Mei Liang quickly called Cuìyù and Lánxīn into her room.
"You heard what Eunuch Zhao said, right?" Mei Liang asked.
"Yes, Mistress. We heard it," Cuìyù and Lánxīn replied in unison.
"Then you understand how difficult this plague is to detect. I hope you remember my previous instructions. Except for you and Lánxīn, no one else is allowed into the kitchen."
Since they were in the Summer Palace, most pavilions or palaces had their own private kitchens, which made things very convenient. "And aside from essential duties like delivering bathwater, no other servant should be allowed into the inner court.
"Except you or Lánxīn, no one else is allowed in," Mei Liang said. "Also, make sure to watch the servants closely. Some of the bolder ones may not report it even if they are sick or have caught a cold. You must keep an eye on them and tell me immediately if anyone shows signs. Understand?"
