Chapter 52 A Beautiful Voice
“When did Consort Hui ever need our words?” Lu Yingfeng looked at her with amusement—“Even the Empress Dowager’s words are useless, why should we bother with this?”
She still frowned, not quite understanding, and asked, "Do you think this batch of young ladies has been cursed by some kind of feng shui? Are they all really going to the palace with the Emperor as their future husband?"
Her words were so bold that Xuexin quickly covered her mouth and nervously glanced at the doors and windows.
Lu Yingfeng also looked over and lowered her voice—"It's normal for Consort Hui to be sad and heartbroken. It's understandable that she rejected the Emperor several times. But look at how she's been making a scene for the past few months. It's as if she'll never see him again and that they'll hate each other. Even the Empress Dowager's intervention is useless."
"This servant doesn't understand either," Xuexin chimed in—"Does Consort Hui truly intend to never see the Emperor again?"
Lu Yingfeng casually plucked the strings of the zither with one hand, her eyes revealing a clear mind—"We people, to put it nicely, are empresses and concubines, but to put it bluntly, we are just servants of the emperor. How many of us who enter the palace don't try to curry favor with our families, fathers, and brothers? Our emperor's harem is already as quiet as it could be compared to the late emperor's."
Lü Yingfeng wasn't being sarcastic; she simply couldn't understand it—"If it were just a sudden bucket of cold water being poured on years of friendship, it would be one thing to feel disheartened, but she's only been in the palace for less than a year. Now it's as if she's suddenly given up on living."
When no one was around, Xuexin felt at ease and moved a futon to snuggle up next to Lü Yingfeng—"Even for ordinary families, being a principal wife rarely has a smooth journey."
There was no point in bringing it up any further, so Lü Yingfeng didn't want to say anything more. "Perhaps she is truly noble and aloof by nature. After all, we are just ordinary people, and we can't live without the necessities of life. Alright, go and check on the old duck soup simmering on the stove. Bring the children over for a meal after school."
Consort Xin was going to host a banquet at Yongshou Palace, so An Lingrong tactfully brought Baojuan out early.
Baojuan helped An Lingrong stroll slowly along the Thousand Carp Pond. "My lady, Consort Xin's banquet won't affect us. At most, we can just stay out. Why hide here? Who knows when it will be over?"
An Lingrong smiled gently – “The concubine Xinfei has invited the Fifth Prince’s study companions, a bunch of boys. It’s best for us to avoid them for the sake of propriety. Even if the concubine Xinfei doesn’t say it’s because she’s kind, we should be sensible ourselves.”
Autumn is just around the corner, and the evening breeze has already brought a touch of coolness. The lotus flowers that bloomed in the summer are long gone from the pond, leaving only a few withered lotus leaves floating in the water. The scene under the moon is quite desolate.
With no one around, An Lingrong became interested, cleared her throat, and began, "I urge you not to waste your golden robes, but to cherish your youth."
Her voice was melodious and gentle, each word like a breeze passing by, or like pearls falling into a plate, unintentionally capturing someone's heart.
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, for ye may ye have no flowers left to pluck." Her voice was soft and gentle, and her face radiated a smile rarely seen before.
"What a wonderful saying: 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may'!"
A dignified male voice suddenly appeared, startling An Lingrong so much that she took two steps back and gripped Bao Juan's hand tightly.
It was too dark, and there were few lanterns to light up the Thousand Carp Pond. Yinzhen never expected that his voice would frighten people. He smiled and stepped out from the path. "Rong'er's singing voice is truly intoxicating."
Seeing that it was the Emperor, An Lingrong finally calmed down and bowed with lingering fear, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty. Why didn't Your Majesty say a word? I was truly terrified."
Yinzhen chuckled twice, "I was so engrossed in what I heard that I didn't realize I had offended the beauty. It was my fault."
He went over and took her hand, intending to head towards Yongshou Palace, but An Lingrong quickly stopped him.
"Your Majesty! Consort Xin is hosting a banquet in the palace. I... think it best not to disturb her."
The Emperor then remembered the matter and nodded—"Hmm, I was so busy that I forgot. In that case, Su Peisheng, prepare to enter the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Seeing that the Emperor was unusually happy, Su Peisheng smiled and agreed.
That night, melodious singing drifted from the Hall of Mental Cultivation, continuing intermittently until the latter half of the night before finally fading away.
The next morning, the emperor's decree was spread throughout the six palaces.
Jin'an agreed to be appointed as a concubine and was granted the title "Rou".
Before anyone else could react, Consort Hua couldn't hold back any longer.
Songzhi carefully and cautiously combed her hair, while Nian Shilan angrily slammed her hand on the dressing table, making a loud thud—"How can there be so many vixens in the harem! Suppress one and another rises up!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down. The Emperor doesn't take her seriously at all; he treats her like a toy," Songzhi soothed softly.
Consort Hua snorted coldly, staring hatefully at the mirror—"His Majesty has come all the way to the Thousand Carp Pond, presumably to see me, but this vile woman has managed to abduct him by singing a few lines!"
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something, and her tone softened as she said leisurely, "Doesn't she love to sing? Let's find her tonight and have her sing a few lines for us. I want to see what it is that has captivated the Emperor."
——
Before she could even enjoy the new favorite's favor for two days, Consort Hua dragged her over to become an actress and singer. She would stand in the outer hall of Yikun Palace and sing for hours on end. Every day, An Lingrong would go with red and swollen eyes, but she dared not disobey when Songzhi came to summon her again.
Will the Emperor lend a helping hand?
The answer is naturally no. Not only that, he personally went to Yikun Palace to enjoy Rou Changzai's singing voice with Consort Hua, and unknowingly restored Consort Hua's favor.
Because Nian Gengyao had successfully quelled the rebellion and was returning to the capital, he was about to enter the capital.
Seeing that Consort Hua had regained power, her arrogance returned to normal, just as it had when she lost power.
Everyone had no choice but to avoid her again. Even Zhen Huan, after suffering several losses before, would use all sorts of tricks to deal with Consort Hua, even for trivial matters.
Consort Hua, however, was not preoccupied with fighting with them. She was eagerly anticipating the family banquet that the Emperor had promised, and was scheming how to secure a higher official position for her brother and nephew.
After much anticipation, this day has finally arrived.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
