Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 570 A Red Flower

Three days later, the emperor returned to the capital.

Qu Qingge also moved to the Changchun Garden Palace today. The Emperor wanted to see the Third Prince, so Jingming personally led people to Puji Temple to bring her and her son back.

Inside Yingzhou Hall, Meng Shu saw her again.

Qu Qingge wore no makeup and dressed very simply. She was much thinner than when she left the palace. However, she looked to be in good health, and her eyes and brows even appeared more serene than before. She carried a faint scent of sandalwood with her every move.

She carried the Third Prince Gu Yun and slowly walked in from outside the palace, kneeling respectfully to pay her respects: "This concubine, Qu Shi, greets Your Majesty with the Third Prince."

"...Father..."

Under his mother's deliberate guidance, the third prince timidly called out, his voice soft and gentle.

He had just turned one year old and had never experienced anything like this before. From the moment he came in, his little hands were tightly gripping Ms. Qu's clothes, and his bright eyes were full of unease.

The hall was extremely quiet.

Perhaps because he was in an unfamiliar environment, or because he was startled by the many eyes on him, the Third Prince pouted and looked like he was about to cry.

The dark red birthmark on his forehead was strangely shaped, like several tiny flower petals stacked together, standing out against his fair skin. With such a birthmark on his face, it was indeed hard not to attract many eyes.

The Emperor gazed at him intently, his eyes lingering on his forehead for a long while, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he said calmly, "Get up."

Qu Qingge's eyes instantly reddened.

She went to great lengths, finally persuading her uncle to plead for her in public, before she was granted the opportunity to move to the imperial palace. But after nearly a year apart, the Emperor merely gave the Third Prince a cold, indifferent glance... So cold-hearted, not even bothering to ask a single question.

She watched helplessly as the Emperor walked past her, followed closely by Consort Chun and the Second Prince, then Consort Jin, Consort Shun... and two unfamiliar faces of concubines in the procession.

Yes, three years have passed, and with this year's general election, new people have entered the palace.

She stood there, stunned, her fingertips digging deep into her palms, constantly telling herself to take it slow. As long as she didn't die, she could always find the right opportunity...

Yu Nu'er, led by Meng Shu, looked curiously at the Third Prince with his bright eyes. He looked up and asked, "Mother, the Third Prince is different from me and Kang'er. He has a red flower on his forehead."

Upon hearing this, the emperor, who was walking in front, subtly slowed his pace.

Meng Shu was stunned. She bent down slightly and gently stroked Yu Nu'er's hair.

"Just like your dimples when you smile, and Kang-ge'er's long eyelashes, everyone has something special bestowed upon them by heaven. That red flower is what makes the Third Prince different from everyone else."

Yu Nu'er tilted her little face up and nodded as if she understood, then turned back to look carefully at the crimson mark on the Third Prince's forehead, and suddenly whispered, "That... is also beautiful."

Meng Shu smiled.

She preferred that Yu Nu'er's eyes could see the differences in everyone in the world, rather than just distinguishing between "advantages and disadvantages".

This was a selfish thought of hers as a mother: she could teach him strategy and self-preservation in the future, but she couldn't let him lose his compassion and kindness too early.

Although the mother and son's conversation was just a brief interlude, the words "this red flower" remained in the hearts of several people in the hall.

At the forefront, the Emperor's steps did not stop, but his slightly furrowed brows unconsciously relaxed a little.

Consort Shun was one of them.

Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but look seriously at the Third Prince. The Third Prince had extremely fair skin, and the crimson mark on his forehead made his small face look as translucent as fine porcelain. His eyes and brows held the unique innocence and purity of a child.

Even though she was usually quite easygoing, her heart softened involuntarily at this glance.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the once bustling palace quickly returned to silence as the emperor returned to the capital.

Qu Qingge stared blankly at the empty palace gates. Soon, an eunuch stationed at Yingzhou Hall arrived with palace servants. She and her son were only allowed to reside within Huaqing Palace; they were not permitted to move freely elsewhere.

On the carriage returning to the palace.

Su, the wet nurse, sat in the back carriage with Yu Nu'er. Meng Shu leaned against the carriage alone, originally wanting to close her eyes and rest, but Dong Gua was a chatterbox, so she had to keep her spirits up and chat with her casually.

At this moment, Green Willow caught up from behind, her face showing a strange expression.

Hearing footsteps, Meng Shu immediately lifted the carriage curtain. Green Willow gently shook her head and whispered, "Your Highness, Chen...that person isn't in the returning guards. This servant went to the Imperial Household Department just now, intending to find an excuse to see if I could get a glimpse of the recent imperial register, but I accidentally discovered—"

“Let’s talk about it when we get up here,” Meng Shu interrupted her.

Green Willow boarded the carriage as instructed, and after the curtain fell, she lowered her voice and continued, "This servant discovered that Suqin, the old woman beside Consort Shun, seems to be secretly investigating the list of Imperial Guards. Not only that, Xiaodie has also been frequently seen outside these past few days, as if she is keeping an eye on someone... and this servant always feels that she is secretly watching me."

"Consort Shun?" Meng Shu's eyes were fixed on a corner of the carriage, and she raised an eyebrow. "Is she looking for... Chen Lin as well?"

"That's what I think too. Chen Lin has been in the Northern Frontier for more than two years, under General Song's command. As the only daughter of Grand Commander Han, it's plausible that Consort Shun saw Chen Lin in the Northern Frontier back then."

Green Willow's expression turned solemn as she continued, "However, Chen Lin was only temporarily transferred to guard the palace banquet this time, and he was not staying at the imperial palace for the past few days, so Granny Suqin came up empty-handed."

She paused, lowering her voice even further: "Your Majesty, I have another bold theory, but I don't know if I should say it..."

"Are you saying that Consort Shun had feelings for Chen Lin before she entered the palace? Or... that there was a past between them?"

Since it concerned the reputation of the concubines, even though there were no outsiders in the carriage, Green Willow lowered her head and dared not say another word.

Meng Shu quietly processed the news, a chill creeping into her heart.

If that were truly the case, given the Marquis's extensive network of informants, it's impossible that Madam Yun and the Marquis wouldn't be unaware.

But even after Chen Lin was quietly placed in the Palace Guard, and even met Madam Yun face-to-face at the palace banquet, they never revealed a single word about it...

Yangzhou, the residence of the Transport Commissioner.

Zhou Bai had already received the imperial decree and was just waiting to set off for the capital to report on his duties after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

During his three years as an official, he spent more than two years in Yangzhou.

This place was prosperous and bustling, with convenient waterways and land transportation. During his tenure overseeing the canal transport, he dredged the waterways and rectified the administration, gradually building up his reputation and earning the praise of the people. In particular, a small group of refugees who had fled from Yuzhou to settle here last year received his secret care and resettlement, and they were extremely grateful to him, regarding him as their second parents.

With political achievements and popular support, Zhou Bai's mind gradually shifted in the direction nurtured by power.

Therefore, upon receiving Meng Shu's letter, he didn't take it to heart. Instead, he frowned and burned the letter by candlelight. The officialdom and one's fate always silently reshape a person, both to protect what they cherish and to strive for the future they desire.

On the third day after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the sky began to brighten.

Zhou Bai, along with his wife and daughter, boarded the official ship returning to the capital. The river breeze rustled his robes. He glanced back at the receding city of Yangzhou, his gaze calm, before turning and stepping into the cabin.