The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 168 Concubine Hua Plays Stupid
Yinzhen had the battle report sent back from the northwest, and this time it was Nian Gengyao who led the army to the battle.

At the end of August, the Qing army led by Fuyuan General Nian Gengyao and the rebel army led by Lobsang Danjin fought a fierce battle in Qinghai. Nian Gengyao led his personal soldiers and a team of 3,000 people to pursue the remnants of the enemy army, intending to behead the rebel leader Lobsang Danjin.

However, heavy rain suddenly hit Khoshut Mongolia, causing landslides. Nian Gengyao and his personal soldiers were in the front and were forced to become separated from the rest of the team. There was no further news from Nian Gengyao.

The military supervisor led his troops to retreat and sent an urgent letter back to the court, revealing that there was no commander in the army.

Su Peisheng saw that Yinzhen did not move for a long time. He knew that the news came from the front line, and he couldn't help feeling anxious. The emperor had just ascended the throne when he encountered the rebellion of Lobsang Danjin. He didn't know what was going on with General Nian.

"Your Majesty, please have a cup of tea to moisten your throat and rest for a while before continuing to read the memorials."

Su Peisheng carefully brought a bowl of fragrant tea. Yinzhen put down the memorial in his hand and took the bowl of tea.

"Go to Yikun Palace and tell Concubine Hua that I'm going to have lunch with her."

Nian Shilan knew about Nian Gengyao's disappearance an hour ago. She was quite frightened when she first heard it. Such a dangerous thing had never happened in her previous life, and she didn't know whether her brother was still alive.

But then he thought, his brother was a great general who put down the rebellion of Lobsang Danjin in his previous life, so he will be fine. The Nian family depends on his brother for support.

Xiao Linzi watched Nian Shilan's expression change several times, and finally calmed down. He secretly admired her in his heart, thinking that she was worthy of being his master. She could remain calm even when faced with such a big event. Xiao Linzi was completely impressed by her.

"Master, don't worry. General Nian is a lucky man. God will surely bless the Qing Dynasty."

Nian Shilan listened to Xiao Linzi carefully choosing his words to comfort her, calmed down, and smiled faintly.

"You are right. It is not so easy for my brother to die. He is a great general."

Songzhi came in and said that Su Peisheng wanted to see her. Nian Shilan guessed that he came here on Yinzhen's orders, for example, to have lunch.

"Let him in."

Su Peisheng entered the Yikun Palace and paid his respects to Nian Shilan.

"This servant greets Her Majesty Hua Fei. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune."

Nian Shilan had a smile on her face as usual.

"Hello, Eunuch Su. I don't know why you are here now, but does the emperor have anything to tell me?"

Su Peisheng smiled and cupped his hands.

"Your Majesty is wise. The Emperor said that he would have lunch in the Yikun Palace today. Your Majesty should prepare to receive him."

Nian Shilan showed a look of surprise on her face. Su Peisheng took note of it secretly and felt very satisfied.

The Emperor hasn't been to Yikun Palace for a long time. Isn't Concubine Hua going to have a surprise?

"Really? Then I will have to prepare well and ask the small kitchen to cook the dishes that the emperor likes."

After seeing Su Peisheng off, Xiao Linzi came back and said.

"Master, please give me your instructions so that I can ask the small kitchen to prepare it."

Nian Shilan thought for a while and said.

"Forget it. I originally wanted to prepare a few dishes that the emperor likes, but after thinking it over, I feel that it is not appropriate. Let the kitchen prepare them. It doesn't matter what dishes they are. It has been raining continuously these days, so just cook something that is in season."

Although Xiao Linzi didn't understand, he still did as Nian Shilan instructed.

At lunch time, Nian Shilan was already standing in the corridor waiting.

"The Emperor has arrived~!"

Nian Shilan listened to Su Peisheng's message, took light steps, swayed her waist, and slowly moved forward a few steps.

"I send my regards to the Emperor. May the Emperor be blessed with peace and happiness."

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan's delicate face with a bright smile, and felt that even the rainy weather had improved. He reached out his hand to pull Nian Shilan up.

"Get up. Although the rain is not heavy today, it is windy. You have been standing in the corridor for a long time. Are you cold?"

Nian Shilan stood up with the strength from Yinzhen's hand and said coquettishly.

"Your Majesty, I am not cold. It's just that I don't like rainy days like this, which make my Yikun Palace look cold and deserted. But when Your Majesty comes, I feel that Yikun Palace is brightened up. This is probably what people call a humble house filled with glory, right?"

Yinzhen shook his head and laughed, then pulled Nian Shilan into the palace.

"You, after all, are from an aristocratic family. It's fine if you don't like to study, but you insist on learning to be pedantic. Look around the entire palace. Apart from the Queen's Jingren Palace, yours is the most luxurious. For you, I even moved the Pepper Room in the former Qiandi here. How can it be shabby?"

Nian Shilan followed behind Yinzhen, with her hand held in Yinzhen's palm. She twisted her hand in dissatisfaction.

"Your Majesty, please make fun of me. I didn't mean that the Yikun Palace was deserted, but now that Your Majesty is here, I feel from the bottom of my heart that even this palace is brighter. I like to quibble with words, Your Majesty, please choose a few sisters who don't quibble with words to come in some other day, and I will definitely make room for Your Majesty!"

Yinzhen turned around and looked at Nian Shilan, his smile widening.

"Look, I haven't been here these days, but your mouth has become even more powerful. Tell me, what delicious food have you prepared today? I heard from Su Peisheng that you asked the small kitchen to make my favorite food."

As Yinzhen spoke, he let go of Nian Shilan's hand and walked to the table and sat down. Looking at the dishes on the table, Yinzhen was stunned.

"What dish is this today? Can Shilan tell me the name of the dish?"

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan with a smile.

"I obey your command. Today, the kitchen prepared five-flavored apricot cheese goose, crystal pork knuckle, soft pearl fish, lotus morel, golden pumpkin eight-treasure rice, Jinling pressed duck and golden fragrant cake. I don't remember the remaining vegetables."

Nian Shilan was still standing nearby, pointing at the dishes one by one and explaining them to Yinzhen with a smile.

Yinzhen pointed to the position opposite and smiled.

"Please sit down first. I don't think any of these dishes are to my liking. How can Shilan say that he cooked the dishes I like?"

Nian Shilan watched Su Peisheng serving food to Yinzhen and chuckled while covering her mouth with a silk handkerchief.

"I just said it casually. How dare I speculate on the emperor's preferences? I just serve the emperor."

After the two finished their meal, Nian Shilan watched the servant bring fragrant tea to Yinzhen for rinsing his mouth, helped him rinse his mouth, and then served him tea again.

Yinzhen held the teacup, gently used the lid to move two tea leaves floating on the tea, and spoke carefully.

"I came here today, and I don't know if I should tell you something."

Nian Shilan took a sip of tea, still holding the teacup in her hand, and looked at Yinzhen in confusion.

"Your Majesty, what do you want to say? Even I can't say it."

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan's delicate and beautiful face and sighed softly.

"I told you that you must be sad. However, since this matter is related to you, I am afraid that if I don't tell you, you will blame me and alienate me after you know it. I am really in a dilemma."

Seeing how serious he was, Nian Shilan also straightened her expression.

"Your Majesty, please speak up. I am all ears."

Yinzhen pondered for a while before speaking slowly.

"At noon, a report came from the army that your brother Nian Gengyao was ambushed while pursuing the rebel leader. It was also raining heavily and the mountain collapsed. Now, there is no news from him."

Nian Shilan was stunned after hearing this, and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground.

　Ah, the release order is reversed.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)