Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 499 Leaving the Palace (1)

The next day, before dawn, the morning bell, which should have rung every day, did not ring in front of the Taiji Hall.

Before long, a series of eunuchs carrying imperial decrees quickly walked out of the Funing Hall, conveying the imperial edict that "court is suspended today" to the outside of the palace.

The officials, who should have been dressed in their court robes and gathered in the court, were either already outside the palace gates or on their way by carriage when they received the imperial decree. Upon receiving the decree, they couldn't help but feel a slight unease, secretly wondering why the emperor had suddenly suspended court today after summoning the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner and the Duke of Qing late last night. They also wondered if it was related to the rumors about celestial phenomena, and some private discussions inevitably arose.

Among them, Marquis Zhenbei was the most astonished.

He stood with his hands behind his back outside the palace gate, gazing at the majestic imperial city, a chill that was hard to describe welling up in his heart.

As they pondered this until dawn, the sun had gradually risen higher, and the morning mist had completely dissipated. Only then did the officials in the capital piece together fragmented information from their familiar eunuchs and colleagues:

Consort Qu requested to leave the palace, and the Third Prince, who had been considered an omen of bad luck since birth, would also move out of the palace with her to live and practice at Puji Temple.

Qin Jian, the Imperial Observatory Director, was sitting in the covered carriage returning to his residence, his mind still on yesterday's prediction of "Mars guarding the heart and a seductive concubine causing chaos in the palace."

Suddenly, a corner of the carriage curtain was gently lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles, and a note slipped in.

Qin Jianzheng was not surprised. He unfolded the note, and his pupils suddenly contracted after his eyes had only scanned a few lines of text.

"what?"

Then he abruptly lifted the carriage curtain, staring blankly at the fleeting street scenes outside the window, "Change course, go to Fanlou."

Upon hearing the news, the driver hurriedly reined in the horses, turned the corner, and sped off towards Fanlou. The carriage swayed as it went, and Qin Jian, holding onto the side of the carriage, trembled slightly with his fingertips.

......

The Imperial Palace.

Jingming looked exhausted. He left Funing Palace and, without delay, carried his robes straight to Lingcui Palace.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty issued an edict yesterday, granting Consort Qu permission to leave the palace at the end of today's hour of Wei (1-3 PM)." As soon as he entered the main hall of Lingcui Palace, Jingming bowed and said, "Regarding the matter of leaving the palace, His Majesty said that Your Majesty is in charge of handling it."

Meng Shu nodded slightly: "The matter is sudden. I have instructed the Shanggong Bureau to make careful preparations for the luggage. I think it should be done in a morning."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the window. "After all, we are sisters in the palace. Qu Shi's departure has no end in sight. When the time comes, I will go with the other sisters to see her and the Third Prince off, which will be a way of fulfilling this bond."

This was something His Majesty specifically instructed me to do yesterday.

This would both demonstrate harmony within the harem and prevent the departure of Consort Qu and her son from being too desolate, thus avoiding gossip.

Hearing this, Jingming felt slightly relieved and added, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty. His Majesty was very worried last night and did not sleep at all. However, the Third Prince's departure from the palace is a major event, and His Majesty will personally go to Anfu Gate to see him off."

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu simply gave a faint "hmm" and then fell silent.

Green Willow stepped forward at the opportune moment and said, "When I returned with Your Highness yesterday, it was already past 7 PM. I'm afraid it will be 9 PM by the time the Duke of Qing enters the palace. You must have stayed up all night guarding the Emperor. I've just made some ginseng tea with winter melon. You can come with me to the tea room to rest and warm up before returning to Funing Palace."

Jingming knew exactly what Lvliu was thinking. He glanced at Xia'er and the others standing in the hall out of the corner of his eye, his lips moved but he didn't speak. Seeing this, Lvliu immediately gave Xia'er a look, "You two go and wait in the side hall first. Jing and I can handle things here with Her Majesty."

Jingming then slightly raised his head, his gaze first falling on Meng Shu, his tone carrying a hint of cautious solemnity.

"Your Majesty, I dare not say anything more about the matter concerning the Duke last night."

However... there is something I think Your Highness should know in advance.

The one in Zhaoqing Palace, it seems, cannot continue... to live on in this world.

He spoke the last few words very softly, even unconsciously slowing his breathing.

"You've worked hard, Eunuch Jing." Meng Shu raised her eyes slightly, not asking for details, and her expression didn't change much. She simply instructed, "Green Willow, escort the eunuch to rest."

Green Willow curtsied and softly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty." Then she turned to Jingming, her tone becoming more considerate, "Eunuch Jing, this way please."

The two left the flower hall one after the other, walking along the bluestone slabs under the corridor towards the side courtyard. When they reached a secluded spot, Green Willow slowed her pace slightly, and in the brief moment of turning around and flicking her sleeve, she discreetly slipped a brocade purse into Jingming's hand.

"This is a cloud and mist tea cake brought from Yangzhou by Lord Zhou. Her Majesty found it delicious and specially asked me to share some with you. You stayed up all night last night, so brewing a bowl of hot tea with this tea cake will help you relax."

......

Chunxi Hall.

Consort Qu sat there all night, not uttering a single word since returning from the Funing Palace yesterday to plead guilty. She stared blankly at the night outside the window, the bloodshot veins in her eyes becoming even more noticeable in the morning light.

It wasn't until dawn that she slowly got up and had the palace servants help her with her washing and grooming.

After washing and dressing, she wore no makeup and was dressed in plain clothes. The fabric was the most ordinary soft satin, without even a single embroidery, which made her already pale face look even thinner, and her whole being exuded a resolute calmness.

She stepped out of the bedroom and into the outer room, saying in a hoarse voice, "Take away the breakfast and have the wet nurse bring Yun-ge'er here."

Cuiping, standing nearby, advised, "Master didn't eat dinner yesterday, how can she possibly recover now? Even if she has no appetite, she should at least eat something..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qu Chongyuan interrupted her. She looked up at Cuiping and repeated, "Have the wet nurse bring Yun'er here."

After a short while, the wet nurse brought over the third prince, who was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Consort Qu stepped forward, carefully took the child, and walked out of Chunxi Palace step by step.

The wind outside the palace was a bit chilly, causing the hem of her plain dress to sway gently.

She didn't go anywhere else, but walked straight towards the Cining Palace.

After a short while, she carried the Third Prince away from Chunxi Palace and headed step by step towards Cining Palace.

Upon arriving at the gates of Cining Palace, just as Granny Li, who was guarding outside the hall, was about to step forward to announce their arrival, Consort Qu spoke first: "Granny, there's no need to announce your arrival. I've come to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager with the Third Prince. Knowing that the Empress Dowager is currently resting quietly, I dare not disturb her too much. I'll just hold him here and kowtow to Her Majesty a few times."

Having said that, she held the third prince in her arms, slowly knelt down, gently supported the swaddling clothes, rested her forehead on her arm, and performed a kowtow.

The tap was extremely slow and heavy, and it took a long time before he slowly straightened up.

Empress Dowager Jiang heard this in the palace, but neither said she would see him nor not. After a long silence, she said to the nanny beside her, "Choose a steady and reliable person from my palace and send her to Chunxi Palace. After she arrives at Puji Temple, she will stay by the side of the Third Prince's side and take care of him."

"Go to the storeroom and get some more things to fill the gap. After all, he is a prince, and he cannot be without dignity. It is also a way for me, as his grandmother, to leave him something to remember him by."