The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 109 Special Hairstyle
When Yinzhen returned home after the morning court session, he saw Xiao Linzi waiting in the front yard.

When Xiao Linzi saw Yinzhen, he knelt down and greeted him.

"I pay my respects to my master, may the master be blessed."

Yinzhen said as he entered the house.

"Get up. Your master sent you here. What's the matter?"

Xiao Linzi quickly stood up and followed closely.

"My lord, our master has obtained some excellent deer tendons and has asked the kitchen to cook them. Please do us the honor of coming to Cheng'en Garden to have breakfast with us."

Yinzhen just stretched out his hand and let the maid help him change into his court clothes.

"Oh? Deer tendons are hard to burn, which is troublesome for your master. Did you prepare it last night?"

Xiao Linzi lowered his head and said respectfully.

"Master, you are wise, it is true. Our master said that you like to eat this dish of roasted deer tendons, so he always thinks about it and thinks of ways to make it for you to nourish your body."

Yinzhen had changed into his dark uniform and was laughing.

"Your master is willing to do so. Deer tendons are not easy to come by, and I don't know if your master's monthly allowance is enough for her to find these foods for me."

Xiao Linzi thought for a moment and answered.

"My Lord, as far as I know, the monthly allowance you gave her is enough. Our master is grateful for your leniency towards her, so he has naturally thought of a way to find it for you."

Yinzhen looked down at Xiao Linzi.

"You, slave, are very clever in your words. Let's go to your Cheng'en Garden."

Xiao Linzi hurriedly led the way and took Yinzhen to Cheng'en Garden.

There was a garden between the front yard and the back yard. Xiao Linzi was walking in front. He had good eyesight and saw from a distance as Jiang Fuhai and Hanlu walked around the corner of the garden and went to Xingfuyuan.

Xiao Linzi deliberately moved to the right quietly, blocking Yinzhen's line of sight. He continued walking as usual after Jiang Fuhai was no longer visible.

Songzhi stood beside Nian Shilan. Breakfast had been prepared and she was waiting for Yinzhen.

"Master, I see that Fu Jin said that you are in charge of all the affairs in the mansion, but she still seems to be worried. Just now, Han Lu went to give the account book to Fu Jin for review, but Fu Jin said she didn't want to read it. Then she sent Jiang Fu Hai to take the account book. Master, what do you think Fu Jin means by this?"

Nian Shilan was drinking tea and waiting for Yinzhen, feeling bored.

"Whatever she means, just watch it if you want to."

The young eunuch at the door passed the message.

"The master is here~!"

Songzhi helped Nian Shilan stand up and walked towards the door.

"My concubine greets my master, may my master be blessed."

Nian Shilan bowed coquettishly and saluted Yinzhen.

Yinzhen smiled and held Nian Shilan's arm with both hands.

"Get up, the hairpin you wear today is extremely beautiful. It suits your current status, gentle and unobtrusive, and looks good."

Nian Shilan stood up, looked at Yinzhen and smiled.

"Master, you only praise my hairpin, but not my outfit today? My material is quite new these days~"

Yinzhen took Nian Shilan's hand and walked into the house together. Nian Shilan deliberately lagged behind him half a step.

"My Shilan looks good in anything she wears, but this hairpin makes her stand out even more."

Nian Shilan smiled and called the servants serving in the room.

"Quick, help the master wash his hands. The master must be starving after coming back from court."

Yinzhen washed his hands, sat at the table, looked at the breakfast that was full of color, aroma and taste, and laughed.

"Shilan is so thoughtful. She knows what I like to eat. Let's have dinner together."

Nian Shilan then sat down and served a bowl of soy milk to Yinzhen.

After the two of them had breakfast, a maid brought them tea. Yinzhen and Nian Shilan rinsed their mouths first before taking the teacup from another maid and drinking the tea.

Yinzhen sighed.

"Shilan really understands my preferences and knows what dishes will suit my taste."

Nian Shilan smiled and replied, "My master just doesn't think I'm stupid."

What I think in my heart is, I have been with you for two lifetimes, how could I not know your preferences?

Ulanara looked at Hanlu who was kneeling in front of her.

"Look up. I'm only asking questions, and you only need to answer them."

Hanlu slowly raised her head, refusing to look directly at Ulanara.

There was no smile on Ulanara's face today, and her words, which fell into Hanlu's ears, also had a hint of seriousness.

"What's your name?"

Hanlu replied tremblingly.

"Cold Dew."

Jiang Fuhai, who was standing nearby, scolded him lightly.

"When answering questions from your master, you must add the word 'slave' to avoid being disrespectful. Are you so ignorant of etiquette when serving your master?!"

Hanlu quickly knelt down, touched the ground with his forehead, and kowtowed to Ulanara.

"My lady, my name is Hanlu."

Ulanara looked at Hanlu and said slowly.

"Hanlu, do you admit your guilt?"

Hanlu looked up in surprise.

"Master Fujin, I don't know what you are referring to."

Jiang Fuhai had pushed Xiao Hezi out. Xiao Hezi knelt in front of Ulanara and pointed at Hanlu.

"Master Fujin, I was not mistaken that day, it was definitely her!"

Hanlu looked at Xiao Hezi from the side, with a confused look on her face. Who is this little eunuch? He looks unfamiliar.

"Madam, please understand. I don't know him!"

Hanlu cried out in grievance, feeling confused.

Ulanara pointed at Jiang Fuhai.

"You tell me."

Jiang Fuhai then said to Hanlu.

"He is Xiao Hezi, the servant guarding the Qiong Yu Garden. Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of the deceased wife of the Qiong Yu Garden. The master found that the wife's belongings were damaged. Someone pointed out that you had been peeking at the gate of the Qiong Yu Garden a few days ago, so he called you here."

Hanlu said anxiously.

"I am innocent! Please, my mistress, I beg you to look into my mind. Apart from following the concubine to pay respects to the Xingfu Courtyard, or going to the kitchen to get things on the concubine's orders, I never dare to walk around the mansion! I don't even know any servants from the Qiongyu Courtyard! I only heard about the Qiongyu Courtyard today!"

In fact, Hanlu did not lie. Qiongyu Garden was considered a forbidden area in the palace, and ordinary servants were not allowed to even get close to it.

Ulanara had a blank expression on her face. She took the tea, took a sip, and said lightly.

"Xiao Hezi, was that really her you saw that day? Did you admit your mistake?"

Xiao Hezi kowtowed and said hurriedly.

"I dare not lie! I have looked everywhere today, it is her! Her hairstyle is special, slightly different from other servants in the mansion, I will never make a mistake!"

Cold Dew makes my heart chill.

The servants in Cheng'en Garden liked to secretly change their hairstyles because Guyu was always inventing new hairstyles with his deft hands. The master and his concubine never cared about these trivial matters, so the hairstyles of the servants in Cheng'en Garden were always slightly different from those in the prince's palace.

Also, because they seldom moved around the mansion on a daily basis, this custom was not popular among the servants in the mansion.

Ulanara said to Hanlu.

"Did you hear that? Do you want me to repeat it?"

Hanlu managed to cheer up.

"I beg you, Master Fujin, to look into this matter! I have never done anything to damage the belongings of the deceased First Lady! If you don't believe me, you can send someone to ask the Concubine. I really didn't do that!"

Hanlu thought that since Concubine was usually nice to the servants, she would surely protect herself.

(End of this chapter)