Seeing that Noble Consort Qiao had brought the little princess over, the eunuch in charge quickly perked up.

The four palace maids behind him also smiled and went up to greet them.

“Greetings, Your Highness and the little princess.”

Noble Consort Qiao’s expression was indifferent, her phoenix eyes beautiful and dignified.

She put on the hood for Gu Nuo’er with her hand, and the child immediately looked like she had turned into a small flower that was about to bloom.

Her fair and tender face was flushed red.

The sedan chair was so warm that when she got off, she couldn’t help but curl up in her mother’s arms.

Noble Consort Qiao said with a calm expression, “Eunuch Gao, it’s very cold here with the wind blowing in this direction, so why are you waiting here? Why don’t you go to the corridor and wait?”

The eunuch had wanted to curry up to Noble Consort Qiao, so he rubbed his hands together and said with a smile, “Everyone in the palace knows that Her Majesty is a light sleeper, so this servant is unwilling to disturb her.

“Moreover, Your Highness has instructed that no one is to disturb the empress’s rest. Therefore, this servant decided to just wait here. We haven’t been here for too long and it isn’t cold!”

Noble Consort Qiao pursed her red lips into a faint smile. She gently waved her finger and Wanyin immediately understood.

She held up a small bag of silver and handed it to Eunuch Gao.

When the eunuch saw this, he beamed with joy, but he still suppressed the smile on his lips and said, “Your Highness, how can I accept this?”

Noble Consort Qiao’s eyes were bright as she looked at him indifferently. “You did well. If you abide by the palace’s rules, I’ll reward you.

“However, Eunuch Gao, I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. If the four palace maids you bring over later aren’t to my satisfaction, then you’d better weigh the situation properly. Be careful that the money will burn your hands.”

The noble consort’s threat frightened Eunuch Gao so much that he clenched the silver bag tightly.

“It’s only right. These are the most hardworking, quick-witted, and smart girls in the Palace Affairs Bureau. Your Highness, please head to the side hall to carry out the selection.”

At this moment, the golden hairpin that was firmly inserted diagonally in Noble Consort Qiao’s hair suddenly fell to the ground.

With a crisp snap, the hairpin was broken into two.

This sudden change happened in an instant.

Gu Nuo’er was still leaning on Noble Consort Qiao’s shoulder, sucking on a piece of candy.

However, Noble Consort Qiao’s hairpin had fallen off. This was a huge matter!

One of the four palace maids reacted first. She quickly walked forward and picked up the broken hairpin from the ground.

“Your Highness, please bestow this good fortune to this servant.” She bowed slightly and said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner.

Noble Consort Qiao raised her willow-like eyebrows and looked at her appraisingly. “A broken hairpin has an inauspicious meaning. How can you say that this is good fortune?”

The palace maid said in a clear voice, “This is because it fell from Her Highness’s body and split into two when it landed on the ground. This proves that this is no longer inauspicious.

“As long as this servant thinks of a way to repair it, I’ll be benefiting from Your Highness’s good fortune and good luck will keep coming.”

Wanyin and Wanxuan looked at each other.

They both thought to themselves that the palace maid was very eloquent.

She was able to say something inauspicious in an auspicious way and was even willing to treat this broken hairpin as a gift from Her Highness.

They had to admit that she was very smart.

Noble Consort Qiao also looked very satisfied. “What’s your name?”

“Your Highness, my name is A’Yun.”

Noble Consort Qiao nodded and took note of her.

However, Gu Nuo’er took a few glances and didn’t say anything. Only her beautiful and exquisite eyes were glistening.

When they reached the side hall, the empress still hadn’t woken up.

Empress Du was at a critical period in her recuperation, so there was no need to wait for her to come. Noble Consort Qiao could decide which two palace maids to keep.