Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 372 Is there a problem with the material?

After the Emperor left, Meng Shu finally relaxed, rubbing her temples with her fingertips, her brows furrowed with exhaustion. Seeing this, Green Willow quickly stepped forward to help her back to her chambers.

"Your Highness, please rest." Green Willow removed her hairpins and jewelry, and her black hair cascaded down onto the pillow like a waterfall.

After Meng Shu closed her eyes, Lü Liu quietly lowered the curtain and turned to Dong Gua and Xia Er, who were guarding the outer room, and whispered, "I'm going to Huining Palace. You two keep watch."

Consort Chun could not visit Lingcui Palace every day, and now she only came once every two or three days. Therefore, Green Willow or Winter Melon would always find an excuse to go to Huining Palace to deliver messages.

......

Meng Shu slept soundly and didn't know what time it was when she woke up. Green Willow was quietly tidying up the table when she saw that Meng Shu was awake, so she hurried over to help her wash up.

"Your Highness, I just returned from Huining Palace. Consort Chun received news that Consort Qu's family sent a message to the palace, and Ruixue personally went to hear it."

Meng Shu's sleepy eyes gradually cleared: "Did you find out anything?"

Green Willow shook her head. "I don't know the specifics. However, a letter from the Marquis's residence said that the Duchess of Qingguo hosted a banquet yesterday, and the guest list included the matriarchs of the first and second branches of the Qu family."

Meng Shu was stunned. "These two families are from different social classes and have never interacted before. Why are they suddenly being so friendly..."

Could it be that the Duke of Qing's mansion intends to use Consort Qu's words to plead with the Emperor?

It wasn't exactly a case of grasping at straws in desperation, but Consort Qu was far too shrewd to act so rashly. Nevertheless, even with these thoughts in mind, Meng Shu still instructed Green Willow to keep a close eye on Consort Qu.

Green Willow acknowledged and continued, "Today, Consort Qu had lunch at Renming Palace before returning, and the Empress rewarded her with two bolts of cloud brocade. However, on my way back just now, I encountered Ruixue, who seemed to be heading towards Qianying Pavilion."

After tidying up, Meng Shu got up and walked to the outer room, saying calmly, "The Empress's repeated actions don't necessarily mean she's trying to win her over. But anyway, it has nothing to do with Wan'er or our Cuiyu Hall. This time, it's our turn to watch the show."

Counting the days, Princess Lingyi's full moon celebration will be in half a month.

The Emperor issued a special decree to hold a grand ceremony at the Fengxian Hall to show his respect for the eldest daughter of the Emperor.

Meng Shu had already instructed Consort Chun to deliver a message to the Emperor, declining the assignment under the pretext of recuperating her health.

The responsibility of preparation naturally fell on the Empress's shoulders. At present, the Ministry of Rites, together with the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs, is making preparations in full swing, and every matter must be consulted and decided by the Empress.

This celebration was quite different from an ordinary palace banquet.

They had to adhere to ancestral rituals while also considering the national treasury's needs. Furthermore, from organizing banquets and arranging palace furnishings to deploying palace servants and eunuchs, and arranging ceremonial guards, every single detail was meticulously planned, including a "bathing in fragrant water" and a "hair-shaving ceremony" for the princess's full moon celebration.

Although Consort Chun held the title of assisting in the management of the six palaces, it was best for her to stay away from such a high-level celebration.

After all, the Empress is still sitting on top.

Meng Shu pondered to herself, "With the Empress personally overseeing the celebrations, nothing should go wrong. But who can predict what will happen in the palace? Who knows what might happen before or after the celebrations?"

A few days before the celebration, Meng Shu prepared a gift: a pair of gold-threaded tiger-head shoes. Consort Chun prepared a five-poison patterned bellyband and an exquisite gold bracelet with two small bells at the clasp that would make a clear, melodious sound when shaken gently.

Giving a necklace as a gift is not allowed; those are items personally bestowed by the Emperor or Empress Dowager, and one cannot overstep the bounds of propriety.

......

That day, Green Willow returned from the embroidery room with some news.

"Does Your Highness still remember Cai Lian?"

Meng Shu said, "How could I not remember? She was someone you took in in Jinan. She entered the palace in the same batch as you and was assigned to the Shangfu Bureau... She was working in the embroidery room, but there hasn't been any news about her for a long time, has there?"

Green Willow nodded and said, "Cailian has always worked under Aunt Zhou, who has the best craftsmanship in the embroidery workshop. Yesterday morning, Lianqiao brought a piece of brocade to the embroidery workshop, saying that she wanted to make new clothes for Qu Baolin, probably to wear for the full moon celebration. After looking at the material, Aunt Zhou declined the task, saying that she had to embroider a screen for Rong Meiren."

Meng Shu listened carefully, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes: "Is there a problem with the material?"

Green Willow whispered, "Cailian can't say for sure either. She only said that the brocade looked bright and beautiful, and Lianqiao secretly handed over some money. But Aunt Zhou is always cautious. If there's nothing unusual, she wouldn't have turned down this job."

Meng Shu pondered for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, "The Empress bestowed a brocade upon us, but the embroidery ladies in the embroidery workshop dared not accept it... How interesting."

She turned her gaze slightly and waved to the green willow.

Green Willow leaned closer, and Meng Shu whispered, "Go and tell Wan'er about this, and then tell her..."

Upon hearing this, Green Willow's expression hardened, and she immediately left the Jade Hall.