Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 474: Familiarity

Meanwhile, Dong Xue had been assigned to run errands, traveling back and forth between the Bureau of Palace Attendants and the Weaving Bureau among other places, carrying different items each time, just like this occasion.

She was walking towards Canglan Court with a eunuch, holding a set of exquisite porcelain in her hands—a complete new set of matching cups, bowls, and tea dishes, specifically requested by Nanny Qi for Master Lian’s use.

"Thank you, Brother Xia Lei, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have known how to bring these back," Dong Xue gratefully said to the eunuch beside her.

The eunuch named Xia Lei gave a simple smile, "Why be so formal with thanks? You are called Dong Xue, and I am Xia Lei. Dong Xue and Xia Lei—we are like family and should help each other as such."

His appearance was honest, which involuntarily added a layer of trustworthiness to him.

Dong Xue felt even more grateful, "Brother Xia Lei, you are truly kind."

Such good people were rare in the palace; Brother Xia Lei had helped her several times. He even set aside his own tasks to assist her this time, and considering the distance to Canglan Court, she really didn’t know how to properly thank him.

Thinking about his tasks, Dong Xue hesitantly asked, "Are you sure it’s okay to neglect your duties?"

Xia Lei laughed heartily, "It’s fine. You know my place is usually quiet, and I’ve asked someone to watch over it for me. There won’t be any problems. Besides, this set of porcelain is precious, and it’s the only set left in the warehouse. We can’t afford to break it. Helping you is helping myself, haha, don’t worry about it."

Upon hearing this, Dong Xue felt much relieved. She recalled a past incident when she had been all flustered and her face began to turn slightly red as she playfully said, "Brother Xia Lei, you are making fun of me..."

Xia Lei, a eunuch from the Bureau of Palace Attendants, was in charge of the Porcelain Warehouse, where all bowls, cups, and tea sets were collected from.

Their connection began when she was first tasked to collect a soup bowl. It was her first time receiving it from another eunuch, but just as she turned to leave, she hadn’t seen the person coming and suddenly bumped into Xia Lei, who was coming on duty. The soup bowl was not secured and fell to the ground, shattering immediately.

She became anxious. In the palace, no matter what was taken, everything was accounted for, recorded in the ledger regarding what was taken, by whom, issued by whom, and how much—it was all clearly documented.

Influenced by Xia Liu at Canglan Court, she had always been very cautious, fearing making a mistake and being punished. She had been doing well until this minor task unexpectedly went awry, and she couldn’t help but panic.

It was Brother Xia Lei who noticed her distress and took all the responsibility upon himself. He used his own silver to compensate for the loss and helped her obtain another one. He even spoke to the eunuch who had initially issued the bowl, pretending it had not been broken and didn’t need to be recorded, claiming he had accidentally broken it while tidying the warehouse.

That incident helped her get through the trouble.

From that moment on, the two of them grew familiar with each other.

This time, seeing that she had many items to carry and that they were valuable, Brother Xia Lei personally delivered them.

Xia Lei laughed heartily, as if teasing Dong Xue was a very joyful matter.

After a while, seeing that Dong Xue’s complexion had calmed a bit, he casually asked, "The porcelain items previously collected for Canglan Court were all quite ordinary and plain. What happened this time?"

Over the past couple of years, the items Master Lian in Canglan Court obtained were almost the worst among those used in the palace, even though they were merely common items even after receiving favor. Therefore, this occasion was truly puzzling.

Dong Xue shook her head, "I also do not know. It was Nanny Qi who requested it. Perhaps she felt that Master Lian had been living too modestly and wanted a change."

The items used in Canglan Court were significantly inferior compared to those in the Star Palace, where items like porcelain were all precious and the best available in the palace. Of course, only His Majesty could afford such standards.

"I see..." Xia Lei nodded, agreeing, "Master Lian indeed has been frugal. By the way, how did that soup bowl work out?"

Dong Xue said, "Not yet, it’s been sitting unused."

"Is it not good enough?" Xia Lei asked tentatively. "Should we replace it with something more valuable today? It would be more pleasing to Master Lian."

"That’s not the case, Master Lian has never been particular about these things." Dong Xue, feeling a bit of soreness in her hand, shifted her hold and continued, "No need to change it. Nanny Qi didn’t ask for a change, and replacing it would likely upset her. Besides, it’s too late now. Just before I came out, I saw they had already started simmering the bird’s nest soup. Once it’s ready, I’ll bring it to Master Lian."

"That’s good then. I thought Master Lian didn’t like it, haha, then it’s my fault for not handling it well."

"How could I blame you? If anyone, it’s my fault..."

The two of them walked back, talking and carrying things, until they were a short distance from Canglan Court, where Xia Lei stopped apologetically.

He said with some regret, "I can only take you this far. It may not be appropriate for me to enter Canglan Court, and I don’t want to cause you any trouble..."

Dong Xue hurriedly responded, "No need, no need, this is enough. Thank you, Brother Xia Lei, for your consideration."

"Oh, what’s there to thank me for, just doing my duty."

Xia Lei, aligning what he carried with what was in Dong Xue’s hands, arranged everything properly, "Hold on tight, take it slow."

Dong Xue took them firmly with both hands, and only after she had a solid grip, did he let go, again instructing, "It’s not far from here, better to walk slowly, there’s no need to rush. Once you reach the main gate, let someone help you with it. Be careful, understand?"

"Mm, got it, Brother Xia Lei, you really are like my brother." Dong Xue replied with a smile brimming with warmth in her heart.

Although both she and Sister Xia Liu shared the surname Xia, the feeling he gave her was different. Xia Lei truly cared for her like a brother, giving her a warm feeling, even more intimate than Sister Xia Liu, and as for Sister Xia Liu...

Xia Lei smiled warmly, reaching out to pat her head, "Then consider me your brother. Go on, I’ll watch you head back."

Dong Xue acknowledged and turned towards Canglan Court. After walking a great distance, she looked back and saw Xia Lei still there, and couldn’t help but smile brightly.

Xia Lei also smiled and nodded to her, and she turned back to continue walking.

Only when she disappeared from his sight did Xia Lei’s smile fade.

Under the shade of the trees, his expression turned somewhat cold, his eyes harboring an emotion difficult to read, with a cup lid still hidden in his hand...

Inside Canglan Court, Lian Hua was smiling broadly, hands behind her back, wandering around with Xiao Qing, continuously nodding her head.

Nanny Qi had driven her out, and was now directing the arrangement of the Side Hall.

Walking around those grounds, she felt some pain for the crops there.

In past years, she and Xiao Qing would bury the crop stalks in the mud, waiting for them to decompose, enriching the soil for the next year, even better than using manure—this was what Xiao Qing had told her, and it indeed was so.

Seeing her feeling sorry, Xiao Qing pointed to those grounds and asked, "Master, aren’t we planting peach, apricot, and pear trees here next spring? And over there, Plum Blossom and osmanthus trees?"

Lian Hua then remembered, clapping her hands, "Right, right, we should have cleared this area earlier, I forgot earlier. Keeping it here is useless, it doesn’t fertilize the grass anymore."