Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 414 Only able to see 3 inches in front of me

When Meng Shu woke up in bed, the first rays of dawn of the second year of the Zhenghe era were already streaming through the window. After the New Year's Eve banquet yesterday, the Emperor personally escorted her back to Lingcui Palace, and then the Emperor went to Renming Hall to rest.

"Has Her Majesty awakened?"

Hearing the rustling sounds from inside, Green Willow quickly called Xia'er to come in. The two of them, carrying a copper basin and a handkerchief, carefully lifted the curtain, only to find Meng Shu staring blankly at the top of the curtain.

Xia'er placed the copper basin on the rosewood stand and said in a very soft voice, "It's getting late. Your Highness still has to go to Cining Palace to pay your respects. We servants will help Your Highness with your washing and grooming."

On the first day of the new year after the Lunar New Year, as was customary, all the concubines were to accompany the Emperor and Empress to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

Green Willow helped Meng Shu to her feet, gently wiping her slightly tired face with a handkerchief soaked in warm water. After washing up, Xia'er was choosing suitable clothes from the rosewood wardrobe when she heard Meng Shu suddenly instruct, "Prepare pen and ink."

Xia'er and Lvliu exchanged a glance, both slightly taken aback.

Meng Shu hadn't even changed out of her nightgown before heading to the study. Green Willow gestured to Xia'er to continue preparing clothes and jewelry while quickly following behind.

"Your Highness, are you going to write a letter to Lord Zhou?"

Green Willow took out a letter and spread it out. The ink stick spun rapidly on the Duan inkstone, making a soft, crackling sound.

Meng Shu nodded slightly, gently massaging her temples with her fingertips.

Perhaps Madam Yun's words were still ringing in her ears, for last night, in a hazy dream, she saw Chen Lin standing under the eaves of the Jinan Pawnshop. They were no longer the children they once were; he was dressed in military uniform, the sword at his waist gleaming coldly.

The dream was fragmented and disjointed. Sometimes I saw his lips moving but couldn't hear a sound, and other times my eyes were filled with a glaring crimson.

"Uncle...you're overthinking things."

Chen Lin's request to serve on the frontier was inevitably guided by Zhou Bai. Meng Shu sighed softly and picked up her pen to write a long letter.

"Should this letter... still be given to Madam as usual?" Green Willow carefully folded the letter and asked softly.

Meng Shu said, "There's no need to hide it. Just leave it to Aunt Mei to handle."

She paused, her gaze falling on Green Willow's slightly haggard face, and gently advised, "Winter Melon has gone to the palace and won't be back for at least two or three days. You haven't left the palace since you entered it, so why don't you go out with Aunt Mei for a walk?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Green Willow muttered, carefully putting the letter away from her body.

Meng Shu smiled helplessly and tapped Lvliu's forehead: "Alright, alright, if you don't want to go, then you don't have to. After we return from Cining Palace, I'll grant you half a day off. You need to rest properly."

Xia'er specially chose an apricot-colored brocade jacket, the color of which looked extremely bright. When Green Willow saw this, she put the red-gold phoenix-tail hairpin she had just picked out back into her dressing case, and instead took out an apricot-flower hairpin, as well as a pair of flower-shaped earrings inlaid with rubies.

"They dressed me up like a young girl just getting married."

Meng Shu looked at herself in the bronze mirror and chuckled, letting them do their makeup.

As Xia'er tied her sash, she smiled and said, "The New Year is over and Your Majesty is only nineteen. This apricot color suits you best."

"This apricot blossom hairpin was a gift from the lady for the festival. She said it was a new set of twelve flower goddess hairpins from Yongbaolou, and only two sets were ever made."

Green Willow carefully inserted the apricot blossom hairpin into her hair. "This servant guesses that Consort Chun doesn't like plum blossoms, so she might be wearing an apricot blossom one today too."

Just then, Xu Jinxi's voice came from outside.

Jingming led eight eunuchs into the inner courtyard of the Cuiyu Hall. Each eunuch carried a vermilion lacquered tray piled high with silks, satins, gold and silver utensils. The most eye-catching items were a pair of jade ruyi scepters, their entire bodies a vibrant green, gleaming with a lustrous sheen in the morning light.

Meng Shu, supported by Lv Liu's arm, moved to the entrance of the flower hall to receive her reward.

Jingming carefully held a long, carved sandalwood box in his arms, and led the eunuchs in a neat bow. His eyes were smiling, and his voice was clear and bright: "We servants greet Consort Jin, congratulate Your Highness on the New Year, and wish Your Highness eternal happiness, good health, and joy year after year."

After saying that, he bowed deeply again.

"Please rise, Eunuch Jing." Meng Shu's gaze fell on the exquisite brocade box. "Has His Majesty painted a new picture?"

Jingming bowed and stepped forward. After Lvliu took the brocade box, he smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor ordered me to send over the 'Autumn Courtyard Cricket Picture.' He also specially painted a new portrait for Your Majesty. This is a unique favor in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Green Willow beamed with joy and quickly took out a gourd-shaped purse she had prepared beforehand from her sleeve, saying crisply, "This purse brings good fortune, and the gold ingot wards off evil. Thank you for delivering it so early, Your Excellency. I wish you peace and safety every year."

These are auspicious greetings exchanged during the New Year in the palace. When concubines received rewards during the New Year, they would usually prepare gourd-shaped purses to give to the palace servants, which contained gold and silver ingots.

Jingming accepted the gift with a smile and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Green Willow. I also wish you a happy new year."

Xia'er and Chun'er also took care of the remaining palace servants, and the atmosphere outside the hall was harmonious and filled with laughter.

Meng Shu smiled slightly, told Xia'er to put things away, and instructed Lvliu to see them off.

Green Willow escorted him all the way to the gate of Lingcui Palace. Before she could even ask him anything, Jingming said, "In all the years I've served His Majesty, yesterday was the first time I'd ever seen him so happy. This morning in Funing Palace, His Majesty was still admiring the purse that the Empress had presented to him."

Green Willow immediately replied obediently, "His Majesty understands Your Highness's good intentions, and we servants are also delighted."

“That’s right.” Jingming straightened his sleeves and said, “We’ve also benefited from Consort Jin’s influence. I reckon our duties before the Emperor will be easier these next few days.”

Green Willow asked casually, "Is Eunuch Jing coming from Funing Palace?"

Jingming, being observant and wanting to curry favor, said, "Our family comes from Consort Chun's Huining Palace. That boy Dong Ming went to Zhaoqing Palace, and later he will be visiting Consort Qi and Consort Yi's palaces."

Then, he added meaningfully, "However, among the concubines below the rank of Consort, His Majesty alone bestowed upon Consort Qu a set of writing implements."

Upon hearing this, Green Willow replied calmly, "It is only natural for the Emperor to bestow favors upon the six palaces during the New Year festival."

Upon returning to Cuiyu Hall, Green Willow told Meng Shu about the matter, and concluded by saying, "Your Majesty, the Emperor personally praised Consort Qu's embroidery skills yesterday. It seems that Consort Qu's purse has truly captured His Majesty's heart."

Meng Shu was slowly unfolding the portrait painting bestowed by the Emperor when she heard this and said nonchalantly, "Wild geese fly, their feathers rustling. Consort Qu took the opportunity of presenting the gift to embroider 'A goose carrying an arrow,' which is exactly what the Emperor wanted. It is only right that she should receive some reward."

As she spoke, she lowered her eyes to look at the painting, and in an instant, her fingertips trembled slightly on the silk.

The person in the painting was exactly the same as her own face; even the faint weariness at the corner of their eyes was depicted with exquisite detail by the ink. She knew the Emperor was skilled in painting, but she never imagined he could reach such a level. Even the expression she herself hadn't noticed was captured with such precision.

Green Willow's eyes lit up when she saw it, and she was about to praise it when she saw Meng Shu neatly put the scroll away.

Amidst the rustling sound of the scroll being rolled up, Meng Shu continued, "...However, the palace is all about assessing the situation. Right now, the Emperor is relying heavily on military generals. Consort Qu's actions, while pleasing the Emperor, have offended the Empress. It's not a good move."

"what--?"

Green Willow was clearly still immersed in the painting. After she came to her senses, she blinked and asked, "Gentleman Qu is so cautious, how could she not have considered this?"

Meng Shu glanced at the sunlight outside the window, stood up and straightened her sleeves. "It's time to go to Cining Palace."

After leaving the palace gates and settling into her sedan chair, she said softly, "This is the limitation of a small family; one can only see what's in front of them and cannot grasp the overall situation."

Those as adept at political maneuvering as the Marquis of Lin'an and Lady Yun had already sent word to Consort Chun, warning her not to take the lead.

Of course, Consort Chun didn't intend to stand out.

-

Note: "Dew-collecting pouches were called 'Cheng Lu Nang' during the Tang and Song dynasties. The 'Miscellaneous Records of Seasonal Customs' records that embroidered pouches were given as gifts on New Year's Day. This text has been modified to say that on New Year's Eve, concubines presented pouches as gifts."