GBP Chapter 297 is in the past, look forward.
Chapter 297 is in the past, look forward.
Chapter 297 It's all in the past, look forward.
Ruizhu and Donggua looked at each other, both deeply shocked!
When Green Willow was still in the manor, she was a weak and naive girl who would cry at the slightest thing. She was once tricked by her unscrupulous parents into following her for several years with just a piece of candy. Later, she was "exiled" by Hua Yan to the brokerage firm in Jinnan. Every time she returned to the manor with Master Zheng to pay New Year's visits, she would cry twice as usual—crying in her arms with Hua Yan on the night of her arrival, and crying again in her arms with Winter Melon when she left.
But people's temperament will eventually change with the changes in their environment.
After seven or eight years of struggling under Zhou Ya Po's tutelage, Lü Liu had long since transformed from a drum that could be beaten at will into the person who held the mallet and beat the drum.
Green Willow knew how to behave and knew that going directly to Consort Chun would make things ugly, and Aunt Mei wouldn't be able to intervene. So, she took Du Juan directly to Granny Kong.
Granny Kong is an old servant in Empress Dowager Zhou's palace, and now she is the head nanny of Huining Palace.
When her name was mentioned, Yun Yaoguang felt a little breathless.
Du Juan was not only flogged twenty times, but also taught the rules of "using the stove" for half an hour by Granny Kong.
Before Yun Yao left Huining Palace, Consort Chun said calmly, "Although Du Juan is someone you usually use, her lack of manners is a disgrace to you. I will assign two more people to you later."
These words, spoken casually, made Yun Yao's heart tighten, and she could only lower her head and reply, "Yes."
After she left, Consort Chun rubbed her temples and lost all interest in playing chess.
Recalling Yun Yao's hesitant and timid demeanor just now, Consort Chun's face darkened, and she said coldly, "Mengzhu, send someone to investigate who Cousin Yun has been getting close to lately?"
Seeing Consort Chun's displeasure, Ruizhu realized she had missed something and quickly asked Mengzhu. Mengzhu explained in a low voice, "Consort Yun... she just said she wanted to move to Huining Palace to keep Her Highness company, but Her Highness refused."
"—Ah! She's so shameless!" Ruizhu's mouth was faster than her brain; she smacked her lips as soon as she spoke.
However, Xiao Nianzi knew best about the movements of the palace maids. She quickly said, "Your Highness, this servant will bring Xiao Nianzi over right away."
Ruizhu and Xiaonianzi were both gossipy, and when they weren't busy, Huayan would send them out.
Xiao Nianzi pondered for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty, Hanxiang Pavilion and Ganlu Palace are not far apart. Dujuan and Xiangxiu, who serves Consort Pei, have had two visits to each other."
Hua Yan stared blankly at the rain outside the window, a vague guess forming in her mind. Turning around, she smiled at Consort Chun and said, "Consort Pei may have offered Consort Mei a scheme to sow discord."
Consort Chun immediately understood and stated her position: "Let alone my cousin, even the Emperor cannot. Whether my cousin is here or not will not affect the two of us."
Hua Yan smiled and said, "I was just guessing. If Consort Pei wants to gain a foothold by Consort Mei's side, she will definitely try to do something. Consort Yun has not served the emperor for a long time, so she is bound to be anxious. After today's incident, she should know how to behave in the future."
After Xiao Nianzi left, Ruizhu began to vividly recount the scene that had just occurred in the kitchen.
Hua Yan was shocked when she heard this: "You even burned her handkerchief?"
Green Willow felt a little guilty, but she believed she had done nothing wrong. "This servant saw it clearly. The handkerchief that Dujuan used was made of fabric that Her Highness gave to Consort Yun. How could a lowly servant like her be worthy of using it?"
Consort Chun clapped her hands and praised, "Well done! Mengzhu, pick out two pieces of jewelry from the storeroom to reward Lvliu."
Mengzhu smiled and replied, "The gifts prepared for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager have been ready. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?"
Consort Chun, taking advantage of her position managing the six palaces, had already learned in advance that she would be departing for Changchun Garden in mid-June to escape the summer heat. In the past few days, she has been having Aunt Mei and Mengzhu prepare the gift list.
Hua Yan stepped forward to take a look and asked, "Has His Majesty not yet designated anyone to accompany him?"
Consort Chun shook her head. "Logically, there should be five concubines accompanying and serving. The Empress is naturally among them, and you and I each occupy two spots. I wonder if, besides Consort Mei, His Majesty will appoint Consort Rong or Consort Xie."
Consort Guo and Consort Shen were pregnant and unable to move, so among the other concubines, only Consort Rong and Consort Shen had higher ranks.
After having lunch with Consort Chun, the rain had stopped, and Hua Yan returned to her palace for a rest.
Sitting in front of the dressing table, Green Willow was about to remove Hua Yan's hairpins and jewelry when she suddenly reached out her hand and was pulled back by Hua Yan.
Hua Yan said softly, "You did very well today. When Du Juan broke the rules, you thought of using palace rules to control her and brought up Granny Kong. Even Yun Baolin couldn't say anything."
Green Willow breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "I burned her handkerchief, and I thought you would blame me for being ruthless."
Hua Yan sighed, "I was just a little surprised to think that you used to be so gentle."
“Anyone who spends a few years in a brokerage firm will become cold and hard-hearted,” Green Willow said with a wry smile.
“When I first arrived in Jinnan, Granny Zhou took me to various villages to buy people. A man who owed gambling debts sold his daughter to Granny Zhou. The girl was only eleven or twelve years old. I felt sorry for her and secretly let her go. But less than three days later, Granny Zhou told me that the little girl had been sold to a brothel by her father.”
Hua Yan knew about this, and she even wrote a letter to Granny Zhou, saying: If Green Willow makes another mistake because she's soft-hearted, then slap her across the face...
"And that year, Jinzhou suffered a severe drought, and many refugees poured into Jinnan County. After receiving your letter, I began to recruit and select orphaned girls from among the refugees."
Chun Tao was the first one I chose. On the way back to the brokerage, I saw a beggar on the roadside who was dying. I... I gave him a few coins out of pity, but then we were surrounded by a group of refugees.
If it weren't for Sister Huanyun's concern, she would have sent someone to meet us...
Hua Yan listened quietly as Lü Liu recounted her experiences at the brokerage firm, things Lü Liu had never brought up on her own initiative.
It was out of desperation that Hua Yan pleaded with the Second Miss to send her to the brokerage firm for training. Hua Yan's original intention was only to change Lü Liu's soft-hearted nature, but she never imagined that Lü Liu was only eleven years old at the time.
After a long while.
Green Willow was somewhat downcast and spoke incoherently:
"Having witnessed so much of the coldness and warmth of human relationships, my heart has gradually grown cold as well."
But I also miss the days we spent together in Langya Courtyard even more. It was Shu'er who helped me out of the mire and gave me hope. And I will always remember Donggua stopping the carriage and bringing me so much candy...
Hua Yan gently squeezed Green Willow's palm, offering silent comfort.
Then she picked and chose from the makeup box, took out a jade willow leaf hairpin inlaid with pearls, put it on her head, and then took off the peach blossom hairpin that she always wore.
Hua Yan waved her peach blossom hairpin and softly uttered a few words: "It's all in the past, look forward."
......
Two days later, when the concubines paid their respects, the Empress formally brought up the matter of escaping the summer heat at Changchun Garden.
They set off in mid-June and returned to the palace before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"His Majesty finalized the list yesterday. Apart from the Empress Dowager, Consort Chun, Consort Mei, Lady Meng, and Lady Rong will accompany me. Consort Xie will remain in the palace to temporarily assist with palace affairs."