Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 435 Imperial Physician Jian Made a Misdiagnosis

With a light touch of her toes against the wall, Mingyue leaped into the air like a hawk as her robes fluttered. With a swift movement, she caught Wu Cang, who was trying to escape, in her grasp. Wu Cang struggled violently in her arms, letting out low growls.

"Your Highness is awake?" Xia'er heard the noise inside the tent and quickly lifted the curtain to enter the inner room. She deftly took a soft pillow and placed it behind Meng Shu's back. "Were you disturbed?"

Meng Shu rubbed her temples and looked through the gauze curtain at the swaying tree shadows outside the window: "What's all the commotion outside?"

Xia'er said softly, "It's the snow lion cat that the Empress Dowager keeps. I don't know how it got into our courtyard. Sister Mingyue caught it just now."

"Wu Cang?" Meng Shu frowned. "Have Mingyue hand it over to Granny Chen for disposal. Granny Chen is an old servant in the Empress Dowager's palace. Anything related to Cining Palace and Zhaoqing Palace is entrusted to her."

She slowly sat up, supporting her back. "Tell Green Willow to guard the Jade Hall well, and ask no further questions."

Xia'er didn't dare to delay and quickly went outside.

Before long, Green Willow rushed in, looking frightened, and reported, "Your Highness, I noticed that Wu Cang was behaving very wildly. Fortunately, Consort Chun sent Mingyue over. I just led people to thoroughly search the palace, but we found nothing unusual."

With her left hand supporting her waist, Meng Shu walked slowly to the window with the help of Lv Liu.

In the courtyard, Mingyue was carefully examining Wu Cang by the back of his neck before handing him over to Granny Chen.

Meng Shu said in a deep voice, "Did someone injure it?"

Before she could finish speaking, Donggua's voice suddenly rose in pitch outside. Meng Shu's heart tightened, and she turned to look through the window, just in time to see Consort Qing, Consort Yang, and Consort Pei leading a group of maids as they stepped into the threshold of Cuiyu Hall.

(Note: After serving the emperor before the new year, Consort Pei has been promoted to the rank of Baolin.)

Mingyue and Donggua stepped forward to stop them, but before they knew it, Consort Qing said something. Suddenly, Amber behind them raised her hand and slapped Donggua hard across the face.

"Snapped--"

Meng Shu slammed her hand on the windowpane, making Green Willow tremble.

The next moment, she walked out with a cold face. Green Willow hurriedly helped her up, and Meng Shu went straight out of the flower hall and stood under the corridor.

Not far away, Mingyue was gripping Amber's wrist tightly, while Donggua, with his chubby fist, kept a distance of two steps from Qing Zhaoyi and the others, blocking their way.

Hearing the commotion, Consort Qing looked up, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I am in charge of the six palaces. I heard that the cat from the Empress Dowager's palace had gone missing and ended up in Consort Jin's palace, so I came to visit her." She glanced around. "How come the people in my sister's palace are so ill-mannered? They even dare to obstruct me!"

Meng Shu didn't even glance at her, but said coldly to Chen Mama, "Chen Mama, Wu Cang has entered my palace without cause. Quickly take it back to Cining Palace."

Perhaps because the pressure was applied to an injured area, Wu Cang struggled violently in Chen Mama's arms. Chen Mama was caught off guard and her face was scratched by a claw. Then, with a "whoosh," Wu Cang jumped to the ground.

The people brought by Consort Qing hurriedly formed a half-circle to block her. Startled, Wu Cang rushed straight towards the direction with the fewest people.

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Green Willow cried out in surprise and stepped in front of Meng Shu to block her.

Although Mingyue reacted quickly, the distance was too far, and she could only watch helplessly as the dark figure rushed straight to the feet of the green willow.

Consort Qing raised her hand and pointed in the direction where Meng Shu was standing, her voice sharp and piercing: "Hurry up and go protect Consort Jin!"

Amber secretly waved her hand, and everyone rushed forward.

"boom."

A figure suddenly pounced on the ground, his hands precisely gripping the back of Mai Cang's neck.

It was indeed red jade.

She had been keeping a close eye on Granny Chen, who was holding the cat, and the moment Wu Cang let go, she had already quietly moved towards the entrance of the flower hall. By the time the cat charged in a frenzy, she had already bent her knees and prepared her strength, and was now able to firmly pin it to the ground.

The situation calmed down instantly.

Green Willow's chest heaved violently. She turned to look at Meng Shu, only to see Meng Shu leaning against a vermilion pillar, scratching several fine marks on its surface. Her face was frosty, and her almond-shaped eyes were coldly watching the farce unfolding in the courtyard.

A sinister glint flashed in Consort Qing's eyes, as if she were unwilling, but she had to suppress it.

Meng Shu said sternly, "His Majesty has already decreed that Lingcui Palace is closed to visitors. Consort Qing has trespassed without permission. What should her punishment be!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Baolin quietly took half a step back and hid behind Yang Baolin.

Yang Baolin was inwardly annoyed, but had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward to curtsy and apologize: "Your Highness Consort Jin, please understand, some palace servants saw Wu Cang sneak into Lingcui Palace. Consort Qing was worried about your safety, so she brought people in..."

Meng Shu lightly tapped the pillar with her fingertips, a cold smile appearing on her lips: "Yang Baolin, calm down. When the people from the Imperial Household Department arrive, you will have your chance to speak and explain yourself."

Then, she glanced at Consort Qing and said, "Donggua is a sixth-rank official in charge of food, personally appointed by the Emperor. How dare a mere palace maid commit such an act of disrespect? Consort Qing has taken over the palace affairs. According to the palace rules, how should she be dealt with?"

Consort Qing was rendered speechless by this barrage of questions, her face turning pale and then flushed. She forced herself to speak, "I came here only because I was worried that Wu Cang had offended Consort Jin. Now that she is unharmed and Wu Cang has been found, I will not disturb you any longer and will return to Cining Palace..."

“A palace maid who commits an offense against her superior shall be slapped ten times in the face, as is customary.”

Meng Shu interrupted her, nodding slightly to Donggua. "Consort Qing has just taken over palace affairs and may not be familiar with the rules yet. Perhaps the head of the kitchen should handle the punishments."

"She dares—"

Before Consort Qing could finish speaking, a crisp slap rang in her ears.

Winter Melon stood in a horse stance, his chubby palms whistling as he struck left and right, until Amber's sideburns were disheveled and his nose was bleeding profusely.

Green Willow rubbed her forehead and gave Meng Shu several meaningful glances, 'Alright, it's time to wrap this up.'

"Her Majesty has fainted!" she suddenly raised her voice. "Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician! Report this to the Emperor immediately!"

Meng Shu pursed her lips and leaned softly into her arms.

Apart from Granny Chen, the other two nannies from Cining Palace immediately turned pale and rushed forward to help her up.

A look of panic flashed across Consort Qing's face. As she took a step forward, Mingyue and the courageous Hongyu immediately blocked her way.

Upon hearing that Meng Shu had fainted, Dong Gua's eyes instantly reddened. He swung his arm and delivered a vicious blow to Amber. His burly body was surprisingly agile at that moment, and he rushed over in three steps.

In the blink of an eye, only Granny Chen, who was clinging tightly to Wu Cang and trembling all over, and Consort Qing's entourage remained in the inner courtyard.

......

Inside the bedchamber, Meng Shu lay on the couch, her fingertips idly stroking her swollen belly.

The farce just now didn't startle her, but the baby in her womb seemed to sense it, moving frequently and kicking her from time to time, forcing her to gently stroke her belly to soothe it.

About fifteen minutes later, Jingming and Jianzhi rushed over, and shortly after, Lord Tong from the Yeting Bureau also arrived at Lingcui Palace after receiving the message.

Green Willow whispered to Winter Melon to take Bright Moon and Red Jade to the front hall and tell Jingming and Lord Tong what had just happened. She then led Jianzhi to the bedroom.

After taking her pulse, Jian Zhi lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty was just... injured her fingernail, but the dragon fetus in her womb is fine."

"Imperial Physician Jian has made a mistake." Meng Shu raised her eyes, a sharp glint in them. "Consort Qing led her men into Lingcui Palace, and I was so frightened that I suffered a miscarriage. I am currently experiencing unbearable pain in my abdomen..."

She naturally wouldn't let the opportunity to punish Consort Qing slip by, but halfway through her sentence, her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly:

"At this hour... Physician Jian and Eunuch Jing came from the Taiji Hall together? What happened?"