Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 453 Don't stand here, it's getting in the way of the Marquis's affection for

The music inside the palace continued, but the empress felt a buzzing in her ears.

Seeing the noblewomen surrounding Meng Shu, their heads bowed as they looked down at the infant prince, one didn't even need to listen closely to know that every word they uttered was laced with flattery...

The Empress turned her head and coldly ordered Zhixue, "Have Chen Ling go to the Imperial Hospital immediately to investigate with Tong Bo! I want to see who dares to cause trouble under my nose!"

......

The full moon banquet ended on time. Green Willow instructed Red Jade and the palace servants of Renming Palace to check the gift list and handle the aftermath. She then carried Jade Slave and Winter Melon Dongming back to Lingcui Palace.

Outside the Linde Hall, Lady Yun and a group of noblewomen stepped across the threshold in twos and threes.

Not far away, beside the white jade railing, Tang Xian stood with his hands behind his back, the cuffs of his scarlet official robes lifted by the wind, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing on Madam Yun.

Princess Yongping couldn't help but tease in a low voice, "It's been so many years, yet the Marquis treats his wife the same as before. This reminds me of the scene more than twenty years ago when the Marquis stormed into the capital all by himself and dared to directly send his betrothal letter to the Yun family to ask for her hand in marriage."

A lady with a velvet flower tucked behind her ear immediately exclaimed "Oh!" in response, her voice tinged with a touch of wistfulness.

“Isn’t that right? That scene was talked about in the capital for a long time. The Yun family has been a prominent family for generations, and everyone thought that this marriage would not work out…” Before she could finish speaking, she smiled and winked at Madam Yun.

Seeing this, Princess Yongping smiled and pulled Madam Ronghua around, saying, "Let's go, let's go, don't stay here and get in the way of the Marquis's affection for his wife."

Madam Yun smiled faintly and walked towards Tang Xian.

Just as Tang Xian was about to ask her if she was tired from the banquet, Madam Yun spoke first: "I asked Consort Jin after the banquet just now, and she only said that she knew what was going on. In my opinion, the wet nurse incident today was probably something she had already expected. Perhaps it was a scheme she set up herself."

Tang Xian's expression didn't change when he heard this. He simply stepped aside to let her walk on the inside, and they walked side by side towards the palace gate.

The footsteps on the stone path mingled softly, and no one spoke.

Only after boarding the Marquis's carriage and the curtains fell, separating them from the crimson palace walls, did Madam Yun lean back against the window and after a while suddenly say, "Our Wan'er is ultimately not as good as Consort Jin."

Tang Xian just sat down, and upon hearing this, he reached out and gently covered her wrist, which was exposed outside her sleeve. "Wan'er has made great progress since entering the palace. Although Consort Jin gave birth to a prince first, she has always been of one mind with Wan'er. Madam, it is not time to worry now."

Madam Yun leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed softly, "She has made progress, but compared to Consort Jin... you didn't see it just now. She was able to subtly orchestrate the full moon banquet, making the Emperor feel even more pity for her. Such wisdom is something ordinary people can't learn. Now I only hope that she can keep her promise and not break it."

The carriage made a soft "clattering" sound as it rolled over the bluestone road.

Tang Xianneng could feel the hair on her shoulder trembling slightly. He raised his hand and patted the back of her hand: "If Consort Jin wants to gain a foothold in the harem, she needs to have her own people. Wan'er is kind-hearted and treated her with genuine affection when she was in the manor. Wan'er is also an asset to her. She is a smart person and she must understand this."

Madam Yun ignored Tang Xian's words; she was even more familiar with the intricacies of the inner quarters.

Therefore, she remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking:

"Most of the power in the palace is earned through 'chaos'. If it is found that the wet nurse's accident was caused by poor arrangements before and after the full moon banquet, the Empress will be held responsible, which will also confirm her 'ineffective management of the palace'. This gives the Emperor a reason to share power... If I am not mistaken, after this incident, Consort Jin will probably receive the imperial decree to assist in managing the six palaces."

......

Lingcui Palace.

Meng Shu changed into casual clothes, her long hair loosely tied back, shedding the solemnity of the banquet and appearing more relaxed. As soon as she sat down on the soft couch, she said to Green Willow, "Let Dong Ming in."

"Your Majesty, I went to the Imperial Hospital during a break from the banquet. Physician He carefully examined the wet nurses' diet, clothing, and the items they had come into contact with, and found that it was caused by perfume powder staining their summer clothes. When it gets on the skin, it can cause redness, which looks like hives, but it is not contagious. Applying some ointment will make it subside in a few days."

Meng Shu asked, "Did Lord Tong go to the embroidery workshop to investigate?"

Dong Ming bowed and replied, "Yes. The wet nurses' summer clothes were handled by Aunt Zhou from the embroidery workshop. In addition to her, Chen, the eunuch by the Empress's side, also separated several costume masters, managers, and ladies-in-waiting from the Shangfu Bureau, as well as the embroiderers and laundry maids, and questioned and investigated them one by one. There is no conclusion yet."

As they were talking, Min Rong came from outside to request an audience.

Green Willow greeted her as she entered, and Min Rong quickly led in two simply dressed women. The three of them curtsied and greeted, "Greetings, Consort Jin."

"Get up." Meng Shu raised her hand, her gaze falling on the two women behind Min Rong. They looked to be in their early thirties, with gentle features and composed demeanor, and they smelled of soap from a recent bath.

Min Rong straightened up and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, His Majesty just sent word that before the matter of the wet nurses is clarified, two wet nurses have been temporarily selected from the Shanggong Bureau. They are both from respectable families and have just finished breastfeeding. They will take care of the eldest prince for the time being."

As she spoke, she handed the list she was holding to Green Willow. "This is the list of two wet nurses. Their places of origin and family histories are all clearly written. The Imperial Household Department has also stamped it."

Green Willow took the roster and presented it to Meng Shu.

Meng Shu opened it and found that it was indeed very detailed. It not only listed the birth dates and children of the two wet nurses, but also the government offices where their husbands worked in the capital and whether they had committed any misconduct. The last page also had the vermilion seal of the Shanggong Bureau and the signature of the inspector.

She traced the names of the two wet nurses, Su and Li, with her fingertips and said gently, "Yu Nu'er is asleep right now. Since you're here, let's go to the East Warm Pavilion first. Green Willow, take the two wet nurses to see Mingyue."

"Yes." Green Willow stepped forward and led the two wet nurses away.

Min Rong curtsied again and reported, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has instructed me to convey a message that the Imperial Household Department has identified the root cause of the problem, and the Emperor will personally come to Cuiyu Hall later tonight."

Meng Shu nodded slightly, and Min Rong then withdrew.

Since Cailian secretly delivered that piece of fabric, this storm, which should have been resolved by Aunt Zhou, is now considered over.

Regardless of whether Qu Jieyu, the person behind the scenes, is implicated, the Empress, who is in charge of this matter, will inevitably bear responsibility...

The scented powder that clung to her skin was a replica of the pills that Jian Zhi had given her earlier. It was harmless, and the red spots on her body would disappear in a couple of days without any medication. Even the lingering scent of the scented powder was almost identical to the smell of the clothes that Aunt Zhou had hastily burned.

A little over half an hour later, it was nearly dusk.

Summer days are long, and it's still light outside.

When Green Willow returned to the bedchamber, she whispered, "Your Majesty, I just had Hongyu spread the news about the eunuchs from the Department of Jewelry and the Department of Clothing and Sacrifices' dealings. I think Lord Tong and the Empress's people should be able to use this clue to investigate further."

Meng Shu was embroidering a bellyband for Yu Nu'er under the window when she heard this and said, "It's hard to say whether we can find out the truth through several layers of separation. However, if the Empress suspects her because of this, it would be an unexpected bonus."

As she spoke, she remembered something and looked up at Green Willow, saying, "Although Aunt Zhou was removed from the case for a reason, she was still unjustly punished. Make sure to pass on the promise you made to her and carry it out carefully."

"Yes, I've got it." Green Willow replied.

......

Chunxi Hall.

It was still early before dinner time, so Qu Jieyu took a stroll under the veranda in the inner courtyard to cool off. A gentle breeze flowed through the branches of the flowering trees, carrying the unique heat of summer.

Now, she is the only one living in this palace. Since being promoted to the rank of Jieyu, according to regulations, several palace maids have been brought into Chunxi Palace to serve her. But right now, the only person she trusts is Ruixue, who has been with her since childhood.

After Ruixue returned with the information, Qu Jieyu turned and went to her bedchamber.

"Your Majesty, just as you predicted, the Imperial Hospital quickly identified the problem. Currently, almost everyone in the Embroidery Workshop has been taken to the Inner Court for questioning. As for Chen Zhangyi... although she is unaware of the situation, could she have unintentionally leaked something?"

"Planning requires planning first. It is precisely because Manager Chen knows nothing that the cause can be attributed to the conflict in the embroidery room. No matter how thoroughly Lord Tong investigates, he will not be able to trace it back to the Chunxi Palace."