"Alright, that's settled then!" Zi Zhu said happily.
She picked up a handkerchief, wiped her hands, and then took out her sewing kit, ready to tie a rose knot for Su Qianmo.
"Wait a moment." Su Qianmo stopped Zi Zhu's actions. "Miss Zi Zhu, could I trouble you to teach me how to tie a rose knot?"
"Teach you how to tie a rose knot?"
Zi Zhu paused. "I've never tied a rose knot for anyone before!"
"How do you know you can't do it if you haven't tried? I want to learn, please teach me!"
"But..." Zi Zhu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright."
"Thank you very much, Miss Zi Zhu." Su Qianmo said gratefully.
"Why are you being so polite? We're like sisters. You can call me Zi Zhu or Zhu Zi from now on," Zi Zhu said with a smile.
Hearing this, Su Qianmo also smiled.
"Miss Zi Zhu, do you know how to pluck flower petals?" Su Qianmo asked.
"I don't know."
Zi Zhu shook her head.
"You don't know."
Su Qianmo sighed with disappointment and said, "Miss Zi Zhu, we'll take our leave then!"
"Oh, don't rush!"
Zi Zhu grabbed Su Qianmo's arm and said, "Since you don't know how to pluck flower petals either, why don't you sit in the pavilion and wait for a bit? I'll go ask the palace guards if anyone knows how."
"Thank you, Miss."
Su Qianmo nodded and said, "Miss Zi Zhu, please go quickly!"
Zi Zhu smiled in response and then ran off to find someone to help.
Su Qianmo sat alone in the pavilion, her gaze fixed on the outside.
"Miss."
A familiar voice sounded. Su Qianmo turned her head and saw a maid walking over, smiling. "My servant is called Qing Zhu. Miss can just call me Qing Zhu."
"Mm, Qing Zhu, what brings you here?" Su Qianmo asked.
Qing Zhu smiled. "Replying to Miss, I am here on the orders of the Empress to deliver food to you."
"I see." Su Qianmo realized.
"Miss, please try these pastries and see if they suit your taste," Qing Zhu said, placing a plate of snacks on the table.
"Thank you, Miss Qing Zhu."
Su Qianmo said with a smile.
"Miss is too polite. This is all my duty. Please enjoy your meal. I will not disturb you further," Qing Zhu said, bowed, and left.
Su Qianmo looked at the pastries on the table, then looked outside the pavilion. Seeing that the guards were all busy with their own tasks and not paying attention to her, she picked up a osmanthus shortbread, took a small bite. It melted in her mouth, and a sweet fragrance bloomed on her tongue.
Su Qianmo's cheeks immediately flushed. She quickly put more pastry into her mouth, saying indistinctly, "Mmm... so fragrant!"
Qing Zhu, who was eavesdropping at the pavilion entrance, saw Su Qianmo's expression of enjoyment and felt relieved. She then withdrew.
After finishing the pastries, Su Qianmo drank a cup of tea and lay down on the chair, closing her eyes to rest for a moment.
When Zi Zhu returned from the palace, she saw Su Qianmo lying on the chair, asleep.
Zi Zhu shook her head helplessly, walked over, and gently patted Su Qianmo's cheek. "Miss, wake up, Miss..."
"..."
Su Qianmo opened her eyes, yawned, and rubbed her sleepy eyes. "What is it?"
"Miss, you should go back and sleep. Leave this to me," Zi Zhu suggested.
Su Qianmo frowned and pondered for a few seconds before saying, "Alright, then I'll go back and sleep for a while, and I'll come back to play with you later."
"Certainly! Miss, you go and sleep! I'll guard the door for you!"
Zi Zhu waved her hand and then walked into the pavilion.
Su Qianmo stood up and walked towards the palace.
Upon returning to her room, she had just lain down when footsteps were heard from outside.
"Miss Zi Zhu!"
Hearing someone call Zi Zhu, Su Qianmo's heart skipped a beat.
She sat up and saw a palace maid carrying a tray walking into the room.
The palace maid's eyes widened in surprise when she saw Su Qianmo.
"Who is this lady?"
Su Qianmo's heart sank. Did Zi Zhu tell this maid her name?
Su Qianmo forced herself to remain calm and asked with a smile, "I am Zi Zhu's friend. Who are you?"
"Oh, my name is Chun Xiang."
The palace maid placed the items in her hands on the table and explained, "I was ordered by the Empress to bring you a bowl of lotus seed porridge and some pastries."
"Lotus seed porridge? Lotus seed porridge..." Su Qianmo frowned. "Is this for me to eat? I don't have any lotus seed porridge."
Su Qianmo was confused as to why the Empress would suddenly send her porridge.
"You don't?"
Chun Xiang asked in surprise.
She remembered seeing Zi Zhu eating the lotus seed porridge just now when she delivered the food.
She remembered Zi Zhu talking to her just then.
"Of course not. How could the Empress make such a coarse dish?"
Su Qianmo pouted and said.
"Is that so? What a pity then."
Chun Xiang said, picked up the items on the table and placed them aside. She then said to Su Qianmo, "Since this is not for you, I will take it away. Please continue your sleep."
"Mm, take it away."
Su Qianmo waved her hand, signaling Chun Xiang to leave.
"Yes. Then I will take my leave,"
Chun Xiang bowed and turned to leave.
After Chun Xiang left, Su Qianmo slumped back onto the chair and pulled the quilt over her head.
"Oh dear, my waist, my legs!"
Su Qianmo clutched her waist and groaned in pain on the chair.
Hearing the sound, Zi Zhu rushed over. "Miss, what's wrong?"
"Oh, it hurts so much!" Su Qianmo cried out.
Seeing her appearance, Zi Zhu couldn't help but worry. She reached out and touched Su Qianmo's forehead. Finding that she had no fever, she felt a little relieved.
"Zi Zhu, why aren't you going back to rest?"
Seeing Zi Zhu standing in front of her, Su Qianmo couldn't help but start scolding her.
Zi Zhu stuck out her tongue and said with a smile, "My servant is going to stay with Miss tonight."
"I don't need you to accompany me,"
Su Qianmo glared at her and said displeasedly.
"Heh heh, Miss, you're being too formal. No matter how much Miss dislikes me, I am still your personal maid. If I don't sleep with Miss, how can Miss sleep soundly?"
"You rascal!" Su Qianmo accused angrily, "Who told you to stay?"
"Miss, please don't be angry. I just want to spend a little more time with you, so when you wake up, you can see me."
"Alright, alright, I know your intentions."
Su Qianmo waved her hand impatiently. "Then can you go and find me a set of men's clothes to change into now?"
"Men's clothes?"
Zi Zhu looked at Su Qianmo in confusion. "Miss, you want to wear men's clothes? Why?"
"Because I have something to do tonight."
Su Qianmo didn't want to explain further and just made up a reason to fob her off.
"But Miss, aren't you supposed to be staying in the palace tonight?"
"Yes, but this matter is very important, so I must wear men's clothes."
Although Zi Zhu didn't know if Su Qianmo's words were true or false, seeing how serious she looked, she believed her.
"Then I'll go and get the clothes for Miss right away."
Zi Zhu turned and walked out.
After Zi Zhu had gone far away, Su Qianmo threw off the quilt, put on her shoes, and got out of bed to go outside.
Zi Zhu brought the men's clothes and handed them to Su Qianmo.
Su Qianmo took out some silver notes from her sleeve, counted five of them, and then handed all five silver notes to Zi Zhu.
Zi Zhu was stunned for a moment. "Miss, what do you need this money for?"
"I want to buy a few good horses. These silver notes are enough for me to buy a top-grade horse. Take this money and buy some fabric and cosmetics. We'll leave the palace in the afternoon."
After speaking, Su Qianmo handed the clothes to Zi Zhu and walked out the door.
Zi Zhu stood there, stunned. It took her a while to react before she hurriedly chased after Su Qianmo.
Su Qianmo wandered around the streets and finally found an inn.