Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 469 A Case (1)

After a brief moment of distraction, Meng Shu quickly regained her composure and looked up with a smile in her eyes: "The Empress Dowager's return to the palace should be a grand affair. Your Majesty, I will have someone thoroughly clean and disinfect Shou Kang Palace and replace the curtains and bedding with new ones. When the time comes, Your Majesty, I will accompany the Empress to the palace gate to greet her."

"Shu'er, don't worry." The Emperor chuckled gently. "Wan'er has been away from the palace for a long time and hasn't seen Yunu'er yet. I imagine she's longing to return to the palace."

He changed the subject, his gaze falling on the pile of documents on the table: "The Ministry of Rites has just drafted the Mid-Autumn Festival reward list. Families like the Han and Shen families, as well as several noble families, have many women in their households, so the rewards need to be carefully considered. Shuer, take a look at this list when you have time. You can decide whether to add or subtract rewards. I trust you."

Jingming was slightly surprised, but he didn't have time to think about it. He hurriedly took down the thick booklet from the top. The list of prizes was also divided into two volumes, one for cultural relics and the other for the covers, which were decorated with patterns in red gold powder.

The green willow on one side looked down at the two gift lists and could already feel their heavy weight.

It was customary throughout history for emperors to bestow rewards upon their subjects during festivals or major holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Winter Solstice. This was also a means for emperors to extend their grace and benevolence. From princes, prime ministers, and military governors to soldiers of the imperial guards, local officials, and even retired officials and envoys from vassal states, all could be among those who received rewards.

This system had a rigorous process. First, the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Sacrifices would take the lead in drafting a list of rewards based on the hierarchical system established by the Official Rank Regulations, and then mark any special cases that required exceptional rewards. After being submitted to the Emperor for approval, the list would be handed over to the Ministry of Revenue for accounting of the treasury and compilation of records, and finally distributed layer by layer.

What was given to Meng Shu was the portion reserved for the women of the household. It included the allowances for the wives of the imperial family and the gifts for the families of high-ranking officials. The amount of each reward was closely tied to the delicate balance between the court and the harem.

Logically speaking, such matters concerning the dignity of all parties should be handled by the Empress.

Green Willow glanced at Jingming's reaction and saw his inscrutable expression. Suddenly, she realized that the Emperor's entrustment of this task to Meng Shu was not just a matter of reliance.

"These days I've been busy preparing for the palace banquet, and with the Empress Dowager returning to the palace requiring careful attention, I'm afraid I'll have little time to spare. The list of rewards prepared by the Ministry of Rites has always been in accordance with regulations, so I'm sure it's foolproof."

Jingming bowed as he held the booklet, but Meng Shu did not signal Green Willow to take it. The air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

The Emperor frowned slightly, his smiling lips tightened into a straight line, and a hint of displeasure appeared on his face: "In this harem, you are the only one who dares to defy my will like this."

Meng Shu knelt on the ground, the pearl tassels at her temples swaying gently with her movements. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I am already deeply favored for assisting in the management of the six palaces, and Yu Nu'er has also been granted the title of 'senior.' I... am filled with fear day and night."

She lay prone on the ground, her shoulders slightly drooping.

His respectful and self-possessed demeanor was like a basin of warm water, gently extinguishing the emperor's anger.

Jingming steadied the book of gifts in his hands, and when he caught a glimpse of the Emperor standing up out of the corner of his eye, he quickly took two steps to the side.

"I understand."

The Emperor's voice had softened, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

He bent down and helped Meng Shu up. When his fingertips touched her slightly cool wrist, he leaned down slightly and whispered a few words in her ear, his warm breath instantly turning Meng Shu's ear tips red.

That night, Jingming led a group of eunuchs to Lingcui Palace.

He stood bowing outside the bedchamber and respectfully said through the curtain, "Consort Jin, His Majesty requests that you rest in the Funing Palace."

......

Before the news of the Empress Dowager and Consort Chun's impending return to the palace could spread throughout the inner palace, in early August, the capital city received news of a victory from the northern frontier.

The fuse of this battle was lit as early as the twelfth lunar month before the New Year, and the fighting intensified after the New Year. However, in April, a sudden change occurred when an epidemic broke out in the Liao army, causing both offense and defense to stall.

No one expected that after more than three months of silence, news of the event being dropped would come so quickly.

The Liao army could not withstand the combined losses from the epidemic and the war, and submitted a letter of surrender, offering to cede three border cities in exchange for an end to the war. At the end of the letter of surrender, they humbly added a sentence: "Please give me medicine."

Physician Jian was already a well-known figure in the Northern Frontier Army. When the epidemic was at its worst, he and his apprentices traveled to the rear and managed to suppress the spread of the disease with just a few prescriptions.

Han Guangbi submitted three memorials in succession, filled with praise for Jian Zhi. One of them even stated directly: "The merit of Jian Zhi in treating the epidemic is better than that of a thousand troops. I earnestly request Your Majesty to allow him to stay in the army temporarily to reassure the troops."

The people of the capital were gathered around the bulletin board, discussing the news of the victory in the northern frontier. The storyteller at the tea stall vividly recounted General Han's achievements. However, Lord Xu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, sighed deeply as he looked at the mulberry paper scrolls on his desk.

Three days ago, the Yuemanlou in Pingkangfang sent someone to the Dali Temple to report that a gold hairpin was found on the head of a top courtesan named Su Lian'er in Qimengge. Judging from its shape, it was suspected to be a gift from the palace.