Chapter 185 An Lingrong 126
Coming out of the palace, Zhen Huan unexpectedly ran into Darza Khan in the Old Summer Palace. However, looking out, the area was open, and there were people coming and going on the other side of the pool. Zhen Huan was certain, and she greeted Darza Khan with a proper smile.
"What a coincidence, is Darza Khan here enjoying the scenery?"
"This Khan is waiting here for the Queen."
Darza still looked unhurried, but Zhen Huan discovered at such a close distance that his eyes were strangely similar to those of a foreigner she had met before.
Zhen Huan felt her heartbeat quicken, and a bad premonition suddenly struck her: "I wonder what the Khan means by this? We don't seem to know each other."
"Of course, of course. I have never been to the capital before, so I have no way of knowing the Queen." Darza smiled more kindly.
"However, my father once visited the capital, but unfortunately, he was bitten by a venomous snake and died from the poison. He was accompanied by only two guards that day, and when they arrived, they only saw a young couple hurriedly leaving."
Zhen Huan's pupils shrank, but her voice became more steady: "That's such a pity. Perhaps that couple happened to be passing by and were unable to rescue your father."
"That's true for him, but not necessarily for this Khan." Darza looked at the unwavering Concubine Rou in amazement, and couldn't help but feel fond of her. If he hadn't sent a trusted confidant to investigate immediately, he would never have guessed that this seemingly delicate and slender concubine of the Qing Emperor dared to have an affair with the Emperor's brother.
When he learned the news, he realized what a big surprise it was for him.
"If that couple had rescued him back then, how could I have become Khan? So, in a sense, that couple should be my benefactors."
Darza stared at Zhen Huan with his hawk-like eyes, not missing any of her expressions.
Zhen Huan suddenly smiled and said, "I never thought that the Khan would be so grateful. But I, the people of the Qing Dynasty, probably don't care whether I am your benefactor or not."
"...It seems that Imperial Concubine Rou and Prince Guo do not want my thank-you gift?"
"This really confuses me. I have something else to do, so I won't disturb the Khan's leisure."
Zhen Huan's heart skipped a beat, realizing that things had finally taken the direction she least expected. Although she didn't know how Darza got the information, Zhen Huan didn't want to continue to argue with him.
Unfortunately, she wanted to leave, but Darza refused to comply. The man's slender figure positioned himself squarely in Zhen Huan's path, and he didn't bother probing her further. "I don't care about your affair with Prince Guo. I've come here for one purpose only. I believe Imperial Concubine Rou is a wise woman who knows how to choose."
"I am just a concubine in the inner palace, unworthy of the Khan's praise. Besides, we have no grudges against each other, so why would the Khan want to kill my entire family and condemn them to eternal damnation?"
"If you refuse to help, you will be the one who killed your family and your lover." Darza said, not wanting to listen to Zhen Huan's explanation. He just bared his hyena fangs and said, "If the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty refuses to help Junggar cure the epidemic within a month, then I will have to take away the Emperor's beloved concubine in exchange."
Zhen Huan watched him leave, and then she seemed to have lost all her strength and fell limply into Jin Xi's arms. After a long time, she staggered back to Bitong Academy.
They didn't notice a figure flashing behind a huge rock not far away.
A month later, Darza left the capital in a state of unease. Although he took with him the prescription for curing the epidemic, it also cost him a huge price.
No one connected his departure with Concubine Rou's serious illness, just as no one connected Concubine Rou's sudden illness with Prince Guo's guarding outside the Great Wall.
Except for An Lingrong, she just watched the development of things silently, and began to study the art of incense in the name of interest.
“It smells so good.”
Ling Rong had just lit the incense when she heard the emperor's deep voice behind her. She hurriedly turned to salute, but the emperor grabbed her. She had no choice but to stand up and ask, "Why didn't you let anyone know when the emperor arrived?"
"I've finished reviewing the memorials, and since I haven't seen you in a while, I didn't ask them to pass it on." The emperor sniffed the scent and smiled as he praised, "You've made this incense beautifully. It makes me feel clear-headed and bright-eyed. It's better than ambergris."
"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that I will take your praise seriously?" Lingrong pulled the emperor to sit down, and hurriedly ordered someone to bring him his favorite tea and snacks.
The emperor looked at her busy figure and suddenly grabbed Ling Rong's wrist: "Rong'er, sit down. I want to talk to you."
Ling Rong sat opposite the emperor, confused, and tilted her head to look at him: "Your Majesty, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"... Let's chat. What have you been busy with these days?" The emperor was also stunned by the question. He just suddenly wanted to find someone to talk to, and suddenly thought of Lingrong. He felt that she was very suitable, so he came to her, but he didn't know what to talk about for a while, so he had to pick a topic at random.
Ling Rong's eyes lit up: "A few days ago, I and some sisters took the princesses to play shuttlecock. Wen Yi had the most tricks, and Yong An had the most number."
"The day before yesterday, I took them fishing. Kangjia caught a red carp half an arm's length long. It was so beautiful. Now it's in the tank where Concubine Jing keeps turtles. Lingxi didn't catch anything all day."
"And yesterday, when I was teaching the children how to manage things, Longyue was the smartest, and Jinghe was the most attentive."
She talked about the princesses one by one, explaining their hobbies, specialties, and personalities in detail. Even the emperor could not see the falseness in the loving expression on her face when she mentioned the princesses.
"The children all like you very much." The emperor thought of Wen Yi and Hong Zhou when they were young. She always received the sincere love of the children.
If there were only one or two children, she could be said to be seeking fame and reputation. But all the children in the palace have respected and loved her for decades, which shows that she is truly a loving mother.
"I like children, too." Lingrong's matter-of-fact words suddenly made the emperor smile. He looked at Lingrong's puzzled expression, and his depressed mood finally brightened up.
"Rong'er, are you willing to be the Queen of the Qing Dynasty?"
The emperor leaned on the couch, his expression looking somewhat nonchalant, but what he said did not sound like a joke at all, and he did not even give Lingrong the right to refuse.
Even Lingrong would not refuse.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
