Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 593 A Sudden Turbulence (1)

Since Consort Yun became pregnant, Consort Chun frequently visited her at Ganlu Palace, but Meng Shu never went again. At first, Consort Chun would invite her over, but seeing her indifferently withdraw, she gave up after a couple of times.

Days passed quietly, and the court and the harem lived in relative peace for a time. It wasn't until the end of the first month, when news of the passing of the late Prince Rui reached the palace, that this tranquility was slightly shattered.

Given the seniority of this old prince, his funeral arrangements could not be taken lightly. The inner and outer palaces were quietly decorated in somber tones, and even the red lanterns under the eaves were temporarily removed.

And so, time quietly passed, and the weather gradually warmed up. Only when the snow under the palace walls melted away and tender buds sprouted on the branches did the Emperor once again set foot in Lingcui Palace.

It's been almost a month and a half since I last came.

Although the two were not exactly strangers, Yu Nu'er had definitely become quite estranged from him.

The new year brings the little guy to his third birthday, a time when he's recognizing people and remembering things. Before, whenever the Emperor returned, he would rush over and hug his legs, chattering incessantly. This time, however, he stayed close to Meng Shu, his round eyes secretly observing his father.

The emperor beckoned to him, and after a moment's hesitation, he took small steps over, looked up, and whispered, "Father."

Her voice was soft and sweet, lacking the familiar intimacy of before.

The Emperor frowned and reached out to pick him up. Yu Nu'er subconsciously glanced at Meng Shu and saw her mother nodding with a smile before obediently extending her arms.

Meng Shu watched from the side, sighing softly in her heart.

"It seems I haven't been here much lately, and Jing'er doesn't even recognize his father anymore." The Emperor pulled him onto his lap, his tone smiling, showing no sign of displeasure.

"Children are naturally shy; they become timid after a few days apart."

Meng Shu casually remarked, her hands still busy, picking up a few newly broken forsythia branches and slowly pruning them.

Yu Nu'er was still very young. When her father held her in his arms, her body was initially tense, but in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she gradually relaxed and unconsciously leaned closer to him. One of her little hands unconsciously grasped the tassel of the purse hanging in front of her and gently played with it.

Meng Shu had noticed it the moment the Emperor entered; the one hanging from his waist was the very one she had presented on New Year's Eve. She continued trimming the few sprigs of forsythia beside her, pretending not to see it.

Unlike Consort Chun, who favored chrysanthemums for their aloof and solitary nature, she actually preferred forsythia. This flower gathers its strength while the chill of winter lingers, and is the first to sense the earth's warming. Its slender branches are remarkably supple, dotted with pale yellow blossoms that resemble stars, unassuming yet possessing a refreshing and vibrant energy.

The scissors gently trimmed away a section of excess branch, making a soft "snip" sound.

Meng Shu placed the pruned flower branches into a plain white porcelain vase and instructed Green Willow to take it to the desk in her study.

Jingming waited in the outer room, listening intently to the sounds inside. Green Willow came out from the inner room carrying a vase and coughed lightly.

According to past practice, Jingming should have already arranged for everyone to leave by now.

Jingming raised his eyes and flicked his whisk at his waist. Green Willow caught a glimpse, curled her lips into a smile, pretended not to understand, and carried the vase straight to the study.

Inside, the Emperor casually patted Yu Nu'er's back, then suddenly said, "I have issued an edict summoning Zhou Bai back to the capital ahead of schedule."

Meng Shu was stunned for a moment, then looked up.

According to what Xiuyun said last time, her uncle was originally supposed to set off from Quanzhou at the end of February.

"With everything settled in Quanzhou, I intend to leave him in the capital for several months to rest before sending him to Mingzhou..." The Emperor spoke calmly, as if he were discussing a preordained arrangement.

"...In June, several large ships departed from Quanzhou Shipyard, went to Mingzhou Port for resupply and preparation, and then set sail for Japan."

He paused slightly, his gaze falling on Meng Shu's serene profile. "For this trip, I appoint Zhou Bai as the special envoy to accompany the ship and oversee all negotiations."

As soon as she finished speaking, Meng Shu's brow twitched.

The hall was extremely quiet, except for the soft rustling sound of Yu Nu'er playing with the tassels.

"Someone, take His Highness away to rest."

After the wet nurse took Yu Nu'er away, Meng Shu got up to pour the Emperor a cup of tea, and then slowly knelt down.

"It is a blessing for my uncle and me to have such high regard for His Majesty. However... my uncle is my only blood relative. The sea is treacherous and the journey is long, unlike the inland. My uncle is getting older, and the years of hard work in the provinces have taken a toll on his health. I humbly request His Majesty's understanding and whether it is possible to select someone more knowledgeable about maritime affairs to go instead?"

After she finished speaking, she lowered her eyes and waited for the emperor's response, her palms sweating profusely.

"I know your concerns."

After a while, the Emperor finally spoke, and he got up to help her up.

“The sea voyage is indeed fraught with unpredictable dangers. But this mission is of utmost importance and cannot be entrusted to anyone but a trusted and trusted minister.”

He walked to the window, his back to Meng Shu, and said, "Zhou Bai has an outstanding political record in Quanzhou, is well-versed in maritime trade, and what's even more remarkable is... his understanding of propriety."

"This trip is not just about trade. I need someone who can handle the mission well, but who won't be blinded by the wealth overseas and forget his roots, forget whose subject he is!"

He turned around, his gaze deep and steady as he looked into Meng Shu's eyes: "Your uncle is a rare person whom I can completely trust."

Meng Shu's heart sank to the bottom.

The Emperor's words have elevated Zhou Bai to a position where "no one else can do it."

The emperor's command has been given, and his mind is made up. If she were to plead for leniency based on familial ties, she would be acting out of womanly compassion and lacking any sense of propriety.

The Emperor approached, reached out and lifted her face, his fingertips gently stroking her cheek: "Shu'er, rest assured, how could I be careless? The Imperial Medical Academy will send its best physicians to accompany you, and the Ministry of Works and the Tang family's shipyard have joined forces to oversee the construction, using the latest and sturdiest Fujian-style ships, more than capable of withstanding wind and waves..."

When he returns, I will reward him handsomely. At that time, I will allow him to remain in the capital permanently.