Yun Chu was eager to leave the palace. The earlier she left, the longer she could stay outside. In her rush, she tended to forget things; she remembered to bring the gift Yan Ning had prepared for the Jibei Marquis Mansion but forgot her own.
Halfway there, she realized and didn't care about palace rules; seeing no one nearby, she lifted her skirt and ran back. In this rush, she caught the attention of Prince Qi.
Most palace maids were very rule-abiding, fearing any misstep, and noble ladies would hold their skirts tightly, walking at a slow pace. Running was out of the question.
With Yun Chu's fair appearance, she caught quite a bit of attention. Prince Qi had come to meet the Empress Dowager, but now he wasn't in much of a hurry. His intuition told him the maid would return by the same path.
So he stood by the rockery, waiting.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Yun Chu returned, carrying the items happily, only to find her path blocked by a hand holding a jade fan.
