Chapter 216: Spreading Good Will
In the blink of an eye, it had been a month since Wen Mingqian entered the palace. The weather had gradually turned cooler, especially in the mornings and evenings.
It had rained the night before, and Wen Mingqian, getting up early to go to the Imperial Hospital, saw a young palace maid kneeling on the paved path, a brick balanced on her head.
She had clearly been punished.
Several eunuchs were scolding her, and the young palace maid trembled in fear but dared not retort.
Wen Mingqian recognized the eunuchs, having seen them before.
Because Wen Mingqian was currently a favorite of the Empress, the eunuchs immediately put on smiling faces upon seeing her and greeted her, “Good morning, Madam Wen. Where are you headed?”
“I’m going to the Imperial Hospital to get some fragrant herbs,” Wen Mingqian replied. “What are you gentlemen busy with?”
“Alas, we are delivering things to various palaces. We encountered this little maid who didn’t understand the rules and was walking alone on this path. When we stopped her to ask questions, she dared to talk back,” said the head eunuch.
Wen Mingqian knew that the palace rules were strict. Low-ranking palace maids and eunuchs like this were not allowed to walk alone; they needed at least one companion.
“I was originally with Elder Sister Qiu Xing, but she suddenly had an urgent need and asked me to wait for her here,” the young palace maid said aggrievedly. “We were ordered by Consort Yun to pick flowers. I couldn’t possibly go to the outhouse with her after picking the flowers. Wouldn’t that be a great disrespect to our Master?”
“Heh, you little bitch, you’re sharp-tongued! You broke palace rules and are still trying to argue your way out of it. Making you hold a brick here is letting you off easy!” The eunuchs looked ferocious, as if they were going to devour the young palace maid.
Wen Mingqian learned that the young palace maid was from Consort Yun’s palace. She knew that Consort Yun was not favored, so the people in her palace were often bullied.
So, she said with a smile, “It’s not that I want to meddle, but it’s enough for you gentlemen to give her a stern warning. I heard that Chief Eunuch Yu will be passing by here shortly, and if he sees this, he might ask a few questions. I thought for such a small matter, it wouldn’t be worth it for you gentlemen, would it?”
The Chief Eunuch Yu she mentioned was Yu Lu, the chief eunuch of the Empress’s Palace. To these men, he was naturally someone to be feared.
Although it wouldn’t necessarily lead to punishment, it would be somewhat embarrassing. As Wen Mingqian said, it wasn’t worth the trouble.
Who knew if Chief Eunuch Yu would be in a good mood this morning? If not, would they be made an example of?
In this palace, everyone knew that it was better to avoid trouble than to seek it; wise self-preservation was the most important thing.
Therefore, after hearing Wen Mingqian’s words, the men said to the young palace maid, “Since Madam Wen is speaking up for you, you can get up quickly! Do fewer things like this in the future. If you get caught by those above, they’ll beat you half to death!”
With that, they all left.
The young palace maid stood up. Her skirt was already stained with mud, but she only cared about thanking Wen Mingqian.
“Madam Wen, I am truly grateful to you today. Otherwise, I don’t know how much suffering I would have endured!”
“It’s a small matter, no need to dwell on it,” Wen Mingqian said. “Is that not your companion coming from over there? If so, you two should hurry back.”
Wen Mingqian saw a palace maid running hurriedly from the north, estimating she was with the young palace maid.
“Elder Sister, hurry up,” the young palace maid called back to the approaching maid. “This is Madam Wen, and we owe her a great debt.”
Before she could say more, Wen Mingqian smiled and left.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Hospital and stating her purpose, someone immediately brought her the items she needed.
“This is the finest quality. We also have borneol. Madam Wen, would you like some?” Imperial Physician Li, who received Wen Mingqian, asked.
“I would also like a little yellow ginger, which has the effect of removing dampness and dryness,” Wen Mingqian said. “Her Ladyship dislikes taking medicine. Although the method of burning incense is slow, it is somewhat effective.”
“Yes, yes, Madam Wen is right,” Imperial Physician Li said, also pleased.
With Wen Mingqian around, the number of times they were scolded in the Imperial Hospital had also significantly decreased.
Wen Mingqian took the items and turned to leave, but unexpectedly, someone else entered from outside and knocked over the things in her hands.
Wen Mingqian stumbled but managed to grab the doorframe and didn’t fall.
“Imperial Physician Su, how can you be so careless?” Imperial Physician Li quickly stepped forward.
“It’s nothing,” Wen Mingqian said. “Actually, these items can’t be used for the Empress anymore. Please get me some new ones.”
“Certainly, certainly,” Imperial Physician Li readily agreed, not forgetting to smooth things over for Imperial Physician Su. “Imperial Physician Su has been ill for some time, so he might still be a bit disoriented! Madam, please don’t take it to heart.”
However, Imperial Physician Su remained with a stern face from beginning to end, not saying a word.
Wen Mingqian sensed his hostility towards her but said nothing, pretending not to notice.
Wen Mingqian left the Imperial Hospital and headed towards the Empress’s Palace, but unexpectedly, the Empress was in a furious rage at that moment.
It turned out that the Empress, in high spirits recently, had ordered the Imperial Wardrobe Department to find the crimson cloud gauze that was a tribute from the Southern Border in previous years to make clothes for herself.
Unfortunately, the fabric was very thin and not durable. Although it had been stored carefully, several years had passed.
Now, when taken out again, not only had its luster greatly diminished, but it could no longer be embroidered.
Wen Mingqian observed from outside. Among the people from the Imperial Wardrobe Department was Aunt Cui, who had been instructed by the Grand Princess beforehand. She thought that no matter what, she had to help her.
So, she cautiously entered and paid her respects to the Empress.
Seeing her, the Empress’s anger subsided slightly, but her displeasure was still evident.
Wen Mingqian said with a smile, “Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. Your servant has a method that might work.”
“Oh? What method do you have? Tell me about it,” the Empress asked, trusting Wen Mingqian from the bottom of her heart.
“Although this fabric cannot be embroidered, it can be used as a sheer overlay. Let the Imperial Wardrobe Department embroider flowers on another matching fabric, and then use the crimson cloud gauze as an overlay. This way, the patterns will appear faintly visible, adding a unique charm.”
The Empress had originally only wanted to use the crimson cloud gauze, but in multiple layers. However, no matter how many layers were used, embroidering directly on it was no longer feasible.
Aunt Cui also said, “Although this gauze cannot be directly embroidered, it can be used as a facing. Your Ladyship previously felt that the peonies embroidered with gold thread were a bit too conspicuous, didn’t you? If another layer of gauze is added, it might be just right.”
The Empress thought about it and said, “It sounds good. You all go down and try to make it! Your Imperial Wardrobe Department people can’t even properly look after a few bolts of fabric. If you can’t redeem yourselves this time, I will not be pleased.”
Although she hadn’t fully agreed, she had given the people from the Imperial Wardrobe Department a chance. Aunt Cui and the others thanked her profusely and left.
Afterward, Prince Zhao’s Heir Apparent and Prince Chu’s Heir Apparent both came to pay their respects, and the Empress’s face finally showed a smile.
She said, “It has rained for several days, and the weather has been good recently. Besides studying, you should also practice archery and horsemanship. You must know that His Majesty values this greatly.”
