Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 323: In the end, he was still outmaneuvered.

When Consort Shen openly confessed her affair with the Emperor, Consort Song's instinctive reaction was to cover her mouth.

With that in mind, she did just that.

Just as Consort Shen was getting into her story, she quickly slapped Song Jie's hand away and scolded her, "How can you be so boring, Sister Song? You haven't served the emperor in a long time. We're not as beautiful as Consort Meng, and our good days are only a couple of years away..."

"Consort Meng has already been promoted to Jieyu in the imperial palace," Consort Song interrupted her curtly.

"Uh." Shen Jieyu was speechless for a moment, then asked urgently, "—Were you even listening to me?"

Seeing her carefree attitude, Consort Song could only say seriously, "Although I don't know why the Empress suddenly summoned me to the temporary palace, it is not appropriate to leave you alone in the palace. After I leave the palace tomorrow, you should rest and recuperate in Shujing Palace. Do not move around casually, and do not go near Taiye Pond."

Furthermore, firstly, you are strictly forbidden to eat any food sent by others. Secondly, all items entering or leaving Shujing Palace must be inspected by the imperial physician; you must not be careless in this regard.”

Song Jieyu was usually a woman of few words, but she knew Shen Jieyu's personality and was always a little worried, so she gave her a lot of instructions.

Unfortunately, Consort Shen paid no attention and was only focused on eating her snacks. On the other hand, Yuehuan nodded repeatedly, memorizing every word.

"Sister, don't worry about me." Consort Shen swallowed her snack and said dismissively, "The concubines who stay in the palace are not of high rank, so who can bully me? Besides, Her Majesty the Empress specially left Physician Cui to take care of me."

Consort Song beckoned Feng Chi and Yue Huan to leave, then lowered her voice and said directly, "Cui Huan is someone planted in the Imperial Medical Bureau by the Jiang family. After he submits the prescriptions, you can have someone have Physician Sun review them again. Although Physician Sun is rigid in his methods, he has no intention of harming anyone..."

"...Sister Song, do you mean...?" Consort Shen opened her clear eyes and murmured, "But we are the Empress's people. If I hadn't had Her Majesty the Empress's approval, it wouldn't have been possible to have this pregnancy."

Song Jieyu gently poked her forehead. "I'm just reminding you to be more careful."

She sighed, "You silly girl, you can't stay this naive forever. Be careful you don't get schemed against without even realizing it."

Shen Jieyu touched her forehead where she had been poked, and pouted with a wronged expression.

After giving her some instructions, Consort Song returned to Hanxiang Pavilion, where her roommate, Imperial Concubine Pei, was waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing her return, Pei immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Sister Song, did you just return from Consort Shen's palace?"

Song Jieyu glanced at her coldly: "Since you know, why ask?"

Pei Yunu's face stiffened, and she forced a smile, "When you were away just now, someone from the Empress's palace came to tell you that you are invited to Renming Hall after you return."

Song Jieyu responded and turned to leave. Pei Yunu watched her departing figure, a shadow of gloom flashing in her eyes.

Yun Baolin received the summons unexpectedly on her way to Dieqiong Pavilion. When she learned that she could also go to the imperial palace, she was somewhat incredulous. She immediately lost interest in talking to Consort Guo and went straight back to Ganlu Palace.

Rong Meiren felt a little disappointed. Now even Yun Baolin, who had never served the emperor in her palace, was qualified to go to the imperial palace to accompany him, while she was confined to Ganlu Palace. She didn't know if she would have the chance to see the emperor again in the future.

Lianqiao didn't know how to comfort her, so she stood quietly by the window with her master, watching Yun Baolin happily packing his trunks.

"Forsythia." Rong Meiren smiled sadly, "When will this end?"

Lian Qiao said with heartache, "Don't worry, Master. The last time the head of the family wrote, he said that he already had a solution. I think that soon the emperor will see the head of the family's sincerity and will not neglect you."

Rong Meiren didn't reply and turned back to her inner room.

......

Changchun Garden Imperial Palace.

Qu Cairen was placed in a clean room, and the red spots on her face had not yet faded.

The clean room was an airtight room, with only a few rays of sunlight letting in through a narrow window, falling obliquely onto the table.

At this moment, Qu Cairen sat quietly at the intersection of light and shadow, her fingertips gently caressing a few scattered red petals.

This was found by Ruixue under the gardenia tree by Yujin Lake on the day she fell ill. The petals were as tiny as blood vessels, almost disappearing into the dust if not looked closely. Perhaps that's why it left its mark.

Ruixue quietly entered, carrying the medicine bowl, and turned around to carefully fasten the door latch.

“Miss, I asked the accompanying physician, and these are indeed petals of the Dragon Claw Flower. The juice of the Dragon Claw Flower can be applied externally to treat carbuncles, but it clashes with gardenia pollen. If both are in contact at the same time, ... those with weaker constitutions are very likely to develop tinea versicolor.”

Qu Cairen's expression was aloof, and she gave a self-deprecating smile. She prided herself on being cautious, but in the end, she was still outmaneuvered.

—Who could it be? The Empress? Consort Mei? Consort Chun has always been dignified and doesn't seem like the type to do such underhanded things, but Consort Meng, who serves Consort Chun…

Ruixue placed the medicine bowl on the table and took out a box of celadon ointment from her sleeve. "This is Qionghua ointment that Doctor He sent. After you drink the medicine, I will apply it to you."

“Within the palace, it seems that only the area near Lingxiao Terrace has dragon claw flowers,” Qu Cai Ren suddenly said.

Ruixue paused, a hint of doubt on her face. "Miss, when I came out of the Imperial Medical Bureau, I passed by Xiefang Garden and happened to see Ruizhu, who was next to Consort Chun, coming out. She was holding this flower in her hands."