The nanny received her orders, taking the Buddha Rice Jiang Xian had sorted into an adjacent room to inspect it with a palace maid.
It was perfectly normal for concubines to be unskilled at sorting Buddha Rice.
For example, Noble Princess Consort Rong picked slowly and occasionally included a flawed grain, but the Empress Dowager wouldn't make a big deal of it. After all, her true intention was merely to keep the two who monopolized the Holy Favor confined to Changle Palace, forcing the Emperor to distribute his favor more evenly.
However, Noble Lady Gu's speed displeased her. Believing the concubine was being perfunctory, the Empress Dowager decided on a strict inspection. The nanny, having served the Empress Dowager for years, naturally understood her intentions. She informed the palace maid that finding a flawed grain of rice would come with an extra reward, then paused. "But no foul play."
The palace maid curtsied in assent.
