Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power

79: Chapter 79: The servant leaves first 79: Chapter 79: The servant leaves first Nanny Sun nodded repeatedly, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and finally could speak of her true intentions, feeling extremely weary at heart.

Young Master Lian said apologetically, “I thought you had time to spare, Nanny.

I misunderstood you.

Since that’s the case, Xiao Qing can see you out.”

Then, turning to Nanny Sun, she said, “Please don’t take offense, Nanny.

We at Canglan Court are short-staffed.

The Sunflower Trees need tending before they spoil, and we can’t afford to entertain you right now.

Once things quiet down and you have some free time, why don’t you come back for a proper visit?”

As she spoke, she looked at Nanny Sun with an apologetic face, reassuringly patted her hand, and took over the tool in her hand.

The Palace Maid by her side also set down what she was holding and came to escort Nanny Sun away.

Nanny Sun’s mouth hung open as she chewed on her words, unsure of what else to say.

Had Young Master Lian misunderstood her visit as a social call?

She wanted to say that she was here to borrow people, but before she could speak, all her arguments were blocked.

They already mentioned being short-handed and needing to take care of the Sunflower Trees – if she asked to borrow people now, there’d be no chance of getting them.

Nanny Sun felt like crying; she hadn’t said a thing, and already the path was blocked!

No, she couldn’t just go back like this!

Nanny Sun made up her mind, ignoring the waiting Palace Maid, and quickly walked over to stand next to Daying Lian.

Young Master Lian looked at her in surprise, about to say something.

Nanny Sun hurriedly interrupted, “Young Master Lian, to tell the truth, I am here to borrow two of your servants.

Driftfrost Hall has a leaky roof that needs fixing.

I’ve reported it to the Bureau of Palace Attendants, but they keep putting it off.

I have no choice but to find a solution myself.

Nobody in Driftfrost Hall knows how to fix a leaky roof.

I learned that when you first came to Canglan Court, you fixed similar leaks yourself, so I thought of borrowing your people for the task.”

Before coming, she had prepared thoroughly, even investigating Canglan Court to learn this fact, thinking that with such an excuse, Lian Hua couldn’t find a reason to refuse.

If she didn’t want to cause a commotion, she’d have to lend her people.

Then Nanny Sun could hold onto them and force her to come.

If all else failed and she was refused, it wouldn’t hurt her.

The palace always prized harmony; even if there was discord, they had to maintain a semblance of civility.

If Lian Hua dared to refuse such a small request, she would tell everyone how she disregarded the sisterhood of the palace.

She would show them how haughty this Little Daying was, eventually leading to her isolation and inability to stand in the palace.

Then it would be easy to deal with her as she pleased.

Nanny Sun had a solid plan, but what came next from Lian Hua caught her completely off guard.

Upon hearing her words, Lian Hua’s eyes sparkled as she eagerly asked, “Do you need us for fixing the leaks?

Nanny, why didn’t you say so sooner?

Not to boast, but we’re better at fixing leaks than the Bureau of Palace Attendants.

Since you’ve asked, why don’t we head over right now?”

“Ah?” So agreeable—had Young Master Lian gone mad, or was she up to something bad?

Nanny Sun grew suspicious.

Seeing Nanny Sun startled, Lian Hua quickly asked, “What’s wrong, Nanny?

Don’t you believe me?

Xiao Qing, come and tell Nanny about how Canglan Court was before, and how it is now.”

To prove her point, Lian Hua called Xiao Qing over to explain as well.

Xiao Qing came and chatted away to Nanny Sun about how desolate Canglan Court had been, how dilapidated the roof, how badly the tiles were broken—raining inside when it rained outside, moonlight shining through the gaps, saving on lamp oil at night.

After Xiao Qing finished, Lian Hua concluded, “That’s how it was back then, Nanny.

Now, take a look at Canglan Court’s roof; isn’t it much better?” She looked at Nanny Sun eagerly as if awaiting her agreement.

Nanny Sun was dragged into a conversation detailing the past and present state of Canglan Court—unable to get a word in, she became increasingly confused and suspicious.

Could it be that Young Master Lian planned to cause trouble while fixing the roof?

It must be so; otherwise, why had her attitude changed so drastically upon hearing about the need to borrow people for repairs?

Look at that gleam in her eye, like a hungry wolf spotting a piece of meat—surely she didn’t consider her own Young Master as the meat?

Nanny Sun’s heart suddenly clenched.

In the palace, one could not afford the luxury of not being wary, lest one be harmed without knowing what went wrong.

She had once shielded Beauty Li from many overt and covert attacks.

Otherwise, with Beauty Li’s temperament, she would have been isolated long ago.

To have passed through all those trials and reached this day, she relied on Nanny Sun’s careful and cautious nature and the warnings she gave Beauty Li.

The more she looked at Daying Lian, the more suspicious she became!

No, no, it absolutely would not do to let her and her servant go repair the roof leakage!

Yes, she must not even allow her to go to Driftfrost Hall, so that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to deploy her schemes!

“Nanny, Nanny?” Lian Hua noticed Nanny Sun was unresponsive and waved her hand in front of her.

Coming back to her senses, Nanny Sun had figured things out.

She now found everything about Lian Hua suspicious.

She thought to herself that despite the young age, Little Daying was quite sly and underhanded.

Fortunately, she had seen through the ruse.

Could a crafty old eagle like herself be outwitted by a mere fledgling?

Nanny Sun inwardly sneered, finding the Daying Lian before her too impatient.

If she had been a bit more hesitant and agreed only after some refusal, Nanny Sun might have been fooled.

While she thought this to herself, her face broke into a smile, and she said amicably, “Young Master Lian, I came here intending to borrow some help, but seeing now that you are truly short on hands, I won’t trouble you further.

I shall speak with the Bureau of Palace Attendants again.

I trust that after a few more requests, they will come.

There’s no need to trouble you and your servant.”

As she spoke, Nanny Sun prepared to take her leave.

Feeling anxious, Lian Hua hurriedly grabbed Nanny Sun and said, “Nanny, the people from the Bureau of Palace Attendants really don’t repair as well as we do.

We can wait a couple more days to harvest the sunflowers, the damage will be minimal, it’s not a problem.”

Worried that Nanny Sun would refuse her again, she quickly cried out, “Xiao Qing, Xiao Jizi, quickly fetch the ladder, we’ll go with Nanny Sun!”

Nanny Sun chuckled dryly, secretly using her strength to free herself from Lian Hua’s grip and kept waving her hands, “This won’t do, this won’t do, please, you go back to your duties.”

Then she slapped her forehead as if she had just remembered something, “Oh dear, look at my memory, I just remembered, it seems the Bureau of Palace Attendants had already agreed.

My age is showing, I forget things.

I was supposed to discuss the dates with them, but I took a wrong turn and ended up here.

I won’t disturb you any longer, I’ll be on my way.”

She spoke as she walked, quickening her pace until she disappeared from view.

Once she was outside the gates of Canglan Court, Nanny Sun breathed a sigh of relief.

That Daying Lian was incredibly strong; she almost didn’t manage to pull away.

She was indeed too troublesome.

Nanny Sun was grateful that she had seen through her, for if the girl had actually been allowed to come over, who knows what mischief she would have caused.

It was truly a constant vigil!

It must have been Dong Mei’s request for help yesterday that had alerted them, prompting them to devise a poisonous plan against Beauty Li.

Otherwise, why would Daying Lian keep her hanging until she said she needed help before being so eager to offer it?

No one would believe there wasn’t something fishy going on!

She needed to go back and inform her master, to be on guard against this Daying was essential.

As she thought of this, Nanny Sun hurried toward Driftfrost Hall.

When she relayed her suspicions to Beauty Li, the beauty was both shocked and angry.

How dare a mere Daying plot against her?

If that was the case, then she would no longer be polite.

A malicious glint flashed in Beauty Li’s eyes as she shared her thoughts with Nanny Sun.

After considering them, Nanny Sun whispered into her ear, and Beauty Li nodded in satisfaction, a cruel smile curling at her lips.

If this Little Daying was so cunning, then just let her watch and see.

They’d let her relax a bit first, then catch her off guard.

She didn’t believe that Daying wouldn’t fall for it!

They were all set, they just needed an opportunity.

They would just lie in wait for her in the Imperial Garden.