Volume 3, Chapter 6: Wild Strawberries (1/2)

There are always a lot of dark subjects in this world, Maomao thought. She had thought of it as she sat on the boxes behind the laundry area.

It doesnt seem like Shaoran will come today, and since Maomao didnt have much work to do even if she went back, she decided to kill some time. She had thought about going to the medical office to sponge off snacks from the quack doctor, but he seemed busy for these couple of days, wrapped up into something troubling, so she didnt. As for what is troubling, it was that perfume oil incident.

On the incident from the other day, Jinshi left for the other consorts place. Thereupon, he learnt that the maids had bought a lot from the caravans.

(Not like I dont understand.)

Were they imported goods from far away, from over the deserts, over the seas, over the mountains, it would be given that the young maidens who were confined in a birdcage would yearn for it, their eyes shining. Were there medicines introduced from the West stocked in the tents, even Maomao would go as far as to borrow money from the madam to acquire them.

She must not blame the court ladies who bought things.

Even the maids of the Jade Palace bought many things too. It wasnt that any of the products were dangerous. As wasteful as it was, nevermind how little there was, anything containing poison mustnt be kept and had to be disposed of.

The amounts were minuscule when used separately, but when combined together, it could become a strong poison.

Well then, the problem of exactly who brought it in.

Currently, there are four high-ranked consorts in the inner palace.

Consort Gyokuyou, Consort Rifa, Consort Riishu, and Consort Rouran.

Among them, Consort Gyokuyou has the highest favour from the emperor, with Consort Rifa coming in second. In addition, she heard that there are several middle-ranked consorts who were the emperors chosen.

However, considering parental influence in the background, Consort Rouran is an existence extremely important to the emperor.

(Hmm.)

Maomao picked up a dead branch and drew an orchid[note]The Ran in Rouran means orchid.[/note] on the ground.

It was Consort Rifas parents who were the next highest in terms of position. Though, as she related to the emperor from his maternal side, it was said that her family didnt have the character to be that greedy for promotion.

She drew a fruit[note]The Ri in Rifa means pear.[/note] next to the orchid.

Conversely, it was Consort Riishus family who rose to prominence in these couple of generations, and it was well known that having chosen their young daughter for the previous emperor they were an ambitious family.

She drew a tree[note]The Shu in Riishu means tree.[/note] next to that.

Consort Gyokuyous family was in a trading post in the West. Although that gave a strong impression that it profited through commerce, it was actually situated close to the country border and seems to go through with having quite some defence expenditure. On top of that, it wasnt a place that produced crops, so it wasnt a place you could unconditionally call wealthy.

She finished off with drawing a leaf[note]The You in Gyokuyou means leaf.[/note].

Maomao had a question.

The attempted poisoning incident at the Garden Party last year. That was done by Previous Consort Ah Dous maid out of her own accord. The reason she did that wasnt to cling onto power, but rather, it was out of a truly humane motive.

She understood that, but.

Who was the culprit for Consort Gyokuyous attempted poisoning incident from further back? That remained uncertain.

As a result, the number of Consort Gyokuyous maids decreased by half, and it was said that the one who took the poison on behalf on the consort was still suffering from the after-effects.

(I feel that its not related to Ah Duo-sama.)

Ah Duo didnt have the character to poison people like that. Saying that, Consort Rifa and Consort Riishu were the same. Of course, this was Maomaos opinion, she cannot assert whether that it really was the case. It could be the case that the maids did it out of their own accord, and it might also be that there are people that were sent in from her family.

Not just high-ranked consorts, she also considered the middle-ranked consorts. After all, there are plenty of women in this place who are greedily vying for a higher position.