105 Chapter 25: Imperial Dr. Yen, Tea Parties and Honey

Tea parties are a legitimate job for consorts. Consort Gina also performed her role as she did every day. There were times she held it at the Jade Palace, other times she was summoned to another consort's place.

Yen wasn't very fond of tea parties. All they did was talk about the latest clothing fads and cosmetics. They probe each other as they conversed about trifling things. No doubt, the miniature of the inner palace extends from there.

A middle-ranking consort from the west was talking to Consort Gina. Though she didn't know the specifics, it seemed that Consort Gina's family was an important place no matter what relation it will become after this. It was common for many of the other consorts to inadvertently spill out information when they chat with the cheerful Consort, Gina.

The emperor frequently visits the Consort Gina's place every three days. He comes to see his daughter who started to walk with help, but well, it goes without saying that's not the only reason he comes to visit. He asks about various lively topics to not neglect the afternoon job too.

At the end of the tea party, she received a huge amount of tea snacks from Yao. She was going to eat them, but there were just too much. So, she sent them forward to Ran one of her fellow maids.

Ran loved to gossip which is something Yen often deters so she never spent much time with the younger maid.

She talked about the most recent rumors and news like About the maidservant who committed suicide — her relation to the poisoning incident. And, for some reason, about the Consort Yahui.

"Consort Gina is nineteen. Consort Jie was twenty-three. Consort Hui was twelve. And Consort Yahui is

Thirty-five, only a year younger than the emperor," Ran said. "Consort Yahui may still able to give birth, but based on the inner palace system, she would have no choice but to be turned away from bedroom activities due to her age in other words, it was impossible for her to become the empress dowager hereafter." Ran signed, Yen looked at the young girl as she had spoken that out loud without any fear. "It seems that the talks of her stepping down for a new high-ranking consort had come up. It was something that had come up quite a while ago. She had been a consort since the time the emperor was the crown prince and had been the mother of a male infant once, so she had a considerably strong start."

At this rate, would Consort Jie end up the same way, having fallen pregnant with the emperor's child too? Not just that. It can't be declared that Consort Gina will always continue to receive his favor.

After all, beautiful flowers too will someday become withered.

Yen brushed off the crumbs of the mooncake she ate and looked up to the heavy clouds that covered the sky. The disposition of today's tea party companion had changed a little. The companion was Consort Hui, it was rare to have a tea party with a consort with the same rank, especially so for high ranking consorts. The youthful Consort Hui looked nervous. She had brought along four maids with her.

That food taster was also there. It seems that she didn't receive punishment, as far as Yen's worry was concerned. As it was cold outside, the tea party was taken inside. The eunuchs were used to prepare a couch for the maids in the parlor. There was a roundtable inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The curtains were exchanged with a new embroidered one.

Maybe it was wisdom from age; Consort Gina was talking constantly, and Consort Hui did nothing else save nod timidly. The maids who were waiting behind wasn't looking at their own master. Rather, they glanced around the room as if they were curious about the furniture in the Jade Palace.

Only the food taster stood behind the consort in a way that she was facing Yen.

Yen had previously reported to Yijun that they bullied their consort. It would be slightly troubling if she was mistaken, but it would be a happy thing. Yen, comparing them with the select few Jade Palace maids with a peek, thought their movements were slow, but they did their job. Well, since today's tea party host was Consort Gina, their work itself was scarce.

Ran had a playful face on and brought in a ceramic jar and hot water.

"You like sweet things, right? Since it's cold today, I thought maybe we could have this," Consort Gina said.

"I like sweet things," Consort Hui replied. The content of the jar was citrus peel boiled in honey. It warms the body and soothes the throat.

Even though she just said she liked sweet things, Consort Hui paled. The food taster, who was looking at the honey that was being poured into the bowl, also seemed like she wanted to say something. Yen looked at the girl a little confused before taking a second glance at Consort Hui deeply. And came to a realization.

The maids waiting at the back were saying nothing. They were just looking at Consort Hui with amazed faces. As if to say, 'stop being picky'.

Yen let out a small breath and whispered into Consort Gina's ear.

Consort Gina widened her eyes with an 'oh my' and called for Ran. "I'm sorry," she said. "This looks like it needs a little more time to pickle. We took out the wrong thing. Can you drink ginger soup?"

As Ran walked away, Yen glanced back at her without moving her face and frowned slightly

"Yes. That's fine," Consort Hui said.

Her complexion somewhat returned to normal. It seemed changing the tea was the correct answer.