Chapter 197: Get It For Me (3) (1/2)
The imperial gardens were huge, and it was in the middle of autumn now. Large fields of chrysanthemum flowers were in bloom, coming in all different varieties and colours. From time to time, a few maidservants would pass through, painting quite the lively, bustling scene.
The Empress Dowager’s Ninghe Palace was quite far from Tingyu Pavilion. Eunuch Sun had mentioned this to her as he lead the way.
However, as they walked down a secluded path through the gardens, Chu Lian didn’t feel like it was a long way off at all. There was much to see, and she freely admired the beautiful view of blooming, multicoloured chrysanthemums around her.
Eunuch Sun pointed out a pavilion not too far from them. “Honoured Lady may rest in that pavilion for a moment.”
Chu Lian nodded and let Eunuch Sun lead them there. This pavilion was also surrounded by chrysanthemum flowers, and the scenery was beautiful. It was indeed a good place to take a short break.
Eunuch Sun stood off to one side and smiled. “Would Honoured Lady like some tea and refreshments? This servant will fetch some, so Honoured Lady may stay in this pavilion and rest for a moment.”
Chu Lian saw that Eunuch Sun was a nice person, so she smiled and shook her head. “There’s no need, gonggong. I’m only sitting here for a short while. Grandmother’s still waiting for me, so it won’t be good to tarry too long.”
Since Chu Lian had already made her refusal clear, Eunuch Sun didn’t leave to fetch any refreshments.
Chu Lian was actually being careful. The palace wasn’t at all like the Jing’an Estate. Anyone she bumped into here could be someone with great authority and power. It was better to keep a low profile. She had almost fallen into someone’s trap just now, so she wasn’t about to risk something else happening.
At least her own maidservants were much more considerate. After that trip to Tingyu Pavilion, she was both physically and mentally tired. While looking over the beautiful flowers, she was indeed a little peckish.
Eunuch Sun had his head lowered as he waited at the side. From the corner of his line of sight, he kept an eye on Honoured Lady Jinyi. Her unperturbed expression hadn’t budged one bit while facing those great personages in Tingyu Pavilion, but now she had a wide grin on her face as she happily took out a small purse from within her wide sleeves and deftly opened it with her slender fingers.
The contents of the purse were a little odd. Honoured Lady Jinyi quickly took out a golden-brown pastry embossed with a fancy pattern of the likes he had never seen before. This pastry was small enough to hold between her two fingers, and she kept a delicate grip on it as her cherry-red lips enclosed around one of the edges.