Chapter 90 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Nian Shilan 28 (The End)

"You're really well-informed; nothing escapes your notice!" Consort Li put down the melon seeds she was eating and stood up. "Then I'll go pack now. I miss Princess Longyue so much; she can't come to the palace often."

"Alright, go ahead." Watching Consort Li's cheerful figure, Nian Shilan felt a warm glow in her heart.

The flowers in Cining Palace bloomed and faded, but the laughter and joy in Nian Shilan's palace never ceased.

After all, he had so many granddaughters, and with the Emperor's orders, they came to see him almost every day.

On a fine, sunny day, the Emperor arrived at Cining Palace. The man, nearly fifty years old, still stood tall and exuded the majesty of someone who had long held a high position.

"Your Majesty, your son is preparing to abdicate."

"Hmm?" Suddenly awakened from her drowsy state, Nian Shilan looked at the Emperor with a puzzled expression. "Aren't you in good health?"

"I suddenly realized a while ago that Yongrui has grown up and I have started to feel uneasy. I thought of my second uncle's experience and I was afraid that one day I would treat Yongrui the same way."

But I am different from my grandfather. I only have this one son, Yongrui. Anyway, Yongrui is already grown up. After I abdicate and help him secure his throne, I will return to the Yuanmingyuan to live out my days.”

"You can decide for me. No one in the inner palace is allowed to interfere in the affairs of the court, and neither am I." Nian Shilan smiled, indicating that she respected all his decisions.

"Your subject just wanted to tell Mother Empress what was on his mind, since no one else is suitable to listen to these things except Mother Empress."

The emperor's suppressed worry dissipated, replaced by a faint smile.

A month after the Emperor left Cining Palace, he read out the imperial edict of abdication in the court, passing the throne to Yongrui.

Yongrui had been informed in advance, so he accepted the imperial edict with a calm expression.

The Emperor became the Retired Emperor, the Empress became the Retired Empress, and Nian Shilan became the Grand Empress Dowager.

Six months after Yongrui ascended the throne, the retired emperor, along with Nian Shilan, the retired empress, and the imperial concubines, entered the Yuanmingyuan Garden.

Nian Shilan waited at the Yuanmingyuan Garden. Two years later, Yongrui completely seized control of the previous dynasty and closed his eyes in peace.

------over------

"The debts of gratitude from the past life have been settled, the hatred from the past life has been dispersed, the only regrets are the mother's blind eyes, the father's greed and repeated acts of hindering things, and that... child who was destined not to be born..."

...

Tiyuan Hall —

The elegantly dressed young ladies of official families stood in front of the Tiyuan Hall.

They gathered in twos and threes, whispering to their close female friends.

The palace maids, carrying water, moved steadily through the crowd, listening attentively to everything around them.

Some people in the crowd occasionally glanced at the woman in a light blue cheongsam embroidered with orchids.

The woman had a pure and refined appearance, with skin as white as jade, a slender figure, and a captivating charm, making her arguably the most beautiful among the ladies present.

However, they didn't experience much jealousy, since most of these women didn't want to be chosen and were just going through the motions.

Moreover, everyone has the capacity to appreciate beautiful things.

The woman's appearance was not an aggressive kind of beauty, but rather a beauty that easily evoked goodwill and a sense of tenderness.

"Her delicate eyebrows are like autumn water, and her jade-like skin is like a gentle breeze. That lady is truly beautiful."

The charming and petite Zhen Huan, dressed in a moon-white qipao, looked at the quiet beauty in the distance and couldn't help but praise her.

"She is absolutely gorgeous, but I wonder about her family background."

A sense of crisis unconsciously rose in Shen Meizhuang's heart, after all, she had come to the palace to become a concubine and bring glory to her family.