Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 354 The Jade Cicada Shattered

On the twelfth day of the ninth month of the first year of the Zhenghe era, Guo Jia, daughter of Guo Sui, the prefect of Jinzhou, gave birth to the emperor's eldest daughter, much to the emperor's delight. The following day, she was granted the honorary title of Zhaorong, a promotion that would have been skipped by a rank, and was also bestowed the title "Qi". The eldest daughter was named Lingyi, and according to the custom for a legitimate princess, she was provided with four wet nurses and two tutors.

According to the old system of this dynasty, concubines who gave birth to imperial offspring were promoted one rank. Guo's promotion, which was beyond the usual rank, was truly an extraordinary favor.

On the third day after Qi Zhaorong gave birth, Meng Shu and Consort Chun went to visit her together.

As soon as the two arrived at Dieqiong Pavilion, Huajin and Chuntao, having received the news, came out to greet them.

Hua Jin's eyes were slightly red, showing that she hadn't slept well for several days and nights while keeping watch. Her voice was a little hoarse when she greeted them: "Greetings, Your Highnesses. Our mistress was still talking about you this morning."

Upon entering the inner room, they saw Consort Qi leaning against the bed, her pale face regaining a sliver of color when she saw Consort Chun and the other two.

She tried to get up, but Consort Chun quickly stepped forward and pressed her shoulder down: "Don't move, be careful not to catch a cold."

Qi Zhaorong wore a joyful expression. She was able to give birth to a daughter safely entirely thanks to the help of Consort Chun and the Marquis of Lin'an's family. Naturally, she was extremely grateful.

Meng Shu stepped forward and bowed to her according to her rank, but Qi Zhaorong dared not accept it, saying, "This concubine would never dare to accept such a greeting. If it weren't for the help of the two ladies, how could I have given birth to Afu?"

"A-Fu? Is that the nickname that Consort Zhao gave to Princess Lingyi?" Meng Shu asked with a smile.

Consort Qi's expression softened instantly: "His Majesty personally obtained it yesterday. I only hope that you, my lady, can truly live up to this blessing in your life."

Hua Jin led the wet nurse forward, and soft breathing could be heard from inside the crimson swaddling clothes.

Consort Chun carefully took it and bent down with Meng Shu to examine it closely.

Before me was a tiny, curled-up bundle, its wrinkled face like an unopened flower bud, its soft, fine baby hair trembling gently with its breath. Its ten fingers were curled into tiny fists, the exposed little fingernails soft and translucent, making one hesitant to touch them.

"Mengzhu, bring me the longevity lock I previously instructed you to make." Consort Chun spoke in a very gentle voice.

Mengzhu stepped forward with a brocade box in her hands. Inside the box, besides the longevity lock, were several small and exquisite peace buckles, each one polished smooth and round.

Green Willow also presented the congratulatory gifts sent by Meng Shu, which were a bellyband she had made herself and a rattle drum with an ivory handle.

Hua Jin stepped forward, curtsied, and accepted the gift, saying, "This servant thanks the two ladies on behalf of the little princess for their kindness."

Consort Qi said, "It is Afu's greatest blessing to have the favor of both of you." After saying this, she continued, "Since you held Afu today, you will surely give birth to a little prince to keep Afu company in the future."

Upon hearing this, Consort Chun chuckled and carefully returned the swaddling clothes to the wet nurse. The baby seemed to sense something, its little mouth moving slightly, which amused everyone.

Meng Shu joked, "Thank you for your kind words, Sister Guo. Consort Chun should come often to share in Afu's good fortune."

"When Afu grows up a bit, I will take her to Huining Palace to bother Her Majesty often."

These words carried a sense of intimacy, and Consort Chun said gently, "His Majesty sent word early this morning that Princess Lingyi's first birthday celebration should be grand, and it is most important for Consort Zhaorong to recover quickly..."

After sitting for a while in Dieqiong Pavilion, Meng Shu and Consort Chun returned to Lingcui Palace.

The two strolled in the garden, where palace servants were sweeping up fallen leaves. Consort Chun glanced at them one by one, then returned to her study and frowned, saying, "Consort Xie is quite good at making arrangements. Why don't you hurry up and send her away?"

Meng Shu picked up a chessboard from the side and said, "With Green Willow and Xia'er keeping an eye on things, they can't cause any trouble. Keeping them around might be useful in some other way."

"You've always been good at planning, but you still need to be careful in everything you do," Consort Chun advised.

Meng Shu responded, and seeing that Consort Chun's hand holding the chess piece was suspended in mid-air and did not fall, she said, "Wan'er seems distracted, is something on your mind?"

Consort Chun unconsciously traced the sandalwood grain on the edge of the chessboard with her fingertips, and sighed softly, "Yesterday, the Marquis's residence sent a letter saying that Grandmother's health is not good. Father has already asked the Emperor for leave to personally go to Lin'an to bring Grandmother back to the capital for recuperation."

"The old lady is very fortunate, and with Physician Zhen accompanying her to take care of her, she should be fine," Meng Shu comforted gently.

Consort Chun's voice was muffled, pressing against her chest, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips: "My grandmother is seriously ill, and I, as her granddaughter, am confined to the deep palace. I don't know... if I will ever have the chance to see her and fulfill my filial duty."

These words revealed the deep sorrow within, and Meng Shu didn't know how to comfort her. So she put away the chessboard and had Dong Gua make some warm milk tea and bring it up.

Perhaps it is sweets that are most comforting, for Consort Chun had some milk tea and felt slightly relieved. She had lunch at Meng Shu's place before returning to Huining Palace.

......

A few days later, the Emperor issued an order that Consort Chun's birthday would be at the end of the month, and a birthday banquet would be held in the Linde Hall to celebrate.

With only seven or eight days left, the concubines in each palace are busy preparing birthday gifts.

Meng Shu had been preparing for this for a long time. She had been embroidering an outer garment by hand for more than two months, and was currently working on the final touches. However, whether it was due to autumn fatigue or something else, she felt listless and lacked energy, and even her needlework was not as steady as usual.

As evening approached, thunder rumbled in the distance, and it looked like an autumn rain was about to fall.

At this moment, Green Willow came over to report that the Emperor had summoned Consort Chun to his bedchamber that night.

Upon hearing this, Meng Shu's hand trembled, and the embroidery needle pierced straight into her fingertip. A drop of crimson fell onto the stamen of the twin lotus pattern she was embroidering, staining the gold thread a dark red.

"Ouch, I'm bleeding!"

Green Willow called out softly and hurriedly brought over a silk handkerchief, but Meng Shu seemed not to hear her, staring blankly at the spot of blood slowly spreading on the silk thread.

A sudden autumn breeze blew outside the window, causing the candlelight inside the hall to flicker. A sense of unease swept through Meng Shu's heart.

She was just about to get up and go to Huining Palace when she heard hurried footsteps approaching from outside. Before Xia'er could announce her arrival, a figure staggered into the inner room.

Meng Shu looked up and saw Meng Zhu's disheveled hair and panicked expression, and her heart tightened suddenly.

Seeing this, Green Willow quickly retreated to guard the door.

"Shu'er!" Mengzhu knelt down in front of Meng Shu, her voice trembling with fear.

"...Something happened. Tonight, the Emperor summoned the Empress to his bedchamber. Just as the imperial carriage arrived at the Funing Palace, the jade cicada that the Empress wore close to her body...suddenly shattered without warning."

A thunderclap boomed, shaking the windowpanes. A pale bolt of lightning cleaved the night sky, illuminating Mengzhu's face, which was as white as paper.

She unfolded the jade cicada fragment she had been clutching tightly in her hand, "...Now that Her Majesty has entered the palace, what should we do?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.