Chapter 126 An Lingrong 67
Time passed like flowing water. Before the empress had enjoyed a peaceful life for more than two months, she received news that Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui were in good health.
Yes, on the third day after Meizhuang gave birth to her daughter, the emperor legitimately named her Huipin and promised that after she recovered, she would help manage the six palaces with Concubine Yi.
The Queen has also taken frequent actions in the past two months, taking advantage of the common weakness of the two - the child, and launching attacks continuously.
Unfortunately, she had too many concerns. Since Concubine Qi left, she hadn't had a capable tool to lead the charge for her. As a queen, Yixiu naturally didn't dare to do anything too risky, so her actions were quite limited.
It's just the same old trick, a frame-up. Both of them stayed indoors and were surrounded by people like an iron barrel, making it impossible to get close to them.
The same applies to giving medicine.
Therefore, although he was dissatisfied with the power in his hands being distributed again, he thought that it was better to be still than to move. Only if they came out to act as directors would he be able to better seize their loopholes.
"More haste, less speed..." The queen murmured softly as she looked quietly at her no longer young face in the bronze mirror.
"What did you say?" Jianqiu, who was combing her hair behind her, didn't hear clearly, so she bent down slightly and asked.
"Nothing, I just feel that this harem is still too deserted. Ever since Concubine Qi passed away, I haven't even had anyone to talk to."
Jianqiu, still expertly combing her hair, smiled upon hearing this: "If Your Majesty feels there's nothing useful in this palace, why not discuss with the Empress Dowager about selecting some new people to come in? This would also prevent Concubine Yi and the others from becoming so powerful."
"Alas, do you think I haven't mentioned this? But if the emperor doesn't want to, the empress dowager naturally won't want to either." Although the queen was jealous of those favored concubines, she didn't mind promoting them if they were obedient and didn't want to give birth to an heir for the emperor.
But the emperor's harem is small, and the ones he likes are even fewer. Moreover, each of them is very cunning and unwilling to be inferior to others.
Jianqiu thought of someone: "What do you think, Madam? What do you think of Noble Lady Fucha?"
"Her? Her background is good, but unfortunately she is stupid. The emperor treats her well only because of her surname." The queen shook her head. It would be fine if Noble Lady Fucha was favored, but it was obvious that this person only had a little pity from the emperor now. As time went on, she would still be useless.
"That being said, she needs it just right now." Jianqiu held up a box filled with various pearls and jadeite. "I heard a few days ago that Noble Lady Fucha gave Concubine Wan a hard time in the corridor."
"She is just a noble lady, yet she can bully Concubine Wan?" The Queen finally became interested and picked up a red gold hairpin. Jianqiu took it and put it on the Queen.
"I was also very curious, so I sent someone to inquire about it. It turns out that the other day, when Concubine Wan was passing by the Imperial Garden on her way back from paying her respects to the Empress, Noble Lady Fucha had an argument with her, and then Concubine Wan fell into the water."
After putting on the hairpin, Jianqiu raised a palm-sized bronze mirror and looked at the bun at the back of Yixiu's hair. She waited for the queen to nod before accompanying her out.
"Then why didn't Concubine Wan send anyone to Jingren Palace or Yangxin Palace to inform them of this? Why did she just report her illness and endure it?"
"Now that she's childless and offended the Emperor with her words, naturally no one takes her seriously. That day, when Noble Lady Fucha and she were talking in the Imperial Garden, they had their servants stand back. Then, when Concubine Wan fell into the water, Noble Lady Fucha insisted it was her own fault. Concubine Wan had no evidence and couldn't see the Emperor, so naturally, she had nowhere to appeal."
Jianqiu couldn't help but laugh as she helped the empress into the sedan chair. "Besides, it's already autumn now. Concubine Wan developed a high fever the same day she was rescued from the water. The master was on the verge of death, so the servants had no time to bother causing trouble for others. I heard that Suiyuxuan was in chaos, and it was Concubine Yi and Concubine Hui who sent servants to help clean it up."
"The three of them are truly a loving sisterhood," the Queen sighed, her voice unclear. "Then you should go visit Wanpin later and bring her some medicine. Since her two sisters are still willing to support her, who knows when Wanpin will be served on the Emperor's table again."
"Yes, I understand. What about Noble Lady Fucha?"
"Since no one knows how Concubine Wan fell into the water, then I naturally don't know either." The Queen saw them arrive at the Cining Palace, and her smile became even more dignified and appropriate. "Poor Concubine Fucha may have had a miscarriage, but she did give birth to a child and was born into a prominent Manchu family. Naturally, I should give her a position and comfort her."
"Your Majesty is so kind." Jianqiu flattered with a smile and hurriedly bowed to Aunt Zhuxi who came to greet her.
"Your Majesty, come in. The Queen Mother is waiting for you to come in and talk."
………
On the second day, Lingrong and Meizhuang, who went out on the same day, received some trivial matters from the Queen and then said goodbye and left.
"Sister Mei, are you going to visit Sister Wan?" As Ling Rong walked out of the gate of Jingren Palace, she saw Mei Zhuang waiting outside. She immediately smiled and took her hand, and the two of them walked all the way to Suiyuxuan.
"I knew you must feel the same as I do. I can't feel at ease if I don't go to see Huan'er first, so I made a special trip to wait for you." Mei Zhuang also smiled. Since the two of them went through all these things and had a child together, their relationship has become closer.
"Sister Mei knows me. If I go alone, I will feel a little homesick." Ling Rong sighed, with a look of sadness between her eyebrows.
Mei Zhuang hurried to comfort her: "You are good in every way, but you are too kind. You have done your best for Huan'er's matter, so why do you still feel guilty?"
"Although I understand the truth, I can't help but feel emotionally frustrated. If I had gone earlier that day, perhaps I could have helped you all..."
"Even if you had gone there from the beginning, Nian Shi wouldn't have let Huan'er and me go." Mei Zhuang held her hand and said this with great force, "She might even punish you as well. If that happened, all three of us would be killed by her alone. We would be in great pain then."
"...Thank you for comforting me, sister. Actually, these are just trivial matters. Sister Wan has never been able to get over the loss of her child. I'm really worried that she will never recover."
Lingrong and Meizhuang walked through the Imperial Garden. It was late autumn, and the red maple leaves, though beautiful, evoked a sense of melancholy. Meizhuang sighed deeply, unsure of what to say.
When they arrived outside the Suiyuxuan, they looked at each other, tried their best to adjust their expressions, and walked in hand in hand.
"Hello, Sister An and Sister Mei, you are finally out." Chun'er ran over happily and saluted them both.
"Yes, we know Chun'er has worked hard to take care of Huan'er during this period, and we specially brought you your favorite milk pastry." Meizhuang smiled and waved her hand, and Caiyue beside her hurriedly handed the food box of snacks to Yu'er beside her.
"Thank you, sister. Actually, Chun'er didn't do anything. Sister Wan always didn't want to see people before, and she would cry when she saw me, so Chun'er didn't dare to go to Sister Wan's room casually." Chun'er touched her head embarrassedly.
"Later, when Sister Wan fell ill, it was Aunt Ronglu and Sister Caiyue who helped take care of her. I could only stay by Sister Wan's side."
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