Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 177 is not worth pursuing, nor should it be investigated further.

Consort Zhen looked delighted: "The Prince has finally returned to the manor. What's the Princess's doing?"

Chief Secretary Song was just reporting on what had happened in the manor these past few days. Consort Zhen and Hua Yan already knew that one of the two groups that fought outside the manor that day was being secretly protected by Lady Zhou.

During this time, while the concubine was resting in the Ruyi Palace, Chief Secretary Song also accompanied Granny Gong to inspect the area around the hole in the wall. As for whether any other clues were found outside the Guangzhi Gate, that remains unknown.

Ruizhu smiled slyly and leaned forward to whisper:

"This servant was just about to report that the Princess Consort went to Cunxin Hall in person just now, but the Prince did not summon her into the hall. Xiao Nianzi said that the Princess Consort waited outside the hall for a while before returning."

Hua Yan narrowed her eyes slightly and looked up to meet Consort Zhen's questioning gaze. Prince Jin's behavior was beyond their expectations.

"The promotions of the Marquis and his son-in-law are inseparable from the Prince's support. The concubine should personally go and express her gratitude. Donggua prepares snacks every day. Why don't you take some to the front hall to visit the Prince?" Hua Yan composed herself and reminded him.

Consort Zhen thought for a moment, then smiled and agreed.

Aunt Mei said, "This is the first time the concubine has visited the Cunxin Palace. Hua Yan and Rui Zhu, you two should help the concubine to wash and dress up properly."

Hua Yan looked up and saw that her master looked shy.

“Aunt Mei is absolutely right. The concubine has not seen the prince for many days, so she should dress more formally.” Hua Yan said with a smile as she walked around the screen separating the main hall from the bedroom and opened the wardrobe.

Ruizhu was overjoyed and looked up to ask, "Should I take out the Phoenix and Pearl Hairpin?"

This large hairpin was sent to Yunyi Courtyard by Madam Yun through Wei Mama before her daughter's marriage; it was truly magnificent and elegant. It is said to have been an old item belonging to Madam Yun's aunt, and Madam Yun had replaced some of the beads and had it reworked by the craftsmen of Yongbao Tower.

Ruizhu called to Mengzhu, and the two carefully took it out of a mother-of-pearl inlaid box.

Consort Zhen also greatly admired the large hairpin, so she didn't object. However, when she turned her head and saw Hua Yan take out a bright red brocade robe with phoenix and cloud patterns from the wardrobe, her eyes suddenly widened, and her tone changed from calm:

“…Hua Yan! Aunt Mei, do you think this is a bit too formal? It would be better to change into that light-colored one.”

Aunt Mei stopped her, saying, "This phoenix and cloud patterned pheasant robe matches the hairpin that the madam gave to the concubine. Miss is now a concubine of the second rank, so it is not an overstepping of the bounds."

After Aunt Mei finished speaking, she smiled and left the bedchamber, saying, "This servant is going to the tea room to see if the pastries prepared by Donggua are to my liking."

Ruizhu smiled and helped Consort Zhen sit down in front of the dressing table, muttering, "There's a saying that 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,' so we should dress up nicely, just to please our loved ones."

Hua Yan gently poked Rui Zhu's forehead and handed her the clothes to iron and tidy up. "You're so mischievous. Meng Zhu and I will accompany the concubine to Cunxin Palace later. You and Ming Yue must guard the palace well."

Hua Yan nodded in satisfaction as she restyled Consort Zhen's hair into a ruyi-shaped updo. Based on the makeup, she selected a pair of jeweled crystal leaf-shaped earrings.

Mengzhu couldn't help but praise, "Consort, look! Huayan is incredibly skillful. Has she learned all of Huaying's signature skills?"

Once everything was ready, Aunt Mei handed the food box to Mengzhu, and Consort Zhen led Huayan Mengzhu out of Yunyi Palace.

The three of them, master and servant, walked through the garden along a gravel path, then along a long corridor for about fifteen minutes. After passing two crabapple-leaf gates, they entered the rear hall where the prince and princess usually lived.

Upon entering, the first thing she saw was the towering gate of Ruyi Palace. Zhixue, who was by the Princess's side, was returning from outside. When she saw Consort Zhen and her party, she hurriedly stopped at a distance and bowed. Only after Consort Zhen walked around a very wide blue stone screen and headed towards Cunxin Palace did she enter Ruyi Palace with a cold smile.

"His Highness is busy and hasn't even summoned our Princess Consort. Yet she, dressed in red and green, shamelessly went up to him. I want to see how embarrassed they will be when they are kicked out by Eunuch Jing."

Zhixue tossed the bamboo basket to Chen Ling and left Ruyi Palace alone, intending to watch the excitement.

When Jiang Jie learned that Consort Zhen had gone to the Cunxin Hall, his heart sank...

Hua Yan followed behind Consort Zhen, and was led by a eunuch into a row of sixteen vermilion-lacquered gates. The eunuch who was supposed to announce her arrival went in and soon came out to invite Consort Zhen in.

Zhixue happened to see Eunuch Jing personally come out to invite her, and without caring about her shock, she hurriedly went to report to the Princess.

Consort Zhen gracefully entered the hall, bowed to Prince Jin, and said gently, "This concubine greets Your Highness."

The Prince of Jin sat upright at his desk, governing the country. Several stacks of books were piled up on the left side of the desk, clearly untouched for a long time, with new folds taking up some of the space. Upon hearing this, the Prince of Jin looked up, and unexpectedly, a woman dressed in a bright red robe with phoenix and cloud patterns came into view.

With a touch of powder, delicately drawn eyebrows, and a rosy blush on her lips, Tang Qingwan's demeanor was graceful and elegant as she performed the wedding ceremony, displaying her captivating beauty. The Tang Qingwan of today was strikingly different from the Consort Zhen, who wore auspicious attire on her wedding day.

Prince Jin had only ever seen the dignified and elegant Consort Zhen, never the radiant and beautiful Tang Qingwan. Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat, and he seemed momentarily lost in thought.

Consort Zhen bowed gracefully again, expressing her gratitude to the Prince for his support of the Tang family.

Prince Jin snapped out of his reverie, a slight smile playing on his lips. He rose, walked around the table, and helped Consort Zhen to her feet. “Song Chengrui is my brother-in-law. Why would I need to personally come to thank him for a little help? As for Marquis Huai’an, it was my father who personally appointed him to succeed as Minister of Rites.”

Changing the subject, Prince Jin, with a meaningful look in his eyes, sat down with Consort Zhen at the Eight Immortals table. Hua Yan and Meng Zhu, following the rules, stepped forward to present the pastries from the food box.

The Prince of Jin slowly opened his mouth:

“The situation was complicated that night. Although I noticed something was wrong with my third brother, I couldn’t tell my concubine in advance, which caused her to be frightened that night. It was my fault.”

The Prince of Jin that Hua Yan saw at the Cunxin Hall at this moment struck her as calm and reserved, with a hint of imposing authority in his every move. His demeanor was completely different from when he played the zither and chess in the Yunyi Hall.

Prince Jin's words were merely a reminder to Consort Zhen that the incident with the poisonous snake that night was the work of Prince Yu's faction, and should not be investigated further...

The prince's failure to summon the princess was merely a temporary measure. Hua Yan speculated that regardless of whether there was conclusive evidence that the princess was responsible, her methods were far too ruthless, chilling the prince's heart. Even if the Prince of Jin needed to rely on the Jiang family, he might still distance himself from the princess in the short term.

Even though Consort Zhen had already heard Hua Yan's advice, she was still momentarily stunned. Then, she nodded and smiled faintly:

"I heard that Your Highness was ambushed by Prince Yu at Chengtian Gate. I was filled with fear and worry. It must have been a very dangerous day. News has been coming in these past few days. Although I have been living in the inner quarters for a long time, I have also heard that His Highness Prince Heng was wounded by an arrow at the city gate. Fortunately, Your Highness, good people are always protected by heaven."

Consort Zhen endured her dizziness, feeling the heavy jeweled hairpin on her head making her very uncomfortable.

She exchanged a few words with Prince Jin, mainly about her visit to the palace to present congratulatory gifts to Consort Hui, her observations of the Prince's residence, and the occasional mention of the Tang family's recent situation. After listening to these words, Prince Jin was secretly surprised. Had Tang Xian not revealed a single thing to his daughter about being in Ninghe that night?

The prince and Consort Zhen spent half an hour together, neither of them mentioning the snake attack at night.

Finally, Prince Jin smiled gently, his gaze intense, and said that they would have a meal and rest at Yunyi Palace later.

Hua Yan was standing near the desk. Before leaving, she turned around and saw several old files with yellow paper attached lying in a corner. Although she couldn't see them clearly with a quick glance, the four characters "Qingguo Duke's Mansion" were already imprinted in her mind.