Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 446 "Our Wan'er is far too naive"

The Emperor stared at her intently for a moment before slowly saying, "Han Guangbi has been stationed in the northern border for thirteen years. The northern border will not be lost."

His tone was flat and emotionless.

It's as if to say that the stability of the northern frontier doesn't need to be entrusted with a name.

Whether or not the character “晏” is used is naturally irrelevant.

The Empress silently withdrew her fingertips from above the vermilion notice, and in an instant composed herself. She followed up the conversation with a smile, saying, "Uncle is indeed skilled in battle and extremely adept at training troops. When I was at home, I often heard my father say that the Han family army was valiant."

The Emperor hummed in acknowledgment, his fingertips returning to the vermilion scroll, but he did not look at the words again.

“There has been an outbreak of disease in northern Xinjiang recently. Although it has been brought under control, it is still a dangerous place.”

He suddenly changed the subject, his voice still calm, "I have already sent a messenger to bring Han Guangbi and his family back to the capital. The Ministry of Rites has allocated a five-courtyard mansion in the east of the city for them to settle in properly in the capital."

These words, though spoken lightly, sent a slight jolt through the Empress's heart.

A whole family? A five-courtyard mansion?

Uncle Han spent half his life on the battlefield. After his aunt passed away, he never considered remarrying, never even taking a concubine, and had no children whatsoever. Now, the Han family only has one elderly mother left, whom they specially brought from their ancestral home in the southwest to the northern frontier to care for.

Why make an elderly woman in her fifties, who has been a devout Buddhist for many years, travel back to Beijing?

Oh no.

The Empress suddenly remembered that her uncle had taken in a goddaughter who had been raised in the old lady's courtyard. She was an orphan girl who had been rescued from the chaos of war years ago, and she should be sixteen years old this year.

The Empress lowered her eyes to conceal her thoughts and said respectfully, "Your Majesty's compassion will surely make the soldiers of the Northern Frontier grateful for Your Majesty's grace."

"If the Eight Treasures Soup is simmered for the right amount of time, it will lose its medicinal effects if it is cooled down."

As she spoke, the Empress opened the food box, took out a bowl of soup, and placed it in front of the Emperor.

The emperor moved the red paper aside, picked up the soup bowl, and took two sips.

"Besides bringing soup, I have another matter to report to Your Majesty."

The Emperor set down the soup bowl, and the Empress said cautiously, "Shen has committed a grave error, and I have no face to plead for her. However, Lingning is currently being cared for by Consort Song, who has always taken excellent care of her..."

“I know that,” the Emperor interrupted before she could finish. “Let’s appoint Lady Song as a concubine. I visited Lingning a few days ago, and Lady Song is indeed very dedicated.”

The Empress bowed slightly and said, "On behalf of Sister Song, I thank Your Majesty for your grace."

"Qu has been in the palace for over a year. She is humble and diligent, virtuous and respectful. She has helped Lingyi twice. She shall be promoted to Jieyu."

The Empress hesitated before asking, "...Since we are to promote them, does Your Majesty have a preferred title for your two sisters?"

The Emperor swirled his spoon. “Song is dignified and respectful, and calm and composed in the face of adversity. I think the character ‘Mu’ is very good; it suits her temperament and also shows her heroic spirit. As for Qu, we will not give her a title for now, but will promote her to a higher rank first.”

The Empress lowered her eyes and replied, "Your Majesty, I have remembered."

The spoon handle tapped against the rim of the bowl, making a soft sound.

The Emperor raised his eyes to look at the Empress opposite him, his tone a few degrees more serious than before: "Only one point: the celebration of Yu Nu'er's full moon and the ceremony of Consort Jin's investiture must not be missed. The Empress must do her best to organize them."

A day later.

Jingming, holding the bright yellow imperial edict, first went to Dieqiong Pavilion to deliver the decree.

Consort Song was promoted to the rank of Chongyi and given the title "Mu". She was ranked among the Nine Concubines, and thereafter all the palace women were addressed as "Consort Mu".

Half an hour later, Jingming accepted the purse handed to him by Fengchi, which was far less generous than the reward given by Huining Palace, and then went to Chunxi Palace along the palace road.

This time, the imperial decree was much simpler: Consort Qu was promoted to the rank of Jieyu, but without any additional title or reward.

After Jingming left, Ruixue helped her mistress into the flower hall, her voice carrying a hint of cautious reassurance: "Mistress, although she hasn't been granted a title... she has still been promoted in rank. When the news from the palace reaches the manor, the master and mistress will be overjoyed."

Qu Jieyu let out a soft sigh after a long while, her tone tinged with an indescribable sense of melancholy.

"...Of course it's something to be happy about. Being promoted at this critical juncture after my cousin was sent to the cold palace will at least put my uncle at ease in court."

She turned to look at Ruixue, her eyes flashing with a sharp light, and coldly ordered, "Go out of the palace in a couple of days and deliver a letter to my uncle. My words used to carry no weight, but now... they finally have some influence."

......

Besides copying scriptures every morning, Consort Chun has recently become obsessed with embroidery.

On the table were two pairs of finished tiger-head shoes. The stitches were not exactly even, but they exuded a kind of earnest simplicity.

"If Your Highness feels bored, why not play the zither to relieve your boredom?" Mengzhu stood to the side, her gaze constantly drifting towards Consort Chun's fingers as she held the embroidery needle. "When I came, I packed my trunks and brought the zither with me. If you really don't want to move, Ruizhu and I can accompany you for a walk in the back garden. I saw that the hibiscus bush was in full bloom yesterday."

Her words were not without reason. Although Consort Chun had learned needlework since childhood, she rarely touched such delicate needles and threads. Just now, the needle tip almost pricked her fingertip, making Mengzhu's heart hang in the air, fearing that she would really pierce her finger.

Ruizhu was tidying up the tangled silk threads for Consort Chun.

She sighed, "In the past, I didn't feel anything. Now that I'm in the imperial palace, life is so slow. Besides talking to the Empress Dowager, there's nothing else to do. No wonder she has to pass the time with needlework."

Consort Chun didn't look up, her fingertips slowly picking at the needle on the shoe surface. "Now I understand why Shu'er likes embroidery. Watching the stitches go down one by one makes me feel at ease."

Suddenly, the needle tip wobbled, startling Mengzhu who let out a soft "Ah!" She laughed, "Look how scared you are, I knew what I was doing."

Consort Chun glanced at Ruizhu and said, "You're complaining that time is passing slowly because you can't find out any news from the palace."

Ruizhu, having her thoughts exposed, chuckled twice and said, her mouth moving faster than her brain, "Speaking of gossip, there's plenty in the palace too."

She froze as soon as she finished speaking. Aunt Rongxiu had instructed her never to mention these things in front of the Empress.

But the words have already been spoken and cannot be taken back.

Consort Chun and Mengzhu exchanged a glance, and both stopped what they were doing, their eyes falling on Ruizhu.

"explain--!"

Two voices rang out at the same time.

Startled by the shout, Ruizhu shrank back, swallowed hard, and dared to speak in a low voice:

"Since the news of Her Majesty's pregnancy reached the palace, in less than a month, Aunt Rongxiu has punished three or four palace servants."

There were cooks from the imperial kitchen, palace maids who used to sweep the front hall, and two eunuchs tending to the flowers and plants in the garden. As soon as they approached the side hall where the Empress resided, they were apprehended by Rongxiu's men.

In addition... at Cheng Guan Zhai, where Physician Zhen is temporarily staying, two snakes entered the courtyard two nights ago...

Mengzhu's face turned pale, and she stood up abruptly: "It's a poisonous snake again!"

Consort Chun's brows instantly hardened with frost. "The Zhen family physician came to take my pulse just the day before yesterday. How come I didn't hear a word about such a big matter?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Ruizhu quickly knelt on the ground.

"...It was Aunt Rongxiu who forbade me to say anything! She said that the snake was caught by the Zhen family physician and soaked in medicinal wine, and it didn't harm anyone. Aunt said that you are pregnant, and the Empress Dowager specifically instructed that these things must not disturb your rest."

Consort Chun took a deep breath and pressed her fingertips firmly on the arm that Mengzhu had helped her up, before she could steady her trembling body: "Go to the Buddhist hall."

......

The air in the Buddhist hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Empress Dowager Zhou was tending to a pot of orchids on the table when she saw Consort Chun enter with a gloomy expression. She understood everything at that moment.

"You know everything?"

Consort Chun opened her mouth before speaking, "I thought that once they went to the imperial palace, they... would at least restrain themselves a bit."

"Our Wan'er is too naive."

Empress Dowager Zhou straightened up and, with Rongxiu's help, sat down on a rosewood chair, her gaze falling on Consort Chun's slightly protruding belly. "Your pregnancy is ten times more serious than Consort Jin's."