"I'm almost better, but I still have a bit of a cough. Help me to the Imperial Garden to clear my head; it's so stuffy staying in this room," Zheng Chunhua said, lifting her beautiful, slightly sickly face.
"Yes, Your Highness, please have your hair redone and be properly dressed before you go out," Mo Yun said happily, seeing that Zheng Chunhua had finally agreed.
In the Imperial Garden, hundreds of flowers bloomed, and butterflies fluttered about. Several young noble ladies stood before a cluster of peonies, admiring their beauty. In the distance, Zheng Chunhua, supported by Mo Yun, was already approaching. When they saw Zheng Chunhua coming, their faces revealed expressions of disdain and resentment.
"Look, that sickly fellow is here," said Consort Qi.
"Hmph, vixen. The Emperor used to always have her accompany him, but she's not lucky enough to have laid a single egg," Consort An mocked.
"Alas, the one who is truly blessed is Consort Wang, who managed to give birth to two princes for the Emperor, and he still lives with her now," Consort Qi said enviously.
“We’re doing well, healthy and without illness or disaster, which is better than her. She was once favored, but now that she’s fallen out of favor, she’s probably suffering even more. Like that other woman,” said Consort Qi.
Because the three of them were standing right on the only path leading to the Imperial Garden, Zheng Chunhua had no choice but to pass by them.
"Hello, sisters." Zheng Chunhua approached and saw that the three of them were blocking her way, so she had to stop and greet them politely.
"Oh, isn't this Consort Zheng? Are you feeling better?" Consort Qi asked with a warm heart.
"Thank you for your concern, sister. I'm much better now and there's nothing seriously wrong, so I came to the Imperial Garden for a walk," Zheng Chunhua said with a smile.
“I think my sister should go back and rest. The wind in April is the most unpredictable. If she catches a cold, the Emperor will be worried sick again. Don’t you all agree?” Consort An, the eldest, had not seen the Emperor for many years and was the most jealous of Zheng Chunhua, so she spoke sarcastically in a loud voice.
Consort Qi and Consort Qi covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and sneered, while Zheng Chunhua's face gradually turned cold. Since she fell ill, she had gradually lost the Emperor's favor, and all the women who used to be jealous and envious of her were now jumping out to throw cold water on her and make sarcastic remarks.
"Sisters, please continue admiring the flowers. I must excuse myself." Zheng Chunhua was already somewhat numb and barely reacted to their mockery and ridicule.
She tried to walk over, holding onto Mo Lan's hand, but Consort An blocked the way, showing no intention of moving aside.
"Sister, excuse me for a moment," Zheng Chunhua said coldly. She was too lazy to be friendly with these people anymore; she knew they would never truly care about her. Because she was more powerful than them—she had once been favored by the emperor—she had become their best object of amusement and a way to pass the time.
"There are so many roads here, why do you insist on taking this one?" Consort An was clearly unwilling to give way.
Seeing that the three noble ladies seemed to want to bully Zheng Chunhua, Mo Yun quickly pulled her aside and said with a smile, "Noble ladies, let me accompany you that way, there is another road over there."
When Consort Qi heard Mo Yun say this, she showed a smug and approving expression and said, "Your maid is right. Sister, you should go that way so as not to be disliked. In the future, when you see us, you should learn to avoid us and take another route."
Upon hearing this, Consort An and Consort Qi both revealed smug expressions and mocked Zheng Chunhua relentlessly.
“My lord, let’s go that way. There are some green bamboos planted over there. Don’t you like looking at bamboo leaves?” Mo Yun said, tugging at Zheng Chunhua’s sleeve.
Zheng Chunhua silently watched Consort An and the others, but in the end, she followed Mo Yun back, taking another path leading to the Imperial Garden. However, that path required going around a rockery to enter the Imperial Garden, making it much more secluded than this one.
After Zheng Chunhua and her servant had walked a few steps away, Consort An spat in the direction she had gone and said with disgust, "You vixen, I can smell the scent of a fox spirit even before you get close. It's a pity that the Emperor is already disgusted by this stench."
Zheng Chunhua clenched the handkerchief in her hand, but still didn't turn around to argue with Consort An. She was dragged away by Mo Yun along another path.
The two walked on this quiet side of the artificial hill. Because this side was blocked by the artificial hill, the light suddenly became much darker. They could see rows of green bamboo planted along the path, and Zheng Chunhua couldn't help but stop to look.
"Mo Yun, I'm suddenly a little thirsty. Could you go back and bring me some water? I'll wait for you here," Zheng Chunhua said quietly.
Mo Yun hesitated for a moment. Actually, it wasn't far from Shufangzhai. The round trip would probably take no more than a quarter of an hour.
"Alright, this servant will go back and bring out a pot of tea. Your Excellency can admire the bamboo here. This servant will be right back," Mo Yun said.
Zheng Chunhua nodded, signaling Mo Yun to hurry back.
After Mo Yun left, Zheng Chunhua began to look at the green bamboo and walked forward. She walked very slowly, looking around as she went.
Suddenly, whether she stepped on a small pebble or the hem of her clothes, she lost her balance and tumbled forward. She knew she was going to fall badly, but unexpectedly, someone caught her around the waist, and a concerned voice came from above her: "Be careful, sir!"
Zheng Chunhua stared in surprise at the face above her head, momentarily feeling disoriented. She naturally recognized the face and the voice, for she had seen him more than once in the Qianqing Palace.
Zheng Chunhua quickly broke free from the man's embrace, bowed, and said, "This concubine greets Your Highness! May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
The person who caught Zheng Chunhua was none other than Crown Prince Yinren.
"No need for such formalities, sir. I never expected to meet you here." The Crown Prince's eyes were unusually calm, fixed on Zheng Chunhua's delicate body.
"I have disturbed Your Highness's enjoyment of the flowers. I shall take my leave." Zheng Chunhua bowed hastily again and prepared to depart.
"Does Your Excellency also like these Xiangfei bamboos?" the Crown Prince suddenly asked.
"Yes, I love these emerald green bamboo leaves that have a refreshing scent. Compared to those flowers that bloom so brightly, I prefer the delicate beauty of bamboo leaves," Zheng Chunhua said.
"Just like the feeling a noble person gives off, unique, beautiful, and understated," the Crown Prince suddenly said, staring at Zheng Chunhua.
Zheng Chunhua was surprised that the Crown Prince would suddenly say such a thing. She then realized that he was all alone and no one was with him. If a man and a woman talking alone like this were seen by someone with ulterior motives, it would cause a lot of trouble.
"This concubine takes her leave." Zheng Chunhua felt she had to leave this place as soon as possible.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com