Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 551 Different Choices

Meng Shu stared at the top of the tent for a long time without saying a word. She didn't fall into a deep sleep until the sky began to lighten.

……

On the second day after the New Year, in the early morning, the Emperor received the congratulations of the officials in the Taiji Hall, and was given a banquet and gifts. Afterwards, he ascended the Xuande Gate Tower to celebrate with the people and watch a lively and festive folk performance.

At noon, he went to Cining Palace to have lunch with Empress Dowager Jiang. After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, the emperor returned to Funing Palace, but half an hour later, he set off for Lingcui Palace.

Before Dong Ming could announce his arrival, the Emperor had already reached the Cuiyu Hall in the rear palace.

Inside the warm pavilion, Meng Shu was playing with a cloth tiger with Yu Nu'er, the little one giggling and jumping into her arms. Hearing footsteps approaching outside the hall, she had just stood up with the child in her arms when she saw a bright yellow figure standing in the light and shadow of the porch.

"Father."

Yu Nu'er's eyes lit up. She immediately broke free from Meng Shu's embrace, took unsteady but joyful steps across the threshold, and grabbed the emperor's leg.

The little guy tilted his head back and grabbed at the pouch with his little hand. With a soft "snap," he pulled the new purse that the emperor was wearing at his waist off.

Meng Shu stepped forward and curtsied. The Emperor bent down and picked up Yu Nu'er, letting the child play for a while.

After the father and son exchanged a few words, Meng Shu gestured for the wet nurse, Su, to come closer and gently coaxed, "Yu Nu'er, would you like to return this purse to your father?"

The Emperor waved his hand dismissively, his gaze still fixed on the child's rosy cheeks: "It's alright, let him play with it, it's just a small object."

After the wet nurse carried the reluctant Yu Nu'er away, the corridor fell silent for a moment.

The Emperor suddenly seemed a little disinterested. His gaze swept over the simple jade hairpin in Meng Shu's hair, and he casually tossed the purse embroidered with a war scene to Jing Ming, who was standing behind him, before turning around and heading to Meng Shu's bedchamber.

Meng Shu followed him in, where the Emperor was already seated on the soft couch. He gestured for her to come forward and sit down.

Donggua brought Hongyu in to serve tea. The purse hanging from her waist was noticeably larger than usual, embroidered with a vivid picture of a cat chasing butterflies. The stitches were fine and the colors were bright. Anyone could tell that it was made by Meng Shu herself.

The Emperor pointed lightly with his fingertip, "For three years in a row, the purses that Shu'er presented on New Year's Eve have not been given any special care, not even as much as those given to the head of the kitchen. Will Shu'er continue to treat me with such perfunctory attitude in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Donggua turned pale with fright and clutched his chubby little hands tightly to his waist, but the purse was too big to be concealed no matter how hard he tried.

Meng Shu pushed the teacup on the table toward the Emperor, lowered her eyes, and said, "Your Majesty, we, the sisters of the harem, present embroidered items for the entire festive celebration. Whether the embroidery is exquisite or not..."

She raised her eyes, her gaze clear and sharp as she looked at him. "It seems that this wasn't His Majesty's primary consideration when making his selection. Otherwise... how could Consort Mu's map of war have caught His Majesty's eye?"

“Like a winter melon,” she said, shifting her gaze slightly, “she always liked to stuff her purse with dried fruit and snacks, so she didn’t care about the shape, and always picked the biggest one. Everyone’s needs are different, so their choices will naturally vary.”

The emperor's eyes darkened upon hearing this, but a meaningful smile appeared on his lips: "What a fine 'mutually beneficial' arrangement."

He leaned forward, his voice lower but more compelling: "I would like to ask, Shu'er, you have always been intelligent and self-controlled, what is it that you seek by acting so rashly?"

The atmosphere suddenly froze.

Jingming quickly gave Green Willow and the others a meaningful look. Green Willow understood and, before leaving the flower hall, glanced back at Meng Shu with a worried expression.

The group quietly retreated to the outer room. Donggua was filled with regret; why had she insisted on wearing the purse today? Recalling the Emperor's meaningful glance earlier, her voice trembled with a hint of tears: "Green Willow, I... have I done something terribly wrong...?"

Green Willow waved for Red Jade and the others to leave, her heart filled with unease.

Jingming recalled the scene when Consort Chun went to Funing Palace, and understood. He comforted the two in a low voice: "Steward Fang and Miss Lvliu, there is no need to worry too much. The Emperor is not really angry."

In the sleeping hall.

Meeting the Emperor's probing gaze, Meng Shu did not answer immediately, but paused for a moment at just the right time before speaking softly:

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's favor. I have Yu Nu'er by my side, Wan'er as a confidante who treats me with heartfelt devotion, and Dong Gua and other caring servants attending to me..."

She lowered her head slightly, revealing a slender neck: "From having nothing to having so much today, I have the most precious things in my life, and I have no other desires."

The Emperor gazed at her lowered eyes, his fingertips gently brushing the stray hairs at her temples. After a long while, he let out a soft sigh.

The sigh, carrying an indescribable mix of disappointment and something else, fell heavily into the silence.

“So it turns out that my Consort Jin,” he said, his gaze deep and unfathomable, “had everyone in her heart… but not me. So even a small purse was just a perfunctory gift for the festival, never truly appreciated. Or rather, all that sentiment was given to others.”

Meng Shu was caught off guard by the Emperor's words and was momentarily at a loss for words.

She put her heart into it, but that sentiment was sent to Huining Palace...

"Your Majesty's words have truly terrified me."

Meng Shu secretly glanced at his expression, pondering how to smooth things over.

But then she saw the Emperor quietly watching her gaze, and suddenly he reached into his sleeve and took out an object, which was the green bamboo pouch that she had embroidered herself and that should have been presented by Consort Chun last night.

"Shu'er's thoughtfulness," he said, his fingertips lightly tracing the elegant embroidery on the purse, "is it all for the sake of Consort Chun? Consort Chun truly deserves your sincere treatment, and she is also thinking of you wholeheartedly."

Meng Shu could easily understand Wan'er's intentions. She stood there, speechless for a long time.