Harem Daily Life

As Eunuch Qin had expected, after he sent away his two fellow villagers, Mu Yu's carriage took him directly to the Wang residence in the east of the city.

"I'm honored to meet Island Master Mu. I'm extremely grateful for your hospitality today."

Mu Yu smiled and said, "Eunuch Qin has been taking care of the Queen Mother's daily life. He works very hard. It's my duty to do this. I just asked you to come here today because I want to trouble you with something."

Eunuch Qin did not agree directly, but said: "I don't know what Master Mu is doing. If I can do it, I will naturally be willing to do my best to help."

Mu Yu looked at the boxes beside him and opened them one by one: "Inside are the winter clothes I prepared for the Queen Mother. They are made of the best leather. They are light and warm."

"This is what I prepared for the Queen and the children. They are all furs, perfect for winter wear."

Eunuch Qin took a look and praised: "Island Master Mu is really thoughtful."

Mu Yu waved his hand: "It's all what I should do, and I've only done one ten-thousandth of it."

After that, he opened another box and said, "Inside these are the jewelry I asked a craftsman to make. Although they are not as good as the ones made by the emperor in the palace, the materials are excellent. Especially this hairpin inlaid with oriental pearls, it is very rare and worth a fortune."

Eunuch Qin was dazzled by what he saw. The amount of Dongzhu that was offered as tribute each year was not much, and most of it was given to the Queen Mother and the Empress to make jewelry.

"Oh, it's so beautiful and the workmanship is so fine. The Queen Mother and the Empress will definitely like it. But this is prepared for the fifth princess, right? It looks small and cute." Eunuch Qin pointed to a pearl necklace.

Mu Yu nodded: "Exactly. Each pearl has been carefully selected. They are all the same size and transparent. I strung them into a necklace for the fifth princess."

Eunuch Qin was full of praise: "If the Fifth Princess saw this, she would surely be very happy."

Mu Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "Yes, I have long imagined the Fifth Princess's delighted look upon seeing the necklace and being unable to let it go. I haven't seen her in months and I miss her terribly. So, I asked Eunuch Qin to come here to discuss this matter."

Eunuch Qin didn't understand and looked confused.

Mu Yu simply said it directly: "To be honest, I want to deliver the things I prepared this time to the palace in person. But as a foreigner, it is inconvenient for me to go to the harem. His Majesty probably doesn't want to see me, so..." He looked Eunuch Qin up and down, which made Eunuch Qin's mouth twitch. He had a feeling that it was not a good thing.

"Don't be afraid. I'll just be in the palace for a day under your identity. I'll have someone disguise me to look like you. Tomorrow at this time, I'll find a reason to leave the palace and exchange with you."

Eunuch Qin: “…”

"No, no, if someone finds out, it will be a serious crime. Island Master Mu, please don't do anything rash!" Eunuch Qin was so scared that he quickly refused.

Mu Yu raised an eyebrow. "Your disguise is very sophisticated, so I can't tell. I've also learned some of your behaviors, so I can easily impersonate you. Don't worry, even if the Queen Mother and the Empress find out, they won't make it public. You can just stay in my house for a day and relax."

Without any explanation, Mu Yu forcibly took away the badges on Eunuch Qin's body that symbolized his status, and even took off the clothes he was wearing today.

The trembling Eunuch Qin was speechless and choked with emotion. He was a pitiful little figure who was trembling with fear as he was taken to the next door by the men of Island Master Mu.

Singers and dancers had been arranged next door, and as soon as he entered, he was surrounded and forced to be entertained.

Mu Yu changed into Eunuch Qin's clothes, and after changing his appearance, he happily returned to the palace with the gifts he had prepared. He had no problems along the way, holding the matching cards, and finally arrived at Changle Palace.

"Ahem... I pay my respects to the Empress. I was out of the palace on some business today and happened to run into Island Master Mu. He asked me to bring back some gifts for the Empress and several young masters. Please take a look, Her Majesty."

Chang Tai went forward and opened the box, and saw many gifts, which were very rare and valuable.

"Is Island Master Mu doing well? He said he was living in the capital, but he didn't say he was going to the palace. I wonder what he's been busy with?"

Mu Yu felt warm in his heart. It was really a happy thing that his precious daughter was thinking about him.

He replied, "Your Majesty, I...Island Master Mu is doing well. He is looking after the business of Penglai Island and is very busy every day. Besides that, he is searching for new and interesting things and sending them to the palace." As for who they were given to, Mu Yu did not say. Tao Yanyan naturally knew that it was for the Queen Mother, as the Queen Mother loved the parrot very much.

"That's good. If he is happy, I will feel at ease." As soon as he finished speaking, several children came over. Yunuo looked at the pearl necklace given to him and really liked it very much.

"I like it very much. I want to wear it."

Mu Yu stepped forward and put it on Nuo first, leaving Mingyue, who wanted to try it, to watch from the side.

"My dear girl, you are so cute, and you are even cuter with these pearls on!" Mu Yu couldn't help but admire her, and everyone around him was stunned.

"Ahem, Eunuch Qin, watch your words." Chang Tai reminded him, no matter how cute the little princess is, you can't praise her as an elder, right? There's a difference between master and servant!

Mu Yu realized that he had spoken out of turn and quickly tried to make amends: "Look at me, I spoke too hastily. I hope the Queen and the Fifth Princess won't blame me."

Tao Yanyan didn't care much about it. Considering Eunuch Qin's age, he could indeed be considered a grandfather, and it was natural for him to love little Yunuo.

Tao Yanyan asked Qingfeng to take a silver ingot to reward Eunuch Qin: "Thank you for helping us carry the things, Eunuch Qin. Take this silver and have some tea."

Mu Yu did not refuse. He took it with both hands, thanked him, and put it in his arms.

After leaving Changle Palace, Mu Yu breathed a sigh of relief. He was almost exposed just now and was really scared.

He returned to Changchun Palace with the box and saw the Queen Mother playing with the parrot. His heart softened instantly and he went forward to greet her, "Queen Mother, I'm back."

The Queen Mother glanced at him and her expression instantly turned cold: "Why didn't you bring the things I told you to bring?"

Mu Yu: “…”

I was careless. I was so focused on changing my appearance that I forgot to recite the lines with Eunuch Qin!

He rubbed his head and said with a guilty conscience, "I drank a few more cups with my fellow countrymen and forgot about it. I will bring it back to you tomorrow when I leave the palace. I hope you will forgive me."

After he finished speaking, he opened the box and took out the clothes: "This is... the new clothes that Master Mu gave to the Queen Mother. He said it was made of the finest fur and would keep her warm. He asked me to bring it to the palace for her."

Two palace maids hung up the clothes. The Queen Mother took a look and said with satisfaction, "The workmanship is indeed fine, and the style is also beautiful. By the way, how come you ran into him and received a gift as soon as you left the palace? Is he... in the capital?"

Mu Yu was startled, his palms sweating. He quickly lowered his head and organized his words, saying, "I don't know where Island Master Mu is, but when he has gifts to send, he usually leaves them at the royal residence in the east of the city. I'll stop by when I leave the palace and bring them back if I find any."

The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes: "Really?"

Mu Yu's heart began to panic. Looking at the Queen Mother approaching step by step, he had an urge to run away immediately.

"All of you go down." The Queen Mother gave the order, and the two maids respectfully withdrew. Only the Queen Mother and Mu Yu were left in the hall.

"Tell me, what did I ask you to bring back when you left the palace?" The Queen Mother's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable pressure.

Mu Yu opened his mouth: "Roast duck? Roast chicken? Braised beef with soy sauce? Roast fish?"

The little parrot widened its eyes and flapped its wings: "No, no, no, it's the Xiangmanyuan cakes."

Mu Yu: “…”

Damn, exposed!