Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 210 Planting a Paulownia Tree to Attract the Phoenix

"The Duke's Mansion is located in Yongxing Ward, separated from the East Market by two wards. More than a month ago, the Ministry of Works was ordered to go and repair it."

Hua Yan lowered her eyes. Just over a month ago, Prince Jin granted a general amnesty under the guise of curing illness and praying for blessings. It seems that Prince Jin really cares about the Duke of Qing's mansion.

Seeing that Hua Yan remained silent, Huan Yun continued, "A few days ago, Miss Lu from the Ministry of Works' residence came to Di Si Ge and chatted with several young ladies who accompanied her. They talked about something quite surprising."

"Is it about the third young lady of the Duke's mansion?"

Huanyun hesitated slightly before saying, "After the Qingguo Duke's Mansion suffered a misfortune, the late emperor did not bestow the Duke's Mansion upon other officials, and it remained vacant for more than ten years. According to Miss Cao, the Ministry of Works put a lot of effort into the renovation, which was to be expected. However, in addition to the renovation, the Ministry of Works also moved many precious tree species from Changchun Garden, including two phoenix trees."

Changchun Garden was a royal villa located outside the palace, where the emperor and empress dowager would go to escape the summer heat.

"What Miss Lu said reminded me of something."

When my father was a staff member in the Duke's mansion, he once chatted with my mother and mentioned that the names of several courtyards in the mansion all had historical allusions, including one called "Biwu Courtyard"...

"The phoenix cries out on that high hill, the parasol tree grows in the morning sun." Hua Yan parted her red lips slightly, her voice low and clear, and her already slightly furrowed brows tightened even more.

"This is the story of 'planting a tung tree to attract a phoenix'."

Huanyun whispered towards Fu'an Residence, "Madam Yun must have investigated carefully. I wonder what she thinks now."

This matter is indeed thorny. Neither the Empress herself nor the Jiang family behind her are difficult to deal with. However, before the Duke's misfortune, the Duke's mansion had an excellent reputation in the capital. If the Duke's daughter is the Emperor's favorite, how will the second young lady compete, and what will she use to do so...?

Currently, the country is in mourning, so even if the third young lady of the Duke's mansion returns to the capital, she is unlikely to be summoned to the palace in the short term. Perhaps she will have to wait until the general election.

However, what to do next does indeed need to be planned as soon as possible. The Emperor's order to renovate the Duke's Mansion and transplant phoenix trees was not concealed, which probably has a deeper meaning...

Hua Yan took Huan Yun's arm, changed the subject, and temporarily put aside her thoughts.

It was nearly noon, and Zhou Bai still hadn't returned.

When it was time to eat, Hua Yan was preparing to take Dong Gua and Lv Liu back to Fu An Ju to serve them. It was one thing for the master to be kind and generous, but as servants, they had to be clear-headed no matter what.

As for Huanyun, Dingxiang, and Yingchun, they are all now registered as good citizens, so they will stay in the guest courtyard for the time being.

However, before they even stepped out of the courtyard, Hua Ying arrived with two rough-working women, each carrying a tall food box.

"Consort Chun instructed me to convey that Hua Yan and Dong Gua do not need to rush to Fu An Ju to serve you today."

Several cooks from the north have come to our household. Their culinary skills are superb, and their dishes are delicious. The old lady instructed that a feast be prepared in the guest courtyard. Please have some food first, and don't feel constrained."

The sound of the jacaranda is crisp and clear, conveying a sense of efficiency and competence.

"Thank you for your trouble, Sister Huaying."

Hua Yan pulled her aside to talk, while Dong Gua and the others chatted and laughed as they helped the old women set up the table. They were all used to doing this, and in no time, a table of food was laid out.

"The master sent a servant back with a message, saying that he and Young Master Zhou were kept in the palace for a meal. The lady asked me to tell you."

Huanyun listened intently from the side, and her tense nerves visibly relaxed.

Hua Ying blinked, pulled Hua Yan and Huan Yun aside, and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Hua Yan and Huan Yun! When our master sent word, he said that not only did Young Master Zhou receive a reward in the palace, but the emperor also personally appointed him to a sixth-rank official position, where he will serve in the Court of State Ceremonial."

"To appoint an official position?"

Huanyun was taken aback and looked at Huayan beside her.

Hua Yan said, "Given my uncle's contributions in the Northwest war, it is not surprising that he has been rewarded. Moreover, the position of Honglu Temple is indeed suitable for my uncle."

But my uncle is free-spirited and may not want to be constrained.

Hua Yan was wrong.

An hour ago, in the Imperial Study.

The emperor summoned Zhou Bai privately. Zhou Bai knelt down and bowed as Tang Xian had instructed. When he raised his head, the emperor was taken aback.

Zhou Bai was already very handsome, and his eyebrows and eyes vaguely resembled those of Hua Yan.

Moreover, Zhou Bai's nearly ten years of ups and downs on the grasslands have added a touch of charm honed and sculpted by time. Unlike Tang Lin's refined and otherworldly demeanor, Zhou Bai exudes a more lofty and extraordinary presence.

The emperor suddenly had a doubt. From the records, it could be seen that apart from his father being a scholar in the previous dynasty, Zhou Bai's family background was really ordinary. How could he have raised such a person?

Because of this doubt, the emperor inquired in detail about his encounter in the Xiongnu royal court.

Zhou Bai reported the truth, but he had already said these things to others many times in the past two months, and when he got to the deeper parts, he spoke eloquently. The Emperor was even more pleased with this.

Having faced numerous grassland heroes like Huzheng Chanyu for many years, Zhou Bai had encountered countless dangers and had developed an exceptional ability to adapt. While it might be an exaggeration to say he was completely fearless in the face of the emperor's majesty, he was certainly capable of handling the situation.

"According to the battle report sent by General Zhaohui, Young Master Zhou has made outstanding contributions in the Northwest campaign. He not only relieved the Northwest army of its water shortage, but also had a deep understanding of the habits of the Xiongnu. His countermeasures have repeatedly achieved remarkable results. He should be rewarded according to his merits. If Young Master Zhou has any requests, he may speak frankly."

Jingming, standing to the side, looked enviously at Zhou Bai standing below, wondering what reward he would ask for.

Zhou Bai really wanted to bring up the matter of Meng Shu entering the palace as a concubine, but he knew he couldn't. Even if the Emperor were to grant Meng Shu permission not to enter the palace, he would likely face Tang Xian's wrath as soon as he left. Besides, the Tang family had saved both Meng Shu and him, so it was really difficult to bring up this topic...

Therefore, Zhou Bai didn't mention anything. When the emperor bestowed upon him the position of Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, Zhou Bai thought of Meng Shu's situation after entering the palace, clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves, knelt down and kowtowed to express his gratitude.

In the latter half of the afternoon, Madam Yun instructed Wei Mama to summon Hua Yan to Yun Gui Courtyard.

When Hua Yan arrived, Consort Chun was looking at a secret letter in her hand with a bewildered expression, while Madam Yun sat upright at the head of the table without saying a word.

After Hua Yan greeted her, Madam Yun said softly, "Your status is different now, so please sit down and talk."

Just as Mama Wei was about to lead Hua Yan to sit down, Hua Yan suddenly knelt on the ground.

“This servant serves as the Second Miss’s master and dares not speak of myself as a chosen maid in front of the mistress and madam.”

Madam Yun seemed to have anticipated Hua Yan's actions, and her expression became even gentler. She personally stood up and helped Hua Yan up, saying, "Zhou Bai is now a sixth-rank official in the capital, and he may rise to a higher position in the future. Besides, your indenture was no longer valid when you entered the Prince's mansion. It is only right that you and Wan'er address each other as sisters after entering the palace and support each other."

Hua Yan glanced at Consort Chun out of the corner of her eye, her face showing worry. The secret letter in Consort Chun's hand should be related to the Duke of Qing's mansion.

Madam Yun took Hua Yan's hands and pressed her down into a chair. "I called you here today because I have two things to tell you."

"Firstly, it concerns the green willows."

Hua Yan seemed slightly dazed, unsure of what Madam Yun meant.

Madam Wei explained on behalf of her mistress: "After entering the palace, according to the rank of the selected concubine, two palace maids will be arranged to serve you. Madam, considering that you have always been on good terms with Green Willow and Winter Melon when you were in the mansion, Madam's idea is to arrange for Green Willow to enter the palace on a chosen day."

After Consort Chun entered the palace, she resided in Huining Palace, while Hua Yan, as a selected concubine, resided in a side palace.

The two were nominally mistress and servant, but in reality, they were both concubines of the emperor. "Selected concubines" refers to the imperial family, while in commoners and officials' families, they were simply the maids who accompanied the emperor in his dowry.

The practice of having a dowry officially known as "selected attendants" only began after the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty and was subsequently continued.

These methods used in the inner palace extended to the royal family and became a system. The initial reason for their emergence was to maintain the master's position in the harem, either to secure favor or to facilitate the birth of children through surrogacy.

Moreover, only those of the rank of Consort or above were qualified to bring Selected Ladies into the palace. Selected Ladies corresponded to Consorts, but Selected Ladies had no family background and were subject to the control of their masters. Most of them stopped at this rank throughout their lives.

However, for various reasons, the assistance provided by the concubines often failed to achieve the goal of mutual support, so few people would bring concubines into the palace.

But the second young lady of the Tang family was an exception!

Madam Yun took this system to its extreme.

Several years ago, brokerage firms were established in Jinan and other areas to select candidates for the second young lady. Appearance was only the first criterion. The most important qualities were loyalty, integrity, shrewdness, and the ability to control the client...

Until Meng Shu entered the manor, Madam Yun chose her.

Finding her relatives was an act of kindness, but after finding Zhou Bai, he also became one of the means to control her.

Hua Yan always understood, but as she told Zhou Bai, from the moment she entered the Prince's Mansion with her mistress, she had entered the game herself and there was no way out.

“Green Willow… her temperament is too gentle, she is really not suitable to enter the palace. Madam may arrange another candidate.” Hua Yan wanted to refuse, not wanting Green Willow to waste her time within the palace walls.

Madam Yun neither agreed nor disagreed, and then proceeded to discuss the second matter.

"Secondly, it concerns the third young lady of the Duke's mansion, Qing Zhifei."

Consort Chun slumped down the secret letter, her eyes filled with a hint of grievance and helplessness as she looked at Hua Yan.