Chapter 166 An Lingrong 107
With memories from her past life, Ling Rong could naturally sense that the ceremony for Concubine Rou's return to the palace this time was much lower. Although the Emperor still sent Prince Guo to greet her, he didn't grant Zhen Huan half the ceremonial guards of an empress, but rather the ceremonial guards of a noble concubine. He even simply waited in the Yangxin Palace while the empress led the concubines to greet her.
After everyone had gone to Jingren Palace, the emperor sent someone to take Concubine Rou to Yongshou Palace.
The Queen and other concubines did not have this awareness and were quite dissatisfied with Zhen Huan's high-profile entry into the palace.
Especially Yixiu. She was sitting high up in the queen's seat at the moment, and glanced at the imperial concubine below her without leaving any trace. She was sitting there fiddling with her newly painted nails, looking bored.
This great threat in the palace could not be eliminated, and the one outside the palace returned to glory. It can be seen that both of them have an extraordinary status in the emperor's heart. They have been good friends since entering the palace. If Concubine Rou gives birth to this child again and joins forces with Concubine Gui, it will be more dangerous than ten years of Shilan.
Compared to her previous life, the Queen in this life is more eager to overwhelm Zhen Huan. Her arrival completely disrupts the already precarious balance in the palace.
At this time, Zhen Huan, who had just bid farewell to the emperor, did not care about the queen, her old enemy. She held Mei Zhuang's hand tightly with tears in her eyes. Before she could say anything, tears started to flow.
Looking at Mei Zhuang on the other side, she couldn't help but feel emotional. "Huan'er, I never thought that we would be able to meet again in this lifetime."
"After so many years apart, I never expected to return to the palace."
"Huan'er, I'm really happy that you can return to the palace, but when I think of the endless fighting in this palace, I'm afraid. Maybe I shouldn't drag you back to this cage." Mei Zhuang sighed, her eyes filled with confusion and regret, and her misty eyes seemed to contain a thousand emotions.
Zhen Huan quickly shook her hand, trying to comfort her. "This isn't something you can decide, sister. If I don't come back, are we going to leave my parents and family to fend for themselves in Ningguda?"
"You're right. Aren't we all suffering in this palace for the sake of our families?" Mei Zhuang finished speaking, then said happily, "Fortunately, the emperor cares about you and specially cleaned up Yongshou Palace for you to live alone. He also brought your family from Ningguta to the capital."
"Really? But I heard rumors spread in the previous dynasty that Yongshou Palace was too luxurious."
"Just understand that the Emperor has handed this palace over to the Empress. Although I'm only assisting, I can't refuse."
"She's always like this. She wants to earn a reputation as a virtuous woman in the harem, and she also wants to let the former dynasty take advantage of this opportunity to attack me." Zhen Huan smiled sarcastically, then waved her hand. "Let's not talk about her. Why didn't Lingrong come with you today? I haven't been back to the palace for a long time, and she has become estranged from me?"
Zhen Huan originally said this in a teasing tone, but seeing Mei Zhuang's expression sinking, she dropped her smile and spoke in a serious tone, "All these years... Sister and Ling Rong, haven't you reconciled yet?"
"...I don't know how to face her." Mei Zhuang shook her head. "I was wrong for what I said that day. After you left, I became lazy all day. Although I tried to find her once or twice, I was never able to bring things to her. Later, I simply asked the Emperor to move me to Suiyuxuan, where I lived a secluded life."
"It's all my fault that there's been a rift between my sister and Lingrong." Zhen Huan felt a little guilty. "Back then, I saw her trying to get along with you, and she's often asked Fangruo to send me things these past few years. I thought you two had reconciled long ago."
"It's not that easy. She even sent you something. I only found out today after hearing you tell me." Mei Zhuang thought of the friendship they had when they first entered the palace, and felt a pang of sadness in her heart. "You don't know, Ling Rong has been through a lot over the years. She was plotted against when she was pregnant with twins, and her mother's family also suffered. Uncle An died of illness. When she heard about this in the palace, she almost..."
"But I can't do anything about it. How can I have the face to see her now?"
Mei Zhuang finished speaking and smiled, stopping Zhen Huan from talking. "I know you want to mediate, but there are many issues between the three of us. You just returned to the palace. You should take care of your own affairs first."
Zhen Huan knew that she was referring to the matter of Concubine Duan taking Longyue away, the Queen Mother's concerns about her, and many other things, a myriad of issues waiting for her to deal with.
Although I look prosperous now, I am actually just like a clay Buddha crossing the river and cannot save myself.
Just as he was thinking about it, he heard Juqing come to report that Concubine Duan had arrived with Princess Longyue.
The two exchanged glances, and Zhen Huan put on a polite smile again. "Quickly, go invite Concubine Duan and Princess Longyue...in."
Concubine Duan walked in holding Jixiang in one hand and little Longyue in the other.
"Sister Duanfei!" Zhen Huan took two steps forward in surprise and bowed to Concubine Duan. "I never thought I would be able to meet you again in my lifetime."
"Yeah, I didn't expect that either." Concubine Duan smiled and sat down, beckoning Longyue to her arms. "I heard you were free right now, so I brought Longyue to see you."
"Longyue, pay your respects to Empress Rou."
The well-behaved Longyue poked her head out from Concubine Duan's arms. She liked this beautiful and amiable mother very much, so she took two steps out of Concubine Duan's arms and bowed tremblingly: "Greetings to Concubine Rou~"
"Longyue is so good, mother, hug me!" Zhen Huan couldn't hold on any longer and quickly squatted down to hold the child in her arms.
However, Longyue immediately felt uneasy when she heard the word "mother". She quickly returned to Concubine Duan's arms and said, "You are not my mother. I don't want you."
Just these words broke Zhen Huan's heart. She felt so guilty and so angry.
She felt guilty for not fulfilling her responsibilities as a mother over the years and was angry at the emperor for being the culprit who caused the separation between her and her daughter.
And Concubine Duan, she had already guessed what Concubine Duan had done that day. In order to snatch her Longyue away, she didn't hesitate to drug the child, and now the child didn't recognize her as his biological mother!
"Don't be sad, sister. Longyue has been raised by me since she was little and has rarely seen anyone. It's inevitable that she's a little afraid of you because she's unfamiliar with you."
"Fear? I've never heard of a daughter being afraid of her biological mother. I'm afraid my sister has raised the princess too weakly. The child is still young. After a few more years of raising her, she will naturally know who her biological mother is."
At this moment, Lingrong walked in from outside, followed by Concubine Jing and Concubine Xiang.
"Isn't that the truth, Concubine Duan?"
As soon as she entered the room, Zhen Huan, who had not seen her for a long time, felt that her Yongshou Palace was even more magnificent. After hearing her words, even though Zhen Huan's mood had changed a lot, she still inexplicably felt a sense of grievance that someone was backing her up.
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