Chapter 99 An Lingrong 40
It was snowing heavily that day, and Zhen Huan and Ling Rong had agreed to go visit Mei Jie. They both left their maids outside and went into the room alone, only to find Mei Jie leaning on the bed, reading a book, a rare sight.
"Sister, you're almost well. A few days ago, you were complaining about being dizzy while lying in bed, but now you see, she's fine." With Ling Rong occasionally feeding Mei Zhuang soups and broths with added ingredients, her complexion has improved significantly these days. Even Doctor Wen, who was responsible for protecting her pregnancy, no longer looked as worried as before. Seeing this, Zhen Huan no longer looked as depressed as before, and even felt like joking with Mei Zhuang.
"It's only half an hour. I can't stand it any longer. It's just too hard to stay in bed all day without finding something to do." Mei Zhuang smiled and put down the book. She chatted with the two of them in a good mood, no longer as dull as before.
Ling Rong also smiled and took out a sachet from her hand and handed it to her: "I heard you say that you couldn't sleep well at night a few days ago, so I made you some calming incense, and Sister Wan embroidered the sachet for you. Wait until the Imperial Doctor Wen examines it and sees that there is nothing wrong with it, then you can try it, it should be effective."
The scent sachet was clearly embroidered with great care, using green silk and embroidered with her favorite golden chrysanthemums. Just holding it in her hand, the refreshing, clean fragrance within emanated faintly, bringing a sense of tranquility, as if she were sitting under a pine tree in a Buddhist temple.
Mei Zhuang's eyes couldn't help but turn red. People who have been ill for a long time are prone to overthinking, and she was even more excited because she was pregnant. "Huan'er, Rong'er, I have no regrets in dying because I have you two as my bosom friends!"
"Pah, pah, pah, stop talking about life and death."
"We sisters don't talk about this."
While the three were talking, Caiyue came in with medicine.
"Is it time for you to take the medicine? It just so happens that the emperor is going to Suiyuxuan soon, so I'll leave first." Zhen Huan said as she put on her cloak, put on her Guanyin hood, and left first.
Ling Rong subconsciously glanced at the map and saw that the red dot representing the emperor had indeed reached the outside of the Suiyu Pavilion. Without thinking much, she simply warned, "Be careful, the road is slippery."
"Don't worry, Liu Zhu is following me." After saying that, he left like a gust of wind.
After she and Mei Zhuang sat and chatted for a while before returning home, Zi Wan rushed in hurriedly: "My lady, something happened to Concubine Wan!"
"What's wrong? Speak slowly."
"My lord, this is the case..."
Lingrong sat at the table, thinking silently. Ziwan had just found out that Zhen Huan had done something to anger the Emperor, and she was actually confined to her room and punished by copying the palace rules. Most importantly, the Emperor had punished a servant in her palace.
She understood that it must be Cao Qinmo who took action.
However, the plan probably did not go exactly as she wished. Whether it was house arrest or punishment of servants, it would not have much impact on Zhen Huan herself. With her scheming, she would never set up such a useless plan.
…………
"Waste, a bunch of useless trash!" In Yikun Palace, Concubine Hua pointed at Concubine Cao and cursed, "You said it nicely that day. You said you could cut off one of her arms and make her unable to take care of herself, and you also said you could make the emperor suspect that Zhen Huan had abandoned her. What was the result?"
"In the end, Zhen Huan was only given a mild house arrest, and even that slave girl only received ten lashes!"
Concubine Hua became more and more angry as she spoke, and she picked up the jade ruyi and was about to smash it at her face. Song Zhi, who was standing by, quickly stopped her and said, "Your Majesty, calm down. This ruyi is a gift from the emperor, you can't smash it."
Cao Qinmo knelt below, utterly mortified. No one in the palace would offer consolation to Concubine Hua, a noblewoman in her throes, yet they would speak up for a jade ruyi. She'd thought she'd long since grown accustomed to this humiliation, but she couldn't hide the resentment she felt. But she could only kneel there, trying to appease Concubine Hua's wrath.
"I congratulate Your Majesty and hope that your wish comes true."
"You still dare to say that I have gotten what I wished for?" Concubine Hua was almost laughing out of anger. Was Cao Qinmo treating her like a fool?
"Your Majesty will naturally get what you wish for." Cao Qinmo saw that she was not interrupted immediately and continued:
"Now that Concubine Wan is under house arrest and Concubine Hui is seeing her time running out, Concubine Yi is the only one left and she wouldn't dare challenge the Empress. This way, the Empress will naturally be able to regain control of the six palaces and enjoy exclusive favor. No one will dare to oppose the Empress and alienate the relationship between the Empress and the Emperor. That's why I wish the Empress all she wishes for."
Hua Fei's furious expression paused, and then she realized that what she said made some sense. Whether it was Zhen Huan or An Lingrong, as long as they stayed in the palace honestly and served as shadows like the other concubines, she wouldn't be intolerant.
As long as no one comes to snatch the emperor's love for her, having more people in the harem will just mean a few more mouths to feed.
"However, that bitch Zhen Huan is sharp-tongued, and An Lingrong is no pushover either. Even a centipede can't die without being stiffed. I won't be at peace until I completely put them both down."
Cao Qinmo knelt down to express her loyalty: "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse."
"You? Useless thing. This time..." Concubine Hua's eyes turned, and she suddenly smiled gently at Cao Qinmo who was kneeling below, and ordered Songzhi to help her up: "I have loved Wen Yi for many years. This time, it is her turn to do something for her mother and me."
"My Lady, Wen Yi is still young, I'm afraid she..."
Before Cao Qinmo could finish her words, she was shocked back by Concubine Hua's sharp gaze: "I think Wen Yi is very cute. If I ask, will the emperor foster her under my name?"
"Your Majesty..."
The woman who was caught in a bloody mess could no longer speak. She could only silently lower her head and agree to do as Hua Fei asked.
On the other side, the person involved, Zhen Huan, was indeed exhausted at this moment, just as Concubine Cao said.
She didn't understand. She had clearly explained everything to Huanbi that day, so why did she still insist on having her own way and fall into the trap set by Concubine Hua and the others?
If I hadn't been careful that day and ordered Jinxi to watch her secretly, I'm afraid I would have really fallen into the hands of my own sister this time.
She was so good at putting the love potion in the emperor's tea. Fortunately, Jinxi discovered it in time and replaced it without leaving any trace, otherwise the incident that day would not have ended so peacefully.
Exhausted both physically and mentally, Zhen Huan still came to Huanbi's room. Seeing her red and swollen eyes, she sighed in her heart.
"Now that you've tried it, do you realize how unpredictable the emperor's grace is?" Zhen Huan sneered at the girl with her eyes closed on the bed. "You weren't ashamed of doing such a despicable thing before, but now you feel ashamed."
Huanbi on the bed could no longer hold on and opened her eyes: "Yes, this servant was delusional and despicable in trying to seduce the emperor, but isn't this because the young lady deceived you first?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
"You've been lying to me all along." Huanbi's face was filled with resentful jealousy. "You said you would take me in as your sister and choose a husband for me so that I could have what I wanted."
"It's just a joke. Which good family would marry a daughter who was born as a palace maid? If there really is one, it's just a low-class family trying to get close to the rich and powerful. How can I have a good life if I marry into that family? Who would look down on me?" The more Huanbi spoke, the more resentful she felt:
"You spoke so sweetly at first, treating me like your sister. But in reality, you just watched coldly as Concubine Yi insulted me, calling me a servant, making me kneel there and telling me I had no right to speak to her!"
"That's enough! I think you've been blinded by wealth and fame, and have become completely unrecognizable." Zhen Huan felt a pang of pain in her heart as she watched her maddened appearance, but she could only harden her heart: "I only ask you, if you do this, have you ever considered what the consequences will be for the entire Zhen family if the fact that you drugged the emperor is exposed?"
Seeing Huanbi's eyes still full of confusion, Zhen Huan reminded her somewhat disappointedly: "Today's is Hehuan Powder, what would you do if it was Crane's Beak Red?"
In an instant, Huanbi's face lost all color. She fell off the bed and crawled to Zhen Huan's side: "Sister, I really know I was wrong..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
