Chapter 635 Testing

He Lan Yanran said, "The person is dead, so watch your mouth!"

Shu Yan said coldly, "What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking about every day. Tell me who you like."

"Shu Yan, what nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean by 'the person I like'? We're both concubines in the palace. Are you trying to kill me by saying such things?" He Lan Yanran tried to remain calm.

"When the Emperor was in the palace, I thought you were trying to seduce him by flying kites in the Imperial Garden every day. But after the Emperor left the palace, you were still flying kites in the Imperial Garden. Who were you flying those kites for? You were sending your longing thoughts to the kites. Tell me, who were you longing for?" Shu Yan said bluntly.

"I... I don't have any crush on anyone. Don't talk nonsense, or I'll have to see you out. And don't ever come to my palace again," Helan Yanran said.

“I heard everything.”

"What did you hear...?"

"I heard you reciting poetry in the Imperial Garden. Are you lovesick? Who are you thinking about?"

Helan Yanran breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself: So Shu Yan doesn't know yet. She then said, "I was just thinking about the Emperor. Don't you think about him too?"

When the Emperor was mentioned, Shu Yan's eyes lit up. "Of course I want him! Which woman in the harem doesn't want the Emperor? But as long as the Empress is around, none of us can get close to him. I really envy the Empress for being so favored by the Emperor. So we must find a way to win his favor. We're not unattractive..."

At this moment, Shang Hong, who was hiding to the side, had already decided to kill her; Shu Ronghua could not be allowed to live.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and a palace maid outside said, "Your Highness, Consort Gao requests your presence."

Shu Yan asked, "Why did Consort Gao invite you out so late?"

He Lan Yanran said, "I don't know."

Helan Yanran put on her cloak and took Shu Yan's hand. "Let's go together. Consort Gao must have something to tell us."

She then personally covered Shu Yan's face with a veil, saying, "This way, no one will see the injury on your face. The Empress has indeed gone too far, causing you to be punished by the Emperor for no reason."

Upon hearing this, Shu Yan felt wronged again. So many people were talking about it, yet the Empress singled out her for the blame. The Empress was clearly targeting her on purpose.

The Empress was only pretending to be magnanimous; in reality, she was very scheming. Sooner or later, she would let the Emperor know the Empress's true colors.

Only after Shu Yan and He Lan Yanran left did Shang Hong emerge from the shadows and leave Chaoyang Palace.

Just as he left, Wuxin emerged from the shadows. He had once seen Consort Lan flying kites in the Imperial Garden, and Commander Shang often patrolled the area. The two of them had fallen for each other over time.

Wuxin didn't know whether she should tell Jiang Fenghua about this, since Jiang Fenghua had lost her memory.

In the end, he still went to Kunning Palace.

-

On the other side, when Helan Yanran and Shuyan arrived at Yongle Palace, they found that Consort Song and the other concubines were also present.

The two bowed respectfully.

Gao Qingtong said, "Consort Lan, please have a seat!"

Gao Qingtong glanced at Shu Yan, her attitude very distant, "Shu Ronghua, please sit down as well."

"Yes." The two bowed respectfully.

Gao Qingtong said gently, "It's so late, thank you all for coming. The Empress and Consort Shu have something to discuss with you."

Gao Qingtong had been acting as the Empress in charge of the harem, and everyone trusted her greatly, after all, her rank was above theirs, and everyone listened respectfully.

"I and Consort Song sympathize with the fate of Consort Zhang and Consort Pan. They are truly pitiful. So we thought we should all send them off on their final journey together. We have been together in the palace for several years and can be considered sisters. It's just a pity that they..." Gao Qingtong's eyes were red.

Song Qing said, "I suggest that we copy more Buddhist scriptures for them, hoping that they can ascend to the Pure Land as soon as possible and not suffer in the next life. As for the matter of keeping vigil, everyone should take the initiative. It's only a few days in total, so we can grit our teeth and get through it."

Gao Qingtong said gently, "I also agree that we should take turns keeping vigil. If you feel unwell, please let me know. It's freezing cold, and keeping vigil all night is quite difficult."

She then asked with concern, "Consort Lan caught a cold. Are you feeling better?"

Helan Yanran looked flustered. "I'm much better. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"I see that Consort Lan doesn't look well. Please have the imperial physician examine her properly! Some illnesses become more difficult to treat the longer they are left untreated," Gao Qingtong said with concern.

She said, "It's probably because it's too cold. I've always been a bit sensitive to cold since I was little. I'll be fine if I wear more clothes."

Helan Yanran quickly changed the subject, "Don't you all feel that Her Majesty the Empress has changed a bit since returning to the palace? She seems more distant."

One of the concubines chimed in, "I feel like the Empress doesn't recognize us anymore. The Empress wasn't like this before."

At this point, Gao Qingtong and Song Qing also sighed. Indeed, they had become much more estranged. They were the closest to Jiang Fenghua. At first, they only heard that the Empress was ill, but they never saw her, which was very strange.

Shu Yan dared not utter another word, and listened intently; the Empress's behavior was indeed quite strange.

After a while, the concubines came out of Yongle Palace. Shang Hong was patrolling with a team of imperial guards when he saw Helan Yanran's figure in the distance.

Helan Yanran also saw him, and she quickly avoided his gaze and hurriedly returned to the palace.

With a cold expression, Shang Hong addressed the Imperial Guards: "All of you, be alert! It is our responsibility to protect the palace."

He was plotting how to take her away from the palace without anyone noticing, and it seemed that the only opportunity would come on the day of the two empresses' funerals.

"Lord Shang, I've been looking for you for ages!" Wuxin walked up to Shang Hong.

Shang Hong asked, "Is the Emperor looking for me?"

Wuxin also looked in the direction the concubines had left, and said with a smile, "It was Her Majesty the Empress who had something to discuss with Commander Shang. Commander Shang, please come in!"

Shang Hong was taken aback. "May I ask, sir, what business does Her Majesty have with me?"

"Commander Shang will find out when he gets there."

Shang Hong made some arrangements and then left with Wu Xin.

Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Jiang Fenghua, dressed in a noble and magnificent robe, sat upright in the main seat of the main hall.

As Shang Hong was led into the main hall, he felt increasingly terrified. "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."

"Lord Shang, please don't stand on ceremony!" She then said to Granny Wang, "Lord Shang is still personally patrolling the palace in such cold weather. Thank you for your hard work, Commander Shang."

"I do not find it arduous; protecting the safety of the imperial city is my duty."

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "Granny Wang, make Lord Shang a cup of hot tea and bring him a plate of snacks."

Granny Wang replied, "Yes."

Shang Hong felt flattered.

Granny Wang served hot tea and snacks, and stood respectfully to one side.

Jiang Fenghua said, "These pastries were sent to the palace by my cousin from my maternal family. They taste quite good. Lord Shang, please try them and see if you like them."

Shang Hong picked up his teacup, took a small sip, stood up from his seat, and said respectfully, "Your subject does not like to eat snacks."