Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 252 After Serving the Emperor Once

Cining Palace, West Warm Pavilion.

Qing Zhifei leaned against the couch, gazing absently in the direction of Linde Hall. Two braziers burned beneath the couch, filling the room with warmth.

She is only staying in the palace temporarily because of the Empress Dowager's favor. Although she has the opportunity to participate in the New Year's Eve banquet as the legitimate daughter of the Duke's family, the Empress Dowager did not allow her to accompany her before she left.

Amber lifted the curtain and entered the hall from the outer room. Qing Zhifei sat up and asked anxiously, "How did things go?"

"Don't worry, Miss, I've already delivered the purse to the Empress Dowager. Her Eunuch Li, who serves the Empress Dowager, has told you to rest assured."

Qing Zhifei held a gilded bronze hand warmer with a peony scroll design, a slight smile on her face.

......

Linde Hall.

Apart from Consort Guo and Consort Qu, who were still under house arrest, the six purses presented by the concubines were lined up in a row, each a different color and even different in shape.

The Emperor's gaze swept over the first exquisitely embroidered peony pouch, a gift from the Empress. It was embroidered with the rarest peony variety, "Imperial Yellow," a color resembling the emperor's robes and perfectly complementing his bright yellow court attire. However, the Emperor did not show much delight at this moment.

Then his gaze fell upon a simple purse embroidered only with green bamboo. The purse was shaped like a full moon and adorned with pale blue tassels.

The Emperor reached out and gently stroked it, feeling a slight itch on his fingertips. He turned it over and discovered that the back was embroidered with a green cicada, the style of which was exactly the same as the jade cicada that Consort Chun often wore at her waist.

Consort Chun was always dignified and composed, and it was rare for her to put in such effort. The Emperor's lips twitched slightly, and his eyes softened for a moment.

Then, ignoring the purses of Consort Song and Consort Shen, my gaze was drawn to an oval-shaped purse. It was nothing special; it didn't even have a pattern. It was simply embroidered with eight characters using several different colored silk threads.

"The long night is peaceful and prosperous, bringing many benefits."

The Emperor twitched the corners of his mouth, raised his eyes to look down, and caught Hua Yan's gaze from a great distance.

Hua Yan was drinking with Consort Chun across the distance when she noticed a gaze falling on her. She quickly raised her long sleeves and pretended to drink. Green Willow, who was serving her from behind, thought she had choked because she was drinking too fast.

Jingming noticed the Emperor's unusual expression and took a closer look. He thought that the embroidery was exquisite, and the characters were so elegant that it was the best among the six purses. It was just a pity that the material was too ordinary, giving it a slightly perfunctory feel.

The Emperor didn't even glance at the gourd-shaped purse that Consort Wu had painstakingly embroidered.

Jingming had assumed the Emperor would choose the Empress's yellow robe, but instead he saw the Emperor still caressing the green bamboo embroidered by Consort Chun, whose embroidery skills were truly subpar...

Empress Dowager Jiang nodded slightly to Eunuch Li, who then quietly stepped forward and handed a plum blossom-shaped object to Jingming.

Jingming bent down to take it, and after seeing what it was, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Miss Qing is indeed better.

This is a plum blossom-shaped purse, but it's more like a sachet than a purse.

The Emperor put down the "Emerald Bamboo" and took the "Plum Blossom" from Jingming's hand. The fragrance of plum blossoms wafted from the sachet, making one feel as if they were in a plum grove, in the plum grove of the Qingke Garden of the Duke of Qingguo's mansion.

At this moment, a group of palace servants entered in single file, carrying plum branches, and placed them in porcelain vases in front of the concubines' seats. Li, the eunuch, took a bunch from the palace servants and presented it to Empress Dowager Jiang.

Empress Dowager Jiang said, "The weather is cold at the end of the year, and the plum blossoms are in full bloom. Everything is arranged for the New Year's Eve banquet, but it is missing this touch of plum fragrance. I know Fei is very thoughtful."

Hua Yan's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on the daffodils and various precious chrysanthemums that decorated the main hall.

It's not that the fragrance of plum blossoms is missing; it's that someone is missing.

Consort Chun's thoughts were originally on the Emperor behind the imperial desk. Upon hearing Empress Dowager Jiang's words, she couldn't help but lower her head and lower her eyes, her eyebrows tinged with red from the smell of Tusu wine.

Aunt Mei turned her gaze away from the plum branches, took the hand warmer from Mengzhu's hand, and quietly handed it to Consort Chun, while also moving the plum blossoms on the table to a corner.

The Duke of Qing was far away in Jiangzhou. Lady Qing had brought her second son to the banquet. She rose and thanked them on behalf of her daughter:

"On behalf of my daughter, I would like to thank the Empress Dowager. It is because of the Empress Dowager's favor that she has the good fortune to enter the palace to recuperate."

Yesterday, Zhifei delivered a letter saying that, by the grace of His Majesty and the Empress Dowager, after the Ministry of Works renovated the mansion, the plum trees in the Qingke Garden were in full bloom. She specially instructed her to pluck many branches before entering the palace for the Empress Dowager and the other officials to enjoy.

Empress Dowager Jiang smiled at Lady Qing: "Zhi Fei is so thoughtful. This gesture pleases me greatly."

Everyone present was a shrewd and discerning person. As soon as the ladies opened their mouths, they began to praise the third young lady of the Duke's mansion, calling her kind-hearted, intelligent, dignified, and virtuous. Various words of praise floated in the air above Linde Hall.

Midway through the banquet, Empress Dowager Jiang was the first to leave her seat, and Empress Jiang, who was already feeling unwell, also got up. Consort Chun and others also got up to see her off.

Empress Dowager Jiang waved her hand and said, "The Empress is still weak. It's been hard for you to hold on for so long. Go back to Renming Palace and rest early."

Although the Empress was displeased, she did not show it on her face. "The night is cold and the dew is heavy. Your son will escort Your Majesty back to Cining Palace."

The concubines had all left their seats, and the officials' families were led to the side hall to rest. Consort Chun, Hua Yan, and others accompanied the Empress to send Empress Dowager Jiang to Cining Palace.

In the Linde Hall, the Emperor tucked the plum blossom sachet into his sleeve, reached for the "Green Bamboo" pendant and hung it at his waist, deliberately leaving the cicada-shaped side exposed.

Jingming was about to put away the remaining purses when the Emperor pointed to the unremarkable purse on the imperial desk: "Hang it above my bed in the Funing Palace. Consort Meng is hoping for my peaceful sleep."

Jingming's outstretched hand trembled slightly before he carefully placed the embroidered purse into a brocade box.

After tidying up, Jingming stepped aside, his eyes darting around among the officials, searching for the figure of Zhou Bai, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. He saw Zhou Bai flitting about like a butterfly, one hand clinking glasses with those around him, the other holding several delicate pastries.

It's really hard to look at; it looks like they're trying to pack it up and take it home...

"Before all the officials leave the palace, I will reward Minister Zhou with two food boxes and invite him to a banquet in the palace. How can I let Minister Zhou go home without filling his stomach?"

The Emperor noticed him too, and with a smile, instructed Jingming, his tone tinged with mischief.

After escorting Empress Dowager Jiang to Cining Palace, Consort Chun and others escorted the Empress back to the palace according to protocol, and finally parted ways outside Renming Hall.

Shen Meiren scoffed softly, "That third young lady of the Qing family certainly stole the show today."

Wu Yunu smiled lightly and said, "Sister Shen, don't take it to heart. It's just a little trick." Shen Meiren snorted lightly, "Sister, you make it sound so easy. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor's attitude was quite obvious when those sachets and plum blossoms arrived."

Consort Chun said coldly, "It's late. Everyone should go back to their palaces to rest."

......

After serving the Empress Dowager until she was settled in bed, Qing Zhifei returned to the West Warm Pavilion.

Amber came in and whispered, "Miss, won't outsiders say you deliberately stole the limelight from the other ladies?" Qing Zhifei frowned slightly, "It doesn't matter, let them say what they want, as long as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor value it."

Huining Hall.

Consort Chun begged Hua Yan not to leave, "Why don't you rest here with me? It's been a long time since we sisters have had a proper chat since we started copying scriptures at Shou Kang Palace."

Hua Yan smiled and reached out to embrace Consort Chun's waist. "Then I shall respectfully comply and serve you in bed tonight."

Aunt Mei scolded, "None of you are serious." But with Hua Yan by her side, she felt at ease.

After Mengzhu and Lvliu returned, Ruizhu and Mingyue pulled them aside to talk. They hadn't had a chance to attend the banquet, and they wanted to hear about the grand occasion from Mengzhu and Lvliu.

Aunt Mei waved her hand and said, "Why aren't you busy serving your two masters to wash and dress? You little hussies, if you want to whisper, go ahead and do so throughout the long night."

A cheer erupted from inside the bedchamber, and Consort Chun's mood brightened considerably.

“Mengzhu will open the storeroom tomorrow, and all the palace servants in Huining Palace will be rewarded.”