Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 479 Consort Chun's Childbirth (1)

Consort Chun slightly raised her chin, gesturing for Meng Shu to look at the table not far away. "Yesterday, Aunt Mei returned to the manor and brought back quite a few things. Take a look."

Several items were neatly arranged on the table, mostly several packaged medicinal herbs. The most eye-catching items were two pairs of tiger-head shoes and two small hats, with excellent embroidery, clearly showing that a lot of thought and effort had been put into them.

"I had intended to ask the Emperor for a favor, to allow my mother to bring my younger sisters to the palace on my birthday. My aunt advised me to wait until after the birth, and I thought it would only be a few days anyway..."

Consort Chun was unusually talkative today. As she spoke, she gently drew circles on her swollen belly with her fingers together.

Meng Shu walked over to take a closer look, gently brushed the fur on the tiger-head shoes, and said with a smile, "The stitching here has a fresh and lively feel to it."

Mengzhu chimed in with a smile, "Does Your Highness still remember the head maid who used to serve with needlework in the old lady's room?"

"Hibiscus? Didn't she marry into a family in Ningzhou back then?"

Mengzhu explained, "Sister Mujin got married with the grace of the old lady. These shoes and hats were embroidered by Master Lu, who taught Sister Mujin."

Ruizhu leaned over and added, "The old lady must have been thinking about it a long time ago and gave instructions to the embroidery workshop in advance. As soon as Aunt Mei took it out, we could tell at a glance that it was the unique craftsmanship of the embroiderers in the old lady's room."

Meng Shu paused for a moment upon hearing this, and was about to change the subject when Consort Chun said with a hint of excitement, "My grandmother's birthday was half a month ago. I embroidered a few headbands this year, and I wonder if she will like them?"

Meng Shu had her back to her, her eyes dimmed slightly, and her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, but her voice was still the same as always: "In previous years you always shirked your responsibilities and asked me to do the birthday gift for the old lady every time. This time you embroidered it yourself. Every stitch is full of your heart. The old lady will definitely be happy."

As they were talking, Aunt Mei entered the flower hall, and when her eyes met Meng Shu's, she shook her head very lightly and quickly.

Meng Shu felt slightly relieved, turned around and talked to Consort Chun about other things, and also gave Meng Zhu a few instructions, telling them to be vigilant and to have Xiao Yuanzi report to Lingcui Palace if Consort Chun showed any signs of making a move.

We left Huining Palace.

With red eyes, Aunt Mei said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please don't blame Ruizhu. She and Mengzhu are just like Your Majesty, they don't know anything yet."

Meng Shu reminded her in a deep voice, "Wan'er is at a critical moment, and cannot be disturbed in the slightest."

She paused, then said seriously, "These next two days, Aunt must keep a close eye on the servants in the palace. No matter who comes to visit, they must be turned away. Even if it's Consort Yun who comes, it's the same."

Aunt Mei bowed her head and replied, "Yes."

"In her current state, it is not appropriate for Aunt to appear in front of Wan'er."

Meng Shu reached out and gently patted Aunt Mei's arm twice, soothing her in a gentle voice: "Life and death are unpredictable, please don't let Wan'er find out... Aunt, please go to the side hall to rest first, calm your mind, and then go to the main hall to serve her."

Aunt Mei nodded in agreement, her steps trembling slightly as she turned around.

The old lady of the Lin'an Marquis's mansion ultimately did not live to see Consort Chun give birth.

Last month, after her birthday, the old lady's health deteriorated day by day, and even the herbal medicine she was given seemed to have little effect. After more than a month of being bedridden, she finally passed away peacefully yesterday at Shou'an Hall.

The news was naturally kept from Consort Chun.

Besides Meng Shu, only Aunt Mei knew.

Meng Shu gazed at the somber sky at the end of the palace road, the leaden clouds hanging low, seemingly within reach. She took a deep breath, the crisp coolness seeping into her lungs, carrying the damp chill unique to autumn.

"Your Majesty, look at the sky, it's about to rain." Green Willow gently took her arm.

Winter Melon, who had been following silently, said, "Shall we hurry back?"

Meng Shu's steps remained slow, her embroidered shoes making soft sounds as they stepped on the bluestone bricks.

She likes cloudy days like this.

Gray cloud shadows drifted over the palace walls, softening the glaring vermilion into a gentle crimson. The north wind whistled through the eaves, carrying a chilling pleasure.

It's even more refreshing than a clear blue sky.

But today was different. She felt inexplicably anxious, and her heart felt like it was tangled in a knot, tightly bound together.

Seeing that they were almost at Lingcui Palace, Meng Shu suddenly stopped and turned around, saying, "Let's go back."

Her slender fingers unconsciously tightened around the handkerchief. "I always feel uneasy."

Before she finished speaking, she had already started walking towards Huining Palace.

Green Willow and Winter Melon exchanged a glance and quickly jogged to catch up.

The three of them hurried along the way. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the Huining Palace, they saw that Xiao Nianzi, who was usually guarding the front hall, was not there. Meng Shu's heart sank.

As they circled into the backyard, they bumped into Xiao Yuanzi, who was stumbling and running out.

Upon seeing Meng Shu, his voice trembled: "Consort Jin, our Lady... our Lady has just fainted, Xiao Nianzi is on her way to the Imperial Hospital..."

"Boom—" A thunderclap suddenly resounded in the sky, and large raindrops slammed onto the bluestone slab, splashing up water droplets.

Meng Shu felt a buzzing in her ears and her vision went black.

She shoved Xiao Yuanzi aside and rushed into the bedroom. Dense rain streaked across the eaves, weaving a white curtain of water behind her.

At this moment, the bedchamber was already in complete chaos.

The midwife and several palace maids sent by Empress Dowager Zhou were busily preparing. The delivery room had been prepared in advance, but people were still gathered in the inner room. Meng Shu raised her voice and scolded, "What's all the panic! Wan'er is about to give birth, she will be fine."

Consort Chun lay on the couch, her face ashen, already unconscious.

Mengzhu knelt before the bed, wiping the cold sweat from Consort Chun's forehead with a handkerchief soaked in hot water.

"What exactly happened?" Meng Shu pressed her trembling hands and asked Aunt Mei, who was guarding the bedside, in a deep voice.

Aunt Mei, her eyes red-rimmed, replied, "You had barely left when Granny Gui arrived, saying she was here on the Empress's orders to visit. But as she spoke, she brought up the Old Madam's matter... Upon hearing this, the Empress... collapsed, and now... she's already bleeding..."

Meng Shu then noticed that Granny Gui was huddled in the corner, completely unaware that the medicinal herbs she was holding had fallen to the ground.

"Mingyue!" Meng Shu shouted sharply, "Tie this old hag up and throw her out! Lvliu, go to Funing Palace and tell them that the head maidservant by the Empress's side is plotting to harm the imperial heir!"

Upon hearing this accusation, Granny Gui panicked, screaming, "I didn't! I thought... it was just unintentional—"

Mingyue stepped forward, grabbed Granny Gui's arm, gagged her, and forced her out of the bedchamber.

Consort Chun, lying on the couch, seemed to hear Meng Shu's voice. She slowly opened her eyes, her unfocused gaze suddenly sharpening when it met Meng Shu's. Her icy fingers gripped Meng Shu's wrist tightly: "Shu'er... Grandmother..."

"Don't think about anything else!" Meng Shu pressed her sweaty palm against hers. "Grandma's biggest wish is for you to give birth smoothly. Listen to me, save your strength, let's give birth to the baby first, okay?"

Consort Chun looked into her eyes, and her confused gaze seemed to clear a little, only to be seized by a new wave of excruciating pain.