boyutpedia Chapter 231 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 44
Chapter 231 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 44
The news of An Lingrong's pregnancy was like a boulder thrown into the deep pool of the inner palace, stirring up layers of chilling undercurrents. From then on, Yanxi Palace seemed to be shrouded in gloom.
At dawn, the first rays of sunlight struggled to pierce through the thick clouds and fall upon the walls of Yanxi Palace, but failed to bring any warmth.
At lunchtime, as soon as the food from the imperial kitchen was placed on the table, An Lingrong smelled an unusual scent. She frowned slightly, leaned closer to sniff, and the familiar scent of safflower, like an invisible hand, gripped her heart tightly.
She had used the same methods to scheme against others before, and now it seems that retribution has come.
She picked up her chopsticks with trembling hands, gently stirring the food on the plate, her eyes scanning her surroundings warily.
Suddenly, she noticed that the color of a dish next to her seemed too bright, almost blindingly red. She reached out to pick it up and examine it closely, but as her fingertips touched the rim of the bowl, she realized that the aroma emanating from it was clearly that of turmeric, its scent hidden within the flavor of the food.
A few days later, An Lingrong paced in the courtyard, trying to ease her tense nerves. The winter wind cut her cheeks like a knife, and the trees in the courtyard had long since withered.
Just as she was passing through a corridor, suddenly a figure rushed out from around the corner and crashed straight into her.
An Lingrong's eyes widened in horror. She instinctively tried to dodge, but due to her limited mobility, she stumbled. She cried out and instinctively covered her abdomen with her hands, falling to the ground. Fortunately, Chunzhu was quick-witted and cushioned her fall.
"My lady! Are you alright?" Chunzhu's scream broke the silence of the courtyard, and she helped An Lingrong up.
An Lingrong's face was pale, her forehead was covered in sweat, and her eyes were filled with fear and anger. She watched the little eunuch's hurried retreating figure, and the hatred in her heart burned like a raging fire.
At this moment, Empress Yixiu was sitting in the inner chamber of Jingren Palace.
The former luxury of Jingren Palace has gradually faded, leaving only desolation and bleakness. Dim light shines through the windows onto the old tables and chairs, reflecting Yixiu's tired and resentful face.
"Jianqiu, how is the situation at Yanxi Palace?" Yixiu's voice was low and cold, as if it came from the deepest hell.
Jianqiu walked gently to her side, bowed slightly, and said softly, "Your Majesty, everything is under your control. The safflower and musk have been placed as planned, and the eunuchs have also been arranged to create some 'accidents' for Consort An from time to time."
Yi Xiu nodded slightly, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes: "That restless Consort An is a constant threat; she must be eliminated as soon as possible."
“Your Majesty is absolutely right. You can let whoever you want give birth have the child. Consort An used to seem quite loyal, but I never expected her to be so two-faced.” Jianqiu’s tone was full of disdain.
"If it weren't for Your Majesty's promotion, the daughter of a mere county magistrate would probably have spent her entire life struggling at the very bottom of the palace," Jianqiu continued.
“A barking dog doesn’t bite. Consort An has offended many people in the harem, and I’m sure no one wants her to give birth smoothly. Let’s put in a little more effort behind the scenes and see who dares to betray me.” As Yixiu spoke, she gripped the handkerchief in her hand even tighter.
"Has the message been sent to Chuxiu Palace?" Yixiu suddenly asked.
“We did everything as Your Highness instructed, but… there seems to be no movement from Chuxiu Palace.” Jianqiu said with some doubt.
"Which woman in the harem isn't eager to fight? They're just outwardly calm. Yongshou Palace's power is growing stronger and stronger, how could Chuxiu Palace sit idly by? Let's wait and see." Yixiu leaned back in her chair, a hint of confidence and cunning in her eyes.
Meanwhile, crises continue to unfold at Yanxi Palace.
After being hit, An Lingrong stopped going for walks in the courtyard and stayed quiet for a few days.
That night, An Lingrong lay in bed, hoping to get some rest, but the scent of incense filling the room kept her awake. She listened intently; the howling wind outside the window sounded like the whispers of demons. Each gust of wind sent a shiver down her spine, a fear that some danger was about to strike.
“Chunzhu, this incense…” An Lingrong said weakly.
Chunzhu quickly went to the bedside, extinguished the incense, and comforted her, "My lady, don't worry, I've already checked. As long as we stay far away, there shouldn't be any major problems."
An Lingrong nodded gently, closed her eyes, and tried to relax. However, as soon as she closed her eyes, those terrible scenes flashed through her mind: the red flowers in the food, the little eunuch who bumped into her... Her body trembled involuntarily.
During these difficult days, An Lingrong, with her caution and Chunzhu's help, barely managed to keep her unborn child. Meanwhile, Shen Meizhuang's life was also quietly changing.
Even after Shen Meizhuang was released from confinement, life at Suiyuxuan remained difficult. The relentless winter wind poured into the room, rattling the paper windows. There wasn't enough charcoal in the room, and Caiyue and Caixing shivered from the cold, stamping their feet and rubbing their hands together to keep warm.
Shen Meizhuang sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a tattered cotton quilt, yet still felt the chill to the bone.
"My lady, how are we supposed to live like this? This room is as cold as an ice cellar," Caiyue couldn't help but complain.
Shen Meizhuang sighed softly, "Fine, I'll just have to bear with it."
Although Zhen Huan frequently sent things over, the arrogant attitude of the palace maids in Yongshou Palace greatly displeased Shen Meizhuang. She looked at the gifts sent over, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
“My lady, what do you think of these things…” Cai Xing asked cautiously.
"Put them away, but you don't need to use them anymore," Shen Meizhuang said calmly.
To change her situation, Shen Meizhuang decides to stage a chance encounter with the Emperor. The Imperial Garden in winter is a blanket of white. Snowflakes fall gently, carpeting the earth with a pristine white.
Shen Meizhuang dressed herself up carefully and went to the Imperial Garden. She deliberately lingered in a place where the Emperor often passed by, holding a bracelet in her hand and revealing a hint of anxiety in her eyes.
"Oh dear, my bracelet is gone! What am I going to do?" Shen Meizhuang murmured to herself.
Just then, the Emperor appeared not far away. Shen Meizhuang's heart tightened, but her face showed a look of surprise and joy: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
The Emperor stopped and looked at Shen Meizhuang: "What's wrong with you?"
"Your Majesty, I have accidentally lost my bracelet. This bracelet is of great significance to me, and I am anxiously searching for it," Shen Meizhuang said, tears welling up in her eyes.
The Emperor frowned slightly and said, "I'll help you look for it."
After searching for a while, Shen Meizhuang found the bracelet in a flower bush.
She looked at the Emperor gratefully and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. If it weren't for your help, I really wouldn't know what to do. This bracelet was a gift from Your Majesty. Losing the bracelet is a small matter, but the friendship cannot be lost."
The Emperor looked at Shen Meizhuang and finally said, "In that case, I will dine at your place tonight."
That night, the Emperor stayed at Suiyu Pavilion. Afterwards, Shen Meizhuang was promoted to the rank of Changzai, regained the Emperor's favor, and her living conditions finally improved.
Time flies, and New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. An Lingrong's pregnancy had surprisingly progressed smoothly for nearly seven months. Yi Xiu then realized that An Lingrong was not as easy to deal with as she had imagined, so she increased the frequency of her attacks on her.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, the food delivered by the imperial kitchen was still fraught with danger. An Lingrong looked at the food, her heart filled with despair. She and Chunzhu exchanged a glance, their eyes both revealing helplessness and fear.
"My lady, what should we do?" Chunzhu asked, trembling.
"Let's exchange meals as usual," An Lingrong said helplessly.
Due to long-term malnutrition, An Lingrong's health deteriorated, and the condition of her unborn child became unstable. She often experienced unbearable abdominal pain and had to frequently summon the imperial physician, but in order to protect the fetus, An Lingrong could only proceed with extreme caution.
On New Year's Eve, the palace was brightly decorated and bustling with activity.
At the banquet, Prince Guo attended with his primary consort, Meng Jingxian. The two were very close and affectionate during the banquet.
Zhen Huan sat to the side, watching their interaction, a sharp pain piercing her heart. She recalled all the moments she had shared with Yunli, and now she could only watch him be affectionate with someone else.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Fu Jia asked with concern.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired." Zhen Huan forced a smile.
Halfway through the banquet, Zhen Huan excused herself and left. She stepped out of the banquet hall; a biting wind blew outside, and snowflakes landed on her shoulders, melting instantly. Gazing at the night sky, she felt a complex mix of emotions.
Back at Yongshou Palace, Zhen Yurao greeted her: "Sister, why are you back so early?"
Zhen Huan looked at Zhen Yu Rao and felt a surge of warmth in her heart: "It's alright. I want to come back and spend New Year's Eve with you."
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Emperor and Empress were busy receiving ministers and noblewomen, and also had to perform ceremonies such as offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth. They were extremely busy. Zhen Huan, in Yongshou Palace, had a hint of dissatisfaction flash in her eyes.
At this moment, Xiao Lengzi entered the hall and respectfully bowed: "Your Majesty, the matter has been settled."
"Hmph, Consort An is pregnant, she must be very worried about her father's situation. Let's find a suitable time to tell her the news." Zhen Huan gently stroked the hot pot in her hand, her tone icy.
An Lingrong caused her to miscarry back then, and now Zhen Huan has caught An Lingrong's father red-handed. She secretly wonders whether An Lingrong's pregnancy will be safe this time.
Zhen Huan didn't want to harm the child, but she was filled with resentment. Why was An Lingrong able to conceive safely, while she herself suffered all sorts of schemes from An Lingrong during her pregnancy? She decided to retaliate in kind, to make An Lingrong taste the bitterness of life.