Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 571 Adding Makeup to Winter Melon

Canal wharf.

The stone steps were damp with moisture. In the distance, an official boat slowly raised its anchor, its silhouette gradually fading into the shimmering waves of the canal.

Outside an inconspicuous storeroom door, Madam Zhou quietly withdrew her gaze.

She had been secretly following Zhou Bai for over a month on Madam Yun's orders. Not only was Madam Zhou highly skilled in martial arts, but she also had ample experience in the martial world. Not long after arriving in Yangzhou, she vaguely sensed that there seemed to be a master hidden in the shadows beside Zhou Bai.

After several days of investigation, Madam Zhou was almost certain that the eyes and ears of the Emperor were hidden in the shadows.

As for the purpose, besides monitoring this young transport commissioner, it was probably also to protect him.

When Zhou Bai was transferred to Yangzhou as the Transport Commissioner of Jianghuai, he became a target in the eyes of all parties even before taking office. Out of consideration for Consort Jin, the Marquis ordered Lady Zhou to send men to escort him along the way. Chen Lin learned of this and came to plead his case several times. Lady Zhou, moved by his plight, assigned him the task. However, Chen Lin was still young at the time and, during the escort, remained completely unaware of the presence of hidden guards beside him.

Now that Zhou Bai has returned to the capital, Zhou Niangzi's mission can be considered complete.

She returned to the storeroom, picked up her pen, and wrote a secret letter, detailing everything that had happened in the past few days and what she had seen and heard in Yangzhou. After sealing it, she handed it to the merchant's messenger.

Just as I was about to leave, a middle-aged man who looked like the shopkeeper walked in from outside the door.

The middle-aged man entered the room with an unusually humble attitude. He clasped his hands together, bowed deeply, and said flatteringly, "Madam Zhou, the Marquis has instructed that you should make a trip to the shipyards in Mingzhou and Quanzhou within the next day or two. Once you arrive there, the Marquis will make further arrangements."

As he spoke, he waved slightly towards the door, and the servants brought in all the prepared food, water, provisions, and other necessities, neatly arranged.

......

The capital city, the imperial palace.

Meng Shu silently counted the days by the window; her uncle should already be on his way back to the capital.

Water transport is much faster than land transport; by early September at the latest, she should be able to reach the capital. She pondered what excuse she could come up with to meet her uncle.

On the other side, Green Willow and Bud Pearl sat on an embroidery stool, working together to embroider a bright red wedding dress.

Originating from the "Shesheng" tradition, wedding attire could temporarily deviate from established rules. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, nobles still valued green ceremonial robes to signify their status, while commoners often favored bright red for weddings, symbolizing celebration. A bright red, open-fronted, wide-sleeved robe paired with a matching long skirt was the most dignified attire for a daughter's wedding in an ordinary family.

Ruizhu excelled at combing hair, but her needlework skills were lacking. Lüliu was slightly better, though her stitches were only a bit neater. The two women were now head to head, one carefully splitting the thread, the other focused on the needle. After working for a while, the outline of a phoenix was beginning to appear on the wedding dress, and it was starting to look quite good.

This was prepared for winter melon. Meng Shu strolled over and looked down to examine it closely.

She originally intended to do it herself, but was stopped by Consort Chun, and Green Willow also advised against it. Times have changed. If word got out that Consort Jin was personally embroidering wedding dresses for palace maids, it would certainly be a great honor for Donggua, but it would also inevitably give people something to say that the Empress was spoiling her servants too much, which would make things difficult for Donggua in the future.

“Here, we should use a series of stitches, layer by layer from light to dark, so that the feathers can show their fluffy appearance.” Meng Shu pointed to the phoenix with her finger. “And the edges of these cloud patterns, we should use sparse stitches to make them more lively.”

As she spoke, she casually took the needle from Green Willow's fingers, and in just a few strokes, the originally stiff feather tip suddenly came to life, as if it had caught the wind and gained vitality.

Green Willow stared in astonishment, while Ruizhu let out a soft "Ah!": "With Your Highness's modification, it is indeed much more vivid."

Meng Shu handed the needle back, pointed it to the tip of the peony leaf, and said to Green Willow, "The needle should be angled slightly more along the leaf veins so that it has a turning motion."

Green Willow suddenly realized what was happening and quickly dismantled it and started over.

Donggua's wedding date is set for September 26th, which is just over a month away.

Because Donggua was honest and simple, she got along very well with everyone in the palace. After the news spread, not only Lingcui Palace, but also other palace staff came in twos and threes to add to her makeup during their off-duty time. They would bring her a pair of earrings, a few feet of fine fabric, a box of rouge they had saved up, or a delicately embroidered handkerchief. The gifts were not expensive, but the sentiments were genuine.

The most eye-catching among them was Chef Xu from the Imperial Kitchen. Over the years, they had honed their skills together on the stove, exchanging their signature dishes and becoming very familiar with each other. The gift he gave was also exceptionally practical: a heavy kitchen knife.

The knife was forged from the finest iron, its blade gleaming white, its wooden handle polished smooth and warm. It was clearly a well-worn, cherished item, and Donggua had long coveted it. Chef Xu handed it to her, scabbard and all, saying, “Girl, you’ve asked me for this knife several times, but I couldn’t bear to part with it. This old buddy has been with me for over a decade, never hesitating to chop ginger or bones. From now on, when you’re in your own kitchen, let it keep things in check, and your life will be as bright and smooth as this blade!”

The palace servants in the Imperial Kitchen laughed as they watched. Someone joked, "Chef Xu has even given up his prized knife; he's probably marrying off his own daughter!" Chef Xu rubbed his hands and just chuckled.

Donggua clutched the knife to her chest as if it were a priceless treasure. She looked up, her round eyes sparkling, "Old Xu, I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life! When you reach the age to leave the palace, if you're willing, come find me, and I'll take care of you in your old age and see you off in your final days!"

These words were spoken with such sincerity that they caused a moment of silence in the surrounding area.

Chef Xu was taken aback. He snorted heavily, "You silly girl...you're talking nonsense! Go live your life properly!"

Inside the small kitchen of Lingcui Palace, Dou'er and the new cook seemed to have returned to the palace academy these days, listening intently to Donggua's lessons.

Donggua taught her all her signature dishes, explaining in great detail Meng Shu and Consort Chun's dietary preferences and restrictions. Finally, she reminded Dou'er that food should be prepared in accordance with the seasons, and also, never forgetting to promptly send any seasonal delicacies to Huining Palace and Funing Palace...

The soup simmered gently on the stove, and in the rising steam, Donggua's chubby face looked especially soft in the light and shadow. She looked at the kitchen; everything seemed just as it had always been, only she knew she was about to leave.

"I'll come back to the palace to teach you when I figure out a new recipe," she said softly.

Upon hearing this, Dou'er's eyes reddened, and she raised her hand to wipe her eyes: "The Empress Dowager has bestowed a waist token upon Sister Donggua, so Sister, you must come to visit us often..."

Donggua smiled and nodded, about to speak, when Xia'er poked half her body in from outside the door, winking and saying, "Sister Donggua, Her Majesty wants you to come over."

Dou'er glanced at the sun outside the window and immediately smiled, "At this hour... it's time for Physician Jian to come and check on your health. Sister, hurry up and go, don't keep Physician Jian waiting."

A soft chuckle suddenly echoed from the kitchen. Winter Melon's face flushed slightly, and amidst the warm, welcoming gazes, he turned gracefully and headed towards the main hall.