Entering her small room, she arranged the rose-red, yellow, and white flower petals in a delicate pattern within a green jade vase. After carefully examining her work, she nodded with satisfaction.

In her modern life, she had studied flower arrangement. With her natural talent, she had been the fastest and best student in the flower arranging class. She chose five-colored plum blossoms because once, when she was moving, she had bought a pot of them to brighten her living room. Accidentally touching them had caused her severe allergies – unbearably itchy with red rashes covering her hands and face.

If this were her previous life as Ruiyi, she would have had plenty of mysterious substances and poisons to solve problems. But now, as a mere palace maid with nothing at hand, she had to improvise with local materials.

Carrying the flowers as she walked outside, today Su Ling was on duty serving tea. Within a few days, Qin Chang Ge had already figured out their shift schedules and individual specialties. Su Ling excelled at brewing tea. When His Majesty arrived, Her Ladyship would certainly summon her. Calculating the time, she should be going on duty now.

Sure enough, she encountered Su Ling in the corridor. Su Ling’s gaze swept over and suddenly brightened, saying delightedly: “Your flowers are quite beautiful – where did you get them?”

Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Just picked them from the garden.”

“I can see that,” Su Ling moved closer to examine the flowers carefully, leaning in to smell them and gently stroking the delicate petals. She laughed: “Looking closely, they’re just garden flowers, but why do they seem so different? Artfully sparse and uniquely charming.”

Qin Chang Ge laughed: “You must be in good spirits today – everything looks pleasant to you. They’re just ordinary flowers. Are you heading to the tea room? If it’s convenient, please mention to Eunuch Zhang that I’ll come later to get some of this year’s autumn tea for Aunt Jin Yun – she’s been wanting to drink it but keeps forgetting.”

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have nearly forgotten,” Su Ling exclaimed: “I must hurry to my duties. I’ll remember your request.” She reluctantly touched the flowers once more before hurrying away.

As soon as she left, Qin Chang Ge immediately returned to her room with the vase, threw away the five-colored plum blossoms, and kept only the ordinary wood hibiscus.

After waiting briefly, she rummaged through her room, took an item and tucked it in her sleeve, then leisurely walked toward the tea room.

Lifting the curtain to enter, Qin Chang Ge said with a smile: “Sister Su Ling, did you mention it for me? Oh my, what’s wrong with you?”

Inside the room, Su Ling was clutching her hands and pacing in circles, so anxious her voice had changed pitch: “What should I do? What should I do?”

Qin Chang Ge glanced over and saw that Su Ling’s hands had indeed developed a layer of fine, dense rashes – tiny red spots clustered against her snow-white skin, looking quite alarming.

Eunuch Zhang, who managed the tea leaves, was picking his teeth to one side, saying indifferently: “Miss, it’s not that I won’t warn you, but looking like this, forget about brewing tea for His Majesty – you’re not even allowed to handle tea leaves. Who knows what terrible condition you’ve contracted? With hands like those, brewing tea for His Majesty to drink – isn’t that seeking death?”

Su Ling was so anxious that tears came to her eyes: “Her Ladyship is still waiting for me to brew tea. What am I to do?”

Qin Chang Ge stepped forward and carefully examined Su Ling’s hands: “Sister, you’ve probably caught a chill or weren’t careful with your diet. It’s likely nothing serious, but you certainly can’t serve tea like this.”

Su Ling looked up with a woeful expression, glanced at Qin Chang Ge, and suddenly her eyes lit up. She grabbed her: “Ming Shuang, you go! I remember you’re also skilled at brewing tea. If you brew it here and send it up, Her Ladyship certainly won’t blame you!”

This time Qin Chang Ge was genuinely startled. She had originally planned to sabotage Su Ling and then volunteer herself, but she hadn’t expected Su Ling to automatically mention that the original owner of this body was also skilled at tea brewing. This was somewhat troublesome…

Rolling her eyes, Qin Chang Ge smiled: “When sister has difficulties, how can I not help? However, even though I know some tea ceremony, Her Ladyship and His Majesty are accustomed to your tea. Suddenly changing the taste might not be good. How about I fetch the tea leaves and brew it under your guidance before sending it up?”

Su Ling thought this made sense, so she taught Qin Chang Ge her tea brewing steps in detail. Shortly after, steam rose from the white jade relief lotus-and-crab patterned teacup. The clear tea within was jade-green and fragrant. Just approaching it made one’s mind clear and spirit refreshed.

Qin Chang Ge praised: “Sister has excellent skill.” She picked up a tray of matching quality and pattern and departed.

Su Ling remained standing there, anxiously staring at the rashes on the back of her hands.

She murmured: “That girl better not cause me trouble…”