Chapter 176 An Lingrong 117
Two months later, Shunxin, who had changed her surname back to Shi, announced that she was pregnant in the Queen's Jingren Palace.
Ling Rong looked at the Queen sitting at the top of the table and her expression froze, but she immediately concealed it and turned to be extremely surprised: "Is this true? Have you sent a doctor to check it out?"
"I dare not lie to the Queen. I have already sent the imperial physician to examine her. Coincidentally, she is two months pregnant." Concubine Duan smiled as she sat nearby. "I would like to ask for a favor on her behalf. Now that Shi is pregnant, it is still appropriate to mention her status. If not for her, then for the heir to the throne."
"As it should be, I will promote Shi Ying to a concubine. Since she was once your maid, I will entrust Shi Ying's child to you for care."
The queen was surprisingly easy to talk to. Not only did she agree to Concubine Duan's request, she even took the initiative to hand over Shi's baby to Concubine Duan's care.
After greeting everyone, Lingrong saw Chungui behind the crowd with a troubled look on his face. He kept looking back at the gate of Jingren Palace, but in the end he still followed them away.
"Chun'er was reluctant to go out a few days ago, and I thought you had changed your personality." Zhen Huan held her hand, and her eyes seemed as loving as before.
But she knew it was all fake. Zhen Huan's younger sisters now lived in the palace. An Lingrong and Chen Meizhuang were both more important than a powerless noble like her. After all the hard work, she still couldn't hold either child. In Chun Guiren's heart, it was simply because Concubine Jing and Lingrong hadn't cared enough about her.
She originally wanted to use that incident to surrender to Concubine Duan, but once Shi promised to become pregnant, she was afraid that she would no longer be treated as a slave by Concubine Duan as she had been treated by the Imperial Concubine before.
Are you really going to seek refuge with the Queen? My two children...
"Why aren't you talking? Are you tired of the snacks here?" Zhen Huan handed her a plate of milk, water chestnut and glutinous rice cake. "I remember you loved this the most. Come and try it. Is it still the same flavor?"
"...Yes, just like before, the cooking skills of the small kitchen in my sister's palace are still as good as before." Concubine Chun picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, but it tasted like chewing wax and she couldn't taste anything at all.
Zhen Huan smiled lovingly, "My younger sister used to love eating this at home too. I think you two will definitely find something to talk about."
"Really?" Chun'er paused, her initial feeling of being touched instantly fading. Instead, she opened her mouth and acted in a flattering manner, "I remember my sister saying this before. I think my sister's younger sister and I must really love eating it."
"That's right, you two little greedy cats. She will be back soon and will introduce you two to each other then."
"That's good. Unfortunately, I have agreed to go with Sister Mei to embroider small clothes for my future nephew today. Can I come to see you in two days with the recognition gift?" Concubine Chun blinked her eyes. Her round face made her look even smaller. But for some reason, Zhen Huan felt that she seemed to have lost a lot of weight, which made people feel uncomfortable.
After hearing her words, Zhen Huan put her previous thoughts behind her and personally escorted Concubine Chun out of the palace: "It's a deal then. Remember to come and play with me in a couple of days."
"I remember it, I won't forget it."
Unfortunately, before Concubine Chun arrived, the palace became turbulent again.
Somehow, Shi Da Ying, who had always been obedient and stayed in Yanqing Palace and never went out, had a miscarriage. The emperor went to visit her in person, but in the end he only beat and killed two servants and let the matter go.
It was unknown what the Queen said during the opportunity, but from that day on, she came out of retirement to take charge of affairs, still assisted by Ling Rong, Zhen Huan, and Concubine Jing.
That afternoon, Zhen Huan was talking about the marriage of the younger generation in her family in Lingrong Palace.
"How's your eldest brother's marriage going?" Zhen Huan casually embroidered a crabapple pattern and glanced at Ling Rong apologetically, "After all, it's our family that's wronged you."
"What's the big deal? It's something no one expected, so don't worry about it." Ling Rong placed the woven silk thread in a bamboo basket beside her, walked forward, and took Zhen Huan's hands. "The weather is not very good today, it's gloomy. It's not easy to work in this light, so watch your eyes."
"The color of your new nails is very bright." Lingrong saw in the sunset that Zhen Huan's newly dyed nails were a translucent water red, which looked even more gentle under the glow of the setting sun.
"If you like, I'll have Jingxi call the palace maids around you later." Zhen Huan held Ling Rong's hand in hers, then remembered something and smiled ambiguously: "But I vaguely heard a few days ago that your brother has been very popular recently."
"He's just a blockhead. I was worried he'd ruin the girl." Lingrong also smiled. She naturally knew more. "I didn't expect such a fate. It turns out that Hongyao has a kid from the Fucha family named Fu Heng. He's the oldest among the group of Hahazhu, and he happens to be good friends with An Bai."
"I don't know how they knew each other, but he caught her eye. He's lucky."
"I haven't asked yet. Which young lady from the Fucha family are you talking about?" Zhen Huan asked curiously.
Ling Rong thought for a moment, "It seems she is the legitimate daughter of their third master, Fucha Mawu."
"Fucha Mawu? Didn't he go there a few years ago?"
It's no wonder that Zhen Huan was surprised. Among the Fucha clan today, the most prominent one is the Shaji Fucha clan, and the leader of this generation is none other than Fucha Maqi, the second uncle of Fucha Fuheng.
In addition, his uncle was a military general and had made great military achievements during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. Although his father Li Rongbao was dismissed from office during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, his grandfather Hashun's title and hereditary position were inherited by Li Rongbao.
Only the third uncle, Fu Cha Ma Wu, was a mediocre military general. He passed away a few years ago. His sons were able to make a living, but the situation was very different for his daughter.
"If not for this, my brother would not be able to marry her." Lingrong knew her family's affairs well. Now her brother was just a fourth-rank official in Beijing, and it was surprising enough for her that he was favored by a big family like the Fucha clan.
Zhen Huan also thought of this and frowned, "But what's wrong with that girl?"
"It's not a big deal. The child was originally engaged, but her father suddenly fell ill and passed away. She observed mourning for three years, and her fiancé also died of illness."
Lingrong stopped talking, and Zhen Huan understood, but she was dismissive of the rumors: "A gentleman should not talk about strange things. This world is always so harsh on women."
"Who says it isn't? But we don't care about that. My mother said that girl is outstanding in everything, both in character and appearance. Amitabha, we are so happy for her."
As soon as Lingrong finished speaking, He Ronglu led Jiang Fuhai in.
"This servant pays his respects to the two imperial concubines."
The soft, gentle voice gave Ling Rong a headache. "Why did Eunuch Jiang come to visit at this time?"
"I, on the orders of the Empress Dowager, specially invite the two Imperial Concubines to the Jingren Palace to discuss important matters." He still lowered his eyes, but a gentle smile played on the corners of his mouth.
The two looked at each other and both felt that the Queen's invitation might not be well-intentioned.
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