Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 259, Wufeng, Separating the Eyes of Longing

Huining Hall.

Song Jieyu sat there blankly for a long time, drinking three cups of milk tea, but did not reveal her intentions.

Consort Chun had always been indifferent to Consort Song and the other concubines, so she didn't speak up either. Hua Yan remained unmoved, and even beckoned Green Willow to bring needle and thread so she could concentrate on embroidering a headband.

Some were embroidered for Donggua, while others were prepared to show filial piety to Consort Chun by making two sets of close-fitting clothes for the old lady and Empress Dowager Zhou.

After another cup of tea's time, Consort Song coughed lightly and then spoke dryly, "The milk tea in Your Majesty's palace tastes really good."

Consort Chun gently raised her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips: "If Consort Jieyu likes it, that's good."

Then Consort Song rose and slowly stated her purpose: "I have come to ask you for a favor." Consort Chun was slightly surprised and couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is it?"

Consort Song looked up at the palace servants who were attending her. Consort Chun waved her hand to dismiss Mengzhu, Lvliu, and the others. "Consort Meng and I are like sisters. She does not need to leave."

Consort Song nodded slightly and took out a jade comb from her sleeve. "Your Majesty, I wish to present this item to the Second Miss of the Marquis of Huai'an's residence as a dowry gift."

Consort Chun was even more puzzled, as the Song family and the Huai'an Marquis's family had never had any dealings.

"Your Majesty, I have known the young master of the Xu family, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, since childhood. This is not a secret, and I am sure Your Majesty has heard of it. Now that Your Majesty's cousin, the second young lady of the Marquis of Huai'an, has married Xu Yizhao, I would like to ask Your Majesty to add this item when you add dowry to the second young lady of the Marquis's family."

Hua Yan stopped her needlework, her expression grave: "Was this a gift from Young Master Xu?"

"Yes, but please rest assured, Consort Chun, there are no markings on this jade comb." Consort Song nodded in acknowledgment.

Hua Yan's expression darkened slightly, and she and Consort Chun exchanged a silent glance. Consort Chun rebuked her in a deep voice: "Consort Song has quite the audacity to secretly exchange gifts with an official! What is her punishment?"

Consort Song's tone was as cold as ever, "This item is not a token of love, but a birthday gift for me when I turned fifteen. It did not violate any palace rules, did it?"

The hall was completely silent.

Hua Yan spoke on behalf of Consort Chun, asking, "Why does Consort Song want to give this item to the second young lady of the Marquis's mansion?"

"I heard that on the day the Xu family went to the Marquis's residence to perform the betrothal ceremony, there were many disagreements between the second young lady of the Marquis's residence and Yi Zhao. Your Majesty... does not wish to see another pair of lovers who are only superficially compatible but actually estranged in this world."

If Yi Zhao were to see this jade comb beside the Second Miss of the Marquis's mansion, he would surely understand the value placed upon her and would treat her with utmost devotion from now on... These words come from my heart and are entirely without malice.

Consort Chun was deeply moved after hearing this, but then Hua Yan said, "Your Ladyship is out of timing. Her Majesty had already sent the dowry to the Marquis of Huai'an's residence before the Lantern Festival."

Consort Chun regained her senses and suppressed her pity.

Whether Consort Jieyu is sincere or not, I have no intention of investigating or want to know.

However, I must still offer this advice: since Consort Song has already entered the palace, she shouldn't have brought this item in the first place. Furthermore, if this item truly falls into Ling'er's hands, and she finds out about it one day, wouldn't that further jeopardize their marriage?

Consort Song looked slightly taken aback and murmured, "It was I who was presumptuous."

Aside from Green Willow, Hua Yan rarely offered genuine advice to anyone. She told Consort Song, "If you truly care about others, Consort Song should pretend that this jade comb never existed."

Consort Song took a deep breath, lowered her eyes, and curtsied. When she spoke, she regained her usual coldness: "Thank you for your guidance, Consort Chun and Consort Cai. Today... Your Highness, please pretend that I was never here. I take my leave."

Song Jieyu's personal maid, Feng Chi, had been waiting anxiously outside the palace for a long time. When she saw her mistress come out, she hurriedly went forward to greet her. Seeing her mistress's expression, she knew that the matter had not been accomplished, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

After the master and servant left Huining Palace, Feng Chi finally couldn't hold back and said, "You really shouldn't have come to see Consort Chun today. If Her Highness were to spread this matter..."

"She won't."

Song Jieyu returned to Hanxiang Pavilion in silence. "Fengchi, do you think I really shouldn't have had such a stupid thought? Isn't it ridiculous?"

Feng Chi sighed inwardly, lamenting that those involved are often blinded by their own interests. She said, "It's time for Miss to let go. Keeping this jade comb might cause trouble. Why not let me handle it?"

The warm, smooth texture of the Hetian jade traveled through her fingertips, and an indescribable sorrow flashed in Song Jieyu's eyes. That sorrow was like the cold wind of the northern sun, making her tremble involuntarily.

With a crisp clang, the jade comb slipped from Song Jieyu's trembling hand and crashed straight to the ground.

With that crisp sound, the jade comb shattered into several pieces in an instant.

Memories of her childhood friendship with Xu Yizhao flooded back like a tide, gradually overwhelming Song Jieyu. Her face paled, and the light in her eyes faded, leaving only a deep sense of powerlessness and emptiness.

She looked up at the sky, her lips moved, but she couldn't make a sound.

.......

Inside the study of Huining Hall.

Consort Chun gently rubbed her temples. "Fortunately, you stopped me, but I'm willing to believe that Consort Song's actions were sincere."

Hua Yan said, "Madam and Sister Huanyun have both investigated the Song family. Consort Song has been learning martial arts since childhood. Although she is cold, she is also straightforward. She and Xu Yizhao, the son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, became friends after a fight. Today's actions are probably really for the good of the Second Miss of the Marquis's Mansion and Young Master Xu."

"However, whether she is sincere or not, Your Majesty need not concern yourself with her."

"Why didn't she just have someone from the Song family deliver it?" Consort Chun had just finished speaking when she realized, "I'm afraid even Madam Song doesn't know about this."

"Not only that, even if Madam Song knew, she might not be willing to hand her daughter over to Young Master Xu."

Consort Chun sighed, "Life is cruel. Consort Song is pitiful. If she hadn't entered the palace, her love with the young master of the Xu family would have been a beautiful story in the capital."

"Most people in this world are not in control of their own destiny. Song Jieyu should not have such a ridiculous idea today."

Hua Yan had previously been puzzled as to why the Emperor would choose a daughter from the Song family to enter the palace. However, upon learning that Marquis Weibei would remain in the capital and that Generals Song and Shen would be transferred to Liaodong for garrison duty after the New Year, she suddenly understood:

The emperor's cunning is truly all-encompassing. Military generals are not monolithic either. The emperor plans every step of the way. Apart from the Chiang family, he also chose to support the Song family early on.

......

In the following days, when the Empress went to Renming Hall to pay her respects, Consort Song claimed to be ill and did not come. The Empress even personally visited her at Hanxiang Pavilion.

The next event that attracted much attention was the general election. However, Zhou Bai and Huan Yun got married at the end of February, and Hua Yan devoted all her energy to preparing a wedding gift for her uncle and adding to Huan Yun's dowry.

Consort Chun had also prepared a lavish dowry well in advance; as Donggua put it, this gift was so heavy that it could buy a thousand maids like herself...

Good news also came from the Marquis of Lin'an's residence. On the ninth day of the second month, Su Wanwan gave birth to a daughter. Both mother and daughter were safe and sound. When the news reached Huining Palace, Consort Chun was overjoyed and rewarded all the palace servants of Huining Palace with three months' worth of monthly allowance.

While Hua Yan was extremely busy, Jian Zhi came to check her pulse and brought news about Guo Xiu Rong.