Chapter 100 An Lingrong 41
"Do you admit your mistake? You said the same thing last time." Zhen Huan sat there coldly, not looking at the disheveled Huanbi on the ground. Her voice was so cold that it seemed to contain ice chips, which made Huanbi feel guilty and painful.
"Eldest sister, I really know I was wrong. Please give me another chance, elder sister——"
"I don't know if I can trust you anymore." Zhen Huan closed her eyes, and the scene of them growing up together flashed through her mind, followed by the emperor and his disappointed eyes.
That day, she happily walked into Suiyuxuan and saw Su Peisheng outside the door anxiously signaling her to come in with his eyes.
As soon as she opened the curtain, she saw Huanbi kneeling on the ground with half of her clothes soaked. Jinxi, who was kneeling on the other side, looked at her hesitantly, wanting to say something.
The emperor stared at her for a long time, until a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back. Then he asked her in a voice that was colder than ever before, "Was this your idea, or did this palace maid act on her own?"
She knew how the emperor wanted her to respond. Even if Huanbi was removed, she and the emperor would still be a loving couple. Besides, it was Huanbi's own fault, as she had tried to curry favor with the emperor.
But in the end, she still knelt down and said: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Huanbi didn't mean it."
Her mind was a blur at that time, and she didn't even remember how she answered specifically. She only knew that she had been pleading for Huanbi and avoiding the emperor's questions, just like she did to Lingrong last time.
"A woman's kindness." The emperor seemed to comment on her like this, but after saying this, he seemed to be less angry: "Forget it, for the sake of..., just teach her a lesson."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"You should also stay awake for a few days in Suiyuxuan, so as not to bring these meaningless things and offend Rong'er and the others again."
…
The look in the emperor's eyes before he left suddenly jolted her out of her memories. Zhen Huan looked fiercely at Huanbi, who was kneeling at her feet, and finally made up her mind: "I can't keep you by my side any longer. I'll write a letter home, saying that I miss my parents, and that's why I'm asking you to go home and fulfill my filial duties on my behalf."
"No, elder sister, I won't go back. Please, don't chase me away... I, I will change, I will change, elder sister!"
"You don't have to say anything. I will discuss your marriage with my mother and will not marry you off casually. If you don't want to, you can stay in the Zhen Mansion forever, but your mother's tablet will no longer be placed in the Zhen family ancestral hall. You... take care of yourself."
Zhen Huan finished speaking and left without waiting for her to speak again, leaving Huanbi slumped on the cold floor, her face full of regret.
Zhen Huan walked out, but suddenly she lost her strength. Jin Xi, who had been waiting outside the door, hurriedly helped her into the house.
"Jingxi, do you think I did something wrong?" Zhen Huan sat in the warm room, but she couldn't stop the chill in her heart. After more than ten years of love, she was terrified that everything had changed in just two years since entering the palace. She wondered if she would one day become like this, willing to do anything to satisfy her desires.
"My lady, please allow me to say something presumptuous." Jin Xi poured her a cup of hot tea. Having spent many years in the palace, she had seen many such things. Now she completely understood Zhen Huan's inner uneasiness: "As for whether my lady was wrong in this matter... my lady was indeed wrong."
"The young master's mistake is that he cannot treat his servants equally and refuses to restrain Huanbi. This incident may seem like only Huanbi was lost, but in fact, the harm is far more than that."
"you mean?"
"Firstly, it will set a bad example for the others in our palace. They will inevitably think that you are too soft-hearted and will think that you are bullying your master. Secondly... I am afraid that the emperor will also think that you are not capable of important tasks."
She understood what Jinxi meant. How could a concubine who couldn't even control her servants gain the emperor's trust? This was why she was determined to send Huanbi away.
The only way now is to slowly change the emperor's opinion of her.
…………
Ever since Zhen Huan was confined to her room and Mei Zhuang was bedridden, An Lingrong began to guard her Heyi Hall even more closely. She was certain that both the Empress and Concubine Hua would now have their eyes fixed on her, especially since she had been safely pregnant for five months right under their noses. Any next move they made would have to be their ultimate killer move.
She secretly summoned Little Jinzi and Little Youzi and had them monitor the two messenger birds, Baojuan and Baoque. She also sent Biqing and Aunt He to check her residence daily, making sure nothing was missing or extra.
Of course, just in case, her two little babies Wuxue and Sanbao serve as the last line of defense, working together with the various birds coming and going in Chengqian Palace to monitor the entire Chengqian Palace in real time.
A whole month passed like this, and I don't know if it was because her palace was too airtight or because her two big moves were not yet ready, but everything was calm and nothing happened.
Until New Year's Eve was approaching, Zhen Huan was released. The people and birds who were following her were a little tired, and there was no movement in the two palaces.
This made An Lingrong start to doubt herself.
Is the heroine's halo so awesome that it has the ability to attract monsters?
With this mindset, Lingrong unconsciously turned her attention to Zhen Huan. This observation actually revealed something interesting: Pei'er, who was by Zhen Huan's side, had become much more active since Huanbi left.
"Juqing, didn't the young lady say she wanted to find some bright paper to paste on the windows? Why haven't you gone yet?"
Pei Er was ordering Ju Qing, who was of equal status, around in a rather haughty manner. However, Ju Qing, a hardworking and honest girl, blushed and whispered, "My master just sent a lowly maid to go. I still have to watch the tea stove."
"Then why don't you go and urge her? I think you just want to steal... Noble Lady Yi, you are here. Our young master is waiting for you."
Before Pei'er finished speaking, she saw An Lingrong not far away, and hurriedly walked over flatteringly to help her lift the curtain.
Lingrong nodded at her, and after she stepped in, she could still hear her lecturing the other palace servants in a vigorous voice.
"Lingrong is here, come and sit down." Zhen Huan smiled and pulled her onto the warm kang. She dropped her needlework and chatted with Lingrong. "It's been snowing for the past two days, and the roads are slippery. Why didn't you wait for me to find you?"
"With Ronglu and Ziyuan around, it's boring to stay in the palace all day. It's better to go out for a walk." Lingrong explained and then reminded: "Pei'er in your palace is a little too outstanding."
Zhen Huan had naturally heard about the previous lawsuit, and a look of helplessness appeared on her face. "With Huanbi gone, there's a vacancy beside me. Naturally, they want to show off in front of their master." Then she turned and told Jinxi to ask Pei'er to fetch the paper for the young maid. Sure enough, Pei'er, who had just been giving orders, blushed and left with a pout.
"Let them do more work, so they don't come up to me all the time and develop some unnecessary greed." Zhen Huan saw Ling Rong looking at her and smiled a little embarrassedly: "After this incident, I am afraid of these clever girls around me. I'm sorry to make you laugh.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
