Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 376 Dowry Shop

Renming Hall.

The golden beasts inside the palace exhaled fragrance. Apart from Consort Qing and Consort Pei, who were still confined to their temporary palace, the concubines of the six palaces rarely gathered together. Consort Qi, who had just recovered from childbirth, was also here for the first time to formally pay her respects.

When Meng Shu entered the hall, she looked up to her left and saw that Consort Shen, who was seven months pregnant, had also arrived and was sitting side by side with Consort Song.

On the right side of the seat, Qu Baolin, dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, stood out among the lower-ranking concubines.

Upon seeing Consort Chun and Meng Shu enter, Consort Song immediately led the other concubines to rise and pay their respects. Consort Shen, taking advantage of her pregnancy, deliberately lagged behind, only reluctantly curtsying after everyone had finished their greetings and taken their seats.

The inner chamber of Renming Hall.

The Empress had already finished dressing and dressing, but she still leaned against the soft couch with peony branches and closed her eyes to rest.

Zhixue came in from outside the door and reported, "Your Majesty, after Consort Qu gave the brocade you bestowed upon Consort Qu, Consort Qu was wearing clothes made of brocade just now."

The Empress didn't open her eyes, only letting out a soft "hmm" through her nose.

Granny Gui stepped forward and whispered, "The Yongxiu Cloth Shop under the name of the Marquis of Lin'an's residence received tribute satin in mid-July, and it was inspected by the authorities the next day and put into the warehouse of the Imperial Clothing Bureau. At that time, Consort Xie was assisting in managing the six palaces, and Consort Chun was still in the Changchun Garden Palace to escape the summer heat."

"Has everything been settled with the Bureau of Imperial Clothing?"

Granny Gui's eyes crinkled with fine wrinkles, and her voice lowered even further: "Your Majesty, rest assured, Chen Ling will have cleaned up the mess by August. Even if the investigation doesn't implicate Consort Chun, it certainly won't reach our Renming Palace."

(Note: Chen Ling was the head of the eunuchs in the Renming Hall.)

The Empress then got up and went to the flower hall in the front palace.

She slowly sat on the phoenix throne, holding onto the gilded armrests. After all the concubines had finished their greetings, she first talked at length about the celebration of Princess Lingyi's full moon celebration, and then specially called Consort Qi to her side and praised her in front of everyone.

Finally, everyone's attention turned to Meng Shu.

"It has been a long time since I last saw Sister Meng. Sister Meng is more than two months pregnant. How is she feeling?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu rose and curtsied, saying, "Thanks to the Emperor and the Empress's blessings, I am well."

"His Majesty naturally takes extra care of my sister." The Empress lightly tapped the armrest with her fingertips. "Tomorrow's celebration will be long, so I have specially prepared a soft couch in the side hall. If you and Sister Shen feel tired, you can rest nearby at any time."

Shen Jieyu quickly stood up to thank her.

The Empress's eyes flickered, and she suddenly looked at Qu Baolin, "Sister Qu, your clothes today are exceptionally bright and beautiful."

Qu Baolin could not hide her joy, and her long, flowing brocade sleeves shimmered with light as she bowed: "It's all thanks to Your Majesty's grace; this fabric was bestowed upon me by you."

The Empress chuckled and glanced at Consort Chun: "...The Yunjin and Fuguangjin were both presented by the Marquis of Lin'an's residence. If anyone should be thanked, it should be Consort Chun."

Qu Baolin froze on the spot, looking embarrassed.

Consort Chun's clear voice rang out in the hall: "Yongxiu Cloth Shop was chosen as the imperial merchant after the Emperor ascended the throne. In the end, it is nothing more than a business transaction."

She glanced at the Empress with a faint look in her eyes, "Your Majesty's high regard makes me feel uneasy."

Whenever the Empress's words were laced with barbs, Consort Chun would always respond with this indifferent tone. However, no one could find fault with her response.

Upon hearing this, the Empress glanced at the concubines present with her phoenix eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"I have heard that Yongxiu Cloth Shop was a dowry shop given by the Marquis of Lin'an to Consort Chun's younger sister. Which of the sisters in the six palaces does not envy it?"

"Alright, it's getting late. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager issued a special decree a few days ago, ordering those of the rank of Baolin and above to accompany me to the Cining Palace to pay their respects."

Yongxiu Cloth Shop was the premier silk shop in the Great Zhou Dynasty, with branches throughout its thirty-six prefectures. Consort Chun's dowry included more than just this shop; Yongbao Silver Shop was also under her name. But how could the Empress, as the Empress Dowager, possibly care about such valuables?

These words were specifically spoken to concubines like Qu Baolin, who came from humble backgrounds.

The Empress repeatedly mentioned cloth shops and tribute satins, and in her words she always linked Yun brocade with Consort Chun. Meng Shu felt a chill run down her spine as she listened, and secretly rejoiced.

Fortunately, Cailian had been assigned to the Bureau of Clothing and Appearances earlier, and later, taking advantage of Consort Chun's role in managing the six palaces, she was placed next to Aunt Zhou in the embroidery workshop. Otherwise, how could they have followed the clues and discovered such a major oversight within the Bureau of Colors and Appearances...?

......

Cining Palace.

Empress Dowager Jiang did indeed issue an order, commanding the Empress to lead all the concubines to Cining Palace to pay their respects. Ostensibly, it was to inquire about Lingyi's full-month celebration, but in reality, she had other intentions.

After all, the celebration has been in preparation for more than half a month. If we wanted to inquire about it, why wait until today?

Meng Shu privately speculated that it was probably related to Consort Qing, who was still under house arrest in the imperial palace.

as predicted.

(This chapter has been revised)