Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 367 Is Shu'er blaming me?

Meng Shu turned and went into the inner room, gently placing the imperial edict on the carved rosewood table.

(Note: "When imperial edicts are promulgated, the original is kept in the province, and copies are distributed." Copies of imperial edicts promoting officials could generally be kept privately by concubines.)

Green Willow followed her in, her eyes and brows brimming with undisguised joy: "Your Majesty, this servant will later place the imperial edict of promotion on the table in the main hall, and after three days, it will be sealed and stored in the storeroom."

As he spoke, he turned around and went to the Treasure Pavilion to retrieve a gilded box. He then carefully padded it with a layer of soft satin before placing the imperial edict inside.

"No rush. I remember Wan'er sent a celadon bamboo-shaped bottle at the beginning of the month, as well as the Three Friends of Winter tea that we made together before. You can bring some of that too. Come with me to Funing Palace later."

Green Willow understood, and soon returned carrying a large wooden box.

"Your Majesty, this vase has an elegant shape and a rare glaze, but this tea..."

She hesitated, weighing the tea bag in her hand. "Isn't it a bit too simple?"

"That's the simplicity we're after. We'll replace the dark blue paper used to wrap the tea with mulberry bark paper and tie it with hemp rope."

Although Green Willow did not understand the meaning, she hurriedly went to the study to fetch the materials.

Meng Shu helped with the bandaging, while Lü Liu deftly tied the hemp rope and explained softly, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant knows the consequences. The purses awarded this time were all sent by the head maids of the Clothing Department, and this servant specially asked them to embroider the emblem of the Imperial Clothing Bureau on them."

Meng Shu was taken aback upon hearing this, then chuckled and gently tapped Lv Liu's forehead.

"I know all that, so I can trust you to handle things."

"I've just been promoted, and everyone in the palace is watching. Those like the Director of the Imperial Wardrobe, eager to curry favor, will only increase in the future. Just be constantly vigilant."

Green Willow replied, "This servant understands. The people of the Four Departments and Six Bureaus are the most snobbish, but they have always been respectful to our Lingcui Palace. Now that Your Highness has been promoted to the rank of Consort and received such a precious title, I'm afraid they will try even harder to curry favor with you."

As Consort Chun had been managing the six palaces for some time, Meng Shu had also met with the heads of various departments.

She smiled slightly, "With Wan'er protecting us, they naturally wouldn't dare to be negligent."

Green Willow laughed along, and after a while said, "Consort Chun treats us so well, this servant also hopes that Consort Chun can get her wish soon."

"Will do."

Meng Shu straightened her sleeves. "I can't go out these days, so you should visit Huining Palace more often and don't become estranged from Mengzhu and the others."

The two women discussed some trivial matters in detail. After instructing Donggua and Xia'er to take care of the palace affairs, Meng Shu changed into a simple dress and then left Lingcui Palace.

At this time, in Huining Palace.

Not long after Jingming announced the imperial decree, Consort Chun learned of Meng Shu's title.

She said with some concern, "The Emperor's attitude... is quite unpredictable."

Ruizhu was massaging her shoulders when she heard this and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, although there have been some setbacks, surely there's nothing wrong with this title of Jin?"

"If you truly care about Shu'er, then simply bestow upon her the name Jin."

Consort Chun frowned, "Insisting on changing 'Jin' to 'Jin' only invites criticism from the court and the six palaces. Isn't this putting Shu'er in the eye of the storm?"

Aunt Mei quickly served a cup of calming tea: "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself and don't get angry. In my opinion, no matter what His Majesty's purpose is, his favor towards Consort Meng is genuine."

Consort Chun remained silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up. Ignoring the approaching night, she immediately led Mengzhu and Aunt Mei out of Huining Palace.

......

Inside the Funing Hall, wisps of smoke curled from the gilded beast-head incense burner.

Jingming tiptoed in and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Jin has come to express her gratitude and is waiting outside the palace. I noticed that Miss Lvliu is carrying a rather large brocade box."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor immediately put down his vermilion brush, the ink spreading slightly across the memorial: "What are you all standing there for? Quickly, invite her in! From now on, Shu'er need not be informed when she comes."

As he spoke, he got up and walked towards the palace gate, his robes carrying a faint scent of ambergris.

As Meng Shu, supported by Lv Liu, stepped over the threshold, she saw a bright yellow figure coming towards her.

She hurriedly knelt on the ground and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Meng, respectfully wish Your Majesty good health."

A pair of gold-embroidered cloud-patterned boots stopped in front of her. The Emperor personally bent down to help her up, and said gently, "Why bother to come and express your gratitude so late? Shu'er is still pregnant. Be careful not to tire yourself out."

Meng Shu stood up with the help of the person offering her support, maintaining a respectful posture.

"I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's boundless grace, which has granted me a promotion and a title. I must come in person to express my gratitude to Your Majesty."

Green Willow stepped forward with a gift of gratitude, which Jingming quickly accepted. His gaze lingered on the mulberry paper package tied with a hemp rope before he opened the wooden box.

On the soft satin, a celadon bamboo-shaped bottle lay quietly.

The Emperor's fingertips traced the vine pattern on the bottle, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat: "Shu'er is blaming me."

Inside the hall, the candlelight flickered. Meng Shu was dressed in plain clothes, with only a pearl hairpin swaying gently in the light and shadow.

Immediately afterward, the Emperor's voice deepened: "Using the title of a king as the title of a concubine has existed since ancient times. I wish to bestow upon you unparalleled favor. Why do you compare yourself to a weed and demean yourself?"

Meng Shu raised her eyes, the candlelight rippling softly in them. She shook her head slightly: "Although I come from humble origins, I have never belittled myself."

Reaching into the wooden box, Meng Shu took out a celadon vase and placed it on the imperial desk before slowly explaining, "The moon wanes when it is full, and water overflows when it is full. I am grateful for Your Majesty's favor and do not wish to implicate Your Majesty in the criticism of the court officials. I only wish to be a celadon vase on Your Majesty's desk, not seeking gold and jade or glory, but only wishing to sway gently like a creeping vine, not hindering Your Majesty's clear mind."

The Emperor's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this. But what he wanted to give was far more than just this title...

"Is this tea?" The Emperor smelled a refreshing aroma.

Meng Shu said, "It is the Three Friends of Winter tea that I brewed before the New Year. I remember that Your Majesty loves this refreshing taste, so I brought some for Your Majesty to try."

"Shu'er is very perceptive, and I know your feelings. You can rest assured and take care of your pregnancy. I will always protect you." The Emperor's gaze fell on the simple mulberry paper package, and he instructed Jingming to put it away carefully.

I stayed in the Funing Palace for about half an hour.

A group of palace servants from Funing Palace led the way, carrying gilded palace lanterns, while Jingming personally escorted Meng Shu back to Lingcui Palace.

"It's late and the dew is heavy, Consort Jing, you should hurry back." Supported by Green Willow, Meng Shu walked to the corner of the palace road and saw a figure moving in front of the palace gate in the distance, which seemed to be Meng Zhu's figure.

Jingming insisted, "This servant thanks Your Highness for your consideration, but His Majesty specifically instructed that Your Highness must be safely escorted back to the palace."

Meng Shu gently pinched Green Willow's arm...