Chapter 87 Concubine Zhen
After chatting with Concubine Rong for a while, Jiang Lan felt that Concubine Rong was a little tired, so she stood up and prepared to leave. Concubine Rong asked the senior palace maid Moer to see her off.
Mo'er had just sent Jiang Lan out when a palace maid came forward and saluted, saying, "My queen wants to see you."
Moer asked which palace the other person was from. When she learned that he was from Concubine Zhen's palace, Jiang Lan's heart sank, as if she had been hit by a stone.
Although Qi Wuhan had explained everything to her clearly and her heart knot was untied, she really hated that woman, who was like a beautiful poisonous snake. She even suspected that she was the mastermind behind the arrow that shot her to death in her previous life.
The person she could think of who most wanted to kill her at the moment was Concubine Zhen.
The other party had liked Qi Wuhan for a long time, and even after entering the palace, she still did not give up on him. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the deeper the hatred. God knows how paranoid the love in her heart is, and how paranoid the hatred is.
"Miss, please follow me quickly. The Empress is still waiting." Seeing that Jiang Lan did not leave, the palace maid urged her again, looking anxious, as if she was afraid that she would be punished if she went back late.
Moer kindly reminded Jiang Lan that Concubine Zhen was currently in favor, implying that she should not offend her.
…
When they were about to reach Concubine Zhen's bedroom, Jiang Lan stopped for a moment. The palace maid asked her what was wrong. She silently adjusted her mood, said it was okay, and continued walking forward.
The air in the hall was filled with the scent of litchi. Behind the curtains, a graceful figure lay on a chaise longue. A hand as delicate as a water chestnut rested lightly on her temples. The tassels on her golden hairpin hung down from her temples, making the bright flower on her forehead even more enchanting.
"Is anyone here?" the person lying on the chair asked with his eyes closed.
A palace maid serving in the hall immediately went out to take a look, and then came back to report that the person had arrived, fearing that she would be punished if she delayed for a second.
When Jiang Lan walked out of the palace gate, the palace maid who brought her here asked her to wait here for a while, and then went in to report.
Then Jiang Lan stood outside the door and waited for about a quarter of an hour before the palace maid came out and invited her in.
As soon as she entered the hall, Jiang Lan felt like she was being watched.
The charming almond-shaped eyes looked at her, and his gaze swept from the jewelry on her head to the dress she was wearing. There was a sense of contempt in his eyes, as if he thought it was nothing special.
Jiang Lan was dressed the same as usual today, not deliberately dressing up. She wasn't there for a talent show, so being decent and graceful was enough.
"Raise your head so I can see." The contempt became more and more obvious.
When Jiang Lan raised her head, Concubine Zhen was stunned for a moment. She probably didn't expect that this face would be so beautiful, so beautiful that it disgusted her.
"Come here, let me take a good look at you." Concubine Zhen beckoned. The bright red nail polish was so beautiful that it seemed as if it were stained with blood, and so bright that it was a little creepy.
Jiang Lan took two steps forward and then stopped, not daring to get too close to the woman. Her intuition told her that there was danger.
"Come closer." Concubine Zhen beckoned again, and the bright nail polish looked like a beautiful poisonous snake spitting out its core.
Jiang Lan stopped where she was and really didn't want to get any closer. She even had goosebumps.
"Am I that scary?" Concubine Zhen raised her red lips and smiled charmingly, with a look of contempt in her eyes.
Jiang Lan silently adjusted her mood and replied calmly, "Your Highness, I'm afraid that if I get too close, I might offend you."
Concubine Zhen sneered and said, "You are quite clever with your words. I asked you to come over, but you refused. Do you think you don't take me seriously?"
"I dare not." Jiang Lan took two steps forward and just stopped when Concubine Zhen suddenly stood up, grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward, then two palace maids came over and grabbed her shoulders and held her down.
Jiang Lan just struggled a bit when Concubine Zhen pinched her face, the bright red nail polish digging into her flesh. Concubine Zhen looked down at her face from above, her eyes filled with jealousy and hatred. Her red lips curled into a beautiful yet perverse smile. "Tell me, if I destroy your face, will he still want you?"
As she spoke, she pulled out a hairpin from Jiang Lan's head. The cold tip of the hairpin slid down Jiang Lan's forehead to her face. Suddenly, her expression changed and her eyes were fixed on the word "Lan" engraved on the hairpin.
It's his handwriting.
"Did he give this to you?"
Those almond-shaped eyes stared at Jiang Lan viciously and jealously, with a sense of madness that said, "If I can't get it, I'll destroy it."
"I bought it myself." Jiang Lan wanted to retort, but her mind told her that it was best not to provoke this woman at this moment, otherwise she might do something unexpected.
"He's still a little liar. I know his handwriting." Concubine Zhen leaned down, her beautiful red lips close to Jiang Lan's ear, "He and I have been together much longer than you. We were childhood sweethearts, and we've been inseparable since we were young. He is willing to do anything for me, and he even goes into battle to kill the enemy so that I can have a backer and gain a firm foothold in the harem. What can you compare with me?"
Jiang Lan now found these words ridiculous and actually laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Concubine Zhen asked coldly.
Jiang Lan said, "I laughed at myself for being so stupid. It turns out that what was said outside was true."
"It's not that stupid to know that you are ridiculous." Concubine Zhen showed a satisfied look and withdrew her hand that was pinching her face.
Jiang Lan continued to act like she was "disheartened after being deceived." "Why did he lie to me?"
"You are just a tool to carry on the family line." Concubine Zhen answered her considerately.
"..." Jiang Lan silently told herself to hold back her laughter. It would be best if she could shed a few tears at this moment. She tried hard and tears welled up in her eyes.
Concubine Zhen was even more satisfied. She lay back on the chaise longue and admired Jiang Lan's sad look.
"Now that you know who you are, don't have any unreasonable expectations in the future. In his heart, you are not even worth a finger of mine."
“…”
Hold it in, don't laugh.
At this time, a palace maid came in and reported to Hong Gu, the chief palace maid beside Concubine Zhen. Hong Gu bent down and whispered something to Concubine Zhen. Concubine Zhen smiled and said to Jiang Lan, "The Marquis is waiting for you. You can go back first."
"I'll take my leave." Jiang Lan acted as if she was numb with sadness. Just as she was about to turn around, Concubine Zhen called her back.
"Why did you forget to take the hairpin?"
Concubine Zhen handed over the orchid hairpin. When Jiang Lan raised her hand to take it, Concubine Zhen suddenly let go of the hairpin, which fell to the ground and broke.
"I was really careless. Pick it up quickly." Concubine Zhen said lightly.
Jiang Lan slowly squatted down, picked up the broken hairpin, and followed the palace maid out.
Qi Wuhan was waiting in the corridor. When he saw the palace maid bringing Jiang Lan over, he walked over quickly. When the palace maid bowed to him and was about to leave, he stopped her.
"Did this Lord let you go?"
He noticed the nail marks on Jiang Lan's face at first glance. His expression instantly turned cold and a sense of oppression came over him. The palace maid was so frightened that she trembled and dared not look up.
"You go back first." Jiang Lan reached out and pulled his sleeve to tell him not to be angry. Seeing that Qi Wuhan didn't say anything else, the palace maid hurriedly took her leave.
"What's going on?" He raised his hand and gently stroked her face, his eyes full of heartache, "Don't hide it from me."
"It's a good thing you didn't get disfigured, otherwise you would have ended up marrying an ugly girl." Jiang Lan joked with him in a lighthearted tone, then raised her hand and gently smoothed his frown, saying with a smile, "Frowning makes you age faster."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Wuhan hugged her in his arms, holding her very tightly. Jiang Lan also raised her hands to hug him. All the grievances she had suffered from Concubine Zhen were now dispelled by the sense of security he brought her.
"It's my fault. I've gotten you into trouble." He apologized in her ear with a pained and guilty tone.
"It's too late for you to regret now. I won't cancel the engagement a second time." Jiang Lan quickly glanced around, stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the face, then buried her head in his arms, her face flushed with shyness.
The depression in Qi Wuhan's expression was immediately swept away, and a gentle smile appeared in his eyes again.
"Don't worry, I will never let you suffer any injustice again in the future." He now knew how hostile Concubine Zhen was to Jiang Lan, and he would never be so careless as he was today. He hugged her tighter and felt scared for the first time.
Jiang Lan was held so tightly by him that she was almost breathless, but she was reluctant to let him go. When he realized something was wrong, he quickly let her go. Seeing her take a deep breath, he was a little amused and taught her a trick. If he hugged her too tightly in the future, she should pinch him.
…
When leaving the palace, Qi Wuhan asked Jiang Lan to ride in his carriage. Jiang Lan also wanted to stay with him for a while, so she rode in the same carriage with him.
After getting on the carriage, Jiang Lan felt that he seemed to be hesitant to speak, and thought it was probably related to Concubine Zhen. She let him ask whatever he wanted to ask, and she was not angry.
Qi Wuhan really wanted to know what Concubine Zhen had said to her. If any misunderstanding arose and was not explained in time, he was afraid that a rift would arise between the two of them.
"What did she tell you?" When he asked, his tone was still a little cautious. He also secretly observed her expression and felt relieved when he saw that she was not angry.
"It's nothing," Jiang Lan said lightly, "Just say that you two are childhood sweethearts and have been close friends since you were young."
"Bullshit!" Qi Wuhan cursed in frustration. After calming down, he explained to her, "I haven't even spoken to her before. What's with all that talk? That's all nonsense."
"Yeah." Jiang Lan nodded. "I knew it was nonsense, so I didn't believe a word of it."
"I swear." Qi Wuhan wanted to swear to prove his innocence.
Jiang Lan told him not to swear, and added, "If I don't believe you, it's useless for you to swear."
"..." Qi Wuhan smiled helplessly, hugged her into his arms again, and said lovingly, "Xiao Lan'er, sometimes you say things that are really irritating."
Jiang Lan felt that there was nothing wrong with what she said...
"I heard that Concubine Rong also met you." Qi Wuhan changed the subject.
Jiang Lan nodded and waited for his next words.
Qi Wuhan told her about Concubine Rong's situation.
Rong Fei was originally a concubine in the palace. She gave birth to Prince Rui for the emperor while she was in the palace. Later, after the emperor ascended the throne, she was named Rong Fei and later gave birth to Prince Ning for the emperor.
After giving birth to Prince Rui, Concubine Rong's body became a little weak. Later, she gave birth to Prince Ning. In addition, Prince Ning was born with an eye disease and was sent away as soon as he was born. The separation of mother and child made Concubine Rong's body even weaker.
Since the topic was coming up, Qi Wuhan told Jiang Lan about the mothers of Prince Fu and Prince An.
Prince Fu's biological mother was Concubine Hui, who unfortunately passed away due to illness when Prince Fu was very young. After that, Prince Fu was raised by the Queen, so Prince Fu and the Crown Prince had a very good relationship.
Prince An's biological mother is Concubine Qing, who now does not live in the palace but lives in a temple to worship Buddha.
Jiang Lan thought silently for a while, then asked about Princess Changle. "You said before that if Young Master Cui passed the imperial examination next spring, the General's Mansion would have a son-in-law. Were you referring to Princess Changle?"
"You remember my words so clearly, have you been attracted to me for a long time?" Qi Wuhan was a little proud. Jiang Lan denied it, so he did not continue to "interrogate" her. Instead, he got back to the point, "The emperor does plan to betroth Princess Changle to Cui Yan. I guess he will grant the marriage after the Spring Examination."
"Then," Jiang Lan paused, and Qi Wuhan encouraged her with a gentle look, "Princess, are you willing?"
"Cui Yan is not bad either, and we are childhood sweethearts. It's better than a blind marriage." Qi Wuhan raised his eyebrows and smiled at her again, "But compared to me, he is still far behind."
"Oh..." Jiang Lan sighed.
“…”
Qi Wuhan also sighed, "It seems that in Xiaolan'er's heart, I am not as good as that boy."
"In my heart, you are the best in the world."
He pretended to be sad to tease her, but Jiang Lan answered very seriously. Qi Wuhan was stunned for a moment, then a smile spread from his eyes. He said to her again gently and firmly, "In my heart, you are also the best girl in the world. I will marry you in this life."
…
After the carriage stopped at the gate of the Shangshu Mansion, the gatekeeper hurried in to report to the housekeeper, and the housekeeper hurried to report to Jiang Cheng that Jiang Lan had returned.
When Jiang Cheng hurried over, he saw that it was Qi Wuhan who brought Jiang Lan back. He was surprised and confused at first.
"Uncle, may I have a word with you?"
Seeing Qi Wuhan being so respectful and attentive, Jiang Cheng felt that something bad was going to happen, just like a weasel wishing a happy new year to a chicken...
Jiang Cheng first asked Jiang Lan to go back and rest, and then asked Qi Wuhan to go to the study to talk.
She knew what he was going to say to her father, and her heart was pounding on the way back, as if a group of deer were running around in her heart...
When she was almost at her residence, she turned around and walked back towards the study.
After arriving at the study, she didn't go in, but waited nearby, secretly watching when someone would come out...
In the study, Jiang Cheng sat in a chair with a look of surprise on his face, and didn't come back to his senses for a long time.
Qi Wuhan was not in a hurry and admired the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall.
When Jiang Cheng finally came to his senses, he felt his throat was a little dry. He drank a sip of tea to moisten his throat. His mood also calmed down a little. He confirmed again, "Is what the Marquis said true?"
"It's absolutely true. If you don't believe it, you can go ask the emperor." Qi Wuhan said in a knowledgeable manner.
“…”
Who has the courage to ask the emperor?
The matter is done, and Jiang Cheng can only accept this fact.
…
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