The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 169 Seeking an Audience with the Queen Mother
Songzhi was busy wiping the tea splashed on Nian Shilan's clothes, and anxiously grabbed Nian Shilan's hand to see if she was scalded. Nian Shilan just stood there in a daze, with a look of confusion and disbelief.

Yinzhen walked quickly to Nian Shilan and grabbed her hand.

"Shilan, Shilan? I have sent Yue Zhongqi to take over as the General of Fuyuan and lead the troops to hunt down the remnants of Lobsang Danjin. I will find your brother, dead or alive!"

Nian Shilan trembled for a long time and held Yinzhen's hand tightly. When she raised her head, her face was already in tears.

"Your Majesty, how could this happen? My brother is the pillar of the Nian family, how could he disappear?"

Yinzhen couldn't bear to see Nian Shilan like this, so he reached out and held her in his arms, comforting her softly.

"Your brother is a meritorious minister who helped me ascend the throne. As long as I am here, your Nian family will never fall. If your brother comes back alive, I will definitely promote him to a higher position. If, and I mean just in case, I will also confer a title on your brother and let his son, your nephew, inherit the title. As for your eldest brother Nian Xiyao, he is a scholar, and I will also ensure that he will have no worries for the rest of his life."

Nian Shilan sobbed in Yinzhen's arms, trembling slightly, and spoke in a muffled voice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I just want my brother to be safe!"

Yinzhen patted Nian Shilan's back gently.

"Yes, yes. I also hope that my great general Nian will come back alive."

Yinzhen finally managed to comfort Nian Shilan, and watched her lie down tiredly, close her eyes and rest. Yinzhen then gently told Songzhi to take good care of her master, as he had to go back to the Yangxin Palace to review memorials.

Nian Shilan was not asleep. She listened to Yinzhen's footsteps going away until she could no longer hear them, then she slowly opened her eyes.

Songzhi said worriedly.

"Master, you should rest first. The emperor has already sent people to look for General Nian. It is useless for you to stay like this now. It will only make the emperor worried."

Nian Shilan supported herself on the bed with her hands and slowly sat up. Songzhi hurried forward to help her.

At this moment, Nian Shilan's face no longer showed any trace of sadness, and there was no expression on her face.

"Bring some water and help me dress up again."

Songzhi was about to say something but stopped herself, and obediently went to call Guyu and Xiaoman to come in and serve her.

Nian Shilan sat in front of the dressing table, looking at Guyu and Xiaoman in the mirror as they put on makeup for her again.

In the previous life, Lobsang Danjin's rebellion was not now, but more than ten years later. I don't know why it happened so much earlier in this life, but I think the result will not change.

Nian Gengyao will surely be able to quell the rebellion and return to the court safely. But the scene he just performed was still quite distressing.

But if she didn't do this, Yinzhen would definitely notice something because of his suspicious nature. In her previous life, Nian Shilan was simple-minded and didn't know how to hide anything in front of the emperor, so she was complacent before Yinzhen told her the news of Nian Gengyao's victory.

At that time, she could not understand the murderous intent that flashed in Yinzhen's eyes, nor did she understand the emperor's suspicion and caution. By the time she understood, she had already started over in a new life.

This time, Nian Shilan pretended to be ignorant and put in a lot of effort. No matter how suspicious Yinzhen was, he would not have thought that the news from the front line would be passed to Nian Shilan first, so that he could let down his guard against the Nian family, which was in a very powerful situation.

I hope that when my brother comes back alive, he won’t be as complacent and arrogant as he was in his previous life.

Zhen Huan is right. How can we allow others to sleep soundly beside the king?

It has been a taboo since ancient times to be more successful than your master.

Ulanara looked at Jiang Fuhai who was bending over in front of her.

"Are you telling the truth?"

Jiang Fuhai said respectfully.

"It is absolutely true. I heard from the people around the emperor that General Nian is missing and Concubine Hua is heartbroken and cried in the Yikun Palace."

Ulanara smiled instantly. "Okay, okay. I was originally worried that after Nian Gengyao returns from his victory, Concubine Hua will become even more domineering. The former court and the harem have always been inextricably linked. Moreover, I heard that Nian Gengyao has always doted on this sister. If he has always been a support for Concubine Hua, I am really worried that with the emperor's love for Concubine Hua, the throne of the queen will be given to her one day."

Jianqiu also laughed.

"Your Majesty, you are worrying too much. No matter how favored Concubine Hua is, the etiquette of our ancestors cannot be changed. You are my wife, the mother of the Qing Dynasty. No matter how good Concubine Hua is, she is just a concubine and cannot surpass you."

"That being said, there is no certainty in the world. Before I can be sure that Nian Gengyao is really dead, I will let Concubine Hua continue to be domineering for a while."

As Ulanara spoke, the smile on her face never faded.

"Oh, right, come with me to see the Third Prince. That kid can smile when he sees me now. He's really smart."

Jianqiu echoed.

"Your Majesty is beautiful, and you are the mother of the Third Prince. The Third Prince will naturally be happy to see you. When the Third Prince grows up, he will definitely be filial to you."

Ulanara smiled and took Jianqiu to see the third prince.

Nian Shilan and Songzhi stood outside the Cining Palace, asking to see the Queen Mother.

The young eunuch at the gate of Cining Palace hurried in to report, and after a moment, he ran out respectfully to invite Nian Shilan into the hall.

"Your Highness pays respect to the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty be blessed with good fortune."

Nian Shilan rarely performed formal greetings. Whenever she went to the Queen's palace to pay her respects, she would casually wave her handkerchief and bend her knees perfunctorily. But in front of the Empress Dowager Nianhulu, she was a junior and never acted arrogantly.

The Queen Mother looked at Nian Shilan, who was wearing plain clothes and even had some plain hairpins, and she felt puzzled.

"Get up quickly. Why are you dressed so plainly today? You are in your prime, you should wear colorful clothes so that the emperor can see you."

Nian Shilan stood up, and before she could say anything, tears started falling.

"I really don't feel like dressing up. I feel bored staying in my own palace, so I came to see the Empress Dowager. I want to say something offensive. Since the first time I saw you, I felt as if I had seen my mother. I feel close to you from the bottom of my heart. I hope the Empress Dowager will not mind my nagging and allow me to bother you."

The Queen Mother was stunned. She waved to Nian Shilan to come forward, took her hand, and spoke softly.

"My dear, what's wrong? Why are you crying so hard? Did the emperor make you unhappy?"

Nian Shilan stopped crying and bowed again before saying.

"I thank the Queen Mother for her understanding. I am just sad and cannot see my mother outside the palace, so I dared to cry in front of the Queen Mother."

The Queen Mother was still wondering what was going on.

Year of the Landau.

"At lunch time today, I heard from the Emperor that there was a war report from the northwest. My brother was ambushed while pursuing the rebel leader. There is no news from him and his life or death is unknown. I am really worried, but I don't even have anyone to talk to."

The Queen Mother gently patted Nian Shilan's hand to comfort her.

"I have heard about it, too. The emperor said that he didn't want to tell you, but he was afraid that you would know it sooner or later, and then it would be bad. Since you said that I look like your mother, then you should treat me as your mother and cry in front of your mother. It is only right."

The Empress Dowager had no children, so it was not easy for her to sit on her current honorable position. Unexpectedly, Nian Shilan appeared halfway through, and her temperament and personality were just what the Empress Dowager liked. After several interactions, the Empress Dowager felt a little pity for Nian Shilan.

Seeing the once proud Nian Shilan crying like this today, I couldn't bear it.

However, when the news reached Empress Dowager De's Yonghe Palace, she smashed the fine Ru kiln teacup in her hand.

　Oops, the order of posting is reversed. Please read chapter 163 first, then this one.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)