Zhao Hua had initially thought that there would soon be some news from Consort Hui's side,
but to her surprise, it remained quiet. Consort Hui rarely left her residence, focusing on nurturing her pregnancy. She even declined the daily visits to Ning Wanshuang's Palace.
After a few days, Yun Shan curiously asked Zhao Hua,
"Miss, Consort Hui has been avoiding people every day. What kind of act is she putting on now?"
Zhao Hua smiled and replied, "She can sing whatever she likes. Let's just focus on living our own lives."
Last winter was snowy, but as the new year arrived, it brought the warm spring with auspicious signs.
After the Lantern Festival, the temperature gradually rose, and many plants in the palace sprouted new leaves.
On this day, Yun Shan was working in the courtyard with a few young palace maids.
These maids were all new faces, seemingly around twelve or thirteen years old, even younger than Yun Shan when she first entered the palace.
Having been in the palace for a long time, both the masters and servants had developed shrewdness.
Compared to the older ones, these young maids were inexperienced and lacked the skills to handle matters.
Therefore, the legitimate consorts in the six palaces didn't like using such servants.
According to the usual practice, they should have started by working in places like the fourth warehouse, the Laundry Bureau, or the Bureau of Flowers and Birds, and only after mastering the ability to observe and understand situations would they be qualified to serve the young consorts and empresses.
However, despite this, Zhao Hua was still willing to keep them by her side to serve.
After all, compared to those palace residents who had been immersed in the dye vat of the harem, these blank slates were more trustworthy.
Although the young girls were inexperienced, they were meticulous in their work.
However, due to their young age, everything they encountered seemed fresh, and they couldn't help but discuss it.
At this moment, while they were weeding in the courtyard, someone discovered rows of small gray worms crawling among the grass roots. They excitedly called out, and everyone stopped their work and gathered around.
"I heard from Madam that heavy snow in winter signifies a bountiful year. It means that when there is a lot of snow during winter, it freezes and kills the pests in the soil, resulting in a good harvest the following year. We had snow for the entire winter last year, but look, why are there still so many bugs among these weeds?"
"Let me take a look. Huh? These bugs, I've never seen them before."
They chatted with enthusiasm, occasionally waving at Yun Shan and calling out,
"Yun Shan, come and take a look! There are many gray-colored bugs in these weeds with long noses like little elephants."
"Yes, you see, they are all lying motionless there, as if they have no life. But if you disturb them while weeding, they suddenly run away quickly."
Yun Shan, however, was not curious.
Without even glancing at them, she continued to busy herself with her work and casually replied,
"They are called little gray elephant bugs."
"Little gray elephant bugs? I've never heard that name before. Yun Shan, you are truly knowledgeable."
Yun Shan smiled and said, "When you all grow older, there will come a time when you'll see things in this world that you should and shouldn't see. These creatures are of no benefit, and when we encounter them, we'll just pour boiling water on them."
"Yes, we understand," the group of young palace maids sweetly replied, and they resumed their respective tasks.
After about a quarter of an hour, Yun Shan skillfully trimmed the drooping needles of the pine and cypress trees. In the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a palace maid coming out of the small kitchen, holding a pregnancy-stabilizing medicine for Zhao Hua, and heading towards the inner chamber.
She quickly intercepted her and called out, "Give me the item, you can go attend to something else."
Taking the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine from the palace maid's hand, Yun Shan first inspected it carefully with a silver needle. Then, using the method taught to her by Xiao Fuzi, she examined its color and smell. Finally, she took a small spoonful with a silver spoon and tasted it to confirm its safety before presenting it to Zhao Hua.
When she arrived, she saw Zhao Hua gazing fondly at a pot of green potted plants on a warm seat table.
The green plants were cared for by the Bureau of Flowers and Birds and did not wither during the winter. On the contrary, their branches and leaves grew lush.
Yun Shan placed the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine aside and approached to take a closer look. She discovered that there were some small green worms and tiny gray elephant beetles crawling on the leaves of the green plants, nibbling on them a few times before disdainfully crawling away.
Amused by the sight, Yun Shan quipped, "These small green worms and tiny gray elephant beetles are so picky. They only like the leaves and tender shoots of mulberry trees. When fed with other green plants, they still find them unsatisfactory."
Zhao Hua laughed, "They are indeed picky eaters. They claim to love eating mulberry leaves but soon move on to the next spot after biting a leaf or even eat all the newly sprouted buds, preventing the mulberry tree from leafing out. It seems that these creatures are also demanding."
Yun Shan looked at the holes made by the insects on the leaves of the potted plant and laughed, "Miss, you carefully selected the freshest and greenest potted plant from the Bureau of Flowers and Birds. It seems that it doesn't suit their taste, and they'll have to go hungry."
Zhao Hua chuckled and took a silver picker to pluck the insects off the leaves.
"Don't worry, they won't go hungry for long. Isn't February the time for mulberry trees to sprout new buds?" she said, then put down the silver picker and drank the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine with a bitter taste.
Yun Shan nodded and immediately brought a concoction of orchid and peppermint water to help Zhao Hua rinse her mouth. She also brought some preserved fruits to soothe her throat.
"Ever since Miss obtained the secret command token from Tian Ji, she had people from Tian Ji secretly collect many eggs of these small green worms and tiny gray elephant beetles in the greenhouse starting from July last year. With each generation passing, they have now become 'thriving servants.'"
Zhao Hua nodded lightly, "Once the lunar month passes, it will be time to let them have a good feast."
Yun Shan whispered, "Now that these small gray elephant beetles and green worms have appeared in the palace, it won't be long before they spread outside the palace. Miss's thoughts are meticulous, and this time, she will surely get what she hopes for."
"What can I hope to achieve? These thoughts are all well-intentioned," Zhao Hua responded.
Zhao Hua casually picked up the tea cup beside her and abruptly poured the still-hot tea onto the leaves of the green luo plant. The tiny crawling insects that covered the leaves immediately ceased their movements due to the scalding.
However, the smile at the corner of Zhao Hua's lips did not wane even in the slightest.
"Lately, I have been emulating the Empress Dowager's practice of offering prayers to the Buddha, and I have come to understand many things. As the Buddha teaches, all beings are born equal, and there is no distinction of high or low, noble or humble. In the past, when Shakyamuni Buddha cut his flesh to feed an eagle, it was an act of great righteousness. And now, when I abandon the mulberry leaves to feed the insects, it is essentially the same principle."
She clasped her hands together, silently reciting a Buddhist verse and continued, "Do not underestimate the power of small acts of kindness. Sometimes, when you do good deeds frequently, blessings naturally follow."
