The place Jinshi led her to was the Palace Official Chief's room.
The middle-aged court lady withdrew from the room with Jinshi's directions.
She honestly wanted to say. It was completely impossible to be alone in the same room as this living being.
Even Maomao didn't hate pretty things.
It's just that she couldn't forgive that he is excessively pretty, she felt that tiny flaw was like a sin. It was just like a polished gem with just a hairline fracture having its value halved.
That is why whenever she interacts with him, she ends up looking at him like an insect that crawls on the ground.
There was nothing she could do about it.
(I want to interact with him like he is someone to appreciate.)
This was the lower middle class Maomao's real intention.
She was relieved when Gaoshun came in to replace the court lady.
Recently, the taciturn attendant was in the process of becoming the healing type.
"How many colours are there for these?"
He lined up the powders taken from the medical office.
"There's red, yellow, blue, purple, and green. If you make a fine distinction, there are more. I don't know the specific number."
"Then, what can we do about those colours on the wooden slips?"
It was impossible to strike it when it was in the form of powder. It will be weird whatever the circumstances.
"If it's salt, it can only be added to salt water. I think this too can be done the same way."
She put away the white powder.
"The other ones look like they can be removed with something other than water. This too, is outside my expertise, so I don't know."
"It's good enough."
The young man crossed in arms, deep in thought.
Just this would paint a picture.
She knew that Jinshi seized various things from inside the Inner Palace.
The things Maomao said just now have become the basis for something, it seems the scattered pieces of information was becoming connected in his head.
(A cipher…I wonder?)
The answer she reached would likely be the same. However, Maomao repeatedly acknowledged that it should not be said.
The pheasant would not be shot but for its cries.
As she would not be needed beyond this, she was going to leave,
"Wait."
She was called to a halt.
"What do you require?"
"I like dobin mushi."
There was no need to say, "of what?"
(I just knew I've been caught.)
Dropping her shoulders,
"I'll go look for some tomorrow as well."
She told him.
○●○
When he affirmed that the door closed with a click, Jinshi stopped his sweet, honey smile. Instead, his gaze became crystal sharp.
"Look for people who have recently bore burns on their arm. For the time being, investigate the ones with rooms and upwards, and their attached lady's maids as well."
"By your will."
When Gaoshun withdrew, the Palace Official Chief entered.
"Thank you very much. For always lending me your place."
"T,there's no problem."
She blushed in spite of her age.
Jinshi was again smiling, expression like heavenly nectar.
Nevertheless, he should be like this to women.
For only just a moment his lips pursed, and he left the room, the smile back to the usual.
○●○
"Okay, try wearing this."
Infa, her maid senior, held out brand-new clothes to Maomao.
The colours were unbleached white for the tunic, pale red for the skirt and the sleeves were a pale yellow, and reached out larger than usual.
Though it wasn't silk, it was made from high quality cotton.
"What is, this?"
Though the colours were appropriately plain for a maidservant, it wasn't a design for practical use. Furthermore, they were clothes that opened up widely at the breast area, Maomao having never worn such clothes, made a clearly reluctant expression.
"What, you say. It's the outfit for the Garden Party."
"The Garden Party?"
Maomao, who was completely doted upon her maid senior's favour, besides tasting for poison and making medicine every day, ran about outside harvesting medicinal plants, chattered with Shaoran and had tea at the medical office. Therefore, she had heard little about the topic of the elite.
Infa, with a look of amazement, informed Maomao, who tilted her head.
About the opening of high society at the imperial court garden twice a year.
The emperor, who doesn't have an empress, will bring along Primary First Class Consorts. The court ladies who serve those consorts will also accompany.
In the Inner Palace, Consort Gyokuyou was crowned the "Noble Consort", and Consort Rifa the "Able Consort."
Aside from those two, including the "Virtuous Consort" and the "Pure Consort", they are the Four Consorts. They make up the Primary First Rank.
Originally, only the "Virtuous Consort" and the "Pure Consort" was supposed to attend the Winter Garden Party. However, as Consort Gyokuyou and Consort Rifa were absent last time due to having just given birth, it was made that all of them will attend this time.
"All of them attend, you say?"
"Indeed, we'd better be mindful."
That was the reason for Infa's pride.
Even at the best of times, on top of the rare chance to go outside the Inner Palace, it was a loaded event with Princess Rinrii's debut and the high-ranked Consorts appearing together.
For the sake of Consort Gyokuyou, who had few maids, Maomao had no way of turning it down for reasons of being unaccustomed to it. She knew that a food taster would be highly regarded, especially for that sort of public location.
(Bloodshed might happen.)
Maomao's intuition hit the mark.
She hit the troubling matter.
"It would be better if we padded the breast area a little. Would it be okay if we also enlarge the butt area?"
"I'll leave it to you."
Infa, tightening the belt with a squeeze, adjusting the height of the skirt and length of the sleeves, again moved in with a finishing blow.
"You should properly put on make-up too. You should occasionally put in some effort in hiding your freckles."
It goes without saying she returned a stiff smile to Infa, who was grinning widely.