Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 418 Consort Rong's Promotion

Recently, Meng Shu has been staying at home and has not left the Lingcui Palace since she visited Princess Lingyi once at Dieqiong Pavilion. The Empress Dowager has issued a special decree allowing her to focus on her pregnancy without having to pay her respects at Renming Hall. With Granny Zhao taking good care of her, her days are quite peaceful.

In early February, after learning of the war in the northern frontier, the Emperor, though busy with military affairs, would still visit Cuiyu Hall every few days to dine with her.

Consort Chun came to visit every two days. On this day, Mengzhu and Aunt Mei supported her on either side. Meng Shu immediately noticed something amiss with such a careful manner.

Aunt Mei's eyes and brows were full of smiles, and even her wrinkles were radiating joy, but she insisted on keeping quiet.

After dismissing everyone else, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and said with a beaming smile, "Your Majesty's period is more than a month late. I originally intended to summon Jianzhi to take your pulse today, but Your Majesty insisted on coming here instead. I thought that if it were true, I could share this joy with you..."

She rubbed her hands together, lowered her voice, and said confidently, "This servant thinks it's almost certainly true!"

Mengzhu nodded repeatedly, her face flushed: "Your Majesty has been feeling sleepy lately and has not had a good appetite, just like Consort Jin when you were pregnant!"

A blush crept across Consort Chun's usually dignified face. As Aunt Mei helped her sit down on the soft couch, she said softly, "Look how happy they are. But Shu'er, I myself think that this time it might really be true."

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu was overjoyed. She stood up, supporting her waist, and carefully looked around Consort Chun. She then hurriedly instructed Green Willow, "Go out and greet Imperial Physician Jian quickly. Be careful and don't make a fuss."

She held Consort Chun's hand, both of their fingertips trembling slightly, and it was hard to tell who was more nervous.

Mengzhu happily agreed and quietly slipped out with Mingyue.

“I was worried sick when Consort Rong had a miscarriage a few days ago. When Physician Jian took her pulse last time, he said that the pregnancy was still early and he couldn’t make a judgment. Now that it’s early March, he should be able to make a proper diagnosis.” Aunt Mei grinned, tears welling up in her eyes, clearly both expectant and nervous.

Before long, after Jian Zhi carefully examined her pulse, the final result did not disappoint everyone; it was confirmed that she was nearly a month pregnant.

Meng Shu secretly deduced that she probably conceived around the end of January, when the Emperor stayed at Huining Palace for several days in a row.

Thinking of this, Meng Shu couldn't help but smile bitterly. Presumably, the war in the northern frontier had already begun to unfold, and the Emperor needed to rely more on the Marquis of Lin'an to procure provisions, which was why he was being so attentive to Wan'er.

The emperor's favor in the palace was always closely linked to the political turmoil of the previous dynasty. Behind every act of kindness from the emperor lay calculations and scheming.

Several times, Meng Shu had a wake-up call in the middle of the night, when she was aware that she was born into a concubine's family and had no illustrious background. The Emperor's favor had come too strangely from the very beginning, which always made her feel uneasy...

Jian Zhi's gentle voice pulled her back to reality. She heard Jian Zhi say softly, "In the twelfth lunar month before the New Year, Your Majesty's liver depression had eased. After the New Year, she took good care of herself and, most importantly, her mood gradually improved... Now that she is pregnant with the Emperor's child, it is only a natural progression."

He looked around at the joyful faces of everyone in the room, and a huge weight was lifted from his heart.

To my shame, I entered the palace as a royal physician at the behest of my family and my master. If it weren't for Consort Jin's constant comforting presence, it's uncertain whether Consort Chun would even be able to conceive now. Now, the outcome is finally good. All that remains is careful nurturing to ensure the imperial heir arrives safely, thus fulfilling the Marquis's request.

"Consort Rong has just suffered a miscarriage. To prevent any unforeseen complications, it would be best to keep Wan'er's pregnancy a secret for now. Imperial Physician Jian should prescribe a recuperation formula, saying that Wan'er needs to rest," Meng Shu advised after pondering for a while.

Consort Chun nodded slightly. "That's exactly what I was thinking too. The Empress has been feeling unwell lately and has even skipped the morning greetings twice, which saves me the trouble of finding an excuse."

Meng Shu wasn't present when Consort Rong had her accident, but Consort Yun witnessed it all. Afterwards, Consort Yun was still shaken, secretly relieved that her cousin's warning had been timely. She shared a room with Consort Rong in Ganlu Palace, and Consort Chun had repeatedly told her to stay away from Consort Rong. That day, when they went to Renming Palace to pay their respects, she lagged behind and witnessed Consort Rong stepping on a pebble that had rolled in from who-knows-where…

"Taking leave all the time isn't a solution. Aunt, go back to the Marquis's residence tomorrow and have Madam personally visit the Empress Dowager at the temporary palace. Tell her that the war in the northern frontier is critical, and Consort Chun has volunteered to go to Yichun Palace to transcribe scriptures and pray for the soldiers of Great Zhou..."

Before Meng Shu could finish speaking, Aunt Mei's eyes lit up.

"This is truly a brilliant idea. If Your Majesty were to reside in Yichun Palace... with the Empress Dowager in charge, no matter what methods anyone tries, they will be powerless to stop her."

Consort Chun frowned: "Wouldn't that leave Shu'er alone in the palace? You are at a crucial time right now. If I leave the palace, it will be at least several months..."

“Wan’er, you don’t need to worry about me,” Meng Shu gently pressed her hand. “The Empress Dowager (referring to Empress Dowager Jiang) has issued an imperial decree allowing me to recuperate in Cuiyu Hall. I don’t think anyone will dare to cause trouble.”

Then, she changed the subject, "But if Wan'er goes to the imperial palace, she will probably have to hand over the power to manage the six palaces."

“The Empress will surely seize this opportunity to reclaim power.” Consort Chun understood, her brows furrowing even more deeply.

Meng Shu nodded: "But if the Emperor intends to check and balance the power, the only person in the palace who can take on this task now is probably Consort Qing."

Consort Chun pondered for a long while and sighed, "Below the rank of Consort, she is the highest-ranking. Consort Qi is a suitable candidate, but unfortunately Princess Lingyi's illness shows no signs of improvement, and even if the Emperor intends to promote her, she is simply too busy..."

Just then, Xiao Nianzi rushed in to report:

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has just issued a decree to appease Rong Meiren, elevating her to the rank of a fourth-grade Jieyu."

Lian Qiao was originally sentenced to death by caning for failing to protect her mistress, according to palace rules. However, Consort Rong pleaded for her for half a day, and the Emperor granted her a pardon. Lord Tong changed the sentence, and Lian Qiao was taken into the inner palace as a lowly maid.

Green Willow looked at Meng Shu and couldn't help but say, "...With Lian Qiao gone, Consort Rong will be without a capable person by her side. Will she keep Ji Xiang by her side as a head maid?"

Meng Shu gently stroked the handkerchief in her hand with her fingertips and shook her head, saying, "Not necessarily. It's already rare to find someone as stupid as Consort Qu in this palace. Given Consort Rong's background, she wouldn't really be so blind and incompetent."

Even if there was some oversight at first, after so much time has passed, one should have noticed something by now.

Perhaps because of her early pregnancy, Consort Chun unconsciously touched her lower abdomen and murmured a sigh: "Consort Rong is also pitiful. I heard from my cousin Yun that she has been crying these past few days and is visibly sinking into despair."

Meng Shu dismissed Lvliu and the others. Jian Zhi had just finished packing his medicine box when Mengzhu and Ruizhu dragged him to the tea room. The two girls were impatient and wanted Imperial Physician Jian to explain the key points of pregnancy care in detail, afraid that they might miss the slightest detail.

After everyone had left, Meng Shu carefully instructed Consort Chun, focusing not only on precautions during the early stages of pregnancy but also on urging her to be vigilant and avoid the imperial palace as soon as possible.

......

Meanwhile, inside the Ganlu Hall.

Jixiang carried a blue cloth bundle and tiptoed into the bedchamber. The room was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Consort Rong was leaning against the couch, her face as pale as paper.

When she saw Jixiang enter, she raised her eyes slightly and her gaze fell on the new bracelet on Jixiang's wrist.

"Have you packed everything?" Rong Jieyu's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Jixiang lowered her head and said, "Your Majesty, all of Sister Lianqiao's belongings have been collected. This servant will deliver them to her right away."