy Ming? Du pointed that out, and Yui Mei inwardly thought, so its about this. Yes, well, that person didnt even introduce himself, either. Yui Mei readily replied. Indeed, she heard about Ming from Li Yong and General Li, but the person in question didnt tell her anything about himself directly. Well, it might be true that there was no need for a big-wig to bother introducing himself to a low-ranking courtdy; stil, among all the big-wigs that Yui Mei encountered, no one treated her like that, even if they were famous people who didnt have any obligation to tell her their name. Indeed, Mings manners had beencking. Du rubbed his chin while saying that. Yui Mei continued on. Besides, self-introduction is part of mutual acknowledgement, no? In that case, that person should get his act together. If this continues on, hes totally a good-for-nothing adult at this rate. Hahaha! I see, indeed, good-for-nothing people are despicable. Du chuckled happily at Yui Meis words. He then changed the subject, saying on a different note. I also brought some mooncakes. Yang said you already have the sweet ones, so these are filled with savory meat. Du nced at Yang after saying that. She had been silent since earlier, and now she wordlessly ced the package on the table. It contained beautifully baked mooncakes, of course. Yui Mei was amazed when she picked one. Wow, these are freshly baked!? Mooncakes were generally set to rest so that it would be moist before being eaten, but these mooncakes were still crispy. Indeed, I favor freshly baked ones. Dumented like a connoisseur, and Yui Mei was moved with admiration, thinking that Hes a proper adult! Besides, he wouldnt be able to enjoy freshly baked and cooked food as the emperor. This guy apparently wanted to enjoy his current identity to the fullest. Yui Mei stuffed her mouth with the crispy mooncakes, and her eyes widened when she bit into it. Its spicy! The scent assaulted her nostrils at the same time she tasted the spicyness. They used spices in these, apparently. In this country, spices were considered a luxuriousmodity obtained from other countries. It looked in, but it was an extremely valuable mooncake. Wow, amazing, how novel, its so delish!! Really? Yui Mei unwittingly started to stomp her feet in excitement, so Mei Na also took a piece. Yui Mei, we get it already, so do stop kicking your legs. Libin cautioned Yui Mei, but he didnt attempt to get one of Dus mooncakes. As expected, he would probably choke, unable to swallow if he were to eat and drink given this situation. Hmmm~ So yummy, this is heaven~! Yui Mei was so touched because of the deliciousness of the mooncakes that she couldnt help but still vigorously swing her feet, so he decided to just let it go this time. What a lively child, shes really different from her. Dus faintly whispered, but it fortunately didnt reach Yui Meis ears. And this was how the autumn night passed in the Hundred Blossom Pce. T/N: Doting Daddy Emperors real motive feed Yui Mei! XD Here are some mouthwatering mooncakes! Ctto: Ctto: Global Times Chapter 129: Winter Is Coming Chapter 129: Winter Is Coming Winter was fast approaching once the autumn season ended. Ugh so cold! Yui Mei shivered when the cold north wind blew suddenly. It was cold, but it was not that drafty, and her clothes were made from cotton, unlike the linen that she wore in the bordends, so this winter was more pleasantpared to the ones she spent there. It was only here at the Hundred Blossom Pce that she obtained cotton for the first time in her life; back in the bordends, she couldnt get cotton so she made do with pelts as protective wear against the winter cold. These were handmade, of course. In urban ces where a lot of people gathered, ready-made clothes were frequently sold, but in the other viges, all clothes were handmade, including winter wear. Therefore, most of the people in the Hundred Blossom Pce were busy preparing cotton winter wear for their families back in the viges, or else were happily receiving them from their natal home. Yui Mei watched the courtdies who either give or receive cotton clothes from their families, and she felt a pang of envy, thinking having a family is so nice. Regardless, instead of dwelling on that, she knew she should be grateful to her sincere acquaintance who gave her the cotton. When Libin brought the cotton cloth to Yui Mei, he told her to use it. It certainly wasnt because he thought that is this girl going to spend the winter in pelts?, because she grew up in the bordends. By the way, she already knew she couldnt wear those pelts in the capital, so she recycled all of them. One of those recycled pieces dangled on the level of her waist. It was a pouch with a heated stone inside. Haa~, so warm. Arent I such a bright girl foring up with this? Yui Mei was singing her own praises as she rubbed her cheeks with the fur pouch that had been warmed by the heated stone inside it. If I make a fur pouch for the heated stone, wont it be super warm? that was her idea, and she was right. She put a button to secure the stone inside, and inserted it in her loincloth so that it would be at her waist, warming her entire body. It was just a scrap of cloth left from after she finished making various things out of the original pelt, but she was happy that it turned into something useful. The highlight of the pouch was the tiny triangle ears and the nose and mouth that she embroidered to make it look like a wolf. And so, this winter was the warmest for Yui Mei thanks to the clothes that she wore, although the cold wind chilled her bare neck and it was quite unbearable. Moreover, it took a lot of time and effort sweeping all the fallen leaves that had been tossed around by the north wind, and finally, she was done with her cleaning duty. Haa~ cleaning duty is so hard during winter, huh. The water used for cleaning was freezing, and it couldnt be helped that the fallen leaves were all piled up together, at any rate. She could only pray for the leaves to finish falling. Oh well, its also fun looking forward to roasting sweet potatoes with the fallen leaves! Yui Mei grinned broadly on her own. Today, she also brought the sweet potato that Mei Na secretly gave her. She headed towards a vacant ce so that she could burn the fallen leaves at once. By the way, there were vacant lots for burning fallen leaves throughout the Hundred Blossom Pce. Aside from the vast area, they had to manually collect all the garbage because there were no convenient garbage trucks like those in her past life, so they wouldnt be able to make it unless they set a designated ce for each cleaning block. Yui Mei finally reached one of those ces while carrying the fallen leaves on her arms. Oh? A woman was already there. The people who usually used this ce were either housekeepers like Yui Mei, or else the person-in-charge for throwing trash in each pce. Right now, Yui Mei was in the middle of the garden, far from any of the pces and residences, so it was highly unlikely that she would bump into anyone else. However, there was actually somebody else here, and she didnt seem like she was a cleaner or a person in charge of garbage disposal. She didnt look like she was a courtdy, after all. Thedy wasnt dressed in the uniform of the courtdies, nor was she wearing the garb of pce maids. She wasnt donned in the outfits of a concubine, either. Oh, this is a court courtesan, I guess. That was Yui Meis observation based on her appearance, coiffure, and air. T/N: Hi! Sorry for the veryte post! Been busy over the weekend ? I posted it together with todays release to make up for the missed chap. Thank you! ? In Ancient China, j n (), or prostitutes (I used harlot here) referred to women who took singing and dancing as their career. Although most of them would often sell extra service (bedwarming), this did not apply to all. Chapter 130: Court Courtesan Chapter 130: Court Courtesan Court courtesans were women working as entertainers in the pce. They were simr to the geisha in Yui Meis previous world who entertained guys by singing and dancing and even epted male customers for the night. And just like geisha, the people who be courtesans were criminals or women who were sold as coterals for debt. However, the difference between a harlot and a courtesan was that thetter also included those proficient in the performing arts. Even the singers, master musicians and actresses were referred to as courtesans. People like Yui Mei thought it was such a crude way of ssifying people because of this point. And whilemoner courtesans mainly worked in bedchambers, court courtesans were not employed for such purposes, and their job was purely to liven up banquets with their singing, dancing and performances with musical instruments. Well, the Inner Pce can be considered as the emperor and the crown princes bedroom, after all. There was no way the empress would allow that. Women enter the Inner Pce as court courtesans either because they became criminals after their families lost in the war, or when they were sent as gifts from the lords. Court courtesans didnt serve and work in the same way as courtdies and maids, but they didnt differ from the other women living in the Inner Pce in that they could also be concubines if the emperor fancied them. They had a slightly different status than the courtdies and the maids. And for some reason, one such court courtesan was currently here, at the trash burning site. She was probably around 25 to 30 years old. She wasnt here to burn trash; she was just sitting in the corner of the fence, staring nkly into space while surrounded by trash. What is she doing? Yui Mei was bothered about her, but she had to burn the fallen leaves she was carrying first. Oopsie. She lowered the basket she was carrying behind her back then turned it over the burnt spot and covered that ce with the dry leaves. She promptly set it on fire using the flint in the burning site, and her preps were done. She waited until all the leaves were burned. The leaves were very dry, so she just had to poke and stir them with a stick and they turned to ashes soon enough. She ced the sweet potatoes among the ashes from the freshly burnt leaves. All she had to do now was to wait for the heat from the ashes to warm the sweet potatoes down to its core. Hum, hum, hum~ Time was also of essence in the pursuit of deliciousness, in order to make tasty food. Yui Mei could brave the cold wind blowing on her, all for the sake of baked sweet potatoes. .She couldnt help but drool when the sweet smell of sweet potatoes wafted from the midst of the ashes. So fragrant. Suddenly, the courtesan that had already be part of the scenery in Yui Meis eyes mumbled. Its almost done, so even if you say that, I wont give you any! It wasnt because of gluttony, but because the coldness made her stomach rumble. No, apparently, she also said that summer was hot so it made her hungry. She was in her growth period, so she was hungry all year round. Yui Mei took a peek at the court courtesan, and she was taken aback. The woman was still staring nkly at space while huddled in the corner, and she didnt look like she wanted the sweet potatoes. Did she simply express her thoughts about the fragrant smell? The woman didnt open her mouth again, so Yui Mei turned her attention towards the freshly baked sweet potatoes. Oh goody, its perfectly done! She used the stick to grope around the ashes, and discovered that they were nicely done. Yui Mei pushed the ashes away, then she picked the freshly baked potato with a cloth, while saying hot, hot. She was about to sink her teeth in, when Yui Mei was bothered about the courtesan who had melted into the scenery. What on earth happened, and why is she here? She was all alone in this solitary ce that people didnt frequent, and she didnt even do anything but just stare into space. Her current plight couldnt help but attract the gazes of those around her. Yui Mei couldnt concentrate on the tasty sweet potato while someone was being all gloomy beside her. And so, Yui Mei approached that court courtesan. Ahm, would you like to have some? She offered one-third of the baked sweet potato to her. Yui Mei didnt divide the sweet potato in half because of a simple reason. She felt that she was justified even if she took the bigger portion, since she was also the one who prepared and baked it. In short, gluttony won. The woman met Yui Meis eyes for the first time. She had that forlorn, pitiful eyes that could make you feel gloomy. she got quite a pair of bothersome eyes. Yui Meis brows shot up slightly. The girl stretched her thin arm and touched the cloth wrapping the baked potato with her hand that was barely peeking out of her sleeve. warm. A hoarse voice spilled that out of her mouth. Its because its freshly baked. Yui Mei replied, as if it was natural. T/N: Geisha and Court Courtesans Geisha Courtesan Chapter 131: Rare Resident Chapter 131: Rare Resident Yui Mei noticed the scent of tobo wafting from the woman. Tobo was a luxury product that only the few wealthy people of this country enjoyed, but the woman got her hands on them from somewhere. The fingertips peeking out of her sleeves as she received the sweet potato were thickly callused. Is she a musician? The hands of the performers who y stringed instruments were usually like this. Yui Mei recalled the hands of her fellow nurse who yed guitar as a hobby. They had simr hands, although there was a difference in the amount of calluses. Yui Mei wondered which instrument she yed the lute or the zither during her musical performances. There was also another thing that bothered Yui Mei aside from the characteristics that point to her being a musician. The womans joints looked swollen. This is The woman noticed Yui Mei staring at her hands intently, so she hurriedly withdrew her them in her sleeves. Musicians dont have pretty fingers no matter how you look at it, right. She muttered while averting her eyes. Yui Mei shook her head in response. Im sure you spent a lot of time practicing in order to y beautifully, right? There hands are proof of your hardwork, I think. The woman lifted her head in surprise when she heard Yui Meis words, but she scowled right after, as if she just swallowed something bitter. Theres a fool here. Those were the words that the woman spat out. Oh, sounds like shes got a sharp tongue, huh. Well, Yui Mei just thought that that was probably how she was. She couldve just ended things here and ignored the woman, pretending not to know anything. However, Yui Mei couldnt do that, so she tried to talk to her again, albeit hesitatingly. Ahm, your handsdo they hurt? The woman was stupefied for a brief moment when she heard that, then she red at Yui Mei. None of your business. The woman spat those words out. She stood up and strode hurriedly away. I failed, huh. Yui Mei had been too direct with her words, apparently. However, the woman still brought the sweet potato with her, so she probably didnt hate Yui Mei to the extreme. And so, this was how she met such a peculiar court courtesan. A few hours passed after that, and now it was time for dinner. Mei Na had already finished her shift, so they had their dinner together. Todays menu was stewed sinewy meat. It was such a delightful dish that warmed the body after being chilled by the cold winter breeze, and it also tasted twice as good after dipping the manju that came with it into the broth. Hmm, its warming me from my belly. Even left-over sinewy stew can be enjoyable by eating it like this. Mei Naughed as she gazed at Yui Mei, who was gulping her food as if trying to gorge herself with all the warmth of the stew. Indeed, this stew was made from the scraps of meat from those served in the concubines pces. However, this particr part of the meat unexpectedly provided more nutrition; it was also an environmentally-friendly dish because it didnt contribute to more waste. Thus, Yui Mei thought it was a great dish. Yui Mei focused on her food, but after a while, just when the te was about to be empty, she decided to bring the topic of the court courtesan that she saw earlier. Mei Na, have you ever met a court courtesan before? Whats up all of a sudden? Actually Mei Na seemed perplexed, so Yui Mei recounted what happened earlier during todays trip. Mei Na sighed in admiration when she learned that she met her at the dumping site. Meeting a court courtesan is already rare as it is, and yet Ah Mei met one, huh. Well, I guess youre right. Mei Na was moved, so she said those words, and Yui Mei also nodded. At any rate, a court courtesans job was to enliven banquets. Usually, bothrge-scale and small-scale banquets were held in the evening, and banquets held during the daytime like Cherry Blossom Viewing were very rare. And because the court courtesan had to work during such events, it was only natural that they were night-owls. Moreover, these court courtesans spent most of their days practicing their dance and song, and they rarely step out of their residence. In short, Yui Meis daily schedule waspletely different from that of the courtesans, moreso because shes a certified morning person. Thus, the courtesans were like rare people the so-called rare characters in her previous world. Whats wrong with that courtesan? Did something happen? Did she disturb you while working, or did she y a prank on you? No, its not like that, but Yui Mei hemmed and hawed for a bit at Mei Nas question. Chapter 132: Nature Chapter 132: Nature Yui Mei wasnt bothered about that court courtesan because of the excitement of meeting a rare character well, no, she admittedly felt that pang of curiosity, but that wasnt the only reason. If shes a musician, then that arthri that fng sh bng must have been really painful. Mei Na tilted her head in confusion when she heard what Yui Mei said. Fng sh bng? Its the first time I heard about that. Mei Na looked puzzled, so Yui Mei exined the specifics of arthritis. I think youre familiar with the symptoms? The joints of the hands swell, and itll turn into an awful shape. Many women are prone to this illness. Mei Na eximed Yeah, so youre talking about that! as she pped her hands after listening to Yui Mei. There was an olddy who lived nearby when I was a child, and she had that! Mei Na nodded her head in understanding. This fng sh bng was called rheumaticism in her previous life, and it was an illness where the joints and knuckles would be swollen, and it would result in deformed joints if left untreated. The swelling was a result of the inmmation of the joints, but if left as it was, it would destroy the cartges and bones,promising the function of joints which would result in their deformation. The most famous symptoms would be the swelling and the pain; however, the difference between arthritis from the other joint diseases was that the pain urred even without moving. Other systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, loss of appetite would also ur, and the inmmation of the joints could also possibly spread to the entire body including the lungs and the blood vessels. It was amon misconception that joint diseases were diseases of the elderly, but rheumaticism could affect people regardless of their age, and women were more susceptiblepared to men. In other words, it couldnt be said that the onset of arthritis in that court courtesan was too early for her age. Around 30 percent of patients would recover without any intervention, but for the rest of the 70 percent, it would be a disease that they had to live with for the rest of their lives. Because the destruction of the joints would ur as the inmmation of the joints and tendons progressed, it was truly necessary that the treatment should be done to prevent further damage and to curtail the progression before it became too severe. If treatment was done early, the chances of recovery and maintaining quality of life also increased. She has to stop smoking first above all else! The scent of tobos wafted from that court courtesan. The symptoms of rheumaticism worsened with tobo use, so it was imperative that she stopped it immediately. Lifestyle was a huge factor, too, so it would be best to avoid unhealthy lifestyle,ck of sleep, umtion of exhaustion and stressful situations. She should also eat a bnced diet so that she could improve her body constitution. This illness can be cured by changing lifestyle and starting treatment as soon as possible, so I wanted to talk to her about this and ask if she knew that. Mei Na heaved a sigh at Yui Meis words. Ah Mei, youre such a softhearted girl, even though you didnt even know who that court courtesan is. Its just my nature. Half of Mei Na was in awe, while the other half was exasperation, but Yui Mei just smiled at her. Indeed, it was already her nature; she couldnt stand still with worry if she didnt try to find a solution. Clearly, she was just doing things for her own self-satisfaction, and she knew this fully well. Whats that nature? Somebody interjected while Yui Mei and Mei Na were talking. Ah, Aunty Yang. Yang was there when they turned around towards the direction of the voice. I heard something about a court courtesan, did you get into trouble? Yang seemed worried when she heard the words court courtesan. Its not like that. Yui Mei told Yang about their encounter at the dumping site. Yangs expression contorted. Xiao Mei, you dont think anything about court courtesans, do you? Yui Mei looked nkly at Yang when she asked her that. Eh? Ahh, yes, not particrly. Yui Mei replied. It was then that she recalled that there were people who didnt view those court courtesans favorably. Court courtesans should be called as performers instead of harlots, but still, because some of the courtesans who were among the masses usually worked in the bedroom, so it was inevitable that some people viewed them as such. There were no such harlots in the bordends, but there were shops where harlots worked in arger vige nearby. I wonder, did they do that kind of job? They were working hard, just like Yui Mei who did her cleaning duties as well as the maids who served the nobility. And yet it was quite a mystery how people would say theyre a bunch of people who loved bedroom pleasure when they heard the word courtesan. Maybe humans were creatures that possessed such a troublesome nature feeling a sense of security by looking down on others. Chapter 133: The Court Courtesan’s Circumstances Chapter 133: The Court Courtesan¡¯s Circumstances That topic should be set aside for now. Aunty Yang, do you know who that court courtesan is? Yang shook her head at Yui Meis query. The court courtesans are under the jurisdiction of the Jiaofang, after all. As I thought. Yui Mei nodded when she heard Yangs answer. Based on what she knew about Chinese dramas, Jiaofang referred to the institution of ancient Chinese dance and music in charge of teaching and managing the courtesans. The courtesans in this ce were also governed by them, apparently. In that case, theres nothing I can do but wait, maybe we can meet again coincidentally, I guess. That was what Yui Mei thought. Still, I dont really have any idea who that court courtesan is. Is that so? Yang said those words, and Yui Meis eyes widened at her response. Yang nodded before pulling a nearby chair. She sat down next to Yui Mei. Well, theres a pipa yer that is favored by the emperor. She never appeared in banquets again, so people are specting about what happened to her, and it has be a rumor. Yang poured herself some hot water from the kettle on top of the table and drank it. Pipa, huh. Yui Mei muttered, before putting her hand on her chin in contemtion. The pipa was a stringed instrument simr to the guitar of her previous world. If shes a pipa yer then that would exin the calluses on her fingers. Heh, she must be good if the emperor likes her. So, you said shes alone in the dumping site? How odd. On the other hand, Mei Na tilted her head, perplexed at Yangs story. What she pointed out was quite reasonable. Maybe the rumored person wasnt sick for a long time, requiring her to be absent, but she just suddenly disappeared? Yang nodded at Yui Meis question. I suppose so. If that courtesan had that fng sh bng sickness that Xiao Mei mentioned, then itll be understandable. A first-ss performer will never want to expose her wretched state. Yang sighed after saying those words. Mmm, so thats how it is The situation finally made some sense, but Yui Mei didnt feel settled. Still If she was the emperors favorite musician, she must have been quite a beauty, or else excellent at her job. However Yui Mei knew this was such a rude thing, and of course it didnt seem appropriate for her to even think about it that girl wasnt even that beautiful. It was even different from the in faces that the emperor preferred. There were also different kinds of being homely. In that case, then the emperor probably favored her not because of her face but for her talent. Is that person really an excellent musician? Yui Mei wasnt talented in music even in her previous life, so she wouldnt be able to distinguish whats great and whats not. Nevertheless, she still wanted to hear her y. Its because listening to music here was considered to be a precious experience that one could only have by inviting a musician, unlike in her previous world where speakers red all kinds of music any time. She wondered whether her arthritis was that bad. If it was mild, she hoped that she would try her best to recover so she could y the pipa once again. It was the day after their conversation. Yui Mei was also cleaning the same spot for today. Maybe it was more appropriate to say that she was assigned to this ce for the meantime. And just like that day, she also gathered the leaves, and she went to the dumping site in order to dispose them. Ah! Yui Mei unwittingly raised her voice in rm. The woman from yesterday was there again. She was staring nkly into space, but she stood up when Yui Meis figure caught her eye. Hey, I was waiting for you. Yui Mei was stupefied when the woman suddenly dered that. Really? Yui Mei had angered her yesterday, prompting her to leave in a huff. Yui Mei thought she didnt want to see her again. It was such an unexpected situation. The woman smiled faintly. I came here to give thanks for the sweet potato. I felt full thanks to that. Yui Mei scrunched her brows at the womans words. Shes already full with just that teeny tiny sweet potato? It didnt seem like the woman was thanking her for a tasty snack. Yui Mei looked dubious, so the woman continued on. Theres no decent food around here after all. Yui Mei heard something that she couldnt ignore by all means. I asked around about you are you perhaps the emperors favorite musician they were talking about? Yui Mei tentatively asked, and the woman drilyughed. A musician who cant y is just a worthless thing. She said those self-deprecating words with a faraway look in her eyes. Girl ying the pipa. T/N: Putting some notes here, I have to retain their Chinese reading because the words are being exined in the chapter ? tong feng gout fng sh bng arthritis Jiaofang Ancient Chinese institution for musical arts and dancing Chapter 134: Will Not Play Chapter 134: Will Not y Yui Mei scrunched her brows at the womans words. You cannot y the lute? Yeah, thats right. The woman nodded when Yui Mei pryingly asked. You already saw it yesterday, right? My hands are ugly and swollen, so if I try ying the lute in front of the bigwigs, Ill only make them feel disgusted. She then exposed the hands that she had been hiding in her sleeves. Hmm It was just a short peek yesterday, so Yui Mei examined her hands more closely this time. The woman said her hands were ugly, but based on Yui Meis observation, she had a feeling that the swelling was still somewhat light. For musicians and craftsmen who had to use elegant and dainty hand movements, it might seem devastating, but for people who did not have those professions would find it inconvenient because of the slight pain. Well, this seemingly slight inconvenience would umte eventually, and it would lead to anxiety, so this condition shouldnt be taken lightly. In other words, if the woman was treated now, she would probably be cured. Have you tried going to the doctor to have those hands treated? Yui Mei asked, but the woman just looked at her as if she was an idiot. So, where can you find a harlot who is stupid enough to call for a doctor, huh? The woman referred to herself as courtesan instead of court courtesan, so Yui Mei was taken aback. No! It doesnt matter if youre a maid, a courtdy or a court courtesan, you can still go to the doctor for a checkup! Yui Mei expressed her thoughts, but the woman just snorted. Thats only lipservice. After all, were only musicians, and even among the harlots, were the ones considered to be totally receable by countless others. .! Yui Mei couldnt say anything in reply to what the woman said about herself. There was no such thing as a receable musician. This was especially true if the woman was a high-ss musician. However, the woman referred to herself as harlot. In short, they must be treated as such by those around them here at the Hundred Blossom Pce. In fact, although it was explicitly forbidden for the emperor and the crown prince to have engaged in bedroom matters with these harlots, that wasnt applicable for the other men, who could do as they please because there would be no one to kick up a fuss even if they did. There were a huge number of eunuchs in the Hundred Blossom Pce, and the term bedroom service didnt only refer to the very act of procreation. There were a lot of other things that could be done. The court courtesan couldnt refuse if such service was required from them. Were those guys taking out their low status on these women? So, are they saying that worthless courtesans dont deserve to eat!? One part of Yui Mei was filled with indignation However, another part of her calmly considered the fact that maybe it wasnt their own volition that they bully these women. Perhaps the jealousy of the other women also yed a part, given that this was a ce filled with women. Musicians, especially those who excelled in their profession, could captivate people. That could draw the envy and ire of those who did not possess that same power. Those musicians who werent that skilled probably had be part of the background scenery in banquets and they couldnt swallow that. In other words, women who captured the interest of the emperor through their skills were probably perceived as a threat by the other women in the Hundred Blossom Pce, and so, when they would be on the brink of being eliminated if their health deteriorated. Is she really that good with the lute? Yui Mei wanted to ask her at all costs. It wasnt sure whether news of this situation would reach the emperor, and she also knew the difficulty of such a feat. Thats because there was a vast number of women here in the Hundred Blossom Pce, and the women he cared for wouldnt be that few, either. If this world had the same technology of keeping information inputers, then it might be possible to grasp the situation of each and everyone of them. Unfortunately, it was understandable that such a matter would be almost impossible in this country, given that information was passed through word of mouth. Besides, the title of favorite musician was still in the lower rung of the hierarchy of priority. It would be a different story if it referred to a beloved concubine, but if it was an ordinary musician, then they only had the banquets as their chance to shine. If peoplebelled them as sick, the others would only say is that so and send get-well gifts at most. Hmmm, what a difficult ce this harem is! Yui Mei was reminded once again how dangerous it was to stand out in this Hundred Blossom Pce. Afterward, her thoughts were filled with how to help this woman get treatment. T/N: Hi! Sorry for the veryte post! Been busy over the weekend ? I posted it together with todays release to make up for the missed chap. Thank you! ? In Ancient China, j n (), or prostitutes (I used harlot here) referred to women who took singing and dancing as their career. Although most of them would often sell extra service (bedwarming), this did not apply to all. Chapter 135: Will Not Play Chapter 135: Will Not y Yui Mei wanted to gauge how aware the woman was about her own body condition, so she started talking once again. Your hands appear to be a case of fng sh bng. Huh? The woman had an expression that said what the heck is she talking about?. Her reaction was poor, so Yui Mei exined arthritis just like how she did to Mei Na. Moreover, yours seems mild. Theres a high chance that youll be cured if you its treated, so its better if you get medical treatment. Of course theres nothing better than medicine, but improving lifestyle could also help with arthritis, you know? Yui Mei carefully restrained herself so she wouldnte off as too pushy, but her voice still retained a bit of zeal. What? Youre assie who likes spouting stifling words, aint you. Yeah, I expected this much. Half of Yui Mei already anticipated this reaction from the woman. Even in her previous life, there had been patients who were indifferent about their own body. Those people wouldnt listen no matter how fervent the people around them talked about health and enthusiastically encouraged them to go to the hospital. They were a different group from those who didnt go to the hospital because of treatment cost; instead, their usual line would be I know my body best. And more often than not, the first hospital that they went to would also be thest There were also cases like that. This woman also had the same air as those patients from her previous life insisting that she cant see a doctor while believing that she didnt need one. They didnt understand the desperation of those patients who were really worried about their condition and had wanted to go to the hospital if they could just so they could get better. But, thats the fingers of a musician, right? Is she really fine with that? Yui Mei was perplexed as she tried to inquire further. But, Im sure your fingers are very important to you as a musician, right? The woman frowned when she heard this question. See, even if this illness is just like what you said, and that my hands can be cured, I cant y the lute anymoreI havee to hate it. Yui Mei scrunched her brows when she heard what the woman said. You hate the lute? Thats right. Thats why Im d I can no longer y, thanks to these hands of mine, okay. The woman spat those words at Yui Mei, and her eyes had a hint of darkness lurking in the depths of them. Whats with this, it feels familiar to me, as if I already saw this before. So, what was this all about? Yui Mei was inwardly confused, but the woman seemed to think that she had been too harsh. Sorry, I shouldnt have said that to you, I made you feel bad. Were not even familiar with each other, but youre concerned about me, so Im grateful about that. The woman turned around after saying those words, and she hurriedly left the dumping site. Ah, wait! You have to stop smoking first to cure that arthritis! Yui Mei shouted after her. Ah, I forgot to ask her name. Yui Mei realized btedly that she had failed once again to get her name, but she soon remembered something else. Ah, yeah, those eyes. It was the womans eyes that she thought she had seen somewhere. They resembled the eyes of a family member who had taken care of a patient in the hospital in her previous life. Perhaps, that person had also lost someone. Even after the incident with the woman, Yui Mei still continued doing what she originally came to do and that was burning leaves. Still, thoughts about the woman that she just met swirled in her mind as she put the leaves that carried on her back into a heap. Hmm~ I cant help but be bothered about this. Although she understood the rational consciousness of not sticking your nose into other peoples business, she had been tucking it away deep inside her because of her nature as a nurse in her previous world and as an onlooker here in the Inner Pce. There was no way she could just pretend that nothing happened and forget all about it when that person that was filled with special circumstances passed her by. Ugh, what am I gonna do if I cant swallow my meal properly out of anxiety for her!? No, her stomach was rumbling even now, and she had already burned the leaves, so theres nothing to do but make some baked sweet potatoes. However, she didnt know what would happen afterward, so she just wanted to get it off her chest. Chapter 136: Who is that Woman? Chapter 136: Who is that Woman? Just like yesterday, Yui Mei lit the dried leaves while contemting what she should do. If that woman was a favorite of the emperor, then maybe the crown prince knew a thing or two about her? Libin was a close aide of the crown prince, so he probably had some information about this. Actually, she couldnt help but think of Eunuch Du since this matter was rted to the emperor, but she couldnt muster the courage to charge at him. Besides, there was no way she could contact Du from her side. That will be like an inevitable natural cmity waiting to happen, yup! Alright, lets try sending a letter to Libin-sama. She murmured to herself while carrying the freshly baked sweet potatoes. And so, she immediately wrote a letter as soon as she returned. The next day Libin was already at her working ce, surprisingly. Arent you too fast, Libin!? Yui Mei was shocked at the speed of the letter delivery and the immediate response. She was also surprised that he also got the information about the ce she was assigned to clean. Hey Yui Mei, why is your letter like this, huh? And then Libin startedining right from the get go. May I know what you mean by like this? Yui Mei looked perplexed, obviously ignorant of what Libin was pointing out, so he just sighed and took the letter out of his bosom pocket. Ah, thats the letter that I wrote. The letter that Yui Mei referred to only contained the words Asking for information regarding the rumored lute yer courtesan. Yup, I did a great job of just putting the gist in it, if I say so myself! Yui Mei was nodding her head, obviously pleased with herself, so Libin red at her. Its not like youre writing a military directive. Theres a better way of writing a letter than this thing. Libin was not satisfied with it, apparently. Didnt you send a proper letter with a better writing style when you wrote to other people before? So why did your words be so curt when its me youre writing to? Well, I just thought itd be better if we talked about the details in person. This was Yui Meis reply when Libinmented on her letter. She thought that it was different writing to someone you couldnt easily meet versus writing to a person who was within reach anytime. Libin scrunched his brows for a while, before giving up, saying No matter. So, what is it that you wanted to ask? What happened for you to be curious about the rumored lute yer courtesan? Libin finally addressed the real issue, so Yui Mei told him about her encounter with the courtesan at the dumping site. ording to Aunty Yangs story, the emperors favored musician is rarely seen nowadays, so I thought that maybe she was the person Aunty Yang mentioned. At any rate, courtesans were outside Aunty Yangs jurisdiction, so she doesnt seem to know anything more about that woman. Hmm, I see. Libin ced his hand on his chin after listening to Yui Meis story; it was a gesture that he frequently did whenever he was thinking. Isnt that probably Xu Zi? Yeah, now that I think about it, I dont see her anymore, even at the banquets held by the crown prince. I thought she was busy, perhaps summoned to the emperors banquets. Didnt think shed be sick. Yui Meis hypothesis was correct; Libin did know something about that woman. He even knew that her name was Xu Zi. Do you have any idea what kind of person Miss Xu is? Libin raised a brow at Yui Meis question. Oddly enough, a woman with an unknown lineage suddenly became part of the pce courtesans at a certain time. Yui Mei was surprised to hear what Libin said. Suddenly, at a certain time, he said. Based on Yui Meis knowledge of C-drama, women entered the pce to be court courtesans under two circumstances either as gifts from other ns, or else they werest surviving daughters of a fallen family. So she was not gifted by someone else, nor was she a surviving daughter of some fallen family? Yui Mei was trying to confirm it, but Libin frowned when he heard that. Youre familiar with this, Yui Mei? Its just hearsay. Courtdies dontck those kinds of rumors, after all. Yui Mei glossed it over with augh when Libin tried to probe further. Libin didnt pursue it any further, apparently convinced that it wasnt something strange. So thats also from rumors, huh. Anyway, that Xu was said to have entered the Hundred Blossom Pce just because of a single word from His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor, is it. The person whose name had beening up in conversations around Yui Mei was also brought up here. T/N: Hey guys, super sorry for thete post! Been up to my neck in rl work T.T Hoping that itll settle soon, thanks guys for understanding <3 Chapter 137: A Seemingly Popular Woman Chapter 137: A Seemingly Popr Woman Xu was said to be the emperors favorite, so it was understandable that the emperor would be involved. But then, the action of letting women who arent even his favorites enter the Hundred Blossom Pce is quite a mystery too, right. However, Yui Mei knew it would be tactless if she were to ask ifthat peson isnt really a favorite of the emperor, right?, so she tried to rephrase it. Then, werent the people be suspicious of why the Emperor suddenly allowed Xus entry into the pce? For example, the Empress did, right? Yeah, of course that happened. Libin replied to Yui Meis query. In the beginning, various spections, like whether she had a grasp of the emperors weakness or perhaps she was his lover, flew everywhere. However, all of those shallow misconceptions vanished the moment Xu yed the lute. Yui Mei was taken back at Libins words. Does that mean Xus music erased all their misgivings against her? Thats right. Libin nodded when Yui Mei tried to confirm. What the, isnt she amazing, then!? So it turned out that the courtesan at the dumping site was a far more excellent musician than Yui Mei imagined. Her desire to hear her y was fanned further because of this. By the way, Libin, have you ever heard her y the lute? Why of course. Libin replied to Yui Mei. Xu also appeared during the banquets held by the Crown Prince, after all. Im not really interested in music and stuff like that; regardless, even I would agree if somebody told me that this right here is the sound of the heavenly lute. She was that great!? Yui Mei was even more shocked when Libin said that, knowing how tight-lipped this guy was when ites to praising others. Nevertheless, she really stood under the limelight after being summoned in the emperors and the crown princes pces, so it was a given that the other pces would want to summon her too. So in reality, based on Libins story, Xu should have been very busy. Hmmm, standing out is a really difficult thing, yes? Youre right. Banquets in the evening, practice during the day now that I think about it, did she even have time to sleep? Yui Mei was scrunching her brows as she imagined Xus day-to-day life, and even Libin chimed in. In that case, her anxiety levels must have been high because of her poprity. Stress was also a factor that influenced lots of illnesses, and arthritis was no exception. Xu already had all the requirements needed to worsen arthritis, namely stress and smoking. Hmm, changing the environment as part of the medical treatment of the root cause isnt really usible now, I guess? It would be extremely difficult for a woman living in the Hundred Blossom Pce to change her circumstances. Yui Mei was arbitrarily getting worried about Xu. Libin turned his sharp gaze towards her, his brows frowning. I just want to ask, Yui Mei, why are you so fixated on Xu, fervently worrying about her to this extent? Why, you ask? Yui Mei nkly stared back at him. Of course its bothering me, so it cant be helped that Im getting anxious about her, right? Yui Mei inly replied. What other reason must be there, then. Ah! Dont tell me, Libin, are you the type of person who thinks that courtesans dont need help!? Yui Mei pouted while scrunching her brows because she remembered Xus self-deprecation. No, thats not it. Libin immediately refuted it, but he looked worried. You see, all the people that you helped so far were grateful to you, but will that be the same for Xu, given that she doesnt want any help? She might even curse you for being a busybody, you know? Libin bitterly said. Oh, I see, so hes concerned about me because of that. However, Yui Mei was already fully aware about that. So what if she doesnt thank me for helping her? At this point, its not for Xus sake that Im doing this. My own self-satisfaction is far more important than that! Besides, kindness is all about self satisfaction, after all. For Yui Mei, as long as she could keep a healthy mental state with a clear mind, and also be able to eat well, then that was all that mattered. At the very least, she was not some saint who wants to help all the worried people in the world; her actions were not based on the spirit of benevolence and service. T/N: Self-love, Yui Mei! Good thing about her loving herself is that it doesnt equate to being oblivious to the people outside her own bubble, and it has the side benefits of helping others. XD Chapter 138: Conversation about the Present Situation Chapter 138: Conversation about the Present Situation She had been a nurse for a long time back in her previous world, and there were frequent times when she received abuse rather than gratitude after helping someone. Thus, she quickly gave up any thoughts of receiving thanks whenever she did her job. Feelings of gratitude from the other party could be considered a mere bonus in this work. If people werent sincere enough to do this thankless job and were looking forward to receiving thanks instead, then they should just start a gratitude expression club for all she care. Libins expression softened at Yui Meis stand. Its good to think of it that way. Still, that philosophical view really makes you sound like an elderly. Sir Libin, thats totally uncalled for. Telling a woman that has juste of age that she sounded like an elderly was a major taboo. Anyway, setting aside this topic for the meantime I think its better to consider Miss Xus reluctance to y the lute after her arthritis is healed. Mental health is also affected during illness, after all. Yui Mei stated. The mind would adjust in order for the heart to ept the limited freedom experienced during an illness, and protect it, too. It was certainly not a bad thing. It was a coping mechanism designed so that the body and the mind could lead a healthy life. However, it was also true that people could also fall into depression and feel desperate while thinking about the situation while they were ill. Arthritis was not a hopeless case of disease, and even if the condition was severe enough to be curedpletely, it would still be possible to reduced the symptoms to a level that didnt cause much trouble in the patients daily life. It would be good to postpone thinking about important matters until the patient recovered, even if it was just to a small extent. Well, fair enough, I understand where youreing from. It seemed that Libin also thought of something because he didnt refute Yui Meis words. If me being a nosy body makes somebody else happy, then its okay, Ill be satisfied with that. I dont really care whether theyll appreciate me along the way. That was what Yui Mei said, but then, she continued on But if Xu recovers, then itll be awesome if she were to y the lute for me!! Yui Mei shook her fist while saying those words. Libin watched her in surprise, then he heaved a deep sigh. Yui Mei, I thought your self-satisfaction is enough? Im free to harbor delusions about a reward, dont I!? Yui Mei retorted. Indeed, a nurses preparedness and eptance was separate from their wild wishes of Itll be nice if that happens. Yui Mei felt she was the only one who gained something out of this conversation, so she decided to make it equal by reciprocating and ask Libin about his current circumstances. Oh, by the way, Libin, is there something strange going on? Or are you perhaps bothered about something? Hey, youre randomly spouting things out of the blue, it sounds really forced; Well, that doesnt matter now. Yeah, I have something strange going on. Lord Min apparently picked a person who lost his memories along his way to the physician for his treatment. Something huge happened, and it was unexpectedly important. Lost his memories? Yeah. That person looked like he traveled a long way, but he had forgotten who he was, nor could he remember the reason why he came to the capital. Libin nodded and exined to Yui Mei when she tried to probe further. Haa~, well, theres bound to be somebody like that, given how huge this capital is. Its true that many different kinds of people gathered here in the capital, but then, it had been moremon to find people like that near the battlefieldswas what I heard, you know? Yui Mei was surprised, but Libin corrected her. He then suddenly remembered his current position so he also corrected himself in thatst bit. Ah~ yes, yes, you mean to say you heard it from a soldier, okay. They didnt know whether somebody was eavesdropping somewhere, so even if Yui Mei was already aware of his true identity, he still wanted to be careful with his words. He was truly a serious guy. When Lord Ming attempted to turn that man over to the physician, he was told to take this man to his own home because this man is healthy so theres no need to examine him. And so, hes currently staying as a freeloader over Lord Mings mansion, apparently. Oh, Lord Ming is unexpectedly soft-hearted, huh. Yui Mei was moved by Libins exnation. With this topic, she wanted to visit his mansion once again, should Yang permit. Of course, Yui Mei was worried about the amnesiac guy, but she was also brimming with curiosity. See, its like the start of a Chinese drama, after all! It was the Chinese drama fanatic inside her that was getting all hyped up. Chapter 139: Going as Rubberneckers Chapter 139: Going as Rubberneckers The next day Libin er, Li Yong apanied Yui Mei to go to Mings mansion, and they were currently standing on the road leading to his house. When Yui Mei informed Yang about the amnesiac man that Ming picked-up, she told her to go and check up on him and immediately gave her permission to go out. Unfortunately, Im too busy right now, I dont even have time to see that guy. So, Yui Mei, just go in my stead, and bring home some interesting news at your discretion, okay. Yang sent her off with those words, and thats the reason why they were here. Sounds like Aunty Yangs starving for some gossip, huh. At any rate, the Hundred Blossom Pce was a restricted ce, so the conversation topics that woulde up were usually biased. There was no shortage of scandals in the royal court, but it was also tiresome if all they did was talk about that. Thus, when a brand new, fresh topic such as this came up, everyone would want to gobble it up. The matter of Xu also bothered her, but she couldnt do anything about it even if she was anxious, so Yui Mei decided to prioritize her curiosity. Of course, she didnt n to go there as an empty-handed rubbernecker. She was still a rubbernecker, of course, but she also brought the kao mushipan from Yang. Of course it was Mei Nas craft. Really, you guys are so nosy, huh. Li Yong was tasked to apany Yui Mei, who took up this responsibility, so he was somewhat exasperated. Actually, Yui Mei was relieved that she didnt have to go with Bearer, General Li. Every time she visited Ming, she had that impression that General Li would be the one to apany her, so she had put her guard up a bit. Going on an errand outside the Hundred Blossom Pce was considered to be a rare opportunity among the courtdies; however, they must be strictly apanied by someone to monitor them. They were never allowed to go out without a chaperone. The ordinary guards would normally apany them, but for some reason, the probability of General Lis appearance was quite high, so Yui Mei found it quite mysterious. Anyway, on to the matter onhand. Yui Mei and Li Yong finally arrived at Mings mansion that had already became familiar to her. Oh, its you, Missy, its been a while. The old woman weed them once again when they called out from the entrance. Master is at the garden. The old woman didnt even ask Mings permission and just let Yui Mei and Li Yong inside. She guided them to the garden. Its easy to guess what the authority framework is inside this house. Yui Mei nodded to herself as they followed the free-moving old woman. In human rtionships, it wasnt always true that those with status have the upper hand. In other words, Ming was no match for this olddy. And so, they walked until they reached the garden. They found a man waving a wooden stick there. He was a handsome hunk with chiseled features. Is this the rumoured guy? that was what the Yui Mei thought. Lord Ming, you have guests. The olddy called out to the guy. Eh, Lord Ming? Yui Mei was stupefied in shock when the man Ming turned to face her. I didnt know that Id have guests, though? Indeed, they suddenly came. Mings dark tone hinted say it earlier as he posed his question, but the old woman just nonchntly replied. Er, Lord Ming? Seriously? She poked Li Yongs side while asking as they stood behind the olddy. Li Yong raised his brow. Yeah, I know what you want to say, but yeah, this person is Lord Ming. Thats a lie, hes totally different! Yui Mei retorted back when she heard Li Yongs reply. You guys, stop being so rude as soon as you see me! Ming was annoyed; he heard their conversation, apparently, but Yui Mei ignored him. See, its so hard to take in! Previously, Mings hair and beard had been really shaggy, and because hecked sleep and was drinking heavily, he looked extremely unhealthy with his waxyplexion and bby body. However, he had undergone an extreme makeover after the dark circles under his eyes due tock of sleep were gone. He no longer had that extreme pallor, and his sagging cheeks had also be tighter. His swollen body had also be ripped, with just the right amount of muscles. Thus, he had turned into a very handsome middle-aged man. To be clear, he looked like apletely different personpared to before. Yui Mei had found it hard to believe that the previous Ming was truly an imperial guard, but she could see it now. Based on how he swung the wooden sword, it seemed that even his gout had improved by quite a lot. Amazing! Cant believe you deteriorated from looking like this to your previous state, huh? Really, it makes me want to study more deeply about how neglecting ones lifestyle can lead to that! Yui Mei had been thoroughly moved to the depths of her heart, but Ming was also thoroughly disgusted, on the other hand. Stop it! That doctor will reallye at that rate! Did you know, that guy really had my portrait painted when I was at that state!? Tsk, youre a rare case of being a miracle survivor, you know. Yui Mei muttered at Mingsints. These two dont seem like theyll ever get along, huh. Li Yong grumbled while staring at them both. Chapter 140: Dong Chapter 140: Dong However, Yui Mei didnte here to check Mings before and after transformation. By the way, may I know where the person rumored to have lost his memories is? Mings shoulders slumped when he saw Yui Mei looking around her. So your goal was that guy, huh? Yes, Aunty Yang requested it. Ming tried to confirm it, so Yui Mei replied while nodding her head. He then muttered,That woman is as gossipy as ever. I was wondering what youre up to this time around, but as long as it doesnt have to do anything with me then good. It seemed that Ming was on his guard just in case they would disturb him again. Unfortunately, Yui Mei really didnt have any business with Ming. Yang didnt take the opportunity to make requests concerning him, either. Ming was really just a link that would satisfy her curiosity this time around. Wheres Dong? Ming seemed relieved that they werent interested in him, so he asked the olddy. Well, he said that he would go out for a walk, but I think its time for him to return any moment now. The old woman replied. So that person is named Dong? Yui Mei asked, but Ming shook his head in reply. Nah, its just a temporary name. He doesnt remember his own name, but its a hassle if he doesnt have any name to call him by. He did tell me that he came from the east when I asked how he got to the capital. Ohoh, so thats how it is. When Ming replied with those words, Yui Mei understood, and she was once again filled with awe at the same time. He was unexpectedly a sincerely considerate person. Even if a person didnt have a name, people could still hold a conversation with him by calling him Oy or You. However, he didnt do so. He even went out of his way to prepare a temporary name to call him; didnt this show how kind he is? Li Yong said (as Libin) that many of the amnesiacs came from battlefields. Then perhaps Ming was used to interacting with such people, then. But, the mere fact that he didnt just arbitrarily name the guy with just about anything also shows how remarkable he is. Ming giving a name rted to the persons origin also gave a favorable impression. Back when she was in the bordend vige, Yui Mei once saw a person who lost his memories due to shock after being caught in a sandstorm while crossing the desert. The vige head had called him with such a crude name Wuming, literally No Name. Yui Mei reconsidered her impression of Ming, albeit just a bit. Hello, Im back. An unfamiliar guys voice resounded from the entrance. Your goal Dong is here, it seems. Ohhh!? Yui Mei could hardly suppress her curiosity inwardly, but she still put on a stoic face on the outside. She followed Ming to the entrance, and the sight of a guy washing vegetables by the well greeted them. He seemed to be around the same age as Li Yong; he was tall, and even though he wasnt really handsome, he didnt look in, either. He exuded that naivete ambiance that would make people feel he was an amiable person thats easy to befriend. He has a toned, well-built physique with solid muscles; he didnt look like a merchant, and were farmers this brawny? that was what Yui Mei thought. Hes a soldier, huh. Li Yong whispered. Is that so? Yui Mei softly asked, and Li Yong nodded in return. The way his muscles are toned is different from that of a farmer. Besides, his hands have calluses from holding the sword. The position of calluses is also different when holding farming tools versus a sword. Hmm, hmm. Yui Mei was listening intently to Li Yongs pointers, when that guy Dong suddenly noticed them. Lord Ming, I have returned. Dong repeated his greetings. Did you get something out of your stroll? No Dongs face fell at Mings question. Well, theres no need to hurry. Its fine, just take it easy. You can stay here as long as you want. Ming lightly said to the dejected looking Dong. Did you buy those vegetables? No. The old woman then asked about the vegetables that he washed, but Dong shook his head in response. One of the street stalls vegetable vendor gave it to me. Theyre leftovers because theyre in bad shape, so take them, he said. Dong replied, beforementing about Yui Mei and Li Yong. Are these people Lord Mings guests? Nah, theyre no guests, just nosy rubberneckers. Ming corrected when Dong asked. Well, hes right, though. Yui Mei was indeed a rubbernecker. - T/N: Sorry for the dyed chap T.T Chapter 141: Dong’s Circumstances Chapter 141: Dong¡¯s Circumstances Yui Mei stepped forward and introduced herself. Hello, I am a courtdy from the Hundred Blossom Pce, and the subordinate of Mings old friend. And I am her escort. It actually didnt matter that Yui Mei didnt say her name, but Li Yong didnt bother to give it, too. Was it perhaps because it would seem off that Yui Mei wouldnt name herself but he would? Apparently, he respected Yui Meis wish to remain anonymous. I see, nice to meet you, Miss Court Lady of the Pce. I am Dong, and I am the person currently under their care. Dong also introduced himself, then they moved on to another ce. It was decided that they would enjoy the gao that Yui Mei had brought. Of course, Yui Mei also had her share. Everyone sat around the table. The olddy reheated the gao and distributed it with the tea that she had prepared. The olddy also secured some for herself apparently; as expected of her. And so, they enjoyed the gao with everyone. Hm, Mei Nas gao are so yummy, no matter when, where and who you eat it with! Yui Mei happily had her fill, then they moved on to their real purpose. Actually, we heard about Mr. Dongs condition. It seems that you lost your memories? Yui Mei was direct to the point, but Dong didnt stiffen, seemingly used to being asked by the people around him. He nodded, instead. Mr. Dong, cant you remember anything at all? Yui Mei probed further. Dong nodded before replying. But, theres a persistent thought that I should go to the capital at all costs, although it is quite vague. I decided to go for it since I dont have anywhere else to go, and thats how I reached this ce. Hmm, is that so. Yui Mei gauged that Dong didnt seem to havepletely forgotten everything and it made her feel relieved. She also dealt with patients suffering from post-traumatic amnesia after getting involved in idents from time to time. As long as they had the tiniest clue about their memories, their treatment options would also increase. Since you remembered that you have to go to the capital, there must be something urgent and important business that you have to do here? Yui Mei pointed it out, and Dong seemed to reflect on it while he replied. Important mattersYes, I think it is indeed something tremendously important. Thats why I wanted to remember what it is as soon as possible, and I tried several things in order to hasten my recollection. I also considered the possibility of remembering it if I walked around the city, but to no avail; I still cant remember anything. Dong seemed miserable as those words spilled from him. Mmmm, seems like hes brooding over it When a person brooded over it, remembering would be much more difficult, and the person might be more anxious. Anxiety wouldplicate all illnesses. It was mentioned that you came from Dong; where is it, precisely? Li Yong also started interrogating Dong. It seemed that he was also curious. The vige head told me that my own vige was somewhere near the provincial borders of the neighboring country and this empire. He told me that he picked me up because I had copsed in the mountain. Provincial borders, is it? Thats quite far. Li Yong seemed to be deep in thought after hearing Dongs exnation. Yui Mei saw him exchanging nces with Ming, who lightly nodded when the two mens eyes met. It seemed that they had a tacit understanding. Whats up with that, Im itching to know whats going on Yui Meis heart was pounding a bit, because it seemed that something was about to unfold like the situations in Chinese dramas. She tried to calm herself by taking a sip of tea that the old woman poured for her, when her attention was suddenly caught by the unexpected deliciousness of the tea. Perhaps, this old woman was actually an excellent maid when she was young? Yui Mei felt refreshed after having that tasty tea, then she turned to Dong after deliberately stering a bright smile on her face. Mr. Dong, did you know that lost things seem harder to find the harder you look for them? Theres also a chance of unexpectedly recalling them just when you forgot all about searching. Is that true? Dong widened his eyes in surprise at Yui Meis words. Yes, thats how it is. Thats why, Mr. Dong, dont brood over it and just take it slow. Yui Mei said, but Dong shook his head. No, I cant just wait idly. I must hurry and remember them, because the longer I stay here, the more troublesome it is for this kind home. No need to worry about that. Ming refuted Dongs words, but he still looked gloomy. Well, its not like I dont understand how he feels Without memory, purpose and meaning, it would be easy to fall into the feeling of security,Oh, its okay to stay here, so he must be feeling anxious about that. Chapter 143: Reporting Chapter 143: Reporting Hmm, so thats how it is. So the guy he picked up came to the capital from the east, huh. Yang muttered as she sipped her tea. It was dinner time and they were inside the dining hall. Yui Mei immediately reported to her as soon as she returned from the Inner City. If its the east, then that means hes a person who came from the battlefield in the provincial borders? Yang asked Yui Mei, who then replied with another question after taking a sip of her own tea that Yang brewed for her. Li Yong also said that there are a lot of people who lost their memories on the battlefield. Is the eastern region really riddled with war all the time? Yui Mei grew up in the bordends which was far too remote and totally detached from bloody affairs. That region was surrounded by desert, and the people who were still capable of attacking them even after crossing that severe desert were non-existent. Thats the reason why Yui Mei couldnt grasp the reality of war. When Yang heard her query, she looked like she was deep in thought. Hmm, lets see, its probably more urate to describe it as a never-ending skirmish instead of a war. Actually, no troops were dispatched for war, so its not a real war, I guess. I get it now. Yui Mei then nodded at her exnation. Themoners would gauge the possibility of war based on whether theres a generalship dedicated to it, apparently. And right now, the only current general was General Li. War was also amon theme in the Chinese dramas that she watched in her previous life. There was nock of triggers of war, be it Internal dissension in the country or dispute with foreign kingdoms. Based on that premise, it seemed that it really wasnt a war, because they didnt hear any news or rumors about mass recruitment in the Hundred Blossom Pce, and it also seemed that the state of war with Xuzhou was also at a standstill. Thus, it was possible to think that the war had abated. In that case, then this empire is at peace right now? Yui Mei thought, but Yang continued on. Still, that guy is as soft-hearted as ever. Yang sighed, slightly exasperated. When Ming identally witnessed His Majestys sneaking out, His Majesty probably took advantage of that soft-hearted nature of his and forced him to go along with him. He really couldnt easily change his nature, huh, just like you. Yang nced at Yui Mei while saying that. Yui Mei pouted when she was told that she was simr to Ming, but there was something that captured her interest. Is that why His Majesty the Emperor treasured Lord Ming? Yang ran her mouth, and the revtion that would be taken as disrespectful words by anyone who heard them made Yui Mei unwittingly ask. Yang replied with Thats right. Who on earth would willingly apany somebody when sneaking out? His head will fly if something happened to His Majesty, you know? If its me, Ill definitely pretend not to notice anything scurry out of the way if I chance on something like that. Yang said those words with gusto, while Yui Mei inwardly thought that it was probably true. If it was someone like Li Yong whose whole family served the crown prince, then it was probably different, but in Mings case, he was just someone who came from another ce outside the capital, working away from home. He didnt have any connection with the Emperor from the start. Loyalty wasnt ingrained to such a person. Oh, so Ming wasnt someone who could leave things alone. Yui Mei felt that Ming was indeed quite simr to her, so her opinion of him rose a bit once again. That should be set aside for now. Yui Mei got some hong dou tang a sweet soup made of red mung beans for dessert. It was simr to the sweet red bean soup of Japan, but this one was more lightly vored. The weather had been remarkably cold recently, and this red bean soup that warmed them up was really delicious. Mmmfffmm, so happy. Yui Meis cheeks rxed with every spoonful of the hong dou tong. Yang watched her as she also ate the same thing, and for a brief moment, both of them were engrossed with huffing and puffing, blowing on the soup as they ate. Oh, by the way. Yang abruptly said. Xiao Mei, theres something I want to discuss with you about work. The cleaning of the unpopr ces is already behind schedule. Are you willing to go there? Chapter 142: Take It Slow Chapter 142: Take It Slow In the midst of this, Yui Mei thought that at the very least, she could give Dong a purpose, so she decided to speak out. Mr. Dong, Lord Ming lives a really miserable solitary bachelor life, but now that youre here, it seems like hes also enjoying himself, and its making him more energetic in life. Ming red daggers at Yui Mei, apparently inwardly saying something along the lines of Stop saying somebodys life is miserable! However, he remained silent. And then Yes, thats true. This old woman here is also tired of living with only Master to look at. As expected, having young guys around is truly great. Yui Mei didnt have any idea what the old womans purpose was, but she looked really sincere as sheughed and said those words. Nah, she really mean it. That was Yui Meis guess as she looked at the olddys eyes. She mustve endured a lot while taking care of Ming back when he wasnt being treated for gout yet. Ming had a murderous look stered on his face, but he didnt dare say a bad word to the olddy. Dong seemed bewildered, so Yui Mei pushed on. Its like the saying more haste, less speed that somebody said. Rather than getting depressed over worrying about it, its better to enjoy the fun things in life. The time wille that youll remember them even if you dont want to. If that happens, youll definitely be busy afterward, so its better to enjoy the moment and have a break while you still can. Dong was still baffled even after hearing Yui Meis exnation, but he eventually chuckled . What a surprise, youre a girl who says such amusing things. But then, hmm, indeed, maybe what you said is unexpectedly true. Yui Mei smiled, perceiving that she seeded a bit in changing Dongs feelings. Thats it! Besides, its a rare opportunity to be in the capital, so how about doing the things that you can only do here in the capital? Yep, I heard from somebody that there are things like that. Like watching a y or listening to music. Oh right, I heard from someone that there are traveling lute yers. I came from the countryside and lived in the Hundred Blossom Pce ever since I arrived, so Ive never met one. Indeed, when Yui Mei mentioned that she hadnt listened to music in this life Yang told her that there were many travelling lute yers in the capital. Apparently, the quality was very unpredictable, but it was a very popr custom to invite these travelling lute yers to a banquet held in the private households. The people in the capital are really refined; even themoners could enjoy music while drinking. I also want to look for a travelling lute yer and listen to her. Yui Mei expressed her opinions, but Li Yong quickly retored. Theres no way you can do that, right. Those kinds of people freqely hang out in bars near the red-light district. No matter who it is, theres no way anyone would take a young girl to such a messy ce. Well, theyre harlots who cant enter the huge stores, after all. Ming followed up after Li Yong. Well, I already know that the travelling lute yers identity is like that! Yui Mei pouted at Li Yongs sound argument. But Im really, really interested in the lute! I want to listen to music!! Indeed, humans were like this, when they came across something unobtainable, the more they wanted to have it. Ever since she encountered Xu the lute yer and learned that she could no longer y music, Yui Meis desire to hear it be stronger. I want to listen to music! It doesnt matter if its not Xu this time! What a troublesome girl. Li Yong muttered under his breath as he stared at Yui Mei who looked so adamant in listening to music. Music On the other hand, Dong seemed taken aback, and he looked as if something struck him. Oh, did he think of something? Then, perhaps, Dong was someone who led a refined life where he could listen to music. - T/N: Sorry guys! Something came up and I mistakenly uploaded 143 first in my haste XD It should be todays chap, 142 should be a make-up chap for Monday. XD Chapter 144: Work! Chapter 144: Work! She was also assigned to ces where cleaning work had stagnated from time to time. However, Yangs expression this time around bothered her. Thats quite a deep expression shes making, somehow. Im okay with it, but may I know where it is? Yui Mei was on her guard as she asked Yang, who then answered. Its Jiaofang. Ill go! Yui Mei replied in a sh, which made Yang heave a sigh. Well, I already knew youre going to take that bait. Xiao Mei, you should ask first for more information, you know. Yang chided Yui Mei for going head-on. UrkYes, Ill be more careful. Yang sermoned her, and rightfully so, thus Yui Mei nodded her head. Indeed, getting information was crucial before doing anything. Besides, she also held some doubts regarding this job that fell on herp without asking for it. Why is the cleaning duty at Jiaofang so unpopr? Is it because of the courtesans? It was the first time that Yui Mei heard about how people didnt like cleaning Jiaofang. Well, to be precise, Jiaofang had never cropped up in their conversations, so she didnt know that such a ce existed prior to this. When she finally knew what Jiaofang was, she assumed that the reason why she hadnt worked there before was because novice courtdies werent allowed entry, due to the expensive stuff such as musical instruments. Yui Mei was wrapping her head on such a theory, but Yang just made aplicated expression. Yeah, there are a bunch of guys like that over there, but theres no need to interact with those courtesans in the first ce, so theres really no reason for the courtdies to loath that ce, either. On the contrary, they even thought that they could be carefree without fear of being scolded since there are no higher-ups over there. A lot of people dont like that so were getting a lot ofints from Jiaofang. Yui Mei blinked her eyes in confusion when she heard Yangs exnation, so she posed another question. Then what is the reason, if I may ask? Is it like the case with cleaning around the chestnut tree? Did something bad happen? I dont think so? That ce shouldnt be troublesome. Actually, it had been normally cleaned before. Im not sure when it started, but that ce became strangely unpopr. Yang shook her head. Even she didnt know the answer. Libin also told Yui Mei that those courtesans were harlots that were formerly owned by somebody else and sent as gifts, or else they were survivors of fallen families. Even if that harlot was a gift, she needed to follow the etiquette of the pce, so there were a lot of those harlots who were born into wealthy families. In short, these courtesans probably had never done any cleaning themselves. If nobody came to clean this ce, then wouldnt it be like Lady Wangs ce back when Yui Mei cleaned it for the first time? I wonder if the instruments are now covered all over with dust; Yui Mei became worried about that, so her desire to clean that ce became stronger. Sorry for always pushing those unwanted ces to you. But, can you clean that ce while checking the situation? Yang asked and Yui Mei nodded in return. In short, Ill go investigate the reason why the others dont like that ce while cleaning it? Thats right. I can only think of Xiao Mei when ites to odd jobs like this. Yang looked worried when Yui Mei tried to confirm whats expected of her. Yui Mei sensed that the winds going in an unexpected direction. It might be inappropriate, but its making Yui Meis nerves tingle in excitement. Wait, isnt it like Im doing detective work like a sleuth!? Yui Mei was also fairly interested in the mystery and thriller genre in her previous life. She didnt want to be a person directly rted to the case, but shes thrilled to be part of the investigation party. Please leave it to me! I, this Yui Mei, am confident in my burning spirit of curiosity! Whatever investigation it is, Im ready for it!! Well, just keep that spirit of curiosity in check, okay. Anyways, Im leaving it to you. Contrary to Yui Meis lively deration, Yang seemed to be uneasy. Chapter 145: In Jiaofang Chapter 145: In Jiaofang The Jiaofang was located in a ce near the Hundred Blossom Pce. The Four Consorts pces were located on each side of the Jiaofang. The mansions of the low-ranking concubines were all lined up towards the castle walls. The closer the mansion was to the wall, the lower the status of the concubine. It was only natural that the Jiaofangs location was here, considering that the most important clients would be the Four Consorts, and the courtesans had to be dispatched to the venue where the banquets were held. Yeah, I dont reallye here because of a lot of things, I guess. Only the high-ranking courtdies were allowed to venture in the area around the pces of the Four Consorts. In that case, given the proximity of Jiaofang to the pces of the Four Consorts, its highly likely that only the high-ranking courtesans were permitted to enter and leave that building. It was not a surprise that Yui Mei didnt know anything about it. Okay, lets just leave that thought behind. Time to clean up, clean up. No matter what she wanted to do, she could do that after she was done with the job she was sent to do. And so, Yui Mei immediately immersed herself in cleaning the ce. The Jiaofang was far more dirty than she imagined. Only the bare minimum cleaning was done to the ce, and they maintained it so that it wasnt really difficult to live in it, but it wasntfortable to stay here, either. Its a bit better than Lady Wangs ce, but I dont want to live here. That was what Yui Mei thought. This time, she didnt have to clean the ce alone unlike back then. Unfortunately, there should be other housekeepers in the Jiaofang, but she couldnt sense their presence. They were probably staying in a separate ce. Yang didnt specifically mention that she had to cooperate with them to do the work based on the ranking. The monk didnt tell her anything, either, so Yui Mei decided to just clean the ce with her usual method. She decided to start outside the building, and began dusting as usual when she suddenly realized something. Not really sure, but there are lots of ces that are neatly cleaned, and there are some that looked like they hadnt been touched. Theyre all over the ce, huh. Yui Mei took the whole ce in, staring back and forth from where she was standing before shaking her head. Indeed, there were areas that didnt have a lot of umted dust, seemingly been cleaned quite reasonably well. There were also some patches that looked made her wonder just how long they hadnt been cleaned. She didnt know what to make of this troublesome method. If theyre gonnaze off, then they couldve just divided the ce so that they could skip their jobs easily. Yui Mei was perplexed at her predecessors system of cleaning, when Hm? Isnt it quite stinky? Yui Mei didnt notice it right away because she was wearing her cleaning mask, but now the smell was sharp as it wafted in the air, towards her. Sniff, sniff, Where is this smelling from? Yui Mei removed her mask and sniffed the scent that came with the wind. It was nowhere a pleasant smell, more like irritating. They werent anywhere near the kitchen, so it certainly wasnt rotting trash. Besides, it had a different odor from biodegradable waste. Yui Mei followed the smell that strangely stuck to her nose; she couldnt pinpoint the scent and yet it was strangely familiar, tugging at her consciousness for some reason. She finally spotted a hole that looked like it was dug then buried again in a vacant lot at the edge of the building. Thats quite an intense smelling from this hole. Apparently, this ce was upwind, so when the wind blew it also diffused the smell. The structure of the building created a path for the wind, making some ces stinkypared to other spots. What on earth did they bury here? Trash must be properly disposed, not buried! Yui Mei was filled with indignation as she tried to dig the hole with her broom stick. Oh, what do we have here? The ashes of something that had been burned were exposed. Tobo ash? But then, if its tobo ash then they couldve just disposed it along with the other trash, so why did it have to be buried here like this? Chapter 146: Troublesome Scent Chapter 146: Troublesome Scent Still, this sure is stinky They use a smoking pipe to enjoy tobo in this world. Xu also smoked tobo previously, but she didnt stink like this. In that case, this odor must not be something characteristic of tobo. Maybe they mixed something into tobo to make it this smelly? Nevertheless, Yui Mei felt inexplicable when she thought about the trouble of suffering from the stench while smoking tobo. Wait, what? Something about the words tobo and pungent odor seemed to resonate in the corner of her mind. There should be some kind of warning regarding these two. It involved doing something dangerous, so people must be warned against it. tobo and a strange smell eh, wait a minute, is this the odor of ammonia? Yeah, thats it, its stinking of ammonia!! Yui Mei finally realized the true nature of the scent that had bothered her. She wondered whether the residue of the ammonia-smelling tobo was, in fact, opium? Opium is a substance made from the fluid extracted from poppy, and it is widely known to be addictive. It can be refined to create morphine and heroin. Morphine is medically used as painkiller and sedative, while heroin is a narcotic drug. Opium had a long history even in her previous life, but its addictive properties shouldnt be widely known during the ancient times. Smoking tobo was one of the ways people enjoyed opium back then. It might seem difficult to distinguish opium from normal tobo at first nce, but opium has some characteristics that are more obviouspared to tobo. Opium has a characteristic odor, and that was the scent of ammonia. The hospital where Yui Mei had been working in her previous life cooperated with the police and they were working on a product that could promptly detect drug damage. During one of the meetings as part of that effort, and Yui Mei was specially shown the actual product at that time. Back then, she thought that people must be crazy for wanting to smell it everyday. In other words, thats how stinky opium was. And for this scent to be here at this time, that would mean. Opium must be popr here, then? Yui Mei groaned at the sudden discovery of such an important matter. The courtdies must have avoided this ce because of they hated the stench of opium that had spread inside the Jiaofang. This smell was more than enough to make them sick. In her previous life, Yui Mei heard that the children who were tasked to collect poppy juice for opium got sick from smelling it directly because they were the same height as the flowers on the nt. What should I do now? This was certainly something that was beyond Yui Meis control. She tried to organize her thoughts. She knew that opium was called the poppy juice in the pharmacy, and it was used as a painkiller and a sedative, but it was extremely pricey. It was not something that courtesans would easily get their hands on. On top of its usage being highly limited, she wasnt sure whether the toxic properties of opium were widely known among the physicians. Opium does not have such a strong narcotic effect when as an oral medicine, after all. So, how much did Chen know about this? Ugh, who on earth came up with this opium tobo, huh!? Goodness, no matter which world it was, there were people who were using their brains for such unnecessary things. Besides, it would be even more dangerous if they knew that opium was addictive and still spread it around. Courtesans were people who had ess to the emperors inner circle, after all. Consult I need to consult someone!!! There was only one person whom she could consult about this kind of thing. Alright, I have to rush to Libin!! Two heads were better than one when dealing with such troublesome matters. Yui Mei decided her course of action, so for evidence, she gathered the ashes that were buried on the ground and wrapped it inside the cloth that she brought with her. However, she couldnt carry this stinky bundle with her for long. It was probably a mixture of burnt stuff and stuff that was too damp to catch fire. It would be infinitely stinkier if that wasnt the case. Sorry, Ill continue cleaning next time, okay? The scent was gone after she cleaned the ce, so she stood up while inwardly apologizing to no one in particr. What are you doing there? Somebody called out behind her, and Yui Mei jumped. Erm, what? She hesitantly and slowly turned around, and Xu, the pce courtesan she saw back at the dumping site, was standing there. T/N: Im not sure how this is connected with Dongs matter, but its the first time that Yui Mei is dealing with two cases at the same time XD Chapter 148: Sorry for being Too Stinky Chapter 148: Sorry for being Too Stinky Libin peered at Yui Meis face with a scowl. Mm, youre a bit stinky, you know? Libin covered his nose with his sleeve after saying that. Is that something you say to a maiden, huh!? Well, Yui Mei was indeed smelly. Its not like I want to be smelly! I encountered something thats beyond me, so I wanted to draw somebody else in this. Thats why Im here! Yui Mei grumbled as she exined the reason foring here, but Libin red at her. Yui Mei, keep appearances, will you. Libin warned her. Oh no, I did it! Yui Meis mind had been a mess, so her true thoughts unwittingly spilled from her mouth. Let me rephrase it! I am here because I have something to consult you with! Toote. Libin flicked her forehead when she tried to repeat what she said in proper terms. It was a bit painful, so Yui Mei red back at Libin as she pressed her forehead. Itll definitely turn red!! It cleared your mind, right. Yui Mei gritted her teeth as tears welled in her eyes, but Libin nonchntly replied. Still, its rare that youre flustered to this extent. You look like your head is in the clouds no matter when it is, after all. Libin said with a raised brow, so Yui Mei pouted in return. Stop that tone please, it seems to me that youre saying Im a blockhead. Well, arent you like that while carrying that manju of yours? Yui Meiined, but Libin just blocked her again smoothly. Well, I guess thats true And she realized that she agreed with him. At any rate, Yui Mei didnte here to consult him about herself, and she stood out too much so it was decided that she would enter the crown princes pce. The stench was terrible so instead of entering from the main entrance, he took her to the back gate. Yeah, its really stinky. Yui Mei was taken to where the crown prince was. He was sitting beside the table and elegantly enjoying his tea, but the first words that came from him was this. Ugh, I wanna quickly throw these ashes away! What would Yui Mei do if the horrible odor seeped into her? Actually, she wanted to consult Libin, but she never thought about talking with the crown prince. She wanted to pass the information to him through Libin. However, the crown prince replied that it would be too troublesome so she bettere in person and talk to him directly, so she was taken here. Yui Mei asked permission to open the windows first inside the room where the crown prince, Libin and Xiuling were present. The windows had been closed because the weather was increasingly bing cooler, but the venttion was poor because of that. I apologize for this dreadful stench, but I wanted to consult you regarding the source of this odor, so I brought it with me. Yui Mei exined before taking the wrapped ashes out from her sash. Please allow me to warn you beforehand. Please do not smell this within close range. It will make you sick. Yui Mei said, then she opened the parcel. The offensive strench of Ammonia became stronger, assaulting them. Yeah, its a smell that can really make you sick. Xiuling frowned. She fanned the air with a folding fan in an attempt to redirect the flow of the smell somewhere else. I am now closing this. Its a scent that I dont want to smell that much, too. She had shown the contents of the parcel to everybody so she was about to put it back to her sash, when Libin handed her a box. Put it here. Yui Mei did as she was told, then he took it outside the window She felt refreshed. Although the scent still lingered, it wasnt as bad before because it was no longer near her. She was grateful for Libins consideration. So this is where the saying that the nose bends because of the scent came from. Xiuling said. She brewed the tea once again and served it to everyone as an attempt to remove the stench from their nose. Sigh~ the teas delicious. Yui Mei finally felt relieved after carefully sniffing the aroma of the tea before drinking it. Chapter 149: The True Form of the Smell Chapter 149: The True Form of the Smell Its the first time that Ive be aware that such a stinky smell exists. The crown prince seriously stated while drinking tea. In her previous life, this ammonia smell was described as medicinal scent, but in this world, such a description was used for the smell of herbs, so it was an entric smell that was unfamiliar to most people. This kind of smell that lingers forever inside the nose isnt thatmon, after all. The crown prince posed a query to Yui Mei when he saw that everyone wasfortable after having tea. So, Yui Mei, what is that thing? Yui Mei was eating one of the pastries that had been served with the tea, so she hurriedly gulped it down before she replied. I think thats juice extracted from poppy. I discovered it buried in the ground at the Jiaofang while I was cleaning, but theres no doubt about that distinctive smell. Jiaofang? It was Libin who reacted to what Yui Mei said. Yui Mei, did you perhaps go to see Xu? Libin said, and the crown princes eyes widened when he heard that. I already heard about Xu Zi from Libin. So, do you have any progress with her? Yui Mei wasnt surprised that what she and Libin discussed reached the crown prince. She only thought that it was natural. Theres no luck with Xu, but this is a different matter altogether. Yui Mei made an intro first before discussing the particrs about her discovery. Actually, Aunty Yang told me that nobody wanted to go to the Jiaofang to clean that ce, so she requested me to find the reason. But I suddenly ran into that reason. So youre saying that the reason is that stench? But you said its poppy juice. The crown prince asked while ncing outside the window. Yes. That poppy juice, the source of that stench, is extracted from the flowers of poppy and processed. Its used as an oral painkiller medicine. I heard from Physician Chen that poppy juice is an imported product from a foreign country. Poppy flowers? Xiuling tilted her head in confusion when she heard Yui Meis exnation. Poppy, those flowers that bloom in the backyard? As expected of Xiuling, elite maids even know the name of the flowers. Oral medicine? But that looked like tobo ash, though? The crown prince looked perplexed, so Yui Mei continued. Indeed, in medicinal arts, you dont inhale poppy juice like a tobo. If one inhaled the smoke like you do with tobo, then its for a separate purpose or theres another intention. The crown prince and the rest nced at each other. I cant imagine any other use other than as a medicine. There are medicines that can be used as an ingredient to make the food delicious. Is it something like that? No, Mother, its tobo so it is not for food. Unfortunately, its not for something as peaceful as that. The crown prince and the others tried toe up with the answer, so Yui Mei answered them. If you inhale the poppy juices smoke like you do with tobo, youre going to experience extreme euphoria. Euphoria? Its a bit hard to give an example, but let me try. Its like the person will feel that he became omnipotent, and he will experience a pleasant feeling for an extended period of time. In short, its like being in a state of having thoughts such as I feel so great, this is super awesome, Im the best in the world!. I see. And then? The crown prince looked as if hes teetering betweenprehension and bafflement, but he urged her to continue anyway. The reason why people suck on it like tobo instead of taking it as pills is that smoking brings a stronger effect on the brain er, the organ inside your head that controls your thoughts pared to ingesting it as pills. As you see, the stronger the usage, the crazier the effect, resulting in euphoria. Yui Mei pointed to her head as she exined. Libin had aplicated expression when he heard this, so he posed another query. So youre saying that its a simr feeling to what the drunkards say when they cant stop drinking after having too much booze. Like, I feel pleasant when Im drinking. But then, whats the difference with this one? Ahh, yeah, just like how Lord Ming was before. Yui Mei immediately understood who Libin was tacitly referring to. Chapter 150: Tricky Flower Chapter 150: Tricky Flower Yui Mei then exined about this matter. Its simr, but maybe its better to say that the process that leads to addiction is almost the same. But then, the alcoholic beverage that ordinary people buy cant cause those addiction symptoms. It has to be a liquor with a very high concentration of alcohol, and it must be drunk in huge quantities for it to produce the same addiction. In contrast, you only need a teensy bit of poppy juice and thats enough. Indeed, the techniques used to produce the alcoholic beverages that were sold in this country werent really sophisticated. Thats why most of the liquor avable here was cheap liquor with low alcohol content. Well, even if the alcohol content was low, it was enough for people to get drunk with these cheap liquor. However, the gap was hugepared to the ones being sold in her previous life. Yui Mei already knew what the liquors of her previous life were like, so when she first tasted the wine here, she thought it was almost water. Strong alcohol that could make people drunk would naturally fetch a high sum. A person who could drink so much of that must be very wealthy, indeed. On the other hand, just a tiny amount of poppy juice was needed for someone to be addicted to it. When poppy juice is ingested as oral medicine, the intestines absorb it, and after disintegration, most of them are expelled from the body so it doesnt really harm it if properly used. But, if people smoked it, the ingredients would directly damage the brain. Thats the reason why theres a mountain of difference between the effects. The crown prince listened to Yui Meis exnation, before posing another query. Can you borate and give me a more concrete example of that so-called damage to the ce called brain? Simply put, the inhaledponents of poppy juice would damage the brain, and it would alter the mechanism responsible for thinking, making the person crave that poppy juice. The three people who heard Yui Meis answer knitted their brows. Thats not a story that can be taken lightly. Damage? Even though the person didnt hit their head hard enough? The crown prince was still frowning, while Xiuling seemed to find the effect of poppy juice baffling. Yui Mei continued on with her exnation. The brain is a delicate thing, so it can be broken easily with abnormal stimuli. The euphoria would also vanish once the person stopped smoking, of course. If the person kept on inhaling it just to experience that euphoria once again, he would reach the point where he wouldnt be able to stop himself from using that poppy juice. If this happens, the person inhale it again and again as if being controlled by that poppy juice. If that continues on, the person will go into a debilitating condition of mental derangement, finally ending in death. Please bear in mind that once youve tasted it, you will never be able to get rid of it. Thats what inhaling poppy juice is all about. Thats scary Xiuling was pale as she muttered, apparently imagining the terminal symptoms the person would have. Is there a cure? Libin asked, and Yui Mei replied. Unfortunately, theres no way to restore a brain that had been damaged and changed. If the person who reached that state wanted to live a decent life, he must constantly fight against his cravings for poppy juice for his entire life. He had to act and live so that he would appear decent. Just imagine how difficult it is to live ones life pretending to be something that the person wasnt.. Thats why those addicted people would get frustrated in the middle of rehab, immediately returning to their habits and relying on euphoria to regain their confidence. In short, that poppy juice tobo isnt a decent thing, huh. Indeed. Yui Mei energetically nodded when Libin expressed his observation. She exined the details step by step until they finally understood, and that was the most important matter. The more I listen to you, the more I see how dreadful this is. The crown prince appeared to have understand their conversation, and he heaved a deep sigh. I am shocked that a thing like a poppy flower have the power to produce such a lethal thing. Do they bloom in this pces garden? The crown prince seemed uneasy, so Yui Mei continued on. Actually, not all poppy flowers can produce poppy juice. There are also perfectly harmless poppies among them. Oh my, is that so? Xiuling seemed relieved when she heard that. She must be fond of poppies, perhaps. There are varieties of poppies with huge, beautiful flowers, after all. These types of nts looked quite mboyant, and they were perfect for adorning the flower beds. In that case, is there a technique to check if the poppy is harmful or not? For example, color of flowers, shape, size and so on. Libin then asked, but Yui Mei could only look at him with difort. No, I heard that theres no such easy way to tell them apart. Besides, poppy seeds are harmless, and they are usually sold as food, after all. In short, handling poppies was quite tricky. Besides, poppies blooming in the flower beds are harmless, and even if you process the flowers, they wont be enough to make poppy juice. You need massive amounts of flowers, so you have to grow them in wide fields. Then, there shouldnt be any problems even if we admire the flowers in the garden, right? Xiuling looked relieved when she heard what Yui Mei said. Chapter 151: Where Did It Came From? Chapter 151: Where Did It Came From? * * * It was a little while after Li Yong discovered Yui Mei wandering around the crown prince pce and heard the shocking news. We have to inform Aunty Yang from now on. .Yui Mei said, so Ming Xian warned her to be more vignt of your surroundings before telling Li Yong to take her home. He probably thought that since they werent sure whether somebody saw her, it was better to be safe than sorry by being cautious given the danger of the thing that Yui Mei discovered. And so, while Li Yong sent Yui Mei home, Ming Xian finished the work that he had pushed back for their conversation with great haste. When Li Yong returned, the room was in a mess with several things scattered around. After cleaning just enough of it so that the room wouldnt be too unsightly, Xiuling brewed tea and they took a break while continuing their earlier conversation. By the way, the box that contained the ashes of the poppy juice was ced in another box to prevent the stench from leaking out. Ming Xian sipped some tea to moisten his throat before speaking. Hows Yui Mei? Yes, no suspicious person seemed to have followed her, and she went home safely. Ming Xian knitted his brows when he heard Li Yongs report. Thats good, but thisck of action seems uncanny. Indeed. Li Yong also agreed with Ming Xians concern. Thats because the problem was in the identity of the person who brought such a dangerous thing into the imperial pce. Ming Xian then voiced out a query. Based on Yui Meis exnation, the probability of poppy juice being manufactured in the capitals neighboring viges should be quite low? Li Yong then replied with his opinion on this matter. Apparently, there is a need for a spaciousnd to cultivate those flowers, besides, if somebody did nt a wide field of poppies, gossip should abound because theyre nting something that cannot be eaten. Right. Ming Xian didnt negate what Li Yong said, apparently because he was thinking the same thing. Yes, I never heard any rumors of such a flower farm before. Xiuling also shook her head while mumbling those words. Flowers were also considered a luxury item in this world, and they could only be bought, nted and used to adorn the gardens by affluent families. Only the nobility and the wealthy merchants possessed properties with flowerbeds in the first ce, after all. In ordinary homes, people would rather nt vegetables if they had the space to spare for flowers. Even if there is somebody cunning enough to trick the farmers into nting these flowers, thosemoners will probably be suspicious if the flowers are really worth the money and it will be unsure whether theyre going to grow them when their stench is enough to make them sick. Li Yong would also do rounds within the castle walls as part of his work as an imperial guard, so he was quite knowledgeable about the trends in the marketce. Growing flowers could also be a sessful venture, fetching a lot of money if the deals with the aristocrats and affluent people were done well. However, farmers didnt have ess to customers who would buy those flowers. Even so, if the peasants requested a merchant to be the middleman, he would just brush them off and buy their flowers for dirt cheap by reasoning that these things arent edible. That merchant would then sell them to customers for a high price, and he would be the one to reap a huge profit. Consequently, ordinary farmers considered growing flowers to be an unprofitable, thankless job. He also heard that the flowers avable in the market now were grown in addition to the vegetables by the farmers hired by the merchants. Under such circumstances, it would be highly unlikely that farmers would want to cultivate the flowers while remaining ignorant about the manufacturing process of poppy juice, especially since its one of the ingredients. If thebor is cheap and the work stinks, folks naturally wont be that eager to grow those flowers for the sake of making poppy juice. Xiuling seemed to agree with Li Yongs opinion. Even if we are to cautiously consider the possibility of its production within the empire, maybe its really better to assume that it is came from the other countries. Ming Xian arrived at that conclusion regarding poppy juice. ording to Yui Mei, Physician Chen believed that this poppy juice was being imported from another country. Even if people secretly smuggled for evil purposes, the people who could buy imported medicine would be limited to a handful. If its imported, then the nearest ce will be the port of Kai, huh Li Yong recalled the city of Kai that he visited during the summer. He could only imagine how a poppy juice addict would possibly look like, but he remembered seeing a few people who looked like they were strange drunkards. However, there didnt seem to be many of those in Kai. Yui Mei said that getting drunk to the point of harming the body shouldnt be possible with the kind of liquor that themoners could get their hands on. In that case, then the amount of alcohol that the seafarers consumed shouldnt be a problem. Moreover, they didnt see any crazy people among them, so they could hope that this poppy juice wasnt being circted among the residents of the city of Kai. Li Yong also felt some kind of attachment to Kai, having stayed there for an extended period of time, so he also hoped for that ce to be safe. Chapter 152: Accident Chapter 152: ident Kaies to mind when talking about importation. Ming Xian said, apparently thinking of Kai as a possible distribution channel. For that matter, we must inform His Majesty, so that through him, we could request Huang Shufei to persuade the Huang Family. Indeed, that will be the case. Xiuling agreed to Ming Xiansment. Pure Consort Huang came from Xuzhous Huang Family, and the person who won against Li Mins aunt when theypeted in order to enter the Hundred Blossom Pce. It would be in bad taste if they were to contact the Huang Family without informing Pure Consort Huang first. And so, they decided to proceed with this for Kais matter. This is just my personal opinion, but I find the eastern kingdom suspicious, too. Ming Xian lowered his voice. East, is it? Li Yong just heard some news about the east, so he gulped for a bit when that ce cropped up in this conversation.. Theres too much money flowing into the eastern border recently. Even if they say its just skirmishes, it is still in the midst of war, so its only natural that money will be spent there. Still, I cant help but be bothered about this. When Ming Xian stated that, Li Yong and Xiuling exchanged nces. The masters concern would be the route that the servants would take. Then, I will gather information first. Yes, I will also ask my maiden home for any news regarding the east. And so, the master and servants conversation ended on this note. * * * While they were having that conversation, in a different ce Dong, the freeloader staying at Mings house, was once again loitering in the marketce outside the pce. He would check all the ces that seemed familiar to him one by one, and if there was a ce that bothered him, he would call out to the passersby, asking Do you know me?. He repeatedly did this today. No sess for today, either.. Actually he had been curious about music that the girl was talking about, so he tried wandering around the area where the lute yers were said to be. However, rather than curiosity, what Dong felt was a strange sense of unease, so he hastily left that ce. He didnt know what made him feel irritated, but he instinctively thought that This isnt it. Perhaps, did he have some kind of obsession with this so-called lute? The thought that perhaps he might be a lute yer crossed his mind for an instant; unfortunately, he didnt feel like he could y it. Dong waspletely stuck on this search for self-discovery, and now he was walking despondently all alone. You there. Somebody called out to him, so Dong stopped and turned around. A foreign-looking, unknown man with exotic features stood there. But at the same time, a feeling of familiarity surged within Dong, as if he had seen this guy before. What is it? He thought that this guy must also be new to the capital like him, and he must have wanted to ask something. However, for some reason, the guy looked shocked that Dong stopped in his tracks. Are you ying dumb? Well, doesnt matter anyway, you not running away is easier for me. The guy was mumbling something to himself, then he suddenly raised his other hand. He was gripping something that reflected the light DONG!! ng! The shing of metal rang in the air between Dong and that man, apanied by a new voice. Lord Ming!? The one who interfered was no other than the master of the house who took Dong in. A sword was gleaming in his hand. Tsk, somebody got in the way. The man scowled fiercely before hurrying out of that ce, blending with the other people. It would be difficult to chase him now. No, Dong was frozen from shock, so he wouldnt be able to chase after him. What on earth just happened? Dong was confused, but he didnt forget to thank Ming who saved him. Lord Ming, thank you very much for saving me. But, may I know why you are here? I just returned from the doctor. Who was that? Ming put his sword away while replying to Dong, then he questioned him too. Dong was also worried about how to reply. He suddenly called out to me and did that, but I dont know him. Ah wait, I have a feeling that I saw him somewhere? Dong mused to himself after answering his query. Ming furrowed his brow as he stared at Dong. Is that how the folks in Dongfeng look like? Ming muttered under his breath, but Dong didnt hear him. * * * Chapter 153: Conversation with Yang Chapter 153: Conversation with Yang It seemed that the crown prince would still continue discussing the matter of the poppy juice, but since they were about to touch politics because the topic was about the handlers of poppy juice, so Yui Mei was requested to leave. Yui Mei also decided to leave such discussion to the distinguished people, and she still had to report to Yang. Besides, she needed toe up with an idea on how to deal with those poppy juice addicts. At any rate, the one who would directly encounter those addicts wouldnt be the VIPs like the crown prince, but the people like Yui Mei who were present in the actual scene. And so, Yui Mei left the crown princes pce and headed towards the lodging house. As luck would have it, she saw Yang just when she reached the neighborhood well, it would be more appropriate to say that she was probably waiting for Yui Meis return. When she whispered to Yang that theres something confidential that I would like to inform you, the woman prepared a room. Yui Mei then exined to Yang the same things she discussed with the crown prince. Drug addictionGoodness me, those courtesans who can get close to the bigshots, of all things Yang clutched her head as she spoke after listening to Yui Mei. This will be troublesome. If, by any chance, it spreads through the pce, starting from the courtesans to the Four Imperial Consorts, then Then itll be terrible, right? Yui Mei agreed with Yangs concern. If poppy juice addiction did ur within the pces of the four imperial consorts more so if it was a close aid of the consort, what a situation it would be. Thats because people couldnt help but worry whether the four imperial consorts were also addicted themselves. Their health would be questioned, and their credibility would be doubted. It may even lead to recement of the four imperial consorts in the future. If that happened, the delicate bnce of power structure within the Hundred Blossom Pce would drastically change, and it would also affect politics, naturally. Yang probably had the same line of thought as Yui Mei. She tiredly rubbed her temples, trying to keep the oing headache at bay. Ugh, my head is hurting just thinking about it. We have to hurry and investigate this, but the Year End ising and itll be so busy. Ahm, er, please do your best. Yang heaved a deep sigh while thinking about the great task that awaited her, and Yui Mei could only sympathize and cheer her on. Really, those guys who brought the poppy juice tobo are nothing but scoundrels! She wanted to scold them for being nuisances,be it health or increasing the work to be done, and doing such a terrible thing. Yang rubbed her temples for a while, before speaking. Still, I really cant imagine just how those addicts behave, unfortunately. Yang seemed perplexed. Apparently, it was a difficult thing to imagine if they had never seen it before. But it couldnt be helped. The humans imagination has its limits, after all. His Highness the Crown Prince is also of the same opinion, but he did understand how dangerous it is. But then, I believe that even if you havent seen it at this time, you will recognize it if you encounter it, you know? At any rate, you cant hold a conversation with them most of the time. Poppy juice addicts usually didnt look any different from normal people around them. However, these addicts were usually under the feeling of euphoria and they were unusually positive while the medicine was still effective. As the medication wears off, the withdrawal symptoms would appear. They would have goosebumps on their skin, and their bodies would be racked by convulsions, and they would feel intense pain all over their bodies. Their tears and snots would flow freely, rming the people around them, to the extent that they would scream with whats up with this guy!?. No matter who encountered this scenario, they would surely flee away. The furrow between Yangs brows deepened as she listened to Yui Meis exnation. I see, its getting more puzzling the more I hear about it. Yang muttered. It was as if she understood it, but she still couldnt properly imagine and it was bothering her. She rubbed her arms in disgust. Yeah, I understand how ghastly it is when you imagine it. Yui Mei had also been assigned to treat those drug addicts in her previous life, but she still couldnt get used to it until now. There were cases when the young, inexperienced nurses got dragged down by the thoughts of the addicts, and so discussing it after work as part of mental healthcare was truly indispensable. Yui Mei didnt want anyone else to go through such difficulty if she could help it. Well, its still best if we dont run into people like that, after all. Absolutely. Really, I hope the damage wont be widespread. Yui Mei and Yang looked at each other and nodded. Chapter 154: How to Deal with It Chapter 154: How to Deal with It However, you couldnt just run away if you actually encounter such an addict. Theres no telling what they would do once they were left alone. What should I do if I find an addict? Is it the same when catching a drunk when hes acting violently and making him sober up? Yang groaned and asked. Just like Libin, she apparently imagined a drunkard addicted to liquor when she tried to imagine an addict. Yui Mei thought about it for a moment before answering. Well, yes, thats true, its basically the same. Just like how you confiscate wine from the drunkard, you also deprive the poppy juice addict and wait until they be decent. They will likely rage during that period of time, though. Yang seemed annoyed when she heard that they would go on a rampage. You do know how troublesome those drunkards can get when they be violent because there are times when you get out of control, right? True enough. Perhaps its closer to being in a state of excitement for an extended period of time. Yang frowned, more annoyed now. If that person was seen at that state by any chance, it will surely attract the Taoists, and there will be an uproar. Oh yeah, those guys will probably appear. Yui Mei had frequently butted heads with those Taoists, but even they have their own job in this world. Those proper Taoists who created almanacs were meless. Yui Mei just hated the domineering Taoists who act all high and mighty because theyre being backed by the Empress Dowager and they would misuse that authority and influence. They would crash events, shrieking its a curse! without proof, and they would actively promote the exorcism of that curse through offering prayers. Because of their intervention, it was highly unlikely that the problem would be solved fundamentally. It might be possible that the drug would eventually be expelled from the body during extended periods of prayer, leading to the person recovering his reason for a period of time. Nevertheless, just as Yui Mei had exined to the crown prince, the drug addicts brain could no longer return to being normal. Drug addicts wouldnt realize that the poppy juice is bad if you didnt take it away, tell them that it is harmful, and politely exin that they shouldnt be involved with it anymore. Moreover, if it was treated as a curse without understanding that it was due to poppy juice, it would probably turn into a situation that was a lot worse than the previous flu fiasco. Thats because at a nce, poppy juice addicts didnt seem any different from people who werent. If all the people who feel unwell were identified and lumped together as being cursed, it might lead to something simr like the witch hunt in Yui Meis previous life, and that would be the worst. No, no, that cant be!! Yui Mei shook her head in an attempt to drive away those unpleasant thoughts. We have to do something about this before those Taoists intervene! Yeah, thats for the best. In that case, there must be a ce, something like a prison perhaps, where we can iste those guys temporarily after catching them. Yang expressed the solution that she came up with. The prison of this country didnt resemble the ones with iron bars in Yui Meis previous life. It is just a deep hole dug in the ground, much like a well, and it wasnt quite habitable. Yui Mei was a bit bothered when she heard prison, but she agreed that it might be possible to use it just like an istion ward so that they wouldnt bother other people. Well, I guess its up to the bigwigs to think about that. Yui Mei was just a lowly courtdy, so the most she could do was inform them about the poppy juice. Did I say everything they need to know about this poppy juice? Yui Mei searched her memories. Xiao Mei, if you notice an unfamr person or if their ent bothers you, you have to tell me, alright? Yang sternly said. ent? What is that all about? Yui Mei was perplexed, so Yang leaned her face towards her and whispered. That poppy juice must have been imported from the other kingdoms, isnt it? In that case, there might be someone from those countries who mingles with us. Whoa, I see! Realization dawned at Yui Mei as she p her hands. Sounds like a detective novel! It might be imprudent of her, but she couldnt help but look forward to it because her Chinese drama otaku blood was boiling in excitement. Chapter 155: Continuation of Cleaning Chapter 155: Continuation of Cleaning It was the day after Yang and Yui Meis conversation. Yui Mei returned to Jiaofang once again. In any case, she was still in the midst of her job order, and she had to continue the work she left yesterday and clean the ce. There was still the matter of difficulties experienced when having this ce cleaned. Kinda reminds me of when I first came here. She recalled how she had to clean all the mansions that Mei, her superior courtdy, had abandoned even though she just entered the Hundred Blossom Pce. By the way, the frequency of her encountering Mei had decreased recently. That was only natural. Mei skips her cleaning duties and aims to be a concubine, while Yui Mei does her job regrly while being a rubbernecker from time to time, so theres no way their area of activity would ovep. That girls desperate, after all. She couldve just done her best with her job since she still hadnt be a concubine until now, but Mei didnt have that kind of thought, apparently. She wanted to be a concubine, but she didnt want to exert effort. Thats the kind of person Mei was. Anyway, lets just set aside this talk of the past. Yui Mei cheered herself, determined to make progress with cleaning. She came prepared to deal with the stinky smell that hindered her cleaning before. She ced a cloth that she ripped over her nose before putting the mask on it. Its unfortunate that her words would be unintelligible if she spoke while wearing this, but since she didnt have any ns talking to other people while cleaning, it didnt matter. And so, Yui Mei started dusting off the edge of the site that had been entrusted to her, and sweeping the fallen dust. Suddenly, she heard a buzzing noise, as if somebody was kicking up a fuss from somewhere, so she stopped what she was doing. What is that? Yui Mei was bothered by the noise, so she decided to take a peep. A few guys d in ck were moving in groups in the corridor a short distance away from where she was. What are these eunuchs doing in Jiaofang? Besides, they were wearing an unfamiliar set of clothes. Goodness, who are they and where did theye from? She quietly observed, when they suddenly began opening the doors of the Jiaofang rooms as they passed by. Kyaahh!? What!? Apparently, they opened the rooms of the courtesans, and womens shrieks resounded. They seemed to be doing an inspection. So thats where the noise ising from. Do not resist, anyone who resists will be considered as criminals. One of the men in ck said so. He didnt even yell, but for some reason, his voice resounded throughout the ce. We are from the Ministry of Justice. Be quiet, we will leave once we are done with the investigation. Eh, so those guys are from the Ministry of Justice!? The Ministry of Justice was an organizational branch of the imperial pce, and it could bepared to the police organization of her previous life. In that case, it might be natural to think that these guys suddenly came to Jiaofang in order to conduct an investigation, but this situation might be a little weird. Based on Yui Meis knowledge of Chinese dramas, investigation of the crime scene should be done by the soldiers and imperial guards, and if the crime ured within the Hundred Blossom Pce, it should be the eunuchs who do this job. The Ministry of Justice was supposed to be in charge of taking custody of the criminals that were caught and interrogating them. In short, wasnt it unusual for the Ministry of Justice to appear at the crime scene and conduct an investigation? Actually, Yui Mei had never seen anyone affiliated with the Ministry of Justice until now. Wait, is this because of the poppy juice that the Ministry of Justice went out of their way toe here? Yui Meis heart pounded while watching the events unfold, when she suddenly met the eye of a person from the Ministry of Justices group. It was the person who called out earlier, saying Do not resist. He was young, probably around the same age as Libin. He left the group and strode towards Yui Mei. T/N: Sorry guys for the dy in posting, double chap to make up for the missed one on Monday ? Chapter 156: Ministry of Justice Chapter 156: Ministry of Justice Eh, what, am I gonna get scolded for peeping? While Yui Mei was torn whether she should hurry up and return to her cleaning job, or if she should just stay for fear that she would be disrespectful if she ignored the man, he steadily walked towards her, only stopping when he reached a respectful distance from her. Hey, you, the courtdy over there, are you cleaning? Ah, yes! Yui Mei straightened her back and answered the mans query. However, what came out was a muffled, unintelligible reply because her nose was still covered. The man from the Ministry of Justice just raised a brow, but he didntment on the matter. I heard that theres something stinky buried around here. Guide me to that ce. Rather than pursuing the matter, he even ordered her. He didnt ask where or do you know about it? but directly told her to guide him over there. Yeah, I do know where it is, but What if the one he encountered was a clueless courtdy? How will she answer him then? And so, they headed towards the hole that she had reburied yesterday. Thats when he noticed that the man didnt even cover his nose with a handkerchief. Ahm, arent you bothered by the stench? Yui Mei timidly asked, but there wasnt so much as a ripple in the mans expression. His Majesty the Emperor himself gave the order, so carrying out this task is far more important than being bothered by such a trivial thing as stench. Oh, so its His Majesty the Emperors authoritative pronouncement, huh. Yui Mei inferred various things based on the mans reply. Apparently, the crown prince diligently informed the emperor about yesterdays matter. And this guy was apparently enduring the stink to the best that he could. The way he spoke was quite weird, so he probably stopped breathing through his nose. This way, please. Yui Mei dug the ce again and called out to the man, so he nodded once before approaching the hole. I see, this stench is really something. I cant for the life of me understand whats so good about smoking this. The man apparently took a whiff before showing a spectacr grimace then she pped his hand. Take everything. The man raised his voice, and men d in ck gathered around the hole. Uhyah! Yui Mei jumped in shock when the Ministry of Justices men appeared out of the blue without any warning. Wait, arent there more of them now!? Yui Mei shuddered when she recalled how they looked like they multiplied. The man beside her was the only one who didnt join in, and now he called out to her. Youre the one who submitted this stinky thing to the higher-ups, right? Yui Mei was baffled, unsure what he wanted to say, so she told him what happened. Eh~ rather than the higher-ups, I just packed a little sample and brought it to somebody I know. As expected. You seem to know what youre doing while guiding me, so thats what I thought. The man nodded in understanding. Eh, so its better if I denied it and said I dont know back then? Yui Mei then recalled the mans unreasonable attitude earlier, as if he wouldnt take no for an answer. But then, Yui Mei didnt have any reason to deny it, so she wouldve still guided him even if she knew about that. Yui Mei inwardly pouted, but the man drily stared at her. Well then, we will take you away now, so please do not resist nor kick up a fuss. Eh, youre taking me? Yui Mei thought she would be scolded for sure. Got it, I wont go anywhere. A womans voice resounded from behind Yui Mei, so she turned around in surprise. Xu? Yes, Xu was standing behind Yui Mei before she noticed it. T/N: Sorry guys, sched had been pretty hectic, so sorry for the erratic posting. Will make-up for it soon, this is Fridays missed chap ? Chapter 157: Taken Away Chapter 157: Taken Away It seemed that the one to be taken wasnt Yui Mei but Xu. Eh, Xu, why, er, are you going to be taken away? Yui Mei could only stutter in her confusion, but the man cut her short. I dont understand what youre saying. Were taking that Xu with us to the Ministry of Justice. If you have anything to report regarding this, then say it, Ill listen. He rified, then added thest sentence as if its an afterthought. Even if you say that Yui Mei hemmed and hawed while thinking about what to say, but Xu denied it, saying theres nothing. I just frequently encountered this girl recently. She saw me digging around here, so I knew I wont get away with this. Im the one who got that thing, everything is all my fault. Yui Mei shouted huh?! in shock when she heard Xus unexpected deration. Theres no way thats true! Oh, wait, maybe!? Xu didnt seem like she was a poppy juice addict, but its possible that she wouldnt be an addict if she was just a pusher spreading it around without using it herself. Besides, Yui Mei didnt know Xu that well. She turned her gaze towards the man, then back at Xu while being thoroughly perplexed. The man nodded and said I see. So, theres no doubt youre the person who sent the letter to the Ministry of Justice, right? Yeah, so hurry up and drag me away. The man sought to confirm his guess. Xu urged him in reply. Based on their conversation just now, she sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice then was that a letter of confession? So, theres another reason why the Ministry of Justice got involved aside from His Majestys order, then? Yui Mei didnt know the entire background story about this hugemotion. Nevertheless, there was something that bothered her about how Xu was behaving so far. She wasnt sure whether Xu was really the criminal who brought poppy juice to this ce. However, based on her expression and tone, it was as if she had already given up, as if she was already resigned to whatever was to happen. It was far more profound than a criminal giving up after he had been exposed no, it was as if she had given up on life itself. Well then, lets go. Yeah. Xu briskly strode on when the man prompted her. Yes! I, also want, to go, with you! Yui Mei insisted while energetically raising her hand. What did you say? The man raised his brow as he turned towards Yui Mei, but she looked back at him with a stern expression. I got a feeling that something bad will happen if I just let them drag Xu away! Yui Mei stressed each word to make it clearer even if she had her nose covered. I want to apany Miss Xu! I can sense Miss Xus insecurity, so if shes surrounded by unknown people, she might thoughtlessly spout a mixture of half-truths and lies, and it might be a hindrance to the investigation, wouldnt it?! Ill definitely follow you! Yui Mei stubbornly said, while Xu disapprovingly scowled at her. Hey, I dont know you, either. Were close enough to eat roasted sweet potatoes together! Xu actually had a point, but Yui Mei ignored her and she insisted her will to the man. He stared at Yui Mei and Xu for a while, then he readily gave his approval by saying if its just apanying her, then I dont mind. Either way, I also wanted to ask you for the details. I considered doing it at ater date, but if its your wish then its fine to do it today. Yehey, yes, Ill go! Ill provide you with information!! Yes yes! Yui Mei raised both of her hands. The man looked at her with awe. Its the first time I saw a fellow willingly go to the Ministry of Justice. Really? Yui Mei also loved detective dramas in her previous life; she even wanted to go on a field trip to the Metropolitan Police Department one day. This dream didnte true, but in return, she was granted the opportunity to visit this lifes Ministry of Justice, so there was no way she would let go of this chance. And so, it was decided that Yui Mei would also go to the Ministry of Justice. Once again, she left her cleaning job halfway through. Im so sorry, Ill definitely do my best tomorrow! Yui Mei somehow imagined the Jiaofang building being depressed, so she apologized in her heart. T/N: Heres our Monday chap! I dunno how many times I corrected myself after typing Ministry of Magic while doing this chap (_) uwu..Nosy Yui Mei is here to strike once again! Chapter 158: Palace Visit Chapter 158: Pce Visit And so, it was decided that Yui Mei would also be taken to the pce. The man agreed to wait until she finished putting away her cleaning paraphernalia before going, but when she returned to their meeting ce, there was no trace of the other men from the Ministry of Justice. They had already taken Xu away first, apparently. So, where should we go now? To the pce, well have you go to our ce. Yui Mei asked, but the man just gave a clipped reply before striding away. She chased after him. Eh, so Im going to enter THE imperial pce!? Perhaps, other people would consider this supposedly memorable first visit to be in bad taste if theyre going to the Ministry of Justice, but Yui Mei didnt care one bit about it. The Ministry of Justice was located at the outskirts, even though it was still within the imperial pce. Perhaps this location was chosen because of the nature of work being carried out in this ce? Maybe they needed a ce where they could maintain some degree of confidentiality, particrly regarding the identity of the people entering its premises? These questions crossed Yui Meis mind as she tried to follow the man without getting lost. They finally entered the building. It was eerily quiet, but the silence was broken every now and then by shrieks from far away. Yui Mei couldnt help but jump whenever that happened as they moved indoors until they finally reached a room and she was urged to enter. It was an inconspicuous, ordinary room at first nce. There were no suspicious looking windows or hanging scrolls, so it was a bit of an anticlimax for Yui Mei who had been expecting something weird to happen. However, she couldnt linger on this. Ahm, whats happening to Miss Xu? This was the reason why she followed them in the first ce, so Yui Mei asked. Nothing. The man shortly replied after taking a seat beside the table inside the room. Shes too agitated. We couldnt hold a calm conversation, so we had her sleep for a while. Is that so Yui tilted her head when she heard what the man said. Xu didnt look like she was agitated a while back, so what happened? Is Xu a drug addict, too? Yui Mei thought it would be sad if that was true. The man nced at her. She kept on insisting that shes the criminal, apparently. Then, you suddenly butted in, so she wanted us to arrest her there and then based on her ims that shes the culprit. She kept on kicking up a fuss. As if the Ministry of Justice do their jobs as sloppily as that. Based on the mans words, he didnt seem to think that Xu was really a criminal. Then, is Miss Xu alright? Yui Mei asked boldly, and the man replied to her while picking up a piece of paper on the table. I cannot say that for sure. However, we can also view it as refusal to readily agree with the death wish of a person who desperately wanted to die. Yui Meis eyes widened in shock when she heard what the man said. So this person also noticed? Indeed, Yui Mei could also see the gestures and expressions of a suicidal person in Xu. There were times when those people would do anything to die if left alone. Yui Mei thought that if they didnt have the courage to take their own life, this dangerous mental state would be aggravated, and they would look for other people who could kill them. Both Yui Mei and the man appeared to have the same line of thought. As for Xu, she seemed to know whats going on after all, so we decided to take her into custodyStill, it seems like shes underestimating the Ministry of Justice big time. We know how to distinguish whether a person must be condemned or not, and considering such, she doesnt have the characteristics peculiar to those who dabble in doing evil. People like her can only leave a clean life. The man exined. So Xu isnt at fault? In that case, did Xu just really wanted to get captured by the Ministry of Justice, even voluntarily writing a letter for that? Based on the detective dramas she watched in her previous life, she must surely be covering for somebody else. Yui Mei groaned while deep in thought. Sit down over there, we can still serve you tea. Its not delicious, though. The man said before sitting on one of the chairs across the table, so Yui Mei also obediently took a seat. Chapter 159: First Investigation Experience Chapter 159: First Investigation Experience Alright, I promise now that the report were about to take will never leave the Ministry of Justice, and that your story will never be leaked. The mans first words were something akin to swearing an oath. Or should I say, youre going to interview me right away? How impatient! Yui Mei inwardly thought; nevertheless, she still felt troubled about the topic theyre going to talk to now that she had to engage in gossip with the man. She wasnt sure whether this guy was willing to discuss medicine and food with her? Those were her thoughts, when the man immediately posed a question. Whats your name? Chan Yui Mei. Yui Mei normally refrained from naming herself when talking to VIPs, but she knew that things might getplicated if she were to lie or remain silent. Thus, she decided to just tell the truth. I see. The man raised a brow when he heard Yui Meis name, but that was it. Apparently, the man was familiar with the name Chan Yui Mei. The man didnt name himself, so maybe that was also confidential information. He probably used a lot of alias during infiltration missions or investigations. Yui Mei couldnt stop her wild thoughts, when the man promptly moved to the next question. Then, how did you discover that stinky thing? It was a query that she had to answer truthfully, but she couldnt help ask something that bothered her. Ahm, havent you heard about it from where you got the information? Indeed, he should havee to know about this stinky object from the crown princes side. Then, he mustve heard about the general story from them. The man red at her when she asked this, but he still answered. Theres nothing more dubious than hearsay from other people, so theres no merit in it as information. The man bluntly retorted. Yui Mei nodded her head in agreement. They dont have audio and video recordings, so they could only do it by info ry, I guess. In that case, it mustve been very hard to obtain information that was certainly true. The man wanted to lessen the participants in the info ry to the best of his ability, apparently. Yui Mei understood, so she proceeded to repeat what she said to the crown prince and Yang. ..And so, I think it might turn into something dangerous, so I relied on my acquaintance and went to the crown princes pce. Yui Mei finally finished talking about the matters that had transpired that day. As for the source of her information, she tried to gloss over it by saying I heard it from a traveling man in the bordend as usual. She just wanted to let it pass by making the impression that there were many traveling people with extensive knowledge in the bordend. The man said really and didnt pursue it any further. He wrote with a brush, his eyes focused on the paper. She was properly cleaning, so she knew the way to the stench. We discovered several objects simr to that thing, but they were either thrown near the rooms, or else far away. The mans brush glided over the paper as he mumbled while organizing his thoughts.. Ooh, sounds like were in an investigation meeting of a cop drama! Yui Meis fangirl mood was quietly exploding, when they heard the sound of footsteps pattering down the hallway. Bang! Yui Mei! A familiar voice resounded, and at the same time, the door opened with a bang. The person standing in front of the door was no other than Libin. Eh, its the Imperial Pce, but hes Libin instead of Li Yong? He didnt change into his imperial guard uniform, apparently. Yui Mei was immersed in her carefree thoughts, but Libin hurriedly strode towards her. Oy Yui Mei, what did you do to be taken into the penitentiary, huh!? Then she was scolded for some reason. It seemed that he thought she had been captured and taken to the Ministry of Justice, so she corrected him. Lord Libin, it was decided that Miss Xu will be taken here, and Im just here to apany her. Libin scrunched his brows when he heard that, then he muttered apany? Would anyone be willing toe to the penitentiary for such a reason? Libin muttered, thoroughly perplexed, but unfortunately for him, such a person did exist, and she was right in front of him. Chapter 128: Ming’s Doctor Appointment Chapter 128: Ming¡¯s Doctor Appointment That day, Ming visited a eunuch physician in order to get some medicine. When he was just a child, he broke his leg while ying. He could still vividly remember the pain of the medical treatment and how frightened he was of the doctor, so that probably made him deeply hate doctors. And yet, that same Ming was frequenting the doctors by some fate. On top of being watched by General Li, he also received a letter with the words your duty is to nurture yourself back to health so that you can once again return to serve, personally written by the emperor. With things reaching to this extent, he could no longer say the excuse that he wanted to run away because he was scared of doctors. If he did say those things, General Li would definitely march into his house, take him away and tie him to the doctors bed. And so, he requested to get all the medicine he needed until he could fully recover all at once. However, the physician dispensing the medicine only gave him enough for a few days, and told him toe here and get the medicine from me yourself. He probably wanted to see Mings progress every few days, and whether he was really devoutly following his medical treatment n He didnt trust Ming, apparently. And all of this was due to @&$#(*, that wench! Ming inwardly cursed. Everything was that all because of that meddlesome wench who came with General Li, and the eunuch physician that she took with her. Ming initially thought that Hui was brought back from the dead when he firstid his eyes on that wench. However, when he looked at her anew after a while, he discovered that she was not Hui, much to his disappointment. It was true that both of them had bluish hair, but then, when he thought about it, Hui was probably not the only one who had blue hair in this wide world. Hui also had her own set of parents and siblings, and those people also have theirs, and so on in short, there were definitely many people with bluish hair in this world. Thus, it was understandable that one of them coincidently entered the capital and became a courtdy. Even Hui entered the capital with the same circumstances, after all. Something must be wrong with me, mistaking that scary wench with Hui. It was just an illusion caused by wine. Thats the conclusion that Ming arrived at, but then, he only met her twice when he was conscious, and his concentration had been extremely low because of the shaking of his body brought about by drunkenness. Because of that, if someone asked him what does that girl look like?, he wouldnt be able to answer because he hadnt seen her appearance properly. And thus, he didnt even notice that the girls eyes were blue. Anyway, this story must be set aside for now. Ming was also dissatisfied with that eunuch physician. The one dispensing the medicine was that doctors master, The physician giving Mings medicine happened to be that eunuch physicians master. That wench and that eunuch physician bbered on and on about everything when they introduced this person to Ming. He had regarded physicians to be people with ability, but they must be nuts for allowing that wench to continue on with her evil antics. Ah, rather than trying to pinpoint whether that was indeed true or not, maybe it was just something that asionally happened. Still, my body isnt as bad as they say, Im pretty sure, probably. Ming was still trying to convince himself with that excuse while dragging his feet unwillingly. He trudged on towards the clinic Hm? Ming discovered a man lying along the road. Hey, what happened? Ming called out to him, but there was no response. Nevertheless, it seemed that he was still alive. His entire body was ragged and extremely dirty, and he could easily see that this guy must have traveled a long way. Well, now Ming couldnt leave this guy alone, and because he was already on his way to the clinic, he decided that he might as well carry him on his back and head there. In one way or another, Ming was also quite a soft-hearted guy. T/N: Oh dear, just curious, what would Ming do if he knew that he was cursing the beloved daughter of the emperor and the woman he loved haha. Chapter 160: Acquaintance Chapter 160: Acquaintance Trantor Announcement: Hi guys! For our dear readersing from Mesmerizing Memoires, sorry for the week-long hiatus! T.T Im back, so well be having daily releases until Saturday this week to make up for thete posts. Thanks for the patience, as always. ? Also, Housekeeper of Hundred Blossom Pce moved to a new home, Fans Trantions! ? You can read the seeding chapters here,test chap is already posted. Please joinFT discord server so you can still be notified whenever a chap is up. Hope youll continue supporting us, see you around <3 And for our new readers here in Fans Trantions, Im Hanazakura, nice to meet you all, please treat me well~ Thank you so much everyone!! And thats it for the announcements, enjoy the chapter! ? Still, Libin, arent you too quick toe here? A bewildered Yui Mei asked Libin. Indeed, even if it was the crown princes imperial pce, wasnt it to early for them to learn about this incident? Libin kneaded the space between his brows while replying to her. That guy over there informed us. Really?! When? Yui Meis eyes widened as he stared at the man. He didnt seem to have made any arrangements perhaps he did it while Yui Mei was putting away her cleaning tools? The man just sat there, his appearance screaming it has nothing to do with me. Oh, right, you came at the perfect time. Brew some tea, will you. The man said that to Libin. There should be some hot water on the stove next door. The tea here isnt ptable, so maybe itll turn better if you brew it. Libin frowned at the mans abrupt words. Who do you think I am. Libin grumbled, but he still went to the next room, probably where the stove was. Libin-samas such a softie, huh, or should I say hes the diligent type? She couldnt help but feel that he got a personality that was easily taken advantage of, since he couldnt refuse if somebody requested something from him. Yui Mei followed Libin with her eyes while posing a query to the man. Ahm, are you acquainted with Lord Libin? So hes going by that name, now, huh, the man muttered to himself, before replying to Yui Mei. Well, thats about right. We started serving here around the same time, so were quite at ease with each other. So youre contemporaries, huh. Yui Mei nodded in understanding. Just like Aunty Yang and Lord Ming, I guess. Not only that, this guy seemed to know that Libin was also Li Yong. In that case, the people who knew about Libins circumstances should be all around, to a certain extent? But then, it must be natural. It was a kind of gamble that Libin wouldnt be able to carry out just by his own efforts. He could readily do this role precisely because there were other people involved in aiding him. Still, its the first time I met a friend of Libin. Is that so? Then that guy must be a lonely fellow, unexpectedly. How pitiful. The man smirked faintly at Yui Meis words. Oh, I see now, Libin-sama has no friends, huh. Yui Mei nodded while thinking like that. You guys are probably talking about something rude, huh. Libin came back and said that while carrying a tray with utensils for tea. No, its not like that. Were just confirming whether its a fact that Lord Libin is a lonely person with few friends. Yui Mei didnt even attempt to gloss over it, and just bluntly replied. Libin red at her. Thats what Im saying as rude. You dont want to drink tea, it seems. Want! My throat is parched! Even if Libin doesnt have friends, I think that you are still an awesome person! Yui Mei hastily tried to correct her words, but it just made Libins temples twitch. Like I said, saying unpleasant stuff like doesnt have friends is rude, so stop that. He then replied. Yui Mei and Libin didnt see eye to eye regarding the problem, apparently. Seems like you guys are having fun. The manmented, apparently dumbfounded at the scene. At any rate, Yui Mei was able to quench her thirst with the delicious tea that Libin brewed. So, what are you doing here at the Ministry of Justice, Yui Mei? Libin then asked again. The man elegantly sipped his tea before answering. Its only natural to investigate suspicious informants, but for now, were confirming the information. Ah, so they really suspected me, after all. Well, Yui Mei wasnt surprised. Even in her previous worlds investigation dramas, the first one to be suspected would be the one who discovered the crime scene. Chapter 161: At the Age When You Want to Peek Chapter 161: At the Age When You Want to Peek Its about time for Xu to wake up, so were going to listen to her story. Well, its a question whether shell speak the truth, though, the man said. Let go, I said let go!! A womans shrill, piercing cry rang outside the room. Yui Mei perked her ears while looking perplexed, and the man chuckled seeing her like that. Hmm, so the likely winner hase ahead of Xu, huh. Yui Meis eyes widened when she heard what the man said. Likely winner was he referring euphemistically to the criminal? She strained her ears, trying to listen in, when a thud resounded, as if something had been pushed inside the room. Its as nned. The man remarked as he put the tea he had been drinking on the table. He then stood up and strode towards the wall. Yui Mei silently watched him, inwardly wondering what he was up to, when the man suddenly groped the wall, and a small peeping hole appeared. Fuhaa!? Yui Mei let out a weird sound, so the man ced a finger to his lips and gestured for her to be quiet. Theres a hanging scroll on the other side, so they wont notice the existence of this hole. The man whispered and Yui Mei nodded like a chicken. Got it, got, I have to be quiet, then! The other sides room seemed to be boisterous, so it seemed that Yui Meis gaffe wasnt heard earlier. Yui Mei was curious what was going on on the other side, but she still meekly sat down even though she was fidgeting. This was the penitentiary, after all, so she wouldnt mistakenly disy her thirst for gossip. However, contrary to her expectations, the man beckoned Yui Mei. ! Yui Mei had almost toppled the chair in her haste to stand up, so she hurriedly catch it before it hit the floor. She then tiptoed towards the man, careful not to make a sound as she drew nearer to the wall. The man let her peep into the hole. True enough, there was a hanging scroll in front of the hole, but it also had a hole so they could see the view clearly. It made Yui Mei curious about what was on the hanging scroll. However, she must focus on the scene before her right now. Do you know that courtesan? The man asked, but Yui Mei shook her head in response. No, actually, the only courtesan I know is Miss Xu. I also started cleaning the Jiaofang yesterday. Yui Mei exined while peering more intently at the scene beyond the hole. The courtesan surrounded by the men of the Ministry of Justice was d extravagantly, so she was probably the biggest earner among the courtesans. Her hands were shaking, her eyes were darting around restlessly, and she looked terrified she was obviously acting suspiciously right from the get go. That womans addicted to poppy juice, and it seems like shes a heavily sick patient. Yui Mei unwittingly mumbled, but the man caught her whispers. I see, so thats a good example of what happens in the end, huh. The man nodded. Still, what a horrible stench. Is that the fragrance of incense? I can smell the pungent odor all the way over here. Libin, who had drawn closer without Yui Mei noticing, remarked. Indeed, even if the hole was small, the strange aroma of cosmetics wafted to them. It was probably a scent that was a mixture of pomade and incense and other assorted smells. Well, thats what happens when you try to cover your body odor, I guess. If a person was exposed to poppy juice for a long time, the scent would resemble burning incense, and it would naturally permeate into the clothes as well as the hair. And just like the smell of cigarettes, it wouldnt easily disappear no matter how much they cleaned their bodies. Once that happened, it would be difficult to get rid of the stink, and the only way to erase the smell was to cover it with a stronger fragrance. As a result, it would be a vicious cycle of using pungent odors to eliminate simrly pungent smells. Chapter 162: Caterwauling Courtesan Chapter 162: Caterwauling Courtesan Libin seemed to be interested too, so Yui Mei scooted to give him space. The courtesan was ranting in the other room, her spit flying everywhere in her rage. Why do I have to be taken to this ce!? Im the most favored lute musician, you know!? Is that true? Yui Mei asked Libin while he peered into the hole when they heard what the courtesan yelled. He nodded. Well, thats true.. Xu doesnt show her face at the banquets anymore, so that woman currently sits at the pinnacle of the courtesan. But then, was she like that before? I can barely see the resemnce, but its like shes a totally different person from my memory. Libin muttered while looking dubious. He then turned over the spot before the peephole. Wait, can she y even if shes skin and bones? Yui Mei was also perplexed as she asked her question. The interview had begun while she was thinking about it, so she just set that aside for now. It seems that youre pushing the use of a strange tobo to the people around you, is that right? So what about tobo, huh? Everybodys smoking it! Dont tell me you took me here for that reason?! The person from the Ministry of Justice inquired. The woman was probably tired from kicking up a fuss. She sat heavily on the chair beside the table, and started tapping and shuffling her feet while talking. Where did you get it? The woman didnt answer the first question, but when she heard the second query, she banged her fist on the table. It was sent by a person who loved the sound of my lute! Oh, I see now, so youre jealous of me, so you hatched this n, huh!? The woman snapped and screamed at every single question the man asked her. The trio alternately watched through the peephole all throughout the interview. So they receive gifts from other people? Yui Mei asked in hushed tones, and Libin hummed in agreement as he stroked his chin. Those pce courtesans would sometimes attend the banquets held in the hall located at the border of the Inner Pce and the Inner City, and thats where they are seen by outsiders. There are times when those outsiders would send gifts to the courtesan that they saw. However, the contents are obviously examined first. There are ns who would send strange things from time to time. That being said, this time was different, because we werent able to identify the tobo as dangerous, but it will probably be confiscated from now on, I guess. Libin whispered while exining, and the man supplemented his words. Heh, so popr courtesans have fans? Receiving gifts from fans it was just like the idols of her previous world. No, maybe it would not be strange to say that the courtesans were just like them. They would soothe the emperor with their music, but they also yed the part of giving a good impression to the outsiders. Still, this court courtesan was extremely arrogant, acting like she was a high-ranking concubine. It was a far cry from Xus self-deprecation when she referred to herself as a prostitute. Her current appearance no longer had any trace of her former self, but perhaps she had a lovely appearance before, and it was one of the things that made her popr. Yui Mei nodded in understanding. It must be Xu, she became so shabby so shes probably trying to vent her anger on me, what a horrible woman! The wailing woman abruptly dropped Xus name, then started a barrage of verbal abuse towards her. She started spewing vitriol, like I hated her from the first time we met, Shes so annoying for always saying unpleasant things, and she continued saying whatever insult she coulde up with and hurled it out. Always, always, always getting in my way just because Im so famous and shes so jealous of me. Even if she had been the former favorite of His Majesty the Emperor, Im still his favorite now!! The woman fidgeted, tapped her feet and banged the table while animatedly saying those things. She was very lively, indeed. Whoa, what a great mouth, dissing somebody else with that gusto. The man looked on in admiration while watching the woman. Chapter 163: So, What Really Happened? Chapter 163: So, What Really Happened? Yui Mei said hmm, deep in thought after witnessing the situation in the other room. So, that person loathed Miss Xu, so she became like this out of jealousy? Yui Mei repeated the impressions that she heard as it is. Libin replied from behind her. No, if I remember it correctly, Xu doted on that pce courtesan, treating her as a sister Really? Yui Mei was shocked when she heard what Libin said. With things currently being like this, she couldnt believe that Xu and that pce courtesan had such a loving rtionship, no matter how much she looked at it. His Majesty would only request the songs that person made whenever I perform before him! Im just a substitute for her in the end. Do you know how great this humiliation is!? The woman shrieked while hitting the table, kicking and making a racket. So Xu also wrote music, huh Yui Mei was filled with awe while thinking how amazing she was. But she recalled her uneasiness. Even if Xu couldnt y the lute because her hands hurt, the Jiaofang shouldnt have any reason to maltreat her if she could also write songs for her job. However, she was obviously famished the first time Yui Mei saw her at the dumping site. Yui Mei couldnt help but think that Xus circumstances were so odd, as if things didnt match up. The woman next door kept on kicking up a fuss. That woman has it easy, saying her hands cant move anymore and using that as a good reason for her decline! Its just an excuse for sure! Just hurry up and retire already if youre getting old and youre no longer skilled! She kept hanging on, forever lording over me, Im so fed up! Im the number one performer now!! The woman kept on screeching insults towards Xu, but she was just repeating the same things over and over again, so they couldnt get any new information. In short, she just wants to say shes number one. If that pce courtesan was really confident with her skills, then she shouldve just held her head high without mulling over what others say. However, if she couldnt do that, then its precisely because she had that sense of inferiority that she relied on the poppy juice tobo to drown in euphoria. Otherwise, she must be a perfectionist. Even if other people recognized her skills, she would be unsatisfied with herself if she couldnt cross the skills that she had assumed she possessed. Such people were susceptible to being taken advantage of by other people during their times of weakness. She should have been a brilliant lute yer if she didnt encounter the poppy juice tobo. Yui Mei was filled with pity at the thought. I dont think were going to get much further than this. They can no longer hold a conversation so its useless. The man snorted. Yui Mei then gave a warning to him. That person is bing more violent, so the poppy juice mustve run out and shes starting to exhibit withdrawal symptoms, dont you think? In that case, the longer this went on, it would turn into a more terrible situation as she disyed drug withdrawal symptoms. If youre going to iste her, I rmend that you ce her in an environment where she wont hurt herself even if she goes on a rampage. Please do not ce objects that can hurt when broken near her. How troublesome. The manmented after listening to Yui Meis. He then whistled with his fingers, and the Ministry of Justice men in the other room apparently heard it, because they simultaneously moved to restrain the pce courtesan once again. Let go of me!! Yeah, will let you go inside the prison. The person from the Ministry of Justice replied when the pce courtesan resisted. She would be taken to prison, it seemed. Didnt Yang also mentioned that the the only way to restrain those addicts would be to put them in jail? In that case, this might be killing two birds with one stone, since they would also detain the criminals at the same time. Chapter 164: Importance of Having a Model Chapter 164: Importance of Having a Model What, who do you think I am!! The courtesan continued ranting and raving, but she couldnt resist with her body being withered as it was. She was taken outside the room. Youll never be forgiven for doing this to me! The womans shrieks resounded through the hallway. Her voice faded into silence as they got further away. The man then went outside the hall and talked to another guy in hushed tones. With their figures in her peripheral vision, Yui Mei repeatedly took deep breaths. She had unconsciously held her breath, so she felt suffocated by the time they noticed it. I see, so thats the symptoms of poppy juice addiction, huh. Libin was also a bit tense, and he remarked while shaking his head. I get why it has been so difficult for you to exin it. Its hard to understand without seeing it for oneself. Libin seemed moved while saying those words. Yui Mei agreed to what he said, Yes, it is still best to see that in person. It will definitely be taken lightly if it was just exined with words. In her previous world, the police officer had also blurted out that they were having a hard time doing awareness campaigns against drugs because words werent effective enough. On the other hand, if they were to film a video, people would only suspect that they are just exaggerating their performance. Indeed, conveying the message to the people was such a hard thing to do. Yui Mei was lost in those thoughts, when Libinmented with aplicated expression. Still, wouldnt it turn into a serious matter if someone like that appeared in the imperial pce? The Inner Pce wont be able to suppress this ruckus if that happened. Libins worries were actually justified. True enough, its actually easy to smoke tobo identally. That stench could be a hindrance, but if it wasbelled as being rare, it would definitely attract the interest of people craving for novel things. Aunty Yang is also worried about how to investigate the courtdies, right? Yeah. Goodness, its giving me a headache. Libin massaged his temples while replying to Yui Mei. He was also searching for a way to check the crown prince pce. But you know, Im worried that poppy juice will be banned as a medicine because of this. Its an excellent painkiller, after all. I see, then the soldiers mustve used that medicine frequently. Yui Mei expressed her concern, and Libin frowned in response. The man returned at that moment, probably done talking to his subordinate in the hallway. He then stared intently at Yui Mei. Xu Zi is awake. When the man said so, Yui Mei roused her somewhat exhausted body. Oh, right, I came here because of Xu. She didnte here to observe that drug addict patient. Alright, youre going to be the witness as nned. Yes! The man said, and Yui Mei raised her hand in response. And so, they immediately went to where Xu was, with Yui Mei following after the man. However, there was something that bothered her. Lord Libin, arent you going back? Libin was walking beside Yui Mei for some reason. It seemed that he was intent on joining them. Libin red at Yui Mei when she pointed it out. You, can you go back by yourself? The guys here arent so kind as to escort you back to where you were previously, you know? Libin remarked, and realization hit Yui Mei. She had been following that guy up to this point, so she didnt have a clue on how to return back to the courtdies lodging area. Please go back with me. Yui Mei meekly bowed her head towards Libin. T/N: We finally caught up! Yey! Well be back to 3x posting starting next week ? Chapter 165: Original Goal Chapter 165: Original Goal In the end, Libin went along with them, and the trio moved to another ce. They arrived at a room with a row of doors, simr to the one they were in earlier. However, this one had a tform for resting, and Xu wasid on it, although she was sitting on it now. Xu Zi, how do you feel? The man called out to her, so Xu moved her gaze towards them, obviously annoyed. Somebodys kicking up a fuss, huh. I woke up thanks to that. Xu then let out a huge yawn. She heard the mess earlier.. This ce was quite far from the room where the courtesan had been, but she still heard the ruckus, it seemed. If you heard it then it saves us the trouble of exining things.Yeah, just as you heard, we captured a very suspicious fellow. The man strode to Xu, stopping right before her. Xu Zi, do you still want to shoulder the me of being the one who brought the disastrous tobo and spread them in the Imperial Pce? Yeah. That girl is my sister, so Im the one who instructed her to do all those things. Xu didnt show any hesitation when she answered the mans query. Miss Xu Yui Mei had been observing the situation from behind the man, but she couldnt sense any trace of desperation to save someone else from Xus expression. Perhaps, she was good at concealing her inner thoughts, but what bothered Yui Mei the most was the dark emotion swirling in Xus eyes. Miss Attendant, do you have anything you wanna ask? The man turned his eyes towards Yui Mei. But before Yui Mei could utter a word, Xu already cut her off. Its useless, I tell you. That girl doesnt know a single thing about me. Xu grimaced, but the man remained unmoved in his intention to let Yui Mei expressed her thoughts. And so, Yui Mei didnt hesitate to talk. Miss Xu, why were you so hungry back then, when we first met at that dumping site? The words that spilled from Yui Meis mouth were totally unrted to the case of poppy juice. Huh? Xu suspiciously remarked. Xu Zi, answer her question. The man ordered her. .! She had been wordlessly ring at Yui Mei, but she realized that the man wouldnt withdraw his order, so she replied in disgust. Thats because Im a useless fellow who can no longer y the lute. Is there any other reason aside from the obvious, huh? Unfortunately, Yui Mei could no longer understand Xus reply after she heard what the captured courtesan said earlier. Does the Jiaofang really think that youre a worthless musician, given that you have penned the songs that have reached the Emperors ears? Yui Mei countered back. Musicposition wasnt a simple skill that anyone could acquire just by experience. It could be said that it was a matter of the individuals talent. Lute yers could be reced by other yers, but it would be different story for theposer. Thus, it was unimaginable for the Jiaofang to casually toss away such a talented person. Xu frowned when Yui Mei pointed it out. She didnt expect their conversation to develop into this way. If what Xu said is true, then the Jiaofang is the one at fault here, theyre abusing their authority. We have to capture them at once and interrogate them. The man mumbled. Ah, no Xu wanted to interject when she heard the word capture, but it seemed that she was having difficulty expressing what she wanted to say. Her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish, obviously flustered. Ha She sighed in resignation, then she started to talk. T/N: Hi guys, sorry for theck of updates, December is such a very busy month for our family, and there are heaps of work to do to before the holidays set in >.< But no worries, will be releasing all the chapters for this week today! ? thank you very much! Chapter 167: Encounter Chapter 167: Encounter I fell in love at first sight. The man, who apanied his boss in attending the banquet, told Xu. However, all of her previous suitors had also expressed the same thing before, so Xu didnt believe him. Nevertheless, this man was a little different from those guys. It became his habit to put flowers on top of a wall that was visible from Xus room, and he did it every morning. Xu gradually began to look forward to seeing those blooms on the wall, and eventually, she also fell for him. She realized that the man was genuinely sincere towards her, and her parents were also determined to marry them and wee him as their son-inw. However, the happiness was short-lived. Her parents went on a business trip, and they met their demise due to an unforeseen ident. Xu was suddenly immersed in misery, but disaster still relentlessly poured one after the other. She was told that she owed a huge debt to the store, and everything in the store that had value was taken away to pay the debt. Unfortunately, it wasnt enough to cover the debt, so Xu suffered because of the collection of that debt. The orphaned Xu stayed with the maid that had treated her well in the past, and her lover also tried his best running helter-skelter in order to help her. Regardless, nobody else was willing to extend a helping hand towards Xu. She tried her luck asking the friends of her parents, but they chased her away bluntly. When her parents were still alive, these so-called friends had been truly good to them and they were very close, but they all changed in the face of misfortune. It made Xus heart ache. She couldnt rely on anyone, and only her lover became her support, but he didnt possess great wealth that was enough to pay off her debts, and nobody wanted to lend him money. Nevertheless, her lover didnt give up. I will definitely make enough money and Ill help you. The man vowed, and he left the capital in order to make money. At that time, soldiers who would fight in the war on the eastern border were being recruited, and it was said that they could obtain a huge amount of money if they did meritorious deeds while in service. You dont have to go to such a dangerous ce! Xu tried to stop her lover, but he just shook her off and left. She was left alone in the capital, worried about her lover and trying to find ways to earn money. One day, a person came, saying he would take over all of Xus debts. However, it wasnt because of genuine, pure kindness. Be my exclusive courtesan in return. That person was no other than the man who pestered Xu for marriage but was rejected by her parents because of ill-rumors circting about him. Not only that, what he proposed now wasnt to be his wife, but to be his exclusive prostitute. He didnt want to get married, but he wanted her to be a harlot that he could dominate. Xu had also considered bing a courtesan to pay her debts, and it had remained at the back of her mind as one of the options. Regardless, shivers ran down her spine just by the thought of bing an exclusive prostitute for this man. Not only that, Xu realized that this man had a hand on her parents demise when she saw his lewd smirk. No mistake, he and his schemes were the reason why her parents friends turned her away so rudely, and why nobody wanted to lend money to her lover. Her parents had hated this man for all the dirty tricks he was capable of. Given the situation, it was suspicious whether her parents death was truly an ident. Xu rejected the mans proposal. If she took this scumbags hand, then whats the purpose of her lover bing a soldier and him travelling towards the empires borders? It was utterly impossible for her to ept it. Impudent! Doesnt matter, youre going with me! The man was furious, and he wanted to drag Xu with him. However, another person interfered at that time. I will be the one to buy Xu Zis person. It was a man who would appear from time to time in the banquets held by Xus father. She remembered him clearly, because he would give her rare sweets frequently, saying it was thanks for her musical performance. Nonsense, this Xu is now my harlot!! The man turned beet-red after being stopped, and he continued spouting arbitrary words. The other man paid him no heed and he continued talking to Xu. Xu Zi, I will not make you a harlot like what that man wanted. Good timing, Im looking for a courtesan who can work in the Imperial Pce. Xu had been so shocked that her soul almost flew out of her when she heard that unprecedented offer to her. If you perform with your lute, then Ill guarantee your safety, you know? In my opinion, its a good opportunity for you if youre waiting for your lover. The man smiled while stating his offer to Xu. Chapter 168: An Unexpected Story Chapter 168: An Unexpected Story A court courtesan was a female entertainer working in the pce, but it was different from ordinary courtesans. Lower-ranking courtesans were required to perform whatever service their client requested, but a courtesan specialized in marketing her art. Of course, Xu was already resigned to walk that path if she was to be sold, but bing a court courtesan wasnt something she could attain just because she thought about it. She had already given up at the very beginning because she didnt have any connections to such a ce like that. From Yui Meis point of view, she had the possibility of being approached by high-ss brothels and by their intermediaries to be a courtesan who sells her skills if shes a merchant daughter and she could y the flute well. Unfortunately, the guy who wanted to oppose her probably crushed all those possibilities. And Xu, ignorant as she was with the ways of the world, didnt know anything about it. It seemed that she hadnt thought of anything but to be a low-ranking courtesan. Still. The sincere young man piqued Yui Meis interest. The reason why Xu became a pce courtesan was probably because of the emperors final say. He still forced things to proceed despite the rumors circting that Xu was the emperors lover. These theories had been passed off as truth, moreover.. With these clues, it was easy to see the true identity of this sincere, kind man. Perhaps, the emperor snuck into the merchants banquets because he wanted a glimpse of the rumored lute yer? What an inquisitive man. What the heck were you doing, Dad! Yui Mei scolded him in her heart, before sneaking a nce at Libin. His expression looked as if he was enlightened. He probably realized the same thing. But that must be set aside for now. Xus choice was very obvious when faced with the dilemma of whether shed be that scumbags exclusive prostitute or if she would ept the sudden offer of bing a pce courtesan. And so, Xu became a court courtesan. However, even if she was a pce courtesan, the rules for leaving the Inner Pce still applied to her naturally. In that case, she wouldnt be able to meet her lover if he returned. However, Xu didnt balk at the thought of bing a nun, but that person refuted her. What, His Majesty the Emperor isnt such a heartless person. If the person you are waiting for returns and asks for your hand so that youll be married for life, then he will think of a way to help you out of bondage. Thats why Xu, all you have to do is tofort His Majestys heart with the songs of your lute, and pray for the safety of your lover. The man told her those words and he even personally sent her into the pce, but she never saw him again after he entered the Inner Pce. Yui Mei decided to just ask about it. Eh~ Miss Xu. By the way, have you ever seen the face of His Majesty the Emperor? Theres no way I could, of course. Were only allowed to have an audience when hes on the other side of the curtain. Xu retorted while looking at Yui Mei with suspicion. So that meant that person also didnt want to be discovered. Theres a possibility that his voice would expose him, but then, its also rare for the emperor to directly give his order. His retainers were usually the ones whomunicated with him one-on-one. Actually, Yui Mei was the weird one for having opportunities of directly conversing with the emperor. However, if he really wanted to help, why couldnt he do it earlier? If he had stepped in right away, then Xus lover didnt have to go all the way to the bordend in order to work as a soldier. Well, he cant just leave the pce at will even if hes the emperor, I guess. Yui Mei inwardly thought about it. Xu then continued her story. Time passed after she became a pce courtesan, and 10 years went by in a sh. Then one day, something was sent to Xu, who had been praying for the safety of her lover all this time. It was the hair of her lover deceased lover. Xu was devastated, both physically and emotionally, when all that returned was a tuft of hair after all those years of waiting. Enough, theres no reason for me to wait here anymore. I had continued ying this lute in the hopes that it would reach him, but She believed that the sound of her lute would reach her lover who was on the other side of the sky, but he had gone on to a ce where her lute couldnt reach him. She had wanted to follow him, but in the face of death, she was reluctant. Her lover had gone to the battlefield and died for her, but what the heck was she doing she cried andmented her deplorable, shameful self. And so, she had been roaming around, passing her days searching for the ce that could let her die, until she met Yui Mei at the dumping site on that day. T/N: Hello everyone, Hundred Blossom Pce is back again after a long hiatus! Sorry had a lot of things going on in rl, so I couldnt trante beforeIll just do daily releases (except Sundays) for the month of Feb so that I can catch up with all the releases that I missed ? Thank you! Chapter 169: Precious Memory Chapter 169: Precious Memory I see, so thats how it is. Understanding dawned on Yui Mei after she heard the life story of Xu. So, looks like Xu wants to die? unexpectedly, this thought of hers had hit the bulls eye. You understand now, right? Im just a shameless, selfish, unfair woman who just cares about my own life. My intention to help my parents just brought destruction to them, and I even let my lover face danger, and yet here I am just passing my days without a care. I thought Id be able to starve myself to death, and yet I greedily ate that sweet potato that you gave me back then. Im sinful and despicable. Xu mocked herself. Yui Mei couldnt help but frown when she heard those words. Humans instinct is to survive. Trying to survive by instinct is never a shameful thing. Yui Mei dered with a bit of force in her tone, and Xu was taken aback with the unexpected reply. However, Yui Mei saw that she was about to retort, so she immediately bombarded Xu with the things that she wanted to say. Miss Xu just wanted to y the lute for her family, so where is the sin there? Theres no way you would know that the seeding unfortunate events would happen, so you shouldnt mistake the truth for what it is. Miss Xu, you are also the victim here, and the criminal is the person who framed your family. Yui Meis reply was crisp. In her previous life, there were patients who, upon hospitalization due to injuries sustained because of an incident or an ident, would question themselves whether they had done something wrong. They were obviously the victims, but they would lose sight of their own position because aside from the hassle of dealing with the aftermath, the other party would justify his actions so openly, sowing seeds of doubt in the victims heart. This was precisely what happened to Xu. And because the things that she lost were too much for her to bear on her own, and the emptiness that it left probably made her feel that everything was spiraling out of her control. There were people who managed to heal from that emptiness over time, while there were also those who chose to ignore it. Xu seemed to be one of those who werent capable of finding sce in time. Moreover, the news of the death of her lover who went to the bordend to work mustve been the final blow. But Xu was about to refute Yui Meis words, but found that she couldnt say anything. She repeatedly opened and closed her mouth. She was sitting on the tform, so Yui Mei bent down and stared straight into Xus eyes. Miss Xu, did your lover ever say you must die with me to you? Yui Mei quietly asked, without any intention to reproach. He never said such a thing. Xu mumbled after a moment of silence and hesitation. It seems that you dont have any memories of him saying die with me, right. Yui Mei repeated back to confirm Xus words. Then, how did you talk with him? Did he tell you what he wanted you to do? Wanted meto do? Xus eyes widened. It seemed that she hadnt thought about this. Please try to remember. Hes your precious person, isnt he? Yui Mei encouraged her. Its really sad if youre only going to reminisce about the scene of your parting over and over again. Its understandable that thest farewell would be the scene engraved most deeply in her mind. However, the memories she had with her lover should be more than that. Xu looked like she was deep in thought, but her expression was no longer clouded. The man who had been silently watching over their conversation during the entire time suddenly spoke. It seems that its better to end the interrogation here for today. Xu Zi, well talk again once youve calmed down. The man already dered so, so it was the end of the interview with Xu, and Yui Mei and the guys left her alone with her thoughts. Chapter 170: It was Useful, Apparently Chapter 170: It was Useful, Apparently Ahm, did I get in your way? Yui Mei asked the moment they left the room. The interrogation ended without getting any information regarding the incident from Xu. Yui Mei thought that it was an important conversation, but she couldnt help but feel guilty for that. Nah, thats not true. It was an interesting story. Is that so? Yui Mei was perplexed because the man looked satisfied about something. Xu didnt talk about anything else other than her life story, so did he glean something rted to the incident this time? Yui Mei was baffled. Its the matter about where the heck did this expensive poppy juice medicine thats supposedly hard to gete from, right? Libin, who was beside Yui Mei, interjected, and the man nodded in reply. Its worthwhile investigating that merchant who entrapped Xus family. Based on the mans words, there are many merchants in the city of Kyou, but only a handful of them would be allowed to enter the Hundred Blossom Pce. However, those merchants would have their own backing support, so they wouldnt be able to squeeze any information from them. The Ministry of Justice had set their eyes on one of those shops. Theres a merchant who isnt qualified to enter the imperial pce, but he was suddenly allowed to enter the pce and be around the Empress Dowager. Its a widely known fact that merchants can rapidly rise or fall, but even so, this guys meteoric rise is suspiciously fast. The number of merchants who could enter the Hundred Blossom Pce was already fixed, so if this new merchant was granted entry then that means the merchants who were already settled were no longer there. Was Xus family among them, perhaps? this thought crossed the mans mind. Er, I feel like its bad for a lowly courtdy like me to listen to this, right? Yui Mei felt that such a potentially important intel garnered from the investigation was revealed just like that to her, so she subconsciously muttered. The man raised a brow in response. We heard the same story, you can easily guess it if you think a bit, though. Oh. The man acted as if its so easy, but Yui Mei wasnt particrly good at deduction and solving mysteries, albeit being a fan of the detective and mystery genre in her previous life. She only felt resentment, thinking that there are such bad guys in the world after listening to Xus story. Besides, your face obviouslycks a sense of danger, so arent you suitable since youll probably just sneak around after listening to a disturbing story, no? The man thenmented further. A face thatcks a sense of danger what kind of face is that!? Yang had also warned her about the same thing previously. Did she really look so nonchnt like that? Stop that, youll look more idiotic if you keep on doing that. Yui Mei squeezed and pinched her face, so Libin warned her. Being in the penitentiary makes your shoulders stiff, huh. If somebody thinks the penitentiary is afortable ce, then hes a weirdo. Yui Mei grumbled about her impression regarding that ce, so Libinmented. Well, thats true, I guess. If the government office that deals with the custody of criminals had a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere and was easy to enter, then that itself would be a problem. Libin, dont you feel that its somehow connected to Dongs region? I cant help but think about it recently. Yui Mei asked Libin when they reached a spot that was a bit further away from the penitentiary. Yeah, I might say its impossible, but then, that Dong that Ming took in, isnt he around the same age as Xu? As expected, Libin was also thinking about Dong who was now dependent on Ming. Chapter 171: What is the Problem? Chapter 171: What is the Problem? Yui Mei pondered about Xus story. Miss Xus evidence was just a piece of hair supposedly of the deceased, right I know this might sound presumptuous, but isnt it a bit too weak of a proof that her lover had really died? Of course, there was also a possibility that her lover did really wish that his hair be given to her after his death, but the possibility that that wasnt the case was also quite high. After all, they couldnt submit that hair for DNA analysis, unlike her previous world. Besides, even in her previous life, there were instances when the remains of the person that supposedly died in war actually belonged to a different person. In the past, they did not have any choice but to believe the thing that was sent to them, but thanks to the establishment of DNA analysis technology, they knew the truth for the first time. How did they deliver that hair to Miss Xu? Yui Mei was perplexed, so she asked Libin. The credibility of that hair would depend on whether it was delivered by an intermediary, or if it was handed over by a soldier that fought alongside him in the war. Libin responded to her question. From what weve heard, its unlikely that Xu had anyone she knew at the border if her lover set out all alone. Besides, Xu cant see anyone outside the Hundred Blossom Pce unless she was granted permission to leave, so a letter would be the best way in that case. Libins guess was spot on, and Yui Mei couldnt help but agree with him. As expected. Then, isnt that too unbelievable, especially since the news of his death came from a stranger from goodness knows where. Yui Mei grimaced at the thought, and Libin nodded as he pondered the matter. Yeah, thats also a problem, huh. It wont be that suspicious if the person who delivered it was a trusted acquaintance, but if thats not the case, then theres no need to treat that hair seriously. Local governments of cities orrge viges kept death records, but theres no such practice in the provinces. People would just use word of mouth to spread that somebody died. That was also the norm back at the bordend, which could be considered a danger zone, where Yui Mei grew up. The way they handled the dead was even more vague. ording to Libin, there were times that they would actually make mistakes about the death announcement, given the ambiguity of the process. If a person would benefit from the death of a certain person, then it was possible to send him off on an errand and have him travel far. The person who then plotted it all would use hair as proof that the other person died, possibly saying things like he met with an ident. You could even cut the underneath part of your own hair and pass it off as long as its not recognizable as your own. Even if the person that had been dered dead came back and imed that Im alive, it would be toote by then. If the authorities confirmed the death by autopsy then itd be understandable to have faith on that news, but just how much faith did she have on the words of a self-proimed friend that she never even met before? Why the heck did you believe it, Miss Xu!? Or was waiting for ten years too painful for her? Yui Mei felt inexplicable, but Libin continued on. If we go with the perspective that his death was fabricated, then it means that theres somebody who wanted Xus lover dead. For what reason? Its inevitable to have that question. I really cant think of any circumstance surrounding Xu that would warrant such. Yui Mei fell into deep thought when she heard Libins words. Once Xu entered the Hundred Blossom Pce, she would be out of reach of the viinous merchant that was mentioned in her story. He wouldnt have any reason to hurt her lover after that, too. Even if he feared that her lover would try to take revenge for her, theres already the possibility that he would die in battle, although it might be a bit too much to say this. Xu always thought of his possible death, so theres also the possibility that she epted the story that he died after receiving his hair. So, who was the one who delivered the hair and for what purpose? Perhaps, the reason for wanting the death of her lover didnte from Xus side, but from the bordend where he went to work? You can be quite sharp at times, you know. Yui Mei arrived at that conclusion after much thought, but she pouted when she heard Libinsment. What do you mean by at times, huh? Im sharp all the time!! Especially todays menu, I can already guess the dishes just by the scent!! Yui Mei proudly dered, but Libin just flicked her on the forehead. Thats not being sharp, thats gluttony. Urk, that might be true. Libin retorted, and Yui Mei couldnt help thinking that way about herself, too. Chapter 172: Again Chapter 172: Again Yui Mei tried to deduce the matter behind the incident, but she couldnt do anything on her own at the moment. A lot of time had already passed because of the affairs at the penitentiary, so the working horse was about to end by the time she returned. She didnt get lost thanks to Libin. I didnt finish my cleaning duty again today Even if an incident urred, it was still a problem that she didnt finished her assignment for that day. Ill definitely clean tomorrow! Yui Mei enthusiastically dered to herself, and she returned to the lodging house. Somebody was waiting for her. A table was set-up in a well-lit spot, and Du, the emperors doppelganger, was sitting there sipping tea. Yang was beside him. Oh, Yui Mei, so youve returned. Du cheerfully waved at Yui Mei when he noticed her. What good timing, he alwayses at the right time, huh? Perhaps he already knew everything, so he was like that. Yui Mei thought it was probable, so she approached him. Its been a while, Lord Du. May I know what brings you here? Yui Mei politely greeted him, and she immediately inquired about his purpose. People must talk carefully with a lot of twists and turns in their words, always beating around the bush when facing bigwigs. However, Yui Mei was starving and it was already time for dinner, so she wanted to get over it as soon as possible. Du didnt appear offended by Yui Meis blunt questioning, and he even responded. Yeah. I heard about it, you got involved with the mess and even got dragged to the penitentiary. He also went straight to the point bluntly. Lord Du, youre quite quick to hear about things. It was an event that had just happened a short time ago, but he managed to grasp that information and was even waiting for her. What an impressive informationwork he had. The people from the Ministry of Justice wanted to know the details, so I cooperated with them. I never thought Id be able to see the Imperial Pce, its truly such a fortunate thing for me. Yui Mei felt bad for the personnel of the Ministry of Justice if people think that she had been dragged, so she expressed that she had done it on her own volition, and willingly at that. Hohoh, I see. That penitentiary is actually a ce that only the rted personnel and criminals could enter, so thats quite something to be proud of, you know? Du apparently found Yui Meis words amusing, so he said those words with a broad smile. Just where on earth can you find someone who envies another for entering the prison Yang muttered beside Du. As for Yui Mei, she didnt care whether somebody would envy her or not, its fine as long as satisfy herself. As for the result, they apparently caught the criminal satisfactorily, so its all good. The personnel from the Ministry of Justice also collected all the sources of the stench, so people will no longer dislike working at the Jiaofang, right? Yui Mei turned to Yang and exined. Thats good, then. Yang looked relieved. The shortage of manpower caused by the flust winter had yet to be resolved, so they mustve worried about this situation of being short-handed. Still, its a wonder that nobody tried to report the stench until now, isnt it? Yui Mei suddenly thought of this, so she tried to ask about it. Even though it wasnt sure whether theyd be able to pursue the matter about the poppy juice, they couldve at least removed the source of the stench if somebodyined that its too stinky that I cant work. Thats because they were probably cajoled, saying its a luxury fragrance. Du was the one who answered her query. There are incense and perfumes with offensively stinky bases. They might be ridiculed as clueless country bumpkins if theyined about the stench, so that might be the reason why the other people didnt say a word. I see, that might be true. Yui Mei agreed with Dus point. What persuasive power, as expected of a casanova dating tons of women. So, how was Xu Zi? Im a bit worried that shes depressed and ruminating on strange thoughts. Du changed the topic by asking that. This seemed to be the real reason why he had been waiting for her. Yui Mei hesitated for a moment, wondering what she should say. Maybe the emperor wasnt supposed to hear any bad news, so it was blocked. However, he probably wanted to know the truth, because he went out of his way toe here with the appearance of Du. That was Yui Meis guess, so she decided to recount the current situation in all honesty. Indeed, she had some strange thoughts going on. She even implored the personnel of the Ministry of Justice, saying everythings my fault so punish me. Goodness Du seemed like he partly guessed it would happen based on his expression. He heaved a deep sigh. Chapter 173: Xu’s Lute Chapter 173: Xu¡¯s Lute Sigh, I heard that shes ill so I sent some gifts for well-wishes. She would normally send her thanks, but she didnt respond this time so Im worried. Shes the type of woman who tends to overthink, in the first ce. Du sighed as he muttered those words. Yui Mei was initially hesitant to reply, but she finally replied. Ahm, theres something thats really bothering me. I heard that Lord Du was the one who brought her here to be a pce courtesan Its me, indeed. Yui Mei didnt have to say everything; Du already exposed himself. As I thought! Yui Meis conjecture was proven to be true, so of course she was satisfied. Du then continued on, sighing as he reminisced about the past that Yui Mei asked about. Back then, I really regretted the fact that I didnt save her earlier. It was a period of turmoil, and it was onlyter that I knew about her situation. By the time I noticed it, it was already after Xus lover went to the bordends warzone. Du exined the circumstances of that time. I see, so the timing had been pretty bad then. However, there was no way such an esteemed person as an emperor would be idle enough that he would have time right when somebody else fell into misfortune. Such an opportunism only existed in dramas. Does that mean the reason Lord Du came here today is to inquire about what happened at the penitentiary? Yui Mei asked once again, but even so, she couldnt help but think that he didnt have to go out of his way toe here; he couldve waited for the report from the Ministry of Justice. Else, there was surely somebody acting as his private investigator in secret, so he could have listened to that persons report. However, the fact that he came all the way here meant that he had a business that needed Yui Meis cooperation. Such thoughts ran through Yui Meis mind, and Du grinned at her. No, no, thats not the only reason I came here. I also have something I want to know. I heard that youre familiar with the cause of Xu Zis condition. So, how is it, do you think she can y the lute again? The matter that he inquired about was regarding Xus condition, in the end. Oh right,e to think of it, we started with Miss Xus rheumatism. It had turned into a serious matter, but it didnt mean that Yui Mei forgot about the disease. If were considering her condition, then I can say that the degree of fengshi shes suffering is quite light. It wont hinder normal peoples day to day lives, but Xu is a musician. For an artist who uses her fingers in a delicate manner, it must have been quite a blow to learn that she couldnt move her fingers as she wished. Wouldnt she be depressed because of it? Du rubbed his chin when he heard Yui Meis exnation. Hmm, indeed, such an adroit lute yer as her would probably be worried about sensations that are different from normal folks. Du earnestly nodded his head in agreement, so Yui Mei couldnt help but pose another question. Ahm, is Xu really such an excellent lute yer? I never heard anyone y lute before. Yui Mei was obviously interested, so Du smiled. Hoh, so youre curious about it. Its like this. Once you hear Xu y the lute, the musical performances of others will be like mere childs y. Xu is a woman beloved by music, I warrant. Beloved by music! What a ttering remark. I suddenly want to hear Miss Xu y! I will do anything in order to hear Miss Xu y! Of course its still up to the person herself, but I will do everything I can to support her! Yui Mei pushed her fist upward as she dered those words with great gusto, and Du apuded her. Yes, yes, its best to be frank about ones ambitions! Of course, greed that causes trouble for others would only destroy oneself, but its not good to overly suppress yourself. Ditto! The two of them were getting strangely excited as their opinions coincided. How strange, is it because they have simr principles? Yang felt a headacheing as she watched the two of them, but Yui Mei didnt notice. Chapter 174: Xu’s Illness Chapter 174: Xu¡¯s Illness Chapter 174 Xus Illness Cough, lets return to the topic. Yui Mei suddenly realized that she had been getting overly excited with the emperor, so she calmed down and continued their earlier conversation, albeit embarrassed at what happened. As for Miss Xus fengshi, if she undergoes medical treatment then theres a chance that her condition will improve. Medical treatment refers to taking medicines, but she also has to improve her lifestyle. Yui Mei then exined that Xu had to avoid umting too much mental stress, get proper exercise and rest, avoid straining her joints and keeping them warm, and eat nutritious food. Miss Xu is practicing too hard on her lute. She also has her job at the banquets, so her sleep must have been irregr because of it. I am also concerned whether she is eating properly. It wasmon practice for the lower ranks to eat whats left from the banquet, so Xu must have eaten the left-overs whenever she attended one. However, dishes prepared for such events were mostly appetizers and side dishes to apany wine. They were extremely nutritionally unbnced. Moreover, she mustve been also trying to cover up her anxiety by smoking tobo. Perhaps she was currently abstaining from tobo because she didnt have that particr scent on her, but Yui Mei understood just how hard it was to quit smoking. Even in her previous life, there were a lot of patients who visit the hospital as part of their attempt to quit. Du nodded his head in understanding when he heard Yui Meis exnation. What, so you mean to say its not some kind of over-the-top ;discipline, huh? Du looked let down after hearing the answer, so it was quite a mystery what he was imagining in the first ce. He even mentioned discipline, so was he thinking she had to bathe under the waterfalls or something? There is no such thing. Yui Mei tly denied and shook her head. Instead of going through a lot of trouble just for a one-time treatment, it is far more important to continue doing it step-by-step everyday. Du seemed enlightened by Yui Meis statement once again. So, recovering from an illness is quite simr to the new soldiers training, is it? Even a genius would be useless on the battlefield if he skips his regr training. Du seemed to have arrived at his own conclusion and understanding, but since Yui Mei didnt have an inkling about the situations of soldiers, she couldnt tell whether it was a good analogy or not. At any rate, it was good that he somehow grasped how the treatment of rheumatism worked. Still, even if theres the possibility that she can y the lute again, how do we convince her to undergo treatment..? Du seemed to be troubled. From the looks of it, it seemed that his thoughts extended way beyond simply wanting to hear Xu y the lute. Lord Du, is there any particr reason why Xu has to y no matter what? Yui Mei curiously asked, and Dus expression turned serious in return. Well, didnt you meet the guy named Dong, the one who is currently staying at Mings ce, right? Are you referring to the man with amnesia? Yui Mei was startled to hear Du mention that name since she had just been talking to Li Yong about him, too. Did Du think of Dong because he heard it from someone else, or did he also arrive at that conclusion himself? Yui Mei thought it was probably thetter. Yes, precisely that Dong. ording to Du, Ming sent a letter of consultation to General Li, because there had been guys who targeted Dong recently. Really!? Yui Mei eximed in shock. She didnt hear anything about such a dangerous situation when they visited Mings residence, and Dong seemed like he was still strolling on his own as usual. Nevertheless, what would Dong be targeted? Come to think of it, Lord Li Yong did mention that he looked like a soldier when he saw that person. Yui Mei said so, and Du seemed to mull over her words. Ming also said the same thing. Xus lover is also a soldier, right? ! Yui Meis eyes widened after hearing the information that Du just spilled. This made it even more likely that Dong was indeed Xus lover. Chapter 175: Xu’s Lover Chapter 175: Xu¡¯s Lover ording to Du, Xus father met with an ident while on a business trip, and a soldier saved him. He then invited the soldier to a banquet. The soldiers subordinate who came with him was apparently Xus lover. Ming told me that that Dong person seemed interested in music. It seemed he had taken Yui Meis words to heart when she told him that it might be good if you listen to music. He had been walking around listening for the sound of lute. However, even if he did hear the lutes music, he would only shake his head while saying theres better music out there. Mings that Dongs obsession with the lute and having an ear for music despite being a soldier might be because he was affiliated to a brothel. Du, on the other hand, thought of another possibility, apparently. Her lutes sound would linger in your ear for ages, so its quite troublesome. Dumented with a wry smile, so Yui Mei frowned. The way you say it sounds like that person might be addicted to Miss Xu. Yui Mei unwittingly mumbled, and Du rubbed his chin upon hearing that. I see, addiction, huh, so is it possible to see it that way? Its supposed to be merely a beautiful sound, and yet it could even charm scoundrels for some reason. That point is also quite a nuisance, said Du. Those who hear Xu y the lute would be immersed in its sound, and they would discover her true worth, leading to them trying to get their hands on her and possess her. It was as if Xu was a drug that could delude people. No, urately speaking, those who covet what wasnt theirs would turn her wonderful music into their drug. Wait, wait, theres no way Miss Xus existence is the same as that pest opium tobo! Yui Mei immediately denied her earlier thoughts. Xu genuinely loved the lute, and she must have practiced really hard in order to gain the approval of the people she loved. However, scum adults had trodden on feelings, instead. It would not be odd if Xu hated the lute after all she went through in the past, thinking that it destroyed all that was dear to her. However, the existence of her lover must have barely connected her back to her lute. Perhaps, she might even have thought that no matter how many months passed without meeting her lover, he would find her back through the music of lute. However was Yui Mei deluding herself too much with these thoughts? Unfortunately, Xus lover died, so she lost the motive for ying the lute. But then, what if he was still alive? In that case, Xu might find the meaning of her lute once again. However, they also had to consider whether Dong was really her lover or not. Lord Du, do you think Dong is Miss Xus lover? Yui Mei straightforwardly asked, and Du looked like he was having trouble answering. I dont know. I dont even know who he is. Besides, he had spent a long time in the battlefield, so his appearance mustve changed, too. Even if he was a former aquaintance, Im not even sure if Ill recognize him Indeed, you have a point there. Yui Mei agreed with Du Ten years had already passed since they got separated. That period of time was more than enough for a person to change inwardly, not to mention their appearance. There was the possibility of the guy abandoning Xu for another woman, or he could have truly died in battle. He couldve also decided that the battlefield was where he belonged, thereby staying there for good. There were many possibilities, and among them, the chance that he returned because he pined for Xu since forever was quite slimpared to the others. Yui Mei unconsciously started to frown as she mulled over these thoughts, when Du interrupted her musings. Even if that Dong guy isnt Xus lover, it is still necessary for him to recover his memories. ording to Du, he couldnt divulge the details, but apparently, there was something fishy going on in the bordends, and he thought that Dong mightve been involved in some kind of incident that caused him to lose his memory. Chapter 176: Situation in the National Borders Chapter 176: Situation in the National Borders The border between the two countries was Enzhou, and it was located northeast of Youzhou, the ce where the capital was. ording to Du, the two provinces were separated by a steep mountain range, and it was difficult for people to pass through. Direct routes were impossible, so they had to go through detours covering long distances. The farther it is, the more difficult it is to get information. Its easy to hide crimes, so evildoers abound there, Du said. I see. Is it the same as when I never knew about the trends in the capital when I was still in the bordend? Yui Mei agreed and gave an example, to which Du nodded. I think so. The results might be the same, but the reason behind should be different. The terrain of the bordends are quite rough, making it difficult for people to pass through. But for the national borders, its not only the terrain thats rough, theres the danger of enemy soldiers hiding there, and they can get in the way of information exchange. Thats scary! Yui Mei couldnt help but rub her arms when she heard what Du said. Yui Mei was born just right after the war, so she grew up in peaceful Japan. Even when she was living in the bordends, she never felt any threat to her life. Uwah, Im so d I grew up in the province, and not in the national borders! Yui Mei was grateful from the bottom of her heart. Having a threat to ones own life was scary enough, but she also disliked danger to other peoples lives. Apparently, Dong got involved in somebody elses crisis and ended up losing his memories that was Dus theory. I want to know what is going on in the national borders. Im thinking that perhaps that Dong guy might react if we let him listen to Xus lute. I see, indeed, thats possible. Yui Mei finally grasped Dus intention, and she nodded in understanding. It seemed that this situation would not end as a simple matter of helping Xus lovelife. But you see, I cant bear to raise Xus hopes up if that Dong guy turns out to be somebody else who is unrted to her. I dont even know how to bring this up to her. Du expressed his worry. Yes, thats true. Hmmm. Yui Mei hummed in thought. They didnt know if Dong was truly Xus lover, so they had to gloss over this when they talked about it with Xu. Her feelings were currently twisted and cynical, so the possibility of her agreeing if they were to simply request her to y the lute was extremely low. Yui Mei learned a lot of things today. Du confirmed that the prognosis of Xus rheumatism was good, so he went home. It seemed that he would try toe up with a n to encourage Xu. Two dayster Hm~ work is going smoothly now that it isnt stinky anymore. Yui Mei was in a great mood since she could finally proceed with cleaning the Jiaofang. The building was breathtakingly beautiful, from its very shape down to its engravings. Perhaps it had been built with the purpose of stirring the imagination of the actors and musicians so that they could produce masterpieces. Faint music and songs were gently carried by the breeze, further lightening Yui Meis mood while she cleaned. Soon enough, she was moving her rug to the rhythm of music while wiping the floor. This is it! A life with music really is the best! If she could only do as she wished, she would sit right in front of them and listen with all her might from the front row. That was the side of Yui Mei, this refineddy. On the other hand, there had been an increase in the incidents of Jiaofangs courtesans going on a rampage to the point that they couldnt be handled anymore and had to be taken away. It seemed the withdrawal symptoms of addiction to poppy juice had finally manifested. Moreover, there were also people who secretly smoked the poppy juice that they had stashed away. They were also taken into custody by the personnel of the Ministry of Justice. It was because of these that the number of courtesans had beenrgely reduced. The numbers had already dwindled because of the winter influenza. If the number of courtesans was reduced further, wouldnt that mean they would no longer be enough to liven the banquets? Will there be recements for the courtesans soon? Yui Mei mulled over this while cleaning earnestly. So you were here. Somebody called out from behind her, and when she turned around, Libin was standing there. Chapter 177: A Meal Before Being Summoned Chapter 177: A Meal Before Being Summoned Yui Mei was taken aback by Libins sudden appearance. Oh, what happened, Lord Libin? Yui Mei stopped cleaning for a moment and asked Libin. Theres something I need from you, of course. Libin said matter-of-factly, then he beckoned Yui Mei before moving away as if avoiding anyone who might see them. He then continued on once they were in a deserted ce without a hint of anyones presence. Theres a notice from the Ministry of Justice. It seems that Xu Zi wanted to talk to you again. Yui Mei was perplexed upon hearing that. Xu wanted to die before, but did she have a change of heart after she spoke to Yui Mei? But there was another thing that bothered her. Libin, are you perhaps being used as an errand-boy? The crown princes closest aide was quite magnificent for a gofer. Libin scowled as if he read Yui Meis thoughts. That guy just didnt want to bother contacting people, so he requested me to ry this message. Indeed, it might be possible to ask for a direct audience from the big-shots, but if they wanted to ry a message to a lowly courtdy like Yui Mei, it wouldnt be appropriate to directly do so in a spacious and well-popted ce such as the Hundred Blossom Pce. They first had to contact the most senior person in the department where Yui Mei belonged. They had to rify that they only wanted to talk to her and not capture her. Once that was approved, it would then be ryed to the superiors subordinate, who would then ry it to her subordinate, and so on and so forthIt would be just like a pass-the-message game, and it would be rare for the information to be intact by then. It was actually short of a miracle that Yui Mei conversed directly to the guy from the other day when they were in Jiaofang Normally, Yui Mei would receive the order to go to the penitentiary from Yang. In that case, it would take a longer time for Yui Mei to appear at the Ministry of Justice. That guy from the Ministry of Justice felt all of that was too much of a hassle, so he decided to ask Libin, the person with direct contact with Yui Mei, to just ry the message to her. Libin diligently delivered the message personally to Yui Mei, so it could be seen just how conscientious he was. Oh my, thanks for the hard work. Yui Mei sympathised with Libin. At any rate, she was already done with the work she nned for today, and was just nning to enjoy a snack. Ahm, Im just going to eat my after-work snack, so please wait for a moment! It wasnt an exaggeration to say that having a snack was also part of her work. Yui Mei stared intently at Libin, obviously unwilling topromise. Well, I can wait for that. It seemed that the matter was not urgent, since he agreed to let her have her snack time. Todays snack was sesame dumplings. Yui Mei felt her mood soar as the fragrance of the sesame wafted in the air when she opened the oil paper. Sesame dumplings weremonly seen during winter just like ma hua. Yui Mei thought it was probably because it was difficult to eat fried foods during the hot summer days. In short, it would be a sin not to enjoy this winter-limited delicacy. She popped one to her mouth. The outeryer was crunchy, followed by the soft filling after chewing it, spreading sweetness in her mouth and bringing happiness to her. Hmm~ crunchy softie yummy She savored it well before gulping it down, before spilling her thoughts. You have to drink tea too, or else youre gonna choke on that. Libin warned Yui Mei, but her eyes suddenly popped open. Its a waste washing this happiness away with tea! I see? It was obvious that Libin thought she was spouting nonsense, but he just let it go and humored her. However, now that it came to this, what would other people say if they saw her eating on her own while letting Libin wait for her? Even if they were in a deserted ce, it was still a possibility. Yui Mei stared at the dumplings, then she gripped the bundle tightly as she very reluctantly offered them. Here, would you like to have one?! Yui Mei asked as if that question was cutting to her heart, so Libin frowned. Theres no way Im getting one, seeing how you might burst into tears if I did. It seemed she couldnt hide her thoughts at all. Chapter 178: Back to the Penitentiary Chapter 178: Back to the Penitentiary Inspite of their conversation, Yui Mei still finished the sesame dumplings with great relish. Libin then apanied her to the penitentiary again. By the way, Libin had to go with her because she couldnt remember the way there, and he was also worried about her dealing with the matter on her own. Im not such a big deal of a troublemaker! Yui Mei pouted because of the unnecessary treatment. When they reached the entrance of the building, Libins acquaintance was waiting for her. Good day, I was informed that my presence is requested, so I came. Yui Mei bowed to the man, but he just waved his hand and told her this way, before hurriedly leading them away. Libin and Yui Mei followed behind the man, and she called out to him. How has Miss Xu fared since that day? The man then answered her without turning back. Nothing, really. She didnt even kick up a fuss, and had been quite the docile one, you know? She wanted to die, so we had been extra vignt thinking she might cause an uproar by attempting suicide, but she didnt do that. Yui Mei felt relieved when she heard the mans exnation. It seemed that they were also worried about her raising chaos then taking her own life afterward, but it turned out to be unnecessary worry. Maybe your persuasionst time worked? Hmm. Libinmented, so Yui Mei tried to wracked her brain. It seemed it wasnt right to say that it was thanks to Yui Mei. Indeed, Miss Xu agreed to converse with me, but I dont think there are a lot of earnest people who would willingly listen immediately after being told off by somebody else. Yui Mei then responded. It was natural for humans to doubt what other people say. Usually, they would go through the process of reconciling their own ego with the advice of other people. They would then try to understand first, before they made their own opinions. It would take a lot of willpower and resilience, and if those werecking, it might also be possible for the person to reject what theyve heard, or else just believe every single word they heard. Based on this, Xu mustve been capable enough to properly digest it for herself. Perhaps, she was just a bit narrow-minded, but she wasnt driven to the corner yet? Maybe that means Miss Xu still has the capacity to think clearly? Hm, Im not sure if I get it or not Libin had a subtle expression when he heard what she said. It mustve been difficult for him to understand, considering he was still young despite being the wise man that he was. He would probably understand it after meeting a lot of people from now on. Youre still ass, and yet youre spouting wise things like an old man. The man in front of them seemed amused, on the other hand. Well, it was certainly a statement that didnt seem befitting of a young maiden who had juste of age. Xu spends her days quietly by herself. She also eats her meals withoutint. The person in charge of her meals suddenly told me that she wanted to talk to the courtdy who was a housekeeper. I see, so thats how it is. The man told her how Xu ended up asking for her. Right at that moment, they finally arrived in front of the room that was their destination. Knock, knock! Wereing in. The man called out after knocking, then he opened the door. The room was simple, furnished with a table and chair. Xu was sitting on it while staring absentmindedly at the scenery beyond the window. She didnt even pay attention to the guy who just entered the room. Hello Miss Xu, I heard you called for me, so I came. Yui Mei called out to her, and Xu finally turned to face them. Herplexion is betterpared to when Ist saw her. Yui Mei assessed Xus condition. Herplexion was extremely bad back then, but now, she looked better despite still being pale. Chapter 179: Xu’s Determination Chapter 179: Xu¡¯s Determination On the other hand, Xu slumped down, as if her strength left her the moment she saw Yui Mei. Youre such a weird girl, you know. You think so? Xu wryly smiled, but Yui Mei just tilted her head. I just greeted her like normal, so why did she tell me that Im weird? Yui Mei looked baffled, so Libin poked her head. This is the penitentiary, so naturally, no one who would greet people as cheerfully as you do. Libinmented, and Yui Mei couldnt help but agree and think that it must be true. Most of the people imprisoned here were basically criminals, so it should be futile to show affection to such people. It might even be unfortunate if they harbored false hopes that they would be saved after showing them such sweetness. Xu mustve gotten used to the cold treatment in the penitentiary after spending a few days here. Well, its not like Im one of the staff of the Ministry of Justice. Yui Mei came because shes an acquaintance of Xu, so it shouldnt be weird to greet her cheerfully as such. Besides, it wasnt decided yet that Xu was to be punished. Im just a mere housekeeper, so Im not familiar with the practices here in the penitentiary, you know. Rather than that, Miss Xu, what do you want to talk about today? Time was limited, so Yui Mei went straight to the point. The conversation was directed to Xu, so she heaved a deep sigh as if to strengthen her resolve before she started speaking. Since you told me offst time, I spent a lot of time thinking about it, about what that person would want to me to do. Is that so? Then, have you arrived at the answer? Yui Mei replied, when she suddenly recalled something. Come to think of it, Xu was the esteemed daughter of a prestigious merchant, wasnt she? In that case, then Xu should have used a more polite manner of speaking in the past instead of what she was currently doing, shouldnt she? Moreover, there were many women who came from wealthy families among the courtesans, so her manner of speech that was considered crude even in the standards of themoners mustve put her in a negative light. Perhaps, this was Xus rebellion in her own way, or maybe it was her own method of bidding farewell to her past. Yui Mei inwardly pondered these things while Xu continued on. It was a long time ago, when I just met that person. I just remembered how we disagreed about something trivial and ended up making an odd promise because of it. Her lover was a soldier, so it was only natural that his job was far more high-riskpared to hers. Xu had been worried because of that, so she implored that he took another safer job. Her lover replied that it was the only thing that he could do. Besides, he said, his body was sturd so he wouldnt die so easily. Still, Xu thought about the what-ifs, so he then told her this. Well then, if I did die, please y the lute in my funeral. If you send me off with the music of your lute, I feel quite sure that Ill be able to meet you once again in the next life. Dont utter such ominous things! Xu got mad, and she also told him peevishly that he too would surely find a maiden who was more beautiful and charming than her in his next life. Her lover assured her that theres no way he would as he tried to soothe her anxiously. They made up after that and they never argued about this matter since then. Moreover, her parents were also considering taking him in as their son-inw so that he could quit being a soldier immediately, so Xu forgot all about it. Yeah, that person might not be able to go to the underworld and might keep on wandering around the battlefield for a long time if I dont y the lute. That guys a huge fool who calls me a music fairy when Im so far from being a beauty myself.. That guys eyes are so bad so Im sure he wouldnt be able to find his way if there are no guides. Xu was crying andughing while saying that. Outstanding women were usually likened to a fairy, but most of the time it was used for gorgeous beauties. Thus, there were times when she was referred to as fairy as abination of praise and sarcasm by others. It could be said that it was a subtle exchange between women. However, there were also people who were sincere whenever they praised her for being a fairy from time to time. Xus lover must have been one of those without malice. Chapter 180: Xu Speaks Her Mind Chapter 180: Xu Speaks Her Mind Nevertheless, he must have been a very precious person for Xu. Even if she was crying andughing at the same time, reminiscing about her lover drew out a different emotion from her usual snarky attitude. Xus feelings must have stabilized after telling her story, because she then wiped her tears and directed her intense gaze towards Yui Mei. So, tell me, how can these fingers of mine move properly again? Yui Mei finally heard those long-awaited words from Xu herself, so she strode towards Xu, then wrapped her hands with hers. MIss Xu finally expressed her wish to be treated, so Im really happy. No matter what kind of illness it is, as long as the afflicted person herself wishes to be healed, it is possible to be cured. Yui Mei stroked Xus hands. Xus face crumpled, then she nodded. I want to be cured, I want to y the lute! Her voice trembled as she expressed herself, and Yui Mei couldnt help but think that she was right. She was acting that she gave up and abandoned her music, but she mustve wanted to y the lute all this time. It shouldnt be that easy for people to just casually throw something they were so passionate about. Yui Mei was certain that Xu already liked to y the lute even before it became her reason to help her parents, or to y for her lover. She peered into Xus eyes. Yes, you can y again. Based on my assessment, your rheumatism feng shi is still in the mild stages, so if you properly undergo medical treatment, you can be curedpletely. First, we need to have you examined at the clinic, then buy you medicine. Got it. Xu obediently agreed to Yui Meis proposal. Finally, such a troublesome person you are. The fact that she refused treatment until she was driven into a corner like this said a lot about how twisted she had inwardly be. The Jiaofang mustve been worried about her, too. They must have been suspicious too as to whether she really had rheumatism or not. At any rate, it was an illness that frequently afflicted women who make heavy use of their fingers for work. Xu and Yui Meis conversation had been settled, when You have to get out of the penitentiary first if you want to be treated. The man who had quietly watched over them all this time suddenly spoke. Indeed, it was the Ministry of Justices turn after Yui Mei was done speaking with her. Xu Zi, wont you tell us the truth now? Xu clenched her hands, which were still held by Yui Mei. Yui Mei also gripped her tighter as a way to cheer her, before letting her go. She then stood up and went back to Libins side. I got it, Ill speak. Xu seemed to have strengthened her resolve as she looked up with zing eyes that still had tears in them. She then started to talk about the affairs of Jiaofang. Im sure you guys already looked into this, but yeah, the girl you captured is someone I have been looking after since the day she entered the Jiaofang. The captured girl she was referring to was probably the pce courtesan who was interrogated back when Yui Mei first visited the penitentiary; the person who was said to be Xus younger sister. Unlike Xu, she was the daughter of a powerful family that had been exterminated due to failure. She was bought to be a pce courtesan and had been taken into the pce. It seemed that she had been raised as a princess before that, so she was an insufferable woman that couldnt ept her fate of bing a courtesan. However, she wasnt the only one with those circumstances; the other courtesans also had pretty much the same background story before. The Jiaofang people were worried that it would influence the other courtesans if they were to make a big fuss over her. She became a problem child who would periodically attempt to ran away from the pce, and had be too much to handle for the other courtesans. Thus, she was assigned to be under Xus care since she had stayed for quite a long time in the pce already. If she wasnt reformed, she would be fired from being a courtesan, and would fall to be a lower-ranking servant. Usually, ves would do hardbor because they were people whomitted crimes, and they were at the very bottom of the caste. Xu thought it would be a pity to increase the number of unfortunate women once again, so she decided to agree to the request. Hi everyone, Hanazakura here, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Pce. If youre interested to read advanced chaps, feel free to check our Patreon page. Ko-fi also recentlyunched their tier system so Ill be working on it so that theyll also be avable there soon. ? This is not mandatory, but Ill be forever grateful for your support! ? You can also join discord for chapter updates! ? Chapter 181: Hopeless Lute Musician Chapter 181: Hopeless Lute Musician The girl was supposed to be a pce courtesan because of the recognition of her skills in ying the lute. Thus, Xu tried to reform her. She would catch the girl when she escaped, and she would try to talk some sense into her. However, the girl said these words to her at that time. Im sure my fiance will save me and take me out of here! Xu seemed to see herself in that girl as she watched her cry while spitting those words out. However, unfortunately, reality was different. The fiance of the girl quickly abandoned her failing family, and was engaged to the daughter of a different house. It seemed that he already told the girl about this before she became a courtesan, but she didnt believe him. No, perhaps, she did know about it. Xu understood the feeling of being unable to ept reality, to the point that she could painfully empathize. Thats why, she counseled the girl with these words. Even if he were to save you, it doesnt mean the formalities and procedures are finished right away. Its not strange even if it took many years before its done. So what now, do you want to spend all that time moping around?. Instead of refuting the girl and saying no help wille, she rephrased it to it will take time. It wasnt really a lie. Even if it was just in name, they were courtesans who were considered possessions of the emperor, so they also needed his permission for them to be free. That wasnt something that could be aplished in just a day or two. At any rate, theres nothing you can do about it, so you can just y the lute to kill some time, right? The girl didnt resist Xus words, and she decided to obediently practice the lute. Well, if people around her kept on opposing her, she might rebel, even if she knew whats wrong and right. That was Yui Meis impression after listening to Xus story until now. The girl didnt resist reflexively because Xu didnt tell her that her fiance wouldnt save her, and instead listened to her advice. She started to y the lute, albeit absentmindedly, and she eventually stopped talking about her fiance. She was quite skilled with the lute, and Xu taught her wholeheartedly. Eventually, she was frequently summoned to y solo at the banquets she attended. And so, her original personality and manners gradually became more apparent. In other words, her characteristics as someone born as the daughter of a powerful nobility would show through. It was a while after she started her solo gigs. She started to think that Xu was being meddlesome when she wanted to take care of the girl. Xu also didnt have any ns to attentively attend to her forever, and the people from the Jiaofang also decided that the girl should be more independent, so this was quite wee as Xu wished the same. In order to build the girls confidence and gain experience, Xu had refrained from ying in the forefront, but now that her charge was independent, she decided to return back to keeping to herself as a solo lute yer. It was then that the difference in abilities of the girl and Xu, who had been half-heartedly ying the lute because she had devoted herself to training the girl, became apparent. Ever since Xu returned back to being a full-fledged lute musician, the role of solo became hers, and the girl became just another support, always ying behind her. The girl apparently believed there was no other lute musician who could best her in this pce, so her pride had been crushed thoroughly. Xu had noticed that the girl had be quite flippant, so she wanted this to be her final lesson as part of her training. She hoped that it would stimte the girls desire to be better and would lead her to devote more time into practice. However, the girl didnt do that. She didnt believe it was a matter of skills. She couldnt ept that the bigwigs who shouldve leaned towards her, the princess of a powerful nobility, had favored Xu, a mere daughter of a merchant even if their business was huge, and she was exasperated. Xu, you have been envious of me from the start, so you nned all of this so that you can stop me from standing out in the name of training, right!? Of all things she could do, she used Xu of such things. Chapter 182: Her Goal Chapter 182: Her Goal How should I put this, uh, shes quite the weak person, isnt she. That was Yui Meis impression after listening to Xus story so far. In the face of her familys hardships and downfall, she neither epted the situation, nor did she do something to oppose it. She just wished that somebody would save her. Afterward, she made Xu appear as the viin and saw herself as a pitiful, tragic, woman. She hoped that somebody would save her and restore her to her former life of being a pampered woman. She pretended to be oblivious towards the difference of her ability with that of Xu. It seemed that she had a bad habit of pretending she didnt know anything if it didnt suit her convenience. Xu nodded in agreement to Yui Meis words. Yeah, precisely. Are all women born with golden spoons in their mouth raised like that? Xu seemed like she was saying good grief by the way she spoke, but it was noticeable that her manner of speaking had be more rxed. Perhaps she was feeling better after letting out all those things in her heart that she had been holding back. In any case, Yui Mei just smiled wryly at Xus unreserved judgment. I dont believe thats how it is. All the noble people I met here in the pce are all splendid, you know? Of course, not all the consorts and the pcedies were purely innocent, and there were those who went astray because they had been devoted to their avarice. Nevertheless, none of them stayed weeping in the corner while relying on others to save them from their situation. With that perspective, even those who had turned into viins were still considered splendid in Yui Meis book. Is it like that? Xu just shook her head even after hearing Yui Meis exnation. From Xus standpoint, those noblewomen were not people she could casually approach and strike up a conversation with. She could only see them beyond the gauze that separated them from the ce where the band was crammed into. Now, back to the topic at hand. ming Xu for her current misfortune wasnt the only thing that the girl did. If it wasnt for you, my career should already be rising by now, and I might even have gained the attention of the emperor That was what the girl said. The attention she was referring to didnt just mean being praised for her skills in the lute. She had been expecting something beyond that that was to be summoned into the emperors bedchambers, apparently. Eh, did she just target His Majesty the Emperor!? Seriously!? Yui Mei unwittingly shrieked at the unexpected development, Xu looked a bit exasperated at her scream. Yeah, thats right. Based on the stories circting in the Jiaofang, its not unheard of for the pce courtesan to catch the eye of the emperor and be one of his consorts Well, aside from being an exaggeration, its just an absurd story. And yet there she is, thinking she can be like that for some reason. SIgh, Im not sure now whether she has the guts, or shes a coward. Or perhaps, had she belonged to a family powerful enough that she was once considered as a candidate to enter the Inner Pce? Was that the reason why she decided to start over and change her life course into that direction? Still, isnt that a bit too optimistic of her? Yui Mei came all the way here from the bordend just so she could watch the Inner Pce, but she doesnt think it was such a big deal. That girl was as carefree as Yui Mei in this sense. Yui Mei turned to face Libin, who had been quietly listening until this time, because she was a bit curious as to what he thought. Lord Libin, do you think its possible? No. At the very least, unless you search for records that date way, way back, you wont find any names of consorts who were once a pce courtesan, right? At any rate, I dont know anyone like that. Libin promptly dismissed it. Yeah, same for me. The organization per se might make it possible for a pce courtesan to be a consort, but it isnt realistic. Having no backing or support is considered as a blemish on ones career, and they dont give any benefit to the country, so theyre generally considered as a worse option than having amoner-born concubine. In order for the impossible to happen, that person must be someone extremely outstanding. The man also expressed his own opinion. Right? She could only agree with Libin and the mans opinions. T/N: *Consort, as in those higher ranked ones, not in concubines. Chapter 183: Xu and That Woman Chapter 183: Xu and That Woman It would make sense for a peasant daughter to dream of something so estranged from her, but she was a nobles daughter, so shouldnt she be aware of the bnce that exist? Or was it such that she still didnt understand her status as a pce courtesan? Well, it was a usible story if the emperor took pity on her and brought her to the pce to keep her safe. I thought that if she is free enough to dream that nonsense then she couldve just practice the lute more. Well, she wont listen. Besides, her finger tip skills might have improved, but thats just how it appears to be. ording to Xu, that girl totally didnt grasp the tension brought about by the sound of the lute and the tone that could invoke emotions. If that girls memory is good, then she couldve been a top-notch lute musician with proper training, but yeah, she doesnt have an ounce of patience. Shes already satisfied as soon as she could barely y it. She didnt have the desire to master it. I guess thats fine for a lesson for a little princess, but that shouldnt be the case for the pce courtesans. It was said that the status of pce courtesans could change drastically if she caught the eye of the bigwigs. In order to get their attention, they had to polish their skills as courtesans. If they fail to do so, they would be overtaken by others. If that were to happen, not only would they end up being at the bottom of the statusdder, they would be deemed as worthless and might even end up losing their status as pce courtesan. Once they lose that status, they would then be mere prostitutes, and they would have to toil harder than when they were pce courtesans. Indeed, such would be her ending had she refused to work as the pce courtesan. She must possess ambition if she wanted to continue being a court courtesan. And yet, that girl wont listen no matter how much I persuade her too. After all, my lute skills had degraded. Xu looked sad as she continued talking. It was right around that time that Xu began to suffer from rheumatism, and she could no longer y the way she used to. IT seemed that Xus decline was also one of the factors that caused that woman to be more impudent. I can y the piece more perfectly than Xu can. The woman insisted that she was far more superior than Xu. However, even if Xu could no longer y the lute, she still had the talent forposing music. That ability was prized by the Jiaofang, too, so they didnt have any problems with her not being able to y the lute. They still expected her to stay as a lute teacher and to continueposing music. I see, you can be granted an estate if you are an instructor. Moreover, if you are that talented, you can also ask the emperor to release you from being a pce courtesan as your reward. Really? Yui Meis eyes went round in amazement when she heard the mans remarks. Being a teacher in Jiaofang was such a prestigious promotion for a pce courtesan, apparently. Since she entered the pce as a performer, she could get out of the pce through this route, unlike the emperors consorts and concubines who could only be released by going to the nunnery, or being bestowed to the emperors subjects through marriage as a gift. Its too much for me, being only a mere merchants daughter as I was. However, I was d that I still had a ce where I could wait for him, even if I could no longer y. Xus expression was tender as she uttered those words. For Xu, the time she had left waiting for her lover was far more important than a sessful career. On the other hand, the woman was thoroughly vexed and she exploded in frustration when she caught wind of Xus promotion. She was mad with anger as she wondered why Xu, an elderly pce courtesan who no longer had the ability to y the lute, had to be treated so well when her status had been continuously dropping. Its just a piece of music! I can do that much, too, so why are you keeping on favoring Xu instead of using me! She grumbled on, but unfortunately for her, no one shared her opinion. She was isted because of this, making her more obstinate. But then, that girls lute music suddenly changed one day. Xu covered her eyes while saying so. T/N: Hello! Sorry, its been a while. Ive been observing the authors release rate, and well catch up with the raws soon enough if we continue with the 3x a week release, so were slowing down a bit to allow the author to stock more chaps first ? Starting next week, the schedule for Hundred Blossom Pce will be twice a week, and might adjust depending on the situation ? Thank you <3 Chapter 184: Her Suspicions Chapter 184: Her Suspicions That womans skills blossoming should be something to be happy about However, Xu didnt think she developed her talent after a lot of practice As for the reason, it was because that womans lutes state was far more pristinepared to the lutes of the other musicians. The more you use the lute, the more scratches it will have. You will break a lot of strings at first while checking how much strength you need to put so that the sound wille out nicely, and you have to repair the scratches that result from that. ording to Xu, the lutes of skill musicians will change colors as part of polishing and covering the scratches. However, that womans lute didnt look like it reached that level. It had been hard for her to y well without breaking a string, and yet she was able to produce such wonderful music? Xu was baffled as she thought of this. Oh, so thats how it is with musical instruments. Yui Mei muttered, impressed with what she heard. Thinking about it, these musical instruments also represented the courtesans that yed them. Their future would change depending on their instruments, so they would also put a lot of effort in maintaining them. Perhaps, that fact still hadnt sinked into that woman, who still hadnt grasped that sense that it was no longer a mere lesson that a noble youngdy would receive. Still, despite that shoring, she was probably talented enough to be entrusted with a solo performance. However, it was also up to the person herself whether she would hone this talent, or just let it rot. It wasnt odd then that Xu found it suspicious. That such a woman, who was still at the level of a pampered miss, could y such captivating music that had seemed like it was produced by a professional. But still, I swallowed all suspicions for a time. I cant doubt the talents of others, it will be the start of my downfall. It seemed that Xu witnessed some people experience that after she became a pce courtesan. Well, being a top-notch musician is a separate matter from having a strong heart, right? If a musician had fallen from the top ranks because of an injury or an illness, someone else would have to take their ce. It must be very difficult for pce courtesans, whose could only rely on their talent and skills for a living not to harbor any feelings of resentment and wishes of misfortune on others. Perhaps, Xu didnt fall into this quagmire of misfortune because she wasnt focused on advancing her career, because her goal was to wait for her lovers return. And yet, despite of her personal wish, she still returned to being the solo performer because of the sound of her lute. However, the other musicians, who also had doubts about the other woman, started to grumble about it. It wasnt a simple gossip that she was cheating in some way. It would have been fine if the only thing that happened was that girls improvement with the lute. However, from then on, her emotions started to be unstable, and the asions when her actions and words became strange increased. What on earth happened to her? Did she practice too much that she went crazy? It was when the rumors started to spread, saying it was a disgrace for that kind of lute musician, that Xu heard something that bothered her. I heard it from the girl that stays in a room near that girl, but it seemed an unfamiliar merchant had been constantly visiting her recently. What!? The man shouted when he heard what Xu said. Only authorized merchants can enter and leave Jiaofang. Really? Yui Mei asked when the man said that, so Xu further exined. ording to her, pce courtesans would need to spend money on things like maintenance tools for the instruments, and if they were singers, they would buy various stuff to protect their throats. They also needed to buy the clothes they would wear to the banquets. Of course, the expenses would be shouldered by the Jiaofang, so normally, pce courtesans wouldnt have the chance to interact with such merchant guests.. Of course, only the first-ss stores were permitted to enter. However, since that day, it seemed that the unfamiliar merchant started to blend with those stores, and he showered that woman with kindness, apparently. ording to what I heard, its a merchant introduced by somebody in the pce, but Ive never heard of that store before. Xu was once a daughter of a prestigious merchant, so it was only natural that she knew all the stores that entered the pce. And yet, the name of the store that the merchant gave was unfamiliar to her. After gathering more information, she found out that the merchant had requested a differentrge-scale store to let him blend with them, apparently. Chapter 185: Suspicious Merchant Chapter 185: Suspicious Merchant Eh, is that even possible!? Nah, it shouldnt be, normally. Yui Mei eximed in shock, but Xu negated it. Why would a businessman with a huge store give away their customers to another merchant? The only reason they would do such a thing is if the other party got some dirt on them, or else the other party is monopolizing huge benefits and they want a piece of that pie. As expected of a formerdy from a huge store, you understand them well. The manmented, apparently moved after Xu exined. But of course. I know all the store guys entering and exiting Jiaofang. Merchants have the tendency to memorize peoples faces, and those guys also know who I am. Theyve been throwing a lot of sarcasticments on my face, after all. Thats why Xu was able to immediately pick up who the rumored merchant was, because unfamiliar merchants stand out. That merchant didnt even bring any wares to sell, and he would only sit at the fringes of the huge stores. From time to time, he would talk to the pce courtesans who would call out to him, but that was it.. That particrrge-scale store belonged to the guy who told me to be a prostitute. I was disgusted, so I returned home right away, and I dont know anything else more than that. Maybe that girl is relying on some kind of unknown sorcery or something. ording to Xus, more pce courtesans started to hang out and work with that girl even though she had been isted before. Not only that, those new girls were mostly undisciplined people. From then on, the atmosphere around Jiaofang started to worsen, and Xu was filled with anxiety that the haven where she waited for her lover might have been destroyed. It was also at that time that the letter arrived. Her lover had died in the national borders, it said. Her lover was gone, and Xu could no longer find sce in the ce that had served as her waiting ce. Xus heart must have been broken terribly during that time. An intense desire to die consumed her, and the rest of the story was as how Yui Mei already knew it. The personnel from the Ministry of Justicee and go, and Xu was filled with thoughts such as wont I die if I use this situation?. She also couldnt help the thought that it might be her responsibility that the girl ended up like that at the back of her mind. Perhaps, it was her fault for not being sincere enough in helping that woman face the lute earnestly. Youre such a diligent person, Miss Xu. Yui Mei was filled withplicated emotions, both of dismay and pity, after listening to Xus reason as to why she wanted to cover her sins. Based on Xus story, Yui Mei could understand why she reached that state where decided to use the hand that could bring her to her end, since she couldnt die even if she wanted to. She could only swallow the circumstances that led to that mental state. However, wasnt it too soft-hearted of Xu to just take on the sins of that woman unto herself? Still, ording to Libin, Xu had been very fond of that woman enough to treat her as her younger sister. But then, it also turned out that reality was quite different, apparently. Af first, that woman had been under Xus care, Perhaps, Xu had been taking care of her from the start, so it made the banquet attendees mistake their rtionship for a long time. Xu didnt deny it, either. She already knew what would happen to a woman who fell from the ranks of the pce courtesan, so she probably thought it would be unfair for the woman to let him down the path of destruction, even if she had a bad attitude. All her goodwill and concern was just wasted, it seemed. Yui Mei was worried about what would happen to Xu from this point forward, so she grabbed Xus shoulders and squeezed her as she looked at her with all seriousness. Miss Xu, misunderstandings are inevitable even if humans face each other, you know? In fact, there are a lot of people who went their own ways without being able to properlymunicate with each other until the end. Libin then suddenly interjected. That might be true, but its ufortable hearing that from you, the youngest greenhorn among us. Oh, right, she might not like hearing it from a girl who just barely became an adult. A traveler told me that. Yui Mei unwittingly gave a sage advice, being the granny that she was from her previous life, so she tried to cover it up by giving that excuse. Chapter 186: Xu from Now on Chapter 186: Xu from Now on The man who had been watching Yui Mei and Libins conversation with a sidelong nce approached Xu. Setting this weird granny courtdy aside, you shouldnt merge your sins with the sins of others and take it all in. Thinking that you can change other peoples lives is nothing but a huge arrogance. The man remarked, and Xu gasped in realization. The only one who can change yourself is you, after all. Even if people are not willing to listen to others, it is still up to them to decide it so. In short, all responsibility lies in the person himself. In the first ce, she wasnt an infant that doesnt know such principles. Maybe youre right. Xu bowed her head lifelessly after hearing the mans words. The mans words carried a different weight, as expected of a Ministry of Justice personnel dealing with criminals day by day. At any rate, he was aware about what was happening within the walls of Jiaofang. Xu, if you see that unfamiliar merchant again, will you recognize him? I can recognize himprobably? Xu responded with those words to the mans question. If she cooperated with the Ministry of Justices investigation, Xus position, which had been in jeopardy because of this incident, could turn for the better. In that case, Yui Meis role was to grant Xus wish. And so, she asked the man regarding what would happen to Xu from hereon. Xu needs to be examined by a doctor first, but will she stay here in the penitentiary? Yeah. The man nodded in reply. Xu Zi will stay here in custody for a while. Shes a valuable informant, so we have to protect her so that she wont be goner. Oh Did I just hear something scary? Yui Mei replied with a stiff face. Goner was he talking about her status, or was it about losing her life? It was a terrifying thought, so Yui Mei decided not to dwell on it. Then Ill try asking the physician from the clinic if he can visit her here in the penitentiary. In the meantime, please sleep well at night, and please eat your meals properly. A healthy lifestyle is the best cure for this illness. MealsI got it. Xus face scrunched, obviously reluctant to do what Yui Mei said. I wonder if the food doesnt taste good? She was the daughter of a big-time merchant before, and she was probably used to eating banquet food even after bing the pce courtesan, so perhaps her taste buds had been used to eating feasts. It was the same with the confined patients who grumbled that hospital food was unptable. Even so, patients who normally prepare lightly seasoned meals for themselves didnt think the hospital food was so bad. In short, Xu must not be used to eating food that wasnt a dish from a feast. She had been given meals for criminals until today, but since shes no longer a criminal, she will be transferred to another room, and the menu will be changed. She will eat the same food as the officials of the Ministry of Justice. The man remarked. Really!? Xu looked happy when she heard that. The dishes for criminals were prepared with the minimum amount of nutrients apparently, so it must have been hard for Xu to swallow such food with her feast-trained taste buds. On the other hand, this incident might have made the lightly-seasoned food taste better for her. Nothing was ever in vain. Afterward, Yui Mei told Xu how she must spend her days from now on before leaving with Libin in tow. The following day, Yui Mei rushed towards Doctor Chens clinic. Doctor Chen, are you here~? Yui Mei called out as she entered the clinic. She found Chen resting while drinking tea. Hey, Yui Mei. Whats up? Chen cheerfully beckoned Yui Mei, so she excitedly sat across him. Here, have some of this first before we talk! Yui Mei handed the present she brought to Chen before getting down to business. Sesame dumplings were inside it. It seemed that Mei Nas ideas were all about sesame dumplings, so she tried toe up with a lot of different things. Chapter 187: Doctor’s Visit to the Penitentiary Chapter 187: Doctor¡¯s Visit to the Penitentiary Yui Mei promptly began her story while the two of them were enjoying the sesame dumplings. Actually, there is a patient that is currently being guarded at the penitentiary. Is it possible for you to visit her? Yui Mei broached the topic. She then started to tell Chen about how she met Xu, but she just glossed over the information regarding poppy juice. Chen listened until Yui Mei finished talking, then he drank the tea to wash down the sesame dumplings before replying. I see, so feng shi, huh. Folks im that illness to be the work of angry spirits, or even curses. Chens focus was not on Xu being a courtesan, but on her illness. Really? What, you didnt know about this? Yui Mei was surprised when she heard that. Mei Na didnt mention that when they talked about feng shi. Chen was taken aback, so he exined further. The joints hurt when feng shi is severe, right? There are people who im that they can see it on the persons face if the condition turns worse. Oh, so thats what it is. Yui Mei could see where they wereing from when they imed it was a curse. Even in her previous world, the human face was also the subject of eerie stories, and this fact didnt change even if the world did. Well, its true that there are cases of joint pains getting worse if left untreated. The expression of the person suffering from it might have been quite ghastly, and it had been interpreted in a distorted way, bing the reason for that person to be shunned. Its a condition that existed since a long time ago, and people do know that its a disease, but this concept of curse and divine punishment is deep-seated for some reason. Maybe that Xu Zi girl also grew up in a household believing in this prejudice. This was Chens conjecture regarding Xus condition. Hmm, now that you mention it, I do think thats usible. Yui Mei hmmd in agreement. Rheumatism tended to be hereditary in nature. If one of the family members suffered from this illness and she saw that person being shunned, it would be possible for her to think that this was a disease that must be hidden from other people. In Mei Nas case, it was known as amon illness among themoners who overworked their fingers and joints during hardbor. Because of this, there was no room for it to be something special, or even treated as a curse. In that case, it would be possible that the ims of this disease being a curse or perhaps a possession of evil spirits could be attributed to the affluent people who do not have to do manualbor in their life. Those taoists priests tend to swarm over the rich rather than the poor, for sure. Thanks to Chen, Yui Mei finally understood one of the possible reasons why Xu hid her illness, and it made her feel relieved. So, will you go to the penitentiary? Yui Mei asked once again, and Chen rubbed his jaw in response. Hmm, let me see. Ive never been to the penitentiary before. But if I have the permission to enter, then Ill visit her at the very least. Chen took a sip of tea, then he suddenly pped his thigh. Oh, right, speaking of the Ministry of Justice, a person recently came here asking to see the actual poppy juice. I didnt ask the reason, but did something happen, like, an adverse reaction to the drug or something? Girl, do you know anything about this? Chen asked a barrage of questions. It seemed that the investigation of the poppy juice had already begun. The Ministry of Justice probably wanted to check the poppiess appearance and state before it was burned to ashes. Yui Mei feigned surprise. Oh dear! Poppy juice? Isnt that a very expensive medicine? I dont have an inkling about that, but I hope it wont turn into a huge incident. Yui Mei didnt reveal that she was the person who discovered the incident, and continued talking as if she wasnt rted to any of this. Chen didnt even doubt her in the slightest. Its been known for a long time that poppy juice can be used for evil deeds. But then, itll be a problem if this medicine gets banned because of this. Chen remarked, looking bothered about the whole thing. It seemed that he was concerned about this point. Poppy juice is a pain killer, so there are lots of times when its used for treating the soldiers. Besides, the army will probably stop the poppy juice from being banned, right? Itll be great if that is the case. Chen heaved a deep sigh after listening to Yui Meis words, then he took another sesame dumpling and popped it in his mouth. _____________ T/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for the very long wait, we finally have enough chaps to start Hundred Blossom Pce again, although it would be a one to two chapters per week posting to allow more time for author-sama to post more chaps Thank you so much for your patience <3 Chapter 188: Xu and Chen Chapter 188: Xu and Chen Two dayster, Chen received the permission to conduct a doctors visit to the penitentiary. Yui Mei was set to apany him as special support so that Xu wouldnt be too nervous during her first meeting with a doctor. She couldnt just waltz into the penitentiary whenever she wanted to, so it was decided that she would meet halfway with the person sent by the penitentiary. Youvee. Libin was waiting at the appointed ce to receive Yui Mei and Chen. Are you perhaps the guide that will allow us entry to the penitentiary? Yeah, thats right. Libin had a scowl on his face while answering Yui Meis question, obviously reluctant to be here. It seemed the man from the penitentiary who was said to be Libins contemporary entrusted this duty to Libin once again. Indeed, even if they sent another person, Yui Mei wouldnt be able to discern whether the stranger was really from the penitentiary. Thus, there was no other choice but this person on because of trust. But, is the Crown Princes safety still okay? Yui Mei couldnt help but worry about this. Well, its not like Libin was the only one who guarded him, and he was here so he must have been permitted to leave. Still, wasnt he being used too thoroughly? She couldnt help but sympathize with him. Its been hard on you too. Chen seemed to be thinking the same thing as Yui Mei so he said that, and Libin sighed heavily in reply. As a result, the same faces were grouped again to go to the penitentiary. Another person was waiting inside the building when they entered. Aside from the guide Libin, it was an unfamiliar guard tasked to prevent guests from wandering round without permission. Hes not the guy from earlierMaybe hes busy? That man was probably one of the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Justice, so it was understandable that he wouldnt be here just to act as their guide. The person who would guide Yui Meis group looked like a youngd that was around Yui Meis age. E-Excuse me, t-this way please! It was obvious just how nervous he was from the way his body shook and how he stole nces at Libin. Even though Libin was wearing the garb of eunuchs, his attire did nothing to suppress the pressure he exudes and the seamless way he carried himself, being the imperial guard that he was. Its fine, Libin-sama wont bite! Yui Mei inwardly cheered the guy in his heart, and she couldnt help but feel warm at the innocent noobies appearance. Libin nced at Yui Mei while such thoughts ran through her head. Youre a rookie yourself, and yet you have the guts to look at someone else like youre a veteran. Thats appalling. I guess youre right. Yui Mei also realized her mistake, so she tried to refrain from looking at him as much as she could. Indeed, if she felt somebody her age sympathizing with her, she would also question herself whether she wascking as a person. Yui Mei did try to act like a rookie, but she couldnt help it if her habits and her personality from her previous life would sometimes show out. It was a part of who she was, and instead of trying to act weirdly just for the sake of keeping appearances, it would be far easier to be resigned to being thought of as a weird girl like how Libin saw her. While this exchange happened, Yui Mei and the others were taken to a room that was bigger than the one before. I will be waiting outside, so please call for me once you are finished with your business. However, please do not close the door. The guide said, and Yui Mei nodded in response before knocking on the door. Miss Xu, its Yui Mei. We will enter now. Yui Mei called out first before opening the door. It was a normal room. There was a window facing a narrow courtyard, but it was where the other officials of the penitentiary were taking a break, and it was situated so that people outside wouldnt see whats going on inside the room, apparently. The one Xu was previously in felt like a proper prison, contrary to this ce that felt like a proper room. There should be a wide difference in Xusfort. Miss Xu, I brought a physician with me today, just as promised. Yui Mei called out, and Chen stepped forward. Im Chen, the physician from the clinic. Are you Xu Zi? Allow me to check you. Chen beamed at Xu, but she looked uncertain. I am in your care. She bowed her head. Chapter 189: It’s an Illness, So Chapter 189: It¡¯s an Illness, So Chen skillfully examined Xu, and he knit his brows. Goodness. I can feel the heat in your joints. This must be very painful. Are you enduring this all this time? Chen pointed out, and Xu nodded while with downcast eyes. He probably hit the bulls eye, so she must have felt awkward. Your tolerance is pretty good and you have the grit, but it backfired this time. We have medicine that can help if youre in pain, you know? Besides, these hands are the tools of your trade, arent they? No, thats because Xu was about to rebut Chens scolding, but she just fell silent again. Yui Mei recalled the story that she heard from Chen as she looked at them. Miss Xu, is there perhaps someone in your family who also suffered from feng shi? Yui Mei asked. Xu looked like she was conflicted on whether she would answer or not, but she chose to speak eventually. Not sure if its feng shi or not, but the joints of my grannys hands had been strangely swollen. I heard that the Taoists imed that she was cursed, and she was driven out of the city. I see, so there was a precedent for that mistake among the people familiar to you. Yui Mei grimaced when she heard her reply. Apparently, somebody from her family had been unjustly persecuted because of this condition. This old wives tale of prejudice is quite deeply rooted, huh. Chen looked extremely bothered while muttering this. Even the curse stories from the previous winters influenza didnt disappear in the end, too. Taoists were far more familiar to the citizens of this countrypared to physicians, so they probably think that it would be better to trust them rather than the doctors. There was also the possibility that those who put their faith in the taoists thought that physicians were quacks who wanted them to eat unknown weeds. Humans were beings who believed whatever they wanted to believe, after all. Chen and Yui Mei were nodding to each other in understanding, when Xu timidly inquired about her condition. Ahm, Im still half dubious about what this girl here told me before, but is it true that Im not cursed because I did something wrong? Yourepletely mistaken, you know? This is an illness called feng shi, and if you drink medicine as early as possible and have yourself treated, its possible to recover. Chen refuted her words right on the spot. I see, so its an illness I see Xu must have been scared of the possibility that her being cursed would be confirmed. She finally looked relieved after hearing his words. Miss Xu, youve been suffering from a lot of bad things.. Perhaps, if she hadnt been burdened and shocked by the matter regarding the death of her lover, she probably went to the physician by rmendation of the Jiaofang despite her doubts. If that was the case, then Yui Mei was bothered by another thing. Miss Xu, are you perhaps refraining from moving your joints because of the pain? Did she want to continue hiding her condition while not moving out of fear that other people would point her out as being cursed? Yeah, well, thats right.? The words Why are you asking that? were written on Xus face as she confusedly nodded in reply to Yui Meis question. Itll be bad if you dont move them. Chen muttered when he heard her answer. It might have been a good method to endure the pain, but she couldnt continue doing that as her way of coping with the illness. Your joints will be stiff if you remain inactive, so please move them as much as you can while the pain is being calmed down. Yui Mei said, and she then demonstrated the rheumatism therapy exercises that they used to do in the hospital she worked at in her previous life. She then cautioned Xu to cool her joints with a wet towel if she felt them heating up, and she also told Xu that it would be good if she were to warm her body otherwise. In other words, a warm bath is effective if your joints arent inmed. Please observe your condition, alright? So thats how it is. Xus eyes widened as she listened to Yui Meis exnation. I had been struggling with baths because of the pain. I see, so I made a mistake with the timing, huh. Apparently, bathing had been the most challenging part of her daily life. However, if she didnt bathe, her reputation would be affected, so she still pushed herself to do it. Feng shie in waves; there are times when it is very painful, and times when it isnt, so we have to know your pattern, first. Yeah, thats right, we have to start with that. Chen voiced his agreement to Yui Meis words as he sat beside her. Chapter 190: Rehabilitation Chapter 190: Rehabilitation Yui Mei then continued on with her exnation. Miss Xu, judging from your condition, have you been staying inside the room ever since you came here? Well, its not as if I have any say with that, obviously. I see. Xu raised a brow at Yui Meis question, and Yui Mei also nodded in reply. Youll be weak, and youll be depressed at this rate, so lets go on a stroll now! Thatll be good. Eh!? Chen also agreed when Yui Mei invited Xu to take a walk, but then they heard the shocked voice of the guide from outside the room. Eh, is it not allowed? Yui Mei tilted her head, perplexed. Libin had been quietly listening the whole time, but he interjected. That sir rookie outside probably cant decide whether you can go out, no? Yes! The man who peered into the room and answered from the hallway when Libin pointed that out. Then, we would like to obtain permission, can you please tell us where to go? Yui Mei walked to the door and poked her head out into the hallway to ask the guy, but he looked troubled. Er, ahm, oh, ah! Please wait for a moment! The man seemed to have noticed something, and he immediately dashed off. Apparently, a senior official just passed by, and they could hear him talking to that person. Ahm, if its the courtyard over there, then you can go, it seems! He ran back and reported. Its not like Xus going on a marathon, so that ce is enough for her to move around. And so, it was decided that everyone would go to the courtyard for Xus stroll. Five people entered the courtyard one after another, and thats when they saw some of the officials taking a break while sitting on the ground here and there. Yui Mei wasnt sure whether they were really resting, or if they were there to keep an eye on Xus surroundings, but she didnt mind them in the least. Huff, the outside air is so nice. Xu took a deep breath when she was finally outside, then she muttered. Most of her working hours were originally during the night, and her performances were probably done indoors most of the time, so she probably didnt feel any dissatisfaction for being indoors all the time. However, even though she didnt have any problem with that lifestyle, it had been putting strain on her body without her being aware of it. Her expression was softerpared to how it was before inside the room. Basking in Mr. Suns rays, just like this, is also important for health! Yui Mei told Xu. Really? I always heard from the courtesans that they dont go out to avoid getting sunburned. Xu seemed confused when she heard what Yui Mei said. If tanning is just the issue, then basking in the sun at appropriate times is still the best course of action. Sunlight regtes our body clock, and it also supplements the various deficiencies we have in our bodies! Well, isnt it said that those who dont bask in the sun grow up weak? Chen added. Heh, so thats how it is. Yeah, this does feel nice. Xu narrowed her eyes after listening to Yui Mei and Chen. Yup, yup, sunbathing is great, right! Xu probably wouldnt understand even if Yui Mei exined the role of vitamins, so she wouldnt do that, but it would be great if Xu would think that going outdoors proactively was something good. Yui Mei and her group slowly rxed this way. What is it? Libin hadnt lowered his guard down. He had been surveying the surroundings, when he suddenly called out. Hm? When Yui Mei turned around to check on Libin, she saw him staring at a window of one of the buildings overlooking the courtyard. The hallway was visible beyond that window. That particr building had indoor corridors instead of those that were essible outside, probably to prevent the criminals from escaping. Yui Mei didnt know what bothered Libin, but just a few momentster, that ce suddenly became boisterous. The actual ruckus was far from where they were, but they could hear the noise all the way here. Did something happen in the hallway? He looked anxious for some reason while watching, when they suddenly saw a person shaking her restraints off and running towards them from afar. Bang! The sound of a crash resounded, and a woman grabbed the window decorations with both hands as if trying to break them. Upon closer look, it was no other than the woman that had been captured before. report this ad Chapter 191: Courtesan Jian Qing Chapter 191: Courtesan Jian Qing So its really you, theres no mistaking that voice! The said courtesan shrieked while shaking the window. It seemed that she wanted to break the window to get to where Yui Meis group were. What are you doing! Calm down! The officials came running soon after. They captured her and tried to pry her away from the window. Let go, I said let go! Jian Qing Xu looked grief stricken as she stared at the frenzied woman being pushed down the floor. The womans name was Jian Qing, apparently. Isnt this ce supposed to be safe? Libin unwittingly grumbled as he watched the situation, and blood drained from the escorts face. Er, she shouldnt be able to see us here, so why!? Based on what the frightenedd said, it seemed that Jians route had been purposely been set away from where Xu was, but for some reason, she still managed to sense where Xu was and had broken free from her escorts to rush to her. Hmm~ Libin rubbed his chin in thought. Judging from what she said, maybe she heard our voices from over here? Thats a good ear she has then, if thats the case. Perhaps its to be expected of a musician, but still, what a waste of talent. Yes, I agree. Libin sighed while saying that, and Yui Mei couldnt help but agree with his opinion. Still, why did the officials let Jian escape? Shes already that weak, so theres no way she couldve put up a fight against those officials. Yui Mei wondered about it as she paid attention to the ce beyond the woman. It seemed that there was a ruckus, and the groans and the sound of several footsteps running around could be heard. What happened over there? Theyre definitely not calm. Yui Mei unwittingly muttered. Chen frowned. The officials wrapped Jian tightly in rope to the point that she could no longer walk on her own. Nevertheless, she kept on iling about, rocking her body while ring at Xu. Youuuu! Its because of you!! The babbling woman looked different from when they saw herst. She looked like a ghoul with her pale and witheringly thin body, and her bright eyes that were ring at them. Its been a few days, so the effects of the poppy juice should be more obvious by now. It seemed that the poppy juices effects had already manifested in Jian. If that was her original disposition and personality, she would be treated as a dangerous person, and there would be no way that she could be admitted to the Jiaofang. From what Xu said, Jian had already been consuming poppy juice for a long time. However, they could see that she was suffering from the symptoms of poppy juice consumption, either because she had a constitution that was easily affected by poppy juice, or she had taken a huge dose in one sitting. Youre the one who framed me, youre just jealous of me because you fell so low! Im the number one yer here, but the elders dont summon me anymore! The officials tried to stuff her mouth with a cloth to stop her from talking, but they were having a hard time because she had been struggling violently. They seemed to be inexperienced in dealing with berserk people because they couldnt suppress her well. Did something happen to the people who are used to dealing with this kind of situation? The officials stationed in the penitentiary should be dealing with criminals on a daily basis, so it was strange that they werent familiar with restraining techniques. Upon closer look, it seemed that the people holding Jian were young men. They were probably older than thed guiding Yui Meis group, but they were stillcking when it came to handling situations at a moments notice. The escort talked to Xu as if trying to soothe her. Ahm, please dont mind it. That person spouts out abuse round the clock, making the officials be fed up with her. It seemed Jians condition continued day by day, so she too mustve been tired by now. Is that so. Xu muttered after hearing theds words, then she took a step closer towards the window where they could see Jiang. Ah, donte closer, its dangerous! Its fine, its only up to here. I just want to say something to her. The flusteredd tried to make her go back, but Xu raised her hand to stop him. Chapter 192: Xu and Jiang Chapter 192: Xu and Jiang Hey, Jian Qing, if youre the number one yer as you im, then why are you rolling on the ground over there? The number one musician also ys biwa the most. You wont be able to practice if you keep on rolling on the ground like what youre doing now. Xu looked down the window, and Jiang struggled more violently. What the heck are you talking about!? Everythings your fault, isnt it!? Everyone here treats me like an idiot, nobody recognizes me! It doesnt matter how good I y, Xu can do better, if its Xu, if its Xu, IF ITS XU!? Everyones kept on patronizing you!! If nobody will recognize me, then whats the point of practising, huh!? So thats how it is. Jiang shrieked as she loathingly stared at Jiang. Meanwhile, Yui Mei alone realized something. So Miss Jiang has her own reasons why she didnt want to practice. Jiang had a lot of enemies in the Jiaofang, and she probably thought of them as Xus patrons. However, Xu had an exasperated expression when she heard Jiangs opinion. Ive been a courtesan far longer than you,so isnt it just them being more familiar with my biwa? It takes time for people to get used to something new. Thats also probably true. Yui Mei understood where Xu wasing from. No matter where it was, there would be people who had excellent abilities who would attempt to coach someone by suggesting things that would help them be better. However, the other party would refuse, preferring to continue doing the things the way they were ustomed to. Going along those lines, the people in Jiaofang must be ustomed to the sound of Xus biwa and her way of ying the instrument, making it easier for the other yers to follow. However, Xu also started as a newbie that was new to everyone. Theres no such thing as a person who didnt experience any sort of failure when starting out. Xu continued on. If you believe youre the number one musician here, then hold yourself up with confidence no matter what the others say. You couldve been proud of yourself that you performed before His Majesty through your own strength. You couldve done it, Jiang Qing, without resorting to that sort of deception. Well, at least thats what I thought. Xus gaze was extremely filled with sadness as she said those words. Jiang shook her head and tore her hair. Lies, lies! You always scolded me off and made a fool out of me!! Hey, saying I scolded you is so disgraceful. I just told you to aim higher while showing you the challenge, didnt I? I wont force someone without a future to do anything Im not the type of person to waste my time on pointless things. In fact, didnt you try doing what I told you to? Xu calmly refuted Jiangs protests. It seemed that even if Jiang half-heartedly did it, she still tried the challenge that Xu gave her. There are plenty of people in the world who wont do a thing on their own, but they would if somebody else told them to. Xu saw through her, so she told Jiang to do this and that, but Jiang only thought she was doing it out of spite. So this teacher-student pair just misunderstood each other big time, huh. Its also possible that Xu didnt exin it that well, too. She had been raised as a pampered youngdy until the copse of her fathers business, and she really hadnt experienced any hardship, so it was not surprising that she wasnt familiar with how some things were done. Things mightve been different if there was someone else around to mediate between the two; however, Jiang also felt out of ce in the Jiaofang, so they never had the chance to smooth out their differences. Youre lying, lying, lying!! Perhaps Jiang couldnt ept this after all this time, so she kept on screaming those words as she banged her forehead on the floor. Will you stop! Somebody hurry and get the tranquilizer! The government official tried to stop Jiang from harming herself, but she just continued screaming. I, Im in this sort of ce, so theres no way Im a good person! Not sure if it was Jiangs speech expression, but she changed the way she referred to herself. She continued ring with a ghastly expression, but tears also started to fall from her eyes. I just wanted to be happy, so why, why, why doesnt anybody save me, why!? Herst shrieks were screams that came from the bottom of her heart. Chapter 193: The Horrifying Truth of Addiction Chapter 193: The Horrifying Truth of Addiction Jiang was taken away, and silence fell in the courtyard once more. However, Xu was no longer in the mood to stay in this ce, so they opted to return to her room. That girl Jiang Qing, shed been so used to using abusive words, did she badmouthed me all this while? I cant believe Ive been hated to this extent. Xu muttered gloomily as they headed towards her room. Thats The warden was troubled as if he made a mistake when he heard what Xu said, and he hung his head. He probably wanted tofort Xu, but he might end up pouring salt on her wounds. The art of conversation also requires experience, so Yui Mei knew the guy couldnt be med. She watched over them without a word. Xu seemed like she didnt notice the guys predicament, and she continued speaking. Maybe I shouldve just put up with everything she put me through, but seems like that wasnt enough, didnt it? Was everything I made her do just a burden? Miss Xu, thats not for us to decide at this time. Yui Mei promptly determined so. We cannot simply chalk her badmouthing as her true thoughts. Moreover, such behavior is precisely the damage done by addiction to the poppy juice. What do you mean? Xu asked Yui Mei, and it seemed that Libin and the warden also thought the same. And so, Yui Mei decided to exin it more fully. No matter who it is, we all have times when we want to make the person were talking too feel good, so wepliment them. There are also other times when we want to spout insults, right? We navigate the path called conversation by skillfully managing those emotions within us. People would consider the things they wanted to say during a conversation whether their partner would feel bad or happy talking about a particr topic, and whether they would agree or not. Such considerations are usually done in an instant as the person guides the conversation into one that would make herself feel good. Even if something bad suddenly pops into her mind, she would think first that it might not be something she should say, so she would push that nasty thought deep into her heart and shut it down. However, if the negative thoughts and insults umte, no matter how much she tries to hold them back, they would still burst out. This principle isnt limited to badmouthing. Restraining and holding back for far too long would also cause one to explode in anger one day. Thus, its also important to know that no matter what sort of emotions it is, holding back wont be good for our mental health in the long run. However, if a person suffers from addiction, the door that holds back such emotions within her heart copses. And what will happen if someones heart that is filled with grudges breaks down? It will be extremely tempting for a person to just let those insults and abusive words out, to make a mountain out of a molehill, when in reality, such words dont have to be uttered at all. Moreover, its very easy to curse even if you dont really feel like doing it. If someone keeps on ndering others, then its only natural that the people around her will keep their distance. She will keep on spouting insults and abuse, but once she regains her sanity after the medicine wears off, she will find that theres no one around her anymore. Even if she regrets it, she will not be able to return to how she was prior to her addiction. Shes actually pitiful. Yui Mei finished with those words. Perhaps, Jiang had shut that door to the insults in her heart a little too loosely. Thus, even after the effect of poppy juice wore off after some time passed, that door might have already be unrepairable. It would all make sense if this was taken into consideration. The wardens eyes were like round saucers, apparently unable to follow Yui Meis train of thoughts, but Libin nodded, apparently in understanding. I see. I thought what a dirty mouth she acquired, but if it turns out that she can no longer speak without spouting insults, then shes pitiful, indeed. Yeah, its true that no matter what kind ofints we have, we have to swallow it down and smile at our customers. Else, if we cant even do that, then were already finished. What a foolish girl. Jiang Qing couldve been a first rate biwa yer even without resorting to such tricks. Sorrow was painted on Xus face as she spoke those words. Chapter 194: Seems Like an Emergency Case Chapter 194: Seems Like an Emergency Case Yui Mei and her group finished discussing the first part of their concern. Did you learn that from the traveller too? Chen had been quiet the whole time, but he abruptly asked Yui Mei. Thats right! Yui Mei nodded vigorously, and Chen broke out into a wide grin. Hoh~ thats quite the wise man that guy is, isnt he. He smirked meaningfully at Yui Mei, who then inwardly freaked out. Ack, Doctor Chen is kinda scary today!? He seemed as if he has an idea, but Yui Mei cant let herself be outdone at this point, so she smiled widely in an attempt to gloss it over. Is the doctor with you!? Someone suddenly yelled a few paces in front of them. Upon closer look, it was a government official, and he was briskly walking towards them. Yeah, Im the doctor. Chen waved as he called out in reply. The man looked relieved, and he stopped in front of them. Thank goodness you havent left yet. Actually, some of the inmates threw a powder-like substance at somebody, and hes writhing in pain. Can you please examine him!? Chen and Yui Mei exchanged nces after listening to him. Is that rted to Miss Jiangs ruckus earlier, perhaps? Chen also thought the same, apparently, and he looked troubled. What a disaster, alright, lets go right away so I can check him. Powder, is it? Do you have any idea what it is? Chen agreed, and Yui Mei also posed her question, when Xu unexpectedly interjected. Im going back to my room, and since its just going back, its fine even if the only one apanying me is this little boy here, right? Ah, yes! I will escort you back! When Xu called the warden little boy, he promptly straightened his back and replied energetically. Hear that, so you too, hurry up and go wherever you want. Xu spoke with feigned indifference, but it was obvious that she was trying to encourage Yui Mei to go along with Chen. Is that so, then please excuse us for today. Should you have any more concerns, please feel free to summon me anytime! What a nosy little girl you are. Alright, run along now. Yui Mei beamed as she said goodbye, and yet Xu just waved her hand as if she was shooing her away. Shes not honest in how she expresses consideration, huh. Yui Mei thought that it must be because of her experiences and hardships in the past. She fleetingly felt a pang of pain for Xu, but she decided to presume on the womans consideration for now. And so, Yui Mei also went with Chen as his assistant, and of course, Libin automatically tagged along. They followed the government official that called Chen until they reached a room that looked like a clinic. Apparently, the doctors did not stay permanently in this ce. Only the necessary medical tools were ced here, and each person would just treat himself using them. That was only natural, given that in this country, no medical schools had been established yet for training doctors. The medical profession itself, including all the rted knowledge and skills,were passed down from one generation to the next, from the teacher to his apprentice. Setting the doctors situation in this era aside, Yui Mei and her group hurried on to examine that patient that had been doused with powder. He was also an official, apparently. When they arrived, they saw that he was apanied by Libins contemporary. Youre here, this way. He beckoned towards Yui Meis group before pointing to the patient. Ahhh, cough, cough, sputter! The patient seemed to be desperately trying to endure the pain, crying out in a hoarse voice while asionally wheezing. Okay, let me see. Chen immediately set to work. The first thing that troubled him was that the patient was in tears. Initially, he thought the patient was trying to endure the pain, but that didnt seem to be the case. Moreover, the mans skin was slightly inmed in several ces. Not only that, Yui Mei could also smell a faint odor wafting from the man. Doctor Chen, this scent isnt it ljio? Yui Mei said to Chen. Chapter 195: A Very Painful Thing Chapter 195: A Very Painful Thing In her previous world,jiao was known as chili pepper. Its a stimnt potent enough to use in tear gas spray, so getting thrown with fine powder made from pepper could spell quite the disaster. Chen sniffed the scent when he heard Yui Meis remark. Yeah, youre right, it does smell. But what do you mean by ? I never heard of that name before. It seemed that Chen didnt know what is, so its a product that shouldnt have gotten inside the Pce as a medicine. Libin was the one who answered Chen. Lajiao is an extremely expensive food. It has a spiciness akin to hu jio (sichuan pepper). It is only possible to obtain it from the tributes of the Eastern Kingdom, and even His Highness Prince Ming Xian very rarely enjoys this in his meals. Thanks to Libins exnation, Yui Mei also learned about how the people of this world perceived hot pepper. Since Libin also had information aboutjiao it meant that being with the crown prince also allowed him plenty of opportunities to encounter rare ingredients. Du also brought spicy mooncakes to the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it must have been a fittingly preciousmodity. In other words, ording to Libin and Chens conversation, hot pepper was not somethingmoners, much less someone imprisoned in the penitentiary, could easily ess. Hmm, something smells fishy here! Is this a detective case!? Yui Meis eyes were twinkling, her heart busy pounding, torn between the possible hint of trouble and her desire as a Chinese Drama geek to watch it unfold with her own two eyes. She was in that state, but Libin didnt pay her any heed; he turned to the other guy instead. Did Jiang Qing use that fine powder? The man frowned, and a few seconds passed before he answered. I guess its useless to hide it. Yeah, thats right. The man confirmed Libins suspicion. It turned out that the patient was the reason why there was a hugemotion going on behind Jiang at that time. He was probably closest to Jiang so he bore the brunt of her pepper spray. The case of Jiang having chili pepper, which was supposedly a very raremodity, on her person must be simr to her possession of poppy juice. However, it was somebody elses job to get to the bottom of this mystery; Yui Mei was currently here to help Chen. Well, even hua jiao (sichuan pepper) hurts a lot if inhaled or if you get some in your eyes. Lajiao will be several times more painful than hua jiao. If you inhale it or get some in your eyes, your nose and throat will get irritated and itll definitely hurt. Yui Mei added to Chens remarks. The fact that the scent of chili pepper still lingered meant that the powder was just dusted off and had not been rinsed off. In that case, it would have hurt indefinitely. Then, we cant do anything but wash the powder off. That wont be enough treatment. When you wash him, please use cold water instead of hot water. If you wash him with warm water, it will increase the pain unnecessarily, and the effect will be prolonged. Please make him gargle to deal with his sore throat. Yui Mei spoke to supplement Chens advice. I see, then lets open the bathhouse. The man listened to Chen and Yui Mei, and he promptly ordered the use of the bathhouse. While washing him, please be careful not to rub the affected part that stings because of the pepper. Itll only make the pain worse. Rinse if off, and the pain should subside within a day at most. Also, everyone involved, including those who were with the patient when the powder had been thrown, and those who touched the patient, might have pepper still remaining on their hands. Please be careful not to touch your eyes and other parts of your face. And please, bathe in cold water, alright? I see, got it. Ill gather all those who were on site when the incident happened. The man listened earnestly to Yui Meis orders, and he immediately said that in reply. I didnt knowjiao could be such a big deal like this. Libin saw how troublesome the aftermath was, and he couldnt help but mutter those words with a dark expression. Its spicy and delicious, but that spiciness is also an irritantThe kitchen staff must have been trained regarding this, but yes, it is an ingredient that must be handled with care. Yui Mei exined to Libin. In her previous world, a farmer she knew told her that it was necessary to wear gloves, goggles and masks when grinding chili peppers into powder so that the eyes, face and hands are protected. Even if you are used to handling pepper like that veteran, it was still an ingredient that required care. After that, a considerable number of people were hurriedly ushered to take a bath. Because of that, the bathhouse was cramped, but the people who got pepper sprayed were able to wash it off sessfully. The person who caused the poppy juice incident must be far more troublesome than Yui Mei thought, based on how that person pulled out this pepper powder explosion incident. Chapter 196: Reporting to the Crown Prince Chapter 196: Reporting to the Crown Prince * * * A lot of things happened, so it was veryte already by the time Li Yong returned. Ming Xian and Xiu Ling were waiting in the crown princes pce. How did it go? How is Xu Zi? Ming Xian immediately asked Li Yong without even greeting him first. It seemed that he had been anxiously waiting for thetters return. And apparently, asking Xu Zi was just on the surface; his real intent was to know what was going on within the penitentiary. Well, its understandable, since you need a very good reason to step foot inside the penitentiary, after all. Ming Xian was probably interested in the Ministry of Justices system. Thats probably the reason why he readily agreed to Li Yongs request to apany Yui Mei and Chen as their guarantor. The Ministry of Justice wasnt actually secretive, far from it. It was just that they were inherently suspicious of people given the nature of their work. In this sense, it was actually a rare case that Yui Mei, a lowly courdy, was immediately allowed to apany Xu Zi despite it being thetters first interview. The Ministry of Justice mustve gotten their hands on some information that would guarantee Yui Meis safety. Moreover, Li Yong himself believed that he had been sent to apany her so that in case she recklessly behaved inside the penitentiary, he would have to bear the responsibility, so he had been allowed to tag along. Yui Mei was very inquisitivepared to other people, but she was still harmless despite that. Even so, they mustve thought that the person backing her must be someone to be feared. Li Yong also understood their sentiments. I have returned. Ming Xian seemed like he was itching for Li Yong to spill the beans, so he promptly started his report after greeting the crown prince. Doctor Chen confirmed that Xu Zis condition will not worsen and will turn for the better. However, a problem urred. Problem? Did something happen in the penitentiary, perhaps? Ming Xian was taken aback. Li Yong confirmed that something did happen. He sipped the freshly brewed tea served by Xiu Ling as he exined the events that urred in the penitentiary. Both Ming Xian and Xiu Lings jaws dropped after hearing about the incident. Lajiao? They smuggled something like that? And youre saying the culprit has it? What a relief that nothing overly serious happened. Still, what a waste. The chef of the crown princes pce wanted it so badly to the point of tears. Ming Xian said with widened eyes, and Xiu Ling also remarked her thoughts with a sigh. What a relief Yui Mei knew how to handle the situation so it didnt turn into a disaster. Just the thought of what could happen if she didnt know is giving me the chills. Ming Xian said when he heard about the ident that befell the government official because of the chili powder. ording to Yui Mei, we dont have to worry about the after effects of getting doused injiao powder. They just have to wash it off and the affected parts will heal naturally. Still, the patient mustve suffered for a long time. Li Yong felt sympathy towards the official that took the brunt of the chili powder. If it had been sichuan pepper instead of chili, it might be a bit better since they were familiar with it, being frequently used to add vor to the food. Even so, sichuan pepper could also be very painful if it gets into the eyes. Yui Mei told them that that would be much more painful than just getting sprayed on, and it was an experience she didnt want anyone to go through with. Afterward, they gathered all the people who had been in the crime scene when the incident happened, and they were all doused in cold water. They would surely catch a cold in this cold weather. Li Yong shivered at the thought, when Ming Xian spoke. The only thing they miscalcted was that the doted daughter has a father secretly keeping an eye on his beloved daughter since he cant get enough of her adorableness. Since the incident happened right in front of Yui Mei, her father probably heard of it by now. Ming Xian grinned, but Li Yong frowned in response. Indeed. Based on the circumstances, it is highly probable that there are some eastern spies among the government officials, moreso if the position that could do the impossible. However, it would be easy to trace their footsteps and pursue them if they were exposed so quickly like in todays incident. Although it was surprising that Yui Mei knew the name of that chili pepper, it should also be considered that Du, the suspicious eunuch, had brought some luxury moon cakes with chili before. Since Yui Mei is such a gluttony, its also possible that she examined that mooncake afterward. She could also freely move from pce to pce as a housekeeper, so it wouldnte as a surprise if she came across chili from the kitchen of one of those pces. Regardless, the source of her knowledge on how to handle the damage caused by pepper was still a mystery. There was no way Doctor Chen wasnt interested in the source of Yui Meis mysterious knowledge, but it seemed like he didnt have any intention of pursuing the matter. If one were to ask Yui Mei, she would probably reply that she heard it from a traveller. She knew it was an absurd excuse, but she seemed determined to stand with this reasoning of hers. Li Yongs thoughts were veering towards a strange direction. So its the East again, huh. Easts Enshuu will probably be in turmoil. Ming Xian muttered to himself. Xiu Ling alsomented with her hand on her cheek as she stared into space pensively. Hasnt Enshu been changing the Grand Dukes one after another in the past few years? I heard the current Grand Duke of Enshuu is a boy who hasnte of age yet. Ming Xian replied while rubbing his chin. The current emperors reign had continued peacefully for a long time, but it seemed that trouble was brewing soon. * * * Chapter 197: A Lot of Things Happening Chapter 197: A Lot of Things Happening A lot of incidents happened in the penitentiary, and after that day, Chen would periodically visit Xu. Moreover, there was also an Emperors Decree regarding Xu.] Xu was the emperors favored lute yer, so he apparently dered that they must do all they can so that he can hear the sound of her lute once again, apparently. Oh well, he really liked her as a musician so much that he even disguised himself to scout her personally. Is Xu really such a great person!? Yui Mei heard about that information, so she thought the emperors reaction was understandable. However, the people of the penitentiary were shocked and everyone was in a fluster. As for the decree, the circumstances behind Xu might have also yed a part, but Yui Mei thought he said that because he simply wanted to listen to Xus lute again, and thats his true intention. In order to expedite her recovery, Yui Mei apanied Chen to be her adviser and she could see the improvement in Xusplexion. It was partly thanks to her stomach getting better after being weakened because of the dishes in the banquets, but mostly it was because of Chens treatment breaking through that her anxiety lessened. For now, her goal was to be able to y for her beloveds funeral rites. The fire of determination to achieve that goal burned in Xus eyes. The thought of this must be the musician that charmed the His Majesty the Emperor. With the permission from the Ministry of Justice, Xus favorite lute was brought into the penitentiary and ced inside Xus room, and one could hear the melodious sound of lute from her room. It had be a popr secret interest among the officials. It was only natural given that the officials have very few opportunities to listen to a pce courtesan y. However, Chen strictly imposed a limit on how long she could y, and warned her to diligently stick to it. Her hands were getting better and the inmmation subsided, so he wouldnt allow her to lose all that progress if her hands were to deterioriate because of practice. Moderation was still important. Time passed in that fashion, and the time when the winter cold was the harshest finally came. Yui Mei received a letter from Libin that Jiangs sentence was finally decided on, and she was transferred outside the capital, and that they had caught the criminal who gave the pepper powder to Jiang. News of these two incidents flew within the Hundred Blossom Pce, and had been the source of uproar among the courtdies, and was also a hot topic in the dining hall. Of course, the poppy juice incident was kept under wraps and the punishment for the two people were done under the vague reason of causing disturbance in the Imperial Pce. Still, rumors that the incidents had something to do with therge-scale personnel reshuffling among the pce staff were also rampant. Indeed, poppy juice had been discovered in the residences of some of the concubines. Yui Mei learned from the gossiping courtdies that there were concubines who were secretly sent to the nunnery in the middle of the night. She couldnt determine whether they were mere hearsays or possibly the truth, but if it was discovered in the residence, then the mistress of that residence would also be affected. Given the circumstances, its going to be hard to prove that they didnt have anything to do with this. Yui Mei contemted as she ate her ramen. They didnt have any way to scientifically evaluate the evidence here unlike in her previous world, so they only had the testimonies of the witnesses and the person involved themselves to work with. Moreover, the surroundings of the bigwigs such as the empress dowager, empress and four imperial consorts remained quiet, so the lower-ranking concubines mustve been the ones targeted to take the hit. Yang mustve been very busy because of the incidents, and Yui Mei sympathized with her situation. The shortage in manpower caused by the influenza epidemic previous winter hadnt been fully addressed yet, and now the pce was once again caught in an incident that would reduce the little staff remaining. Ah, wait, maybe this is the chance to reduce the number of concubines? No matter how low-ranking the concubine was, their residence would still require more people, and there would be more ces that one couldnt keep an eye on. There was no guarantee that a pce embroiled in scandal wouldnt be caught again in the future, so perhaps the Imperial Pce was nning to wipe out such ces that could possibly harbour danger. Yui Meis Chinese drama otaku side worked like this, and the days passed. Finally, the criminal involved in the incidents punishment had been carried out, and it was deemed that it would be safe for Xu to go out, and the day of her deceased lovers funeral arrived. Chapter 202 End of the Performance Zhu had whispered so quietly, so his voice was almost drowned in the sea of pping people. However, Xu still heard him, unexpectedly. That voice just now Xu abruptly raised her head and looked all round her in a fluster, before finally spotting Zhus figure in the midst of the crowd. ! No way Her eyes widened in shock. She tried to stand up, but she staggered to her feet, probably because she had given all her energy to perform with great gusto. Still, she didnt let that deter her, and she made her way step by step towards Zhu while clutching her lute. You seemed to have aged and gaunt, but Is it really you? Xu slowly approached Zhu until she finally reached him. She then kneeled so that they would be on the same eye level, before peering closely at his face. Are you Master Zhu Ren? Its only him that person is the only one with tastes whimsical enough to call me a fairy! Xu cried out, beads of tears streaking down her face. Her manner of speaking had reverted back to its polite way from how she spoke in the past. What are you saying, Xu Zi, Ah Zi, you are truly beautiful from back then and even now! Zhu was about to circle his arms around her, when he noticed the white chrysanthemums in his hand. The sound of your lute brought me back. Indeed, I can attest that you are truly my beloved fairy of music! Zhu reached out and offered the white chrysanthemum, which Xu then grasped along with his hands. Ive been, Ive been waiting for your return all this time. Wee home, Lord Ren! Xu and Zhu choked with tears, unable to utter any more words after they confirmed each others identity. Ten years had already passed, but they finally fulfilled the promise of meeting each other once again. The people around them who witnessed the scene were baffled initially, but they grasped the situation soon after. Cheers of good for you guys, what a relief and apuse rang in the air, probably because theyre also caught up in the mood, and felt sympathetic to the two lovers. Yui Mei was also one of those who apuded. Im not really sure, but doesnt white chrysanthemum mean Truth in flowernguage? It was a meaning given to the flower in her previous world; she hadnt heard any mention about thenguage of flowers in this world. Nevertheless, even though it was unknown who chose this particr flower, Yui Mei thought it was perfectly fitting for the situation. Thank goodness, what a relief for you guys! Yui Meis tears of joy welled up as she emotionally pped her hands, when somebody handed a handkerchief in front of her. I know youre so touched so the tears are understandable, but do something about that snot, its really unsightly. Li Yong, who left Zhu from who knows when, stood beside Yui Mei and offered his handkerchief. Cant be helped, you know tears and snot go out as a set! Yui Mei retorted with a pout, but she gratefully epted the handkerchief and blew her nose on it. She would just wash it before returning it to him. Du, who had been watching Li Yong and Yui Meis exchange, snorted, making Li Yong jump out of his skin. You dont have to scare him like that. Yui Mei red at Du, who snickered in reply. While this was going on, the crown prince approached Xu and Zhu, and the apuse stopped the moment he stopped and raised his hand in front of them. Xu Zi, its been an extremely beautiful rendition of the lute. It would have surely reached the souls of the soldiers who traveled to the Realm of the Dead. The crown prince dered with a loud voice, and Xu and Zhu righted their postures to face him properly. They were about to say something, but the crown prince continued speaking. Xu Zi, amnesty has been granted by His Majesty the Emperor. Xu Zi will be released from her identity as the pce courtesan from this moment henceforth. Cheers erupted once again after the crown princes deration. Its not everyday people get to be there for an asion such as the emperors amnesty being given, so its not surprising that people were all hyped up. ________ T/N: Finally!! The star-crossed lovers arent star-crossed anymore hehe.. Hello guys! Super sorry for theck of releases, been caught up and bogged down with a lot of work plus holiday rush! Struggling to get everything settled for this final quarter of 2022, but things are easing up. Will post more as soon as I can. Much love <3 Chapter 198: Finally Chapter 198: Finally Clouds dotted the sky and the cold wind blew with force. Many people were gathered in front of the mausoleum that had been erected for the soldiers who lost their lives in war. At the head of the group, the crown prince stood with Li Yong beside him. Xu was also standing beside Li Yong while clutching her lute. Indeed, Xu was about to y the flute for the burial rites that was about to be held. The people gathered were mainly military personnel, and General Li and Ming were also among the crowd. Ming was apanied by a soldier who was constantly whispering to him. Yui Mei observed everything from the sidelines. This ce was already outside the Hundred Blossom Pce, so what was a courtdy like Yui Mei doing here, one might ask. The reason was no other than the person beside her, the one who took her along with him. Hm, hm, what a nice day we have here. If the weather is bad, it will give a gloomy atmosphere, but having too much sun would be quite a mismatch to the solemn mood. Yes, this much is right. A eunuch was talking to Yui Mei, and it was no other than Du. As for how they ended up in this situation The news that Xu wanted to y for the burial rites reached the emperors ear, and he then dered that it would be better for Xu to y in the frontlines rather than secretly behind the scenes. The emperor then prepared the stage for her to do so. Yui Mei also heard about it from Xu herself, but even if she wanted to do so, the venue was outside the Hundred Blossom Pce. She already epted that it would be impossible for her to attend, when Du suddenly approached her on the day of the rites. Ack, everything this guy does is bad for the heart! He suddenly appeared while she was busy cleaning, and she was forced to apany him willy-nilly. Du was different from Libin; he would often do unimaginable things so it was quite terrifying. Yui Mei stared at Du, before speaking out. .Wont His Majesty the Emperor participate in this event? Du smirked in reply. Nope, he wont. If the Emperores here, itll turn into a huge fan fare, right? Xu just wanted to mourn for her lover, and the other soldiers whoy in sleep with him will just be coteral beneficiaries. This much is fine. And yeah, in case youre wondering, he does have a nominal representative. He then pointed with his chin towards the crown prince. What an attitude if its an ordinary eunuch, wouldnt he be captured and dragged out already for tant impudence? Moreover, this ce was teeming with people rted to the military. And yet, wonder of wonders, nobody would even meet the eyes of this emperor doppelganger of a eunuch. It was precisely because of that that Yui Mei had a feeling that people were awkwardly averting their gaze, eyes darting around anywhere but here. Eh, wait, dont tell me this obvious disguise is already widely known within his circle? Then, could it be that Yui Meis current position was that of a poor greenhorn involved in this sneaky business? Arent I quite pitiful? Yui Mei quietly sighed. Set that aside, and dont move your eyes away from that, alright? Du said seriously. Yes, I understand. Yui Mei nodded. Indeed, Du didnt take Yui Mei with him out of the kindness of his heart; she was here for work. As for the job she had to observe a certain person. It was the soldier that Ming took with him. He was Dong, the amnesiac guy currently residing in Mings house. Ming was trying to calm and assure Dong, who was embarrassed for his out-of-ce presence in this event, that he could stay here. Dont you wanna see the number one lute musician of the capital? That was what Ming told him when he took Dong with him, so it was understandable that the man was confused to see that they were in a mourning ceremony for someone else when they arrived at the venue. However, Dong was also the star of the show. This event was actually a test whether Dong would be able to recall who he really was. Yui Meis role was to be the first-aid kit in case something happened to Dong. And so, in this venue filled people who had with various thoughts swirling in their minds, Xu, who was standing beside the crown prince, stepped forward and sat down. This humble woman will now begin. Xu was finally well enough to y the lute once again. ______ T/N: Im SO, SO, SORRY I made a huge blunder at the end of chapter 197!! Huhuhu, arrggghhh!! Fixed it now.. Sorry to those who had been spoiled because of that T.T..but shhh, thank you <3 Chapter 199: Lute Musician Xu Zi Chapter 199: Lute Musician Xu Zi Twang! The resounding sound of the lute string quivered in the air. At the beginning, the notes resounded one at a time, before gradually ovepping by twos and threes. Right now, Xu Zis lute was the only instrument supposedly being yed as of the moment, but it sounded to Yui Mei as if she was backed up by several apanists behind her. The wooden pick that Xu Zi was holding violently plucked the strings of the lute, and it was unbelievable that she had only recently suffered from pain in her hands. Moreover, her hands shouldnt be ablet to endure the way she fiercely yed. It was as if she was ying without any regard to consequences. So this is the Lute Musician Xu Zi Yui Mei muttered, lost in the music of the lute, then before she knew it, tears were already streaming down her cheeks. So this is the kind of person she is Yui Mei was once again reminded with such gusto that Xu yed the lute not for herself, much less for the guests who listened to her. Xu mustve passionately yed for her family when she lived with them. And when she fell in love, she mustve yed with that person in mind. The emotions carried within each note tickled the hearts of those who listen to it, invoking the feelings thaty deep within the hearts of the listeners, shaking them up in the form of empathy. That was why the sound of her lute was so powerful it could sway the hearts of the people who heard it. And now, Xu was passionately ying her lute to convey that she loved her beloved with all her soul. The current Yui Mei didnt have the emotions that could sufficiently rte to Xus feelings. How envious, how painful her life must have been Yui Mei was so immersed that she even forgot to wipe her overflowing tears, while Du sighed as he listened beside her. Hmm, the vor of the sound of her lute has deepened again, huh. Things like good or bad techniques are all but trivial matters to her. Shes truly a naturally gifted lute musician. Du narrowed his eyes. Naturally gifted lute musician. Yui Mei repeated his words as if savoring them. She had believed that geniuses and gifted people simply meant they had superior skills and ability as a person who walked the same path as them. However, it wasnt true. If this was the so-called innate ability, or naturally gifted, then it would be a power bestowed by the heavens and cannot be measured by other peoples sense of value. Even the criminal courtesan Jiang she mustve been an excellent lute yer, but she wouldnt be able to escape theparison with Xu. For Jiang, it could only be said she was in the wrong period of time. Still, she couldve gone her way without being corrupted; a sin was still a sin. Yui Mei also had another thought. Just what part of this ceremony is a funeral rite, I wonder? Who could ever travel peacefully to the underworld after listening to such a soulful, yearning song? Despite Xus earlier words of sending him off, her music carried her obsession; it sounded as if she was trying to pull her lover out of the underworld no matter what it would take, even if he had already set foot there. Yui Mei was actually tempted to say that this funeral rites is nothing but a sham. Xu probably didnt even believe that her beloved had already passed away, but it sounded as if she gave up after battling against the feeling of not being able to give him up while trying toe to terms about the facts written on paper. Her heart had been exhausted. Not a single person uttered anything. Everyone was shrouded in silence as they listened to Xus spirited lute performance, quietly observing where this situation would lead. Come now, look over there. Yui Mei also noticed it at that same moment when Du called out to her and gestured to a certain ce. She saw Dong, who was standing next to Ming, fell down amidst the group of soldiers quietly standing. Chapter 200: Memories Chapter 200: Memories Get a grip! Ming carried Dong to Yui Mei. They couldnt make a fuss and stop Xus performance, so they moved towards a ce far from the area of the performance. What happened? Du curtly asked, and Ming straightened up as if hes facing his boss. Yes, Dong wanted to watch the lute musician perform, so we moved to a ce where he could see her better, then this happened. Yui Mei listened to the report while checking Dongs condition. Haah, haah! Dong crouched while painfully gasping for breath. Hes hyperventting. We have to calm Dong and make him breathe easier. Yui Mei tried her best to speak calmly while slowly rubbing Dongs back. Exhale, exhale~ Inhale, inhale~ Yes, youre doing great. Exhale~ Cough, cough! Yui Mei instructed him to take a deep breath, but Dong soon coughed, unable to do so. No need to hurry, exhale, exhale~ inhale~ inhale. Even so, Yui Mei patiently talked to Dong and cautioned him not to hurry, and finally, the mans breathing gradually eased up. Once Dong could breathe on his own even without Yui Meis guidance, she spoke to him. Did you calm down? Why did you suddenly feel sick, Mr. Dong? Dong seemed to have regained his senses, aside from properly breathing. Ah, this is why am I Dong was still confused. The words tumbled out of his mouth with difficulty, his face ashen as he looked around him. It seemed as if he wanted to say something, but he couldnt put his thoughts into words. Looks like we wont be able to talk unless hepletely calms down. It was obvious that something changed within Dong, but he must be disoriented because of information overload. Mr. Dong, its alright, dont worry, just listen to the sound of the lute. Yui Mei said while covering Dongs eyes with the head scarf that she always bring with her. She wanted to calm him down by reducing the information he got from the things he saw around him. Ahh, this is it This is the lutes sound Dongs body flopped down, as if all energy just drained out of him. Du and Ming were listening to their exchange, and they also quietly listened to the lute. After a while, Du broke his silence. Doesnt it seem like the lutes music is beckoning? Sounds like that lute musician wants to summon the most important person to her, even if he is already a ghost. Du sounded like he was mumbling to himself, but Dongs shoulders flinched when he heard those words. Yui Mei fell into thought. If Dong, the guy who had amnesia, turned out to be the Xus lover, then theres no way the sound of lute wouldnt resonate within him, triggering the memories sleeping deep within him. With such wishful thinking mixed with conviction, Yui Mei tried to ask Dong. Isnt the lutes music beckoning to you? Beckoning to me Dong muttered in response to Yui Mei, and as he spoke, the cloth fell off from his eyes. Yui Mei pulled it gently, only to see that Dong was crying underneath. You can probably answer this now. Who are you? Du asked, and in response, Dong, with tears still streaming down his face, answered. I am Zhu Ren, the man who was supposed to marry into the merchants family. Yui Mei and Du exchanged nces and nodded when they heard Dong no, Zhus answer. Right, were right all along! Zhu Ren was the name of the man who was supposed to be the son-inw of the Xu family. Yui Mei was inwardly hyped up with the revtion to one of the mysteries that puzzled her. Meanwhile, Du interrogated the man. You who are called Zhu, what have you been doing until now? Perhaps he sensed something from the powerful way that Du addressed him, Zhus tears and confusion were wiped away from his face as he straightened his back. Chapter 201: Couple Over Time Chapter 201: Couple Over Time I needed to raise money in order to marry into the merchants family. Thats when I heard about the news that they were recruiting soldiers for the borders of Enshuu. I decided to apply, thinking that it would help, even if its just a bit. So, does that mean you have been staying at the borders all the time until you lost your memories? Yes. Du and Zhu conversed. Zhus tale was in line with the story Yui Mei heard from Xu. It was also highly unlikely that he was just pretending to be Zhu Ren. If that was truly the case, it might have been good if this Zhu met earlier with Xu. However, the timing wasnt right back then. Xu wasnt someone who could freely enter and leave the Hundred Blossom Pce. Not only that, she had thrown the towel about everything in life, and had also be someone involved in a case. Thus, when the opportunity arose, it was already difficult to sneak her out of the pce. Moreover, they also had to consider the possibility that this man wasnt the lover she was expecting. They couldnt act rashly. And so, everything converged to have this moment take ce. Many obstacles urred along the way, but the most important truth was finally revealed in this event. It made Yui Mei want to jump in joy. Miss Xu, your lover is alive!! Yui Mei turned her gaze towards the mausoleum, thinking about how Xu was still ying the lute with determination so strong it was tragic. Du also stared at the mausoleum, probably simrly concerned. Chapter 202: End of the Performance Chapter 202: End of the Performance Zhu had whispered so quietly, so his voice was almost drowned in the sea of pping people. However, Xu still heard him, unexpectedly. That voice just now Xu abruptly raised her head and looked all round her in a fluster, before finally spotting Zhus figure in the midst of the crowd. ! No way Her eyes widened in shock. She tried to stand up, but she staggered to her feet, probably because she had given all her energy to perform with great gusto. Still, she didnt let that deter her, and she made her way step by step towards Zhu while clutching her lute. You seemed to have aged and gaunt, but Is it really you? Xu slowly approached Zhu until she finally reached him. She then kneeled so that they would be on the same eye level, before peering closely at his face. Are you Master Zhu Ren? Its only him that person is the only one with tastes whimsical enough to call me a fairy! Xu cried out, beads of tears streaking down her face. Her manner of speaking had reverted back to its polite way from how she spoke in the past. What are you saying, Xu Zi, Ah Zi, you are truly beautiful from back then and even now! Zhu was about to circle his arms around her, when he noticed the white chrysanthemums in his hand. The sound of your lute brought me back. Indeed, I can attest that you are truly my beloved fairy of music! Zhu reached out and offered the white chrysanthemum, which Xu then grasped along with his hands. Ive been, Ive been waiting for your return all this time. Wee home, Lord Ren! Xu and Zhu choked with tears, unable to utter any more words after they confirmed each others identity. Ten years had already passed, but they finally fulfilled the promise of meeting each other once again. The people around them who witnessed the scene were baffled initially, but they grasped the situation soon after. Cheers of good for you guys, what a relief and apuse rang in the air, probably because theyre also caught up in the mood, and felt sympathetic to the two lovers. Yui Mei was also one of those who apuded. Im not really sure, but doesnt white chrysanthemum mean Truth in flowernguage? It was a meaning given to the flower in her previous world; she hadnt heard any mention about thenguage of flowers in this world. Nevertheless, even though it was unknown who chose this particr flower, Yui Mei thought it was perfectly fitting for the situation. Thank goodness, what a relief for you guys! Yui Meis tears of joy welled up as she emotionally pped her hands, when somebody handed a handkerchief in front of her. I know youre so touched so the tears are understandable, but do something about that snot, its really unsightly. Li Yong, who left Zhu from who knows when, stood beside Yui Mei and offered his handkerchief. Cant be helped, you know tears and snot go out as a set! Yui Mei retorted with a pout, but she gratefully epted the handkerchief and blew her nose on it. She would just wash it before returning it to him. Du, who had been watching Li Yong and Yui Meis exchange, snorted, making Li Yong jump out of his skin. You dont have to scare him like that. Yui Mei red at Du, who snickered in reply. While this was going on, the crown prince approached Xu and Zhu, and the apuse stopped the moment he stopped and raised his hand in front of them. Xu Zi, its been an extremely beautiful rendition of the lute. It would have surely reached the souls of the soldiers who traveled to the Realm of the Dead. The crown prince dered with a loud voice, and Xu and Zhu righted their postures to face him properly. They were about to say something, but the crown prince continued speaking. Xu Zi, amnesty has been granted by His Majesty the Emperor. Xu Zi will be released from her identity as the pce courtesan from this moment henceforth. Cheers erupted once again after the crown princes deration. Its not everyday people get to be there for an asion such as the emperors amnesty being given, so its not surprising that people were all hyped up. ________ T/N: Finally!! The star-crossed lovers arent star-crossed anymore hehe.. Hello guys! Super sorry for theck of releases, been caught up and bogged down with a lot of work plus holiday rush! Struggling to get everything settled for this final quarter of 2022, but things are easing up. Will post more as soon as I can. Much love <3 Chapter 203: Fresh Start Chapter 203: Fresh Start Eh, what? Xu muttered nkly, still unable to grasp what just happened. It was not so long ago that Yui Mei Libin, Libin and the personnel of the Ministry of Justice were discussing the possibility of this scenario. However, it never crossed Xus mind; she probably thought shed only be released from being a court courtesan when pigs fly. The crown prince looked over Xu with a smile. Moreover, as a reward for letting His Majesty and I enjoy such wonderful music until now, you have been granted pension and a mansion. Here, receive the inventory list. The moment the crown prince said those words, the eunuch on standby stepped forward and presented a document to Xu. T-Thank you, thank you very much. Xu received the list with trembling hands. She could only manage to stammer her thanks in a daze. As for Zhu, he was extremely confused at the turn of events, his eyes wide as saucers at the mention of His Majesty and amnesty. The crown prince continued talking to the two of them. Your trials and hardships that youve experienced until now also reached my ears, and His Majesty had also dered his will. He said, It is not toote to pursue your happiness. Itd be good for both of you to spend a long time catching up with everything you missed with each other. H-His Majesty, His Majesty had already anticipated everything! Xu was extremely shocked upon hearing the words of the emperor from the crown prince. Eh, but you know, the one who dered all that stuff is right here with us, hehe Unfortunately, in order not to break the mood in this ce, Yui Mei had to restrain herself so she wouldnt actually blurt that out loud. In fact, the other soldiers who participated in the burial ceremony had cramped expressions. They probably also wanted to point at him and say hes right there, but theyre trying their best to endure. Yui Mei was also feeling a bit torn with wanting to immerse herself in such a moving scene and yet not being able to do that. The crown prince ignored the mental state of everyone present, and continued on. Moreover, the Jiaofang had also wished for Xu to be one of their instructors. I also wish to enjoy your lutes profound music, so please ept it, Xu Zi. Despite the amnesty granted, Jiaofang still intended for Xu to be the master teacher. Indeed, its a testament to Xus exceptional talent forposition. Yui Mei didnt find it surprising at all, given that she also experienced for herself how much of a genius Xu is after listening to her performance. If Xu has a house and a job, shes guaranteed a stable and secure life in the future. Apparently, Xu was slowlying into terms with these facts. What an honor it would be. Your Highness the Crown Prince, His Majesty the Emperor, were so grateful, thank you very much! Xus tears streaked down her cheeks once again, making her face a mess, and together with Zhu, she kowtowed to the ground. *** It was decided right there and then that Xu would leave the pce right away. You can stay at my ce for now. Ming offered, probably still immersed in the joyous feeling of their reunion. Xu will still be entering the Jiaofang from time to time, so she could bring her things back bit by bit. They could also check the estate granted to them the day after. For now, their priority must be spending time with Zhu so they could make up for the long period theyve been apart. Xu and Zhu stood side by side with Ming, and the sun was about to set. She would be starting her life afresh and Yui Mei, Du and Li Yong, who was there as their escort, stood at the Qianqing Gate to see them off. Miss Xu, theres a good doctor in Outer City, and hes the mentor of Doctor Chen. Lord Ming knows that person very well, so make sure you go to him for examination and have your feng shi bing treated, alright? You mustve pushed yourself too hard for todays performance. Yui Meis tone was a bit stern as she advised Xu. Xu mustve abandoned all consideration for her life after the performance and had gone all out to y the lute. Her hands must be extremely painful now, so Yui Mei wanted her to be treated once again. Yeah, you did a lot to treat me, so Im sorry about that. Xu seemed a bit embarrassed, but her manner of speech reverted back to its casualness. Shes been used to this manner for so long, so its probably her default way by now. Moreover, the rim of her eyes had turned red from all that crying. But then, it doesnt matter how much you cry if the tears are from joy. ___________ T/N: ANNOUNCEMENT: Hello, Hanazakura here. This is a bit lengthy, but I hope youll read it to the end. First of all, I wish to thank you for the support and love you have given me and Hundred Blossom Pce these past two years. I am forever grateful to you guys, tranting this novel has helped me maintain my sanity during the pandemic. Now that Covid-19 is no longer a major risk in our country, businesses andpanies are starting to recover, and are now requiring their employees to work full time on site. My workload has increased since thest quarter of 2022, as you might have noticed with the erratic schedule, however, I could still manage to trante a few chapters of this novel despite that. Unfortunately, starting this January 2023, my workload has tripled and its very hard for me to find time to trante Hundred Blossom Pce anymore. I would love to continue doing this series, but I have to prioritize my real life work. Thus, with a heavy heart, I wish you to inform you that I will be dropping this series so as to give chance for another trantor to pick it up and give it justice that it deserves. I really apologize for taking this long, I really really tried, however, it really isnt feasible for me anymore. T.T Moving forward, I posted all the chapters from Patreon onto the site today. Because of Holy Week, we will have a week long vacation, enough for me to do a few additional chapters as tribute to my patreons who supported this novel. Im forever grateful to each and everyone of you who read Yui Meis adventures for the past 2 years. I will post the additional chapters before this week ends. Thank you so much again, everyone. **Deep bow** Chapter 204: Benefactor Chapter 204: Benefactor At any rate, isnt it great, Miss Xu. You can take your time nning what youre going to do from here on, so please rx first. When Yui Mei said those words, Xus reddened eyes softened. Thanks. Everything seems to have started when I met you back in the dumpsite. A lot of things suddenly changed. Thanks to you, I can now stand here like this, so youre my benefactor. Those were Xus heartfelt words, but Yui Mei shook her head upon hearing them. No, I did not change Miss Xus life. Everything that has happened are the results of your actions until now. If Miss Xu believes that you changed, then doesnt that mean you really did? If Xu had given up everything and be a courtesan as the male merchant who had bothered her suggested, she would have ended up unhappy. However, Xu struggled and it was because of her efforts that a helping hand was extended to her. Therefore, she just needed to stand tall and proud. Ha, you should just let us be indebted to you. You really are such a strange girl. Xu looked embarrassed upon hearing Yui Meis response. Thetter the turned towards Du. The eunuch over there, werent you the person who helped me from that scum merchant, right? Du, isnt it? You had to carry me to the ce, but its thanks to you that I was able to wait for Lord Zhu Ren. Im truly grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. Xu hadnt seen the face of the person who helped her enter the pce as a courtesan, but she still remembered him. Du wordlessly grinned as acknowledgement to her words of gratitude. Oh right! I havent asked for your name yet. Ive been in your care for so long, so this might be awkward. Come to think of it, I also havent introduced myself. Xu suddenly remembered that she hadnt asked for her benefactors name, and Zhu Ren also realized the same thing when he heard that. While Yu Mei also recalled not mentioning her name to Xu, she deliberately didnt disclose it to Zhu. Hmm, is it time for me to tell them my name? With a sidelong nce to Ming, who was watching the couple beside them, she smiled. Well then, let me introduce myself again. I am Zhang Yui Mei. Ive been praying for the happiness of you both in the Hundred Blossom Pce. The moment Yu Mei introduced herself, Mings expression became inexplicable. The shock written all over his face was quiteical. His pale face as if hed seen a ghost only deepened Yui Meis smirk. Heh, what a nice-sounding name. On the other hand, Xu, who did not seem to notice Mings reaction,plimented Yu Meis name, stating that the sound of it suited her, as expected of a musician. Yui Mei had never beenplimented regarding the sound of her name suiting her, so it made her feel a bit happy. While they exchanged such pleasantries, the sun began to set and the shadows lengthened. Xu Zi, I know how reluctant you are to part with them, but I think its time for us to go now. Itll be dangerous once the darkness sets in. Zhu urged Xu to leave, but Xu hesitated to move. Yu Mei reassured Xu that this was not their final farewell. Miss Xu, this isnt thest time were going to see each other in this lifetime. Whenever Im allowed to go out, Im going to visit your mansion from time to time. Lets meet again. Yeah, youre right, were gonna meet each other again. How strange, why am I crying like this when thatll happen. Xu apparently realized that this wasnt theirst farewell, so she finally felt moving. Zhu and Xu then bid their farewell. When they were about to leave the pce Xu, be happy. Du called out to Xu behind her back. ! Xu turned around in shock. Yui Mei was puzzled why she had such a big reaction, but Li Yong replied to her shortly. Its the voice. Oh, I see now, voice, huh! Its said that Xu had never once saw the emperors appearance. However, she had heard him speak plenty enough that she could recognize his voice right away. Musicians have great ear for music, so its understandable that she recognized him for his voice. Yui Mei finally realized why Du kept silent when she spoke to him earlier. Chapter 205: Happiness Chapter 205: Happiness Xu turned around and was about to kneel when Xu, you shouldnt do that. Ming stopped her. He was still ashen, but his judgement was still working perfectly fine, it seemed. Many people pass through this ce, so it would be a huge problem if she were to perfom a kowtow. After all, the only person who could receive a kowtow within the Imperial Pce was no other than the greatest person within the kingdom. However, the only one here was a eunuch. Xu, whose tears just barely stopped, burst out crying once again after being stopped. We will definitely be happy! Xu yelled those words, then she bowed deeply, before setting out once again. Both of them turned back several times until their figures could no longer be seen in the distance. Ahh, she bawled her eyes out, so her face will definitely get all puffed out by tomorrow. Well, I guess thats okay, she did seem really happy after all. Yui Mei felt a sense of aplishment as she uttered those words. Yeah, its refreshing after all that happened. Li Yongmented, and Yui Mei wholeheartedly agreed with him. All the things bothering me cleared up after helping somebody else, and I also had the opportunity to listen to Miss Xus lute, so Ipletely agree! Well, the results did grant your wish, huh. Li Yong wryly smiled in response to Yui Meis words. When Yui Mei consulted Li Yong about Xu, the concerns he pointed out ended up being resolved smoothly in the end. One wouldnt know what oue it would be unless he tried first, and theres no point in just talking about things in theory. Looking back, everything that happened after Yui Mei found Xu at the garbage dump actually urred in a very short period of time. However, she felt as if she had been involved with thetter for a very long time. I did something good! Yui Mei was extremely satisfied with the oue. Yui Mei, do you want to search for your happiness in a world that is far wider than this ce? Du said that to Yui Mei out of the blue. Yes? Yui Mei nked out with the abrupt topic, so she turned to Du. He was looking at her with all seriousness. Searching for my happiness, huh Yui Mei pondered about what Dus words could possibly mean. In other words, Du was asking whether he should free Yui Mei just like Xu. She burst out giggling when she realized what he meant. My goodness, what are you saying, Lord Du! I travelled from the bordends, such a far away ce, just toe here, you know? I already know how wide the world is deep in my bones! Besides, happiness might be something thats so near its already just within reach, dont you think so? Yui said that, then she looked straight into Dus eyes. Thats why Im going to grasp my happiness with my own hands. And Ill definitely do my all to be happy. She proudly dered, making Dus eyes go round, and a smile appeared on his face. I see, I see, so thats how it is, huh! Thats happiness, huh! Du looked exhrated at the sudden revtion, when Yui Mei continued on. For now, if todays dinner is my favorite, then todays the best day of my life! I wonder what we will have for dinner~. And yet youre just gonna answer everythings my favorite when ites to food. Yui Mei was busy thinking about her dinner when Li Yong retorted. Hmpf! Even among my favorites, theres something that is my most favorite of all my favorites, enough to die for!! Yui Mei retorted back. Dont you have a favorite thing like a normal person? You dont get it, Lord Li Yong, all the scrumptious dishes we enjoy are simply magnificent! Yui Mei tried to teach Li Yong this great truth, but was only met with exasperation from thetter. Actually, hes quite amazing for having the guts to engage in such meaningless chatter with Yui Mei in front of Du. Du tilted his head in confusion upon listening to their exchange. I wonder who she got this gluttonous personality fromHm? He turned his gaze towards the sky. Yui Meis gaze was also attracted upwards as something white gently floated down. Whoa, its snow!! Hoh, its no wonder its so chilly. Du murmured as he watched Yui Mei stretched her hands in wonder as she tried to grasp the snowkes. It will be the Lunar New Year in a while. And soon, itll be one year since Yui Mei came here. ____ T/N: Hello everyone, this marks thest chapter that I tranted. Xus matter had been wrapped up nicely, and the next chapters will be a new arc for Yui Meis adventures, so I decided to stop here. Thank you so much again for all the love! Stay safe, everyone <3 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!