However, as Wei Shuxuan walked towards the Wind - Rain Hall with the rat in hand, she suddenly remembered that it was a sunny day. If she went in like this, wouldn't it be extremely dangerous? Due to the storm a few days ago, the red cloth covering the Phoenix Feather Mirror had been blown off. Entering in this situation could be perilous.
Wei Shuxuan was somewhat conflicted. If she didn't go in now, she had no idea when the next sunny day would be. After thinking for a while, she finally came up with a plan.
She changed her direction from heading towards the Wind - Rain Hall and ran towards the maids' quarters not far away. When she reached the main entrance of the maids' quarters, she saw a plaque that read "Mirror - Flower Courtyard". Before marrying Xin Zizhao, Wei Shuxuan had heard from Chief Eunuch Li that the places where the maids and eunuchs lived were mostly named with "courtyard".
Wei Shuxuan knocked on the door and then pushed it open. As soon as she walked in, she saw a young maid washing clothes. The maid heard the sound and looked up, just meeting Wei Shuxuan's eyes from a distance. The young maid was new to the palace and didn't recognize everyone yet. Seeing that Wei Shuxuan was dressed simply but the fabric seemed of good quality, she thought she might be a maid from another palace.
"Hello. May I ask what you need? You don't seem to be a maid from our courtyard."
The young maid took the initiative to talk to Wei Shuxuan. Wei Shuxuan was a bit stunned. She didn't expect there to be someone in the palace who didn't know her real identity. Then she looked at her own clothes. Well, it was no wonder. She was dressed so plainly that she didn't look like the empress who commanded the harem at all.
Wei Shuxuan smiled and readily admitted, "Yes. I just came here to borrow something."
She thought that if she directly revealed her identity, the young maid wouldn't believe her. It was better to say she was a maid. The young maid returned her a smile. "What do you want to borrow? As long as it's within my ability, I'll lend it to you."
"Hahaha," Wei Shuxuan said, winking playfully at the young maid. "I won't ask you for anything too excessive. I just want to borrow a long clothes - drying pole."
"A clothes - drying pole?" The young maid gave Wei Shuxuan a strange look. She didn't expect such a request. "That's no problem. But what do you need it for?"
"...... Hehe," Wei Shuxuan was caught off - guard. Her bright eyes rolled. "My mistress accidentally dropped something into the water. She told me to retrieve it, but I don't have any tools on me, so I had to come here to borrow one."
After saying that, Wei Shuxuan glanced at the young maid. The young maid didn't seem to doubt her words. "If it's for your mistress, there's nothing we can do. Remember to return it to me after you're done."
"Okay. Thank you."
The young maid fetched a relatively long clothes - drying pole from the utility room of the Mirror - Flower Courtyard and gave it to Wei Shuxuan. After thanking her, Wei Shuxuan rushed towards the Wind - Rain Hall.
As soon as Wei Shuxuan reached the main gate of the Wind - Rain Hall, she was stopped by Wei Wei. "Miss, the sun is shining brightly. It's very dangerous inside the Wind - Rain Hall. Please don't go in!"
"I've already said that I won't go in," Wei Shuxuan said helplessly, rubbing her forehead. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have specifically borrowed a long clothes - drying pole."
"Miss, what do you need the clothes - drying pole for?" Wei Wei looked at the pole in Wei Shuxuan's hand.
"Of course, it's useful. I'm not sure if I have enough strength..." Wei Shuxuan carried the cage with the rat in one hand and the long clothes - drying pole in the other. She walked to the inner - hall gate of the Wind - Rain Hall. She threaded the hook of the cage onto the clothes - drying pole, but the two rats were too heavy. Wei Shuxuan didn't have enough strength to reach in.
"It seems I don't have enough strength..."
"Miss, let me help you."
Wei Wei reached out and took the clothes - drying pole from Wei Shuxuan. He sent the rat cage in and placed it on the stone platform, next to the Phoenix Feather Mirror. "Is this place okay, miss?"
Wei Shuxuan looked at the position of the rat cage and nodded. "This position is fine. Just leave it there."
After placing the rat cage, Wei Wei retrieved the clothes - drying pole. "Miss, let's not stay here any longer. It's very dangerous."
"Okay, okay, I know. Let's go back. I'll come back in a few days to see how these two rats are doing."
Under Wei Wei's persuasion, Wei Shuxuan finally left the Wind - Rain Hall. Don't be fooled by Wei Wei's usual taciturnity. When it came to Wei Shuxuan's affairs, he was like a different person.
"Miss, that mirror is so dangerous. Don't investigate it anymore. Be careful not to lose your life. Otherwise, I don't know how to explain it to the late master and mistress."
"Yes, yes, yes. You've said that many times. My ears are getting calloused. I know. I'll be careful. I won't let anything happen to myself. After all, there's someone new by my side now."
Wei Wei knew that the person Wei Shuxuan was referring to was Xin Zizhao. A bittersweet feeling welled up in his heart. But if Wei Shuxuan could be happy, he wouldn't have any complaints.
"I'm really happy that miss can think like this."
"Your expression doesn't show that you're happy at all..." Wei Shuxuan looked at Wei Wei's expressionless face and couldn't help but tease.
When they returned to the Wind - Harmony Hall, Wei Shuxuan was surprised to see Xin Zizhao drinking tea in the main hall. "Xin Zizhao, why did you come back so early? Don't you need to review the memorials today?"
"No. So I came to see you earlier," Xin Zizhao noticed Wei Wei following behind Wei Shuxuan. "Where did you two go just now?"
"We went to the Wind - Rain Hall to do an experiment. I can relax for the next few days. I've been really troubled by the matter of the Phoenix Feather Mirror recently."
Hearing Wei Shuxuan say this, Xin Zizhao frowned. "Xuan'er, you didn't get close to the Phoenix Feather Mirror, did you? It's a sunny day today."
"No. I've told you not to worry. I'll be careful. You two are really long - winded."
Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but roll her eyes at them. Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Wei. Wei Wei met Xin Zizhao's eyes and nodded slightly, then left the main hall.
Just after Wei Wei left the main hall, Wei Shuxuan suddenly remembered that she hadn't returned the clothes - drying pole to the young maid. "Oh no. I still have something to do."
"What do you need to do?"
"Xin Zizhao, wait for me here. I'll be back soon!"