Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 415 Visiting Ling'an (1)

Cining Palace.

All the concubines of the rank of Baolin and above went to Cining Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

When Meng Shu arrived in her sedan chair, Consort Chun had not yet arrived, but all the other concubines had already arrived.

Consort Qing stood at the front. Upon seeing Meng Shu, her eyes flickered slightly, but she remained silent. Consort Pei, being of low rank, could not attend; at this moment, only Consort Yang was by her side.

Seeing Meng Shu's gaze sweep over, Yang Baolin hurriedly lowered her head and bowed. The newly changed pearl hairpin in her hair trembled slightly with the movement, making a tinkling sound. This was because she had just been promoted to Consort Qing, and her headdress had already been changed to the latest fashion style.

Meng Shu's gaze lingered on Qing Zhaoyi's slightly flustered face for a moment, her eyes deepening. That day, on the palace path leading to Lingcui Palace, they had almost fallen into a trap; it was probably this unassuming Baolin who had given Qing Zhaoyi the idea.

Just as she was lost in thought, Consort Rong walked gracefully forward and lightly touched Meng Shu's sleeve with her fingertips. "Sister Jinpin, your apricot color today is truly bright and beautiful, making you even more beautiful than the flowers."

Upon hearing this, Consort Qu's fingertips trembled slightly, and she unconsciously clenched the cuffs of her apricot-colored palace dress. She had originally thought that this newly made apricot-colored dress would suit her best, but compared to Consort Jin's dress, it seemed like a clumsy imitation, making her feel ashamed of herself.

Meng Shu smiled and responded a few times, then asked, "Since Consort Yi didn't come today, has the Second Princess's illness not improved yet?"

A hint of pity appeared in Qi Zhaorong's eyes as she herself became a mother. She replied, "Being a mother is the most heart-wrenching thing. If the child is sick, it's truly impossible to eat or sleep. Why don't we go to Shujing Palace to visit him after we've paid our respects?"

Meng Shu was just looking for an opportunity to go over, so she nodded and said, "Alright."

Upon hearing this, Consort Song, who was standing to the side, softened her usually aloof expression: "I was just thinking of visiting Yi'an later. Would you two sisters be willing to come with me?"

Qi Zhaorong looked at Meng Shu, and seeing that she had no objection, she smiled and agreed.

Ever since Consort Song nearly injured Lingyi, she had been going to Dieqiong Pavilion every day to apologize. At first, Consort Qi treated her coldly, but as time went on, seeing her sincere repentance, her attitude gradually softened.

In the desolate depths of the palace, genuine kindness is rare indeed. Even though Consort Song was aloof, she treated Consort Yi with utmost sincerity.

After a short while, Consort Chun arrived in her sedan chair.

As Green Willow had predicted, Consort Chun was indeed wearing an apricot blossom hairpin.

Consort Qi's gaze swept over the two women's hair, and she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckled: "What a coincidence. Consort Chun and Consort Jin are wearing the same hairpin, as if they made a pact. Each one is more beautiful than the other, and it's truly hard to look away."

Consort Qi spoke in a loud voice, drawing the attention of all the concubines.

Meng Shu's beauty was already unparalleled in the palace, but Consort Chun's attire today was also quite striking. Her lotus-colored brocade palace dress was extremely luxurious, and the apricot blossom hairpin in her hair gave her a completely different charm, unlike Meng Shu's bright and delicate beauty, instead exuding a sense of dignified elegance.

The two stood side by side, and the concubines secretly compared them, but none of them could say who was better.

This is the scene one sees when the emperor and empress arrive in their ceremonial procession.

The Emperor's gaze was naturally drawn to her, and even as they moved to the front of the main hall of the Cining Palace, his eyes continued to fall on Meng Shu from time to time.

The Great Zhou Dynasty governed the world with filial piety. On the first day of the first lunar month, even the emperor had to perform the full ceremony to the empress dowager to demonstrate filial piety.

The imperial procession stopped outside the palace gates, and the emperor, dressed in a bright yellow court robe, solemnly knelt in the center of the main hall of the Cining Palace. "Your subject respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health! With the beginning of a new era, all things are renewed. I humbly pray that Your Majesty enjoys good health and longevity."

The Empress, dressed in a bright red court robe and wearing a kingfisher feather phoenix crown, led the concubines in three steps into the hall behind the Emperor. After the Emperor finished his rites, she led the concubines in performing the six-fold bowing, three-kneeling, and three-kowtow ceremony, chanting: "Your subject, leading the concubines of the six palaces, congratulates Your Majesty on your new year. May Your Majesty enjoy spring and summer peace, autumn and winter happiness, may a thousand auspicious clouds gather, and may your virtuous character shine forever."

Consort Chun, as the head of the concubines, led the other concubines in bowing again and saying in unison, "We, the concubines, wish Her Majesty a happy new year. May Her Majesty live as long as the pine and cypress."

Empress Dowager Jiang sat on her throne, looking at the kneeling concubines in the hall. Her gaze lingered on Meng Shu's protruding belly before she smiled and said, "Rise, all of you."

The palace maids of Cining Palace led the concubines to their seats in turn.

Empress Dowager Jiang first chatted with the Emperor and Empress about various New Year's matters, then steered the conversation towards Meng Shu. "Consort Jin looks to be almost four months pregnant, doesn't she?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu was about to get up to reply when the Empress Dowager raised her hand, gesturing for her to sit still: "Pregnancy is hard work, so please sit properly. The Emperor should send more capable people to serve you, and the Imperial Hospital should also have someone check your pulse every day."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor immediately replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have ordered the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Academy to personally examine your pulse, and the Shanggong Bureau is also taking meticulous care of your diet and daily life."

Empress Dowager Jiang said gently, "That's good."

Her gaze swept over the Empress, who was gently fiddling with the knob on the teacup lid using her gilded nail guards.

"Your Majesty should also pay more attention. Ling'an's illness has not improved for a long time, so you should take better care of her in your daily life."

The Empress smiled just the right amount: "Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by me."

"The Emperor is diligent in his duties, and the harem is harmonious. This is my greatest comfort." After saying a few words, Empress Dowager Jiang had someone bring over the rewards. In front of everyone, she bestowed them upon Consort Qi and Consort Meng, and then had someone bring a pair of enamel-painted vases with children playing designs to Consort Yi.

Empress Dowager Jiang's attitude was clear: she was openly promoting concubines who had children or were pregnant.

The expressions of the people in the hall varied; some were envious, some were resentful, and some forced smiles.

After serving for about half an hour at Cining Palace, the Emperor and Empress dined with the Empress Dowager, and Meng Shu and the others took their leave one by one.

Upon leaving the Cining Palace, Consort Chun heard that Meng Shu was going to Shujing Palace to visit the Second Princess, so she instructed Meng Zhu to go back and fetch some gifts, and went along with her.

Upon hearing the announcement, Yuehuan led the palace servants to wait with their heads bowed below the steps in front of Shujing Palace.

As everyone passed through the two moon gates into the inner courtyard, Yi Xiuyuan was already standing outside the flower hall to greet them. Today, she was wearing a lotus-colored jacket and only a plain silver hairpin in her hair. She looked much thinner than usual, and upon closer inspection, faint blue shadows could be seen under her eyes.

As soon as Meng Shu entered the courtyard, she subtly observed the surroundings and noticed that when Yi Xiuyuan glanced at Qi Zhaorong, her gaze seemed to dart away.

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