Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 408 Infant-Induced Pregnancy (3)

Meng Shu took the ledger, opened it, and marked a few places with her pen.

"These items have already been subsidized. Let Xiao Nianzi secretly investigate whether the Sixth Bureau has embezzled any funds. Right now, we're busy preparing for the New Year's Eve banquet, so we can conduct a thorough investigation next spring."

As for provisions, firewood, and charcoal, there's no need to pay out of your own pocket.

These past two days, Huining Palace has been conducting an inventory of all its offices. Wan'er has sent Aunt Mei and Mengzhu to visit each of the Six Bureaus; those shrewd people will understand.

As night fell, Meng Shu stayed in a side hall of Huining Palace, the very room where she had lived when she first entered the palace.

Apart from a few fewer trunks and boxes, everything was exactly the same as before she left. Aunt Mei even placed a few pots of fresh flowers cultivated in the greenhouse in the bedroom, which were now emitting a faint fragrance.

"It's only been a few months, but it feels like a dream."

When Meng Shu left for the imperial palace, she was still a beauty, but within three months she had risen to the rank of one of the Nine Concubines.

Green Willow bent over to make the bed, patting the embroidered pillows until they were soft. After a while, she sighed, "Although the Jade Hall is more spacious, I still feel more at ease here."

Donggua came in carrying a quilt and said, "That's right! The stove in the small kitchen is much more convenient to use than over there. If His Majesty could allow Shushu to stay in Huining Palace, that would be wonderful. Whenever I make a new dish, I can immediately find Mingyue to let her taste it."

Green Willow took the quilt from her and placed it on the embroidered stool beside her; this was what she would use to cover herself while keeping watch tonight.

"I think you just want Mingyue to taste the food for you. You've almost ruined her health from practicing martial arts."

Winter Melon argued, "No way! At worst, I'll just give her a few of the Lightness Pills that Physician Jian gave me..."

Meng Shu sat in front of her dressing table, listening to the two of them bickering with a smile.

Who can argue with that? She also felt more at ease in this small side hall.

......

The next day.

The snow stopped in the first half of the night, and now, as the sun rises, icicles drip from the eaves, melting into water. The thin layer of snow remaining on the bluestone bricks in front of the palace reflects the morning light, like scattered pieces of jade.

After breakfast, Consort Chun, accompanied by Aunt Mei and Granny Kong, went to Linde Palace.

Meng Shu helped handle several palace affairs in Consort Chun's study. In addition, she focused on checking the accounts of Huining Palace and explained the in-and-out expenses to Meng Zhu in detail.

Yesterday, Mengzhu went to the Shanggong Bureau, and as evening approached, the Sicai Division hurriedly delivered charcoal to each of the Imperial Concubine Palaces.

After finishing the last palace affairs register, Meng Shu gently stroked her slightly protruding belly and said earnestly to Meng Zhu:

"As my health deteriorates, I will not be able to visit Huining Palace as often. If there is any urgent matter, please have Ruizhu come to Cuiyu Hall to find me. Granny Kong has served Empress Dowager Zhou for many years, so you can also consult her."

Aunt Mei came from the Madam's Courtyard. She was best at organizing banquets and social gatherings, and was not particularly sensitive to matters of accounts.

"You are the head maid serving Wan'er. You can't just keep an eye on the storeroom's income and expenses. For example, you should have noticed the sudden increase in expenses in the accounts earlier..."

Mengzhu lowered her head in shame and repeatedly said yes.

As the two were talking, Ruizhu lifted the curtain and entered.

"Your Majesty," Ruizhu curtsied, handed over a letter, and reported, "Fuling, who serves Consort Qu, is waiting outside. She says that she is ordered by Consort Qu to leave the palace and return to the Qu residence before the New Year, and has come to request permission."

Whenever a palace maid leaves the palace, whether for official business or to visit relatives, she must submit a "Leave the Palace Report" to the principal concubine of her palace. The report must specify her name, age, palace, reason, time, and whether she is accompanied by anyone.

After the matter was approved, the palace maid had to take the petition to both the Shanggong Bureau and the Yeting Bureau to have it stamped with the official seals of both bureaus before she could receive her palace pass and leave the palace.

Another rule states that anyone leaving the palace for more than half a day must obtain the Empress's personal approval. Since the Empress is currently not in the palace, the approval will be granted by Consort Chun. (Note: Consort Chun assists in managing the six palaces; normally, when Aunt Mei leaves the palace, she only needs to carry her Huining Palace token and does not need to ask the Empress for permission.)

Meng Shu unfolded the petition, and saw that it read:

“Ganlu Palace maid Fuling, aged nineteen, is leaving the palace at Chenshi (7-9 AM) to visit relatives at the Qu residence in Guangdefang. She requests permission to leave the palace for three hours. Respectfully submitted.”

Although Consort Qu resided in the main hall of Ganlu Palace, she did not actually hold the position of principal consort, hence the absence of the principal consort's seal on the petition.

"Going out of the palace to visit relatives?" Meng Shu looked up at Ruizhu.

Ruizhu said, "It is said that Qu Baolin's mother is ill. Just now, I saw Fuling holding a brocade box with some tonics such as bird's nest inside."

Meng Shu pondered for a moment and said, "Since it is in accordance with the rules, we cannot refuse."

She wrote the character "知" (zhi, meaning "understood") on the report, then affixed Consort Chun's seal and handed it to Ruizhu. "Tell the lady to send over all the information that Disi Pavilion has recently gathered regarding the Qu family."

Before leaving the capital, Xiuyun had already handed over Disi Pavilion to the Marquis of Lin'an's residence, and Madam Yun sent someone to take over.

Ruizhu agreed and took the report to the outside of the palace.

Seeing Meng Shu's brows furrow slightly, Green Willow couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, have you noticed anything amiss?"

Meng Shu tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, her eyes deepening: "It is not inappropriate for Qu Baolin to send someone back to visit his relatives, but if Madam Qu is really ill, Consort Qu, who lives with her, would know. With Consort Qu's shrewd and worldly nature, how could she remain completely silent?"

"It really seems strange from this perspective."

"Speaking of which, back in the Prince's mansion, Her Majesty always favored Qu Baolin because her father and the eldest young master were both officials in the Hanlin Academy. Who knew that in the end, she would turn out to be the most restless one," Mengzhu said.

After pondering for a moment, Meng Shu instructed, "Once Fuling returns to the palace, you should all send people to keep a close watch on Ganlu Hall. If Qu Baolin leaves the palace, report to me and Wan'er immediately."

......

Meanwhile, at the Ganlu Palace.

As Consort Qu was applying her makeup in front of the mirror, she heard the news of Fuling's departure from the palace, and her hand holding the hairpin suddenly paused. Instantly, she connected the incident of Consort Qu demanding the gold lock yesterday to the matter.

"My foolish and oblivious cousin, don't let your tricks backfire on yourself and others as well."

She gave a light scoff and forcefully inserted the white jade hairpin into her hair bun.