Chapter 67 An Lingrong 8
The day before the official visit, the three of them met at Zhen Huan's Suiyuxuan. An Lingrong's Chengqian Palace was the farthest away, and by then, Meizhuang was already standing in the corridor with Zhen Huan, picking osmanthus flowers and enjoying themselves.
An Lingrong naturally wasn't afraid to approach, sensitive and suspicious like she was in her previous life. She walked over openly and asked, "What are you doing, sisters?"
"Lingrong is here, come quickly and don't stand in the sun."
An Lingrong took two quick steps and passed by the crabapple tree. The bracelet with the chip on her wrist immediately showed a transparent screen in front of her eyes. She casually glanced at the words on it and turned off the screen.
It was musk kernels that caused Concubine Fang to have a miscarriage, indirectly pushing Zhen Huan to avoid her favor. She didn't intend to remind her now that Zhen Huan held the powerful weapon of White Moonlight, and when Fatty Ju ascended the throne, his mind was more focused on state affairs. With so many competitors and so little meat, it was naturally better to have one less competitor.
After Zhen Huan and the Emperor met in Yime Garden, given this gentleman's pretentious nature, he was determined to show Zhen Huan his "deep love as husband and wife". He even wanted to throw all the concubines in the palace aside to show how special he was to Zhen Huan.
The Qing emperors could no longer be called human beings; they had long since merged with imperial power, becoming monsters with their own logic. Even she, having experienced a lifetime, had to be cautious. Given her family background, if she accidentally angered him, she would inevitably have to pay a greater price than others to please him.
Moreover, there were still veiled attacks from the Empress and Concubine Hua in the palace, so she couldn't get pregnant anytime soon. She had to wait until Noble Lady Fucha became pregnant before she could make any plans.
With this in mind, the three of them walked in together. After Huanbi had served them tea, Chen Meizhuang spoke first, "Liu Zhu and Huanbi beside you are quite clever."
"They have served me closely since I was young, so naturally they remember more than others."
Ling Rong also smiled and nodded: "After all, it is more reassuring to use the girls I brought in myself. Who knows what kind of monsters the others might be."
Zhen Huan couldn't help but wonder, "Lingrong, you don't usually like to talk about these things, but is there something wrong with the people in your palace?"
"It can't be said to be inappropriate, it's just that they don't show much loyalty." Ling Rong took a sip of tea calmly, but she didn't seem angry. "But then again, we are just a group of low-ranking concubines who have just entered the palace. Why should we be forced to risk our lives and property to serve you?"
Mei Zhuang agreed with her words: "Although the palace has always been a place where people flatter the powerful and bully the weak, some servants do so simply to survive. As servants, they are already of low status. If they are not careful and cautious, they may be implicated by their masters and even lose their lives."
"Let's not talk about this anymore. I don't want to spoil my mood." Lingrong placed the tea bowl on the table, a look of just the right amount of curiosity on her face. "Sisters, there's something I don't understand. I'd like to ask you two: when we pay our respects to the Empress tomorrow, are there any particular rules for the order in which we kneel and bow?"
"Lingrong comes from a small family, so she really doesn't understand these things..."
"What's the big deal? It's thanks to you, Lingrong, that I reminded you." Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang exchanged glances, both remembering this: "According to the rules, we should generally stand according to our rank. Among those of the same rank, the Manchu flag has the highest status, followed by the Mongolian flag, and finally the Han flag."
"If Lingrong hadn't asked today, Huan'er and I might not have thought of this. We would be rude tomorrow."
Chen Meizhuang patted her chest in fear, and because of this, she felt closer to Ling Rong, with whom she had just met for a short time. For a while, the three of them became as harmonious and friendly as real sisters.
Early the next morning, An Lingrong specially called Baojuan to comb her hair.
"Just wear plain makeup and don't be disrespectful." Ling Rong looked at the beauty in the glasses and couldn't help but sigh. Even if she dressed plainly, it would probably be difficult to hide her face. It was a pity that she was from a humble family and had no favor.
I just hope that this time I can hide in the crowd and not be discovered by Concubine Hua, or I can pray that the two people in front are strong enough so that she won’t notice me.
…
This time, with her own reminder, Zhen Huan naturally stood back a little, leaving the front seat to Noble Lady Fucha. In this way, she stood next to Xia Dongchun, and behind Zhen Huan was An Lingrong.
Several people stood and exchanged greetings for a long time before Concubine Hua finally arrived. She twisted her waist like a water snake and walked in with an arrogant look on her face.
"I'm late, the Queen won't blame me, right?"
Although Concubine Hua said this, she actually did not take the Queen seriously at all. She gave a perfunctory salute and simply leaned back in her seat, watching everyone kneeling and paying homage to the Queen, and she even yawned a few times to express her impatience.
When it was her turn to pay her respects to Concubine Hua, she used her earrings to criticize the Empress for her shabby and old-fashioned appearance, and to deliberately delay the proper training of these newcomers. She kept rambling on and on, making these young ladies secretly complain. Fortunately, Lingrong had a body that had been improved by drugs, so although she could withstand it, who would like to be toyed with like an ant?
She knelt there, watching coldly as the Queen deliberately chatted with Concubine Hua for a long time before she woke them up like a good person. She also watched the disgust in Concubine Hua's eyes when she saw Xia Dongchun doing something stupid, and finally saw Concubine Hua's red lips slightly open:
"Who are Concubine Shen, Concubine Wan, and Concubine An?"
"Your concubine, Shen Meizhuang, a noble lady of Xianfu Palace, pays respect to Her Majesty Hua Fei."
"My concubine Sui Yuxuan often visits Concubine Hua in Zhen Huan."
Finally, Concubine Hua fixed her eyes on An Lingrong, and her fingers with gloved hands suddenly tightened.
"Your concubine, Chengqian Palace, often stays at An Lingrong to pay her respects to Her Majesty Hua Fei."
Concubine Hua fell silent for a moment and did not call out, leaving the three of them kneeling there.
In truth, she hadn't done it on purpose this time; it was simply that the sight of a beauty like An Lingrong had made her heart ache. She had entered the palace late, and wasn't aware of Empress Chunyuan's significance to the Emperor, nor the mysteries of Zhen Huan's appearance. Therefore, it was understandable that she immediately directed her greatest hostility towards Lingrong, the most beautiful of the group.
But in the eyes of others, everyone, including An Lingrong herself, obviously thought she did it on purpose.
"Get up... Noble Lady Shen is so elegant and graceful. Although Concubine Wan is dressed simply, she is still very pretty. As for Concubine An... Oh, even Concubine Li in her youth couldn't match your beauty..."
"Your Majesty has obtained some rare beauties this time..."
The sourness in her tone was not concealed, and the gazes she gave Ling Rong and the others were as if they had substance, staring at Shen Meizhuang, making her feel uneasy. She couldn't help but flatter him, "Your Majesty is a beauty of the nation, and you are the real center of attention."
As soon as these words came out, An Lingrong immediately pulled Zhen Huan's clothes from behind. Zhen Huan immediately realized that there was something wrong with these words, and she became anxious and immediately began to think of a way to crack it.
"Noble Lady Shen is really good at talking, but it seems that the phrase 'beauty and beauty' is used to praise the Queen, right?" As she spoke, Concubine Hua gave the Queen a provocative smile.
Zhen Huan immediately knelt on the ground and said, "The Empress is as virtuous as the moon. The Concubine Hua is as beautiful as a pearl. I am but the light of a firefly, far from reaching her height."
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