"Prince consort is back!" Xue Er went up and guided Xiao Taoqi to sit. Xiao Taoqi sighed and started fanned herself with her hand. Feng Jia quickly came to her side and started fanning her.
"What have you guys been up to all day?" Xiao Taoqi looked around the room. Hanged up in a corner was already the distinguished looking wedding attire. Xiao Taoqi frowned.
"Why does it look so serious? I don't like it,"
"What do you mean by it looking serious? It's a dress!" Xue Er laughed. The other maids from the Palace Affairs Bureau looked scandalised. How could...how could Xue Er be making fun of the prince consort?! They immediately went down on their knees.
"Huh?" Xiao Taoqi raised an eyebrow, "what's with you both?"
"That--that-- Head Maid Xue committed an offence-- and we were afraid of your wrath,"
There was silence in the room. Even Feng Jia stopped fanning temporarily. Xue Er and Xiao Taoqi exchanged glances.
"Hem hem," Xiao Taoqi eventually coughed to clear up the atmosphere, "get up, you two. I don't know who you've been serving before this, but I'm not like that."
"Ning Xi, Wang Min," Xue Er addressed them kindly, "the prince consort is a kind mistress. You don't have to be on your toes at all times. Get up,"
"We thank the prince consort for your benevolence!" They kowtowed twice before rising. Xiao Taoqi sighed.
"Your Highness Prince Consort," Nanny Chun entered the room, "an official from the Foods Office is here. She wants to know what your favorite dishes are,"
"Ohh," Xiao Taoqi looked interested, "let her come in,"
Nanny Chun nodded and showed the female official in. She bowed.
"This subordinate greets the crown prince consort-to-be. I am Directress He Haibei, in charge of your highness' meals,"
"You may rise," Xiao Taoqi said to her, "Feng Jia, fetch me ink and paper,"
"Yes, prince consort," Feng Jia laid the fan on the table and left. She returned shortly and she and Xue Er helped spread the paper on the table in the room. Feng Jia quickly started grinding the ink. Xiao Tao Qi got up and picked up the quill with a thoughtful expression.
"I like meat," she said, and then dipped the quill in the ink and wrote several meat dishes on the paper. She added oyster, crab, and other seafoods to the list too. She wrote tofu, and dumplings, hotpot and noodles.
"If this subordinate might be bold," He Haibei asked after collecting the list, "does the prince consort-to-be have any foods you are allergic to?"
"Why do you keep calling her prince consort to be?" Feng Xia entered the room with a frown on her face, her hand on the sword at her hip, "are you hoping she doesn't eventually become the prince consort?"
"Calm, Feng Xia," Xiao Taoqi chuckled, "she's a female official just following proper etiquette. I am not yet the Prince consort after all,"
"Thanks to your highness for understanding this subordinate," He Haibei quickly bowed. Xiao Taoqi meanwhile mused on her question.
"I don't like fish,"
"Prince consort, you aren't allergic to it," Xue Er pointed out.
"But I don't like it. I seriously dislike it. Am I supposed to make a list of things I dislike as well?"
"Perhaps," Directress He looked nervous.
Shrugging, Xiao Taoqi got up and wrote her list of dislikes as well. The female official collected it and bowed as she left. Feng Xia saw her out with a deep frown on her face.
"Xiaxia, what's the matter?" Xiao Taoqi called after her. She reentered the room.
"It's just suspicious, prince consort. His Highness asked me to pay great attention to even small details. I heard you encountered her highness the noble consort today, and now, someone from the He clan is put in charge of something as sensitive as your meals. That is worrying,"
"I'll go report to her majesty," Nanny Chun looked alarmed and spoke up at once. Xiao Taoqi and Feng Xia glared daggers at her. Nanny Chun slapped her mouth immediately.
"I misspoke,"
"I'll inform his Highness," Feng Xia crossed her arms. Xiao Taoqi shrugged.
"There are silver needles, no? The noble consort can't poison me. She has no reason to,"
"She has plenty of reason to. You becoming the crown prince consort and General Xiao being promoted to a Duke gives his Highness a great deal of support and power, sidelining her own son,"
"Who's her son?"
"The third prince, Wang Kangyu,"
"Oh, I see." Xiao Taoqi shrugged again. Feng Xia bowed and left, supposedly to report to Wang Fengli.
"Ahhh," Xiao Taoqi yawned and stretched, "I want to take a nap. Don't disturb me, you all," she got up and made towards the inner chamber. All the maids bowed.
"Wishing your Highness a good rest,"
***
Xiao Taoqi still did not quite understand palace schemes. Therefore, she was pleasantly annoyed at what happened the following day.