Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 532 Court Assembly Disputes

"Reporting to Your Majesty," Jingming said, his entire body almost pressed against the ground, barely daring to breathe.

Knowing he couldn't hide this from the Emperor, and fearing it would implicate Consort Jin who had just left, he steeled himself and blurted out all the doubts and fears he had been holding in: "This servant dares to be bold...this servant has noticed that Your Majesty's health has been poor lately, your spirits are low, and your condition is quite different from usual. I am...I am extremely worried!"

"Upon closer examination these past few days, it all started after Consort Mu's incident... This servant... this servant suspected there might be something fishy going on, so... so I dared to secretly send someone to Consort Mu's palace and the palaces of Consorts Yang and Ye to investigate and find out the truth..."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor's eyes flashed with shock. He subconsciously raised his hand and tightly gripped the sandalwood beads that Meng Shu had just given him. The icy touch felt like a branding iron.

Min Rong, who was standing outside the hall, clearly heard a sound of shock and anger. He was so frightened that his legs went weak and he almost knelt on the ground.

The young palace maid beside her was also startled. She cautiously approached her and whispered anxiously, "Aunt Shangyi, what's going on inside? Why did Eunuch Jing anger the Emperor so much? It couldn't be... it couldn't be that Consort Jin just now..."

This young palace maid was someone Meng Shu had met when she accompanied Tang Qingwan, who was then a concubine, to the palace to pay respects to the Empress. The purse hanging from her waist was a gift from Meng Shu herself, and she had always been very respectful to Meng Shu.

Min Rong herself was completely bewildered, and her anxiety grew: "Don't make wild guesses! The Emperor and Consort Jin were having a very pleasant conversation just now, and there was nothing unpleasant about it..."

Upon hearing this, the young palace maid's expression softened slightly, and she felt somewhat at ease.

A quarter of an hour later, Wei Ying and Tong Bo, the head of the Imperial Household Department, walked quickly into the Funing Palace with solemn expressions.

Thus, Meng Shu's trip today has been effective.

Using the auspicious omen report from Dengzhou as a pretext, and taking advantage of the opportunity to interpret local chronicles, she subtly steered the conversation towards the unusual customs and tales of the southwest. With Jingming's deliberate encouragement, she successfully placed the Empress before the suspicious Emperor.

Afterwards, Meng Shu thoughtfully handed the unfinished Southwest Geography to Dong Ming and casually instructed, "Send this book to the Emperor."

When Dong Ming returned after delivering the letter, he brought back news that the Emperor had just summoned Lord Tong of the Imperial Palace.

Meng Shu's lips curled slightly, a cold laugh escaping her lips as she thought to herself, "I hope that you, Empress, have indeed committed some underhanded deeds... If it is confirmed, then this is the path you have chosen to take your own life!"

......

Meanwhile, Madam Yun returned to the Marquis's residence with a heavy heart.

She stood under the eaves for a long time in the deep courtyard before slowly entering the study.

Sitting at her desk, Madam Yun pondered the blood-stained account book repeatedly, her fingertips touching the pages several times before pulling them back.

This matter is of utmost importance; once you take this step, there is no turning back.

However, after careful consideration, Madam Yun decided to follow Meng Shu's wishes and immediately ordered her confidante to copy the account books.

Subsequently, Madam Zhou was also summoned to the study. A quarter of an hour later, Madam Zhou, accompanied by her eldest apprentice Mingwu, rode out of the city at full speed and headed towards Jinnan.

Within the capital, the transcribed accounts, which pointed directly to the Yuzhou embezzlement case that shocked the court and the public two months prior, spread like wildfire within half a day. Rumors that "the Zhenbei Marquis's family is suspected of embezzling disaster relief funds" quietly circulated in teahouses, taverns, and alleyways throughout the capital, causing unrest and much discussion.

The next day.

The imperial palace, the Taiji Hall, is holding a court assembly.

A neatly copied account book was placed on the emperor's desk.

The one who solemnly presented this gift was none other than the venerable and virtuous Prince Rui.

As soon as the court session began, Prince Rui stepped forward, bowed, and knelt before the imperial steps, reporting: "Your Majesty! Yesterday, upon returning home after visiting a friend, this old minister discovered a copy of an account book detailing the transactions of grain funds in Yuzhou circulating in teahouses and taverns throughout the marketplace! Many of the transactions point to the name of the Marquis of Zhenbei and related personnel, and the sheer amount is shocking! This old minister implores Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate the corruption case in Yuzhou, to rectify the court and reassure the people!"

The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall was astonished.

The emperor, behind his desk, had a somber expression. His gaze swept over the account book, but he did not speak immediately.

However, the imperial court had already quickly split into two factions.

Several nobles and former subordinates of the Marquis of Zhenbei stepped forward, passionately defending the Marquis of Zhenbei, who was far away in Yuzhou suppressing bandits.

"Your Majesty! Marquis Zhenbei is loyal to the country and is currently suppressing bandits and pacifying the people in Yuzhou. How can we allow such dubious account books to slander him!"

"The Marquis's loyalty is unwavering, as Heaven and Earth can attest! This must be a frame-up by a villain, whose intentions are utterly despicable!"

"Your Majesty, please be wise and do not doubt the pillars of the nation based on a single account book of dubious origin!"

On the other hand, the censors and some civil officials of the Censorate were much more cautious.

Minister of Revenue Yun Qian stepped forward first: "Your Majesty, what Prince Rui said is quite right! Since the account books have already circulated in the market, they concern the face of the court and the law. They must be thoroughly investigated to clarify the facts. If Marquis Zhenbei is innocent, the investigation will restore justice to him!"

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review stepped forward with a heavy heart: "Your Majesty, the evidence has now surfaced in the marketplace, and rumors are rampant. If the court turns a blind eye, it will appear as if it is protecting and condoning wrongdoing, which would damage Your Majesty's wisdom and the court's prestige. Only a thorough investigation can quell the rumors and calm the people's hearts."

Prince Rui continued, "The Marquis of Zhenbei has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and has made outstanding contributions to the Great Zhou Dynasty. This old minister is also unwilling to believe it. However, now that this matter has come to light, it concerns the laws and regulations of the country and the reputation of the court. If we ignore it, how can we satisfy the public opinion of the people? This old minister implores Your Majesty to issue an order to thoroughly investigate this matter, to clear the name of the Marquis of Zhenbei, and to give the people an explanation!"

"Your Majesty, I second that suggestion. I request that Your Majesty issue an edict to thoroughly investigate this case!"

Although Marquis Tang Xian of Lin'an was not present, his relatives by marriage and court officials who had previously been on good terms with him stepped forward to second his opinion.

The civil and military factions held their own opinions and argued endlessly. Inside the Taiji Hall, the atmosphere was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring, and all eyes were finally focused on the throne.

A storm has already begun in the Golden Palace, while the Marquis of Zhenbei, who is far away in Yuzhou and about to return to the capital, is unaware that a monstrous wave is about to crash down on him.

......

"Absurd—utterly absurd!"

Inside the Renming Hall, the Empress abruptly slammed the teacup in her hand to the ground. Her chest heaved violently, her face turned ashen, and her phoenix eyes burned with anger and a hint of barely perceptible panic.

Since the ban was lifted, nothing has gone right! A nameless rage is burning inside me, with nowhere to vent it.

Last night, she received news that Tong Bo, the Imperial Attendant, had been summoned to the Funing Palace by the Emperor, and she still didn't know what they discussed. This uncertainty hung over her like a dark cloud, making her restless and uneasy, as if something was brewing in the shadows.

At this moment, she suddenly heard rumors that her father had been implicated in the corruption case in Yuzhou, and that even the account books had been put on display in the imperial court! These successive blows caused her long-maintained composure to completely collapse.

"My father is the Imperial Father-in-Law, holding the highest position among officials! Does the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion lack those measly disaster relief funds? Why would they need to embezzle them?! This is clearly a deliberate frame-up, an attempt to put my entire Jiang family to death!"

The Empress's voice was shrill as her gaze swept over the kneeling palace servants, finally settling on Zhixue.

"You personally leave the palace and have Uncle Jiang send a messenger on horseback to Father. Instruct them to investigate who is behind this! It must be Consort Chun, or the Marquis of Lin'an's residence!"

......

The next day, as dawn broke, Meng Shu slowly woke up from her sleep.

In the past two days, she had solemnly instructed Consort Chun not to take Kang Ge'er out of Huining Palace for the time being, and also instructed Mingyue to guard him closely. Aunt Mei knew about Meng Shu and Madam Yun's arrangements, and dared not be careless. She repeatedly reminded the wet nurses to strictly forbid them from taking the Second Prince out of the palace without permission.

There was a sense of impending doom permeating the inner palace.

Green Willow entered the inner room and began to serve Meng Shu as usual, while softly reporting: "Your Majesty, someone came from Renming Palace just now to say that the Empress is unwell and has contracted a sudden illness. The morning greetings from all the palaces will be temporarily suspended today."

"Yesterday, His Majesty issued an edict in court, ordering the Court of Judicial Review to conduct a thorough investigation and urgently summoning Marquis Zhenbei back to the capital. The Empress, however, remained calm and did not immediately request an audience with the Emperor. But her illness came at a very opportune time."

Green Willow leaned down and whispered in his ear, "This servant went to find Eunuch Jing. Yesterday, Eunuch Jing sent someone to take some perfume powder from Hanxiang Pavilion without anyone noticing. The perfume powder was bestowed by the Empress and has an elegant name, 'Fragrant Dew'."

"Has it been examined by Physician He?" Meng Shu's eyes narrowed.

Green Willow nodded and said, "It was secretly sent over immediately. However, after careful examination, Doctor He said that the powder itself was not poisonous and the ingredients were quite ordinary. However, there was one ingredient that was extremely rare. It was not produced in the Central Plains but was unique to the Southwest region."

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu smiled slightly: "That's enough. From now on, you don't need to inquire about this matter anymore."