Hua Manman left the Prince Mansion with Si Yun and took a carriage to the palace gates.
She showed her Token to the guards at the gate. The guards immediately became much more polite and asked her purpose for entering the palace.
Hua Manman answered truthfully.
"I wish to see Hua Jieyu. She is my sister."
The guards were in a difficult position. According to the rules, women of the inner palace were not allowed to meet outsiders casually. But Lady Hua held an imperial Token, so they did not dare to be disrespectful.
Unable to make a decision, they could only report the matter up the chain of command.
The news passed through several layers of bureaucracy before finally reaching Zuo Ji's ears. As it happened, the Emperor was not busy at the moment, so Zuo Ji reported the matter to him.
The Emperor had some recollection of Lady Hua and learned that she had come to the palace to see her sister.
