Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 337 Changing Register

When Consort Chun arrived at Bilang Pavilion with Consort Yun at the appointed time, Meng Shu had already finished dressing and the three of them walked towards Fengyi Palace in the morning dew.

"I heard that Consort Qu is feeling a little better and was moved out of the clean room yesterday." Consort Chun walked side by side with Meng Shu, and with a light flick of her sleeve, she softly suggested, "I was thinking of going to visit her this afternoon. Would Shu'er like to come along?"

Meng Shu nodded slightly, "We should go. Consort Qu's residence is close to Cheng Guan Zhai. Why don't I go find Her Majesty first this afternoon, and we can go together?"

Yun Baolin watched the two figures from behind, her lips parting slightly before closing again.

Meng Shu seemed to sense something and slowed her pace to wait for her to catch up. "If Yun Baolin has some free time, why don't you come along too?"

"Okay...okay, I want to go too." Yun Baolin's eyes lit up with joy, and her dimples deepened, making her look even more charming. "If Sister Meng doesn't mind, you can call me 'little sister'."

Consort Chun held up her round fan and pointed it at Meng Shu, saying, "Shu'er was born in March. Apart from Meng Zhu, we should all call her 'elder sister'."

Meng Shu was born in the early spring (the third day of the third lunar month), which was the Shangsi Festival. Her mother also passed away in early March. From then on, she would eat vegetarian food every March to mourn her deceased mother and never celebrate her birthday again.

However, there are still some secrets about her birthday that Meng Shu does not know to this day.

Madam Su (Su Wanwan's mother) was skilled in physiognomy and divination. Madam Yun later had her analyze Meng Shu's birth chart.

The third day of the third lunar month corresponds to the "Quail Fire" constellation, and is widely believed to be the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West. Those born on this day are described in ancient texts as "born with divine spirits as the paulownia tree begins to bloom," but this also carries the hidden prophecy of "having weak ties with children and difficulty in growing old together." (Note: The episode about Lady Su's physiognomy skills is mentioned in chapters 117 and 118.)

Meng Shu smiled and teased, "Sister Wan'er, call me Sister Shu and let me hear it."

Consort Chun gave her a reproachful look, but still cooperating by calling out "Sister Shu" in a sweet voice, which made Ruizhu, Lvliu and the others following behind all cover their sleeves and chuckle.

Upon arriving at Fengyi Palace,

Consort Song and Imperial Concubine Pei rose to greet her. Consort Mei glanced coldly at Meng Shu and said sarcastically, "I heard that Consort Meng was very happy yesterday, and even disregarded palace rules by getting drunk and behaving improperly. Did she gain something from seeing her former mistress?"

Consort Chun's eyes were cold and deep. Just as she was about to raise her hand from under her wide sleeves, Meng Shu gently pressed it down.

Meng Shu deliberately provoked Consort Mei's anger. After calmly taking her seat, a bright smile appeared on her lips. "Consort Mei, are you so concerned about me because you were unable to invite me to the palace last night and are you still harboring resentment?"

Last night, the Emperor summoned Meng Shu to his bedchamber but failed to do so. He then spent the night alone in Yingzhou Hall reviewing memorials. Consort Mei sent two groups of palace maids to invite her, but Jingming stopped them both times. Now that Meng Shu has exposed this in public, Consort Mei's expression changes drastically.

Consort Pei, being of the lowest rank, sat idly at the end and hurriedly tried to signal to Consort Mei. Unfortunately, Consort Mei, having been hit where it hurt, lost her composure. She abruptly stood up, pointed at Meng Shu, and angrily rebuked her: "You are nothing but a lowly concubine. Just because you've climbed to the position of a fifth-rank concubine, you think you can be so insolent in front of me!"

She then abruptly turned to Consort Chun and coldly questioned, "According to the Inner Court Law, this should be punished with twenty slaps! Consort Chun has been assisting in the management of the six palaces for a long time; are you going to condone such insubordination?"

Consort Chun calmly smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt and said indifferently, "I was unaware that Consort Mei had taken over the administration of criminal law in the harem. Consort Meng is merely stating a fact; what is wrong with that?"

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Suddenly, a sharp announcement came from outside: the Empress, supported by Xingyu's arm, slowly arrived. Even though her makeup was a little heavy today, it couldn't hide the haggard look on her face.

Everyone quickly rose and bowed to the Empress.

The Empress gracefully took her seat, raising her eyes slightly to glance at the people below. Seeing Consort Mei's utter disarray today, she inwardly scoffed.

She touched her forehead, about to seize the opportunity to lash out, when Zhixue hurriedly came to report.

A moment later, Jingming entered, carrying a letter.

"Your Majesty, this servant has come to convey His Majesty's decree." Jingming bowed to the Empress and said respectfully.

The Empress sensed something was amiss and rose to walk to the lower seat, where she and the other concubines listened attentively to the imperial decree.

"I have been granted the great mandate and now reign over the entire realm."

Consort Meng, though of humble origins, possesses innate virtue and refined character. Now, by a lenient decree, she is removed from the list of selected concubines and permitted to return to a respectable family.

The Imperial Household Department was instructed to verify and retrieve the records, and to recreate the "Palace Register"; a Hanlin Academician drafted an imperial edict, affixing the "Seal of Imperial Edicts" seal; the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs was to supplement the "Genealogy of Imperial Clan Women," and she was also granted a jade register. Upon returning to the palace, she was granted residence in the Lingcui Palace, holding a principal position within the palace.

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

Consort Mei's face was ashen, and after her anger vanished, a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

The Empress's fingertips trembled slightly, and a hint of apprehension crept into her gaze as she looked at Meng Shu. She had originally thought that the Emperor's favor towards Consort Meng was merely due to her natural beauty, but she hadn't expected such profound affection.

Such a change of residence was rare in the current dynasty. However, there were isolated cases in the two dynasties before that.

Historical records state: "Liu E, an orphan girl from Shu, was removed from the list of entertainers by Emperor Zhenzong and falsely claimed to be a member of the Liu family of Taiyuan. She eventually became Empress Zhangxian."

Yun Baolin and Pei Yunu had different expressions. Song Jieyu was slightly surprised and couldn't help but look at Meng Shu.

Consort Chun's eyes shone, and her lips never fell.

Jingming tucked the letter into his sleeve, bowed, and said to Meng Shu, "This servant congratulates Your Highness Meng. His Majesty has instructed me to convey a message requesting that Your Highness come to Yingzhou Hall for a chat after your morning greetings."

After Jingming withdrew.

Disheartened, Consort Mei clutched her handkerchief and said, "I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave." With that, she turned and left.

The Empress coughed lightly, covering her face with her handkerchief, and said slowly, "I am a little tired, everyone may leave now. Since it is His Majesty who has summoned you, Consort Meng, do not delay His Majesty's will."

Consort Song said, "Her Majesty the Empress is unwell. Should we summon the imperial physician to examine her?"

Zhixue, who was serving nearby, curtsied and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Consort. I have already sent someone to invite Physician He."

Meng Shu and Yun Baolin followed Consort Chun out, with Xingyu seeing them off.

Before stepping out of the palace gate, Meng Shu casually remarked, seemingly unintentionally, "It's strange, really."

Meeting Consort Chun's questioning gaze, Meng Shu continued, "It must be the refreshing air of these mountains that truly nourishes the body. Consort Mei's complexion has been rosy lately, and there's no sign of her old heart ailment."

Consort Chun understood immediately. Noticing Xingyu's perked-up ears out of the corner of her eye, she added, "I saw she was really angry just now. I was thinking of having Ruizhu summon the imperial physician..."

Before long, these words reached the Empress's ears.

While Physician He was out writing a prescription, the Empress pondered for a moment, then her face suddenly darkened.

Sensing her mistress's mood, Granny Gui stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, shall I send someone to investigate?"

The Empress remained silent for a long time, then a strange smile appeared on her lips.

......

On the other side, Meng Shu kowtowed in gratitude for the Emperor's grace at Yingzhou Hall and had breakfast with him.

After returning to Bilang Pavilion, Green Willow noticed that Meng Shu seemed somewhat absent-minded, so she gently reminded her, "Your Majesty, since you have received His Majesty's favor, you should reciprocate in some way. Only in this way can you truly satisfy His Majesty's wishes."

Meng Shu's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment's thought, she said, "Later, go and deliver the nightgown and purse that I embroidered."

Green Willow understood, and while tidying up in the inner room, she happened to catch a glimpse of the osmanthus dew on the dressing table.

Meng Shu quickly took it in her hands: "This won't do. Making this bottle of Qinglu takes a lot of time. I prepared it a long time ago to give to Wan'er."