Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 590 The First Day of the New Year

Madam Yun was also looking at Meng Shu.

As the birth mother of Consort Chun and a Lady of the Marquis with an imperial title, her seat was not too far from Meng Shu's. Through the lights and shadows of the palace, her gaze quietly fell on Meng Shu.

Although she couldn't see for herself how well the purse was embroidered, the momentary stunned look on Jing's face when she took it was enough for her to suspect that Consort Jin was just going through the motions this time.

She sighed softly to herself.

If Consort Jin truly acted in this way, it could be considered an indirect statement to the Marquis's residence. Perhaps it was also a declaration to the one on the throne, and she might even be willing to let the Emperor perceive a hint of deliberate neglect.

only......

Madam Yun slowly shook her head. Consort Jin was always intelligent and insightful in many matters, but on this most important matter, she seemed not to have fully grasped it yet.

Favoritism does not stem from ordinary romantic feelings between men and women; rather, it is a matter of weighing options, recognition, and a more stable and complex form of maintenance.

Madam Yun's gaze slowly swept over the concubines in the hall, taking in the expressions and states of Consort Shun and the others. She had to admit that Consort Jin's appearance, demeanor, temperament, and family background made her the most suitable candidate in the harem.

Marquis Tang Xian of Lin'an remained silent, exchanging a glance with Madam Yun through the shadows of the crowd. A slight smile curved his lips, and he raised his hand very lightly, pointing directly towards the women's table.

Madam Yun glared at him, but then raised her wine glass as well.

...Among all the civil and military officials and noblewomen in the palace, there is probably no other couple as loving and devoted as them.

At this moment, the concubines were offering their congratulations to Consort Shun one after another.

Consort Shun had just finished her perfunctory reply when she looked up and her gaze unexpectedly met that of her grandmother. A slight chill ran through her, and her back straightened instinctively.

Grandma Han did not show any sign of blame; she simply nodded gently at her through the crowd.

As the banquet progressed into its latter half, the singing and dancing gradually ceased, and the guests, slightly tipsy, rose to deliver a few words of encouragement and auspicious blessings. After everyone knelt to see the Emperor off, the New Year's Eve palace banquet slowly came to an end.

Funing Hall.

After bathing and changing, the emperor slowly walked into the bedchamber, his expression still cold and somber, and his whole body looking ashen.

Jingming had just extinguished a candle in the corner when he saw this and immediately gave a wink to the outer room. The eunuch guarding there understood and quickly brought over the box.

“Your Majesty,” Jingming bowed and said softly, “...I have kept the purse embroidered by Consort Jin here.”

A moment of silence.

"You certainly know how to read people." The Emperor's lips curled into a smile.

Jingming bowed even lower, "This servant dares not, but Your Majesty has always been most concerned about Consort Jin, so this servant always remembers it."

The emperor did not respond to this, but instead took out the purse from the box.

Under the lamplight, the fabric was soft and fine, and although the stitches were sparse, it did not appear rough when held in the hand and examined closely. Instead, it had a rustic charm that seemed to have been made by hand.

But this pattern...

He stared at it for a long time; at first glance, it seemed incongruous. But upon closer inspection, the crooked ears and wide-open eyes revealed a touch of childishness.

He gently traced the rough embroidery with his fingertips, then suddenly chuckled softly, "This pattern, could it be... drawn by Jing'er?"

·

"But wasn't it him who drew it?"

“I taught him to draw a tiger’s head, but he had only ever seen the fox in Consort Qi’s palace. When he tried to draw it, it turned out to be a strange creature that didn’t resemble anything else.”

At the Taiye Pond, Meng Shu spoke with Consort Chun before parting ways.

Upon hearing this, Consort Chun smiled and said, "This is Yu Nu'er's first painting. Embroidering it into a purse is a good idea; it's a nice keepsake. I'm just afraid the Emperor might think you're deliberately being perfunctory..."

Meng Shu didn't care, and only said, "I embroidered more than one, and kept a sample. In fact, it's only precious in the eyes of us mothers."

......

On the first day of the new year, before dawn, the palaces were already brightly lit, and the concubines got up early to dress up.

According to custom, the concubines were required to wear formal ceremonial robes and hairpins, and proceed in turn to the Funing Palace to pay their respects to the Emperor and the Cining Palace to the Empress Dowager. After the ceremony, the Emperor bestowed upon them pepper wine and a five-spice platter, and the Empress Dowager also gave them gifts. Everyone knelt to receive these gifts, and the entire ceremony was completed by nearly dawn.

Only after the ceremony was over and everyone had left did I feel a little more relaxed.

Consort Chun then invited several familiar concubines, including Consort Meng, Consort Qi, and Consort Yun, to gather in the warm pavilion of Huining Palace for a chat.

Inside the flower hall, golden platters and jade cups were prepared, displaying seasonal sweets such as sticky candy, lychee paste, and amber candy. Tusu wine was warming on a small stove, its delicate aroma wafting through the air. Newly pasted zodiac paper-cuts adorned the windows, and peach wood charms hung above the doors of the main and side halls, exuding a festive atmosphere everywhere.

Palace servants came and went, serving tea and fruit. Consort Chun was never stingy with her rewards, and the smiles on their faces were almost overflowing.

Meng Shu had just picked up a piece of chewy candy when Yu Nu'er came over and asked, "Mother, why hasn't Aunt Donggua arrived yet?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than news came from outside that Donggua had entered the palace and was on his way.

A moment later, she came in carrying two vermilion and gold-painted food boxes, followed by an unfamiliar little maid who was carefully carrying a celadon jar in her arms.

"Wishing all the ladies a Happy New Year."

Donggua greeted them with a graceful and generous air, then smiled and lifted the lid of the box. Inside were various newly made pastries: ghee-fried abalone and snails, candied kumquats... and Yu Nu'er's favorite pomegranate pastries and jujube paste lotus flower pastries. The sweet aroma filled the air, prompting the children to clap their hands.

Yu Nu'er leaned over with bright eyes, and Princess Lingyi, who was next to Consort Qi, also stood behind Yu Nu'er and Kang Ge'er and picked up a piece with a smile.

Consort Qi's eyes welled up with tears as she watched this scene. Lingyi was the Emperor's first child, and now she had a close relationship with the two princes, so she would have more support in the future.

As the sun gradually rose higher outside the window, its bright light shone into the flower hall through the latticed windows, casting a soft glow on the children's smiling faces, the snacks and tea on the table, and the patterns on everyone's clothes.

This scene truly resembles the way an ordinary family celebrates the Lunar New Year.