Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 352 Yun Shi Gains Favor

Just as Hai Shi (9-11 PM) arrived, Meng Shu straightened her clothes and got up, leading Lü Liu and others to the palace gate to greet the emperor.

The sound of bells on the imperial carriage grew louder as it approached. Eight eunuchs led the way, carrying glass palace lanterns. The bright yellow ceremonial procession drew nearer, and the emperor's figure slowly emerged in the night.

Meng Shu curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome your presence."

The Emperor reached out to help, and then smelled a faint fragrance. This fragrance was not as strong as the one used by the concubines, but rather carried a hint of freshness like morning dew in the mountains, which made a subtle gentleness flash in his eyes.

Tonight, Meng Shu leaned against the green willows, wearing a moon-white silk dress embroidered with begonia flowers, and a light pink silk cloak over it. Only a single, warm jade hairpin was inserted diagonally in her hair. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a light shadow under the palace lanterns. Her snow-white neck was as white as porcelain and jade, which made the pearl pendants on her earlobes shine even brighter.

"As autumn approaches and the weather cools down, Shu'er, you don't need to wait here for long anymore."

The Emperor's voice was deep, but his gaze could no longer leave her. As he spoke, he naturally took her hand, his fingertips gently squeezing her palm, and led her towards the Cuiyu Hall.

Upon entering the hall, two red candles burned on gilded candlesticks, illuminating the entire inner room with warmth and brightness.

Meng Shu personally removed the Emperor's outer robe. Seeing a hint of weariness in his eyes, she gave Green Willow a wink. Green Willow immediately brought over a basin of warm water with a few dried jasmine petals floating in it.

Meng Shu took the silk handkerchief, soaked it, wrung it out, and gently washed the emperor's hands.

The Emperor gazed with satisfaction at the beauty before him, then turned his head to look at the furnishings of the hall, his eyes lingering on the red candles for a moment. "Shu'er, are you satisfied with this Jade Hall?"

Meng Shu touched the thin calluses on the Emperor's palm with her fingertips, paused, and said softly, "Your Majesty's arrangements are all very thoughtful, and I am overjoyed."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's lips curled slightly. He didn't know why he was so fascinated by Meng Shu. He felt that every time he saw her, whether she was writing or painting, or just sitting and talking, he felt more relaxed and couldn't help but want to get closer to her.

After washing up, the emperor changed into his nightgown, and the two sat hand in hand on the daybed, chatting quietly, when suddenly they heard a noise from outside.

"Who is speaking?" The emperor frowned.

Jingming's face paled slightly. He bowed outside the hall and said, "Your Majesty, it was Miss Yuehuan, who serves Consort Shen, who came to report that Consort Shen is suffering from severe abdominal pain and requests Your Majesty's presence."

Meng Shu raised an eyebrow, just as she was thinking that the Emperor would definitely move to Shujing Palace tonight, when she heard the Emperor say coldly, "If Madam Shen has eaten too much, she should walk around. If she is really feeling unwell, then please ask Physician He to come and take a look."

Upon hearing this, Yuehuan, who was standing outside the hall, nearly fell over. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Jingming's face.

Jingming flicked his whisk and escorted Yuehuan to the palace gate. "His Majesty has had a long day and is finally able to rest. Miss, you should go back and persuade the Empress to be mindful of propriety."

Then he turned to Dong Ming beside him and instructed, "During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Physician He will be on duty at the Imperial Medical Bureau. Go and invite him to Shujing Hall. If there is anything amiss, report back immediately."

Dong Ming bowed his head in agreement and hurriedly left with a look of unease on his face.

Green Willow said worriedly, "Eunuch Jing, could Consort Shen really be unwell? If word gets out..." the palace would inevitably spread rumors that Consort Meng had bewitched the Emperor.

Jingming understood and said in a low voice, "Don't worry, Miss Green Willow, Consort Shen was actually fine last night."

Inside the imperial bedchamber, the Emperor looked at Meng Shu with a meaningful expression.

"Shen is pregnant with the emperor's child, why doesn't Shu'er persuade me to go and see her?"

Meng Shu turned around, picked up the jade teapot, and poured tea from the green teacup with her slender fingers, saying, "At the summer banquet, the Emperor was so worried about Sister Shen, how could he not have taken her to heart?"

She gently pushed the teacup towards the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty's decision not to go must mean that you have arranged for the imperial physicians to be on duty beforehand."

The Emperor took the teacup, gently stroking the rim with his fingertips, and shook his head with a sigh: "Guo's pregnancy has also been difficult. She has been very well-behaved for the past few months. Even though she is due to give birth next month, she is not as noisy as Shen."

Meng Shu lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, as the Emperor continued, "Now that Shu'er has been removed from the list of imperial concubines, I most hope that you can give birth to a prince for me."

"Does His Majesty dislike the princess?" Meng Shu blurted out, then realized her mistake and added, "I think that whether it's a princess or a prince, they are all His Majesty's bloodline..."

Before she could finish speaking, the Emperor leaned forward, his hot breath brushing against her cheek. A light kiss landed on her brow, carrying an irresistible meaning: "Shu'er is so intelligent. If she gives birth to a prince, I will be even happier."

After being released from her status as a concubine, the Emperor privately issued an edict, and Meng Shu stopped taking the contraceptive medicine. At this moment, she was held in the Emperor's arms, her thoughts churning.

The Emperor looked into her eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, and gently picked up Meng Shu, carrying her into the inner room.

The red candles flickered, the gauze curtains swayed gently, and the gold hooks made a soft clinking sound.

A spring night in Cuiyu Hall.

......

With Meng Shu assisting, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet organized by Consort Chun went smoothly.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the imperial harem enjoyed a few rare days of peace.

By early September, Consort Guo was nearing childbirth, and the Emperor frequently visited the Dieqiong Pavilion. Consort Shen, feeling resentful, made a scene twice, but upon hearing that she had been sternly reprimanded by Emperor Song, she finally quieted down...

During this period, among the new concubines who entered the palace in May, all except for Consort Pei, who was far away in the imperial palace, had already received imperial favor. Consort Yang and others were promoted to Baolin, and Consort Yun was promoted to Cairen.

However, there is one thing worth mentioning.

Consort Yun served the emperor twice, and even the empress sent someone to reward her with pearl hairpins.

Although Consort Chun didn't care, gossip gradually began to circulate in the palace. People said that Consort Chun was doing all the work for someone else, which was not without sarcasm.

Whether it's Consort Meng, who is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, or Consort Yun, who has recently gained favor, aren't they both closely related to Consort Chun?

When Meng Shu went to Huining Palace that day, she saw that Aunt Mei had a troubled look between her brows and seemed hesitant to speak when she bowed.

"Is something troubling you, Aunt?"

Aunt Mei seemed to have found her pillar of support, and pulled Meng Shu to a secluded place, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Her Majesty, but does Her Majesty know why Consort Yun has gained favor?"

Meng Shu frowned, listening to Aunt Mei say angrily, "Does Your Highness still remember when you gave our Consort Chun a bottle of Osmanthus Dew at the Imperial Palace?"

"Osmanthus dew?" Meng Shu vaguely understood the meaning behind Aunt Mei's words.

"A few days ago, Consort Yun came over for a short visit, and I don't know how she persuaded Your Highness to give her that bottle of dew. The very next day, she bumped into the Emperor in the Imperial Garden..."

Meng Shu's eyes flickered slightly; the Emperor did indeed like this cool fragrance. However, Consort Yun's favor with the Emperor might not be entirely due to this.

Aunt Mei carefully observed Meng Shu's expression. She had learned from Green Willow that the Clear Dew was extremely difficult to make, and even though Consort Chun hadn't been willing to use it, it had been taken away by Consort Yun with just a few words...

Meng Shu knew about Consort Chun's soft-heartedness, so she didn't take it to heart.

She comforted Aunt Mei, saying, "Whether Consort Yun is favored or not is unimportant, so you don't need to worry about it. Jianzhi is currently taking care of Her Majesty's health, so please don't let these trivial matters disturb Her Majesty's mood."

Aunt Mei was still indignant, "Consort Yun seems honest and upright, but she's actually quite cunning. We must be wary of her in the future..."

Meng Shu gently pressed Aunt Mei's hand, "Her Majesty's birthday is in a few days. Now that I am not in Huining Palace, at such an important time, Aunt Mei must make sure that Yu Chan is never taken away from Her Majesty."

The Emperor never neglected Consort Chun; he would summon her to his bedchamber every few days and shower her with gifts.

......

After talking with Consort Chun in Huining Palace for a while, Meng Shu noticed that Consort Chun was in a good mood, so she carefully inquired about the details of her recuperation and gave her a few more instructions.

After leaving Huining Palace, there was no one around. Green Willow muttered softly beside Meng Shu.

"That Consort Chun is really something. She wasted Shu'er's good intentions, and in the end, Consort Yun got the benefit."