Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 253 Consort Chun's Drunkenness (A Famous Scene)

On New Year's Eve of the 49th year of the Qianyuan era, after the New Year's Eve banquet, there was no performance of the Nuo opera to exorcise evil spirits and pray for good fortune, no fireworks were set off outside the Linde Hall, and even the Imperial Garden was only decorated with a few palace lanterns.

That's why, just as Aunt Mei said, the night seemed exceptionally long.

Ruizhu and Mingyue were unaware of what had happened in Linde Palace. Seeing that Huayan was going to stay in Consort Chun's bedroom, the two happily served their mistresses as they washed and dressed.

Aunt Mei didn't keep Xiao Yuanzi and the others in check tonight, and even went to the kitchen to give Donggua some instructions. This was a long-standing tradition back in Yunyi Courtyard in Lin'an, where Donggua would always show off his skills by preparing a sumptuous feast on New Year's Eve.

They sat together, drinking and lighting lamps to mark the New Year. Everyone listened to Aunt Mei tell stories, and Hua Yan would pose riddles, which they would then eagerly try to solve. Rui Zhu would also take the opportunity to tease the "dignified" Meng Zhu. In the end, they would even get carried away and make Ming Yue perform a few sets of boxing moves. Aunt Mei would give out New Year's money each time, and when the party was over, everyone would stand up and thank Dong Gua for his hard work.

Every year is the same; we celebrate the passing of the old year and welcome the new in one night.

However, since entering the Prince's mansion, Hua Yan has been absent.

Consort Chun changed into her nightgown and dismissed Mengzhu and the others. Aunt Mei then entered the bedchamber carrying a pot of wine.

"Your Majesty, Donggua has learned how to brew chrysanthemum wine from Steward An. It is made with the tribute chrysanthemums bestowed by the Emperor this year. Please enjoy it with the Lady tonight."

Hua Yan took the cup and said to Consort Chun, "It's rare that Aunt is so unpretentious. If the New Year's Eve banquet wasn't enough, Your Highness and I will have a couple more drinks."

Aunt Mei was touched by Hua Yan's thoughtfulness, but she didn't forget to remind her, "After the grand court assembly tomorrow, you will have to accompany the Emperor to pay your respects to the two Empress Dowagers, so please don't drink too much."

“One cup divides two years, and spring arrives as soon as the wine wears off. Don’t worry, Aunt, we two know what’s going on.” Consort Chun’s eyes shone.

Remembering the state of Consort Chun after she got drunk, Hua Yan instructed, "I trouble Aunt Mei to keep all the palace servants in the front hall and not leave anyone in the back hall."

Aunt Mei smiled and replied, "Don't worry, I'll be watching over things up ahead."

The hall was quiet and still, with Consort Chun and Hua Yan sitting opposite each other.

After drinking just one cup, Consort Chun's face flushed red, her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her eyes were hazy and dreamy, and her expression was languid, which added to her beauty.

I don't like plum blossoms.

This was a slightly defiant and incoherent statement, not something Consort Chun would have said when she was sober.

So you're drunk?

Hua Yan dared not let her drink any more, and taking advantage of Chun Fei's inattention, secretly poured a cup of hangover tea into her wine cup. Chun Fei picked up the wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, then licked her lips, blinked her hazy eyes, and said to Hua Yan:

"Shu'er, Donggua's winemaking skills are not up to par. Tell Mengzhu to give her two fewer pieces of jewelry tomorrow."

Hua Yan: "...I think this wine is brewed too well. I was fine with half a pot of Tusu wine at the New Year's Eve banquet, but I got dizzy after just one cup of chrysanthemum wine."

Hua Yan poured herself a cup, took a small sip, and cursed inwardly, "That Donggua guy probably put something in it again, it's even stronger than Tusu wine."

After Consort Chun gets drunk, another "rebellious" soul will awaken within her dignified and composed exterior.

From the Empress to Consort Qu, and then to Miss Qing, whom she had only met twice, Consort Chun never stopped talking. After being helped to sit on the couch by Hua Yan, she launched into a long and rambling rant.

"Who does she think she is? Does she think she can act with impunity just because she has the Empress Dowager's protection? She's not even in the palace yet, and she's already so arrogant!" Consort Chun suddenly stood up, her pretty face slightly darkened, her expression somewhat resembling that of Madam Yun.

"Bang!" Consort Chun slammed her hand on the table. "They even wanted to take back my Lingxi Manor! They really have a thick skin! They're so rude and shameless! This is outrageous!"

This was a side of the Second Miss that even Madam Lianyun had never seen before. Hua Yan liked this side of the Second Miss, who was playful, angry, and unrestrained, more real and vibrant than she was in front of others.

Consort Hua Yanzhi, having suppressed her emotions for a long time, did not step forward to stop them, but instead listened with great interest.

Medical texts record that "anger overcomes worry," which refers to the therapeutic method of "using emotion to overcome emotion." For Consort Chun, whose excessive thinking led to qi stagnation and even depression, appropriate anger could help balance yin and yang and blood...

After a while, Consort Chun gradually calmed down, but then fell into deep thoughts again.

She tugged at Hua Yan's arm, looking anxious and uncertain: "Shu'er, my embroidery skills are too poor, and I don't know if they will meet the Emperor's expectations."

Hua Yan sighed softly. Given the emperor's impartial nature, she couldn't predict what would happen tomorrow. Just like the plum blossoms at the banquet tonight, even though they were far from the throne, Hua Yan noticed that the emperor was momentarily lost in thought.

"Qing Zhifei did this not only because of the Empress Dowager's favor, but also because of his childhood friendship with the Emperor."

Besides, the excuse of entering the palace to recuperate was just that—an excuse. After tonight's incident in front of all the officials, perhaps tomorrow the Empress Dowager will make it clear that the Emperor should take her in and bestow upon her the title of Consort…”

Consort Chun was still drunk. She listened to Hua Yan's words in silence for a long while, so long that Hua Yan thought she was about to fall asleep. Just as she was about to help her lie down on the bed, Consort Chun suddenly reached out and touched her lower abdomen, patting it twice. She lowered her head and sighed groggily:

"You're so useless, you're really useless too."

Hua Yan reached out to grab Consort Chun's arm, but despite being drunk, she was surprisingly quick-witted. Consort Chun seized the opportunity to grab Hua Yan's wrist and then gently placed her palm on her lower abdomen.

The words that came out were tinged with a weak sob, "...Shu'er, the eldest sister's son, Quan'er, is as beautiful as a porcelain doll, gentle and lovely. My sister-in-law also became pregnant soon after her marriage. Although the Empress miscarried, she is also pregnant...I...I have been favored for a long time, but why...have I never been pregnant?"

Hua Yan was startled, and then realized that Consort Chun had probably kept these words buried in her heart since she learned that the Empress was pregnant, and that she was only able to open her heart now because she was drunk.

Hua Yan gazed at the jade cicada lying quietly by the bedside, fed Consort Chun a cup of sobering tea, and said softly, "Miss, you are drunk."

She got up and carefully helped Consort Chun lie down on the bed, then gently coaxed her, "Perhaps your destiny with the child hasn't arrived yet. I've done the calculations, and perhaps you'll have a little prince by the end of next year."

While pretending to be a charlatan, Hua Yan cursed Dong Gua in her heart, saying that the wine he brewed was too strong and she couldn't handle it.

"Really?... What if not?"

Drunk and confused, Consort Chun blurted out, "If not... you must give me one... Shu'er is beautiful as a flower, and the child she bears will surely be handsome and extraordinary, hehe." As she spoke, she seemed to be daydreaming, a kind and gentle smile on her face...

Hua Yan: "......"

After settling Consort Chun in, Hua Yan turned over, picked up a palace fan from the table in front of the bed, and gently waved it to extinguish the candle. "Second Miss, please sleep peacefully. I'll be here with you."

After speaking, there was no response, only the sound of even breathing beside me.

Hua Yan gently tucked her in, and in the darkness, she said to Consort Chun, "Even though Miss is asleep, I have to say this. This kind of work still needs to be done by you personally; it's inconvenient and I don't want to do it for you..."

......