Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 564 My Mother Doesn't Like Me

Chen Lin is currently a deputy general under Song Chengrui. After making his decision, he went straight to the commander's tent to resign.

Although Song Chengrui was a rough and boisterous man, he was actually quite shrewd. However, since Zheng Shan had already explained the situation to him, he dared not disobey his father-in-law's wishes and could only agree against his will.

But on the eve of Chen Lin's departure from the northern frontier, he still specially prepared a table of food and wine to bid farewell to Chen Lin.

After downing a few bowls of strong liquor, Song Chengrui patted Chen Lin's shoulder forcefully. "Brother Chen, it's admirable that you're determined to make a name for yourself in the capital. I won't stop you. But the capital is not like the border; there are dangers both here and there."

He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his bowl to the bottom, then wiped his mouth: "We brothers who crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, we were spared death. Remember my words: when you get there, do your job well, keep to your duty, and never step into the muddy waters stirred up by those powerful people."

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Song Chengrui's dark face. He stared at Chen Lin for a long while, then suddenly sighed, "And... this face of yours is a problem too. Two years of wind and sand at the border, how come it's still so damn delicate? When you get to the capital, be careful not to let some young lady snatch it away..."

Chen Lin: "......"

He was only twenty years old this year, and his experience and insight were far inferior to Song Chengrui's. He only knew that if he returned to the capital, he could get closer to the figure in his dreams. If he were lucky enough to be selected as an imperial guard, even if he could only catch a glimpse of her from afar, it would be good enough.

With this secret and humble aspiration in mind, Chen Lin packed only a few belongings and set off alone on the official road heading south on the morning of June 20th.

......

In the capital city, a cool breeze blew through the Changchun Garden Imperial Palace. Yu Nu'er followed behind Dong Gua like a little tail, her short legs moving quickly.

"Your Highness, please slow down, be careful not to fall..."

After the two children, one big and one small, stepped over the threshold of the flower hall, Su's wet nurse caught up, panting.

Donggua gently placed the food box on the table, turned around and smiled, "Don't panic, Granny. What child doesn't run and jump? Falling and tumbling will actually make them stronger."

These were words Meng Shu often said, and Donggua heard them and kept them in mind. However, in the entire Lingcui Palace, apart from her, no other palace servant dared to be so relaxed. Facing the eldest prince, everyone was trembling with fear, afraid of making the slightest mistake.

Su, the wet nurse, chuckled awkwardly. Knowing that Consort Jin doted on Donggua the most, she dared not object and could only watch over him with even greater concern.

Yu Nu'er wrinkled her nose and clapped her hands excitedly: "When Mother returns, we'll eat silver thread rolls together!"

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked longingly out of the corridor.

Donggua took out two plates of freshly made pastries from the food box, intending to say a few words to coax him, when footsteps sounded outside. Meng Shu had just returned from Qingliang Palace and had just talked with Consort Chun for a while.

Green Willow followed behind, and after entering the room, she looked at the pastries on the table and smiled, "Did you learn this from the chefs in the vegetarian kitchen of Guangci Temple? But it doesn't look particularly special."

Yu Nu'er shook her head and eagerly said, "It's different! It's filled with noodles, and it's so sweet and fragrant!"

Meng Shu sat down at the table and picked up a silver thread roll to examine it closely. The dough was indeed more delicate and soft than the ones made in the palace, but at first glance it looked quite ordinary. She gently broke off a corner and sure enough, she saw strands of silver thread wrapped around it, along with a faint fragrance of osmanthus.

After taking a small bite, she nodded approvingly, "A clever idea, and it tastes good too."

When Meng Shu sat down, Yu Nu'er leaned against her knees, looking up at her with his little face, waiting expectantly for his mother to feed him. After waiting for a long time without any movement, he pouted and his eyes visibly reddened.

Donggua couldn't help but chuckle, glancing at Meng Shu: "His Highness has been waiting all day, eagerly anticipating Your Majesty's return to taste it together, but Your Majesty..."

Meng Shu quickly handed the remaining half of the piece to Yu Nu'er's hand, and gently pinched his little face: "Go and eat. Your mother is happy, and Yu Nu'er always thinks of your mother."

Yu Nu'er was now satisfied, and her face immediately brightened.

Donggua smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's approval, and the fact that we servants were in charge of the kitchen and were supposed to be learning skills for the palace masters. The master chef taught us exceptionally well. I even learned how to make several vegetarian dishes."

Meng Shu instructed, "Kang Ge'er has been listless and has little appetite these past few days. These pastries are fragrant, soft, and delicious, and they look quite interesting too. Don't forget to send the winter melon to Qingliang Palace..."

Before she could finish speaking, Yu Nu'er suddenly raised her head, her voice taut: "Does Mother Consort dislike me and only like the younger brother born to the Noble Consort?"

The suppressed sadness in her voice was like a fine needle gently pricking one's heart.

Meng Shu paused, then slowly squatted down, her gaze level with Yu Nu'er's: "Yu Nu'er, tell your mother, who said these things to you?"

Green Willow instantly turned to look at Wet Nurse Su beside her. Wet Nurse Su's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty..."

"—Let him speak."

Meng Shu spoke calmly, and led Yu Nu'er to the inner room of the bedchamber.

Su, the wet nurse, lay prostrate on the ground, her inner clothes soaked with cold sweat. Green Willow and Winter Melon exchanged a glance and whispered, "You may all step back. The wet nurse can wait outside the door."

Under the window in the inner room, Meng Shu gently placed Yu Nu'er on the soft couch, then sat down at the other end, quietly watching him.

Yu Nu'er was a little scared, her eyes were still red, but she didn't let the tears fall.

He was still clutching the pastry in his hand. Seeing that his mother was watching him, he carefully placed the pastry on the table and said timidly, "It was Granny Li... who spoke to me about it. Mother, please don't punish her. I... also think so."

He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes. "My mother and the Imperial Concubine are close, and they often hold...my little brother. Even Father...he hasn't looked at me much lately..."

Her voice trailed off, filled with unspeakable grievance.

Green Willow, standing by the screen, felt a pang of anxiety as she listened, feeling both heartache and anger. She thought to herself that the wet nurse, Li, absolutely could not stay by the Crown Prince's side.

Hearing her son's thoughts, Meng Shu felt a pang of guilt.

She leaned forward, her fingertips gently tracing the corners of his slightly damp eyes: "Silly child, your mother's feelings for Consort Chun are based on years of affection, and for Kang-ge'er, it's out of pity for his frail health... In this world, your mother may have to weigh all the people and things carefully, but only you—"

She gently picked up Yu Nu'er and held her in her arms, saying, "Only you are the flesh and blood that grew from your mother's body. This bond is unique to you in the whole world."

Meng Shu gazed at her son's gradually brightening eyes and said softly, "As for your father, as the ruler of a country, he is busy with state affairs and his comings and goings are often carefully considered. When he comes, you should accompany him attentively. If he doesn't come, you don't need to take it to heart."

Yu Nu'er still had tiny teardrops clinging to her eyelashes, but she slowly reached out and grasped Meng Shu's sleeve.

Meng Shu spoke a few more words of comfort before letting Donggua take the child away to rest.

Once the inner room had quieted down, Green Willow led Su, the wet nurse, into the inner room of the bedroom.

As soon as Su entered the room, she knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I should have reported to Your Majesty sooner. A few days ago, Li, the wet nurse, did mutter some nonsense in front of His Highness. I thought she was just confused at the time, but I never expected that His Highness would take it to heart... I deserve to die ten thousand times."

Meng Shu said coldly, "Since you have taken on the task of looking after the prince, you should understand that his ears should not hear foul words, and his mind should not be disturbed by others."

“Wet nurse Li can no longer stay. Green Willow, go and make the arrangements. Don’t disturb too many people. Send her out of the garden today.”

"As for you," Meng Shu's gaze fell on Su's trembling back, "I'll give you one more chance. From today onward, everyone who handles Yu Nu'er's affairs, and everything they say, must be reported daily in detail. If there is even the slightest oversight..."

She didn't continue speaking, but instead picked up the half-cooled tea on the table and gently tapped the rim of the porcelain with her fingertips.

The crisp sound was particularly clear in the silent hall.

The wet nurse touched her forehead to the ground and replied in a trembling voice, "This servant obeys."

"Let's all go back."

The two bowed and withdrew.

Meng Shu sat alone indoors. A cool breeze swept through the bamboo tips outside the window, rustling softly, much like many faint, indistinct words quietly gathering from all directions.

It disturbed her mind and made her feel very agitated.

In a few months, according to palace rules, Yu Nu'er will be ready to begin her formal education. Today, Consort Chun mentioned to her that she wanted Kang Ge'er to start school early as well, so that the two children could keep each other company.

The selection of a study companion, the first teacher, and even the daily instruction and guidance... every single thing is no small matter. If Kang Ge'er really starts his studies at the same time as Yu Nu'er, the comparisons, discussions, and even the open and covert power struggles between the brothers will likely only increase.

Yu Nu'er's innocent complaint today is perhaps just a small beginning.

Thinking of this, Meng Shu gently pressed her forehead and closed her eyes.