Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 279 A Small Banquet at Linde Hall

Consort Song, dressed in an elegant palace gown, moved with light steps, a hint of joy appearing on her usually aloof face. Consort Mei held a round fan with an ebony carved handle, her face slightly pale, a fleeting, almost imperceptible trace of melancholy occasionally flashing in her eyes.

Before Consort Chun even got close, she whispered to Hua Yan, "Didn't you always say you were afraid of the cold? It's not even hot today, so you're already using a fan."

Hua Yan had noticed it long ago, and she said softly, "I feel there's something strange about this. Jian Zhi has never had the chance to see Consort Mei's medical records. It seems we'll have to put in some effort to investigate it carefully in the future."

After exchanging greetings, the group entered Shujing Hall together.

Wu Yunu arrived early and was talking to Shen Meiren at the moment.

Consort Shen leaned lazily against the couch, a faint smile playing on her lips. Upon hearing Yuehuan's report, she dared not delay and quickly rose to greet Consort Chun and Consort Mei.

"It is truly an honor for my Shujing Palace that all of you sisters could come to congratulate me. Especially Consort Chun, the young ladies will be entering the palace tomorrow, and you are very busy, yet you still managed to take the time to come. I am extremely grateful."

Yuehuan led several palace servants to receive the congratulatory gifts from Mengzhu and the others.

Consort Mei glanced at Consort Chun and said sarcastically, "Consort Chun entered the Prince's residence the earliest. Although she has not yet given birth, she has the deepest affection for her sisters. That's why she came here to share in Consort Shen's good fortune. Maybe she will hear good news next time."

Consort Chun smiled gracefully, her expression calm: "The matter of offspring depends on fate and cannot be forced. Consort Mei, on the other hand, has been frail since childhood and has not conceived despite being favored for several months. If you have the time, you should summon the imperial physician to examine her and find out the cause of her illness."

Shen Jieyu was terrified when she heard this! These two have such sharp tongues.

Since she was in her own palace, Consort Shen could only say dryly, "Thank you for coming, sisters. Shujing Palace is built by the water and has a beautiful view. His Majesty said that this is the most suitable place to rest and recuperate during pregnancy."

Hua Yan sat beside him, examining the furnishings in the hall.

On the left side of the hall is a Suzhou embroidery screen depicting a spring scene by Taiye Pond. In the center of the main hall is a long table carved from rosewood, covered with a brocade tablecloth embroidered with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons. Gold silk curtains sway gently in the wind, and the gold-woven carpet and the vermilion pomegranate ornaments on the table complement each other, showing that the Shanggong Bureau has put some thought into it.

(Note: The Bureau of Imperial Works was in charge of clothing tailoring and sewing, gold and jade treasures, silk and cotton fabrics, and the expenditure of funds for clothing, food, and firewood. It was equivalent to half of the Imperial Household Department.)

After Consort Mei made a sarcastic remark and then fell silent, Consort Song spoke up:

"Her Majesty the Empress asked me to convey a message: tomorrow, when the young ladies-in-waiting enter the palace, a small banquet will be held in the Linde Hall. Consort Xiuyi and you are both pregnant, so you are ordered to stay in the palace and rest quietly, and do not need to attend."

Consort Shen was preparing to make a grand entrance the next day, but upon hearing this, she felt somewhat depressed, yet she dared not disobey the Empress's order. Her pregnancy had come easily, but she only had the opportunity after obtaining the Empress's approval.

It is said that she became pregnant with the emperor's child after only being favored twice. Such great fortune truly descended upon Consort Shen, and she was so happy that she did not even experience any pregnancy symptoms.

It really proves the saying that fools are often blessed.

Consort Chun is overseeing the small banquet tomorrow. Both Guo and Shen are pregnant, and if they want to attend, they will have to make many preparations. The Empress's arrangement is just what they need.

"Your Majesty the Empress has considered everything carefully. Although the small banquet is lively, the imperial heir is ultimately the most important thing. Consort Shen's family is in the capital. According to the rules, when a concubine is pregnant, her mother and sisters can come to the palace to visit her," said Consort Chun.

Consort Shen's eyes brightened slightly. "Is what Your Majesty says true? I wonder when my mother will be able to enter the palace?"

"Naturally, it will be in accordance with Consort Shen's wishes."

While everyone was talking, Dong Ming and Gui Mama, who was by the Empress's side, came to Shujing Palace one after the other, bringing many rewards. Wu Yunu looked on with great envy. She was the lowest-ranking, and now that the new concubines had entered the palace, she was afraid that she would not be able to win the Emperor's favor in the short term.

Consort Mei sat for a short while before leaving Shujing Palace.

Consort Chun looked at Hua Yan, who said, "There are still many things to arrange for the small banquet tomorrow. Your Highness and I will return to Huining Palace. Consort Shen, please take good care of yourself during your pregnancy."

Consort Shen rose to see her off, and asked hopefully, "Could you arrange for my mother to enter the palace the day after tomorrow?"

Consort Chun nodded in response, “Then we will arrange it for the day after tomorrow. Consort Shen has just moved to Shujing Palace. In the afternoon, we can send someone to the Shanggong Bureau to fetch four palace maids. In this way, the personnel arrangements will be complete.”

Tomorrow, a small banquet will be held at Linde Hall. The purpose is twofold: first, to welcome the newly selected ladies-in-waiting to the palace; and second, to give them an opportunity to showcase their talents and poetic sentiments. However, it is entirely up to the ladies-in-waiting; if they do not intend to perform, they may present embroidery or calligraphy and paintings.

However, most of the young ladies looked forward to showing off their beauty at this banquet after the palace selection, so the arrangements could not be taken lightly.

Three days ago, Aunt Minrong had already submitted the talents of the nine candidates.

After leaving Huining Palace with Consort Chun and the other two, Consort Wu pondered for a long time. When they parted ways on the long street, she hesitantly stepped forward:

"Your Highness, before I entered the Prince's Palace, I served in the Empress Dowager's palace. I was originally a court dancer. I have specially choreographed the Lantern Festival dance these days. I wonder if you could grant me an opportunity tomorrow?"

Consort Chun: "..."

Hua Yan's gaze fell on the necklace on Wu Yunu's chest, and she said indifferently, "Tomorrow's banquet is specially set up for the newly selected ladies-in-waiting. If Wu Yunu is willing, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Unable to hide her disappointment, Wu Yunu forced a smile, bowed, and left in the direction of the Magnolia Pavilion.

After she walked away, Consort Chun watched her retreating figure and said softly, "Consort Wu has a shallow foundation. As a newcomer to the palace, I'm afraid she will have little chance of serving the emperor again."

Hua Yan sighed, "Consort Wu wears the necklace bestowed upon her by the Empress every day. Even if she is allowed to serve the Emperor, she will likely have difficulty conceiving. Moreover, if she continues to wear it, she may not live much longer." (Chapter 167, The Empress bestows a necklace of two fish playing in water, made of red gold and inlaid with rubies)

......

Upon returning to Huining Palace, Xiao Nianzi reported: "Your Majesty, everything in Linde Palace has been arranged, and all the musical instruments that Consort Xie and the others will need tomorrow have been delivered."

Judging from the information I had heard before, Consort Xie was also skilled in playing the pipa, but it seemed that she had chosen the guqin (a seven-stringed zither) to avoid offending Consort Mei. The list that Aunt Minrong handed over also showed that Consort Rong's dance performance required twelve dancers to accompany her... All of these needed to be prepared in advance.

Aunt Mei presented Hua Yan with a thin booklet. "The Imperial Kitchen just sent over the menu for the banquet. Dong Gua has carefully added a few seasonal dishes. Please take a look, Your Highness and the Beauty."