Chapter 94 An Lingrong 35
Time flies, and it’s already September.
They had long since returned to this world from the Old Summer Palace.
Baojuan and Baoque both knew about Xiao Luzi's situation, but they didn't show anything on their faces. They just served her more carefully and didn't want to get close to her like before.
That day she was sitting in the corridor, watching Zhen Huan and the Emperor destroying the golden osmanthus that had just been placed in the imperial garden from the greenhouse, saying that they wanted to make osmanthus wine together.
She was only two months pregnant, and in everyone's eyes, her belly was still as fragile as porcelain. So, even though she was dragged along to accompany them, she just sat there, sipping tea and admiring the scenery. Even the emperor and Zhen Huan's servants kept glancing in her direction, worried that she might feel uncomfortable with the precious nugget.
There was only one person who glanced at the old emperor from time to time, but he thought he was very good at disguising himself.
Lingrong stood up and took the small basket of osmanthus flowers handed to her by Zhen Huan, while handing her handkerchief to the emperor.
"I picked quite a few."
Zhen Huan didn't bother to talk to her. She poured herself a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp before she recovered. "Since we're going to brew wine, the more the better."
Huanbi behind her didn't know what she was thinking, and she actually said, "Our young lady and the emperor have worked so hard today and only picked this little. If we really want to make wine, I'm afraid there won't be much. Young lady An is really lucky. She only needs to sit here for a while and have wine to drink."
An Lingrong never expected that Huanbi was also jealous of her in this life.
It seems that because there was no fake pregnancy incident, although Zhen Huan saw that Huanbi was trying to climb up the social ladder, she did not realize that she had already sided with Concubine Hua in order to get to the top.
She didn't bother to care about the quarrel between the sisters, but if the fire was still going to burn her, she, An Lingrong, was not someone to be trifled with.
Lingrong ignored her words and just chatted casually with the emperor, leaving Zhen Huan aside.
The emperor also cooperated. Before leaving, he pulled Lingrong into the sedan chair and let Zhen Huan go by herself.
For several days thereafter, Ling Rong simply ignored Zhen Huan's hesitant look and made it clear that she was angry with Zhen Huan.
"What happened between you and Rong'er? The day before yesterday, I went to Chengqian Palace and asked about the osmanthus wine you made, and she became a little unhappy." Mei Zhuang was sandwiched between them and felt tired.
Lately, she had no idea what was going on. Even though she'd recovered a long time ago, she still felt tired and exhausted, like she wasn't getting enough sleep. And having to worry about these two enemies made her want to just give up.
Zhen Huan sat on the kang, twisting her handkerchief incessantly, her brows etched with anguish. "Lingrong misunderstood that I was unhappy about her pregnancy."
"How could such a misunderstanding arise?"
Zhen Huan then recounted the entire incident, lying on the table in distress, "I'm afraid the Emperor might have misunderstood."
"You, you, what can I say?" Mei Zhuang never expected that the problem would come from the servants they brought with them. "That Huanbi, like Liuzhu, grew up with you. I remember she was also smart. I didn't expect she has become so careless now."
Then, looking at Zhen Huan, who was silent and bowed her head, she slammed the table in annoyance and said, "In the final analysis, it's because you indulge her too much. I think she is more respectable than some of the less favored concubines. Liu Zhu, who also came in with you, is not like this."
"It's not the lack of wealth that's worrying, but the inequality. You've fostered this kind of partiality, and now you've also chilled the hearts of others."
Zhen Huan naturally understood this. But Huanbi's identity...
Mei Zhuang, though unaware of the situation, could see Zhen Huan was still hesitating. She couldn't understand how loyalty was so important to a personal servant, and why Zhen Huan was so indecisive at this moment.
"Even if you're concerned about the relationship between master and servant, you said it yourself. The Emperor's attitude that day was clearly displeased with you. If this matter isn't dealt with quickly, be careful if she continues like this and makes a mistake, I'm afraid you'll be blamed too."
Mei Zhuang was talking about Huanbi's betrayal, but Zhen Huan thought of her identity. If she was allowed to be so conspicuous and her identity was discovered by someone with ulterior motives, the whole family would be affected.
"Thank you for your kind words, sister. Huan'er knows what to do."
The next day, after paying respects to the Queen's Palace, Zhen Huan and Huanbi stopped Ling Rong on the way back.
"Is there something?" Lingrong sat in the sedan chair and looked at her indifferently, without the usual warmth.
"Lingrong, I want to talk to you." Zhen Huan stood in front of the sedan chair, looking like she would not leave unless An Lingrong agreed.
"...to the Imperial Garden."
In the breeze, the two of them sat in the pavilion, but they seemed quite distant.
"Lingrong, I've come to apologize to you," Zhen Huan said, rising and bowing, her face full of apology. "That wasn't what I had in mind that day. It was Huanbi who had some confused thoughts. I've already taught her a lesson, and she now understands her mistake."
Huanbi, who was behind her, hurried over and bowed to her, her face full of shame, a trace of humiliation flashing in her eyes: "It was all because of my greed that I contradicted you that day. Please forgive me."
Ling Rong looked down at her and smiled softly: "I don't accept it."
Looking at Huanbi's pale face, she turned her head away in boredom. Zhen Huan was looking at her anxiously and confusedly, not understanding why the usually kind Lingrong cared so much about what happened that day.
"Because you didn't respect me." An Lingrong shook her head. "The relationship between you and me is not like that between Concubine Hua and Cao Qinmo. How dare a servant disrespect her master? And afterwards, all she has to do is apologize to me? What right does she have to apologize to me?"
"Sister Wan, I really can't figure out what you mean."
A cold wind blew, and the pavilion fell silent for a moment.
She just wanted to deliberately expose the loophole to those who were interested, and remind them at the same time not to forget the little nail she left with Zhen Huan.
Of course, An Lingrong admitted that although she was good friends with Zhen Huan in this life, she was very willing to see her suffer at her hands.
Zhen Huan hesitated for a long time and still did not tell Huanbi about her life experience, but she did not put all the blame on Huanbi either. She just apologized sincerely for a long time.
An Lingrong finally accepted the apology reluctantly, but it was obvious to everyone that her relationship with Zhen Huan was not as close as before.
Afterwards, the emperor was somewhat surprised: "Aren't you and Concubine Wan the best of friends? How could a rift develop over such a trivial matter?"
Ling Rong sat in the emperor's arms in a daze, feeling somewhat depressed after hearing this: "It's precisely because I care that I'm so stingy."
"Huanbi is to Sister Wan what Caiyue is to Sister Mei, Jianqiu is to the Empress, and Su Peisheng is to the Emperor. She dared to speak so offensively in public that day. If she didn't have ulterior motives, then her master must have let her know."
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