Chapter 109 The Legend of Zhen Huan: An Lingrong 19

The Empress invited all the concubines to enjoy the flowers at Jingren Palace, and An Lingrong naturally had no reason not to go.

While admiring the flowers, Songzi suddenly went berserk and lunged at Consort Tian's stomach.

Consort Wan was secretly pushed by Consort Cao, causing Consort Tian to fall to the ground.

However, she also helped Consort Tian shield herself from a pine cone attack, and was slashed on the neck in the process.

In the end, Consort Tian suffered a miscarriage, while Consort Wan was found to be nearly two months pregnant.

After returning to the palace, the Emperor issued an edict promoting Consort Wan to the rank of Imperial Concubine Wan, with the investiture ceremony to be held once the pregnancy was stable.

Yingchang drowned while retrieving a kite with a broken string from the artificial hill. The emperor posthumously conferred upon her the title of Noble Lady Ying.

With the victory in the southwest campaign, Consort Hua was demoted to Imperial Concubine Hua and lost favor, but she once again held the power to manage the six palaces.

As night fell, after dinner, the Emperor and An Lingrong sat and chatted.

"This year there is a drought outside the palace. The Empress and I plan to go to the Temple of Heaven to pray for rain, and then stay at Ganlu Temple for a few days to pray for blessings. The affairs of the inner palace will be handled by you and Consort Hua."

“But I have never learned how to manage the affairs of the six palaces.” An Lingrong said in surprise, looking troubled.

The Emperor pondered and said, "If you haven't learned how to manage the six palaces, did you learn how to be a housekeeper when you were still a young lady?"

"Of course I have learned it." Daughters of officials would learn how to manage a household from their mothers and maternal grandmothers, and An Lingrong was no exception.

"That's right. Although there are differences between being a steward and managing the six palaces, they are essentially the same. I will also leave Aunt Xue Liu from the Imperial Household Department to you to help you handle the affairs of the six palaces."

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction, "You should always learn something. When the time comes, you and Consort Hua will help the Empress. The Empress suffers from headaches, and with your help, it will be easier for her."

The Empress had suffered a headache a few days ago, and General Nian's wife took away all the imperial physicians on duty at the Imperial Hospital, causing the Empress to suffer in pain all night. This was known throughout the palace.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly learn from Aunt Xue Liu." An Lingrong stood up and curtsied in response.

The Emperor helped An Lingrong up. “Consort Wan is pregnant. She and Consort Hua are not on good terms. You should take good care of her.”

"Of course, I will take good care of her."

A few days later, the Emperor and Empress left the palace. Consort Hua was only a concubine, and there were four other concubines in the same rank. She and An Lingrong were to manage the six palaces together.

Consort Hua did not have the authority to order the concubines to pay their respects, so she did not cause any trouble during the time the Emperor was praying for blessings.

Physician Wen was tricked by the Empress and left with the Emperor and Empress, while Physician Zhang took care of Consort Wan's pregnancy.

Consort Wan still received the scar-reducing cream, but it was the Empress who indirectly arranged for the Zhen family to present it to her.

An Lingrong intervened to temporarily maintain Wan Pin's pregnancy. Whether or not she miscarried was irrelevant to her, but she could not miscarry during this period.

She had been instructed to take care of Consort Wan, and that it would be best to have a miscarriage after the Empress returned.

The Empress probably wanted to shift the blame, so she left many backup plans in the palace, hoping that Consort Wan would miscarry while she was away from the palace.

However, these methods were of no use. When the Emperor and Empress returned to the palace, Consort Wan's unborn child was still in her womb.

"Your Majesty, Consort Hua and Consort Wan had a dispute in the Imperial Garden. Consort Wan suffered a miscarriage after being forced to kneel by Consort Hua."

Upon receiving the news, Eunuch Xu immediately went into the palace to inform An Lingrong.

"What!" An Lingrong was shocked and quickly got up, taking Lanxu and Qingwu to Suiyu Pavilion.

Upon arriving at Suiyu Pavilion, almost all the concubines were present. The Emperor and Empress sat on the couch, waiting for news of the imperial physician's diagnosis.

Upon seeing Imperial Physician Wen emerge, the Emperor immediately asked, "How is the imperial fetus?"