Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 471 Strange or Not

The Empress was watching Xingyu pruning the flowers by the window when she heard that Consort Qu was requesting an audience outside the palace. She twirled a half-withered leaf between her fingers and said to Zhixue beside her, "She certainly arrived quickly."

"Does Your Majesty wish to see her? Otherwise, this servant may send her away. Consort Qu's father and brothers were imprisoned by the Dali Temple last night. They have come here at this time, presumably to ask Your Majesty to intercede on their behalf before the Emperor."

The Empress tossed the leaf into the bamboo basket, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "Of course I must see her. She offended Consort Jin earlier because she was pregnant with the Emperor's child, and now that her family has committed such a disgraceful act, she's suddenly thinking of me."

Qu Jieyu, supported by Cuiping's arm, entered the flower hall. Upon seeing the Empress, she was about to curtsy, but the Empress raised her hand to stop her: "No need, you're pregnant, be careful."

After sitting down, for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Qu Jieyu's fingertips trembled slightly, but she kept her eyes downcast and did not mention her father and brother's imprisonment.

The Empress saw it all but wouldn't bring it up herself.

She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked to the side as she watched Xingyu tend to the flowers at a leisurely pace.

Five or six pink and white peonies were already inserted into the copper-bodied cloisonné vase, which Xingyu was adjusting the angle of.

Qu Jieyu also looked up at the table.

She was always calm and collected. At this moment, looking at the peony in the vase, she saw that Xingyu was about to add another branch, and suddenly spoke up to stop her.

Then he reached out and gently plucked two of the most blooming side branches.

She tossed the plucked peonies onto the table, her voice gentle, “Your Majesty, look, Miss Xingyu piled them up too densely just now. These two blossoms, though vibrant, obscure the main stem’s elegance. Now that they’re more sparse, they look more spirited and make the patterns on the vase clearer.”

The Empress lowered her eyes to look at the adjusted flower branches, her expression softened, and she said to Zhixue, "Go and bring Consort Qu a cup of lotus bud soup."

Consort Qu quickly curtsied and said, "I am clumsy and don't know anything about these delicate crafts. I just feel that good things need to be matched with the right methods so as not to waste their goodness."

The Empress raised her eyes and carefully examined Qu Jieyu's expression. The moon-white palace dress made Qu Jieyu's face look even paler.

"Imperial Physician Lu just visited your palace this morning. I just heard from Zhixue that you had a miscarriage. You still don't look well. You should be resting in Chunxi Palace. Why bother making this trip?"

Upon hearing this, Consort Qu said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, I have come here because of the child in my womb. Since yesterday, I have not been able to sleep well at night. I have heard that Physician Cui is most skilled at diagnosing fetal conditions, and I humbly request Your Majesty's grace to allow Physician Cui to examine my pulse..."

Before she could finish speaking, she curtsied again, saying, "My family has encountered trouble, and I know it is inappropriate for me to come and bother you at this time, but this child... is my only hope."

The Empress paused, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

She originally thought the other party was trying to curry favor and seek help, but she didn't expect that Qu Jieyu would not mention her father and brothers at all, but instead only sought medical treatment for the child in her womb.

After a moment of silence in the hall, the Empress looked at Consort Qu's slightly protruding belly and said, "It is certainly permissible to have Imperial Physician Cui take your pulse. He will be coming to Renming Hall later, so let him examine you as well."

......

As Meng Shu walked along the palace road toward Huining Palace, she heard Hongyu come to report.

"You went to the Empress's?" She continued walking, her tone tinged with surprise.

After a while, she said, "That's a bit strange. Logically speaking, she should have gone to the Funing Palace. Even kneeling down to beg for forgiveness would have been more effective than going to the Empress."

Green Willow pondered and said, "Perhaps he should go to the Empress to plead for him."

"No, although the Qu family father and son made a scene, their crime does not warrant death. The crux of this case lies with her. Sending imperial gifts out of the palace without authorization is a serious crime for a concubine," Meng Shu interrupted calmly.

As they approached the gate of Huining Palace, the young guard was about to step forward to pay his respects when Meng Shu suddenly stopped.

She suddenly turned around and instructed Hongyu, "Go and keep watch near the Imperial Hospital. Today is the day when Imperial Physician Cui is on duty to take the Empress's pulse. Observe carefully whether he has been there, how long he stayed in the palace, and what his expression was like when he came out... Observe carefully, don't miss anything."

Hongyu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly curtsied and replied, "Yes, this servant will go right away."

Green Willow, though unaware of the reasoning, knew the matter was of utmost importance.

Following Meng Shu into Huining Palace, Fang said worriedly, "Your Majesty, is Consort Qu trying to use this pregnancy to curry favor with the Empress? If she really gains the Empress's favor, things will probably get even more complicated in the future."

Meng Shu thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "She's cunning. Even if the Empress wants to use her, she'll always be wary of her turning on her. That's fine too; mutual suspicion makes it easier for us to defeat her one by one than a united front. For the time being, you shouldn't meet with Cuiping. Let her slowly gain Qu Jieyu's trust, which will make things easier later..."

These past two days, Meng Shu sent Xia'er and Chun'er to clean and tidy up Huining Palace. Granny Kong and several palace maids, including Ruizhu, also returned to the palace yesterday. Huining Palace has been cleaned up spotlessly.

Ruizhu was waiting in the front hall. When she saw Meng Shu, she quickly stepped forward to greet her.

Without Mengzhu keeping her in check, she became quite the chatterbox: "Your Highness, you have no idea how happy our Lady was to hear that she could return to the palace early. She has been looking forward to it ever since she received the news. She was originally thinking of having Aunt Mei come back early, but it was only after Granny Kong persuaded her that she changed her mind and had her bring a few of us servants over to settle in first."

Meng Shu was amused by her lively spirit, took her hand and asked softly, "Has anything happened at the palace these days?"

Although Consort Chun wrote frequently, she only wrote about amusing things or sent some novel trinkets to Yu Nu'er. Empress Dowager Zhou had indeed brought Manager Qi of Yongxiu Cloth Shop to the imperial palace, and her needlework skills had improved. She would always include an embroidered handkerchief with each letter she sent.

Upon hearing this, Ruizhu replied, "Nothing much has happened at the palace, except for a few fools trying to cause trouble, which Aunt Rongxiu dealt with a while ago. However..."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "However, the old lady in the mansion is not in good health. The Zhen family physician returns to the mansion every few days, which made the Empress notice something was wrong. So the Empress Dowager found an excuse to send someone to invite the old lady and the third and seventh young ladies of the mansion to stay for half a day. The Empress Dowager saw that although the old lady was a bit thin, she was still in good spirits when she spoke, so she breathed a sigh of relief."

Meng Shu nodded, then heard Ruizhu mention the Han family girl.

"...In addition, a few days ago, when Old Madam Han went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, she brought Miss Han with her. Miss Han also went to the side hall to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, and she seemed to be particularly interested in our Marquis's mansion, which was rather strange."

"What's strange about it?" Meng Shu pressed.

The Han family and the Tang family had no prior dealings, so it's intriguing that Miss Han suddenly took a liking to the Marquis's mansion.

Ruizhu frowned and said, "Miss Han seems to have a cheerful personality and speaks frankly, but she always tries to inquire about the Marquis's mansion in a roundabout way. It's obvious to everyone who hears her."

She...she even used your change of status as an excuse to ask, 'Are the household slaves in the Marquis's mansion also granted the privilege of being freed from slavery and leaving the mansion?' Don't you think that's strange?"