Chapter 89: The Jade Hairpin

Chapter 89: The Jade Hairpin

Consort Xu furrowed her brow, pondering intently before exclaiming in shock, "She became pregnant right after me; could she be planning to steal my child?!"

She caressed her slightly protruding belly and declared resolutely, "No, I must inform His Majesty and have him decide for me."

Saying so, she stood up and called for her maids, Haitang and Shaoyao, to dress and prepare her for a visit to the Liangyi Hall.

Lady Shi, still standing in the room, was now left unattended.

Sighing softly, she bowed towards Consort Xu, who was behind the screen, and said, "Consort Xu, I take my leave."

Consort Xu, preoccupied, nodded absent-mindedly and instructed Haitang, "Style my hair in a double knife bun. It’s spring, so let’s go for a peach blossom makeup."

Lady Shi left Huazhen Hall, returned to Cunju Hall, and went alone to her dressing table. She opened an old camphor wood box and took out a slightly chipped, reddish-brown makeup case. Unlocking it with a brass key from around her neck, she sat quietly for a while.

The makeup case, clearly an antique, contained only a magpie hairpin with small pearls strung together, now yellowed with age.

Lady Shi didn’t take the hairpin out but just sat there looking at it for a while before closing the case, locking it, and placing it back in the camphor box.

Then, she gazed at the ordinary-looking woman in the copper mirror, gently touched the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and whispered softly, "Ah Su, how much longer must I watch over you?"

Liangyi Hall.

The young eunuchs guarding the gate perked up upon seeing a consort’s carriage approaching from afar. On closer inspection, they realized it was a consort's procession.

In the palace, only Consort He and Consort Xu held the title of consort. Consort He rarely visited Liangyi Hall, so it had to be Consort Xu.

The eunuchs exchanged glances with gloomy faces, and one was dispatched to summon Eunuch Anjing while the others went to greet Consort Xu. As her carriage stopped, they bowed deeply, saying, "We greet Consort Xu, may you be blessed with peace and prosperity."

Consort Xu immediately said, "Dispense with the formalities."

Then, holding her belly, she asked, "Eunuchs, I have urgent matters to report to His Majesty. Please announce my arrival."

Isn't this what you always say?

The eunuchs murmured among themselves, and one with a square face obsequiously replied, "Consort Xu, your arrival has been announced. Please wait; Eunuch Anjing will be here shortly!"

The other eunuchs swiftly brought a chair, respectfully inviting Consort Xu to sit.

Shortly after, the rotund Eunuch Anjing emerged from Liangyi Hall, bowed to Consort Xu, and said, "Consort Xu, His Majesty is preoccupied with state affairs and currently meeting with senior officials. It's best you return."

"I have urgent matters!" Consort Xu insisted, hand on her belly, "Eunuch An, please inform His Majesty, it concerns the Prince and Noble Consort Zhao!"

"Concerning the Prince and Noble Consort Zhao?" Anjing's expression grew serious, "What is the matter? I will report to His Majesty."

Consort Xu glanced at him and said, "You can't know this. I must tell His Majesty myself."

Left with no choice, Anjing said, "I will announce you again, Consort Xu. Please wait."

He then hurried his portly figure back towards Liangyi Hall.

Reaching the main hall, Anjing subtly signaled to a eunuch guarding the door. The eunuch tiptoed over, listened to Anjing's instructions, nodded, and slipped past the embroidered screen to Eunuch Sheng'an's side, whispered a few words, and then retreated back to his original position.

The Emperor was still poring over documents, frowning deeply, seemingly in a sour mood.

Sheng'an quietly approached with a cup of freshly brewed Shouzhou Huangya tea, replacing the half-full cup, and was about to speak when the Emperor's voice faintly rose.

"What is it?"

Sheng'an quickly replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Consort Xu just arrived at Liangyi Hall, claiming she has important information concerning the Prince and Noble Consort Zhao."

"Consort Xu? Related to Noble Consort?" The Emperor rubbed his forehead, "Let her wait in the side hall."

After speaking, he sipped his tea and picked up his brush to continue reviewing the half-read document.

"Yes," Sheng'an respectfully said, quietly exiting the inner chamber and whispered to Anjing outside, "Please ask Consort Xu to wait in the side hall."

Anjing quickly agreed, watched his master return to the main hall, then whisked his dust brush and headed out.

The Emperor, caught up in his work and hastily taking his midday meal, had completely forgotten about Consort Xu waiting in the side hall until reminded by Sheng'an. He then took a brief break to enter the side hall, asking directly, "My consort, what brings you here?"

Consort Xu, adorned with an exquisite peach blossom makeup, curtseyed first, then, supporting her belly, stood up and replied, "Your Majesty, I have accusations against Noble Consort Zhao!"

The Emperor, just about to sip his tea, calmly set it down upon hearing this and asked indifferently, "Oh? What accusations do you have, my consort?"

Lady Xu, failing to discern any emotion in the Emperor's words, hurriedly said, "Your Majesty! Consort Zhao has committed the grave crime of deceiving the monarch. Her pregnancy is a lie!"

Lady Xu refrained from voicing her suspicion that Consort Zhao intended to claim her child, understanding that if she did, the Emperor might not believe her.

The Emperor remained silent, briefly glancing at Lady Xu's exquisite features, his tone still indifferent.

"Where did you learn of this, my consort?"

Lady Xu hesitated briefly before admitting, "I heard it from a young eunuch in the Imperial Medical Bureau."

Seeing the Emperor's gaze fixed on her without a word, she continued, "When Doctor Cheng was taking my pulse for peace and well-being, his young attendant inadvertently let it slip in front of my maid."

Yaohua Palace.

Jiang Hui woke from her nap and went to the eastern annex to visit her son Nian'er, but finding him still deeply asleep, she quietly withdrew.

It was a warm spring day with gentle breezes, the pavilion's curtains swaying, willows around the courtyard swing. Birds chirped and swallows danced, a small bridge over a stream surrounded by vibrant colors.①

It was the season of fluttering peach and plum blossoms in March, the spring outside was delightful, and her mood was buoyant, prompting her to paint. She instructed Qiukui and Wan Song to prepare her brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

The garden in Yaohua Palace was a riot of blooming flowers, and Jiang Hui's painting desk was set up in a small square pavilion within.

Standing in the pavilion, she looked out, pondered for a moment, and then, with an idea in mind, dipped her brush in both white and vermilion, swiftly sketching clusters of begonias. She then changed to cyan and gamboge to carefully dot the branches and leaves, finishing with vermilion to highlight the branches…

As Jiang Hui painted, her thoughts were serene. Qingfeng, who had arrived in haste, didn't dare interrupt, standing respectfully to one side.

Once Jiang Hui had nearly completed her painting and had cleansed her hands with Wan Song's assistance, Qingfeng approached respectfully, "My lady, Lady Xu has gone to the Liangyi Hall."

"Lady Xu?" Jiang Hui nodded slightly, asking indifferently, "What happened?"

"It's rumored that Lady Xu left the Liangyi Hall in tears, then returned to Guangyang Palace in her carriage," Qingfeng reported in a low voice. "Afterwards, His Majesty sent Eunuch Sheng'an to the Imperial Medical Bureau. They took a young eunuch named Xiaofangzi and found a jade hairpin in his quarters."

"A jade hairpin?" Shan Zha asked, frowning, "What kind of jade hairpin?"

Qingfeng looked up at Jiang Hui and said gravely, "A green jade hairpin with a pearl."

Jiang Hui nodded with a slight smile, "Nian'er should be waking up soon, let's head back."

——

Note: ① "Tian Jing Sha: Spring" by Bai Pu