For half a month, the palace was on edge. Finally, a letter arrived in Kyoto, delivered 800 miles away: a great victory on the border! The nomadic alliance was in ruins and fled, and General Lan was leading his troops to encircle and suppress the remaining Qing forces.
As soon as the news came out, the dark clouds covering the court dissipated instantly, and all the civil and military officials smiled happily, and they could finally speak with their backs straight.
However, Emperor Nangong Yi was not happy. He could still pretend when he went to court and said that he would reward the army and reward them according to their merits when they returned.
As soon as he walked out of the door, the only thing on his mind was how to make Lan Rong die quietly.
He went to the imperial study to have a secret talk with someone, and the door was closed for most of the day.
…
At the same time, Lan Shuang stood in the courtyard looking at the withered flowers and gathered her shawl.
A heavy rain yesterday quickly pushed the day into early autumn. The temperature dropped sharply this morning. Others were fine and might still feel cool, but Lan Shuang's tattered body could only feel cold.
Zhishu took out a light blue cloak and put it on her, and she felt better.
The rain has beaten the flowers to pieces, leaving the ground covered with fragrant petals, which has a kind of scattered and desolate beauty.
Lan Shuang stood under a big tree, the wind blew up her cloak, giving people the feeling that she was about to be blown away by the wind.
"Your Majesty, you'd better go in. It's cold outside, be careful not to catch a cold." Zhili advised.
Lan Shuang shook her head: "Today is a good day. I'm happy and can't sit still, so I came out for a walk."
The plan has reached its end, and all that is missing is an opportunity.
"My Lady, the one from the Painting Spring Palace is here."
Zhishu came in hurriedly, his face not looking very good. When he mentioned Xiao Feiyan, he refused to even call her by her name, and just said she was from Huichun Palace.
Lan Shuang smiled and said, "Please come in if you are here."
Zhishu hesitated, "Your Majesty, do you really want to see her? Seeing her holding her belly like that makes me angry. It's better not to see her. What if she deliberately disgusts you?"
Lan Shuang smiled and patted her shoulder. "She needs to be careful now. I don't have any dragon heirs, so what am I afraid of?"
Zhishu was stunned for a moment, then her eyes lit up again, "That's right, I'll go and get that person to come in."
Zhili took a cushion and placed it on the stone bench, then asked someone to bring hot tea and snacks. Lan Shuang gathered her cloak and sat down, holding the teacup to warm her hands, with a leisurely posture.
This was the scene Xiao Feiyan saw when she came in. The sunlight falling on Lan Shuang's body seemed particularly gentle, giving her a layer of soft golden edge. She was so fragile and so beautiful, like a fairy in a painting. It was no wonder that Nangong Yi was attracted to her.
If she were a man, she would probably find it difficult to resist her coquettishness.
Unfortunately, she is not a man, she is a woman, and a woman who is incompatible with her. Her appearance only makes her feel disgusted.
She subconsciously touched her belly, as if this could give her some confidence.
"Your Highness, you are so leisurely sitting in the courtyard. Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Xiao Feiyan walked closer and glanced meaningfully at Lan Shuang's cloak.
Lan Shuang turned around and smiled at her, "How come Concubine Xiao has time to come and visit me today?"
Xiao Feiyan gave her a standard salute. She would never make mistakes in such small details and give others any handle.
"Sister, please sit down."
Lan Shuang gave Zhili a look, and Zhili stepped forward to pour tea for Concubine Xiao.
Lian Xiu, who was beside Concubine Xiao, stopped her and said, "Your Highness, you are pregnant and shouldn't drink strong tea."
Xiao Feiyan didn't say anything, just smiled apologetically.
Lan Shuang nodded, "Yes, then go get a pot of clean water."
"yes."
Zhili went to get a pot of water and put it on the table. Lan Shuang waved her hand and said, "All of you leave." She gave Zhishu a subtle look, and Zhishu understood and retreated silently.
Xiao Feiyan glanced at her and said to Lian Xiu, "You step back too."
Lian Xiu looked at her worriedly, focusing on her belly.
Xiao Feiyan raised her eyebrows: "With the Imperial Concubine here, how can anything happen to me?"
"I am worrying too much."
After Lian Xiu left, the courtyard became empty.
Lan Shuang watched the two of them acting and smiled without saying a word.
"No one comes to the palace for no reason. Lady Xiao came here today because you have something to say to me. Now that there is no one around, go ahead and speak."
Xiao Feiyan looked at her in surprise, startled by the sharpness she suddenly revealed.
"You..." Her eyes gradually became alert, "Were you pretending before?"
"Pretend? What are you pretending for?" Lan Shuang played with the teacup, looking at her leisurely. "What are you talking about?"
Xiao Feiyan stared at her in silence for a long time, then suddenly laughed, "Sure enough, how could a girl raised in a large house be an innocent little white rabbit? You're quite capable of fooling so many people."
"I don't have any ability. If I really did, I wouldn't have been your shield for so long, don't you think so, Lady Xiao?"
Lan Shuang's eyes were as white as snow, calm and indifferent. Xiao Feiyan narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression cold and stern.
"Since you know you are a substitute, you should be content. Nangong Yi will be fooled by you for a while, but not forever. Your identity is destined not to gain his trust, otherwise -"
Her gaze fell on Lan Shuang's flat belly, and she smiled disdainfully, "Nangong Yi will never allow a child with half Zhenguogong blood to be born."
"He's only a temporary novelty to you now. When the novelty wears off, you can guess what will happen to you without me telling you, right?"
"Then how can you be sure that his interest in you isn't just temporary and hasn't worn off?" Lan Shuang replied, even smilingly, "Why else would you be so eager to show off here? This impatience isn't like you. You should be hiding behind the scenes, watching me take the brunt of the attacks for you, and then you can reap the benefits."
Xiao Feiyan's expression darkened as her inner anxiety was pricked. She leaned forward slightly and stared at Lan Shuang. "What is the relationship between Nangong Yi and me? How could you possibly understand? Besides our feelings, we also have a debt of gratitude. I saved his life, so how could he abandon me so easily? Not to mention that I have no backing. This is the basis for his trust."
"And you, from the very beginning, were destined to be exploited to death."
Xiao Feiyan looked at her maliciously, waiting for her to show a panic expression.
Lan Shuang did not disappoint her. Her expression changed, and she grabbed Xiao Feiyan's hand and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Do you think your eldest brother will be honored by His Majesty when he returns victorious? Don't be foolish. The day he returns from the battle will be the anniversary of his death next year!"
Lan Shuang stood up suddenly and pulled Xiao Feiyan up, making her face away from the door.
Lan Shuang leaned against the edge of the stone table, seemingly on the verge of collapse, and demanded, "You're talking nonsense! My brother is a meritorious official and a capable general. How could His Majesty possibly kill him? Xiao Feiyan, what are your intentions in trying to sow discord between me and His Majesty?"
The person at the door suddenly stopped.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com