Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 272 All results arise from causes.

The March wind, carrying the chill of early spring, brushed past the red walls and golden eaves, causing the copper bells on the eaves to ring softly, shattering the spring colors that filled the courtyard.

Consort Chun and Hua Yan came out of Shou Kang Palace. Hua Yan paused for a moment in the breeze and suggested taking a walk in the Imperial Garden.

As the new buds began to bloom and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air, Consort Chun gazed at a few pink petals drifting down onto the bluestone steps, and couldn't help but stop to admire them.

Hua Yan strolled over to a peach tree, reached out and plucked a branch, saying to her attendants Meng Zhu and Lü Liu, "The peach blossoms are in full bloom. Go pick a few branches to take back to Huining Palace, and let Dong Gua make some peach blossom pastries."

Green Willow said, "Why don't I go back and get a flower basket, pick some peach blossoms, dry them, and make peach blossom tea? That would add a touch of elegance."

This was all something he was used to doing in the mansion. There was a peach grove outside the Langya Courtyard of the Lin'an Mansion. Whenever the peach blossoms first bloomed, Steward An would instruct the maids to pick the flowers for cooking.

Consort Chun became interested and instructed, "Donggua is busy in the kitchen all day. Go and call her, Ruizhu, and Mingyue here as well. Tell them that lunch is not needed and that they should also have a day off."

With a joyful expression, Green Willow thanked Donggua and the others on their behalf, curtsied to her two masters, and happily returned to Huining Palace.

Mengzhu seemed to realize that Huayan had something to say to her master. She first looked around and, seeing that no one was around, quietly moved away from the two of them. Huayan was amazed at how thoughtful Mengzhu had become.

Those who followed Consort Chun into the palace all grew to some extent, but Consort Chun remained unchanged.

Hearing Consort Chun sigh softly, "After entering the palace, things are not the same as when I was in my boudoir. I have also implicated you all, who are locked up here with me, unable to be at ease."

This was precisely what Empress Dowager Zhou worried about—Consort Chun was thoughtful and deeply affectionate. Such a character would ultimately make it difficult for her to go all the way to the end.

But this is precisely what makes Consort Chun so precious.

When Empress Dowager Zhou asked Hua Yan if she had any plans for herself, Hua Yan answered with a proverb from the Avatamsaka Sutra.

All results arise from causes.

What she sought from beginning to end was nothing more than to settle the cause and effect, which was sown by Madam Yun and the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion and should fall upon Consort Chun.

As for what happens after the "success," being in the inner palace and limited by her status as a concubine, what "place to go" could she possibly have?

Even someone as noble as Empress Dowager Zhou, who spent half her life remaining untainted in the treacherous harem, whose scheming and plotting far surpassed her own, ultimately had to retreat to the Shanglin Garden.

Closer to home.

When Consort Chun saw that Hua Yan looked normal after coming out of the Buddhist hall, she was relieved. At the same time, she had no intention of knowing what Empress Dowager Zhou had talked about with her. When she saw Hua Yan send Green Willow and Dream Bamboo away, a hint of doubt appeared on her face.

"Does Your Majesty know why the Empress Dowager insists on moving to Shanglin Garden?" Hua Yan asked casually, her head bowed as she fiddled with a peach branch.

Consort Chun pondered for a long while, then looked towards the Cining Palace and hesitated before asking, "Should we avoid that one?"

Hua Yan slowly shook her head, "Yes and no."

"Your Majesty has seen the list of candidates for the imperial selection. There is no one from the Zhou family on it, and there are no direct descendants of the Zhou family serving as officials in the court. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is devoted to Buddhism in Shou Kang Palace and does not concern herself with worldly affairs. She did not even participate in the New Year's Eve banquet. So what is the difference between Shou Kang Palace and Shanglin Garden?"

Why is that?

"While this was certainly due to the coexistence of two empress dowagers, there was another reason: the emperor did not want the empress dowagers to reside in the palace."

Consort Chun became increasingly confused.

Hua Yan sighed softly, her mood slightly downcast. She said frankly, "Because Empress Dowager Zhou favors you too much, with her as such a powerful figure, the court is fine, but the harem has lost its balance."

In particular, there is a young lady from the Yun family on the election list, who will inevitably rely on Consort Chun after entering the palace.

The Jiang family's daughter held a high position as Empress, but the Empress had no son. Tang Xian of the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion and the Tang family business behind him made great contributions, so Consort Chun initially enjoyed the greatest favor. However, the Emperor soon bestowed favor upon the Qing family. Although the Duke of Qing's mansion was no longer what it used to be, Empress Dowager Jiang and the Emperor promoted Consort Mei. In the harem, the Empress, Consort Mei, and Consort Chun checked and balanced each other.

As for the Guo family, the Song family, the Shen family, and the subsequent imperial concubines, whether or not they were attached to high positions, they did not disrupt this balance.

The Emperor truly embodied the principle of "treating everyone equally."

Hua Yan even thought that the Emperor's intention in summoning her to the Funing Palace to serve him in bed might also be a way of sowing discord.

Consort Chun's ears were ringing, and she couldn't believe it for a moment. But after a moment's thought, she realized that what Hua Yan said was not without reason. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She only felt a suffocating pain in her chest.

"There is only a system of checks and balances within the harem. The Duke of Qing's mansion and the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion will only serve to benefit the Emperor; therefore, the Emperor will bestow his favor equally upon Consort Mei and Consort Chun."

When Empress Dowager Zhou uttered these words, Hua Yan recalled the list of candidates for the imperial selection and instantly understood the crux of the matter. At the same time, she felt immense regret for having sent Consort Chun to Shou Kang Palace to avoid the Empress's miscarriage.

The second half of Empress Dowager Zhou's words was also a way of telling Hua Yan that she could no longer and would not look after Consort Chun. Her relationship with her grandmother, Aunt Yun, also disappeared completely when she left Granny Kong in Huining Palace.

"Because of me?"

After uttering those two words with difficulty, Consort Chun lost her balance and nearly fell to the ground.

Hua Yan quickly stepped forward to support Consort Chun's arm. "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has long had the idea of ​​leaving the palace. I am not mentioning this to Her Majesty now to make her feel guilty, but to tell Her Majesty and also to remind myself that in this harem, one can only rely on oneself."

Consort Chun was overwhelmed with emotion. After a long while, she leaned on Hua Yan's shoulder and whispered, "Shu'er, I'm so tired."

A series of footsteps came from behind, and Donggua's voice came from afar.

"The peach blossoms are in full bloom. Let's pick more today. We can make peach blossom cakes, peach blossom pastries, porridge, soup, and tea. We can also marinate the peach petals with honey to make sweet and delicious peach blossom honey. Spread it on pastries and take a bite. The taste is simply wonderful."

Ruizhu chirped, "We can also make peach blossom wine, and once it's brewed, we can seal it and store it in the cellar..."

Mingyue quickly spoiled the mood, muttering, "The beauty said that Donggua is not allowed to brew wine anymore!"

Hua Yan smiled as she listened to their conversation and said to Consort Chun, "Look at these girls, so innocent and charming. If it weren't for Your Highness's protection, how could they dare to be so presumptuous? Your Highness always says that you implicated them in entering the palace, but if it weren't for the Tang family and Your Highness, would their situation be any better than it is now?"

"Just as Empress Dowager Zhou's care for the Empress was not solely due to the affection between her great-aunt and her grandmother, if the Empress were not worthy, how could she, as the Empress Dowager, have wronged herself?"

He frankly told Consort Chun that his intention was to temper her character, and that if she became addicted to it, it would backfire.

Whether it was these comforting words that touched Consort Chun's heartstrings or not, she cheered up and smiled silently at Hua Yan.

Hua Yan was already vaguely worried about Empress Dowager Zhou leaving the palace, but seeing the light burning in Consort Chun's eyes and seeing Dong Gua and the others gathered around her so lively, Hua Yan suddenly felt a surge of "fighting spirit". What did it matter if she lost Empress Dowager Zhou's protection?

She was determined to fight against the Emperor, the Empress, and Consort Mei.

(Announcement: The next chapter will be about the election, and the plot will speed up.)