Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 173 The Death of Concubine Yu

Inside the sleeping quarters, Hua Yan and the others almost simultaneously turned their gazes to the multi-treasure pavilion next to the central screen.

Originally, the concubine was scheduled to enter the palace tomorrow to celebrate Consort Hui's birthday. The embroidered handkerchief sent by Concubine Yu was put into a red lacquered brocade box by Mengzhu. Together with the gifts prepared by the Tang family and the concubine, it was placed on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

Donggua stammered, "No way... Before I left the manor, I studied fragrance identification with Aunt Lu for three months, and I'm quite sure that there's no unusual smell on those embroidered handkerchiefs."

Hua Yan shook her head and stepped forward to take down the brocade box.

"In the world, not only spices and medicinal herbs interact with each other, but also coexist with each other."

The pharmacopoeia records that poisonous creatures such as snakes and scorpions can not only find their prey by following their scent, but their nests are also often accompanied by other creatures.

"Winter Melon, check again carefully. Little Nianzi, was there any movement in the Begonia Courtyard this afternoon?"

Donggua took the box and then asked Mengzhu to go to the storeroom to retrieve the green chrysanthemum patterned purse that Concubine Yu had given to the concubine.

Hua Yan said in a deep voice, "Wait, don't touch that purse yet, and definitely don't bring it into the bedroom."

She then turned to Consort Zhen and explained, "In my humble opinion, if I, your concubine, had used any tricks, they would likely have been found in that purse."

Consort Zhen was stunned for a moment, gripping the armrest tightly, and remained silent.

Yu Henian bowed and replied, "This servant has been keeping an eye on things. After I returned to Haitang Courtyard from here, only Xia'er went to the kitchen to get food at 5 pm. During that time, I did not have any contact with anyone, and I stayed in my room the whole time without going out."

Although there was nothing unusual about the concubines at the moment, Hua Yan and Aunt Mei almost instinctively felt something was amiss. In the critical moment, Hua Yan first instructed Meng Zhu to summon Ming Yue back from the side gate to protect the concubine.

......

At this time, news of the venomous snakes that had entered the rear hall had also spread. Chief Secretary Song looked at the heavily guarded rear hall with a solemn expression. He instructed Granny Gong and others to pass on the message while sending someone to quickly invite the physicians from the royal hospital to come over.

The people in the inner quarters and the guards searched for the venomous snakes near Guangzhi Gate. Fortunately, Commander Xiao was the first to find a venomous snake, shot it with an arrow, and handed it over to Physician Shi of Liangyi Institute for identification.

Ruyi Hall.

"What a stupid servant! He only delivers things to and from the manor, yet he's managed to cause such a huge mess!" Jiang Jie clasped his hands tightly, his face filled with anger.

By the candlelight in the room, Granny Gui knelt on the ground, her clothes filthy, and said, "...This old servant had just arrived near Guangzhi Gate when I heard fighting outside the mansion. It seems that Ba Nu encountered some wandering soldiers."

After a while, the princess's deep voice came, "The prince risked his life and is not in the manor. Chongrenfang is the closest to the capital. Prince Yu's people have no reason to cause trouble here, and no one else dares to trespass on the prince's manor."

Xingyu advised, "Your Highness, you should let Granny Gui wash up and get ready quickly. With such a big incident in the manor, Chief Secretary Song will probably send someone to deliver the message soon."

A hint of resentment flashed across Granny Gui's face. "Your Highness, please don't be anxious. Although there are flaws in this matter, they can't possibly trace it back to our Ruyi Palace. Yunyi Palace isn't far from Guangzhi Gate, and... surely one or two of those snakes will be able to follow the scent and find their way here..."

......

When the maid sent by Granny Gong delivered the message to Haitang Courtyard, Concubine Yu's face turned deathly pale.

After everyone left, Concubine Yu called out in a low voice, "Xia'er, quickly bring me my sewing basket, and be quick!"

Xia'er was puzzled. It was the first time she had ever seen her mistress so flustered. After she hurriedly ran to the outer room to fetch the sewing basket, Concubine Yu immediately took a ball of dark green silk thread in her hand and then threw it into the charcoal brazier on the ground.

"My lord, these silk threads were a gift from the princess. The screen I was commissioned to embroider is not yet finished, this..."

Concubine Yu concealed her panic, stretched out her slender hand, examined it for a long time, and then sneered, "Your Highness... you can't tolerate even the slightest bit of anyone..."

The dark green silk thread, illuminated by the embers of the charcoal fire, resembled a bottomless lake. The thread, along with a piece of plain satin, gradually curled and changed color as it heated up. In a short while, the thread shrank smaller and smaller under the heat of the fire, eventually turning completely into a pile of black ash, leaving only wisps of smoke lingering in the air.

Yu's concubine slumped in the chair, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness, and the scene from five days ago replayed in her mind.

Five days ago, she went to the Ruyi Palace to pay her respects as usual, but was left alone in the Ruyi Palace by Granny Gui, who was by the side of the Princess.

"I heard that Concubine Yu's family is from the Su family of Qingxi, and they are famous embroiderers. Because of her humble background, Concubine Yu was not selected from the imperial concubines and ended up working in the Imperial Wardrobe. Her embroidery skills are outstanding."

"My mother's birthday is in five days. I served her at Ciyuan Palace for a while, and I received some tribute satin from her. I might as well help embroider a few handkerchiefs to present to my mother as a birthday gift..."

"Your father is now just a minor magistrate of Qingxi County. Now that I have entered the Prince's Mansion, it is time for me to help out my maternal family to be considered filial. Madam Yu has outstanding skills, it is a pity that she is stuck in Qingxi. I have already sent someone to Qingxi to bring your mother to the capital for a reunion."

The princess's few words sent a chill down Concubine Yu's spine.

Back at the Begonia Courtyard, when Xingyu brought tribute silk and other items, she casually asked for a green chrysanthemum patterned purse to be embroidered. At first, Concubine Yu didn't think much of it, but when she touched the precious silk thread that was placed separately in the box, the slightly sticky feel of the thread made her heart skip a beat.

Then, she was told to go to Yunyi Palace in person under the pretense of delivering a congratulatory gift, and to give the embroidered purse to Consort Zhen... Upon hearing the message, Consort Yu realized that there might be something wrong with the silk thread.

Out of caution, that's why they couldn't wait to destroy it.

However, despite her intelligence, she failed due to the unknown.

It should be noted that when the silk thread was burned, the scent of the snake-bed flower spread the fastest. Furthermore, the Haitang Courtyard was not as securely sealed as other palaces, so a viper followed the scent and crawled in through a hole in the wall, leaving a trail of discontinuous, slightly dark, sticky fluid on the smooth bluestone slab. Soon, even this trace was washed away by the drizzle...

From the moment the news was heard to the moment everyone took action in the back hall of the Prince's mansion, it seemed like a long time had passed, but in reality, it was only a quarter of an hour.

Granny Gong petitioned the Princess Consort. After pondering for a moment, Jiang Jie ordered that Consort Zhen and Concubine Wu Yu be summoned and settled in the side hall of Ruyi Palace. He also ordered all the physicians from the Liangyi Medical Institute to enter the back hall to inspect various places and sprinkle medicinal powder to prevent poisonous snakes from entering.

Fortunately, Chief Clerk Song and Commander Xiao had already captured seven or eight of them.

In Yunyi Palace, Ruizhu, along with her four maids Chunxia Qiudong, carefully sprinkled medicinal powder around the corners of the main hall, while Xiao Nianzi, holding an umbrella, inspected the surrounding walls.

Inside the main hall, Donggua confirmed several times that the embroidered handkerchief was safe. Huayan then whispered a few words to the concubine and Aunt Mei before leading Donggua and Mengzhu out of the bedchamber.

As soon as the three entered the storeroom, Mengzhu went to light the lamps, while Huayan and Donggua held lanterns and checked the doors and windows. When they opened the box and took out the purse, Huayan immediately took off the two tourmaline beads tied to the purse and pulled out the silk inside.

In this way, without the interference of mixed floral scents, Donggua only took a light sniff and exclaimed in surprise:

"Damn it! Meng Shu, this silk thread seems to have the smell of snake flower juice, but the smell is very faint, as if it has been left out for a while and the smell has dissipated."

Upon hearing this, Mengzhu patted her chest in lingering fear. "How vicious of me, Concubine Yu! If we hadn't received prior warning, wouldn't those venomous snakes have followed the scent into Yunyi Palace?"

Hua Yan's heart tightened as well. "We should be thankful that the concubine ordered this purse to be placed in the storeroom. If it had been placed in the bedchamber, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

At the beginning of Hai hour, a shrill cry came from the Begonia Courtyard. After about half a cup of tea's time, Yu Jingnian hurriedly returned to the Yunyi Palace to report the news.

My concubine unfortunately fell victim to a poisonous snake and died.