Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 365 Xie Shi is different from ordinary concubines

Meng Shu put down her book and lightly stroked the rim of the soup bowl with her fingertips: "Human hearts are unpredictable, but they can never escape being trapped by the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance."

"Lady Xie is different from ordinary concubines. Her father is the leader of civil officials in the court, and his students and old friends are all over the court. The emperor took her into the palace to set an example of civil officials in the six palaces as well."

This arrangement served two purposes: it diluted the favor bestowed upon the concubines from military families and it also echoed the policies of the previous dynasty. This is why the Emperor deliberately did not take her to the summer palace, and when he left the palace, he specifically chose her to assist in managing the six palaces.

Green Willow couldn't help but interject, "Then she should be even more careful with her words and actions..."

Meng Shu chuckled: "It is precisely because things have gone too smoothly that she cannot withstand setbacks. This was originally an unparalleled honor, and after returning to the palace, the Emperor could have let Wan'er assist her in managing it. But she made a mistake due to her carelessness and lost this power."

"Her power as assistant was taken away and her rank was demoted. How could she not resent it? Wan'er is a concubine. If she were to become pregnant with the emperor's child, the position of Imperial Concubine would be within her grasp. How could she sit still? Making her move sooner would give herself enough time to grow."

Moreover, there may well be others instigating this matter. Xie is not a person of strong will to begin with, and it's not surprising that he would do such a foolish thing after being slightly provoked.

After Meng Shu finished speaking, Green Willow and Winter Melon exchanged a glance and both sighed.

This matter is quite complicated.

Initially, the Empress discovered that Consort Xie had planted spies in Cuiyu Hall, and thus conceived the idea of ​​using someone else to do her dirty work. By having Dong'er speak, she intended to incite a conflict between Consort Xie and Consort Chun, both to test Consort Chun's strengths and weaknesses and to reap the benefits.

But Dong'er had already been exposed, and Hongyu also played a key role in it.

In this way, once Meng Shu saw through his plan, he naturally had to go along with it.

Neither Meng Shu nor the Empress expected that Consort Xie would so brazenly use her birthday gift to deliver a fatal blow... And coincidentally, what Meng Shu would least overlook was examining the items Consort Chun handled daily...

Of course, Meng Shu was also eager to get rid of Xie Meiren.

To be precise, Meng Shu had already taken notice of Consort Xie when she was appointed to assist in managing the six palaces—the Xie family was a leader of the upright officials, and the Emperor had been supporting them intentionally or unintentionally, so they might become a formidable rival to Consort Chun in the future.

Having said so much without realizing it, Meng Shu rubbed her temples and used some apple to suppress the nausea rising in her throat.

Green Willow promptly handed over a cup of warm water and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what do you intend to do with Hongyu and Hongfei?"

Meng Shu closed her eyes and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Hongyu...let's keep her for now. As for Hongfei, once the Xie family matter has faded, we'll find a way to send her away."

Hongyu deserves a great deal of credit for making this matter go smoothly.

If she hadn't secretly orchestrated things for Zhihe and Lianrui without them noticing, Xie wouldn't have believed the false news that 'Consort Chun is pregnant'.

Green Willow responded softly and carefully helped Meng Shu to the inner room to rest.

She helped Meng Shu lie down and tucked her in with the brocade quilt. Green Willow knelt on the ground and begged for forgiveness, saying, "It was my negligence. If Dong'er hadn't been silenced, it might have implicated...that person."

Green Willow had been staying at Cuiyu Hall to make arrangements for the past two days, only having to go to Linde Hall last night for her birthday banquet. Before leaving, to avoid alerting the enemy, she kept Dong'er in a side room to do her work. Who would have thought that while everything was calm last night, something would happen this morning.

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu quickly got up to help her up and patted the back of her hand hard.

"Silly girl, do you think the Empress is so easy to deal with? Even if Dong'er were alive, she's just a lowly palace maid. Let alone the fact that she wouldn't dare to implicate the person behind this, even if she made a few empty accusations, how could she possibly shake the Empress's position? Even Lord Tong might not dare to submit his testimony to the Emperor..."

Sunlight streamed through the gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on Meng Shu's face.

With her eyes half-closed, she said calmly, "There's plenty of time. Let's wait for the right opportunity."

......

It was late afternoon that day.

On both sides of the palace road, the eunuchs and palace maids heard a joyous melody from afar and immediately knelt down, their foreheads pressed against the bluestone ground.

The Imperial Ceremonial Bureau's sheng and xiao ensemble led the way as Jingming carried the bright yellow imperial edict to Lingcui Palace. Behind him followed a line of palace servants carrying brocade boxes and trays. The vermilion trays were covered with red silk, and the glittering jewels were faintly visible.

Under the crabapple tree at the corner, a slender figure stood quietly.

Ruixue sighed softly, "Such a grand affair, even the music troupe from the Directorate of Ceremonial has been mobilized. I wonder which rank among the Nine Consorts Consorts Consort Meng will be promoted to this time?"

As Qu Cairen watched the departing procession, she gently fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand and said indifferently, "What does it matter which rank of the Nine Concubines one is?"

She looked up toward the direction of Lingcui Palace, her envy no longer concealed: "The title bestowed by the Emperor alone is the true favor."