frightfiction Chapter 1690 Too much good fortune becomes a curse
Chapter 1690 Too much good fortune becomes a curse
Fuqu smiled and shook her head: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant knows what she's doing."
"I feel at ease every day I can share Your Highness's burdens."
"Besides, seeing that Qiuyue can become a useful person and serve Your Highness well in the future, I can truly feel at ease after leaving the palace."
Shen Zhinian felt a warmth in her heart.
From that day on, observant people in Yongshou Palace noticed that Sister Fuqu, who had previously always kept Qiuyue and Xiafeng by her side to teach them, was now giving Qiuyue more guidance.
When Fuqu was handling palace affairs, she would have Qiuyue watch over her and occasionally whisper a few words of explanation.
Qiuyue would also be asked to check the accounts and take inventory of the warehouse, with Qiuyue providing guidance.
Sometimes, Fuqu would specifically ask Qiuyue to relay or handle certain tasks assigned by Shen Zhinian. Afterwards, she would carefully inquire about the details and offer guidance.
Qiuyue was a smart person and knew that this was a great opportunity and a sign of trust, so she studied with extra care.
She was already meticulous, and with Fuqu's careful guidance, she made rapid progress and became increasingly calm and thorough in her actions.
Xia Feng knew that he had failed to be selected.
But she felt no resentment.
The position of head palace maid was always given to the most capable person.
Her abilities are inferior to Qiuyue's, and since Sister Fuqu chose Qiuyue, she had nothing to say.
The Empress is a fair person. As long as she is loyal to the Empress and does her job diligently, she will eventually have her day.
……
Recently, rumors have been circulating in teahouses, taverns, and streets of Beijing...
Those words were light and fleeting, their source unclear, yet they were still bothersome.
"Have you heard? The lady in the palace is pregnant again, and with a baby who's a blessing from heaven!"
"That's an incredible blessing!"
"Good fortune is good fortune, but sometimes too much good fortune isn't necessarily a good thing..."
"How do you say this?"
"Think about it, didn't the palace lose two imperial heirs in a row? One was Consort Feng, and the other was Consort Chu... what was it again? Anyway, they were both born without the fortune to give birth."
"Why is it that when something like this happens to them, the one in Yongshou Palace is pregnant?"
"Oh, now that you mention it... it is quite a coincidence."
"Coincidence? There aren't that many coincidences in the world!"
"I have a distant relative who works in the palace. I overheard some gossip. They said those two were perfectly fine before, but as soon as the Imperial Noble Consort became pregnant, they both started having affairs one after another..."
"I'm afraid some people can't tolerate any dissent, can't stand seeing others share the emperor's favor, and even less can they stand seeing others carrying the emperor's offspring..."
"Shh! Are you out of your mind? How dare you say such nonsense!"
"Where did I say anything wrong? Figure it out yourself. We ordinary folks are just guessing."
"Isn't it said that this child born in Yongshou Palace is a lucky star? Perhaps the lucky star's fortune is so strong that it... suppresses and even harms the meager fortune of others?"
"This excessive good fortune can sometimes turn into a curse..."
"Oh dear, this is getting more and more mysterious!"
"Stop talking, have some tea!"
"..."
Rumors began to spread quietly amidst these whispers...
The disseminator's claims are dubious, and the listener is skeptical.
But in this world, people are often more willing to believe those stories that are shrouded in secrecy and concern the private affairs of the powerful and wealthy.
Especially those involving the imperial family, favored concubines, and unborn princes and princesses.
……
Shen House.
study.
Shen Maoxue, dressed in casual clothes, was sitting and talking with a young official.
The young official had a handsome face and a gentle demeanor; he was Lu Jianglin, who had been transferred back to the capital and was now working in the Ministry of Personnel.
Lu Jianglin gently pushed several documents in front of Shen Maoxue: "...In this assessment, several officials from Jiangsu and Zhejiang have achieved remarkable results. Hangzhou is the best in particular, with significant achievements in both canal transport and people's livelihood."
"His Majesty will likely approve of the Ministry of Personnel's proposed top-tier evaluation."
Shen Maoxue nodded slightly, took the document and examined it carefully, a satisfied look appearing on his face.
Lu Jianglin is his son-in-law and a junior colleague whom he values highly. He is exceptionally capable and handles matters with prudence. His return to Beijing for this new post has brought him considerable satisfaction.
As the two were talking, there was a knock at the door of the study. The butler respectfully announced, "Master, Madam requests an audience."
Shen Maoxue looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Xia Lingshu was his second wife. She was young and capable and managed the Shen family's backyard in an orderly manner.
She was always mindful of boundaries and rarely bothered him when he was entertaining guests unless it was something urgent.
The official business had been largely concluded. Lu Jianglin, being very perceptive, immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Since Father-in-law has family matters to attend to, I shall take my leave."
"There are still some documents to be sorted out at the Ministry of Personnel. I will come to consult with you another day."
Shen Maoxue didn't linger, and said gently, "Alright, go ahead and get busy."
"You should keep in mind what I just said."
"Yes, I'll take my leave."
Lu Jianglin bowed again, turned and left the study, brushing past Xia Lingshu at the door.
The two nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Xia Lingshu was wearing a brocade dress today, with a light green vest over it. Her hair was neatly styled and adorned with two simple pearl hairpins.
Although dressed simply, her shrewdness and competence were undeniable.
But at this moment, a look of solemnity appeared on her face.
"master."
After entering the study, Xia Lingshu curtsied and said in a low voice, "Something has happened outside."
Seeing her expression, Shen Maoxue knew it must be something serious. He put down the documents in his hand and asked in a deep voice, "What's the matter that you're so flustered?"
"It's not that I'm panicked, it's that this matter concerns the palace."
Xia Lingshu succinctly recounted the obscure rumors circulating quietly in the city.
She was in charge of the household affairs of the Shen family, and the Xia family's businesses spanned the north and south, with their shops, warehouses, and carriage companies all being well-informed.
As soon as the rumors started, the stewards and managers of the Xia family sensed something unusual and immediately relayed the news to Xia Lingshu.
Upon hearing this, Shen Maoxue's brows furrowed deeply: "...Absurd! Vicious!"
"The Imperial Noble Consort lives deep within the palace, resting and recuperating during her pregnancy. How could she possibly pay attention to such demonic tricks?"
"The Feng and Chu families are corrupt and short-lived; what do they have to do with the Imperial Noble Consort?"
"This is clearly someone who can't stand to see Her Majesty doing well and doesn't want the imperial heir in her womb to be safe, so they deliberately spread rumors to slander Her Majesty."
As a seasoned official with keen insight into human nature, the Minister of Personnel instantly grasped the crux of the matter: "The rumors seem to be targeting the Imperial Noble Consort, but in reality, they are aimed at the imperial heir in her womb. Their intentions are despicable!"
"This is to first ruin the reputation of the Imperial Noble Consort and shake His Majesty's and the court's expectations for this imperial heir."
Xia Lingshu nodded: "What you say is absolutely right, sir."
"I also believe that this is not just idle gossip from ordinary people; there must be someone behind it all stirring things up."
"His intentions are treacherous; we must be wary of him!"
Shen Maoxue looked at her: "Do you have a plan?"
Xia Lingshu immediately replied, "After learning of the news, I made arrangements immediately. I instructed the Xia family's people in various locations to secretly keep an eye on the source of the initial spread of the rumors."