Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 381 Full Moon Celebration

The ceremony of offering sacrifices at the temple was originally a formality for bestowing names and titles, and was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The Emperor personally drew the two characters "令仪" in vermilion ink, and the musicians of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices immediately played the elegant music "Deer Cry". Then, thirty-six officials of rites stood solemnly on both sides and chanted the "Imperial Decree on the Heir Apparent" in unison. Their voices were like the harmonious sounds of bells and chimes, reaching straight to the gilded finial on the roof of the palace.

The solemn and dignified scene was not witnessed by Meng Shu and the other concubines. They were gathered in the palace with the wives of the imperial family, preparing for the baby's third-day-old celebration under the empress's supervision.

(Note: The original meaning of "washing the third day" should be a traditional ceremony held on the third day after birth. This article combines the washing the third day with the full moon celebration, which is not entirely consistent with historical facts.)

In the center of the hall, a jade basin carved with lotus patterns had already been placed. The basin contained a seven-fragrance soup made from seven kinds of fragrant herbs, including orchid, iris, and angelica. The surface of the water was sprinkled with twin lotus flowers cut from gold leaf. The soup was clear as amber, and a faint fragrance of herbs floated in the rising steam.

Only those of the rank of concubine or above were qualified to add water to the basin. The Empress stepped forward gracefully, and seven pearls rolled from her sleeve into the basin, making a tinkling sound as they entered the water. Consort Chun followed closely behind, lightly placing a white jade double fish pendant on her fingertips.

Consort Qing was still at the temporary palace and could not come in person, but she sent Amber with a jade lotus root carving.

When it was Meng Shu's turn, she took out three gilded silver bells from her sleeve. The bells were exquisitely crafted, with lotus scroll patterns engraved on their surfaces. When they were dropped into the basin, they collided with each other, producing a clear and melodious sound.

Afterwards, the noblewomen of the imperial clan, led by Princess Yongping, were not allowed to offer gold or jade, but only five-colored silk threads prepared in advance by the Imperial Clan Court.

Finally, the Empress Dowager raised her hand and threw down a longevity lock made of engraved red gold, which splashed water.

After the Emperor carried the Lingyi back to the Fengxian Hall, the third-day-after-washing ceremony officially began.

As the water rippled, the officials of the Ministry of Rites straightened their hats and solemnly prepared to recite the congratulatory words aloud. Suddenly, Consort Qi stepped forward from the crowd, carrying a vermilion lacquered tray with a painted brocade backing her. On the tray lay a peach wood sword no longer than an index finger.

"Your Majesty, Consort Qu sent this peach wood sword this morning. In my hometown, there is a custom of adding peach wood swords to pots to ward off evil and disasters. Why don't we also put it into the orchid pot?"

Everyone's gaze fell on the tray, where a small peach wood sword was meticulously carved. The hilt was adorned with double-petaled peony patterns, the blade was engraved with the words "warding off evil," and a bright red tassel was tied to the end.

"allow."

With the Emperor's permission, Consort Qi personally placed the peach wood sword into the basin. The red tassel unfurled in the fragrant water, like a speck of cinnabar falling onto the blue waves, indescribably beautiful and dazzling.

The Ministry of Rites recited the blessing again: "Bathed in orchid-scented water, your splendor shines; blessed by Heaven, may your prosperity last forever..."

Among the concubines, Consort Rong said in a low voice, "I used to think that Qu Cairen was dull and unrefined, but I never expected that she would have such a clever mind. It is a waste of her talents to be a mere concubine."

Consort Chun coughed lightly, and Consort Rong shut her mouth and remained silent.

Consort Rong's words actually struck a chord with the other concubines.

Although Consort Qu had been favored by the Emperor several times before, she had never shown off her abilities. Even when she later received the Emperor's favor and moved to the main palace, it only caused a few more days of discussion among the palace staff.

In addition, she was usually taciturn, and even in front of Qu Baolin, who was of lower rank than her, she would often give way. This demeanor made everyone lower their guard without them realizing it, and they even regarded her as a harmless, invisible person. It was only in the last two days that they were surprised to find that they had misjudged her.

Meng Shu stood behind Consort Chun, watching Princess Yongping gently wipe Xiao Lingyi's delicate skin with a new silk cloth dipped in water. With each wipe, she would recite a folk blessing such as "Wash your little hands, hold the golden cup."

After the third-day bath, the baby's hair is shaved.

A female official from the Shanggong Bureau brought over a gilded razor. Princess Yongping took it and left a lock of "wisdom hair" on the top of Xiaolingyi's head. The rest of her baby hair was carefully wrapped in red silk and placed in a sandalwood box inlaid with a hundred children pattern, symbolizing "keeping good fortune."

The box made a soft "click" sound when it opened and closed, startling Meng Shu so much that her fingertips trembled slightly.

These rituals were all new to her, and she couldn't help but find them novel, especially since she was now pregnant. As she watched, her palms would unconsciously touch her still flat belly.

Perhaps it was the thought that her own children would experience these things in the future that gave her a wonderfully gentle nature.

Like a seed hidden in the spring, it is silently infusing her world with the first gentle tremor.

This feeling was so unfamiliar to her, yet it was almost an instinct.

Consort Chun, standing in front of her, also had some emotions churning within her.

She stared blankly as Lingyi was wrapped in a swaddling cloth embroidered with auspicious beasts, listening to the Emperor's order to put the baby hair box into the storeroom of the Funing Palace. A warm longing spread from her heart, transforming into a fleeting ripple in her eyes beneath her dignified demeanor.

The celebrations, including bestowing names and titles, the baby's third-day bath, the presentation of auspicious gifts by officials and their wives (i.e., the presentation of congratulatory gifts by officials of the third rank and above), and the full-moon banquet, lasted for five or six hours, ending only at the end of the Shen hour (3-5 PM).

Meng Shu took the opportunity of changing clothes to rest in a side hall, where she was able to meet Madam Yun.

As the wife of the Marquis of Lin'an, Lady Yun was naturally qualified to attend Lingyi's full moon celebration.

Meng Shu dismissed her attendants, and Madam Yun, with impeccable manners, bowed to Meng Shu first before saying, "The letter to Madam Zhou has been sent by fast horse, and it should arrive in the next two days according to the journey. After she replies, I will have Aunt Mei pass it on to Consort Jin."

Meng Shu lowered her voice and said, "These past few days I've been thinking of having Madam send someone to Jiangning. I heard my aunt mention that her mother was originally from Jiangning... The person that Granny Yu mentioned earlier might be related to her mother's family."

Madam Yun said gently, "I have already sent Madam Zhou to Jiangning to investigate. If we get any information, we will send it to the palace."

That's how two smart people talk; they don't need to say much, they both understand each other's intentions.

Meng Shu nodded slightly, then brought up another important matter: "We were lucky this time. In the future, for anything that enters the palace, whether it is fabric or other tribute, we should have an additional procedure for checking and keeping samples. This way, we can feel more at ease."

Madam Yun nodded in agreement, "Thanks to Your Majesty's for your foresight, otherwise Wan'er might have been implicated because of Yongxiu Cloth Shop. I have discussed this with the Marquis, and the business will gradually shrink and we will relinquish our status as imperial merchants..."