80 Chapter 21: Imperial Dr. Yen, Bai The Military Official (1/2)

Bai was summoned after his training. As he was sweating, he handed his edgeless sword to his subordinate. A delicate eunuch gave a bamboo slip and a woman's kanzashi to him. It was one of the kanzashi among the several he handed out before, a kanzashi decorated with peach-colored coral. He didn't think anyone would take it seriously, knowing that it was courtesy, but it turns out it wasn't the case. It would be wrong to embarrass her, but it was also troubling actually to go through with it.

However, it would be a loss for him if she was a beauty. He looked at the wooden slip as he thought of ways to gently reject her.

'Jade Palace Yen'

That was written there. He handed it out to only one of the palace ladies of the Jade Palace. The ultra-beauty. Mystified, Bai stroked his chin as he prepared for a change of clothes.

The inner palace is forbidden to actual men.

Bai, who didn't want to be cut down, was in the forbidden garden. He probably wouldn't be here after this, and it would be troubling if he were. Though it was such a terrifying place, if he had special permission, he could summon a palace lady from inside. This kanzashi was one of the ways of doing that — one of the many. Borrowing the office of the central gate, he waited for the person he summoned.

The room, which wasn't wide, had two persons' number of tables and chairs. The doors on both sides each had a eunuch standing there.

As a maid with a Birthmark splashed on her face appeared.

”Who the hell are you?” he said.

”I get that often.” The maid, who replied with blunt indifference, covered her birthmark with her palm. A face he'd seen before appeared.

”Don't tell me you're disguised with make-up?”

”I get that often,” she said. He took in the truth without a look of displeasure. He got the gist of it.

That she was that food taster maid.

”However, to still call me out like this, do you know the meaning of it?” He crossed his arms. Crossed his legs too.

”I was thinking of returning home.” She said it without any strong feeling.

Bai scratched his head. ”And, you want me to help?”

”That's right. If you can guarantee my identity, I heard it is possible for me to return home for a short time.” She voiced something unexpected.

He wanted to ask her, ”Do you know the original meaning?”

No matter, it seems this girl called Yen was using him to go home. It wasn't to catch the military official. Maybe she was bold. Maybe she was reckless. Bai snorted, hands on his chin. It could be said that his behavior was terrible, he didn't feel like correcting it. ”The hell? Are you saying that I am going to be thoroughly used by a lass?”

”No, I only want to give thanks to these people.” Yen placed a tied-up bundle of wooden slips on the table. They looked like letters of introduction.