It seemed that this woman would not tell her.
So there was no need to talk anymore. Li Baojia could only say, "If...if she is sent back or something else, remember to keep her for me. I will come back again."
Seeing that Li Baojia did not make things difficult for her, that woman did not refuse and repeatedly nodded in agreement.
Then she asked, "Where do you live? If that girl is sent back as you said, I'll send her to you."
She wanted to inquire about the identity of Li Baojia.
However, Li Baojia was alert and said, "When the time comes, just bring her to the house of Assistant Minister Zhang."
Although Li Baojia was unwilling, she could do nothing else now.
And when they walked out of the alley, she said to Taotao, "You go find out whether there has been a new maid with a crescent birthmark on her neck in other families in Imperial City recently."
Although it was not always possible to know, they might be lucky enough to find her.
Taotao nodded.
When the woman inside saw that Li Baojia was far away, she looked around and opened a small door on the left before going in.
There was a dark and narrow room inside. A few people were in that room, and one of them looked up. From the light from the doorway, the crescent birthmark on her neck was clearly visible.
The woman circled her twice. "You don't look special, but you have a good fate. Several noble people want you."
The girl raised her head. "Besides Miss Su, who else?"
The woman checked to make sure there was no problem. Then she patted her sleeve and intended to go out. "You do not need to know this. You will go to the Grand Preceptor's Hall in a few days. Don't forget me when you live a good life."
After saying this, she went out and locked the door. But Yueya, who was still inside the room, clenched her fist and pulled at the corner of her mouth.
She thought, "Live a good life?"
It was possible if she really went there to be a maid and serve a kind person.
But this was not the case.
She laughed at herself and leaned against the pillar behind her with her eyes closed.
The East Palace.
In the past, Li Baojia would be there at dawn.
Zhao Yi had woken up early today. But it was almost noon, and Li Baojia still had not arrived.
Seeing Zhao Yi's gradually darkened face, Huang Gao, who stood at the entrance of the hall, broke out in a sweat.
Earlier, an imperial court maid had gone in to pour tea but spilled a drop on the case file, and His Highness had someone drag her away immediately.
Huang Gao gently closed the door of the hall and instructed the guard standing next to him, "Go to the palace entrance to see if anyone is coming."
Huang Gao thought, "Could it be that the last incident scared Miss Baojia away?"
"Or was she stopped at the door?"
He was anxious and said inwardly, "Oh my! Miss Baojia is too easily frustrated. Things are just getting better. Has she decided to give up?"
After all, they, the servants, would be the ones to suffer if His Highness was unhappy.
Not long after, the guard came back. "Mr. Huang, there is no one at the door."
Huang Gao sighed and called the guard over, quietly whispering to him again.
After a while, he went in to change the ink for Zhao Yi.
Zhao Yi read the documents while saying, "What a waste of time."
Huang Gao smiled, pretending not to hear.
After all, it was difficult to get His Highness to take the initiative.
And Miss Baojia was a shy girl.
His Highness rarely treated women differently, so he must work hard to have a crown princess for the East Palace.
After all, he knew better than anyone what the women in the East Palace were like.
He was unsure if the crown prince could have a child by relying on those women.
But he quickly dismissed those thoughts.
He thought to himself, "Of course, His Highness will have children. His future life will certainly be harmonious and full of kids."
Zhao Yi pretended not to hear his irreverent thoughts and kept writing without changing his expression.
The Su family's house.
Su Ruhui was waiting at the side door of the Su family's house. The maid beside her comforted her and said, "Something may be delayed today. It's almost lunchtime. Let's go back and wait."
Su Ruhui shook her head and clenched her hand. If it were any other day, she would not be so nervous if the letter had not arrived.
But it was an important period for the selection of the crown princess and concubine. So she was a little uneasy when the letter had yet to arrive.
As she was deep in thought, the maid beside her looked happily out the door. "Here it comes, Miss!"
She looked out and saw a familiar figure approach. That person seemed a little afraid of being seen and walked as close to the wall as possible.
He was tall with a curtain cap on his head, wearing the uniform of the East Palace guard. The uniform was red with a blue waistband. He had a sword in his hand, and the passage token hanging on his waist could be vaguely seen when he walked.
When he reached the door, Su Ruhui breathed a sigh of relief and reached out. "Where is the letter?"
The guard paused momentarily and reached out to take a yellow envelope from his sleeve.
Su Ruhui took the letter and excitedly rubbed the edge of the letter with her fingers. "Ye Kang, thank you."
Ye Kang's expression under the curtain cap was unclear, but he finally bowed and said, "Duty calls."
Su Ruhui turned her head to ask Chunzhi to take some rewarding silver while carefully holding the letter and walking back.
On the way, Chunzhi laughed. "I told you that His Highness would not break his promise. You will be in great favor when you enter the East Palace. Is there anyone else who can go beyond you?"
Su Ruhui's smile at this time was a bit sincere. "I don't care if I'll be in favor. I'm satisfied as long as His Highness has a place for me in his heart."
The two went into the inner room. Chunzhi and another maid, Moli, closed the door and windows before Su Ruhui sat at the table and carefully took out the letter.
A few big words were written on the cover of the envelope. "To Ruhui (private)."
She pursed her lips and smiled happily. Then she opened the envelope and pulled out the letter to read it word by word.
"Ruhui,
"The last time you mentioned entering the imperial palace, but I can't give you a definite answer at this time.
"After all, I am the crown prince, so this matter is no longer a family matter for me alone. If I am not the crown prince, I'll be satisfied having you with me for all my life, and no one can interfere with this.
"I have been very busy recently due to the drought in Jiangnan, so I will correspond every two months. Don't worry."
Su Ruhui was anxious when she saw the first few lines, but after seeing those soothing words and sweet phrases at the end of the letter, she gradually felt relieved.
She turned the letter over, and there was a bookmark at the back. It was a small leaf with a beautiful figure vividly carved on it.
Su Ruhui turned this leaf over and over many times before carefully putting it into a book.
Then she put the letter into the envelope and turned her head to indicate Chunzhi to take out a small sandalwood box with a lock from the top of the bookcase.
She opened the box, inside of which was a thick stack of letters. Those at the bottom of the box seemed to have yellowed over time.
Chunzhi was a bit worried. "Miss, how long does His Highness want to delay? You have reached the age of marriage. I think His Highness is too cautious. With his status as the crown prince, it doesn't matter even if he married you first."
Su Ruhui explained as she put the letters away. "His Highness naturally has his considerations. I believe him."
She carefully touched the pile of letters, and her fingers traced over the covers, one after another.
Her eyes were full of love. "It is because of His Highness's identity that he and I have to be like this."