Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 348 Jade Hall

During the Great Zhou Dynasty, the distinction between palaces and halls was not yet clear.

Cining Palace, the residence of the Empress Dowager, exudes majesty and solemnity. Shou Kang Palace primarily housed imperial concubines; Empress Dowager Zhou had previously moved there. The Empress resided in Renming Hall, the main hall of Yanfu Palace, which was always the focus of attention for everyone in the harem.

Although Huining, Zhaoqing, Ganlu, Shujing, and Chunxi are all independent courtyard-style palaces, they actually belong to the Penglai Palace complex, only they are not called "palace".

The Penglai Palace was extremely vast, formerly known as the Daming Palace, where the four imperial concubines and nine other concubines resided. The remaining twenty-seven ladies-in-waiting lived in a separate courtyard to the west of the Yeting Palace, such as the Magnolia Pavilion. (Note: This is a fictional story; please do not take it too seriously.)

The Lingcui Palace, which the Emperor personally decreed to be Meng Shu's residence, was actually just a small palace located in the southeast corner of the inner palace. Its main hall was named Cuiyu Hall, which was newly built in the previous dynasty. It was originally intended to house the royal family's treasures and later served as a summer residence for the favored concubine.

Besides the Cuiyu Hall, there are two other side halls, Furong and Lingqi, which are currently vacant.

......

Meng Shu bid farewell to Consort Chun and headed towards Lingcui Palace, arriving after about half an incense stick's time.

The vermilion palace gates opened one after another, and Meng Shu stood under the hanging flower gate in the front courtyard. She saw that the entire palace was laid out in a three-courtyard, four-section layout, with winding covered corridors on both sides leading to the east and west side halls. Passing through the passageway, there was a spacious courtyard. On the west side of the courtyard, there were two crabapple trees. Several palace servants were sweeping the courtyard. When they saw Meng Shu, they hurriedly knelt down and bowed.

Meng Shu stood silently for a moment, then looked up at the plaque "Cuiyu Hall" hanging in the main hall. She saw ninety-nine colorful flowers carved between the brackets under the eaves, seemingly representing "the beauty of spring in nine layers".

As we entered the main hall with Green Willow by our side, we were immediately struck by the exquisitely elegant furnishings, including incense tables, tea tables, screens, and bookshelves, all clearly the result of careful planning.

Xia'er was tidying up the trunks she had brought from the palace in the inner room, but she didn't see Donggua anywhere.

Green Willow helped Meng Shu sit down in the main room and stood by her side. Chun'er immediately stepped forward to serve tea.

Xia'er came out from the inner room and whispered, "Your Majesty, a new small kitchen has been set up in the back garden, and Sister Donggua is currently tidying up the kitchen utensils."

Green Willow smiled and said, "This is exactly what Winter Melon wants."

As they were talking, Xu Jinxi, an eunuch from Lingcui Palace, led several people forward and respectfully performed a full curtsy: "This servant Xu Jinxi greets Your Highness and wishes Your Highness a long and peaceful life."

Meng Shu sat upright in a rosewood armchair, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrests.

Consort Chun originally wanted Xiao Nianzi to come and serve her, but she politely declined. The two brothers, Xiao Yuanzi and Xiao Nianzi, were both reliable and clever, and Consort Chun felt at ease having them serve her. Xu Jinxi was arranged by the Shanggong Bureau. He was about twenty years old and always kept his head slightly lowered when he spoke. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but rather showed a certain composure.

Four palace maids were kneeling below the steps; they were the same ones who had been sweeping the courtyard earlier. Normally, there should have been a head maid here, but Meng Shu disliked large groups and unnecessary complications, so she had instructed them beforehand to skip this arrangement.

"Get up, all of you." Meng Shu said gently, "Working for me doesn't require you to be particularly clever. The important thing is to do your job well... There aren't many rules in daily life either. Just do your job well, and if you make no mistakes, I will treat you well."

Xu Jinxi led the palace maids in another bow: "Your Highness, we will remember your teachings."

Meng Shu's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on the four palace maids. Although they all had lowered their heads and looked meek, they each had their own unique features—the one on the left had almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, the two in the middle had a slender figure and skin as smooth as jade, and compared to them, only the one on the far right was not particularly outstanding.

Green Willow had already prepared a reward in her sleeve, and seeing that Meng Shu had not spoken, she held back and did not make a move.

Xu Jinxi led the group to await instructions, but Meng Shuyu waved her hand lightly, ordering them to leave. Several palace maids exchanged glances discreetly, and even Xu Jinxi, as mature as she was, showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.

After everyone had left, Green Willow couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "This servant prepared reward money early this morning, why didn't Your Highness give them any rewards or assign them any tasks?"

Meng Shu said, "No rush. The eunuchs are at your beck and call, and the lower-ranking palace maids are in charge of cleaning the outer courtyard. There's no need to make special arrangements for these tasks. As for rewards, they will be given when the time is right."

“But what if they think Your Highness is stingy…” Green Willow said with some concern.

“Perfect.” Meng Shu tapped the table lightly. “These are all people carefully selected by Consort Xie. If anyone becomes dissatisfied or harbors disloyalty over such a small matter, it will save me the trouble of screening them.”

There is a small garden in the backyard, with osmanthus and sycamore trees planted in a staggered manner, and more than ten crabapple trees surrounding a glazed pavilion, making for a very beautiful scene.

Meng Shu wandered around to various places before finally strolling to the small kitchen.

Donggua was busy with Chun'er, and a five-colored soup was simmering on a small stove nearby, the rising steam carrying a medicinal aroma. She explained with a smile that it was a must to drink a bowl of medicinal soup with all five flavors when moving to a new house, for good luck.

Meng Shu smiled and nodded in agreement, telling him to cook more winter melon and send a portion to Consort Chun as well.

As soon as she returned to her bedchamber, she saw Hua Jin, Guo Xiuyi's maid, waiting in the corridor with a brocade box in her hands. Upon seeing Meng Shu, Hua Jin curtsied and said, "My lady is unwell and unable to go out, so she specially ordered me to bring you a housewarming gift."

When Meng Shu opened it, she found it was a set of Yue kiln celadon tea set, with an elegant shape and a warm glaze.

Before they could appreciate it properly, Consort Xie and Consort Qu arrived at Cuiyu Hall.

Consort Xie presented a painting of crabapple blossoms in spring slumber, its exquisite brushwork a work of a master from the previous dynasty. Consort Qu stood behind her, her face, hidden behind a veil, subtly revealing a hint of unease. She carried nothing of value; behind her, Ruixue held a wooden box containing two embroidered pouches she had personally made.

Meng Shu accepted it with a smile, examined it closely, and praised, "Sister Qu's embroidery skills are superb; every stitch is exquisitely crafted. The pattern is also cleverly embroidered, perfectly complementing the 'Begonia in Spring Sleep' painting that Consort Xie sent..."

As the three were talking, Xia'er came in to deliver a message, saying that Consort Rong had arrived.

"It is said that Lingcui Palace is a place where the beauty of heaven and earth and the purity of humanity are all gathered in one room. I have come to see it for myself today, and I know that this is true. It is evident how much the Emperor dotes on Your Highness."

The person hadn't even arrived yet, but their voice came first.

Rong Meiren moved with light, graceful steps, her skin as white as snow accentuated by a crimson silk dress. Behind her followed a palace maid who carefully carried in a statue of Guanyin made of mutton-fat jade.