In the eyes of the eunuchs at the Palace Gardens Bureau, Hu Xiaotian had clearly become Eunuch Liu's favorite. Almost everything, great or small, was entrusted to him, so everyone treated him with considerable courtesy. Hu Xiaotian casually picked up a black mulberry and handed it to Baobao. She tasted it, and the sharp, astringent flavor made her pretty brows draw together. Smacking her lips, she said, "So sour!"
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "What do you think?"
"It's nothing like a Chinese bayberry," Baobao said. "It's even sourer than a hawthorn berry."
Hu Xiaotian had the eunuch in charge of the storeroom fill a small basket for Baobao to take away, then added two green mangoes. Since she had come all this way, he could hardly let her leave empty-handed.
Baobao's smile blossomed like a flower. "Eunuch Hu, you're such a good person."
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "No need to be so polite, sister. We all work for the palace, and we all make our living serving others. Make things easier for others, and you make things easier for yourself. Wouldn't you agree?"
Baobao nodded, feeling that this young eunuch was remarkably clever and resourceful. Carrying the bamboo basket filled with fruit, she turned and left the storeroom. Before she emerged from the underground storage area, she seemed to remember something. "Eunuch Hu, but what Consort Lin wanted was Chinese bayberries. If I take these things back instead, will she think I'm fobbing her off?"
"Just explain the circumstances when you get back, sister," Hu Xiaotian said. "I'm sure Consort Lin is a reasonable person. She shouldn't make things difficult for you."
"Oh, right," Baobao said. "I heard your Palace Gardens Bureau has quite a lot of fruit wine. Do you happen to have Chinese bayberry wine? Even if I can't find