Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 161 A Warm Night in the Hibiscus-Scented Tent

"Miss has been practicing calligraphy at her desk for a long time. Why don't we stop here for today?"

The chrysanthemums the prince sent are in full bloom; they look even better than those cultivated in Fu'anju's flower room. Shall we go take a look and rest for a while?"

The second young lady had regained her composure. She put down her pen, nodded, and then said to Ruizhu, who had just entered, "Ruizhu, there's no need to tidy up the table yet."

The green chrysanthemum petals overlap, with pale yellow stamens scattered among them like stars.

The second young lady stared for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Did the Princess also send one?"

Ruizhu's answer was crisp and clear: "Never."

"In the afternoon, I went with Donggua, Chun'er and Xia'er to the main kitchen of the mansion to see Granny Yu. On the way, we met Hanfang, who used to be Chun'er's roommate. Hanfang is now working in Ruyi Palace. Chun'er confirmed this by asking around."

The second young lady frowned slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

Hua Yan always maintained a calm demeanor. She tried her best to soften her voice and comforted the second young lady, saying, "I'm sure they sent something else as well, so you don't need to worry about it."

Since entering the Prince's mansion, the Second Miss's heart has become filled with anxiety and insecurity, which Hua Yan, who is by her side, knows best. Yesterday, the Prince used the excuse of the prescription to appreciate the chess manual. This morning, he not only came to Yunyi Palace to visit her and have lunch with her, but now he has also sent many potted flowers. While the Second Miss is delighted, she is also worried that it might be too conspicuous.

But looking at Hua Yan, there's no need to overthink it. Prince Jin sending the chess manual and green chrysanthemums was all to please the Second Miss; he wouldn't use the same tactic to favor one over the other...

I served the second young lady her dinner in the evening.

"Hua Yan will stay with Miss in the warm pavilion for a while. I have asked Rui Zhu and Ming Yue to prepare bathing supplies."

Aunt Mei is truly a remarkable person. Whenever the Prince is involved, she unconsciously starts making plans for the Second Miss. This morning, she prepared for the Second Miss's nightly service.

After bathing and changing, Hua Yan and the others helped the second young lady with her hair and makeup. Aunt Mei dismissed everyone and personally made the bed. Meng Zhu took out two dragon and phoenix candles from the dowry chest and solemnly placed them on either side of the table.

As dusk approached, Prince Jin arrived leisurely and began playing chess with the second young lady.

Halfway through the game, the second young lady, holding the white pieces, was deep in thought.

Inside the warm pavilion, a charcoal brazier burned, filled with the finest silver-thread charcoal. The second young lady wore light makeup, and the afterglow filtering through the small window shone on her moon-white brocade dress, highlighting her beautiful profile, which shone like a bright pearl, captivating all who beheld her.

The Prince of Jin was unusually lost in thought.

"On the Double Ninth Festival, I offered incense on behalf of my mother. I first met Wan'er at the back of Guangci Temple. If I remember correctly, Wan'er was also wearing a moon-white dress that day."

(Gu Yanchen, Prince of Jin, courtesy name Shenzhi. Gu is the surname of the royal family of the Great Zhou Dynasty.)

When the second young lady heard the prince pronounce her maiden name, she hesitated for a moment, her fingers loosened slightly, and the white piece fell off the chessboard, spun around, and landed precisely on the star point in the upper right corner.

"I didn't know I had met a prince. The mountain spring behind Guangci Temple is sweet and refreshing. That day, I was just playing around..."

The Prince of Jin smiled knowingly, his gaze leaving the Second Miss. He gently picked up a black piece and dropped it, cutting off her escape route.

"Wan'er, there's no need to be so formal."

Prince Jin reached out and grasped the Second Miss's arm, gently pulling her to his side.

"I deeply regret not seeing Wan'er's true face that day."

His voice was magnetic, clear, and inexplicably tender.

Mengzhu pulled Mingyue away quietly.

By the dim candlelight in the room, Hua Yan idly embroidered a handkerchief and saw Meng Zhu approaching with a lantern through the window.

She put down her needlework and asked nervously, "How is it?"

After entering, Mengzhu blew out the candle in the lantern, her face still flushed. She stammered, "Just now, the Second Miss was playing chess with the Prince, and Aunt Mei was giving gestures in the outer room, so Mingyue and I returned..."

Donggua, who had been feeling down these past few days, suddenly asked, "Did our young lady win the chess game?"

Mingyue chimed in, "Donggua, how come you're even dumber than me? How can you possibly win a game of chess against the Prince?"

Mengzhu: "...You two go and guard the gate outside the palace. Right now, only Aunt Mei and Eunuch Jing are guarding the corridor."

After hearing Prince Jin bring up the matter of the back mountain of Guangci Temple, Hua Yan said to Meng Zhu, "It's alright. In that case, meeting Prince Jin at Guangci Temple that day was actually a good thing."

Hua Yan and Meng Zhu huddled together talking, both glancing towards the main hall from time to time.

The second young lady was extremely nervous, her heart pounding wildly, her mind racing with uncontrollable thoughts. One moment she was thinking of Aunt Mei's 'wild and lewd words,' and the next she was thinking of the seven things Hua Yan had written in the book for her to serve the emperor.

She only calmed down miraculously when the Prince of Jin grasped her fingers and touched his warm palm.

On their belated wedding night, the dragon and phoenix candles on the table were relit, their flickering flames mirroring those of their wedding day. Beneath the hibiscus-embroidered curtains, the embroidered quilt revealed the ambiguous curves of the woman's figure...

Amidst the lingering afterglow, the second young lady's face was beaming with joy.

As drowsiness washed over her, the second young lady turned to look at the handsome man beside her, and couldn't help but sigh softly. Aunt Mei's 'wild and lewd words' were useless, and she had completely forgotten Hua Yan's rules for serving the emperor in bed...

Ruyi Hall.

The princess sat on the daybed, gazing intently at the night sky, her double phoenix crown emitting a subtle glow.

Zhixue hesitated before stepping forward, saying with concern, "Miss, it's late. Let me help you to rest."

Xingyu advised, "In the afternoon, the Prince sent Jing, the eunuch, to deliver the lychee wine that Miss loved most when she was in the Southwest. This shows that our Prince truly cares about Miss."

Otherwise, why would they have traveled all this way to find me?

The princess allowed Zhixue to help her sit in front of the dressing table, and remained silent throughout.