Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 344 The Mystery Ends (Part 2)

Outside the window, the bamboo shadows swayed and rustled. As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun were swallowed up by the night.

"Empress Dowager Zhou went too?" Meng Shu paused slightly.

Consort Chun shook her head, the pearl hairpin at her temple swaying gently with the movement: "The Empress Dowager is meditating in the Buddhist hall, and no one dares to disturb her."

After Meng Shu recounted the whole story in detail, she looked surprised: "I only went to Yichun Palace to copy scriptures for a few days, and such a big thing happened?"

She then added, "Shu'er's consideration is thorough. The Empress's actions are so blatant that Consort Mei is somewhat impatient and may suffer a setback this time."

Meng Shu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Let them fight it out. I am just going with the flow."

This change came quickly and ended even faster.

Less than half an hour later, a mournful cry was heard coming from the direction of Fengyi Palace. Meng Shu and Consort Chun exchanged a glance and got up to walk into the courtyard at the same time.

As soon as the two reached the corridor, they saw Ruizhu rushing back with a pale face, the pearl hairpins in her hair askew: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

This outcome was completely unexpected for Meng Shu—not only was the Empress unharmed, but she also received comfort from the Empress Dowager. Consort Mei, on the other hand, was stripped of her title and demoted to Zhaoyi (a concubine rank) for falsely accusing the Empress, and was ordered to reflect on her actions behind closed doors.

This was only because the Emperor and Empress Dowager Jiang intentionally showed favoritism. Otherwise, according to palace rules, not only would Consort Mei be flogged, but the Duke of Qing's mansion would also be implicated. The charge would be "fabricating witchcraft, slandering the Empress, and confusing the Emperor's ears."

As for the specific details of what happened in Fengyi Palace tonight, that's beyond Ruizhu's ability to find out.

Meng Shu remained silent for a long while before asking, "What was the fate of Consort Pei?"

Ruizhu had never experienced such a scene before, and her voice trembled slightly: "This servant did not see Consort Pei. Just now, only a group of palace servants brought Consort Mei back to Wutong Pavilion. Only Granny Yu was with her. Liuli... she should have been executed on the spot."

"Little Nianzi is still outside. I was afraid the ladies would worry, so I came back to report first."

Consort Chun gasped, somewhat incredulous.

Meng Shu lowered her eyes and pondered, a guess forming in her mind: perhaps Consort Mei, unable to find any evidence, resorted to a risky move in desperation...

“Let Xiao Nianzi come back,” she said softly. “This has nothing to do with us.”

After seeing Consort Chun off, no sound of bells rang out on the palace road until 9 PM. It seemed that after such an incident, the Emperor had no intention of summoning any concubines to his bedchamber that night.

Meng Shu tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Although she knew that Consort Mei was domineering and impatient, she couldn't understand why she was so certain.

It happened to be Donggua's turn to be on night duty tonight. Suddenly, Meng Shu heard Donggua say something and sat up abruptly.

"What did Liuli see when she opened the window that day?"

Yes, they must have seen something...

......

The next day, the Empress summoned all the concubines to the Phoenix Palace for a meeting.

Consort Qu wore a veil, her face obscured. Consort Song had little expression to begin with. When Consort Meng and Consort Chun stepped into the main hall, Consort Pei was kneeling on the ground, shivering like a withered leaf in the autumn wind.

"I have summoned you sisters here today because there is something I need to explain to you all."

The Empress sat regally on her phoenix throne, her gaze slowly sweeping over the concubines in the hall. She gently placed her teacup on the table, making a very soft, crisp sound.

"Consort Mei, driven by her own suspicions, dared to falsely accuse me of using forbidden drugs. She even harbored malicious intentions, planning to secretly plant witchcraft items in my palace during the investigation, but unfortunately, she was caught red-handed."

The Emperor has issued an edict stripping Consort Mei of her title, demoting her to the rank of Zhaoyi, and ordering her to reflect on her actions in seclusion at the Wutong Pavilion.

Inside the hall, you could hear a pin drop.

The news came suddenly, and Qu and Song were unaware of it beforehand. As a result, both of them looked alarmed and their eyes subconsciously turned to Pei, the Imperial Concubine, who was kneeling in the center of the hall.

Pei Yunu's voice trembled slightly, "I am guilty, I beg Your Majesty the Empress to punish me."

The Empress smiled and said, "Imperial Consort Pei was not involved last night, so why do you apologize?"

“I reside in the Wutong Pavilion and was unaware beforehand that Consort Mei… would commit such a ‘great disrespect’ to Her Majesty the Empress, thus committing the crime of oversight.”

"Great disrespect?" The Empress chuckled, her gaze suddenly sharpening. "Could it be that in Consort Pei's eyes, 'fabricating witchcraft' is merely disrespect for me?"

"I dare not. I know I am guilty and am willing to stay in the palace to reflect on my sins. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request."

In the Empress's eyes, Consort Pei was nothing more than a maidservant who depended on Consort Qing. "Since you are so earnest, I will grant your request."

Upon hearing this, Granny Gui led two palace maids to Pei Yunu's side and took her away.

Pei Yunu's actions are understandable. Consort Mei committed such a grave mistake, yet the Emperor and Empress Dowager still leniently forgive her, indicating that there is still room for maneuver. Her choice to stay at the temporary palace to accompany Consort Qing in her reflection is both a reluctant move after weighing the pros and cons and a demonstration of loyalty to Consort Qing and the Duke of Qing's mansion.

The Empress looked at Meng Shu, who was sitting below her, and suddenly called out, "Consort Meng, you and Consort Qing attended to the sick on the same day. When you went to and from Fengyi Palace, did you ever suspect that I was using forbidden medicine?"

"As the Empress, the head of the inner palace, all the medicines she uses are approved by the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital, and the dregs must be sealed and stored for a hundred days. I am foolish and do not know why Consort Qing would have any suspicions."

The Empress said meaningfully, "I am also puzzled as to why Consort Qing is so stupid as to regard the deer placenta nourishing formula that I use to regulate my blood and qi as a witchcraft formula."

The Empress was naturally disappointed that Meng Shu hadn't fallen into the trap, but since Consort Mei had come to her of her own accord, her efforts weren't entirely in vain.

Before the meeting ended, it was mentioned that they would return to the palace the day after tomorrow.

The Empress smiled slightly and said to Consort Chun, "Consort Xie sent word that Lingcui Palace has been completely renovated. Once His Majesty returns to the capital, Consort Meng will move there. I'm sure Consort Chun will be reluctant to leave..."