Chapter 129 One Wave After Another
"Huan Yi Xiang... Huan Yi Xiang... Impossible! You're lying! That incense was bestowed upon me by the Emperor!" Nian Shilan's eyes widened as she shoved her forcefully, but the push lacked power. Instead, she stumbled back several steps, as if she couldn't stand.
"Do you know why you haven't had a child since your miscarriage? This 'Joyful Fragrance' contains a large amount of musk. You've used it for so many years, of course you won't have any more children." Looking at Zhen Huan's resolute face, her anger gradually turned into suspicion, her eyes darting around, unsure where to look. "Your Majesty...it's impossible, impossible..."
At first, Zhen Huan felt a sense of satisfaction looking at her, but as she looked at her, she inexplicably felt a sense of sorrow for her kindred spirits. "If it weren't for the Emperor's decree, how could the Imperial Hospital not have had any physicians dare to tell you that you had a large amount of musk in your body? Even the child you miscarried was probably not the work of Consort Duan."
Her emotions were completely overwhelmed, and even when she tried to force a smile, it was more like a grimace than a cry. She touched her cheeks with trembling hands, trying to wipe away the tears that wouldn't stop, but it was all in vain. For some reason, her tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, and in the candlelight, they looked like pearls rolling and shattering on the ground.
Hearing sounds approaching from afar, Liuzhu warily tugged at Zhen Huan's sleeve. This was not a good place to talk, and seeing that someone was coming, it was not advisable to linger. Zhen Huan regretted her words as soon as she spoke, and quickly left with the words, "I have said my piece, you are on your own." She then hurriedly left under the cover of night.
Even after returning to Suiyu Pavilion, she didn't sleep a wink all night, staring wide-eyed until dawn. When Jinxi came to wake her, she saw dark circles under her eyes and her complexion was terrible—"Oh dear, what's wrong with Your Highness on such a fine day?"
Seeing that she didn't say anything else first, Zhen Huan pulled her aside and asked directly, "How is Consort Nian? What news is there from Yikun Palace? Has the Emperor been invited to go there?"
Jinxi had no idea what had happened that night. Hearing the series of questions, she could only shake her head in confusion. "Nothing. There has been no news at all. It's been extremely quiet. What's wrong, Your Highness? You should wash up and put on your makeup quickly. We must not miss the auspicious time."
...
Lü Jiaying was helped by Xuexin to change into the auspicious robes of the Imperial Noble Consort. Xuexin and Hong Xihai had been sent back by Eunuch Su last night. Although they were supposed to be going for questioning, they had been well-fed and cared for these past two days, without getting any scratches or bruises. They were even exempted from two days of work, making it easier than when they were in the palace.
"This auspicious robe is truly beautiful." Xue Xin was used to being at ease in front of Lü Jiaying, and couldn't help but praise the Empress's unusual attire.
Hearing this, Yinzhen, who was tidying his clothes, turned around and looked at Lü Jiayingfeng. She was now the mother of four children. Although Lü Jiayingfeng felt that her appearance had not changed much, she still lowered her head shyly in the face of the emperor's gaze.
"Hehe." It was this naive reaction, just like it was ten years ago, that pleased Yinzhen. He walked up and sat down next to Lü Jiayingfeng, deliberately leaning closer to look at her. "Ying'er, your skin is as white as snow and your hair is as black as ink. You don't look like the mother of four children at all. You look almost exactly the same as when I first met you ten years ago. Time seems to have been kind to you."
Lu Jiaying's face flushed slightly from the words, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with a charm that others lacked.
In truth, she inwardly pursed her lips in disbelief. Ten years ago... she didn't believe the Emperor could still remember what she looked like ten years ago. Besides, she didn't seem to possess the beauty she has now ten years ago; one could only describe her features as handsome and refined. It seemed that her appearance only gradually changed after giving birth to Hongzhao and Hongjin... perhaps it was what people commonly refer to as "growing up."
"Your Majesty, Consort Wan has completed her investiture ceremony and is waiting in the main hall of Yongshou Palace," a servant reported from outside.
It was indeed time to take a look. Yinzhen was in a rare good mood these past few days. He took Lü Jiayingfeng's hand and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go and take a look together."
As soon as she entered the hall, Lü Jiayingfeng sensed that the person beside her, who had been chatting and laughing all the way, suddenly froze, even taking a breath. Puzzled, she followed the Emperor's gaze and looked inside. Behind the beaded curtain of the main hall, she could vaguely see a figure dressed in a coral-colored auspicious robe.
It couldn't possibly be anyone other than Consort Wan, so why was the Emperor so surprised to see her?
Yinzhen had been holding Lü Jiayingfeng's hand the whole way, but he quietly let go at this moment. He involuntarily took two steps forward and, in a daze, softly called out, "Wanwan?"
Zhen Huan turned around when she heard the voice. She felt a little embarrassed to hear the affectionate nickname she usually used between the two of them being used like that. She responded shyly, "May Your Majesty be blessed with longevity and peace."
"Wanwan, why don't you call me Fourth Prince anymore!" This response was like a reassurance to Yinzhen. Today's scene was almost identical to his previous dreams. He was dressed in the same coral-colored robe, and his face was blurred and indistinct, visible but untouchable. Every time he woke up, he felt a sense of loss.
"Fourth Prince." Zhen Huan smiled, thinking that she was probably the only one in the palace who could address the Emperor in this way.
Having received a response, Yinzhen no longer restrained himself. He rushed forward and lifted the beaded curtain, wanting to immediately embrace the person he had been longing for and never let go again.
"Your Majesty, I, Zhen Huan, pay my respects." The beaded curtain was lifted, and Zhen Huan met the Emperor's surprised and dazed gaze. As she watched his gaze gradually turn cold, she sensed that something was wrong. She frowned, and her body reacted before her mind.
She slowly knelt down under the emperor's disappointed and angry gaze, looking up at him helplessly.
"It's you? Where did you get these clothes?"
"presumptuous!"
Seeing that something was wrong, Lü Jiaying rushed forward to check. Zhen Huan's coral-colored auspicious robe did indeed look off in terms of color and style; she remembered that the Imperial Household Department had made a purple one. However, if it were just a matter of wearing the wrong clothes, the Emperor would never be so angry.
"Consort Wan, why are you wearing this outfit? Tell me quickly." She couldn't help but ask Zhen Huan, who was standing there dumbfounded, and the Emperor beside her, whose chest was heaving more and more.
Zhen Huan was completely bewildered. Although she didn't understand why the Emperor was angry, she still tried her best to defend herself—"Your Majesty, I only discovered that the auspicious robes sent by the Imperial Household Department were damaged when I came to Yongshou Palace for the reprimand. I had no choice but to borrow them from the Imperial Household Department. I have no idea how these clothes came about..."
She didn't know, and neither did Lü Jiayingfeng. They only heard Yinzhen speak slowly with a nostalgic tone, "This is the dress Chun Yuan wore when she first entered the Prince's Mansion to see me. Of course, I will not forget it."
"Take it off now." His face was full of reproach, and his tone was exceptionally cold.
Autumn had already begun and the north wind was blowing, but Zhen Huan dared not delay for a moment. She immediately stripped the clothes off her body and knelt in the hall, shivering, wearing only her undergarments. "Your Majesty, I was careless and did not mean to offend you. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"
Logically, Lü Jiaying should have spoken up to offer some advice at this point. However, over the years, she had long understood the irreplaceable position of the late Empress Chun Yuan in the Emperor's heart. If her words carried no weight, silence was the best course of action.
Yinzhen recalled his foolish behavior just now, and the anger of being mocked piled up in his heart, growing stronger and stronger. His gaze became colder and more indifferent. "You have not listened to the teachings of the Imperial Noble Consort, so the ceremony is not complete. Now go back to your Suiyu Pavilion to reflect on your past mistakes."
After saying this, his face showed a look of disgust that Zhen Huan had never seen before. After the great joy of regaining what he had lost, there was also a huge disappointment at being mocked. Yinzhen turned around and walked away with much slower steps.
Just then, a nanny rushed in, disregarding the rules and announcing her arrival before even entering the hall.
"Your Majesty! Consort Nian... Consort Nian is in grave danger! Your Majesty, please go and see her immediately!"
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