Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 315 The Most Special One

Jingming bowed to express his gratitude, but the Emperor waved his hand and said, "You don't need to serve me for now. Go and rest."

Green Willow led the beaming Jingming away from the flower hall. Watching Green Willow's retreating figure, the Emperor's gaze flickered slightly: "This little girl is quite clever. Is she someone Shu'er is used to?"

Hua Yan lowered her head, looking intently at Meng Zhu's dyed nails. "Lv Liu and the others were assigned to Huining Palace by the Shanggong Bureau. Consort Chun thought she looked well-behaved and specially assigned her to serve me."

The words were spoken so casually that Mengzhu's hand holding the pen almost slipped. Huayan gently touched Mengzhu's palm with her little finger to comfort her.

The emperor hummed in agreement and took a bite of the ice cream.

"Isn't this ice cream made by that chubby girl in Wan'er's palace? I remember the ice cream sent to Funing Palace last time had many kinds of dried fruit mixed in."

Both Empress Dowager Jiang and the Emperor praised the cooking skills of the winter melon and had some impression of it.

Aunt Mei relayed the message on behalf of Consort Chun. Upon hearing that Donggua's illness was caused by the fragrance of flowers throughout the garden, the Emperor frowned slightly and said, "The Xiefang Garden is planted with exotic flowers and rare herbs. This is an inappropriate arrangement by the Empress."

"It's just a two-month stay," Consort Chun said calmly. "There's nothing wrong with this place, and besides, the scenery at Xiefang Garden is beautiful and quiet."

The Emperor had intended to say that Chengxiang Garden near Yingzhou Hall was still vacant, but upon hearing this, he stared at Consort Chun for a moment. Seeing that her expression was calm and that her words did not seem to be false, he did not speak further.

Mengzhu painted Huayan's nails and wrapped them in steamed mulberry leaves. Huayan stretched out her ten fingers and examined them closely. Seeing this, Consort Chun's expression softened, and she took a box of ointment from the side.

"It must be wrapped for six hours, and then unwound early the next morning. After that, apply nail polish every other day."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will be careful." Hua Yan smiled and accepted the ointment. Perhaps because her fingernails were covered, her ten fingers were spread open when she took the ointment, and her movements were a little clumsy.

"It's getting late, so I won't disturb Your Majesty and Your Highness any longer. I'll go back to rest now."

Hua Yan stood up, bowed, and withdrew.

Consort Chun unconsciously clenched her handkerchief: "..." Why did that brat suddenly want to slip away, leaving her and the Emperor sitting facing each other? She felt a little uncomfortable.

The Emperor glanced at Hua Yan but did not try to stop her.

Hua Yan walked out of the flower hall, and Aunt Mei followed closely behind to see her out.

"This servant noticed that Your Highness seemed a little uneasy, and I felt somewhat uneasy." Aunt Mei glanced nervously towards the main hall.

"Aunt, please don't worry. Her Majesty won't make a mistake. The Emperor will probably have dinner here with Her Majesty. Aunt, please go to the kitchen and instruct the cook to prepare a few light dishes."

Aunt Mei nodded in agreement, and the two turned past a grove of peonies, where they saw Green Willow and Jingming talking under the eaves of a side hall.

"Green Willow has really been through a lot. She can chat and laugh with Inner Official Jing. Her courage surpasses that of Dream Bamboo and Pearl."

Hua Yan smiled and said, "Xiao Nianzi has had quite a bit of interaction with Eunuch Dong under Eunuch Jing. Eunuch Jing is grateful for this, and he has always respected Consort Chun. Auntie told Mengzhu not to be too reserved on weekdays."

If Hua Yan moves out of Huining Palace when they return to the palace, she won't be able to give them constant reminders. However, there's not too much worry. Meng Zhu is steady and has become increasingly cautious over the past year, rarely making mistakes.

Aunt Mei sighed and then suddenly bowed respectfully to Hua Yan.

"What are you doing, Aunt?" Hua Yan scolded, and quickly stepped forward to support Aunt Mei's arm.

"This servant bows on behalf of Your Highness and on behalf of Mengzhu and the others to thank Shuer. I have watched you all grow up, so I will shamelessly call Your Highness Shuer again."

"Auntie, you flatter me. Do you not intend to distance yourself from me?"

Aunt Mei shook her head, holding Hua Yan's hand, her eyes welling up with tears.

Mengzhu was a thoughtful person. Because of Huayan's favor with the emperor, Mengzhu and Ruizhu felt sad and resentful for Consort Chun in private. Although they did not show it, Aunt Mei knew that Huayan could feel it.

Hua Yan said frankly, "Don't worry, Aunt. Our purpose in entering the palace is to protect and support the Second Miss. This will never change."

......

Hua Yan returned to Bilangxuan with Lv Liu. In just half a day, the place had been completely transformed inside and out.

Xia'er greeted them at the door and reported sweetly, "Your Majesty, the people from the Shanggong Bureau came early this morning to make arrangements. Please take a look and see if there is anything amiss?"

Donggua clapped his hands and exclaimed, "The floor is covered with a gold-threaded carpet, the window lattices are covered with cicada-wing gauze, the bedroom has been replaced with a carved sandalwood bed, the cloud-patterned curtains are made of silk gauze, and even the palace lanterns have been replaced with gilded cranes carrying lingzhi mushrooms!"

Hua Yan looked at Dong Gua with amusement, her mind automatically replaying Dong Gua's words as—"Heavens! Shu Shu, come and see! The room is full of wonderful treasures!"

Hua Yan likes this kind of winter melon. In her heart, winter melon is different from Green Willow and Dream Bamboo.

Unlike Green Willow, who hesitates and looks back, or Dream Bamboo and Bud Pearl, who are separated from her by a layer, Winter Melon is vibrant and sincere. She remembers the kindness others have shown her, and while many people reside in her heart, Flower Face is always the most special one.

"Is your face feeling any better? Your eyelids still look a bit red."

Hua Yan didn't have time for anything else; she first cupped Dong Gua's face and examined it.

Green Willow said, "The imperial physician gave me some ointment, so I'll apply it for Winter Melon now." She then turned to Winter Melon and instructed, "Even though we're at Bilang Pavilion, Winter Melon, don't forget to wear a veil when you go out."

Hua Yan waved for the two women to leave first, and said to Xia'er, "Come in with me."

After changing into casual clothes, Hua Yan surveyed the furnishings of the hall, only then noticing that the dressing table in the inner room had been replaced with a new style made of huanghuali wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Passing the screen, the original desk in the study had been replaced with a chicken-wing wood table with dragon-patterned upturned ends. Under a multi-compartment shelf on one side was a hexagonal tea couch made of Xiangfei bamboo, upon which sat a chased silver tea basket—a dowry item brought from the Chunfei residence, which she had given to Hua Yan upon seeing her interest.

"Has Granny Yu come looking for you?" Hua Yan sat down and casually picked up a book from the table and held it in her hands.

Xia'er answered while serving tea.

"When I went to the kitchen, I met Granny Yu. She asked me... during my time serving Your Highness, have you heard anything about Madam Zhou's background?"

Hua Yan lowered her head and flipped through the book, her voice devoid of any emotion: "It's strange to ask you that. Wouldn't it be more convenient for her to pass on the message to the Duke's Mansion to investigate?"

Xia'er shook her head, "I know Granny Yu quite well. She is thoughtful and would not act rashly if she was not sure of the outcome."

Then, hesitatingly, he added, "This servant noticed that Granny Yu seems distracted; it seems something has happened..."