Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 486 "Punishment Does Not Apply to the Respectful"

Chunxi Hall.

Cuiping was tidying up her desk when Qu Jieyu slowly walked in, supporting her lower back.

“The Consort Chun has given birth to the Second Prince. Our Chunxi Palace should go and offer our congratulations, so as not to be impolite.” Her voice was gentle, and her hand was lightly placed on her swollen belly. “However, I am currently pregnant and it is inconvenient for me to go out. Cuiping, please go to Huining Palace for me this afternoon.”

Cuiping quickly replied, "Yes, this servant has remembered."

"My uncle recently sent a few longevity locks through a palace maid. Go to the storeroom and get another scroll of musical score, and send it to him for me as well."

Cuiping was somewhat surprised. "This servant noticed that Master really likes that musical score? He said it's a unique copy from the previous dynasty."

She was quite clever. On her third day working at Chunxi Palace, after getting to know several palace maids, she learned that Ruixue always addressed the Empress as "Master," so she immediately changed her address.

Since Ruixue's passing and the misfortunes that befell her father and brothers, Qu Jieyu felt that nothing was to her liking, but now she was starting to feel somewhat satisfied with Cuiping.

"The musical score was originally prepared in advance to be given to Consort Chun..." As she spoke, she thought for a moment and then interrupted, "Madam Yun came to the palace to visit today, you can go tomorrow."

Cuiping nodded and said, "I heard that the eunuch Jing left the palace early this morning to pick up the Lady of Lin'an Marquis. But no matter how anxious the Lady of Lin'an was, she still followed the rules and went to pay her respects to the two empress dowagers first before going to Huining Palace."

A barely perceptible hint of envy flashed across Qu Jieyu's face: "Everyone says that Consort Chun comes from a merchant family, but they forget that Madam Yun is the eldest granddaughter of Minister Yun. Only a family with such a scholarly background can prevent her from holding her daughter back at crucial moments."

Cuiping sensed the melancholy in her voice and knew that she was thinking about her father and brothers. She quickly advised softly, "Your Highness is pregnant, so be careful not to upset yourself. Since the Dali Temple has already released the people, there should be no major problems. You should just relax and take care of your pregnancy."

Qu Jieyu didn't reply, but gently stroked her lower abdomen and slowly walked to the desk to sit down.

A plain-colored brocade cushion was laid on the rosewood table. Her fingertips traced the cool surface of the table, and she suddenly looked up and asked, "Since Her Majesty the Empress is under house arrest, has Consort Shun made any moves today?"

Cuiping stood to the side with her hands at her sides, gently shaking her head: "Since Consort Shun entered the palace, she has stayed in Chenghui Palace and rarely goes out. Even when she does go out, it's to Consort Mu's residence. I heard the two get along exceptionally well, and they even had a competition at Hanxiang Pavilion a few days ago..."

"Oh?" Qu Jieyu raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on her lips. "How interesting. None of them... actually pleaded for the Empress."

As she spoke, she casually picked up a copy of the Zhuangzi from the table and opened it. When her gaze fell on the line “He who is praised by the world is not encouraged, he who is criticized by the world is not discouraged,” she lightly tapped the words with her fingertips.

Cuiping curtsied and withdrew.

Consort Qu gazed through the window towards Renming Palace and murmured softly, "Consort Jin is truly remarkable. With just a few words, she managed to put the Empress in a state of confinement."

......

Chenghui Hall.

Lunch was laid out on a table full of food. Consort Shun rested her elbow on the table, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the edges of the dishes. Looking at the dishes that were so exquisite they looked like ornaments, she sighed softly: "They only look pretty, but they don't taste as good as the coarse noodles that the cook at home makes."

Suqin stood aside and said, "Your Majesty doesn't seem to have much of an appetite. If you'd like noodles, I'll cook some for you tonight."

Consort Shun hurriedly said, "Then, Granny, make more. I'll invite Consort Mu over this afternoon. We had a competition last time, and I haven't had enough yet."

Upon hearing this, Suqin put on a stern face and advised, "...Now that Your Highness has entered the palace as a concubine, how can you still be so playful? The Empress is currently under house arrest, and the Zhenbei Marquis's Mansion and our Governor's Mansion are, after all, old friends, and their relationship is there. Even if you're just going to make a show of it, you should go to the Emperor and...plead for mercy."

Xiaodie chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty. When we entered the capital, Marquis Zhenbei not only personally came out of the city to welcome us, but his wife also specially sent us many rare items from the capital. He has always taken good care of the people in the Governor's Mansion. If you can lend a hand in the palace now, it will be easier for you to get along with Her Majesty the Empress in the future."

Consort Shun paused, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke softly: "It is precisely because of this relationship that I cannot show myself."

She picked up her silver chopsticks and stirred the lotus seed soup in her bowl. "After all, this involves Consort Chun and the imperial heir. We're new here; how can we wade into the murky waters of the harem so easily?"

"There was no concrete evidence that day, and at most the Empress could only be accused of 'inadequate discipline,' and how to punish her was entirely up to the Emperor. Yet Consort Jin continued to press her, which shows how much she is favored. We don't need to offend her or the Marquis of Lin'an's family. Before entering the palace, didn't Grandmother also warn us that, unless necessary, it would be best to keep our distance from Consort Chun?"

Besides, Imperial Physician Cui is dead, so there's no way to corroborate his testimony. Granny Gui is adamant that the Empress has nothing to do with it, so this whole affair probably won't last long.

She put down her silver chopsticks, her tone carrying a hint of certainty: "After some time, once the Emperor's anger subsides, this matter will naturally fade away. The Empress is, after all, the Empress, and the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion is deeply entrenched. Can she really be imprisoned indefinitely?"

Suqin was about to say something more, but was stopped by a look from Consort Shun.

"Sisters Song and Shen are both loyal to the Empress and they are both very patient. Why should we rush to take the lead? Instead of wasting time, we should think about what congratulatory gifts to send to Huining Palace."

......

The memorials submitted by Marquis Jiang Wei of Zhenbei were quietly piled up in a corner of the imperial desk, but no imperial comments were ever seen. After several days, they were like stones thrown into an abyss, disappearing without a trace.

A few days later, Jiang Wei knelt outside the palace gates requesting an audience, but the emperor did not summon him.

The next morning at the court session, a court envoy stepped forward.

Imperial Censor Li, holding his court tablet, said loudly, “Your Majesty, the Empress, holding the highest position in the palace, is known for her virtue and wisdom, and has never been accused of any misconduct. To imprison her now because of the fault of a palace maid is a violation of the ancestral precept that ‘punishment should not extend to the honorable!’ I beg Your Majesty to consider the Empress’s service and lift her imprisonment to uphold the proper rites!”

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that opinion!"

Several military officers stepped forward to second the motion.

Jingming stood to the left of the dragon throne, his eyes lowered, his eyelashes trembling almost imperceptibly, as he silently memorized these people.

Immediately afterwards, two more imperial censors stepped forward, bowing their heads and pleading: "Your Majesty, we earnestly request that you consider the dignity of the Empress and grant her a pardon, so as to set the record straight."

Jingming pursed his lips, his gaze inadvertently drifting towards the inner side of the Taiji Hall. There, at a small table, a court historian in crimson robes was engrossed in writing...

The morning light outside the hall shone through the window lattices, casting long, narrow shadows on the golden brick floor.

The emperor on the dragon throne tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrests, remaining silent for a long time.