Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 563 Fighting for Fate

The imperial eunuch had barely left the capital when the news reached Madam Yun.

Upon hearing that the Emperor was in the imperial palace but suddenly issued an edict summoning the Marquis back to the capital, Madam Yun's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and the warm tea almost spilled.

With her keen insight, she immediately thought of the letter that Consort Chun had sent with Xiangmei (Aunt Mei) that afternoon. The Emperor's change in attitude must mean that something had happened in the previous dynasty.

This turn of events is most likely related to the Marquis who was in mourning in Lin'an.

What kind of bargaining chip does the Marquis hold that could move even the Emperor? Even she, his bedmate, has no idea.

Thinking of this, Madam Yun suddenly realized that the Marquis, with whom she had shared a bed for more than twenty years, had begun to hide things from her at some point.

She recalled the secret letter she had drafted before the new year, every word carefully chosen and every sentence earnest, hoping that the Marquis could see the true state of affairs, let go of his obsession, and not push Wan'er into the perilous situation of the struggle for the throne...

An hour or two passed, and Madam Yun leaned against the window for a long time, watching the last rays of sunset gradually disappear on the horizon.

After a long while, a soft sigh escaped from his lips.

In retrospect, the Marquis's resentment ultimately outweighed her advice.

Madam Wei looked at her mistress with concern and gently advised, "Madam, perhaps the Noble Consort and Consort Jin are overthinking it. Our Second Miss is currently enjoying great favor with the Emperor in the palace. The Emperor's intention to promote our Second Miss this time is a blessing that others would beg for."

A faint, almost imperceptible sneer crossed Madam Yun's lips. "This blessing... who knows when it might turn into a fatal disaster?"

She lowered her eyes and stared at the tea leaves floating in the cup. After a long while, she said, "However, since the Marquis has made his decision, we can only try to fight against fate."

She raised her eyes, her gaze calm and serene, and instructed Wei Mama, "Go and invite Madam Zhou over."

Half an hour later, Madam Zhou quietly left the Marquis's residence.

In Madam Yun's view, since Jiang's death, there has only ever been one real variable in the struggle for the throne.

That was Consort Jin, Meng Shu.

Consort Jin's only support in the imperial court was her uncle, Zhou Bai...

Madam Yun lay on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. A sense of absurd fate washed over her. Back then, she had personally picked Meng Shu out of the dust, painstakingly cultivated her, and then bestowed favors and carefully laid out plans to place this pawn firmly in the most appropriate position.

Now, however, she must turn her attention to this pawn that she herself had carefully crafted.

Madam Yun gazed at the deep night outside the window and silently murmured: I hope... she can still remember the promise she made back then.

I will not compete with Wan'er.

That night, Mingwu, following her master's orders, sneaked into the Zhou residence in Qinrenfang. Dingxiang and her family of three were staying in the front courtyard of the residence and were completely unaware of her presence.

The next day, before dawn, Lady Zhou, traveling light, quietly boarded a southbound passenger ship. She was on Lady Yun's secret orders to monitor Zhou Bai's every move as she headed to Yangzhou.

......

Changchun Garden Imperial Palace.

Ever since Dingxiang visited and read the letter, Meng Shu has felt a heavy weight in her heart and has been somewhat listless for days.

That day, Green Willow returned from outside with a happy expression on her face: "Your Majesty, I heard from the nannies of Huaqing Palace that Winter Melon and the others will be able to return from Guangci Temple tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu finally smiled: "Yu Nu'er was just talking about it yesterday. Dong Gua has only been gone for seven or eight days, and this little one is already not used to it."

As Green Willow poured tea for her, she murmured softly, "After September, Winter Melon will get married and leave the palace. If you ask me, you should have kept Winter Melon for another year or two. According to the rules of the palace, she should have been kept until she was twenty-five before being released."

Meng Shu took the teacup, shook her head and smiled faintly: "Donggua can wait, but Imperial Physician Jian can't. Since she's going to get married eventually, it's better to make it happen as soon as possible while they're still in love."

Green Willow sighed softly after hearing this, and then said, "Your Majesty, Hongyu has been keeping an eye on Consort Lin as you instructed. She just came to report that Consort Lin has been going to Yingzhou Hall to see the Emperor in the afternoons for the past few days."

"The Emperor hasn't seen her?" Meng Shu looked up.

Counting the days, it has been eight or nine days since she arrived at the palace, and Consort Lin has yet to serve the emperor.

"The first time she went, the Emperor saw her for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The next time she went, she was politely turned away by the eunuch Jing." Green Willow lowered her voice, "I heard that when Consort Lin went, she specially brought a calligraphy book with her."

Meng Shu nodded.

These past few days, the Emperor has mostly stayed at Qingliang Palace, and even during the day, he always spends about half an hour dining with Consort Chun. Thinking about this makes Meng Shu indignant, as it makes it difficult for her to even see Consort Chun.

"Your Majesty, this servant is a little confused," Green Willow said hesitantly.

"What's wrong?" Meng Shu looked at her.

Green Willow whispered, "Even the eunuch Jing mentioned to me in private that Consort Lin does resemble the eldest daughter of the Qing family somewhat. That's probably why the Emperor chose her to enter the palace. So why is it that once she's in the palace... she doesn't receive any favor?"

Meng Shu picked up a round fan and gently shook it.

"It only resembles the form, but not the spirit." She said calmly, "Think about it, what was Qing Zhitong's status back then? The legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, she was well-versed in poetry and music from a young age, and her reputation as a talented woman was renowned throughout the capital. Even in front of an unfavored prince, she never bowed her head or bent her back."

"Although Consort Lin possesses some beauty, she lacks the necessary integrity due to her family background. These days, the Emperor has witnessed her temperament and is still willing to see her for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, which is already a sign of his lingering affection."

Green Willow suddenly realized.

When it was time for dinner, Hongyu hurriedly came over to report that Consort Lin was ill and the palace servants had already gone to fetch the imperial physician.

Meng Shu paused slightly in her chopsticks: "Have you gone to invite the Emperor?"

Hongyu lowered her head and replied, "No. This servant noticed that Caihe went straight to the imperial physician and did not go to Yingzhou Hall."

Meng Shu raised an eyebrow slightly: "You've changed your approach."

She put down her silver chopsticks and said to Green Willow, "Since she didn't alarm the Emperor, you should go and inquire about her under the guise of visiting her in her illness."

......

At this time, on the northern border.

Chen Lin spurred his horse and rode back to the military camp from the border town as dusk fell. The biting north wind whipped his face, and his secret conversation with Zheng Shan still echoed in his ears: "If you are willing, the Marquis's mansion can secretly arrange for you to go to the Palace Guard, which is the emperor's personal guard. The path to promotion there is much faster than in the border town."

"With the Marquis's connections, it wouldn't be difficult to transfer you into the palace as an imperial bodyguard. Imagine how prestigious it would be to walk before the Emperor! Wouldn't that be a hundred times better than fighting in this wasteland?"

The horse's hooves shattered the moonlight on the ground. Chen Lin gripped the reins tightly, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes.