Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 402 One Sings, One Harmonizes

Qu Baolin's face stiffened, and he secretly pinched Qu Meiren's wrist hard.

Consort Qu winced in pain and bowed apologetically, saying, "Your Highness Consort Qi, please forgive me. I saw that my cousin liked it, so I offered to lend it to her for a few days..." Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Seeing her so submissive, Qi Zhaorong's eyes flashed with anger. Her lips parted several times, but she ultimately remained silent.

As they were talking, Consort Qing's palanquin slowly came to a stop in front of the steps.

After being confined for several months, she seemed to have lost some weight, and her dark purple palace dress made her skin appear even paler.

The moment she appeared, Consort Qing's gaze swept over everyone like a knife.

"Sister Meng is pregnant, and I haven't personally offered my congratulations yet." She smiled, her gaze sweeping over Meng Shu's still-not fully pregnant waist and abdomen before finally settling on her hair.

Meng Shu gave a slight curtsy and said with a light smile, "You're too kind, Consort Qing. A few days ago, Granny Yu sent a valuable congratulatory gift, but I haven't had a chance to thank her in person."

"Oh?" Consort Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Since you like it, why don't you wear it?" As she spoke, she deliberately raised her hand to adjust a red-gold plum blossom hairpin in her hair. "Could it be that you're not being honest, and... you don't like it?"

"Shu'er said she liked it, which was all in accordance with etiquette. But Consort Qing has been confined for so long, and she hasn't even developed this much sense of propriety."

Consort Chun helped Mengzhu down from the sedan chair, and before they even got close, she spoke first.

Upon hearing this, Consort Qing's expression turned cold. Just as she was about to retort, the concubines, led by Meng Shu and Consort Qi, all bowed to Consort Chun.

Meng Shu maintained her curtsy posture, raised her eyes and smiled lightly: "Why didn't Consort Qing pay her respects to Consort Chun? Did she forget all the palace rules during her confinement?"

Meng Shu and Consort Chun rarely spoke in such a coordinated manner, and Consort Qing's face turned ashen instantly, her fingernails almost digging into her palms.

Qu Meiren stood at the edge of the crowd, her eyes flashing slightly.

She had always paid the most attention to Meng Shu, and at this moment she keenly noticed that Meng Shu was different from usual. Although she was sharp on the surface, she was also tactful and always left room for maneuver. This time, however, her words were piercing and hit Consort Qing's sore spot.

After a few breaths, Consort Qing suppressed her anger and hastily curtsied to Consort Chun: "This concubine... greets Consort Chun."

His voice sounded like it was filled with ice shards.

"Having spent so much time in the Northwest, he's completely lost his manners."

Get up.

Consort Chun waved her hand casually, and when her gaze fell on the gold hairpin in Consort Qing's hair, she suddenly chuckled and said, "The hairpin that Consort Qing is wearing today is exquisitely crafted, but the white pearls inlaid on it have a lifeless look. I'll send you a bushel of South Sea pink pearls later, which will look much better when inlaid on the engraved plum blossoms."

With each word she spoke, Pei Yunu's face paled a little more.

Her suggestion didn't work, and she was even ridiculed by Consort Chun. It's easy to imagine that Consort Qing, in her shame and anger, would blame her.

Thinking of this, she forced a smile and said, "Your Highness Consort Chun is indeed generous, giving away such precious South Sea pearls so readily. As expected of the apple of the eye of the Tang family business, such generosity truly makes us envious."

Consort Chun frowned: "I have no idea that a mere imperial maid who has never even served the emperor has the dignity to interrupt me when I am speaking?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.

Yi Xiuyuan covered her mouth with a handkerchief, almost bursting out laughing. She turned to Song Jieyu and muttered, "Consort Chun's mouth is truly sharp, like it's coated with poison. Indeed, if only I had Consort Chun's background..."

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had repeatedly mocked the concubine in private as a "merchant's daughter" back in the Prince's residence...

Upon hearing this, Pei Yunu's face turned from white to green, as if she had been slapped in the face in public.

Among the young ladies who entered the palace at the same time as her, those who had received some favor, like Consort Qu, had already been promoted two ranks, and even the least favored had served the emperor twice. But she alone had never even properly seen the emperor's face, and her rank of "Imperial Concubine" had become a joke nailed to the palace walls.

Consort Qing was truly defeated time and time again, feeling as if she were immersed in ice water.

Seeing this, Consort Chun was overjoyed. As she walked to Meng Shu's side, she turned her head and instructed Meng Zhu: "The New Year is coming soon. Consort Pei said that the jewels are precious, so let's distribute some to all the palaces."

Consort Qing took a deep breath; she would have almost fallen if Amber hadn't held her firmly.

Consort Qi immediately smiled and curtsied, echoing Consort Chun's words: "In that case, we are also fortunate enough to benefit from this. I thank Consort Chun for her generous gift."

Yi Xiuyuan's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly pulled Song Jieyu to echo, "Thank you for the gift, Consort Chun."

The vermilion gates of Renming Hall opened wide, and Zhixue, the Empress's head maid, stood on the steps and bowed: "Please, Your Highnesses, enter the hall."

The Empress was already informed of what had happened in front of the palace gates, and she was naturally pleased to see it. As Consort Chun and the others filed into the palace, her gaze fell directly on Consort Qing.

"Consort Qing has not visited Renming Palace for some time. Today, I have specially prepared tea brewed with plum blossom snow water, Zhixue—"

Upon hearing this, Zhixue led a group of palace servants to serve tea and snacks.

The Empress smiled and looked around at everyone: "My sisters, please try this too. This snow water was collected last December and stored in a celadon jar under the plum grove for a whole year. It is extremely refreshing and invigorating."

Meng Shu held the teacup with her fingertips, not even touching her lips, while Consort Chun didn't even bother to touch the teacup.

Yi Xiuyuan took a small sip and immediately exclaimed, "The fragrance of plum blossoms is delightful, and the tea is excellent. Thanks to Your Majesty, I rarely get to drink such fine tea."

The Empress stroked the gilded nail guards and chuckled, "When have I ever mistreated you? Since you like them, I'll have Zhixue pack some and send them to you."

Yi Xiuyuan hurriedly got up to thank the reward.

"However, you are not wrong. This tea was specially sent to the palace by the Tang family's Yongchun Tea Shop. I'm afraid there won't be any tribute tea of ​​this quality next year."

These words brought up the matter of the Tang family's business guild resigning from its position as an imperial merchant. Upon hearing this, Consort Chun naturally did not respond and remained extremely indifferent.

But among the concubines present, there were always some who would flatter the Empress.

At this moment, Consort Rong chimed in, "Indeed! I heard that the Marquis of Lin'an's household declined the imperial merchant offer, and I've been feeling regretful for days. Especially the Yongxiu Cloth Shop under Consort Chun's name, they always have new fabrics..."

Meng Shu placed the teacup on the table and suddenly smiled and said, "Since Consort Rong is so regretful, why not have your servants patronize Manager Qi's shop? After all, a century-old family like the Li family of Zhao County is not short of gold and silver."

Rong Meiren felt a chill run down her spine, wondering to herself what was wrong with her words. "...Your Highness Jin is too kind. The Tang family's business has an excellent reputation. I just feel that it would be a real pity if they lost their status as imperial merchants."

Consort Chun said coldly, "Consort Rong's family also owns many businesses. Why not persuade Lord Li to also compete for the title of Imperial Merchant?"

Rong Meiren remained silent. Her father had indeed considered this idea, but she stopped him on the grounds that it would "disgrace the family's reputation."

The Empress tapped her fingertips on the table, her gaze sweeping across Consort Chun's face.

"Alright, His Majesty has entrusted the selection of imperial merchants to the Ministry of Revenue for a decision. It is also evident that Consort Chun's maternal family, the Marquis of Lin'an, has changed their allegiance and shed their worldly business affairs."

He then turned solemn: "I have summoned you all here today to discuss the year-end prayers and ancestral temple visits. His Majesty and I will personally go to the Circular Mound Altar in the southern suburbs. According to custom, the preliminary rites must be performed for three days, during which time the six palaces..."