Chapter 34 Mei Zhuang Eavesdropping

The Empress had anticipated her move and had informed Huichun in advance. When Huichun saw Hua Fei's hand touching the edge of the bowl, she immediately took it and placed it on the square table next to her.

This would not give Nian Shilan any chance to pretend to have failed.

Then Jianqiu brought another bowl to the Queen.

The queen stirred the medicinal soup with a white porcelain spoon, took a sip, and explained casually:

"I specially ordered people to stew the black chicken with donkey hide gelatin and red dates, and added more than ten kinds of precious medicinal herbs. After stewing it overnight, it was quite tasty."

[The Queen was worried that I might suspect that the wine was poisonous, so she deliberately separated two bowls from the same bowl and let me choose first, and then she drank first? ]

Nian Shilan was confused: [What is this? Is this a gesture of goodwill? ]

That is exactly what the Queen meant.

She thought that there had been no fundamental conflicts between her and Concubine Hua from the beginning to the end, but she just couldn't stand the fact that Concubine Hua was arrogant and disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, and even intended to replace her.

After all, it was all for the emperor who was so unworthy.

That's all.

Now that Concubine Hua no longer wants favor and has no intention of replacing the Empress, there is really no need for me to fight with her.

If we unite, both will benefit; if we separate, both will lose.

The queen is a smart person, but she can't say it now.

Because the emperor was suspicious, what he needed was not peace in the harem, but checks and balances.

The reason she gave the soup to Concubine Hua today was that she hoped she would understand that they were friends, not enemies, and that she didn't need to spend all her time and energy targeting her, which would only end up making her loved ones sad and her enemies happy.

Furthermore, Nian Shilan had a straightforward personality, and the empress was afraid that if she spoke openly, their relationship would ease and the emperor would notice something.

Hua Fei is no match for the Emperor. If the old fox could trick the Emperor into finding out something from her in a few words, he would think that she and Hua Fei were conspiring to seize his kingdom.

The consequences are unimaginable.

Nian Shilan drank the soup doubtfully. It tasted delicious and rich, without any bitter taste of herbs.

[No wonder the emperor likes duck soup. The chicken soup is also well cooked. It seems that the queen is not only thoughtful, but also has some cooking skills. ]

The queen's lips curled slightly: She is still thinking about duck soup.

"This soup replenishes qi and blood, warms the meridians and uterus."

When she heard these words, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck through Nian Shilan's brain:

【Warm the meridians...Warm the uterus! 】

[It is difficult for women to get pregnant if their uterus is cold. Warming up the uterus means...]

"Queen..."

Nian Shilan was a little bit unbelievable.

[It is impossible that she does not know the effect of Huan Yi Xiang. It was she and the Emperor who killed my son together. How could she be so kind...]

The queen still kept smiling: "I have been drinking it for a few days in a row, and I think it is not bad. If you like, you can come often."

She still didn't dare to directly confront the imperial power, so she told Concubine Hua not to use the Huanyi incense.

Kelin Yixiang is derived from an ancient incense recipe and improved upon to improve the effectiveness of musk in Huan Yixiang.

Combined with this medicinal diet, it may be possible that she will recover in time.

Perhaps, her wish of having a son could be fulfilled?

At present, the third prince in the palace takes after his mother and is not smart enough. The fourth prince is raised in the Old Summer Palace and the fifth prince is raised in the temporary palace. If Concubine Hua gives birth to a son, she will personally teach him and he will definitely be smart.

By then, assisting her son to ascend the throne would be much more beneficial to her than assisting other princes to ascend the throne.

【What is this palace thinking about? 】

[The old woman, the Queen, doesn't even want to think of ways to punish herself, but how could she possibly make a nourishing soup specifically for me? ]

The queen was brought back to her senses by Nian Shilan's voice and chatted with her for a few more words. After they both drank half a can of soup, she let Nian Shilan leave.

Looking at Nian Shilan's back through the window, Jianqiu couldn't help but ask, "Her Majesty, have you been too nice to Concubine Hua recently?"

"The day is long, why bother..." "Fighting and struggling over a man like that?" It's not worth it.

The queen put down the porcelain spoon in her hand and said, "Isn't it good for sisters to go on a blind date?"

Jianqiu naturally had to consider her own master, "Sisters? Your Majesty is the master of the harem, how can they be worthy of being called sisters? What's more, people's hearts are separated by belly, and Concubine Hua has never respected you. Your Majesty is kind-hearted and treats her as a sister, she..."

"People's hearts are hidden in their stomachs?" The queen murmured, "She won't..."

Jianqiu suspected that there was something wrong with her ears:

What did the Queen just say?

She won't?

Your Majesty, do you think Concubine Hua won't do that?

What can't you do?

Jianqiu was indeed confused: How had the Empress changed? She was not like this before.

The Queen looked at Nian Shilan's back through the window: This is what I owe her, so I'll just pay her back.

No matter who among all the women in the harem gives birth to a child, none of them can have the same childbirth insurance as her.

Yikun Palace

Nian Shilan walked in, took off her cloak, and ordered, "Zhou Ninghai, go to Qixiang Palace and call Lipin."

Zhou Ninghai went out and Huang Guiquan came over.

The Queen was busy during the New Year holidays, so she had the opportunity to look for Nian Shilan, and Shen Meizhuang naturally had an excuse to meet Nian Shilan.

When Shen Meizhuang arrived at the Yikun Palace, the maid Lingzhi at the door told her that Concubine Hua was meeting Huang Guiquan in the East Warm Pavilion and listening to his report on the New Year's Day.

"Mr. Shen, please follow me to the West Warm Pavilion and wait."

"Don't bother. Today is a good day. I will wait in the corridor. It won't be too late to go in after the queen is done."

Shen Meizhuang looked towards the window of Dongnuan Pavilion.

From this position, if you listen carefully, you should be able to hear Concubine Hua's thoughts through the cracks in the window, right?

How did I become like this now?

A lady from a noble family actually learns to eavesdrop.

She felt a little ashamed, but she had already walked to the window.

"...That's all. If your Majesty has no other instructions, I will get busy."

Huang Guiquan was about to leave after he finished speaking, but was stopped by Nian Shilan.

"Wait, the New Year is coming. Except for those who are being punished, no one else's share, whether they are favored or not, can be deducted. Do you understand?"

Nian Shilan gave him a warning look.

How could Huang Guiquan not understand what Concubine Hua said?

But he didn't understand why Concubine Hua did this?

"Keep your people under control. I don't want the position of the chief eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Find someone else to take the position."

Nian Shilan did not dare to underestimate Chun Yuan's power.

Huang Guiquan's eyes rolled, fearing that the Queen would see that those unfavored ladies were about to become favored, and the Queen was reminding herself not to make mistakes at the critical moment.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I will do my best in the future and will not make any mistakes."

Although she didn't hear it clearly, she still heard the two key sentences.

Shen Meizhuang held the account book and thought: Concubine Hua is indeed cold on the outside but warm on the inside. On the surface, she appears to be strong and domineering to everyone, but behind the scenes, she is nice to everyone.

Lipin came from the palace gate and glanced at Shen Meizhuang who was concentrating on looking at the account book in the corridor. Lingzhi immediately reported back that Shen Guiren came to see Concubine Hua.

You little bastard, it would be fine if you just robbed the Emperor, but now you even want to rob Concubine Hua.

Lipin rolled her eyes at Shen Meizhuang, "Did Empress Hua summon her?"

Lingzhi answered truthfully: "No."

no?

Then Concubine Li was not polite to her.

Huang Guiquan came out and Lipin went straight in, leaving Shen Meizhuang outside.