Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 573 Do Not Alarm Others

On the surface, Chen Lin was able to enter the Palace Guard thanks to Song Chengrui's favor.

Before being transferred to the Northern Frontier, Song Chengrui served as the Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard, and Chen Lin did indeed make military contributions in the Northern Frontier campaign. All promotion procedures were in accordance with regulations and procedures, and at least in the eyes of outsiders, there was nothing wrong with them.

Even to outsiders, this seems perfectly logical and normal.

Given Song Chengrui's current rank and the emperor's favor, it's a common path for his personal guards to be promoted to the Imperial Guard due to their military achievements, and then, with the help of old subordinates and friends, to gain some exposure in the Palace Guard.

Who would think that behind each seemingly smooth step, there might be other threads subtly pulling at them?

However, Lu Qi had been trained since childhood and naturally possessed a level of vigilance beyond that of ordinary people.

Although he hadn't yet figured out the key to it, when he handed over his duties to Commander Wei that day, he mentioned his encounter with Chen Lin in front of the palace as a routine report.

Wei Ying didn't think much of it.

"Anyone who gets a chance to show their face in the Palace Guard does so through connections and favors."

Wei Ying was organizing the files on the desk without even looking up.

"The thousands of imperial guards rotate every three years. They are either protected by their fathers or brothers, promoted by old acquaintances in the army, or have gotten in touch with some noble in the palace. This young man surnamed Chen has served under General Song and has real military merits. It is perfectly normal for him to be standing here now."

He glanced at Lu Qi and said with self-righteousness, "When you go to Lord Zhou's residence in the future, you will see more of these kinds of social interactions and factions. Since that kid knows Lord Zhou and has General Song as his powerful backer, as long as he doesn't make any mistakes, even Commander Yu will turn a blind eye."

Lu Qi lowered his head and replied "Yes," without saying anything more.

Chen Lin, this small chess piece, now stands tall like a pine tree under the eaves of the palace.

Every few steps, one could see the figures of guards on duty. When Wei Ying received the summons and rushed to the Funing Hall to meet the emperor, he did not even notice him.

As the day drew to a close and it was almost time for Chen Lin to change shifts, two figures slowly approached from the corner of the distant corridor.

Consort Shun wore a light purple palace dress, similar in style to the one Meng Shu wore at the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet. Behind her followed her personal maid, Xiao Die, who carried a vermilion lacquered and gold-painted food box.

Consort Shun approached step by step, reaching the steps in front of the palace.

The autumn sun slanted down, outlining one of his tall and imposing figures. Her gaze swept lightly and quickly across Chen Lin's face, and in an instant, she lowered her eyes, being helped by Xiao Die to step onto the stone steps. "Your Highness, watch your step."

Just as she stepped onto the last step, Consort Shun tightened her grip slightly, ultimately unable to resist turning her head slightly to glance in Chen Lin's direction.

Below the steps, Chen Lin's peripheral vision had already caught a glimpse of that color, causing him to instinctively freeze for a moment, his heart leaping in his throat. He subconsciously assumed it was her. But as the figure drew closer, he immediately realized his mistake, his gaze leveling ahead, a slight relaxation mixed with a bittersweet feeling.

Xiaodie heard footsteps and quickly coughed lightly.

Consort Shun raised her head slightly upon hearing the sound, and was facing Jingming, who was coming to greet her in front of the palace.

She immediately composed herself and gestured for Xiaodie to hand over the food box.

"I had the kitchen prepare a ginseng soup, thinking that Your Majesty has been working hard lately, so I specially sent it over to Your Majesty to try."

Jingming accepted the document with a smile and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is very kind. The Emperor is currently reviewing memorials. This servant will take it in right away. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty."

Consort Shun smiled and said, "There's no need for the eunuch to announce it. His Majesty is busy, and I need to visit Sister Song, so I won't go in and disturb him."

After saying that, she turned around, took Xiaodie's hand, and slowly walked away along the way they had come.

It seems that they came here only to serve the emperor a bowl of ginseng soup.

Jingming held the still-warm food box in his left hand, watching the receding figures of Consort Shun and her servants, while the whisk in his right hand unconsciously swayed.

There are quite a few empresses who come every day to bring soup and snacks and to find excuses to see the emperor, but this is the first time I've seen someone make a special trip and not even enter the palace.

He shook his head, turned and returned to the main hall, gently placing the food box on a corner of the imperial desk.

"Your Majesty, Consort Shun just personally brought you ginseng soup. It's still warm, as I saw it. Would you like some now?"

Upon hearing that Consort Shun had arrived, the Emperor looked up and glanced towards the palace gate.

Jingming quickly added, "Her Majesty said she was afraid of disturbing His Majesty's governance, and that she was going to visit Consort Mu. She has already gone far away."

The Emperor's gaze lingered on the food box for a moment before returning to the memorial, and he gave a faint "hmm".

After the ginseng soup was finished, the hall was quiet for a moment.

Jingming was standing with his hands at his sides when he suddenly heard a calm voice from the throne: "I will stay in Chenghui Palace tonight."

Chenghui Palace was the residence of Consort Shun.

Jingming bowed and replied, "Yes." He then gestured to Min Rong beside him to be alert and serve the writing materials. He then quietly retreated to the outer corridor of the hall, beckoned to a reliable young eunuch, and whispered, "Go to the Imperial Household Department and tell them that the Emperor will be visiting Chenghui Palace tonight. Have them and the people in Consort Shun's palace prepare."

The young eunuch received the order and hurried towards the Western Six Palaces.

Chen Lin also changed shifts at this time. He said goodbye to his colleagues and left with the rest of his shift.

Jingming saw this scene countless times a day, and never really paid it any mind.

But his gaze inadvertently swept over Chen Lin's face, and with a light flick of his whisk, he raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Oh, the Palace Guard has new recruits? They look unfamiliar. Which family in the capital are they from? Among you roughnecks, they are quite the handsome ones."

Upon hearing this, the guards all smiled obsequiously. One of them, eager to curry favor, cleverly chimed in, "Your Excellency has a good eye. This is Chen Lin, who came from under Deputy General Song of the Northern Frontier. He was just recently recruited."

Chen Lin bowed his head and said, "This humble servant, Chen Lin, greets Your Excellency."

"From the northern frontier?"

Jingming grunted in response, his gaze lingering on the man's face for a moment before waving to the others.

Seeing that the eunuch Jing had something to ask, the guards understood and left first.

After the person had gone some distance, Jingming slowly spoke: "You used to be under Vice General Song's command? You must have earned some military merits in the battle in the northern frontier last year?"

Chen Lin kept his eyes downcast. "Your Excellency, I have only done my duty and dare not take credit. It is all thanks to the Grand Commander and General Song's skillful command."

"That's quite modest." Jingming smiled. "Go ahead and do your job well."

"Thank you, sir."

Chen Lin bowed and withdrew, disappearing around the corner of the palace wall in the blink of an eye.

Jingming stood there, gazing at the empty palace corridor, his fingertips slowly stroking the jade handle of his whisk twice.

A moment later, he beckoned to one of his trusted eunuchs who was standing beside him.

"Go to the Palace Guard and bring back the roster and resumes of the guards who were on duty just now. Just say that I need to verify the Palace Guard register. Don't say anything more and don't disturb anyone else."