Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 498, 56 points similar

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Jingming quickly comforted them, "Lord Zhou, Madam Zhou, please don't be so nervous. Consort Jin is the most favored by the Emperor. If it weren't for her presence in the palace tonight, we servants wouldn't even dare to breathe loudly."

Just as Zhou Bai was about to express his gratitude, he suddenly heard light footsteps. He immediately looked up and saw Meng Shu dressed in a plain palace dress, her skirt lightly brushing against the blue bricks, slowly walking out of the hall.

The uncle and nephew looked at each other from a few steps apart. They had not seen each other for more than a year, and their faces were filled with joy and excitement.

For the past two days in the capital, Zhou Bai had been constantly bombarded with rumors about celestial omens and unrest in the harem. He was worried every day, fearing that Meng Shu would be affected by these rumors in the palace. Now, as he carefully observed Meng Shu's face, seeing that her complexion was rosy and her eyes showed no sign of weariness, his heart, which had been clenched for so long, finally settled down as if a huge stone had been lifted from its chest.

When Xiuyun saw Meng Shu, the handkerchief she had been clutching so tightly finally loosened. She quietly reached out and gently pinched Zhou Bai's waist, signaling him not to be impolite.

"Your humble servant, Zhou, greets Consort Jin. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace." Xiuyun curtsied in greeting.

Zhou Bai, reminded, hurriedly bowed to pay his respects, but before he could speak, Meng Shu stepped forward and said, “Uncle, Aunt, there’s no need for formalities. His Majesty is still waiting in the hall to summon you, Uncle. Please go in with Eunuch Jing and don’t keep His Majesty waiting. After the report is over, His Majesty will allow us to have a proper chat.”

Jingming chuckled and chimed in, "Lord Zhou, please come with me to see the Emperor."

Zhou Bai nodded, took the thick stack of books from A Zhuang who was following behind him, composed himself, and followed Jing Ming into the main hall.

......

Min Rong led Meng Shu and Xiu Yun to the side hall. He first personally wiped the brocade cushions on the chairs, and then instructed the palace servants to serve the prepared tea and snacks one by one.

Once everything was settled, she curtsied and said softly, "If Your Highness or Madam Zhou has any instructions, please just call us. Green Willow and I will be waiting outside the door."

Having said that, he quietly led Green Willow out, leaving the palace door slightly ajar, and stood guard under the corridor, awaiting orders.

Xiuyun, uninterested in observing the palace furnishings, still felt somewhat uneasy. "Your Majesty, rumors have been rampant in the capital these past two days. My husband is worried about your situation, but Lady Yun has sent word to us that Your Majesty is certainly safe in the palace..."

A warm feeling welled up in Meng Shu's heart, and she quickly picked out what she could say and told Xiu Yun one by one.

After hearing this, Xiuyun took her hand and said with concern, "It's good that you're alright. Everyone wants to go to the palace, but it's really dangerous inside."

"We've been back in the capital for two days now. The Ministry of Personnel received your uncle's memorial but hasn't heard from us since, nor have we been summoned by the Emperor. This late-night summons... could it be...?"

Meng Shu gently reassured her, "Don't worry, Aunt. Uncle's performance review will be fine. In fact, he may even have a chance to make a contribution."

The provinces of Yan and Yu are suffering from a severe drought. Zhou Bai, who is in charge of the grain transport, should be of great help in managing the grain transport affairs.

Even if the Emperor summoned Xiuyun late at night with the intention of seeing her, who bore a resemblance to an "old friend," it would not interfere with state affairs.

Once Xiuyun felt at ease, she began to talk about the Duke of Qing's mansion, her tone filled with undisguised sorrow: "Madam Yun, following Her Majesty's instructions, had told me beforehand that the deceased eldest daughter of the Duke of Qing's mansion might actually be my aunt's daughter. Upon first hearing this, it was truly unexpected, leaving me both shocked and heartbroken."

Meng Shu patted the back of her hand, "The Emperor sent the Director of the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Guards to Jiangning. Lady Yun also revealed some clues found in the capital. I reckon Lord Tong must have found some concrete evidence. Although the Emperor didn't mention anything specific, however..."

She paused, then said with certainty, "Judging from the Emperor's fury, it's pretty much what we guessed. When he sees that his aunt and Qing Zhitong look five or six parts alike, and the two are confirmed, then Consort Qing and the Duke of Qing's mansion... will definitely be unable to withstand the Emperor's wrath."

First, let's talk about the situation inside the Imperial Study, which was almost exactly as Meng Shu had predicted.

Zhou Bai, dressed in court attire, stood beneath the imperial desk and truthfully reported on the political affairs he had handled in Yangzhou over the past year.

From the dredging and repair of the Grand Canal to the verification and clarification of salt and iron taxes, his points were clear and logical, and every sentence was practical. When he got to the key points, he specifically mentioned the Ever-Normal Granary and the port cargo yard that Yangzhou Prefecture began to rebuild after the fall of the Zhao County Li clan.

"Your Majesty, since the fall of the Li family, I have led the effort to inventory the grain they embezzled from the official granaries. The Ever-Normal Granaries in prefectures including Yangzhou, Luzhou, and Jiangning have now been expanded to twice their original size, capable of storing 300,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). Seven new warehouses with a total of twelve units have also been built at the riverbanks, specifically for stockpiling disaster relief supplies, and are now able to handle half of the north-south grain transport..."

The Emperor tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk, his gaze falling on the account books presented by Zhou Bai. He would nod occasionally and ask a few questions about the details.

Inside the hall, only the sounds of conversation between the emperor and his ministers could be heard, accompanied by the occasional soft popping of candle flames.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye during this discussion.

After Zhou Bai finished his report, the Emperor had already taken up his vermilion pen and written more than ten annotations on the memorial. These annotations included supplementary instructions for the verification of the Ever-Normal Granary and arrangements for the deployment of troops guarding the cargo yard. Clearly, the Emperor had included the matter of grain transport and storage in his subsequent planning.

After finishing his official duties, the Emperor put down his pen, looked up at Zhou Bai, and his gaze was full of praise: "Minister Zhou has only been the Transport Commissioner for a little over a year, yet he has managed to organize the transport along the Yangzhou route so well. He has truly not disappointed me."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bai immediately bowed his head and said, "I dare not take credit. The success of Yangzhou today is due to two factors: first, His Majesty's wisdom in eliminating the Li clan and removing a major threat to the canal transport; and second, the concerted efforts of my colleagues who each performed their duties to advance the project. I have merely fulfilled my responsibilities."

He paused slightly, recalling Madam Yun's earlier advice, and then changed the subject, slowly kneeling down.

"Since I left the capital to take up my post, it has been more than a year since I last saw Consort Jin. Now that I have the rare opportunity to enter the palace, I have been truly missing her. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to speak with her..."

These words came at the right time. The Emperor calmed himself down, raised his hand to signal Zhou Bai to stand up, and stood up himself. "It's boring to always discuss matters in the Imperial Study. Minister Zhou, come with me. Let's go to the side hall so you and Shu'er can have a good chat."

......

Inside the side hall.

Xiuyun was talking to Mengshu about Wenjie'er, "She's just over three months old now. Her eyebrows and eyes look like her father's. She looks quiet, but she's very energetic at night. I have to hold her and coax her for half the night before she'll fall asleep."

She gestured lightly with her fingertips and said, "After Your Majesty meets her, my husband is thinking of having Your Majesty name her, so that she can share in your good fortune."

Meng Shu listened attentively and replied, "Okay."

When the two of them talked about their child, their eyes and brows lit up with lively smiles, and their voices became lighter.

Just then, the sound of Min Rong bowing respectfully came from outside the door.

Xiuyun's body tensed up instantly. She quickly stood up from the chair, her hands swiftly brushing the hem of her robe, then raising her hand to tidy the stray hairs at her temples. She even carefully checked the buttons on her collar, afraid that her appearance might be slightly inappropriate and that she might fail to meet the proper etiquette of a subject's wife.

Outside the palace gate.

Having seen the secret report Tong Bo presented regarding Zhi Tong's background and the mysterious cause of his death, the Emperor had already largely believed it. Now, he found himself inexplicably unable to move.

The palace door was slowly pushed open by Min Rong, and the warm yellow candlelight spilled out from inside the palace, falling on the Emperor's shoes. He subconsciously looked up and his gaze quickly settled on Xiu Yun, lingering for a moment.

The woman bowing to him before him, without him even having to look up, already overlapped little by little with the figure deep in his memory who always loved to hold a book and stand under the sycamore tree.

The more you look, the clearer the similarities become; the air and spirit between their brows and eyes are remarkably alike.

Meng Shu held Xiu Yun's arm, glancing at the opposite side out of the corner of her eye, taking in everything.

However, the Emperor quickly regained his composure and turned to Zhou Bai, saying, "Minister Zhou is overjoyed to have a daughter. I have prepared a longevity lock made of pure gold. Jingming, bring the Nine Phoenixes Holding Pearls Hairpin as well and bestow it upon her as well."

......

It was already 7 PM when we returned to Lingcui Palace.

Meng Shu removed all her hairpins and jewelry, washed and changed into a moon-white nightgown, and sat in front of her dressing table, quietly waiting for news.

They sat there for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Dong Ming rushed in to report: "Your Majesty, the Emperor has issued an oral decree summoning the Duke of Qing immediately..."