Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 574 Granting Zhou Baihe and other official positions

"Verify health certificate?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu's expression turned somewhat solemn.

Although Meng Shu has been neglecting the affairs of the six palaces lately, Green Willow still assists Aunt Mei and Mengzhu with trivial matters as usual. Therefore, she received the news early this morning.

"Your Highness, the Department of Records of the Palace Secretariat is in charge of recording the entries and exits of all departments within the palace. It's quite a coincidence that when I was at the temporary palace, I had Hongyu keep an eye on the Department of Records. Yesterday evening, it was Xiao Anzi, who was by the side of the eunuch Jing, who went to inquire about it."

Green Willow lowered her voice and continued, "I have some acquaintance with Grandmother Shi, so I went there myself just now and took the opportunity to glance at yesterday's list..."

"Is Chen Lin inside?"

Green Willow nodded solemnly, "I don't know if Inspector Jing has noticed anything... but I'm sure that the reason for checking the records is mostly to see Chen Lin's resume."

"We haven't had a chance to speak with Chen Lin yet, and we don't know if he concealed his identity or background when he came in."

"Although he and the Empress are from the same hometown, they still have some old ties because they were sold into the Tang family together. Now that he has been transferred to the Palace Guard, he can enter and leave the palace when he is on duty. If the Emperor becomes suspicious because of this, I'm afraid trouble is coming."

It's like having a fuse buried, ready to ignite at any moment.

After saying this, Green Willow couldn't help but stomp her foot: "Your Majesty, why don't you let me find an opportunity to pass on a message to Chen Lin? If he knows the danger, he should know to stay far away. If he wants to make a name for himself, why does he have to take the path of the Palace Guard?"

The green willow was already showing signs of anger.

Meng Shu shook her head and said, "Being transferred from the northern frontier to the capital, and then directly to the imperial city to serve, involves a lot of things. It's not something you can just leave on a whim. For now, it's better to pretend you don't know anything, and you shouldn't go to see him rashly."

After a moment's hesitation, she added, "Uncle should report to the Ministry of Personnel today. Go to the small kitchen and have Donggua stew a bowl of autumn pear soup. In the afternoon, come with me to the Funing Palace."

Green Willow sighed. Mentioning soup reminded her of something else: "...Last night, the Emperor stayed in Chenghui Palace. I heard it was because Consort Shun personally delivered a bowl of soup to Funing Palace."

Meng Shu didn't take it to heart and said indifferently, "Consort Qi and the other beauties and Baolin often send soup and snacks to the Emperor, but the Emperor hasn't paid any attention to them?"

......

Inside the Yun Gui Courtyard of the Marquis of Lin'an's residence.

"I wrote to you several months ago explaining the advantages and disadvantages. Your Excellency should not have placed Chen Lin in the imperial court without consulting me!"

Ever since meeting Meng Shu at the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet, Madam Yun had harbored reservations about the Marquis of Lin'an's arrangements. The couple had originally worked together wholeheartedly, but since the Marquis returned to the capital, he had not discussed several arrangements with her in detail, and this time he had acted first and informed her later, which made her uneasy.

Faced with his wife's questioning, the Marquis of Lin'an stepped forward, took her arm, and gently comforted her:

"Madam, don't be anxious. It's just a casual move that has nothing to do with the Marquis's mansion. Although Chen Lin comes from the mansion, you returned his indenture to him several years ago. Over the years, he has served as a personal guard under the eldest son-in-law and has been promoted to the imperial court based on his military merits. No one can find fault with him."

"Besides... this move isn't entirely about restraining her. If... Wan'er will also have one less problem to deal with."

The voices in the flower hall gradually faded, until only a deep silence remained.

The autumn wind swept through the courtyard, swirling up a few withered leaves, which drifted over the high walls of the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion and all the way to the imperial city.

Meng Shu raised her hand to cover a stray lock of hair that had been ruffled by the wind, and slowly stepped onto the white marble steps in front of the Funing Palace.

Jingming stepped forward from afar and bowed to greet her: "Greetings, Consort Jin. His Majesty has already given instructions that if Your Highness comes, there is no need to announce your arrival; you may simply enter."

As he spoke, he smiled and reached out to take the food box from Green Willow's hand.

Green Willow said softly, "Winter Melon has made a lot of pear soup. Her Majesty specifically instructed that Dong Ming should send some to you and Aunt Minrong after he finishes his shift."

Upon hearing this, Jingming's face softened: "Your Majesty always thinks of me so much. Speaking of which, in just over half a month, Steward Fang will get married, and I'm afraid we won't be able to taste her cooking anymore. His Majesty was just mentioning the new dishes Steward Fang made yesterday."

Meng Shu said, "That's easy. I'll have Donggua make some and send it over tonight."

The three entered the hall, and the Emperor smiled slightly, "What were you saying outside that made you so happy?"

Jingming placed the food box on the imperial desk and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, with Lord Zhou returning to the capital to assume his duties, the Empress will soon be able to see her family, so naturally she is overjoyed. Look, the Empress's complexion is even better than usual today."

Normally, Jingming wouldn't have been so talkative. But he knew that the Emperor would summon Zhou Bai the next day and intended to grant Madam Zhou permission to enter the palace for an audience, so he deliberately steered the conversation here to curry favor with Consort Jin.

The Emperor's gaze fell on Meng Shu's face, and upon hearing this, he said gently, "Your complexion is indeed much better. Imperial Physician Jian came to report this morning that you can stop taking the medicine, and I was just planning to visit you later. You've only just started to feel better, so why did you brave the wind to come all this way?"

Meng Shu gave a slight curtsy and stepped forward slowly: "I've been cooped up in my illness for a long time, so I'm going out for a walk today to get some fresh air."

As he spoke, he personally took the pear soup out of the food box and placed it in front of the Emperor.

The Emperor watched her movements, his smile deepening: "Tomorrow I will summon Zhou Bai, and also allow his wife and daughter to enter the palace. You two, uncle and nephew, haven't seen each other for a long time, so it's a good opportunity to have a chat."

A look of joy flashed across Meng Shu's face as she curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

"Why don't you ask me... what official position do I intend to bestow upon Zhou Bai?" The Emperor changed the subject, reaching out to pull her to sit down on the soft couch by the window.

The hall was silent for a moment. Jingming quietly waved his whisk, and Green Willow understood. She took the pear soup from the imperial table into the inner room, and then quietly left the main hall with Jingming, Minrong and the others.

Under the window.

After sitting down, Meng Shu calmly met the Emperor's gaze.

"In my childhood memories, although my uncle studied with my maternal grandfather from a young age, he was not concerned with the imperial examinations and fame. Instead, he was more interested in the local customs, landscapes and scenic spots. My childhood love of painting and drawing was influenced by my uncle."

She paused for a moment, then said frankly, "Now that my uncle can serve the court, it is already his duty and blessing. Thunder and rain are all imperial favors, and the granting and taking of official positions are up to the Emperor's holy decision. I was not curious before Your Majesty asked, but... I privately think that Your Majesty's transfer of my uncle to the Court of State Ceremonies was very much in line with his temperament."

"Zuocheng of Honglu Temple?"

The Emperor picked up his soup cup and slowly took a sip of the pear soup. He immediately recalled the situation a few years ago when Zhou Bai was the Left Chancellor and how he had managed to win over everyone. Back then, the Court of State Ceremonial was indeed a place of harmony and warmth because of his presence.

However, despite his thoughts, he thought, "Simply sending him back to the Court of State Ceremonial would be a waste of his talents. He has achieved remarkable results in his three years of managing the grain transport in Yangzhou, and the court is currently in dire need of capable and pragmatic officials..."

outside the temple.

Min Rong was a shrewd and quick-witted person. He knew that Lvliu had a certain respectability in front of Jingming. As soon as he arrived outside the palace, he made an excuse to prepare tea and snacks and left with a few palace servants.

Only Jingming and Lvliu remained under the eaves, standing a few steps apart, chatting idly.

Not long after, two groups of palace servants came to deliver refreshments.

As people approached, they found themselves in the palace of Consort Yun and the newly promoted Consort Lin.

Jingming dismissed these concubines of low rank without a second thought, and immediately a eunuch came out to take the food boxes away.

After the crowd had dispersed, Jingming casually remarked, "Miss Green Willow, you may not know, but during Consort Jin's illness, Fu Ning Palace has become quite lively in the late afternoons. Yesterday, Consort Shun also came to deliver soup, but before she could be announced, she left directly outside the palace... In all my years of serving the Emperor, it's quite rare to see someone deliver a meal to the palace gate without requesting an audience..."