Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 320 Emerging from the Cocoon

Trying to guess the emperor's intentions had long been an instinct ingrained in Meng Shu's bones, but perhaps these words came too suddenly, or perhaps she had been playing the role of Hua Yan for too long.

When the Emperor called out the name "Meng Shu" with such reverence, she was unusually distraught, and the bitterness that had gnawed at her heart in the dead of night seemed to suddenly find an outlet.

For Meng Shu, watching herself sink into depravity with a clear mind was the cruelest form of torture.

From Mengjiazhuang to Jinnan, a thin contract of indenture pushed her into slavery;

In the Tang Mansion in Lin'an, her status as a selected concubine bound her tightly.

Entering the capital, becoming part of the dowry, and moving into the mansion—every step was like being a puppet on strings, ultimately leading to confinement within the deep palace.

The name "Hua Yan" was not imposed on her by the Tang family; it was a promise Meng Shu made to Madam Yun out of gratitude for the Tang family's kindness. (Chapter 96)

Now, the Emperor has ordered Lady Yun to "rectify" her name once again.

Meng Shu suddenly realized how cruel fate could be.

If you were to ask her how she feels about the name 'Hua Yan'?

There was some resentment, but more than anything, there was a sense of helplessness stemming from being unable to control one's own destiny.

It is the despair of knowing what lies ahead but being powerless to escape.

It's a resentment that even a sigh has to be swallowed back from the bottom of one's heart.

At this moment, Meng Shu briefly stopped trying to figure out the Emperor's deeper meaning behind his actions, and also didn't want to think about how Madam Yun would react after hearing the news.

A soreness rose in my nose; perhaps it was because I was sick and therefore particularly vulnerable, or perhaps it was because my heart, which had been suppressed for too long, was finally unable to bear the burden.

She gently closed her eyes, letting the "Meng Shu" who had been imprisoned for many years break free from her cocoon.

The Emperor noticed a subtle ripple in Meng Shu's eyes and a deep smile appeared on his lips.

Light footsteps sounded outside. Jingming bowed and led Physician He inside. After taking his pulse, Consort Chun carefully noted down the doctor's instructions and gently instructed Ruizhu and Xiaonianzi to go with Physician He to get the medicine.

The sound of rain outside the window gradually subsided.

The Emperor's gaze swept over Consort Chun, and he said slowly, "Shu'er needs to rest quietly for a few days. It is not appropriate for her to stay in Xiefang Garden, lest the illness be passed on to Wan'er."

Just as Consort Chun was about to speak in rebuttal, she was stopped by a look from Aunt Mei.

Meng Shu was currently lying on Consort Chun's brocade couch, a situation that made her feel quite awkward.

She quickly sat up, her voice tinged with embarrassment: "Your Majesty is too kind. I often trouble Your Highness, it won't make a difference if I stay a day or two..."

Consort Chun brushed away Aunt Mei's hand. "Your Majesty, Shu'er is not feeling well to move around right now. It would be perfectly fine for her to rest here with me for a few days."

Before he finished speaking, the Emperor glanced at Jingming, who immediately understood and retreated to the outer room to make arrangements.

Before long, Meng Shu, wrapped tightly in a brocade quilt, was carried out of Xiefang Garden by the Emperor himself.

The Emperor's actions were deliberately ostentatious. Nestled in the bright yellow embrace, the ripples that had just stirred in Meng Shu's heart gradually subsided.

Consort Chun stood frozen in the corridor, watching the Emperor carry Meng Shu away into the distance, her eyes filled with a slightly complicated emotion.

Aunt Mei's hand holding the umbrella trembled slightly, and her voice was so soft as if she were afraid of startling something: "Your Majesty... the rain is bad for your health, please go back to the palace to rest."

Mengzhu stepped forward silently. She had just been scolded by Aunt Mei. Her lips parted slightly several times, but she swallowed her words back and simply held her mistress even tighter.

When Consort Chun turned around, the ripples in her eyes had disappeared. She smiled gently at Aunt Mei and said, "Don't worry, Aunt. I'm just worried that Shu'er is still sick. The rainy weather is damp, and I'm afraid she'll catch a cold on the way."

Mengzhu hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "How about I go to the kitchen to prepare some ginger tea and send it over? Green Willow will have to settle Consort Jieyu after she goes back, so I'm afraid she won't have time to prepare it."

"You've thought of everything."

Consort Chun nodded. "I just asked Physician He, and the Five Juice Drink is just right for Shu'er's illness. You may send it over as well."

Seeing that her mistress's expression was normal, Aunt Mei was relieved and helped Consort Chun walk towards the inner palace, urging Mengzhu, "Go and come back quickly, be careful not to catch a cold."

Xiefang Garden and Bilang Pavilion were quite far apart. Meng Shu struggled in the brocade quilt and whispered, "I can walk by myself..." She had only caught a cold, not that she had difficulty walking, so why did she have to do this?

Jingming sighed inwardly, thinking to himself, "Why can't the Empress understand? Didn't she see that the Emperor even complained about the bumpy ride in the palanquin, preferring to carry you back himself..."

As expected, the emperor refused and tightened his grip on his arm even more.

......

Inside the Phoenix Palace, gilded incense burners emitted wisps of blue smoke.

The Empress leaned against the phoenix couch and asked in a cold voice, "Your Majesty has been guarding the Xiefang Garden for more than two hours. Is Consort Meng's illness really that dangerous?"

Granny Gui bowed and stepped forward, lowering her voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Chun's palace is very tight-lipped, and this old servant has not yet found out the truth." She hesitated slightly, "However... since it has alarmed Physician He to personally examine her pulse, her illness must be quite serious."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, the Empress straightened up, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "With Consort Meng enjoying the Emperor's favor, I will have to personally visit her tomorrow."

She took a sip of fragrant tea and said, "There weren't many concubines accompanying us to this summer retreat, and now two of them have fallen ill."

With a light tap of her fingertips on the table, she said, "I will go to the Empress Dowager's palace to request an imperial decree. Granny Gui, send someone back to the palace to tell Consort Song and... Consort Yun to set off for the imperial palace tomorrow to serve you."

Wutong Pavilion.

Upon hearing this, Consort Mei slammed her teacup down. "That fool Consort Chun has let a mere maidservant turn the world upside down."

Granny Yu stood to the side, looking dazed. Seeing this, Consort Mei became even more annoyed: "Granny, you've been so absent-minded lately. Is there something you're hiding from me?"

Granny Yu suddenly woke up and hurriedly knelt down on the ground.

“This old servant deserves to die! Your Majesty, Consort Meng and Consort Qu have both fallen ill one after another, and there are two fewer concubines accompanying Your Majesty. This old servant thought that we might as well take this opportunity to let Consort Pei come to the palace to serve Your Majesty, so as to share Your Majesty’s burdens.”

Consort Mei's expression softened slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, she said, "It is indeed a good idea."

She rose gracefully. "I'll go to Yichun Palace now. Liuli, fetch two bowls of bird's nest soup for the old nanny to help her recover."

Granny Yu kowtowed to express her gratitude, a barely perceptible trace of melancholy flashing in her eyes. If the eldest young lady were still alive, she would never have been as impatient as the second young lady.

“By the way,” Consort Mei suddenly stopped. “Is Xia’er still reliable? I’d like to ask her about today’s events.”

"Don't worry, madam."

Granny Yu leaned closer and said, "Back when Chun'er and Xia'er were sent to the slave quarters, this old servant took care of them both openly and secretly. These two girls are very grateful."