The next day
Su Rong walked up the stairs to the Tearoom as usual with a bowl of water. Yesterday, Hui Lan had been up since midnight until the candles were put out. She wondered if Hui Lan would be up this morning or not…
As she walked up the stairs, Su Rong's ears twitched as she could hear the change of wind currents from behind her. However, unlike other times, this particular wind current would be much closer to the Tearoom. This time, it occurred very distantly…
...Hm? The Emperor's shadow guard was all the way back there…why was that? Did they think that Hui Lan was so sick that she could do anything?
...But that was also good, they would not have to worry if the Emperor would overhear them. Moreover, they have also dropped their guard on her friend
...Hui Lan should know about this, she'd be happy to hear it.
With a winner's smile on Su Rong's face, she went to knock on the door and called, "Niang Niang."
"You can come in." Hui Lan's voice seeped through the doors.
Su Rong did not expect to hear Hui Lan's voice reply to her right after she called. Usually, it would take 2-3 times these days before there would be a response from Hui Lan. Nevertheless, Su Rong quickly replied, "Oh alright, I'm coming in!"
In no time, Su Rong had walked inside and closed the door behind her. She walked over to Hui Lan and placed the water bowl beside the lady who was reading some books with a boiling teapot on the side.
Hui Lan's room had a faint smell of herbs that were never there before and with the tea that was boiling, the entire room felt very soothing to the heart.
Meanwhile, the owner of the room was busy taking down notes and reading the book that was on the table. While reading one book, there were piles of books on the table and on the floor beside her.
Looking at how much Hui Lan was reading, Su Rong could not help but become slightly concerned, "Hui Lan ah, did you sleep last night?"
"Hm, I did. I just got up an hour ago and I just want to finish this last book." Hui Lan spoke while her hand was still busy writing down her notes.
"Ah? You've already finished reading all those books!?" Su Rong's eyes widened in startlement.
Again Hui Lan did not leave her eyes from what she was doing and simply replied, "En."
Su Rong's lips parted slowly as Hui Lan replied so lightheartedly. If she was Hui Lan and had to read those books, she would have taken an entire month at least!
...If master saw a person like Hui Lan, then he would definitely regard Hui Lan as his favourite student. Tch, that old man only liked those bookworms and those like her that preferred using our strength would always get told off.
Su Rong looked at Hui Lan and shook her head slightly.
Just then, a flutter of wings came from the window. Su Rong looked up and indeed it was their small snowy owl.
Su Rong's face became slightly disgusted by what she was seeing.
In that small beak of his, there was a long thin creature that was unconscious in its beak. Su Rong could not help but take a big gulp down as she saw the small owl begin to eat it.
...Ah, that bird was something ah. Eating a snake for breakfast!? Ew!
Not long, Hui Lan closed the book with a thud. She then dropped herself carefreely onto the soft quilt behind her.
...Ah, she was already done!
However, while lying down on the bed, she could see Su Rong looking at something with a disgusted face.
...Eh?
Slowly, Hui Lan turned to the direction that Su Rong was looking at and immediately she wanted to curse out loud.
...Ah! That Xiao Mao was swallowing down something that looked like a snake...no, it was definitely a snake.
She had turned just in time to see the tail of the snake disappear in that little throat of his. Quickly, Hui Lan closed her eyes but that picture was already engraved in her mind.
"Ahem," Su Rong looked at Hui Lan who must have been terrified by that picture, so she quickly diverted the attention to another topic, "There is some good news for you too, the Emperor's shadow guard is no longer close to us anymore. You wouldn't have to worry too much about it."
Hui Lan turned to look at Su Rong blankly. However, after digesting what Su Rong had said, she nodded.
"Also, do you want to announce that your condition is better?" Su Rong carefully asked. Before, whenever Hui Lan had gotten sick and whenever she got better, she would always let the Palace know so that she would not be seen as slacking off her duties. However, the Hui Lan now…
"Why bother? No one will take notice anyway. Oh, but have you got what I asked you to fetch for me?" Hui Lan smiled with a cunning smile on.
Su Rong pursed her lips slightly before slowly taking out a light purple outer robe in front of Hui Lan, "You're really going to go out like this?" The light purple dress was none other than the Empress's court lady's outfits.
Hui Lan took the clothes for a better look, "Hm, that's right! I'll be back." Hui Lan then quickly went behind the blinds and got changed. In no time, she came looking just like how Su Rong dressed.
"Woa, miss. Why are you wearing just the same clothes as the other lady ah?" Xiao Mao's voice asked while flying to the Tea table to find his place.
Hui Lan looked at Xiao Mao and shook her head. This fella truly made this place his home ah.
"I'm going out." Hui Lan spoke while making her way towards a long mirror that showed her full body.
...Hm, doesn't look bad at all.
She turned around and spoke to Su Rong, "Do you also have the Royal Physician's prescription with you?"
To that, Su Rong brought out a piece of paper from her sleeves, "En."
"Nice, then we are all set." Hui Lan revealed a small smile. To that Su Rong went behind Hui Lan to tie Hui Lan's hair like hers; a simple plait ponytail.
"Yawnn, what are you doing, miss?" Xiao Mao's sleepy voice rang in Hui Lan's head.
Hui Lan turned her head slightly towards Xiao Mao as Su Rong was still doing her hair, "I'll be going out. You go get some good sleep and let your tummy digest your food."
"Hmm, it was really good food today and it was so fresh!" Xiao Mao spoke in a small daze as he spoke of the food he had just eaten.
Hui Lan could only smile dryly and watch Xiao Mao fall asleep.
...Tut tut, that little owl.
Just at that time, Su Rong was also finished with making Hui Lan's hair, "Alright, your hair is done, but your face…"
Hui Lan smiled, "Don't worry, I've got it." In the light purple dress, Hui Lan walked over to the sit on the table to put on some makeup.
Looking down at the different colours and pots of makeup in front of her and contemplated. Usually, the Empress would wear light makeup and sometimes an overly white makeup for the celebrations.
However, she'll just do her makeup in another style. Immediately, Hui Lan reached for the pot of makeup that had an ink-black cream on it and began making her masterpiece.
.
.
.
From the tearoom, Su Rong could be seen walking out from the Tearoom with the water bowl and the doors were closed again. She went down to the guards and spoke a few words with them before leaving. The two guards then went to up to half the staircase and stood on guard on anyone that wanted to come.
From afar, Yi Qin watched as the Empress's court lady walked out from the door. Seeing there was nothing else, he went back to his cover and hid in his place.
Su Rong walked around to a corner that the shadow guard would not see and just then a figure in light purple dress jumped from the window of the Tearoom.
"Woah, Su Rong, where did you learn to jump from that high?" In fact, the person that came out from the Tearoom was not the Empress's court lady, but the Empress herself. Meanwhile, Su Rong had waited until Hui Lan had passed the corner where no one would see them and jumped down.
Su Rong simply brushed her clothes and turned to look at her friend that was looking at her with admiring eyes, "Haven't you seen me jump so many times already ah?"
"Nevermind that, you'll have to teach me one day. I should learn everything!" Before coming here, she was a master and her martial arts skills were top-notch, but when coming into another body, what were her skills if her foundations were weak? She would have to start everything from the basics!
"But are you sure you want to go out looking like that?" Su Rong felt slightly tired in her heart. Look at what this good friend of hers did to her own face ah?
Hui Lan giggled, "Why? You haven't seen me this beautiful in your entire life?"
Su Rong could not help but quease, "You ah, you still have the confidence to talk like that with that face of yours?"
"Sure! In real life, I'm an angel, what is there to fear?" Sure thing that Hui Lan was beautiful in person, but the cover-up that Hui Lan did to her beautiful face was truly unbelievable.
On the once pretty face of hers, different kinds of moles were positioned all over her. Moreover, the moles were drawn so naturally that they did not even look fake! It was not that having moles were not pretty, but the positions that this friend of hers drew onto her own face was truly admiring for a young lady!
It was simply too much to take knowing that she is the Empress of this country ah!
Hui Lan gave an 'I don't care' face to Su Rong and simply walked away. Hui Lan could only walk away for a brief moment when a familiar figure was walking to her way.
As if seeing a ghost, she ran and hid behind Su Rong's back immediately.
Su Rong watched from the other figure to Hui Lan and almost laughed out loud if it weren't for her years of practice of keeping her emotions in.
As the person was approaching closer, Su Rong went ahead and greeted, "Royal Physician Jin, why are you here today?"
Physician Jin almost wanted to drop his ears in disbelief. Unlike other times where Su Rong would talk to him coldly, this time her voice was as sweet as a lily bud.
Even Hui Lan who was lowering her head behind Su Rong could not help but look at Su Rong's back. This young girl was truly something ah.
"I would like to talk to the Empress about the red bottle, is she awake yet?" Physician Jin spoke in a hurry.
"Ah?" Su Rong tilted her head slightly and revealed a cute side of her unknowingly to the other person, "What to do ah, physician Jin, Niang Niang has locked herself in because she said she wanted to rest. You'll have to come tomorrow instead."
Physician Jin was slightly in a daze without knowing.
The next thing he knew was that Su Rong was calling his name, "...Royal Physician Jin!? Third Prince Shen Fu Jin!?"
All he could do to reply was, "Oh, is that so?"
"Absolutely yes, now, I think you should leave."
Seeing the Royal Physician still standing put in his place, Su Rong did not even wait and left. The court lady that was standing behind her also followed suit.
"Ah?" The Physician was speechless. Was he just chased out?
He turned around confusedly to the lady that had just left him standing there alone.
...This…?
...Usually, it would be people inviting him, but she, she just pushed him away like that!?
His answer would be nothing but yes because he was truly not invited today.
However, since the Empress had received the Dragon's blood, then she would have to be better and not rest? Or was it merely because Niang Niang just wanted to rest? Sigh, the Empress was not someone who could be understood that easily either.
He would just have to leave for now and come back tomorrow as she said.
Meanwhile, Hui Lan followed behind Su Rong quietly. She turned around slightly to give a quick peek at the Physician Jin who was standing in the same place.
...He must have come to talk about the Dragon Blood. If so, then she would have to ask Feng Furen what to say when she meets the middle-aged lady...
Su Rong took Hui Lan on different kinds of routes in the Palace through many doors and guards until they finally reached the last gate. Su Rong had been the only person talking and reporting to the guards on what errands they were going out for.
They were both at the last gate when lines of officials in royal blue official robes were walking in lines to get out of the palace. In the lead, a tall handsome man was leading the officials behind. It was more like he was walking alone rather than anyone following him.
Nevertheless, he did not seem to mind the world around him and was merely leisurely.
Hui Lan could hear all the officials' noises that were coming from afar and took a small glance. However, who would have thought that her eyes would fall on the one person in purplish red robes and was walking alone.
...First Prince, Shen Min Tian?
She had gone through some readings about this prince, but all that was written was that he was a carefree prince and was the passed Emperor Shen Ge's beloved son. Nevertheless, he did not seem to like what the books wrote him to be.
He looked more or less like a very cunning young lad. Unless it was just for the world outside to understand him as otherwise. In the end, she simply collected some more details and looked away. Both she and Su Rong were now heading towards a small door that was where the servants would go through.
Although the other person had looked away, the first prince glanced to the direction of the person that had been looking at him a moment ago. Seeing that it was no one else but two court ladies, he merely looked away without looking.
Just as Su Rong was about to walk out, a guard that was twice as size as he stopped her and Hui Lan.
"Who are you two?" The guard spoke in his intimidating voice.
Su Rong who was a good speaker spoke swiftly, "Ai, ge ge, can't you see we're from the Empress' palace? Niang Niang needs some herbs from outside the palace and I was told to get some of these herbs according to the Royal Physician Jin's order." Su Rong brought out the piece of paper that she had prepared and showed it to the guard.
The guard leaned closer to look at the piece of paper, but he then returned to his normal position and spoke, "So what if it was a piece of prescription paper? That does not mean you can go outside the palace?"
Su Rong furrowed her brows. Usually, the security was not this tight in the palace. Unlike other times, she would be able to get out.
Feeling the abnormality of the situation, Hui Lan spoke up while keeping her head lowered, "Ge ge, does that mean that you want the Empress to be gravely ill?" Hui Lan's question was simply referring that the guard had ill intentions towards the Empress.
Understanding such implications from the girl's words, he could not help but raise, "You!?" Causing everyone near the area to look at their direction.
Even the aloof first prince had also turned to look in the direction of the noise.
Without any fear, Hui Lan smirked before speaking again, "If you send us back, then it might go to the Royal Physician Jin and then…" Her voice trailed off, but she did not have to finish her sentence.
The court lady's voice was not too loud or too quiet, but for those with good martial skills, one would be able to hear it even though it was some distance away. Hearing her words, first prince Min Tian's lips became slightly hooked up.
...Although she was right that there was a possibility that this guard would receive punishment from the higher-ups, but did she not know her own Lady? The Empress was renowned to be the pushover of the palace, but this girl was too naive.
The guard raised his voice to cover the fear that he felt, "Do you think by bringing in the higher-ups and you'll get whatever you want? In your dreams!"