The east and west sections of the Kunning Palace were set aside exclusively for Empress Qian's maids to rest in rotation.The Empress and the Imperial Noble Concubine ranked the highest in the imperial harem. Thus, their servants were different from the inferior concubines' maids, who had to seek residences outside the Palace after their shifts.Sulian rushed to the west side room with the reporting maid. Before she entered the door, she could hear a faint weep floating from inside.Sulian pushed the door open and went in.The room was not big and its furnishings were plain. Nonetheless, it was neat and tidy. On the east side, two narrow beds were set side by side. Yanwan was lying on the inner bed, sobbing quietly with her face against the wall.Two other maids were sitting on the bed edge, muttering as if to comfort Yanwan. Seeing Sulian arrive with a servant, they hurriedly got up and curtsied."Leave u

The dawn had broken. It was morning again.After breakfast, Gu Yunxi and Qinger left Master's Mansion and hung around on the street.Getting up early, Gu Yunxi tried to make Jiaozhu Pear Curd again. She added a little salt and alkali powder to the well water, trying to imitate the saltiness of Liyu. Unfortunately, in the end, the curd steamed out of the oven was like a pulp, unable to be solidified.Thus, her try turned out to be a failure again.Distracted, Gu Yunxi asked Qinger to change to men's clothes and accompany her to take a stroll on the street.Walking across one street after another, every time she passed a restaurant or a teahouse, Gu Yunxi would ask the shopkeeper whether Liyu was sold here.Anyone who heard this shook his head. Some even regarded Gu Yunxi and her maid as abnormal, casting strange eyes on them.Liyu (pear blossom rain), its literal meaning referred to the spring

Gu Yunxi held a jar of Liyu tightly and rushed back to Sanqing Hall to find Qinger.Half the way, she found Qinger arguing with a little boy Taoist. Qinger said the Pengxian Temple was not decent because they kidnapped people. She demanded the boy servant to give her Lord back. A lot of people gathered around and discussed it.While Gu Yunxi was going through the crowd, Qinger already kicked the boy Taoist, and he fell on the ground."How can you kick people?"The boy Taoist was furious and feeling wronged. But he didn't know Kungfu, so he just sat on the ground and cried.Qinger was relentless. When she was about to step forward, someone grabbed her arm.She looked back. It was Gu Yunxi."Lord! Why did you come back so late?!"Qinger immediately turned happy, but she was extremely worried at the same time. Qinger reached out and grabbed Gu Yunxi instead. She saw Gu Yunxi holding

Gu Yunxi slowly opened her eyes. Cascading from the sandalwood canopy bed, into her vision the lavender drape fell, through which golden candlelight glimmered.It was already nightfall."Lady, you wake up?"Qinger stood by the bed and saw Gu Yunxi's thick eyelashes flutter and then part open. She quickly rubbed her eyes and came to her Lady with a teacup in her hands as she asked gently,"Have you slept well? What would you like to eat? I'll inform the kitchen.""Yunxi!"Xiao Xiaoshen had been waiting at her bedside. Seeing her sitting up, he jumped from the stool to the bed edge and hurriedly held her hand.Gu Yunxi was surprised to see him at first, but then it occurred to her that the Honor Guards had withdrawn from the Eastern Depot to the Palace. With the curfew lifted, the guards could move freely."You came…"Gu Yunxi gazed at Xiao Xiaoshen's handsome face calm

Leng Qingtang cast his gaze on Gu Yunxi, whose face took on an astonished expression. There was more seriousness in his voice."Where exactly did you go that day?""I was bored so I went to the market with Qinger..."Gu Yunxi whispered. A trace of panic flashed through her eyes and was caught by Leng Qingtang's eyes sharp as a falcon.They opened wide yet remained dark and calm, shining coldly.Gu Yunxi lowered her eyes unnaturally at the redness in the Master's palm."Where did you find it?""A servant picked up this morning in the yard. You were too careless..."Without raising her head, she could hear the hint of coldness in the Master's unruffled and bland voice. He stretched his arm, motioning her to come closer.Gu Yunxi was nervous, aware of her lie. Her eyelashes quivered as she approached him like an obedient puppet. Then he held up her right hand and stroked