Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 454 Which mother doesn't regard her child as her life?

When the imperial procession arrived at Lingcui Palace, it was past dinner time.

The candles in the hall had just been lit when Donggua entered carrying a gilded tray and gently placed two cups of warm milk tea on the table.

The Emperor did not sit down first, but went straight to the East Warm Pavilion. The wet nurses, who had just changed into new ones, were holding Yu Nu'er in their arms and gently coaxing her. When they saw the Emperor enter, they hurriedly tried to curtsy, but he stopped them by raising his hand.

He leaned over and looked at her for a long time. Yu Nu'er was sleeping soundly, her little face rosy. Several hours had passed, and her body was clean, without even a trace of red spots. Only then did he truly breathe a sigh of relief. He gently touched the edge of the swaddling clothes with his fingertips, tucked the blanket in, and then turned around and returned to the Cuiyu Hall bedroom with Meng Shu.

"Have Physician He come over first thing tomorrow morning to give Yu Nu'er a thorough examination." The Emperor lifted the hem of his casual robe and sat down on the soft couch, his voice still carrying a hint of gentleness.

Meng Shu sat down on the other side and asked softly, "How are the wet nurses doing now?"

"Doctor He came to report in the evening that the redness had subsided somewhat, and that with the application of ointment, it would be fully healed in a few days."

The Emperor changed the subject slightly, "There's been some progress on Tong Bo's side. They say there was a problem in the embroidery workshop. The Empress has been in charge of palace affairs for the past few months, and this time it was her oversight. She came to the Funing Palace this afternoon to apologize to me."

He looked up at Meng Shu, the candlelight casting dappled shadows in his eyes.

Meng Shu didn't reply, but instead pushed a cup of milk tea on the table towards him. The bottom of the cup slid across the table, making a rough sound. She lowered her eyes, as if quietly waiting for him to continue.

Looking at her like this, the Emperor recalled her pale face when she held Yu Nu'er during the day, and his throat moved: "The investiture ceremony and the full moon celebration are on the same day, and there are many things to do in and out of the palace. It's understandable that she can't manage everything at once. I have already..." He paused, his fingertips gently stroking the rim of the cup, "I have already told her not to blame herself too much, and to investigate the case in the embroidery room first."

Meng Shu looked up, staring blankly at the pile of embroidery pieces on the table.

In the wicker basket lay an unfinished bib, with only half a clump of daylilies embroidered on the soft silk. It was the most common auspicious grass pattern, and only because her embroidery skills were excellent could it appear somewhat extraordinary.

After a short while, Meng Shu finally spoke.

"It is only right that the Emperor understands the difficulties of the Empress in managing the six palaces."

But the matter of a wet nurse is no small matter. If the red spots are severe, and they are passed on to Yu Nu'er, who is only a month old and whose skin is already delicate, even the slightest mark... will stay with him for life.

The face powder was changed by Meng Shu, so she knew it better than anyone. It turned out that the stain on the summer dress was noticeable with just a little contact, and it wouldn't disappear in just a few days.

The Emperor followed her gaze to the embroidery on the table, his voice softening: "I have already instructed Min Rong to select reliable people from the Shanggong Bureau. From now on, the people who serve me closely and the items they use will be thoroughly inspected. All the people from the Shangfu Bureau have been confined to the Yeting Palace. Once Tong Bo finds out who is behind this, no matter who it is, I will not tolerate it."

Meng Shu looked at the tenderness in his eyes, but her mind was perfectly clear.

Those who are adept at weighing pros and cons are ultimately just making useless promises. Even if it wasn't the Empress who did it, with the war at hand, she'd probably just find a scapegoat to gloss over the matter.

As she pondered this, she picked up the embroidery thread on the table with her fingertips, paused as she arranged the thread, and casually remarked, "Speaking of which, when Consort Chun was assisting in managing the six palaces, I also looked at the roster of palace servants in the Bureau of Clothing and Stuff. In the past few months, the palace servants coming and going from various bureaus have changed several times, and most of them are unfamiliar faces."

Her voice was soft and gentle, as if she were talking about something trivial from the past.

After hearing this, the Emperor's brows furrowed slightly, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

......

The next day, just as dawn broke.

For the first time in months, Meng Shu had to go to Renming Hall to pay her respects. When she opened her eyes, the brocade quilt beside her was already cold.

When Green Willow came in to help her with her washing and dressing, she said, "Your Majesty is awake? His Majesty went to Funing Palace before dawn. Before leaving, he made a special trip to the East Warm Pavilion to check on the eldest prince. Seeing that the young master was sleeping soundly, he left with peace of mind."

Meng Shu gave a soft "hmm," and after washing up, she sat in front of the dressing table, letting Green Willow tie her hair up. Her calm eyes were reflected in the bronze mirror.

Renming Hall.

The concubines, in order of rank, curtsied to the Empress. The Empress's voice carried a hint of weariness as she said, "Rise, all of you."

Her gaze swept over everyone in the hall, and when it landed on Consort Qing, a half-smile appeared on her lips, but her tone was unusually gentle: "Consort Qing has just recovered and should rest in the palace. She can simply have a maid come and inform me of her leave. There is no need for her to rush over to pay her respects to me."

Consort Qing Zhao sat down with the help of Amber, glancing at the Empress's face. "I heard that something went wrong at the Crown Prince's full moon banquet yesterday, and I've been worried about it ever since. That's why I came to see him and feel at ease."

As she spoke, she looked at Meng Shu: "The Crown Prince has only been a month old and this has happened. His wet nurse has been attacked for no reason. I imagine that even with the Emperor by her side, Consort Jin must not have slept well that night. She must be very nervous."

Consort Qi picked up the thread upon hearing this, and said angrily, "Which mother doesn't regard her child as her life? Your Majesty the Empress must stand up for Consort Jin. If this case isn't investigated properly, anyone will dare to cause trouble in the palace in the future. Wouldn't everyone be living in fear?"

The moment the words "became a mother" were uttered, the atmosphere in the hall suddenly fell silent.

Apart from Meng Shu and the always aloof Consort Mu (formerly Consort Song), everyone else, including the Empress, had a hint of displeasure on their faces.

Meng Shu knew that Consort Qi was saying this on purpose. She held up a handkerchief and pressed it to the corner of her eye. "Consort Qing and Consort Qi are right. I have been worried since I heard the news yesterday. Today I was just about to ask Her Majesty the Empress about the condition of the wet nurses. Has the Imperial Hospital found any clues?"

Yun Baolin softly echoed, "The wet nurse serves the eldest prince closely; the person who did this is truly despicable. If the matter is investigated, Her Majesty the Empress should punish them severely."

Just as the Empress was about to speak about the results of the Imperial Hospital and Tong Bo's investigation, Zhi Xue, who was outside the hall, quickly entered. She went straight to the Empress's throne, leaned down, and whispered a few words in the Empress's ear.

Upon hearing this, the Empress's expression changed slightly, and her gaze, filled with hesitation and scrutiny, fell upon Consort Qu, who was sitting below her.

After a moment of silence, her voice deepened, carrying an undeniable authority: "Consort Qu, do you have anything to say to me today?"

Consort Qu paused slightly as she held the teacup. She put it down, stood up, and curtsied. "Your Majesty, I don't know why you ask this. I have nothing important to report today."

Ruixue behind her struggled to maintain her composure, a fleeting look of panic in her eyes.