Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 283 No one can find out

The Emperor gently helped Consort Chun up, saying, "Wan'er and Consort Meng did their best in preparing for the banquet at Linde Hall. Fortunately, you two noticed what happened today in time."

Consort Chun lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Your Majesty is too kind. This is all within my duty. However, how dare someone act so boldly in the palace? I wonder how the investigation by Eunuch Jing and Lord Tong is progressing?"

Jingming hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to begin.

"Your Majesty, a eunuch in charge of the tents in the Imperial Bedchamber has committed suicide by drowning himself in the lake. Suqin, a servant of Aunt Minrong, was also found dead after taking poison."

An investigation revealed that these two individuals were responsible for tampering with the carpets and palace attire. Lord Tong has confirmed that they knew each other before entering the palace, and their plot to harm Consort Rong was not instigated by anyone else.

Consort Chun gave a soft "Oh," and said, "Consort Rong has not yet officially entered the palace. I wonder what grudge she has that makes them so impatient."

Jingming dared not raise his head and slowly recounted how Lord Tong had investigated the case.

With both of them dead, Lord Tong of the Imperial Household Department had no choice but to investigate their origins, which led him to discover that the problem lay with Suqin.

Before Suqin entered the palace, her family lived on the outskirts of Beijing near Qujiang Pool. They were poor and had become tenant farmers, renting land from the Li family's estate. Suqin had two very beautiful older sisters, whom the young master of the Li family happened to meet while he was out enjoying the spring scenery near Qujiang Pool one year.

What followed was the tragedy of a spoiled young master forcibly abducting a young woman. Suqin's two older sisters, both of strong-willed, committed suicide by hitting their heads against a pillar after being kidnapped, in order to preserve their chastity.

Although the young master was only a son of a collateral branch of the Li family, he was backed by a powerful family like the Li family of Zhao County. Suqin's family of tenant farmers had no way to appeal, and their land was taken back by the Li family's steward.

Suqin's parents not only lost their two daughters, but also lost their livelihood, and passed away one after the other within half a month. Suqin was only thirteen years old at the time, and her aunt arranged for her to be sold to a brokerage firm, where she entered the palace by chance. As for the eunuch in the Imperial Bedchamber Bureau, Lord Tong only found out that the two of them came from the same brokerage firm.

According to Master Tong's calculations, Suqin took the risk to seek revenge on the Li family.

Hua Yan listened silently, feeling utterly bewildered.

Perhaps Suqin was indeed seeking revenge against the Li family, and thus took her anger out on Consort Rong, but the steel needles clipped to that felt blanket were something that ordinary palace servants probably wouldn't have had the chance to obtain.

"...As for that hairpin, according to the imperial physician's examination, it was stained with lacquer tree sap and orpiment powder. From the craftsmen to the warehouse guards, all the palace servants who had handled the jewelry were questioned repeatedly, but no clues were found."

Seeing the Emperor's slight frown, clearly indicating he wouldn't delve into the matter, Hua Yan gently took Consort Chun's hand under the table. Consort Chun, receiving the reminder, refrained from speaking.

As expected, after Jingming finished his report, the Emperor's tone was somewhat meaningful: "The collateral branch of the Li family forced a commoner to her death. I have ordered the Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation."

"...The Imperial Household Department will continue to investigate the matter of the hairpin, but it is not appropriate to make a big fuss about it. After tomorrow, the four departments and six bureaus should also be reorganized. Wan'er can punish the palace maids and female officials involved on behalf of the Empress."

The palace women involved refer to Min Rong, Chen Sishe, Lu Sizhen, and others.

Consort Chun's heart skipped a beat, but she understood the Emperor's concerns. She carefully said, "Your Majesty is absolutely right, I understand. However, Aunt Minrong is a senior member of the palace, and she has served Your Majesty with utmost devotion during this time. Perhaps we should punish her with half a year's monthly allowance?"

Aunt Minrong is a lady-in-waiting to the emperor. Although she failed in her duty in this matter, it is not appropriate to punish her too severely. She can also do a favor for her.

"Wan'er, you can handle it as you see fit."

The Emperor looked pleased. After having dinner at Huining Palace, he naturally stayed at Consort Chun's bedchamber.

Hua Yan returned to the side hall early, where Aunt Mei was waiting outside the main hall.

"Your Majesty, when I returned from the Imperial Kitchen this afternoon, Xia'er mentioned to me that the head of the Imperial Kitchen has been frequently visiting Granny Yu from Consort Mei's palace recently."

"Xia'er brought it up herself?" Hua Yan asked, slightly surprised.

"Yes, this servant will never mention this matter to anyone."

Hua Yan seemed thoughtful. "What was the supervisor's reaction to the change in meals?"

Aunt Mei replied, "I'm just a little surprised; I didn't see anything else."

Hua Yan took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and said, "This is one of the steel needles that was clipped to the felt blanket. The day after tomorrow, Aunt Mei will go back to the Marquis's mansion and give it to Madam so that she can investigate the origin of this needle."

“There are no patterns or emblems on it, how can we trace it?” Aunt Mei asked.

"Aunt, have you forgotten Mingyue's master? Madam Zhou and Zheng Shan are very knowledgeable; perhaps they have met him."

After Aunt Mei left, Hua Yan asked Lü Liu a few questions about Xia'er's recent performance.

Xia'er had previously shown goodwill, but Hua Yan's attitude towards her and Chun'er had always been ambiguous. She only told Xia'er not to specifically reject Granny Yu's attempts to win her over. Judging from her actions today, Xia'er had grasped the timing perfectly.

"He's a smart person."

Green Willow nodded and said, "Xia'er is well-behaved, and Chun'er... Every time I see Chun'er, it's like seeing my past self."

Hua Yan patted Lv Liu's arm. "They do look somewhat alike. The reason I don't use Xia'er is because the two sisters are very close. If Granny Yu uses Chun'er, Xia'er might turn against her at any time."

Green Willow, who had been serving Consort Chun, overheard Jingming's words and asked, "Shushu, who do you think instructed Suqin?"

"It should be the Empress."

"Hmm? Why not Consort Mei?"

Hua Yan blinked. "That's easy to deduce. First, Consort Mei has been away from the capital for many years and may not have investigated the past of Suqin, the palace maid in the imperial court, in a short period of time. Second, I suspect that the fine needles made of fine steel came from the army."

......

Renming Hall.

Xingyu entered the bedchamber and softly reported, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is staying at Consort Mei's palace today."

The Empress nodded almost imperceptibly to indicate that she understood.

The old nanny Gui looked regretful. "Consort Chun is indeed cautious. I heard that not only were they found out today... but they also discovered that a hairpin had been tampered with."

“Consort Chun may not be so meticulous. If it weren’t for Consort Meng’s assistance, Consort Mei would have been able to kill her several times over.”

After a moment, the Empress smiled coldly: "No matter what, the Emperor has ordered the Dali Temple to investigate the Li family. How could such a century-old family not have a few scandals? We don't know when Consort Rong will be able to serve the Emperor, and with Consort Xie by her side... the Li family of Zhao County is nothing to be afraid of."

"Take this opportunity, Granny Gui, go out of the palace tomorrow and have Father secretly add fuel to the fire for Li Shi."

Zhaoqing Hall.

Granny Yu was talking to Consort Mei. "Consort Chun has ordered the menu to be changed, and all the medicinal dishes have been replaced."

Consort Mei said, "It's alright, can the matter of the hairpin be handled cleanly from beginning to end?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, no one can find out about this matter."

......

The following day, at the Linde Hall, the First Light Banquet was held.

Hua Yan left Huining Palace half an hour early. Aunt Mei and Green Willow, along with a group of palace servants, carried a set of utensils that had been prepared in advance. After entering Linde Palace, they each performed their duties.

Not only was Xiao Nianzi punished with three years' worth of monthly allowance, but Aunt Mei also punished him with three consecutive months of vegetarianism. At this moment, he mustered his spirits and guarded the side hall of Linde Hall, not daring to relax for a moment.

Apart from Consort Guo and Consort Shen, all the concubines from the palace were present.