Chapter 121 The Legend of Zhen Huan: An Lingrong 31
Consort Wan gave birth to the fourth princess in July, and the emperor named her Longyue.
When they returned to the palace, the Emperor brought along the Fourth Prince, at An Lingrong's suggestion, as the Fourth Prince was of marriageable age.
They should be taken back and properly instructed by the Imperial Study Master.
Although the Emperor disliked the Fourth Prince, he was still his own son, so the Emperor agreed to bring the Fourth Prince back.
The Fifth Prince, who was at the Hot Spring Palace, was also brought back, since the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince were born in the same year.
Consort Yu was in poor health and was still recuperating at the imperial palace.
Although Consort Tian and Consort Shen received little favor from the emperor, they were fortunate enough to become pregnant. In the palace, having a child, regardless of gender, was a form of security.
Even Consort Cao, who was implicated by Consort Hua, received the title of "Shun" on Wenyi's birthday.
Before they knew it, it was winter of the ninth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. An Lingrong was pregnant again, and this child was the very child that the original owner had regretted.
However, that's not entirely true, because it's buy one get one free.
Before this, Consort Tian and Consort Shen gave birth to the Fifth Princess and the Sixth Princess respectively, Consort Wan gave birth to the twin sisters, the Seventh Princess and the Eighth Princess, and Consort Hui gave birth to the Ninth Princess.
The following summer, An Lingrong gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, the Ninth Prince Hongye and the Tenth Princess Qinghuan.
Yongshou Palace —
An Lingrong lay on the bed, looking weak and pale.
Xu Yi entered the palace to announce, "Your Majesty, Consort Wan requests an audience."
An Lingrong's eyes flickered, realizing her purpose. She had Lan Xu help her sit up and said, "Please invite Consort Wan in."
After entering the hall, Consort Wan bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Highness the Imperial Noble Consort. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Rise, Lanxu, please sit down," An Lingrong instructed.
"Yes." Lanxu brought over a stool, and Consort Wan sat down on it.
"I wonder what brings Consort Wan to Yongshou Palace?" An Lingrong asked, feigning confusion.
Consort Wan: "Your Majesty is well aware that Consort Shen and I have people left behind by the Empress Dowager."
"I do know." To be precise, all the concubines had some suspicions about this.
Consort Wan continued, "One of them told me before the Emperor that His Majesty intended to make you Empress, but unfortunately, I have a copy of the Empress Dowager's edict."
The will stated that Anling could not be made empress.
"You want to make a deal with me?" An Lingrong raised an eyebrow and looked at Wanpin with a smile.
"Your Highness, did you already know?" Seeing An Lingrong's expression, Consort Wan frowned, having some bad suspicions.
An Lingrong nodded. "Not only do I know that the Empress Dowager left a will, but I also know where you hid it."
"Then it seems that this deal is not going to happen. I suppose if Your Majesty were willing, that edict would soon disappear without a trace?"
Consort Wan smiled bitterly. The Imperial Noble Consort was even more unfathomable than the Empress Dowager had guessed; her plans were unlikely to succeed.
An Lingrong did not answer directly, but instead asked, "I am very curious, what conditions do you want to propose to me?"
Consort Wan did not hide anything and answered with her eyes lowered, "Qing Dynasty princesses always had the fate of being married off to foreign powers, just like Princess Chaogui before."
"I had intended to use this imperial edict to exchange for the fact that my daughter with Consort Shen would not be married off to a foreign ruler, but instead be married off to someone in the capital."
"If that's all there is to it, then I can agree."
Although An Lingrong managed to steal the imperial edict without anyone noticing, Wanpin, Shenpin, and their confidants all knew about it.
If the matter had been told to the Emperor even without a will, given the Emperor's suspicious nature and his understanding of the Empress Dowager, he would definitely have believed that there was such a will.
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