Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 461 Madam Han Enters the Capital

Green Willow respectfully said, "Your Majesty, Consort Qu is currently pregnant, and the palace is in turmoil. It is not a good time for you to return to the palace. Consort Jin said that you should stay at the temporary palace in peace."

Firstly, we should wait until the war in the northern frontier subsides before making any further decisions. Secondly... we should also take this time to eliminate any potential problems within the palace, so that we can safely welcome you back to the palace for your safe delivery.

“I understand. Now that my pregnancy is becoming more and more obvious, returning to the palace would only cause trouble, and Shu’er would have to take care of me.” Consort Chun sighed as she spoke. “It’s alright at the temporary palace. Aunt Mei and Aunt Rongxiu have guarded this side hall very well. It’s just that Shu’er hasn’t said what she’s going to do, and I always have a weight on my mind.”

As she spoke, she folded the letter. Mengzhu stepped forward, took it, and lit the edges with the candlelight. She watched as the paper curled into ashes before crushing it into the copper basin.

"I never expected that Consort Qu, who looks so gentle and weak, would have such a ruthless and vicious mind." Consort Chun's tone turned serious: "Go back and tell Shu'er to stay away from Chunxi Palace. Although Consort Qu is just a minor consort, we must be careful that she doesn't cause trouble because of her pregnancy, so that it won't affect Shu'er."

Managing the six palaces is both a power and a trap; for every person who falls because of it, just as many others strive for it. Although the Empress has lost power this time, she is no longer subject to constraints. Fortunately, the household had previously placed many people in the palace, so Shu'er won't worry about a lack of capable people.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Our Lady said she knows what she's doing. She also told you not to take the Empress's words too seriously in the future. If there is anything important, she will send me over in advance."

Seeing that the atmosphere in the hall was somewhat tense, Green Willow changed the subject as Meng Shu had instructed. Her gaze fell on the ice basins on both sides of the hall, and she said with a smile, "Your Majesty has always been afraid of the heat, and now that you are pregnant, having too many ice basins would only harm your health. Winter Melon came up with a solution, and when he heard that I was coming, he specially asked me to tell Your Majesty."

Aunt Mei asked in surprise, "What's the good idea? Tell me quickly."

Ruizhu also said, "There are always strange and unusual folk remedies for winter melon. My aunt and the Empress argue every day about how many ice basins to use."

Green Willow couldn't help but laugh when she thought of that method. Meeting the gazes of the master and servants, she quickly said, "This is indeed a traditional method from the hometown of Winter Melon. I heard about it when I was in Jinnan. It involves taking a large winter melon, washing it whole, drying it, and placing it directly by the bed. It can both absorb heat and cool down, and the effect is excellent."

Consort Chun was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but chuckle: "This method is quite novel, using winter melon instead..."

Aunt Mei chuckled, "I'll go ask Physician Zhen later. If it's suitable, I'll find Her Highness a winter melon with a decent appearance."

“There’s one in the Crown Prince’s bedroom,” Green Willow added. “Winter melons keep well and don’t spoil easily, so it’s definitely a good method.”

These words indeed dispelled the previous gloom, and Consort Chun's sorrowful expression faded considerably. Aunt Mei nodded slightly to Green Willow and said gently as she saw her off, "It's not easy for Consort Jin to be alone in the palace. We'll take care of her here, so she doesn't need to worry too much. The Empress Dowager is in charge at the temporary palace. A couple of days ago, the Empress Dowager even found an excuse to bring the Fifth Miss and the Seventh Miss over for half a day."

Green Willow hesitated, "Wouldn't this be too conspicuous? Everyone in the palace is watching the imperial palace, and the Emperor sends eunuch Jing over every now and then..."

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said that since she has accepted our Consort to rest and recuperate here, there is no need to be too concerned." Aunt Mei sighed. "Actually, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's health has not been very good lately, and Consort Chun is also very worried about it in private."

After the two talked for a while longer, Green Willow returned to the palace.

......

Before we knew it, it was early July, and the summer heat was getting stronger.

Meng Shu had been assisting in managing the six palaces for over a month, and the Shangfu Bureau's clothing department had also been completely renovated.

Although Aunt Zhou in the embroidery room was implicated that day, she was usually cautious and meticulous. After being punished, she was quickly promoted to head of the embroidery room and put in charge of all the affairs of the embroidery room.

The matter was clearly rewarded and punished, and the people of the six bureaus and twenty-four departments had no objections. The palace officials and servants were also encouraged by this, and they became more alert and cautious in their actions. All correspondence and the handover of items were carried out in accordance with regulations, and there was no longer any procrastination or shirking of responsibility as before.

Among them, Cailian had always been on good terms with Aunt Zhou, who trusted her greatly and took her in as a disciple. Aunt Zhou even asked Meng Shu to arrange a position for her as a lady-in-waiting. In this way, Cailian naturally gained a foothold in the Imperial Wardrobe.

During this period, things remained peaceful in the harem.

Qu Jieyu visited Lingcui Palace twice, but didn't even get to see Meng Shu.

Consort Qing seemed to have changed her ways, staying quietly in Zhaoqing Palace and no longer causing trouble. On the other hand, Consort Yang, who lived in a side hall of her palace, received the emperor's favor twice.

The Empress, in accordance with the Emperor's wishes, "rested quietly" in the Renming Hall. Under the pretext of feeling unwell, she summoned Madam Jiang to the palace twice to visit her. As for what they talked about in the hall, outsiders have no idea.

The Emperor came to Lingcui Palace almost every day, either to have lunch with Meng Shu or to visit Yu Nu'er.

Meng Shu recovered remarkably well after childbirth; her complexion was radiant, and her beauty was even more captivating than before. The Emperor naturally desired to be intimate with her, and he always wanted to rest at the Cuiyu Hall at night.

But Yu Nu'er stretched out her little hands and kicked her little legs, occupying the bed.

He tried several times to have the wet nurse take the little one back to the warm pavilion, but the little one seemed to be picky about the bed, crying loudly as soon as he was taken away from it, his little face turning red from crying. But as soon as he was put back next to Meng Shu, with tears still clinging to his eyelashes, he would first grin with his toothless little mouth, showing people a toothless smile. Seeing this, the Emperor had no more temper to vent, and could only sigh and return to his Funing Palace.

He had considered summoning Meng Shu to the Funing Palace to serve him, but seeing the subtle aloofness in her eyes, he ultimately refrained from doing so. And in the past month, no other concubines had been summoned to the Funing Palace.

In mid-July, a novel event occurred in Yongchangfang, Beijing, attracting the attention of the entire city.

The Emperor had previously used the pretext of an epidemic in the northern frontier to send the Imperial Guards to bring Han Guangbi's family back to the capital.

On the eve of their arrival in the capital, Physician He, together with Physician Cui Huan from the Imperial Medical Academy, made a special trip to the outskirts of the city to examine the pulses of everyone in the Han family. Only after confirming that no one was infected with the plague did the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War dare to proceed with their duties.

Marquis Jiang Wei of Zhenbei led his personal guards out of the city to welcome Madam Han, escorting her all the way to the General's Mansion in Yongchang Ward. This mansion was originally the former residence of the General of the State of the previous dynasty, and the Emperor specially ordered its renovation. With its vermilion gates, copper rings, flying eaves, and brackets, it was magnificent.

That afternoon, after resting for only half an hour, Madam Han, disregarding the fatigue of the journey, changed into her brand-new dark blue imperial robes and, with her granddaughter Han Shuyi, boarded the carriage sent by the palace to enter the palace to express her gratitude.

When the carriage curtain was lifted, one could see that the old lady's silver hair at her temples was meticulously styled, and although she looked tired, her back was ramrod straight.

The girl beside him was beautiful, and her spirited eyes peered curiously at the streets of the capital through the gap in the carriage curtain.