Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 223 Can it be returned to the Duke's Mansion?

It was only September, and Qing Zhifei, feeling cold, wore a long, lined silk jacket with a pale yellow embroidered grass-green ruyi pattern on her upper body, paired with a lotus-green moon-shaped skirt. Her hair was styled in a gentle crescent-shaped bun, adorned only with a pair of gold-inlaid kingfisher feather and pearl-encrusted rhombus-shaped hairpins.

More than a decade of wind and snow in the Northwest has not eroded her appearance; on the contrary, it has made her appear even more elegant, refined, charming, and delicate.

Empress Dowager Jiang saw this and, although she couldn't help but compare her to her own sister, she was quite satisfied.

Because she wanted to show her respect, she beckoned Qing Zhifei to come closer to speak. As soon as she touched her fingertips, Empress Dowager Jiang said with heartache, "Why are your fingers so cold? I've heard that Guangyang Prefecture is bitterly cold. I imagine you've suffered a lot over the years."

Madam Chen said gratefully, "Thanks to the Empress Dowager's concern and His Majesty's annual visits to take care of her, as well as the convenience of the hot springs in Wushan near Guangyang Prefecture, Fei'er would not have survived."

Wushan Hot Spring is located in the suburbs of Guangyang Prefecture. With the Emperor secretly protecting the Duke's Mansion and the Chen family of Jiangzhou also sending people to make arrangements, Qing Zhifei and her daughter were able to live in the manor halfway up Wushan Mountain.

The palace maids brought over embroidered stools. Although Qing Zhifei had only entered the palace once or twice when she was young, she was familiar with Empress Dowager Jiang. Therefore, she was not restrained in Cining Palace and sat down next to Empress Dowager Jiang as instructed. Several other palace maids brought in snacks and teacups.

Empress Dowager Jiang turned to the side and said, "I have already sent someone to inform Physician He that he will examine Fei'er's pulse in a moment. The milk tea is warm, and Fei'er has always been sensitive to cold, so it is just right for her now. You may all try some."

A look of delight flashed in Chen's eyes. Upon seeing the milk tea in the glass cup, she exclaimed in surprise, "Back in the Northwest, the border people were often influenced by the diet of foreign tribes. They were used to using goat's milk to brew tea as a hot drink to warm themselves, but it tasted fishy and was far less sweet than the milk tea in Your Majesty's palace."

"I have always enjoyed the food of the common people, so Consort Chun presented me with the recipe for this milk tea. It can be enjoyed both hot and cold, and I find it very delicious."

A hint of surprise flashed in Qing Zhifei's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Your Highness Consort Chun is intelligent and kind-hearted; I never imagined she would also be so ingenious in matters of food. On my way back to the capital from Guangyang Prefecture, I heard much about Your Highness Consort Chun's virtuous reputation. She is not only praised for her disaster relief and poverty alleviation efforts, but she is also highly respected by many scholars."

Empress Dowager Jiang was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. She had heard about disaster relief and poverty alleviation, but how could Consort Chun, a mere young lady, be respected by scholars?

The eunuch Li, who was standing beside her, reminded her at the right moment: "Your Majesty, the Emperor mentioned this to you before, presumably because of the bookstore and printing workshop."

Five or six years had passed before Empress Dowager Jiang realized what had happened only after being reminded by Eunuch Li.

"The Emperor did mention it to me once. It seems that when Consort Chun was still in Lin'an, she asked her brother to ask the headmaster of Lushan Academy. In the end, it was the Emperor who intervened and arranged for the Tang family to open printing shops in various prefectures. I suppose the students benefited from this and were very grateful."

Chen was born into a prominent family in Jiangzhou and had his own perspective and knowledge. Upon hearing Empress Dowager Jiang's words, his eyes flickered slightly, concealing deep worry.

"Consort Chun is benevolent and promotes education, which is a good deed that benefits the country and the people."

Li, the eunuch, had served Empress Dowager Jiang for over ten years and had naturally seen Lady Chen before. At this moment, he couldn't help but glance at Lady Chen out of the corner of his eye, thinking to himself, "After so many years, Lady Chen has not changed at all." These words seemed like praise, but in reality, they were quite insidious.

Empress Dowager Jiang seemed oblivious, took a sip of milk tea, and instructed Eunuch Li, "Go outside the palace gate and see why Physician He has not yet arrived."

Li, the eunuch, bowed and accepted the order. Before leaving the main hall, he heard Qing Zhifei's voice.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am perfectly healthy and would not dare trouble Physician He to examine my pulse..."

......

Outside Cining Palace, Consort Chun, accompanied by Aunt Mei and Mengzhu, was walking along the palace path when they happened to encounter Physician He. From the servants of Cining Palace who were with them, they learned that Empress Dowager Jiang had invited Physician He to examine the pulse of the third young lady of the Duke's mansion. Consort Chun and Aunt Mei exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly.

He Yizheng was highly respected and possessed extraordinary medical skills. He usually only took the pulses of the emperor, empress, and empress dowager in the palace. Apart from taking the pulses of a few meritorious old generals when ordered to do so, he never examined or treated people outside the palace.

This shows that Empress Dowager Jiang was indeed quite fond of the third young lady of the Duke's mansion.

At the palace gate, Eunuch Li greeted them and, after exchanging greetings with Consort Chun and the others, led them into the hall. However, he deliberately lingered a step behind and, when no one was watching, gestured to Aunt Mei with his palm.

Aunt Mei felt a chill run down her spine. She gently tightened her grip on Consort Chun's hand, reminding her to be more vigilant once inside the palace.

After waiting a moment, Eunuch Li entered to inform the Empress Dowager, and Consort Chun tidied her appearance before stepping into the main hall.

Chen and Qing Zhifei had already stood up when Consort Chun entered the hall. The mother and daughter's gazes naturally lingered on Consort Chun's face. Consort Chun did not look to the side, but only glanced at her briefly out of the corner of her eye. Then she moved gracefully to the Empress Dowager's throne and bowed to Empress Dowager Jiang to greet her.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Her flowing robes fluttered gently, her jade pendants jingled, and her every movement exuded grace and elegance, with an indescribable gentleness and warmth.

Madam Chen glanced sideways. She had seen countless noble ladies, and upon seeing Consort Chun's appearance and upbringing, she found her pleasing to the eye and couldn't help but feel slightly surprised. But then she remembered that Consort Chun was the great-great-granddaughter of Minister Yun and the legitimate daughter of a collateral branch of the Marquis of Huai'an's family. Coupled with the immense wealth and influence of the Tang family, she understood.

Qing Zhifei never looked down on anyone, and subconsciously compared Consort Chun to her deceased sister. After a moment, her brows relaxed.

After Consort Chun took her seat, Empress Dowager Jiang introduced Consort Chun to the Chen mother and daughter with a smile. In her words, she naturally omitted mentioning the old case of the Duke's mansion, as if the people of the Duke's mansion had never fallen on hard times and had always been prominent and honorable.

Chen stepped forward and, together with Qing Zhifei, performed a curtsy to Consort Chun. Consort Chun gracefully sat down on the embroidered cushion, her back slightly straight, and nodded in response with a polite smile on her face.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Empress Dowager Jiang finally allowed Physician He to enter the hall.

Chen showed great respect to Physician He, and together with Qing Zhifei, they rose to pay their respects. Qing Zhifei then looked shy and went into the inner room with Physician He to take her pulse.

Before Consort Chun arrived at Cining Palace, even Hua Yan couldn't fathom Empress Dowager Jiang's intentions. But upon seeing Qing Zhifei, who was wearing a long silk-lined robe, Consort Chun suddenly had a sudden realization.

"Your Majesty, the Third Miss has suffered from a heart ailment since childhood. Fortunately, she has been well cared for over the years, and the frequency of her palpitations and chest tightness has decreased. I will devise a prescription to stabilize her condition later."

However, the Third Miss's pulse was deep, slow, tight, thin, and hesitant, indicating that there was still coldness stagnating inside, causing obstruction of the meridians.

Treating cold-related illnesses with herbal decoctions is of limited effectiveness; in comparison, hot spring bathing is far superior. The warmth penetrates deep into the skin, clearing the meridians, invigorating blood circulation, expelling pathogens, and promoting overall well-being—a method far more effective than herbal decoctions.

Even Aunt Mei and Mengzhu realized that this was... aimed at their master's hot spring estate?

After Physician He finished reporting, he was led by Eunuch Li to a side hall to get a prescription.

A look of sorrow appeared on Madam Chen's face as she rose and slowly began to speak: "I have a request, though I cannot make one. I have heard that Consort Chun acquired a hot spring estate in the suburbs of the capital a few years ago. That estate was originally the private property of the Duke's mansion, but it was..."

"I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to return it to the Duke's Mansion? The Duke's Mansion is willing to compensate you with double the price you paid when you originally purchased it."