Chapter 515 A Branch of Red Apricot
Granny Wang comforted her, "Your Majesty, think of something happy, think of the little princess and the two little princes. No matter how hard it is, Your Majesty must be strong for their sake. It is very hard for women who enter the palace. No matter how hard it is, you must grit your teeth and endure it. Everyone has gone through this. As long as you get through the first hurdle, the other hurdles will not be difficult."
Jiang Fenghua was also frightened by Xie Shang's appearance just now. If he really forced her, she would fight him to the death.
She wiped away her tears. "From today onwards, I will send the children to my bedchamber so they can sleep with me. That will make me very happy."
Granny Wang still hoped that the Empress and the Emperor could reconcile, since the Empress was no match for the palace's beauties in terms of looks and skills.
Meanwhile, Ao Xue and Lin Yu, hiding outside the door, overheard the Empress's sobbing and felt very distressed.
The two then quietly slipped out.
Lin Yu clenched her fists. Gui Ning Xiang could make her temporarily forget her pain. She said, "Ao Xue, do you have any medicine that can make her lose a part of her memory? As long as she doesn't remember those painful things, she can live happily."
Ao Xue said, "I can ask my master for help. Gui Ning Xiang was developed by my master. Whenever the Empress has a nightmare, she uses it and forgets the things in her dream, and her mood is also very good."
Lin Yu said, "First, give her the Guining Incense. You should contact your master and ask if there's any way to help her. I don't want her to remember the suffering of her past life for the rest of her life. Sometimes forgetting is a relief."
“However, I haven’t seen my master for a long time, and I may not be able to contact him for a while,” Ao Xue said. “But Your Highness should still use Gui Ning Incense less. My master said that using too much will have the opposite effect.”
Lin Yu was also afraid of more serious adverse effects, such as her being unable to wake up from a deep sleep, which would turn her into a living dead.
All she wanted was for her to lose a part of her memory so she could start a new life. Xie Shang already had so many women; losing Jiang Fenghua wouldn't affect him at all.
Whether in her past life or this one, Jiang Fenghua only had Xie Shang as a man in her life, but Xie Shang had countless women in both of them. Why should Fenghua suffer such unfair treatment? If Xie Shang could be removed from Jiang Fenghua's life, she could be reborn.
Lin Yu seemed to have made up her mind and began to plan.
Some time later, Jiang Fenghua's postpartum confinement period was over. During this time, Gao Qingtong also frequently visited Chenxi Palace. Gao Qingtong racked her brains to come up with ideas for the Emperor's birthday banquet.
From the large-scale banquet planning and invitation list to the small details of the drinks and banquet, Jiang Fenghua had to help with everything. Jiang Fenghua provided guidance in every aspect. She didn't know if Gao Qingtong was genuinely incapable or deliberately incapable, but Jiang Fenghua never stopped helping her plan the banquet.
Xie Shang's birthday banquet was also the day her child turned two. Everyone said, "The eldest princess and the eldest prince are blessed, as they can celebrate their birthdays with the emperor every year."
After Jiang Fenghua finished her postpartum confinement, the rule that all the concubines should pay their respects to the Empress at fixed times and places was reinstated.
In fact, during her postpartum confinement, the Empress exempted all the concubines from paying their respects at Chenxi Palace, so Bai Yuhan has not yet paid her respects to the Empress.
So everyone sat together and whispered, “Even if the Empress doesn’t allow the concubines to pay their respects, Consort Han should take the initiative to greet the Empress. That’s the proper way to behave.”
"Not only did Consort Han not come, but she also acted arrogantly, relying on the Emperor's favor..."
"I don't know what kind of background they have, but the Emperor likes them so much. They don't care if they disrespect the Empress."
"The Emperor rarely visits the Empress's palace anymore."
In the end, everyone sighed and remarked that the emperor's heart is truly unfathomable!
Hearing everyone's discussion, Jiang Fenghua remained noncommittal. Judging from the list of concubines sent to her by the Imperial Household Department, Bai Yuhan had many opportunities to meet the emperor and serve him in bed. Even the previously unknown Consort Pan and Zhang Jingjing had gained the emperor's favor.
Xie Shang must be utterly disappointed in her! Jiang Fenghua remained indifferent, not caring who he favored. It was just strange that she still had nightmares at night. Could it be that she couldn't live in Chenxi Palace anymore, that this place was the beginning of her nightmares, and that she should move away from here?
After the concubines exchanged pleasantries, Jiang Fenghua had Granny Wang bring out some exquisite jewelry and present it to everyone. "These were recently sent to the palace. Take a look and see if there's anything you like. Each of you can choose a piece of jewelry that you like and share in the joy of His Majesty's birthday."
The concubines were delighted to see such exquisite jewelry and stepped forward to select some.
Seeing Helan Yanran's sullen expression, Jiang Fenghua didn't go forward to choose jewelry. "Isn't there anything that Consort Lan likes? They're all new styles."
When Helan Yanran was called upon, she quickly explained, "I'll choose after everyone else has made their selections!"
Jiang Fenghua nodded and personally selected a jade hairpin in the shape of an orchid and handed it to her, saying, "This hairpin is very suitable for Consort Lan."
Helan Yanran was stunned. "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
She held it in her hands and looked at it again and again, "I really like it."
"If you like them, that's good. These are all gifts from me and His Majesty. Everyone can just choose what they like." Jiang Fenghua said gently.
She glanced at Helan Yanran discreetly. She had been summoned by Xie Shang to serve him in bed the most recently, so why did she look so sullen?
Jiang Fenghua was unaware of Helan Yanran's suffering, as Xie Shang hadn't even touched her.
In fact, Helan Yanran thought she liked the emperor, but now she was getting more and more impatient. She felt that the emperor was not very good. Apart from being handsome and being the emperor, he was just average in every other way. On the contrary, Commander Shang was more masculine.
The palace maids all liked to run to the Qianqing Gate to watch the soldiers drill. Once, when Helan Yanran was flying a kite, she also ran over to steal a glance. In that glance, she developed a special feeling for Shang Hong.
An unintentional act led to the birth of a budding woman in the harem who wanted to climb over the wall.
Meanwhile, Song Jing and Gao Qingtong each picked out their favorite hair ornaments and hairpins.
Just then, a palace maid led Lu Xuefei in, saying, "Xuefei greets Her Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Not long after Xie Qi was granted the title of Prince Qi and allowed to leave the palace to establish his own residence, Lu Xuefei also requested permission to leave the palace.
Jiang Fenghua said gently, "Why did Xuefei suddenly enter the palace?"
"Xuefei is fortunate to have accompanied Prince Qi to the palace to meet the Emperor, and I took the opportunity to request permission to visit Your Highness." Lu Xuefei smiled with satisfaction, "I also brought a gift for Your Highness."
Jiang Fenghua smiled and asked, "What gift?"
"I'll show it to Her Majesty separately later." Lu Xuefei blinked, looking mischievous and adorable. She had become even more cheerful and lively since leaving the palace.
Jiang Fenghua admires Lu Xuefei's spirit: she dares to identify bad people, is not afraid of power, dares to refuse marriage, and is courageous in pursuing happiness, even though everyone opposes her or thinks it's impossible. She continues to do what she loves.
Looking at the radiant Lu Xuefei, Jiang Fenghua's smile deepened. May all women in the world have Lu Xuefei's courage and luck!
Song Qing said, "Miss Lu, it's been so long! You've only come to the palace to visit the Empress and have forgotten all about us!"
In truth, Lu Xuefei didn't have a good impression of Song Qing, but since the other party was Consort Shu, she respectfully bowed and said, "Xuefei greets Consort Shu."
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