Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace

“Sigh, I heard that she’s ill so I sent some gifts for well-wishes. She would normally send her thanks, but she didn’t respond this time so I’m worried. She’s the type of woman who tends to overthink, in the first place.”

Du sighed as he muttered those words. Yui Mei was initially hesitant to reply, but she finally replied.

“Ahm, there’s something that’s really bothering me. I heard that Lord Du was the one who brought her here to be a palace courtesan…”

“It’s me, indeed.”

Yui Mei didn’t have to say everything; Du already exposed himself.

‘As I thought!’

Yui Mei’s conjecture was proven to be true, so of course she was satisfied.

Du then continued on, sighing as he reminisced about the past that Yui Mei asked about.

“Back then, I really regretted the fact that I didn’t save her earlier. It was a period of turmoil, and it was only later that I knew about her situation. By the time I noticed it, it was already after Xu’s lover went to the borderland’s warzone.”

Du explained the circumstances of that time.

‘I see, so the timing had been pretty bad then.’

However, there was no way such an esteemed person as an emperor would be idle enough that he would have time right when somebody else fell into misfortune. Such an opportunism only existed in dramas.

“Does that mean the reason Lord Du came here today is to inquire about what happened at the penitentiary?”

Yui Mei asked once again, but even so, she couldn’t help but think that he didn’t have to go out of his way to come here; he could’ve waited for the report from the Ministry of Justice.

Else, there was surely somebody acting as his private investigator in secret, so he could have listened to that person’s report.

However, the fact that he came all the way here meant that he had a business that needed Yui Mei’s cooperation.

Such thoughts ran through Yui Mei’s mind, and Du grinned at her.

“No, no, that’s not the only reason I came here. I also have something I want to know. I heard that you’re familiar with the cause of Xu Zi’s condition. So, how is it, do you think she can play the lute again?”

The matter that he inquired about was regarding Xu’s condition, in the end.

‘Oh right, come to think of it, we started with Miss Xu’s rheumatism.’

It had turned into a serious matter, but it didn’t mean that Yui Mei forgot about the disease.

“If we’re considering her condition, then I can say that the degree of fengshi she’s suffering is quite light. It won’t hinder normal people’s day to day lives, but Xu is a musician. For an artist who uses her fingers in a delicate manner, it must have been quite a blow to learn that she couldn’t move her fingers as she wished. Wouldn’t she be depressed because of it?”

Du rubbed his chin when he heard Yui Mei’s explanation.

“Hmm, indeed, such an adroit lute player as her would probably be worried about sensations that are different from normal folks.”

Du earnestly nodded his head in agreement, so Yui Mei couldn’t help but pose another question.

“Ahm, is Xu really such an excellent lute player? I never heard anyone play lute before.”

Yui Mei was obviously interested, so Du smiled.

“Hoh, so you’re curious about it. It’s like this. Once you hear Xu play the lute, the musical performances of others will become like mere child’s play. Xu is a woman beloved by music, I warrant.”

“Beloved by music!”

What a flattering remark.

‘I suddenly want to hear Miss Xu play!’

“I will do anything in order to hear Miss Xu play! Of course it’s still up to the person herself, but I will do everything I can to support her!”

Yui Mei pushed her fist upward as she declared those words with great gusto, and Du applauded her.

“Yes, yes, it’s best to be frank about one’s ambitions! Of course, greed that causes trouble for others would only destroy oneself, but it’s not good to overly suppress yourself.”

“Ditto!”

The two of them were getting strangely excited as their opinions coincided.

“…How strange, is it because they have similar principles?”

 Yang felt a headache coming as she watched the two of them, but Yui Mei didn’t notice.

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