Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 331 The People of the Marquis's Mansion

In early July, the sweltering heat and swirling clouds made fireflies dance in the night.

Jingming didn't find anything out in the end, but two inconspicuous palace servants were caught red-handed reselling flowers and plants from Changchun Garden. In addition, an eighth-rank manager of the Garden Office was punished.

Perhaps still remembering that the Imperial Household Department had neglected Consort Meng when they moved into the palace, Jingming ordered a thorough investigation and finally found the wrongdoing. He then petitioned the Emperor to dismiss the two officials in charge of the Imperial Household Department.

The news was obtained by Ruizhu and Xiaonianzi, and the message was relayed to Meng Shu by Lüliu. After listening, Meng Shu showed no extra expression and said, "It's nothing." Then, she naturally placed one of the palace maids she had her eye on into the position of Director.

However, just two days later, the Emperor personally visited Consort Qu, and then news spread that the Empress had been reprimanded.

When paying her respects, Consort Mei was exceptionally well-behaved, with Imperial Concubine Pei always by her side. Apart from her daily routine of visiting Fengyi Palace, she was either at the Empress Dowager's residence or remained secluded at home.

Ruizhu often wandered around outside, saying that she vaguely heard the sound of a pipa coming from the Wutong Pavilion.

Consort Chun had no time to concern herself with such trivial matters, as she eagerly awaited her mother's visit. The Marquis's residence had already sent word that they had received a great favor, and not only would the Fifth Miss, the Seventh Miss, and the Second Young Master come, but her sister-in-law would also bring her young nephew to visit.

Consort Chun, who had not yet met her nephew, was overjoyed and ordered Aunt Mei to gather many trinkets such as the nine-linked rings and enamel bells. Meng Shu also embroidered a tiger-head pillow as a gift.

Soon it was time for Tang Xian to report on his duties.

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), a thin mist still shrouded the streets. Three carriages slowly drove out of the Lin'an Marquis's residence, their red wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs with a dull rumble.

Inside the lead carriage, Madam Yun, dressed in a scarlet silk robe with a pheasant-sleeved outer garment, lightly lifted the curtain with her fingertips, gazing at the gradually brightening morning light, her joy barely concealed in her eyes.

Tang Xian turned his head to look at her, his gaze tender, though there was a faint bluish tinge under his eyes—he had returned to the capital under the cover of night yesterday, and his face still showed signs of travel fatigue.

He reached out and grasped his wife's slender fingers, his tone aggrieved yet straightforward: "My wife has not seen Wan'er for a long time, but it has been more than half a year since she last saw her husband."

'Look at me!'

Madam Yun interlocked her fingers with his, but deliberately avoided looking at him. "Master writes a letter every seven days, often a thousand words long, even detailing how many steamed buns he ate for lunch. I feel like even though he's not in the mansion, he's always in front of me."

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered something, and Madam Yun took a gold and silver incense ball from her waist and gently placed it in Tang Xian's palm: "This is filled with benzoin made by Sixth Sister. While we are on the road, Master, please take a short rest."

“With Madam by my side,” Tang Xian suddenly leaned close to her ear, his newly grown short beard brushing against her earlobe, “I can’t sleep.”

Madam Yun, preoccupied with her own thoughts, glared at him reproachfully and tossed the incense ball into his lap. Unexpectedly, he casually rested his head on her lap, pressing the gold-embroidered pattern of her ceremonial robe into wrinkles. Just as Madam Yun was about to lash out, she saw him close his eyes, his breathing becoming heavy.

On the second carriage.

The seventh young lady, still sleepy-eyed, nestled softly in the fifth young lady's arms, her hair ornaments askew, clearly indicating she was not yet fully awake.

Su Wanwan took out a soft pillow from the side, and Xiao Wu took it and said softly, "Sister-in-law, just take care of Heng-ge'er. Xiao Qi is still asleep." She skillfully adjusted her position to make her younger sister more comfortable.

"Seventh sister is still young, but our fifth sister is becoming more and more like an older sister."

Su Wanwan chuckled softly, the little child in her arms playing with a necklace.

The fifth young lady gazed at the fleeting shadows of trees outside the carriage window and suddenly sighed, "It's really not good to grow up. My eldest sister is with the army in the southwest, and my second sister has entered the palace. Neither of them can come home whenever they want. I wonder if my second sister is happy or not."

Su Wanwan didn't know how to respond to this, and after a while she said, "Consort Chun is constantly favored in the palace, so naturally she is living a very good life."

"But when I first returned to the capital, I attended the flower-viewing banquet hosted by the Princess. I heard that the Emperor dotes on Sister Huayan. How could Second Sister be happy?" The Fifth Miss's eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice was nasal. "Second Sister is such a proud person..."

Upon hearing this, Su Wanwan's expression turned serious: "Fifth Sister, be careful with your words. Miss Meng is now a Jieyu (a high-ranking concubine). When you arrive at the palace, you must not be disrespectful and must address Miss Meng as 'Your Highness'."

Seeing her sister-in-law nod sullenly, she softened her tone, "Besides, Her Majesty is kind and treats Consort Meng like Fifth Sister. If your words get out, it will only put Her Majesty in a difficult position."

The fifth young lady twisted her handkerchief, knowing everything, but she still couldn't help feeling sad for her sister: "Sister-in-law, why doesn't the Emperor like such a good person as Second Sister?"

Su Wanwan was speechless for a moment: "Fifth Sister, what are you talking about? You also said that Consort Chun is so good, how could the Emperor not like her?"

She was extremely satisfied with this marriage to the Tang family, both with Tang Lin and the Marquis's family. Her mother-in-law was reasonable, her husband was considerate, and even her half-siblings were very well-mannered.

Since marrying into the family, she had come to understand her mother-in-law's wisdom. Although the Tang family was newly wealthy, their household was comparable to that of a noble family. The household was simple and harmonious. During her ten months of pregnancy, her husband took meticulous care of her and did not take any concubines. Such good fortune was unparalleled in the entire capital.

If my second sister hadn't entered the palace, given the Marquis's family's status, even if she had married into an ordinary noble family, she would probably have been happier than being locked up in the deep palace.

On the third carriage.

Tang Quan (Tang Xian's second son, born to Aunt Lu, and the same age as Xiao Qi) stood up straight, his little hands neatly placed on his knees, and he muttered something to himself.

The old woman leaned in to listen closely and saw that the young master was reciting his lessons. She nodded with satisfaction. "If the concubine knew that the second young master was working so hard, she would be very happy."

"What you're saying, Granny, is incorrect."

The young boy spoke in a serious tone: "The teacher said that reading is for understanding principles, not for pleasing others. However, my aunt said that my second sister likes scholars the most, and asked me to recite to her when I met her, but my sixth sister said that there is no need to do it deliberately."

"Granny, whose advice should I listen to?"

The old woman looked at him with affection, "Second Young Master, would you like to recite it to Her Majesty yourself?"

Tang Quan pursed his lips, first gently shaking his head, then nodding hurriedly: "My aunt often tells me to study diligently so that I can be a support for the sisters in the family in the future. Sixth Sister said that we are connected to Second Sister by blood, and the most important thing is to treat each other sincerely. We must not be reserved or distant when we meet. If... Second Sister wants to test my studies, I will definitely answer seriously."

The cart wheels rolled over the official road, raising fine dust.

Inside the palace, Consort Chun waited anxiously, feeling that time was passing too slowly.

When Meng Shu arrived at Cheng Guan Zhai, she saw Consort Chun standing at the palace gate. She smiled and stepped forward to gently take Consort Chun's hand: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, it is still early. After entering the palace, according to etiquette, you must first pay your respects to the two Empress Dowagers. It will probably be around 7:00 AM before you can come over."

When Yun Baolin saw Consort Chun and Meng Shu return from the palace gate, she hurriedly stepped forward and curtsied, followed by Gui Qiu carrying several brocade boxes.