Chapter 637 The Harmful One

Inside the carriage, Helan Yanran quietly lifted a corner of the curtain to look out, just in time to see Shang Hong also looking in the direction of the carriage. Startled, she closed the curtain. The concubine riding in the same carriage as her asked with concern, "Sister Helan, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just feel a little out of sorts since I haven't left the palace in so long," Helan Yanran said listlessly.

“I never expected to have the chance to leave the palace. I haven’t left the palace since I entered it. I heard that after the funeral of Consort Pan, Her Majesty the Empress will take us to Huguo Temple to worship Buddha.”

Shu Yan was also arranged to ride in the same carriage as them. "I don't want to leave the palace. It's so much better to stay in the palace. I still have the chance to see the Emperor. Actually, we don't have a good relationship with Consort Zhang and Consort Pan. We don't need to come and see them off on their final journey."

Once Shu Yan opened her mouth, no one wanted to say another word to her.

Helan Yanran sat sideways, her hand resting on her lower abdomen. She recalled that night when she was keeping vigil for the concubines in front of the mourning hall, and the Empress suddenly walked up to her, saying, "Consort Lan, come and have a word with me!"

Before she could react, she respectfully followed the Empress to the pavilion. Just as she was about to curtsy, the Empress said, "No need for formalities, please sit down!"

It was pitch black all around, and her heart was pounding with nervousness. She slowly sat down opposite the Empress, her head slightly lowered, wondering what the Empress wanted to see her about.

The Empress said, "I've heard that Consort Lan is very skilled at making kites."

Helan Yanran was taken aback, and explained, "They're all just for fun. When I was still in my maiden life, I liked to make lanterns and kites with the craftsmen in the manor. So when I'm bored in the palace, I make some to pass the time."

Jiang Fenghua suddenly grasped her hand, "Why is it so cold?"

"I have always been cold-sensitive since I was a child, and I am especially afraid of the cold in winter."

Jiang Fenghua then had someone bring over a hand warmer and handed it to her, saying, "Since you're afraid of the cold, keep it warm!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."

Jiang Fenghua chatted casually with her, "How many years have you been in the palace?"

"Ah!" Helan Yanran trembled with nervousness. "Your Majesty, I have been in the palace for three years."

"Three years is neither a long nor a short time. The deep palace is lonely, no wonder..."

Upon hearing this, Helan Yanran unconsciously slid to her knees. Did the Empress know something?

Granny Wang quickly helped her up, saying, "Your Highness Consort Lan, please sit firmly, don't fall, the ground is cold."

Consort Lan in the harem liked to make all kinds of kites. She made so many that no one suspected her. They just thought she was really bored and liked this kind of craft. They never expected her to be so bold.

Her eyes were red and her body was trembling. "Thank you, Granny Wang."

Jiang Fenghua's gaze was cold and deep, her eyes revealing an unfathomable light. These women in front of her were all sacrifices of their families; in the end, it was the royal family that had wronged them.

Xie Shang even pretended to let Consort Lan serve him in bed in order to make her jealous.

Jiang Fenghua added, "Your father, Marquis Changping, is the Emperor's right-hand man, so it is my duty to take good care of Consort Lan."

She had heard from Hongxiu that Helan Jue, the son of the Marquis of Changping, often donated goods and money to Jishantang. Coincidentally, Helan Yanran was Helan Jue's sister. She was incredibly stupid to think that Helan Yanran and Shang Hong would do such a thing.

Jiang Fenghua glanced at her without showing any emotion. Even if she and Shang Hong were attracted to each other, they should be clear-headed and know their respective statuses. He Lan Yanran had no way out, and if Shang Hong was a heartless man, she would have no choice but to die.

Hearing her father's name, Helan Yanran felt increasingly regretful for the mistakes she had made. Her father and mother had repeatedly warned her to be careful in her words and actions in the palace and not to do anything wrong, but she had committed a capital crime and was pregnant.

"It's freezing cold. Since Consort Lan is not feeling well, she should go back to the palace to rest as soon as possible. There's no need to keep vigil."

That evening, after leaving Shou Kang Palace, He Lan Yanran went to the lakeside to end her life by jumping into the lake, but was stopped by Ao Xue and Lian Ye and brought to Jiang Fenghua instead.

She stared at Jiang Fenghua in disbelief, "Your Majesty the Empress?"

"Shang Hong has already confessed to me," she said calmly.

"I deserve to die. It has nothing to do with Lord Shang. I seduced Lord Shang. I will bear all the blame. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy and not implicate others."

Jiang Fenghua wanted to reprimand her, but in the end she said nothing and called out to the shadows, "Lord Shang, come out!"

Shang Hong walked up to He Lan Yanran and said, "How could you be so foolish? I told you I would find a way to take you away."

He Lan Yanran was in tears. "I have no way to live. I can't go with you, and I can't bring shame to my family. I've thought it over. Only if I die can I end it all."

She wanted to fake an accidental fall into the water. After all, her belly was still small, so no one could tell. If she died, no one would know she was pregnant.

Shang Hong knelt before Jiang Fenghua again, "Lan'er has been in the palace for so many years, but the Emperor has never favored her. The Emperor only loves Your Majesty. Even if Lan'er stays in the palace her whole life, she will never win the Emperor's favor. Please help Lan'er, Your Majesty. I will repay Your Majesty by serving you like a slave."

If Shang Hong hadn't shown some sense of responsibility, she definitely wouldn't have let him off the hook.

Jiang Fenghua said, "You have two choices. The first is that I will have Granny Wang secretly use medicine to abort the child in your womb, and from now on you will stay in the palace and continue to be Consort Lan, a dutiful daughter to your parents. You must also promise that you will never have any contact with Shang Hong again in this lifetime, and you must draw a clear line between each other."

Shang Hong said urgently, "I am willing to exchange my official position for Lan'er's freedom. Your Majesty, please help us, considering that Lan'er and I are truly in love."

He Lan Yanran was also heartbroken at the thought of aborting the child. She asked, "What's the second option?"

Jiang Fenghua continued, “In a few days, I will take the opportunity of attending the funerals of Consort Zhang and Consort Pan to bring Consort Lan out of the palace. I will not tell the Emperor about this, nor can the Helan family know about it. After you leave the palace, you may have to change your identity. You can no longer be the daughter of the Marquis of Changping, and you can no longer show your face in front of the Helan family. Even if you are with Shang Hong, you cannot appear in public openly. You may become a person without a name or status. You should think carefully before making a decision.”

No matter what she chose, it would bring shame to the Helan family. Now she regrets it, but it's too late. She was blinded by her emotions and pushed herself into a desperate situation.

Jiang Fenghua can help them, but she can't help them for nothing. After this, the merchants will owe her a huge favor. He Lan Yanran is also foolish to so easily give herself to another man.

If Xie Shang found out, I wonder what expression he would have on his face. Zhang Jingjing doesn't like him, and neither does Helan Yanran. Even if he were the emperor, he would still be disliked!

It's also Xie Shang's own fault. Why did he marry so many people into the palace if he didn't like them?

Xie Shang is truly a troublemaker. She doesn't even know if what she's doing is right or wrong. Seeing the deaths of Zhang Jingjing and Pan Nianru, she thinks it would be good if Helan Yanran could find happiness.