Chapter 4 Seeds of Jealousy

"Oh, my two sisters are just very articulate. They just had a good time with both the Queen and Concubine Hua. You are truly enviable. I wonder if your palace can hold all the rewards you have received?"

As soon as she came out of the Queen's palace, Xia Dongchun deliberately chased after Zhen Huan and the others who were walking in front of her, then stopped them and began to express her dissatisfaction in a sarcastic tone.

"Xia Changzai, you're joking. How can we enjoy this royal family's grace alone? I was thinking of returning to the palace to pick out some good ones and sending them to the palaces of my sisters. It just so happens that Xia Changzai has come across me now. How about you pick some and keep them for me?"

Shen Meizhuang didn't care about Concubine Xia's deliberate provocation. She stopped Zhen Huan from saying anything and replied to Xia Dongchun calmly.

This scene happened to be seen by Concubine Hua who also came out of the Queen's Palace.

"How could such a person be worthy of entering the palace? I wonder how the Xia family raised their daughter. She's really just a pretty face. Such a person isn't even worthy of carrying shoes in our Nian Mansion. Everyone in the world knows that our peaceful and prosperous times today are all thanks to our great General Nian."

Songzhi, who followed closely beside Nian Shilan, had long been fed up with Xia Changzai's arrogant attitude. Her arrogant behavior seemed to have made her treat this huge palace as her own backyard.

Although Nian Shilan agreed with Songzhi's disdainful words about Xia Dongchun, she remembered more how the Nian family was regarded as a thorn in the side of the emperor.

"Songzhi, this world belongs to the royal family. Whether it's a prosperous era or a peaceful one, these are all granted by the royal family. Remember, never speak of the Nian family's achievements again. Tell others, too. If anyone else talks nonsense and causes trouble for the Nian family, I will not forgive them lightly."

Nian Shilan thought that in his previous life, not only the people around him, but himself as well, were talking about the great achievements of the Nian family all day long. Just imagine how terrible it would be for the royal family to hear this. If this continued, the Nian family would become a disaster that must be eliminated.

But she also knew that it would take time to change everyone's mind. What she needed to do now was to restrain the people around her first. As for the Nian family, she would have to give them more instructions.

"Yes, your majesty, please forgive me. I understand."

Songzhi was very surprised why Concubine Hua suddenly said such a thing. In the past, everyone was proud to be from the Nian Mansion. Even servants like them were superior to other slaves when they went out.

Although Songzhi was confused, she still loyally remembered what Nian Shilan said. After all, her master was right.

"Mrs. Xia is really showing off. I didn't know the Xia family was so capable of raising their daughter like this. It seems the punishment I just gave you didn't teach you a lesson."

Nian Shilan looked at the unruly Xia Changzai in front of her, and somehow she wondered whether she was also like that in the eyes of others. However, she had her own capital at that time, and Xia Dongchun was really stupid.

"Good health, Empress Hua!"

When everyone heard Hua Fei's voice, they bowed and saluted.

"This Imperial Garden has always been a delightful place, but I never expected such a beautiful view to be disturbed by someone. It's really a disappointment."

I originally wanted to avoid contacting Zhen Huan for the time being in order to avoid arousing her suspicion, but I didn't expect that the idiot Xia Dongchun gave me this opportunity. In fact, I have to thank her.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I didn't mean any disrespect. I just wanted to get to know my sisters better since I just entered the palace. Yes, I just wanted to get to know them better."

Although Concubine Xia always hated Concubine Hua in her heart, she also knew that Concubine Hua was not someone she could afford to offend at her current age, so she could only bow her head and be humble.

"Well, didn't the Queen ask you to go back and reflect on your mistakes? Then hurry back to your palace and stop causing trouble here all day."

"Yes, yes, thank you for your instructions, Concubine Hua. I will take my leave."

Xia Changzai quickly apologized and left.

Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang were watching this scene quietly, each with their own thoughts in mind.

"Okay, you guys get up too."

"Concubine Wan, I remember you were quite eloquent when you were in the Queen's Palace just now. How come you were embarrassed by Concubine Xia just now?"

Nian Shilan couldn't help but have a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Zhen Huan looks like someone who is not interested in fighting. Who would have thought that she would become the final winner in this palace? It seems that it is just that those bad things have not happened yet to arouse her desire to fight.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty Hua Fei. I have just received instructions from the Empress to maintain harmony among sisters. I will naturally not disobey the Imperial Order."

Zhen Huan answered respectfully, but she felt very strange in her heart. Why was Hua Fei's tone of voice so different from when she was facing everyone just now? However, she did not show it on her face.

After listening to this, Nian Shilan just smiled slightly and did not leave immediately. She just remembered that it seemed that it was today that Fu Zi, whom she had dealt with before, was found in the well.

Because of this incident, Zhen Huan seemed to be ill for several days.

No, how could this be possible? She was still waiting for Zhen Huan to be honored and favored as soon as possible.

"Lady Shen, Lady Wan, if you don't have anything else important to do, why don't you accompany me for a walk in this imperial garden?"

Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang glanced at each other and responded in unison, "Thank you for your invitation, Your Majesty. It is my great honor."

A few of them followed Nian Shilan and strolled around the Imperial Garden.

"I heard that Concubine Shen is well-known among the boudoir for her knowledge and good manners. I wonder if she is getting used to life in the palace?"

"Thank you, Empress Hua, for your concern. The Empress and Empress Hua have treated me with all the care I need. I am deeply honored."

Before coming here, Shen Meizhuang had been taught many times by her family, and her manners and answers were flawless.

"Wan Chang is here. Are you getting used to everything?"

"To reply to your Majesty, I am doing fine. Thank you for your concern, Majesty Hua Fei."

Zhen Huan is now really unsure of Concubine Hua's temperament.

I still remember that when I was at home, Aunt Fangruo, who taught me etiquette, said a few words about Concubine Hua. I didn't expect that now that I see the real person, she seems to be different from the rumors.

"Alright, I'm tired too, you guys should go back to the palace."

As they were talking, they had already walked away from that place of trouble. Nian Shilan knew that it was impossible for Zhen Huan to relax her vigilance against her just by meeting her once today, and that she needed to take it slow.

"Farewell, Empress Hua."

After waiting for Concubine Hua to walk away, several people stood up.

"My two sisters, I've heard that Concubine Hua has always been arrogant and never takes any of the concubines seriously. This..."

An Lingrong asked the other two in a low voice, looking very surprised.

"Shh!"

Chen Meizhuang cautiously gestured to her, "Let's go back first. There are so many people out there, and we need to be careful about everything."

An Lingrong nodded guiltily and left silently behind her two sisters.

Ever since she came to Beijing, she has felt that she is different from the people here. She has been bullied everywhere. After meeting Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang, she discovered the huge differences between people.

And all this was just because her father was a small county magistrate. She was never looked at seriously here. Even when she entered the palace, she didn't have a personal maid to accompany her, and she had to ask Zhen Huan to send her a Juqing.

An Lingrong's heart seemed to change from this moment on. She knew that she should make good plans for herself, otherwise she would become a prey in this deep palace at any time.

If Zhen Huan found out one day in the future that just one of her kind actions had planted a seed of jealousy in An Lingrong's heart, I wonder how she would feel?