Lai Cui is a maid who's been working in the Empress's palace for only two years, she went from one of the low concubine's palace to 'work' in the empress's kitchen through one of the Momo who happens to know her mother.
Lai Cui brushes away the the dirt clinging to her dark green skirt, as she finishes putting away the pots and pans. Normally she would be one of the maids to be serving food to the Fourth Prince but after giving him the pastry a few weeks ago she decided to lay low and out of sight.
According to the older maid, the pastry should've been enough to weaken the Fourth Prince until he succumbed to the fever but surprisingly the kid came back from it. The older maid was confused and exasperated but ordered Lai Cui to stay very low profile after the other maid, which she doesn't bother to remember her name, was put to blame. She was a great scapegoat.
Lai Cui's quiet moment was brought to an end when another maid entered the kitchens.
It was Xiao Ru a bubbly nice servant girl, who had a bleeding heart. After seeing Lai Cui's friend whats-her-face die she assumed Lai Cui was depressed and needed a friend.
She wasn't. But that suited Lai Cui well enough.
Once the fourth Prince dies she can earn her money and leave the Imperial city. She can start a new life away from these people and her family.
Xiao Ru cheerfully walked near her as they both started to clean the table.
"Lai Cui, on older momo is asking for you in the courtyard. Are you getting a promotion?"
Lai Cui sneers mentally, " I wish. She probably asking how im doing. She knows my family." She answers.
Xiao Ru nods, " Oh. She's the lady you said that recommended you. Can I go with you?! She seemed to belong in one of the consort's palaces, I want to get recognized too!" Xiu Ru clutched her dirty rag desperately in front of herself.
Lai Cui put her rag down. Cleaning her hands. " Too bad. Im going."
She left Xiao Ru, who is still talking about getting wanting to get noticed by young officials, a weird thing to want.
Why in the world would want to be involved with the rich? All of them are rotten to their core. As long as the rich continue living people like her will never get to breathe easily.
She walked until she met an arc door. A few servants were delivering vegetables and fruits to the Empress's palace. There stood an older servant lady with sharp features.
Once Lai Cui was near her, the older women gave a quick once over.
"Good." Lai Cui had no idea what she meant by that, before she could say anything the older momo spoked. " Here. Use this for headaches, and stomachaches. You said the cold weather was getting too bad for you, and the last herbs weren't working well enough so I brought these instead." She passed a satchel of herbs.
" The last herbs weren't enough to kill, use these instead." Lai Cui interpreted.
She smiled, bowing her thanks. " Thank you. I don't know why the last herbs, weren't doing anything for my symptoms, maybe I'm more immune to it than I expected." Lai Cui smiled innocently.
The older momo tsk loudly, acting almost like an aunty would, Lai Cui thought." None of that. No ones immune to herbs that strengthen your health. Next time be more carefull and be sure that it takes effect. Follow the instructions I wrote on how to make the tea and grind and blend the leaves correctly. These aren't cheap, A-Cui."
Lai Cui internally cringed at the fondness he momo used. But she bowed with a smile and a 'I will!'
Once the momo left and she's alone walking towards her dorm, she curses that old lady. How dare her say that it's her fault that the poison didn't kill that sickly child. And have the audacity to threaten her with the cost too! Rich bastards!
Once she got to her room she puts the satchel on her desk and opens it. The herbs are dried and easily breakable, it smells foreign to her, after all she never grew up around these herbs before, plus she was meant only to put the food in treats not to determine what they are.
Now how does she get close enough to the prince to give him the laced treat without being suspicious. She thinks for a few minutes when her door opens revealing Xiao Ru and her charismatic loud self.
Hmmm.
"Hey Xiao Ru have you ever gotten close to the Fourth Prince?"
Xiao ru doesn't look from tidying up her fly away hairs. "A few times, before he got sick. He actually used to shyly seek me out cause I'm the best at playing marbles with him." She exclaimed proudly. " Such a cute shy prince-actually why do you ask?" She looked back. Fully trusting eyes staring at Lai Cui disinterested ones.
Lai Cui looks at her satchel. "I just been think the boy's been pretty sad lately. Don't you think? We should bake him something to make him smile again."
Xiao Ru blinks before gasps, snapping her fingers together " Oh! What didn't I think of that?! Yeah. But we shouldn't do the last pastry that got him sick, something much more common and sweeter." She started listing of common pastries that children always seem to like.
Lai Cui interrupted her before she went off on a tangent again. "We should give it to him during the Empress' assembly with the concubines tomorrow. He'll be busy, and the kid would have a break."
Xiao Ru nodded, still going on about wether to make cookies or small cakes with filled with bean paste. No matter what she chooses Lai Cui would have a hand on making it, of course in small amounts first. Just enough to get him sick again. No one will question the fourth prince getting sick for who knows how many times now, not even the Empress much less the Emperor.
She walks out with Xiao Ru in tow and head to the kitchens, satchel on hand.