78: Chapter 78: The Cunning and Sly Little Daying 78: Chapter 78: The Cunning and Sly Little Daying With the conversation reaching this point, and the other party being polite, Nanny Sun couldn’t very well insist on stating her purpose directly.
If she were to ask to borrow someone now, Young Master Lian might well have a reason to say that her two servants were still needed to attend her at mealtime and refuse to let them go.
So, it was better to sit down and wait until they had finished eating before speaking.
This meal turned out to be a real torment for Nanny Sun.
She had never seen anything like it, at least not in Driftfrost Hall.
The master ate at the main table while the two servants ate at a lower table.
The food on both tables was the same, looking especially delicious, and clearly not the big pot rice from the Imperial Kitchen.
Canglan Court seemed to have no rule about not speaking while eating or sleeping.
The master led the conversation, praising how delicious the dishes were while eating; the two servants, mouths greasy, agreed on how tasty everything was, making Nanny Sun somewhat hungry herself.
In Driftfrost Hall, there had never been a meal shared between master and servant.
Nanny Sun felt a hidden envy in her heart.
Young Master Lian seemed to be quite unpretentious, and she seemed nice to her servants, but after all, she was only a Daying.
Spending ten or eight years in the palace, she would still not reach the status of Beauty Li.
Thinking about it, there wasn’t much to envy.
Nanny Sun waited torturously.
The three diners ate heartily, taking dishful after dishful, bowl after bowl of rice.
Young Master Lian had finished two bowls and seemed to want more, but alas, there was no more rice, leaving Nanny Sun slightly stunned.
In the harem, she had never seen any consort eat as much.
Her own master, Beauty Li, would be full after half a bowl, never eating this much.
Finally, the food was completely finished.
Young Master Lian had ended her meal, and Nanny Sun sighed with relief, having really struggled with the wait.
Just as she was about to stand up and state her purpose, Young Master Lian, with a smile, said to her, “I’ve just finished eating, and things are a bit of a mess here.
I might ask Nanny to wait a moment more.
Are you thirsty, Nanny?
If you’re thirsty, perhaps start with a cup of tea to moisten your throat?”
Well, the pots, pans, and dishes did indeed look a bit messy.
Having waited through the meal, waiting a little longer for tidy-up wouldn’t hurt—only that she preferred not to drink the tea, lest it give Daying Lian an excuse to delay further.
With this thought, Nanny Sun shook her head, about to offer some polite refusal, when before she could speak, seeing her shake her head, Young Master Lian started busying people to clear up, directing those washing dishes and wiping tables.
Nanny Sun felt nearly suffocated as she couldn’t voice her thoughts.
She felt like the only idle person in the room, an unnecessary outsider that made her restless.
The clearing was done, and they mentioned they still needed to wash dishes and tidy the kitchen.
Then, they all left together.
Nanny Sun didn’t even have the chance to speak before they disappeared.
She cursed inwardly at how troublesome Young Master Lian was, almost wanting to jump in and help.
Helplessly, everyone else was too quick, not giving her a chance to talk.
She had no choice but to wait in the dining room for them to return and state her purpose then.
But as Nanny Sun sat waiting, no one came back.
Washing dishes and tidying the kitchen shouldn’t take this long; two cups of tea’s time had passed, and they were still not back.
Nanny Sun grew uneasy.
Not seeing anyone made her uncomfortable; everything here was beyond her expectations.
Suddenly, she realized that since her arrival, she hadn’t managed to speak a complete sentence; she had been led by Daying Lian all along!
She slapped her thigh, realizing the cunning of Little Daying; she had been careless.
She should have followed them out from the start, keeping a close eye on Daying Lian.
With this realization, Nanny Sun suddenly stood up and hurried to Canglan Court’s kitchen,
The courtyard was brimming with fruits and vegetables, some ripe and ready for harvest.
Nanny Sun truly couldn’t understand why Daying Lian insisted on growing these common crops suited only for farmers, considering it was a status-lowering act in the Imperial Palace.
By the time she reached the kitchen and saw that the person had long disappeared, Nanny Sun mentally cursed and anxiety surged within her.
When she had left, she had solemnly promised Beauty Li that she would definitely bring the person back.
But now, arriving with no explanation and the person gone, how was she supposed to justify herself?
It was even worse than Dong Mei!
Standing in place, Nanny Sun paced frantically, no, she had to search; in such a short time the individual couldn’t have gone far.
Thinking this, Nanny Sun hastened her steps, and as she neared a pavilion, she faintly heard voices.
Nanny Sun stopped and listened attentively for a while – was that not the voice of Daying Lian and her two servants?
It made her search easier, thankfully they hadn’t gone far.
Fearing they would disappear again, she quickly followed the sound, rounded a cluster of sunflower trees, and saw the trio energetically collecting sunflower seeds.
Having finally found them, Nanny Sun stopped to catch her breath, leaning against a sunflower tree and gasping, as she had walked too hurriedly.
Just then, while busy working, Young Master Lian looked up and saw her, his face registering surprise as he said, “Ah, Nanny, you came too?”
What did he mean ‘you came too’?
She had been at Canglan Court all along and hadn’t left; how could Daying Lian treat a guest ?
Nanny Sun felt choked up, unable to express her frustration; her head throbbed from restraining her anger, as losing her temper on the spot would mean disrespecting their ranks, turning a justified concern into an unreasonable one.
Following that, Young Master Lian, still smiling, said to her, “Since Nanny Sun has come to help, then let’s work together.
We thought since you were older, resting inside would be apt, but it’s great that you’re so eager to help.”
Before she could respond, he turned to his servant, “Xiao Jizi, give Nanny Sun the tool you’re holding, and you can move the harvested sunflowers to dry now.”
The servant acknowledged with a “Alrighty,” walked towards her with a puzzled face, shoved the tool into her hands, and then started moving the harvested sunflowers.
Young Master Lian didn’t pay her further attention and continued with his task.
Nanny Sun stood somewhat dazed, failing to understand the situation; did Daying Lian mistakenly think she came to help?
No, no, she had wasted enough time and couldn’t let herself be led astray any longer.
Regardless of the timing, she needed to at least explain her purpose; she would see how this cunning Little Daying would respond, and then react accordingly.
She refused to believe she couldn’t outsmart this young girl.
With that in mind, Nanny Sun stepped forward, intending to courteously address her issue, figuring she’d start with politeness before getting to the point.
But handling the tool for harvesting sunflowers made it awkward to bow.
Trying to bow deeply was hindered by this and that, making it quite clumsy.
A nearby palace maid quickly came over to help her, noting, “Nanny, it’s not done .” She then instructed her on how to gather the sunflower seeds properly.
Nanny Sun hurriedly tried to interrupt, “No, I…”
Seeing her struggle, Daying Lian came over and started guiding her hands, which made her more anxious, and she repeatedly said, “No, Young Master Lian, you misunderstand, I am here on an errand!”
Hearing this, Young Master Lian looked at her puzzled and asked, “Nanny, is there something else?”