Chapter 220 When Everyone is Reborn: The Legend of Zhen Huan - The Harem Dragon Slayer Chapter 3
After returning to the palace from the Yuanmingyuan, the concubines gathered again at Jingren Palace to pay their respects to the Empress.
Looking at the vacant position of Consort Hua, no one thought she was taking advantage of the situation, after all, Consort Hua had been recuperating for a long time.
"Consort Wan." At the end of her greetings, Yixiu gently addressed Zhen Huan.
"Your concubine is here."
"This is a brocade quilt blessed by a lama. I bestow it upon you today, hoping that you will soon bear an heir for the Emperor."
As Yixiu spoke, Jianqiu brought over a brocade quilt. Zhen Huan thanked her shyly. Since entering the palace, she had only felt that everything was going smoothly. Not only was she favored by the Emperor, but the Emperor was also very generous.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
With Consort Hua absent, her usual lackeys, Consort Li and Noble Lady Cao, remained silent. Strangely, even Consort Qi refrained from mocking Zhen Huan; everyone smiled warmly, seemingly extremely pleased with the Empress's actions.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back now."
"This concubine takes her leave."
Consort Li and Noble Lady Cao left together, followed closely by Zhen Huan. Some concubines and ladies-in-waiting also left, but a few people remained seated inside the hall without moving.
Consort Qi, Li Jingyan, was the first to lose her composure. Looking at the people sitting opposite her, she questioned, "Consort Jing and Consort An, why aren't you two leaving?"
Consort Jing smiled slightly, her demeanor gentle, unlike her previous quiet and unassuming self when she was "counting bricks": "This concubine has something she wishes to discuss with Her Majesty the Empress."
An Lingrong glanced at the anxious Consort Qi, then at the gentle Consort Jing, and seemed to be deep in thought. She rose and bowed to Yi Xiu: "Since entering the palace, I have been well taken care of by Her Majesty the Empress, and I have nothing of value. The only thing I have that is my embroidery skills are somewhat acceptable, so I specially embroidered a round fan for Her Majesty."
An Lingrong had Baojuan, who was behind her, present her with a fan embroidered with green mountains and clear waters, and wished, "May Your Majesty receive the blessings of Heaven and Earth, enjoy good health, and have a prosperous year."
What sounded like a normal blessing caused the expressions of several people in the hall to change. Yixiu paused, then had Jianqiu take the fan. She held it in her hand, examined it carefully, and smiled as she looked at the somewhat familiar pattern: "I am very satisfied with the fan of Consort An. The 'Green Landscape' painting is quite impressive. I think it would be excellent to present a 'Green Landscape' painting at the Emperor's birthday banquet."
"Your Majesty flatters me."
"With virtue and courtesy, upholding morality without arrogance, and being a respectful and courteous lady, I believe the title 'Zhuang' is very suitable for you."
Upon hearing this, An Lingrong slowly raised her head, exchanged a glance with Yixiu, and bowed with a smile: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am especially pleased to see you."
"I've heard that Consort Fucha is arrogant and domineering. Consort An is now living in Yanxi Palace, so it's a shame that she's missing a good mistress."
Consort Jing suddenly spoke, causing the others to turn their heads. Yixiu and An Lingrong obviously understood, but Li Jingyan was still a little uneasy, wondering how to prove herself without leaving a trace.
"Your Majesty, I think the title 'He' is also quite good."
Forced to utter these words, Li Jingyan stared expectantly at the other three, her words carrying a hidden meaning. Yixiu sighed helplessly and waved for the servants in the hall to leave. Li Jingyan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.
"Finally, there's no one else here..."
Yi Xiu couldn't bear to look. Two lifetimes later, Li Jingyan still had no brains left. "If Ling Rong and Ruo Zhao weren't here, what would you have said today?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I haven't thought about it yet." Li Jingyan was a little embarrassed. How should she put it? Having suddenly arrived in this familiar yet strange world and received the memories, Li Jingyan's first reaction was to find the Empress. It was a habit, and she hadn't thought about what to do if the Empress didn't come.
"You."
“It’s not my fault, I was just angry,” Li Jingyan said, looking at Yixiu with a wronged expression. “Your Majesty, you have no idea what that person said about me, like ‘pink and delicate, how old are you this year’? Bah! He doesn’t even look at his face full of wrinkles, like an orange peel, and he still dares to say that about me…”
"Alright, alright, let's get down to business." Yi Xiu quickly interrupted, feeling that Li Jingyan joining their side would only be a hindrance. "Ling Rong, Ruo Zhao, when did you arrive?"
An Lingrong and Feng Ruozhao exchanged a glance. An Lingrong answered first, "I came after Sister Mei's false pregnancy, and so did Sister Mei."
"Chen Meizhuang is here too!" Li Jingyan couldn't help but exclaim, clearly surprised that so many people had encountered such a strange event.
"I arrived last night." Feng Ruozhao was much calmer. After all, Shen Meizhuang was confined in Xianfu Palace. Living in the same palace, she had noticed some clues.
"Consort Hua has also arrived," Yixiu added casually.
An Lingrong and Feng Ruozhao had roughly guessed it, but Li Jingyan was still very shocked: "Consort Hua is here too? How can she be so tolerant?"
Her words made everyone else glance at her. It has to be said, Li Jingyan really understood Nian Shilan.
“There’s no need to rush this,” Yixiu said in a deep voice, her gaze sweeping over the three people below. “Huafei and I already have a plan. If you want to live in seclusion, then don’t get involved. You can leave now.”
None of the three moved. Li Jingyan even shouted, "I can't stand this wretched place anymore! What's your plan, Your Majesty? Just tell me. Should we get rid of Orange Peel first, or Uya?"
Yi Xiu was speechless. "I didn't realize Li Jingyan was a military officer." He continued, "Why are you rolling up your sleeves? Who told you to go in with real swords and spears?"
An Lingrong and Feng Ruozhao couldn't help but chuckle to themselves. Meeting the familiar Li Jingyan in this world was probably the only thing that made them feel at ease.
"I intend to support Hongshi to ascend the throne..."
“Hongshi’s brain…” Li Jingyan wanted to say something, but quietly shut her mouth under Yixiu’s staring gaze. But her expression revealed everything. Even though she was Hongshi’s biological mother, she didn’t think Hongshi was capable. He didn’t have the brains. He barely had any in his past life, but in this life, he was just tall!
"Just take good care of Hongshi, don't worry about the rest. Lingrong, Ruozhao..."
Yi Xiu looked at the other two, and without her saying a word, they knew what they should do.
"I am skilled in blending spices. Consort Wan is favored, so I, as her younger sister, should also send her some good things."
"Since I am out of favor, I should find a patron. The Empress Dowager is a good choice."
“Hmm, that makes sense,” Yixiu nodded in satisfaction. It’s good to talk to smart people. “The Empress Dowager needs some good things, and Consort Wan serves the Emperor, so naturally she can’t be short of them either. Lingrong’s incense-making skills are quite good, so let’s make more.”
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress's decree."
The three looked at each other and smiled. Li Jingyan didn't understand why, but she still obediently joined in.
Soon, a delicate fragrance filled the palace.
Big Fat Orange would occasionally have a bowl of old duck soup at Jingren Palace, then go to Yikun Palace to smell the fragrance of Huanyi, and often share a lightly scented quilt with Consort Wan, admiring the golden osmanthus blossoms at Suiyu Pavilion together.
The chubby tangerine lord doted on Consort Wan, and under the leadership of Consort Jing, the concubines in the harem sought protection from the Empress Dowager. For a time, more people came to Shou Kang Palace to pay their respects. The Empress, Consort Qi, Consort Jing, Consort An, and even Consort Duan, despite being ill, came to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager twice.
One day, Fatty Orange suddenly discovered that the Empress Dowager and Longkodo were having a secret rendezvous in the palace. Fatty Orange was furious and confronted the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager fell ill from anger and passed away not long after.
After the Empress Dowager's funeral, the eldest son, perhaps feeling guilty, also fell ill on the dragon bed and was unable to get up. For the sake of the country, he could only appoint the only grown-up third prince, Hongshi, as the crown prince and guide him in handling government affairs. However, he was always infuriated by Hongshi's "dullness," and his condition worsened again.
Fortunately, he suddenly realized that Empress Yixiu might have some experience in managing the harem. So he put the Empress in charge of teaching Hongshi and selected many ministers to assist him.
Finally, as his time was drawing to a close, after meeting with all the ministers and declaring Hongshi's legitimate status, only the Empress remained in the palace to guard him, while the chubby orange cat awaited his death with regret.
"Xiao Yi..."
Before his death, the fat orange-haired man looked at Yixiu, who sat quietly beside him, at his wife who had been with him for many years. He was suddenly filled with emotion and guilt. "It is I who have let you down, I have let Honghui down..."
Yi Xiu turned around coldly, his expression showing no emotion whatsoever that Da Pang Ju had imagined: "Then go to the underworld and apologize to Yi Xiu."
"Xiao Yi..."
Fat Orange was shocked and confused, but then saw Yi Xiu give a sarcastic smile: "You remembered Yi Xiu when you were dying. You were clearly a heartless and ungrateful guy, so why are you pretending to be so affectionate? I'm not the original Yi Xiu, can't you tell at all?"
"Who...who are you?"
"I am the wife of Aisin-La Gioro Yinzhen, the Empress Dowager Ulanara Yixiu of the Great Qing Dynasty, and the mother of Emperor Chengtai. I am not some pitiful Yixiu from this world."
Yi Xiu stood up, exuding an aura of power. Even though she was only dressed in plain clothes, she looked much more imposing than the fat orange cat wearing a dragon robe.
"You, you..."
The chubby orange cat gripped the curtain hanging down beside it tightly, its pupils dilated in disbelief.
Yixiu sneered, "If you ask me, Yixiu here is too soft-hearted. What's the point of targeting your offspring? If it were me, I would naturally target you directly. Being a powerful Empress Dowager is much better than being an empress in name only."
"It's you..." Big Fat Orange finally realized that it wasn't sick, but was harmed by Yi Xiu.
"It's me... no, it's not just me. Your Majesty's old duck soup was delicious, wasn't it? Consort Hua's Joyful Fragrance smelled nice, and the osmanthus flowers in Consort Wan's palace were blooming beautifully, weren't they? And the calming incense offered by Consort An was also very effective..."
"You, you all... partnered up..."
"That's right, that's why I say you're heartless and ungrateful. Most of the women in your harem have been replaced, and you haven't even noticed. How ridiculous."
"I...I will kill you all!"
Big Fat Orange clung tightly to the curtains, barely managing to prop itself up, but Yi Xiu gave it a light push, sending it crashing back onto the bed: "Tsk tsk tsk, how pathetic."
"Stop thinking about those unrealistic things. Just die when it's time to die. Oh, and when you and your child are reunited down there, don't forget to thank us!"
"you--"
Only then did they realize that the Empress Dowager was also murdered by them, but it was too late. Big Fat Orange, filled with endless regret and rage, died of anger.
Looking at his wide, bulging eyes, Yi Xiu shook his head dismissively: "Tsk, how ugly."
Yixiu wiped her hand, which had just touched the large, chubby orange cat, with a handkerchief, casually tossing it over the cat's face. Turning around, she looked at the bright sunlight outside and announced with a smile, "The Emperor has passed away—"
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