Chapter 8
Xiao Chuchu had already accumulated 127 points?
Xiao Chuchu opened her eyes and saw a ghostly window appear before her.
[Yesterday's Point Rewards:]
[1. Avoided the vicious nursemaid's attempt to harm her once: 50 points.]
[2. Accepted a money pouch from Eunuch Liu (low rank) of the Imperial Household Department, gaining slight favor: 10 points.]
[3. Intimidated Concubine Chen (low rank), the hidden mastermind: 10 points.]
[4. Gained Consort Min's (mid rank) significant favor: 50 points.]
[5. Reduced the Kunning Palace Empress's (high rank) suspicion slightly: 5 points.]
[Spend 100 points for a term draw?]
Of course!
Xiao Chuchu moved her little hand.
Instantly, the text box that only she could see disappeared, replaced by a bright red lottery box.
The system's graphic design was quite practical.
Xiao Chuchu couldn't help but want to tease it as Lower Concubine Liu agreed to play with her for a while and went outside to instruct the palace maids to air out the baby's clothes and baskets. Xiao Chuchu reached her little hand into the lottery box.
Almost simultaneously, a text box popped up.
[You drew Body Fragrance.]
[This fragrance does not come from incense, but naturally emanates from the body. Subtle when still, yet alluring when in motion, it can attract butterflies.]
[Fragrance Effect (Beginner): Within the range of this fragrance, it can refresh the mind and has a chance of increasing learning speed.]
Xiao Chuchu was somewhat surprised.
Soon after, a faint, refreshing floral scent wafted around her little nose.
"Hmm?"
Lower Concubine Liu finished instructing the palace maids and walked back into the room. As soon as she picked up her daughter, she was taken aback.
She grabbed Xiao Chuchu's little hand and sniffed it.
A faint floral fragrance, soothing and refreshing, entered her nostrils.
This scent was different from the sandalwood balls that Consort Min used, which were heavy and stable. Xiao Chuchu's fragrance was light and elegant.
The more Lower Concubine Liu smelled it, the more she liked it.
"Good Chuchu, you're much more fragrant than your brother was!"
She couldn't help but bend down and kiss her daughter's fragrant little palm.
It was much sweeter than a typical infant's milky scent.
Last night, she had been anxious and didn't sleep well. After returning from Consort Min's place, she mustered the energy to play with her daughter for a while. Now, she felt exhausted and had a slight headache.
But after smelling her daughter's faint, refreshing fragrance, her heavy body felt lighter.
The headache also dissipated, and her spirit revived.
Even regarding how to respond to the Kunning Palace Empress's provocation, Lower Concubine Liu now felt her thoughts were sharp and had some ideas.
"Chuchu, your mother must have done good deeds in her previous life to have prayed for you before Buddha."
"You are truly your mother's treasure."
[Mother, I love you too~ Muah~] Xiao Chuchu's eyes sparkled.
Muah? What kind of celestial world's words were those?
Lower Concubine Liu couldn't help but smile.
She nursed her daughter, and then the mother and daughter snuggled together for a nap.
Around noon, Eunuch Liu from the Imperial Household Department came, bringing the newly organized list of wet nurses for Consort Min to review.
Consort Min directly let Eunuch Liu show it to Lower Concubine Liu first.
Eunuch Liu was happy to do this favor. "Lower Concubine, this time I selected wet nurses from the Imperial Guard of the Upper Yellow Banner and the Upper White Banner. Several of them have an excellent reputation and are of the highest character, clean and quick-handed."
Originally, he didn't need to come in person for this matter, but early in the morning, Lower Concubine Liu had saved him face by not blaming him for the previous incident with the nursemaid. So he had to show his gratitude.
For delivering this list, he didn't let his subordinates handle it but came himself.
Lower Concubine Liu accepted the list and wanted to make some small talk, but Eunuch Liu politely took his leave.
"Lower Concubine, there's no need to rush. Please take your time looking it over. Consort Min has said that she will have people discreetly investigate each wet nurse outside the palace before making the final selection from this list."
"If you have any questions, Lower Concubine, feel free to send someone to let me know. I will not disturb your rest with the young Princess."
[This eunuch is quite considerate. He knows my mother didn't sleep well last night and needs to rest.]
[As expected, those who manage to hold positions in the palace are no simpletons. They are all sharp and clever.]
Xiao Chuchu was eagerly watching the show unfold.
I see, this was the case.
Her daughter had reminded her again!
Lower Concubine Liu hurriedly turned around and smiled at Eunuch Liu, who had a "I just happened to pass by" look on his face. "Eunuch Liu is truly attentive to details."
Eunuch Liu's eyes lit up.
For servants, they didn't fear hard work.
They only feared that after their hard work, their masters would not appreciate their efforts.
Someone like Lower Concubine Liu, who saw the good in her servants, was more worthy of following than some of the arrogant or dimwitted masters in the palace.
Thereupon, Eunuch Liu regarded Lower Concubine Liu with more respect.
He bowed deeply and politely withdrew.
[Gained slight favor from Eunuch Liu Xin (low rank) of the Imperial Household Department: 20 points]
Xiao Chuchu was surprised. This counted too.
She grinned.
But soon after, she received another notification.
[Gained Eunuch Liu Xin's (low rank) of the Imperial Household Department subordination: 30 points].
Xiao Chuchu: "?"
Eunuch Liu had already gone out.
Both she and her mother were in the inner room.
But soon after, as she lay in her cradle, she heard Eunuch Liu's respectful greeting at the door.
"This servant pays respects to the Fifth Prince!"
His voice was particularly loud and respectful.
It turned out that after Eunuch Liu withdrew, he immediately encountered the Fifth Prince, Cheng Qian, who was hurrying to see his birth mother and sister.
This time, Eunuch Liu was truly startled.
There had always been rumors in the palace that the Fifth Prince was cold by nature and disdained his birth mother's low status. It was said he rarely visited Lower Concubine Liu but instead treated his foster mother, Consort Li, like his own.
Therefore, most servants in the palace looked down on Lower Concubine Liu.
They often forgot that Lower Concubine Liu had a prince at her side!
But today, when Eunuch Liu saw the anxious expression on the Fifth Prince's face, he realized the rumors should not be believed.
After all, a mother and son share a deep bond as blood relatives.
Eunuch Liu slowed his steps.
Sure enough, he soon heard the Fifth Prince rush into the room, urgently asking, "Mother, I've come to see you and my sister. How are you and my sister? This morning, I heard that you two were almost harmed last night..."
Tsk.
The Fifth Prince still favored his birth mother.
Eunuch Liu of the Imperial Household Department could not help but regard Lower Concubine Liu with more importance. He then hurriedly left.
[1 point spent to redeem a 1-minute dynamic video and inner thoughts of Eunuch Liu.]
Xiao Chuchu inside the room raised her eyebrows.
This system had quite comprehensive functions.
After watching the redeemed video of the situation outside and Eunuch Liu's thoughts, she also understood that he was going to invest in her mother for her brother's sake.
In just one morning, thanks to her mother's words of praise and her brother's brief appearance, the low-ranking but influential Eunuch Liu from the Imperial Household Department had gained a surge of subordination, earning thirty palace intrigue points.
Xiao Chuchu beamed.
Perhaps she could draw lots again tomorrow.
As she was thinking about this, suddenly a pair of soap-scented, youthful yet reliable arms gently encircled her.
"Little sister."
Xiao Chuchu looked up to see the Fifth Prince's expressionless little face.
Although he was already accustomed to hiding his emotions, not letting others discern his longing for his mother's affection, at this moment, his black eyes still betrayed his concern for his sister.
The Fifth Prince was truly frightened.
Even after hearing from his mother that everything was fine, he still wasn't fully reassured.
He warmed his hands and immediately embraced his sister, feeling her little hands for temperature.
Finding them neither cool nor hot, he finally relaxed.
[It's so nice to have an older brother~]
In her previous life, Xiao Chuchu was an orphan and had never experienced a family member's care.
She had rarely been treated with such affection.
[No amount of money could make me trade this brother away~]
The Fifth Prince's expressionless little face quickly softened.
"Mother, from now on, I will come to see my sister whenever I have free time after classes in the study room."
"Rest assured, I will explain the situation to Consort Li. My sister is still young, yet she was almost harmed. If I turn a blind eye to this, Father Emperor and Mother Empress will see me as a cold-blooded person who disregards family ties."
In this way, Consort Li would also agree for him to come.
After all, he was raised under Consort Li's knees, and Consort Li also hoped that he would gain the Emperor's attention.
Otherwise, even if he was raised well, it would be useless.
"Good. Cheng Qian, you're thinking correctly."
Lower Concubine Liu agreed, feeling gratified and fortunate that her son had matured overnight.
They all needed to do well and avoid what her daughter had mentioned.
"You're the elder brother, so you must love and protect the young Princess from now on."
The Fifth Prince nodded firmly, "Mother, your son will do so."
Xiao Chuchu was somewhat immersed in the blissful surroundings of familial affection.
If this was a dream, she hoped she would never wake up.
She didn't want to be alone anymore; she wanted someone to care for her.
But in an instant, her expression changed.
[Oh no, I remember that on the second day after catching a cold, I went to the study to inspect the Princes' lessons.]
[My brother was distracted due to worrying about me and Mother, so he performed poorly and was publicly caned on the palms by the study instructor. This mistake was recorded in the imperial diary!]
The Fifth Prince, embracing his sister's arms, stiffened for a moment.