Chapter Seventy-Two: The Legend of Zhen Huan, Nian Shilan 10

Although Tonghua Terrace was abandoned, it was impossible for it to be without palace staff.

The emperor eventually learned that Prince Guo and Consort Wan had been talking alone at Tonghua Terrace for a quarter of an hour.

Once the Qixi Festival was over, Consort Wan lost favor and went to the Qin Zheng Hall to see the Emperor, but the Emperor refused to see her.

This was naturally Nian Shilan's reply to Consort Wan's words before she entered the palace: "How long can one's beauty serve another?"

Though late, it's here!

After the Qixi Festival, the concubines set off to return to the palace.

Not long after, news came from the Northwest that Nian Gengyao had fallen from his horse during a battle due to a recurrence of his old wound.

The military doctor diagnosed that he would not be able to ride a horse for several years, and even walking would be affected.

Since he could no longer ride a horse, he could no longer go to the battlefield. Nian Gengyao asked the emperor for permission to resign, and the emperor agreed, but retained his position as Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince.

The hereditary title of First-Class Asihanihafan was bestowed upon his second son, Nianfu, and Consort Hua was granted the privileges of an Imperial Noble Consort.

He ordered Nian Gengyao to return to the capital and sent Zhang Mi to treat him.

Perhaps because Nian Gengyao was no longer a threat, the Emperor wanted to have another child with Nian Shilan, a child born to the expectations of his father and mother.

However, the two imperial physicians, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Shen, told her that due to the musk in the Huan Yi Xiang incense and the fact that Consort Hua had been taking birth control pills, she might have difficulty conceiving.

The Emperor was well aware that the imperial physicians always kept some things to themselves; the real meaning of "difficulty in conceiving" was that they could no longer conceive.

In his grief, the Emperor recalled that Nian Shilan had once shown concern for the Fourth Prince at the Yuanmingyuan.

Therefore, the Fourth Prince was brought into the palace so that he could spend more time with Nian Shilan at Yikun Palace.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince naturally understood who it was because of that he was able to return to the palace, and he also understood who he should please.

So he went to Yikun Palace every day to pay his respects to Nian Shilan.

Yikun Palace —

Consort Li sniffed, somewhat puzzled, "Why do I feel that the scent of Huan Yi Xiang is a little different than usual?"

Nian Shilan smiled enigmatically, "Perhaps the Imperial Household Department has changed a few spices again."

"I see." Consort Li suddenly realized, "There are several kinds of fragrances in Huan Yi Xiang, but this one is similar to one of them. It seems that the Imperial Household Department has run out of ideas."

Nian Shilan toyed with the teacup in her hand. "Perhaps."

"By the way, Your Majesty, Consort Wan has regained favor!" Consort Li said, as if she had a big secret.

“The whole palace knows about this.” Nian Shilan was speechless and rolled her eyes at Consort Li.

"That's not what I meant!" Consort Li waved her hand; she wasn't that foolish. "Noble Lady Wan regained favor because she performed the 'Dance of the Startled Swan' in the Imperial Garden!"

"Those in the know understand that the Imperial Garden is not a deserted place. Even if someone intends to hide, it's impossible for them to be unseen."

Moreover, she was still wearing a dance costume; it was just that the palace servants didn't gossip about the concubines, so the matter didn't become known throughout the palace.

Nian Shilan was helpless; she was still foolish. How could such a thing be kept secret? Consort Wan hadn't gone to some remote place to wait for the Emperor.

"I thought I was the only one who knew." Consort Li pouted. She had just happened to see Consort Wan dancing and secretly inquired about it.

"But Consort Wan is really persistent. She went for three or four days in a row, and each time she would jump for several hours. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to keep it up."

"How could she really jump for several hours? There must have been palace servants observing the situation around her. They would run to inform her as soon as they saw her from afar before she started jumping."

Consort Li probably only saw her dancing because Consort Wan was trying to find her rhythm and familiarize herself with the movements.

Consort Wan originally did not want to win favor through dancing, but after falling out of favor, Consort Min was promoted to the position of Consort Min and Consort Fucha was given the title of Tian. The two of them repeatedly caused her trouble.