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If she weren’t overweight, the nanny might have considered her the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
But in the Great Zhou dynasty, slender figures were the standard of beauty.
No matter how pretty her face, excess weight would inevitably draw judgmental looks.
The instructing nanny didn’t stay long in Lihua Lane. After taking the measurements and offering a few perfunctory instructions, she prepared to leave.
"Not even a tip, how unlucky!"
The nanny stepped out of the courtyard and moved to climb into her carriage using a wooden stool.
Just then, the three little ones returned from school.
Without waiting for Su Xiaoxiao to pick them up, they dashed home, huffing and puffing.
Dahu ran the fastest, like a little cannonball.
Unable to brake in time, he slammed into the nanny’s carriage with a thud.
The nanny missed her step and fell face-first, eating dirt.
"......"
The next morning, after Su Ergou was picked up by Su Qi and Su Yu to attend the Imperial Academy, Su Xiaoxiao took the three little ones to the residence at the east end.
Once again, Su Xiaoxiao met with the Guqin master, Master Zhang.
"I might not be back until late again today."
Hearing this, Master Zhang's eyes lit up brilliantly.
"No problem! Leave them here! We’ll take good care of them!"
As he spoke, he looked down at the three children with the intensity of a hungry wolf spotting prey, making Su Xiaoxiao briefly wonder if she had encountered child traffickers.
However, the three little ones were clearly happy learning here, and both Master Zhang and Ling Yun were genuinely kind people.
Su Xiaoxiao gently patted the children’s heads.
"Behave well, alright?"
Master Zhang : No, no, no… please don’t behave. Cause as much chaos as you can. Don’t hold back.
"Okay~"
The three little ones chimed in with their soft, milky voices.
"Does your head still hurt?"
Su Xiaoxiao touched Dahu’s forehead, referring to the incident the day before when he had accidentally bumped into the carriage.
The carriage panel had been cracked, but Dahu was fine.
What a tough little head.
"Not hurt." Dahu shook his head, then after a moment’s thought, he nodded. "A little hurt. Blow on it, mommy."
Su Xiaoxiao bent down and gently blew on his forehead.
Xiaohu squeezed forward, patting his own little head with both hands.
"Xiaofu (Xiaohu) wants a blow too!"
Su Xiaoxiao laughed and blew on his forehead as well.
Of course, Erhu couldn’t be left out either.
The three little ones, having received their goodbye kisses, headed off to school contentedly.
Meanwhile, Su Mo had already arrived.
Su Xiaoxiao boarded his carriage and headed to the imperial palace.
They arrived late, as the other young ladies had already entered the palace.
A young eunuch surnamed Sun was waiting respectfully at the gate.
Su Mo discreetly handed him a money pouch.
Eunuch Sun smoothly tucked it into his sleeve and, with a warm smile, escorted Su Xiaoxiao inside.
This time, a sedan chair was waiting, and no eunuch dared to neglect their duties.
Su Xiaoxiao rode in the sedan, swaying gently as she made her way to her destination, the Qilin Hall.
Qilin Hall was separated from the inner palace by just a single wall.
As they neared Qilin Hall, the sedan chair suddenly came to a halt.
Su Xiaoxiao lifted the curtain, revealing the sedan carriers and the accompanying Eunuch Sun bowing respectfully, as if avoiding someone.
Instinctively, Su Xiaoxiao glanced toward the inner palace.
A phoenix carriage carried by eight eunuchs passed slowly by. Seated on it was a woman dressed in luxurious palace attire.
Su Xiaoxiao caught only a glimpse of her profile before the phoenix carriage turned and proceeded deeper into the inner palace.
From her side profile and figure, she appeared to be no older than thirty.
Yet, despite her lofty and unapproachable aura, there was a trace of maturity worn down by the solitude of the deep palace.
"Who was that just now?"
Su Xiaoxiao asked Eunuch Sun.
She didn’t feel that it was inappropriate to ask, Eunuch Sun had accepted Su Mo’s generosity and ought to provide some service in return.
The sedan chair began moving again.
Eunuch Sun glanced around cautiously, leaned closer to the window, and whispered to Su Xiaoxiao.