Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 181 Flower Appreciation Banquet

Seven or eight days later, Madam Yun finally sent a secret letter via Zhu Zi. Around the same time, Prince Jin also proposed to reopen the old case of the Duke of Qing's mansion in the previous court.

The emperor was furious and rebuked Prince Jin in court: "My decree is the golden rule. Instead of studying the way to govern the country, you bring up old cases now. Are you trying to openly oppose me?"

The court officials were also puzzled. Prince Jin was now the only candidate for crown prince, and it was the right time to stabilize the situation. Why bring up an old case from more than ten years ago?

Hua Yan was unaware of the events of the previous dynasty.

But Madam Yun's secret letter resolved her long-standing doubts.

Lady Yun specially sent someone to the place of exile in the northwest.

The letter mentioned that more than ten years ago, after the Duke of Qing was imprisoned, all of the more than one hundred people in the entire mansion were exiled to the mines on the northwestern border to do hard labor and were guarded by the border garrison. However, in recent years, there have been noble people secretly taking care of them.

Madam Yun guessed that it was because Qingguo Gong's eldest son, Qing Huaizhi, was on good terms with Jin Wang and had been secretly taking care of him. This matter did not involve the inner quarters, so Hua Yan did not need to worry.

But Hua Yan thought differently after reading the secret letter.

If Prince Jin only wanted to overturn the case and bring the people from the Duke of Qing's mansion back to the capital, why would he need to gather all the servants from the original Duke's mansion to Prince Jin's mansion?

It's as if they're preparing to serve someone.

After returning from the kitchen yesterday, Donggua mentioned something:

"Granny Yu was very happy today and specially made steamed sweet cheese, saying that she saw several old friends in the mansion."

It was clear that the steward of the Prince's Mansion had brought back several servants who had previously worked in the Duke's Mansion.

Thinking of this, Hua Yan couldn't help but sigh.

Since entering the palace, she had observed coldly that Prince Jin treated Consort Zhen and the Princess Consort equally, which meant that he didn't have much genuine affection for them.

If Prince Jin's true "beloved" enters the palace, what will become of Consort Zhen?

Hua Yan didn't mention these speculations to Consort Zhen. Things hadn't been quiet at the Prince's residence lately either. Since the day the Princess returned from the palace, she had been making frequent trips there, and later held a flower-viewing banquet.

Prince Jin is currently very popular, so the flower viewing banquet held in the name of Princess Jin is naturally not open to just anyone. The princess personally drew up the list.

On the day of the flower viewing banquet, the Tang family also received an invitation. Su Wanwan led the third, fifth, and sixth young ladies to the banquet. Just now, Aunt Mei had already led them to Yunyi Palace to meet Consort Zhen.

Madam Shao, the eldest daughter of the Yun family, arrived with her two daughters. The wife of the Vice Minister of the Manor Street also brought her daughter. Madam Sun and her daughter also came. The Marquis of Huai'an's manor naturally came as well, with the Marquis's wife bringing the second daughter, Tang Ling'er.

These people were connected to Consort Zhen. As soon as Hua Yan entered Yunyi Palace with Consort Zhen, Tang Ling'er stepped forward to pay her respects, her eyes full of envy.

Consort Zhen greeted the elders one by one, especially Madam Shao and Madam Hou, who were all respectable elders.

This banquet, ostensibly a flower-viewing feast, was actually a secret among the ladies. With the Prince of Jin's current power, their daughters would have no trouble getting ahead even if they entered the Prince's mansion as concubines. Therefore, the ladies' enthusiasm for the Princess Consort was quite an eye-opener for Consort Zhen and her servant.

Miss Sun was on good terms with Consort Zhen. Madam Sun looked gently at her daughter who was talking to Consort Zhen. Hua Yan saw no intention in Madam Sun's eyes.

Mr. Shaw had no interest in attending; he only did so because he had received an invitation. The two cousins ​​of the Yun family had just come of age this year.

Madam Zhuang was quite tempted. Now that her husband had no worries about taking sides, if her daughter could enter the Prince's mansion, she wouldn't dare to dream of the Empress's position when Prince Jin ascended the throne, but it wouldn't be impossible for her to take charge of a palace.

Therefore, while everyone was admiring the flowers in the garden, Madam Zhuang pulled her daughter closer to the princess.

Lady Hou was different from the other ladies. Her family had formed a marriage alliance with Prince Rui's family, and she was at the height of her power and prestige. Several ladies around her flattered her.

"Cousin, how does Prince Jin treat you?" Tang Ling'er asked when no one was around.

"...Has the family arranged a marriage for my second cousin?" Consort Zhen asked, pursing her lips.

"How did you know? But your older sister mentioned it to you a few days ago."

Consort Zhen shook her head. Tang Yu'er had indeed not mentioned it. "Judging from your unwilling look, are you dissatisfied with the marriage?"

"He's my cousin-in-law's colleague, a minor official in the Palace Guard..."

Hua Yan raised an eyebrow behind her, not expecting that Song Chengrui, such a rough man, would actually act as a matchmaker!

After listening to Tang Ling'er's complaints, Consort Zhen said bluntly:

"Since he is employed in the Palace Guard, his rank cannot be judged by his official position. It is clear that he has a promising future. Moreover, he is the second son of the Ningyuan General's Mansion. My brother-in-law has always been good at judging people. If the family agrees after investigation, it will be a good match."

Tang Ling'er looked sullen, clearly not having listened.

Consort Zhen did not speak again upon seeing this, after all, there was a kinship barrier between them.

......

When paying her respects that day, the princess presented a list.

"My mother is concerned about the Prince, so she mentioned it to my father. This is a list that the Imperial Clan Court, my mother, and the Prince decided on after discussion. They will be coming to the mansion in the next couple of days. Consort Zhen may also take a look."

Hua Yan stepped forward, slightly bent her knees, and took the list from Xing Yu's hands.

Consort Zhen was introduced, and there were one person each with the ranks of Zhaoxun, Chenghui, Liangdi, and Liangyuan, but none of them came from high social standing.

Each girl's name was followed by the official titles of her father and brothers. Hua Yan glanced at them for a moment and realized that almost all of them had appeared at the flower-viewing banquet that day, but the Zhuang family's daughter was not among them.

"It's good that the Princess has been chosen." Consort Zhen glanced at the list briefly and then closed it.

Concubine Wu chimed in, "It seems that our mansion will be much more lively in a few days. It's rather boring that I'm the only one living in Changhe Hall right now."

After Concubine Yu died in the Begonia Courtyard, Concubine Wu moved to the Changhe Hall.

The princess smiled faintly. "If Consort Wu feels lonely, I can arrange for Consort Qu to move into Changhe Hall."

Concubine Wu gave a dry laugh and quickly declined.

Liangyuan, after all, held a certain rank, and she had no intention of living with them.