Chapter 55 Zhen Huan's Test

"Sister Mei, have you heard that Lingrong's father was released after his case was retried?"

One day, when Zhen Huan came to Cunju Hall to visit Shen Meizhuang, she thought of this matter and told her about it.

"I've heard that too. I'm afraid Lingrong must be even more resentful of me."

"This is not my sister's fault. Some things are beyond our control. However, this way, she should be more loyal to the Queen. We must be more careful in the future."

Zhen Huan also heard that it was the Queen who mediated the matter, allowing the case to be retried.

However, there was always a doubt in her heart. She could see that although the emperor showed great respect for the queen on the surface, it was a matter concerning state affairs. Could he really change his decision just because of a word from the queen? Was there any hidden story behind this?

In order to resolve the confusion in her heart, she decided to go to the emperor to confirm her guess.

But I didn’t expect that as soon as I arrived at the door of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, I saw a child kneeling there.

"Good luck to the noble Wanren."

Su Peisheng bowed respectfully when he saw Zhen Huan coming.

"Eunuch Su, who is this child? Why have I never seen him before?"

When Zhen Huan saw the child for the first time, she felt a little strange because he looked unfamiliar.

"To answer Lady Wan, this is the Fourth Prince, who has been raised in the Old Summer Palace. Lady Wan has never met him before."

"Is the Emperor busy in there now? I see him kneeling here, but the Emperor doesn't have time to see him right now?"

"Yes, the Emperor happened to be feeling a bit bored just now, and I'm afraid that if you go in, it will..."

"It's okay, please help inform them."

After Su Peisheng entered, Zhen Huan just glanced at the Fourth Prince kneeling on the ground and didn't pay any more attention to him.

She had never seen this child's appearance before, but when she heard Su Peisheng say that it was the Fourth Prince, she had some idea in her mind.

In her spare time, Nian Shilan would talk with her sisters about some matters concerning the harem.

The Fourth Prince is the least favored child in the Emperor's sight. Nian Shilan also reminded them that if they meet him in the future, it is best not to have too much contact with him.

Even the least favored children in this palace will have many calculations in their minds. For them, less trouble is worse than more.

"Lady Wan, the Emperor invites you in."

"Eunuch Su, it's hot out here. The Fourth Prince has been kneeling here for a long time. He might get a heat stroke. Why not send him back?"

"I will definitely do it."

Zhen Huan said no more and walked in with the food box in her hand.

"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

"Why are you here today, Huanhuan? You must have had a hard time along the way."

"I was worried about the emperor's health due to the hot weather, so I had someone prepare some Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup and bring it over."

Zhen Huan opened the food box in her hand and said, "Your Majesty, here are some jujube and yam cakes made by Sister Mei herself. She knew I was coming to your place, so she asked me to bring some for you to try."

"Mei'er is thoughtful. I will go see her later. She is doing well now. If she needs anything, please feel free to ask."

"Sister Mei is in very good health. Doctor Wen is very skilled in medicine. Your Majesty can rest assured that he will take care of her."

Zhen Huan sat beside the emperor with a smile, chatting with him in a soft and gentle voice. Her character of never competing for anything was very rare in the palace, and naturally made the emperor very happy.

"Your Majesty, I just saw a boy kneeling at the entrance to the main hall. Eunuch Su said it was the Fourth Prince. I was worried that he would get too hot in this weather, so I took it upon myself to have Eunuch Su take him away. Please forgive me for such a reckless act."

As Zhen Huan spoke, she carefully observed the emperor's expression. She knew that even if she didn't say anything, Su Peisheng would definitely report it to the emperor. In that case, it would be better for her to say it herself so that she could also see what the emperor thought of this prince.

"Well, it's not a big deal. I don't blame you."

When the Fourth Prince was mentioned, the Emperor's expression seemed to become even more gloomy. Zhen Huan naturally had something in mind and did not say much on this topic.

"I heard from the palace servants that Concubine An was a little worried about her father's situation. Now that her father is safe and sound, Sister An must be overjoyed. The Emperor is ultimately a benevolent and wise ruler."

"Yes, I met Concubine An before, and she was relieved. But she is also a sensible person. Even though her father was implicated in such a thing, she did not bother me. Like Huanhuan, she is sensible."

Since this incident, the emperor's opinion of An Lingrong has changed a little. Although she is worried about her father's situation, she never mentions it when she is alone with the emperor.

"At the time, the censors suggested that there might be something hidden behind this matter, so I sent people to investigate carefully. It turned out that it had little to do with An Changzai's father, so I pardoned him."

The emperor reached out and pulled Zhen Huan to his side: "Huan Huan, Mei'er is now pregnant with my son, you..."

It was not difficult to hear what he wanted to say from the unfinished words, and a hint of shyness appeared on Zhen Huan's face.

"emperor……"

“Hahahaha, hahahahaha…”

When Su Peisheng heard the emperor's loud laughter coming from the palace, a smile of relief appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The emperor hasn't been this happy for a long time. Now with Concubine Wan by his side, his mood immediately changed.

It turns out that this Concubine Wan holds a very different position in the emperor's heart.

——————

"Oh, I heard that the Emperor kept you in the Yangxin Palace yesterday. I guess the one in Jingren Palace is having another headache."

The next day, Nian Shilan and Shen Meizhuang came to Suiyuxuan after having breakfast in the palace.

"The Queen is here. Why is Sister Mei here too? The sun is so strong outside. Please take care of yourself."

"I'm fine. Didn't Doctor Wen tell me to move around more so that the delivery will go more smoothly?"

"Why? Your sister Mei can't bask in the sun, but your sister Nian can? Why don't you ask me a question out of concern?"

Having said that, Nian Shilan was very different from their politeness and sat down directly in the seat.

"My two sisters have made me extremely worried. Is this all right? You are the extremely noble Concubine Hua, but why do you sound like a jealous little girl at home?"

After Zhen Huan helped Shen Meizhuang sit down, she looked at Nian Shilan with a teasing look on her face.

“You, your little mouth is getting more and more talkative now, only Sister Shen is more steady.”

"Isn't it because we're sisters? Otherwise, Huan'er would be the one making fun of me."

Chen Meizhuang was originally a very gentle and virtuous woman. Now that she has been playing with them for a long time, she even talks a lot more than before.

"By the way, I ran into the Fourth Prince at the gate of the Yangxin Palace yesterday."

Zhen Huan told everyone in detail what happened yesterday, including the fact that An Lingrong's father was involved in the case. It was not the Queen who asked the Emperor to re-examine the case, but the advice of officials in the court.

"This queen is always able to manipulate people's hearts so well."

No matter what, An Lingrong was completely under the control of the Queen.

"Fourth Prince? The one who was raised in the Old Summer Palace, the one the Empress told us about before?"

Zhen Huan nodded to Shen Meizhuang.

"This Fourth Prince, even though I only saw him once yesterday, I felt that this child's character was not simple. I don't know why he looked at me several times."

Listening to Zhen Huan's words, Nian Shilan seemed to think of a possibility.

"You are truly favored now, and the Queen looks down on the Fourth Prince. Perhaps he wants to use you to gain the Emperor's attention."

Zhen Huan shook her head: "I don't think he's suitable for frequent contact. A person's eyes can reveal a lot. This child is too difficult to control."

Nian Shilan did not object to this decision. She had never thought of bringing other unrelated children to her side. Wouldn't it be nice to raise the child of her good sister?

Nian Shilan looked at Shen Meizhuang's belly and couldn't help but think of the child she once had.

But if that hadn't happened, her child might have grown up long ago. What a pity...