The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 172: Spreading branches and leaves

After hearing Songzhi's words, Yinzhen's face became noticeably gloomier.

"Do you remember when the Queen gave it to you?"

Songzhi knelt with her head lowered, as if recalling something, and spoke after a while.

"Your Majesty, I remember it was given to me last July. At that time, the Empress said that the scent was based on plum, fresh and pleasant, but the Empress never liked to use perfume. Our master loves to use perfume, so the Empress gave it to our master."

Su Peisheng glanced at Yinzhen's expression and felt nervous again.

Why is it that the Queen's shadow is always present in these events?

Yinzhen originally wanted to question Queen Xuan immediately, but then he thought that it was already late at night and the Queen was of high status. If he disturbed the inner palace at this time, the matter would spread throughout the palace before he could get to the bottom of it.

"Su Peisheng, have someone keep an eye on Yikun Palace. No one is allowed to spread the news of tonight's events. If the news leaks out, I will hold you responsible tomorrow! Find a room for Doctor Wen to stay. I will discuss this matter again after I leave the morning court tomorrow."

Su Peisheng bent over and went out to make arrangements, while Wen Xianqing bowed and left.

Yinzhen lay beside Nian Shilan, unable to sleep most of the night. He finally fell into a drowsy sleep. Su Peisheng carefully called Yinzhen to get up, as it was time to attend the morning court.

Nian Shilan woke up slowly at 11:00 am, and Songzhi was waiting silently by her bed.

"Master, you are awake, are you still feeling uncomfortable?"

Nian Shilan was helped by Songzhi to sit up and said.

"I have slept till this hour. When did the Emperor go home last night?"

Songzhi replied quickly.

"My Lord, the Emperor stayed here last night. Doctor Wen advised the Emperor to return to the Yangxin Palace, fearing that the Emperor would be sick. But the Emperor insisted on staying with you. The Emperor seemed to have not slept last night, and he hurried to the court this morning."

When Nian Shilan got out of bed, she felt her mind was much clearer. She had deliberately gotten caught in the rain and the wind yesterday, and sure enough, she had a fever at night.

Palace fighting is quite tiring, Nian Shilan thought to herself.

"Did you find a chance to say what I told you yesterday?"

When Songzhi heard Nian Shilan asking her, she moved closer to Nian Shilan, helped her walk to the dressing table and sat down, and said.

"Master, rest assured. I have wanted to tell you about the fragrant cakes for a long time. But you have been suppressing it from the emperor. Now I will take this opportunity to complain. The emperor was indeed angry last night, but he did not ask anyone. He only said that he would discuss it after the morning court today. I think it will be just right after you have dressed up and had breakfast."

Nian Shilan smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. Although she had a fever last night, she drank the medicine prescribed by Doctor Wen and had a night's rest, and her complexion had returned to normal today.

"It's good that the emperor knows. I didn't want to kill them all, but what I heard on the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet and the autumn hunt a few days ago made me feel that kind people are bullied. I guess it's because I look too good-natured now that people keep thinking about me. By the way, I didn't go to pay respects today. What did the queen say?"

Song Zhi said.

"The Emperor ordered Eunuch Su last night to have someone watch over the Yikun Palace and not allow anyone to come in or out at will. He just said that you caught a cold and needed to rest. I guess the news from the Yikun Palace can't get out. Xiao Linzi went to Jingren Palace early in the morning on the Emperor's orders. The Empress said she wanted to come and see you. Xiao Linzi followed the Emperor's orders and said that he was afraid that the disease would be passed on to the Empress. The Empress then gave up."

Nian Shilan touched her hair and looked at Songzhi in the mirror.

"Call someone to come in and help me wash up. There is a good show to be performed today, and I have to watch it."

In Jingren Palace, all the concubines paid their respects to Ulanara.

Ulanara looked at the seats below and smiled.

"The Concubine Hua is ill and didn't come today, so the palace looks a little empty."

Qi Yuebin agreed. "The Queen is right. I wonder what Hua Fei's illness is. Is it serious?"

Ulanara sighed.

"I just heard this morning that Concubine Hua went to visit the Empress Dowager in the rain, and got caught in the rain and the cold wind on her way back. She fell ill last night and had a fever. The Emperor was so scared that he stayed by Concubine Hua's side last night. I don't know how she is doing today."

Concubine Li spoke rashly.

"Empress Hua has always been favored. When she was in the palace, I heard that she was the favorite before the concubines entered the palace. Now that she has entered the palace, there are many sisters, and she wants to monopolize the emperor even when she is sick."

Qi Yuebin looked at Li Guiren and saw that she looked indifferent. Ulanara smiled.

"Li Guiren is a quick-witted person. It's just that Concubine Hua was ill last night, and it was His Majesty who wanted to accompany her. Others can't envy her. By the way, I got up early and checked the files of the Jingshifang. The Emperor hasn't visited Li Guiren this month. What a pity. I also hope that you can be as blessed as Jing Guiren and give birth to a child for the Emperor soon. By the way, Jing Guiren, has Princess Kangle been well behaved these days?"

The noble man stood up and answered respectfully.

"Thank you very much, Queen, for your concern. The princess is doing well."

Ulanara smiled and nodded.

"That's good. Please sit down."

Concubine Li looked at Concubine Jing sitting down and snorted with disdain.

"I am not blessed, not as blessed as you. If I want to give birth, I must give birth to a prince. If it is a princess, it will be meaningless."

When Concubine Jing heard this, she suddenly raised her head and saw the disdainful look on Concubine Li's face. A dark light flashed in her eyes, but she said nothing.

Ulanara said.

"Okay, Lady Li, having a son or a daughter is a matter of fate. You are speaking without any consideration."

After saying that, he looked at Fu Guiren again.

"Noble Lady Fu, the Emperor has been visiting you more often recently, in addition to Concubine Hua's. Among all the sisters, you have received the most love and care. I hope that you can get pregnant soon and continue to have children for the Qing Dynasty."

Fu Guiren answered obediently.

"Yes, I remember it."

After saying this, he said no more. He just sat there in silence, his eyes looking at his nose, his nose looking at his heart.

Cao Changzai was drinking tea and glanced at the concubines around her. She saw Yu Changzai was excited and seemed to have something to say.

Sure enough, before Cao Changzai put down the teacup, she heard Yu Changzai speaking.

"Your Majesty is extremely virtuous. Please consider the future generations of the Qing Dynasty. The concubines will do their best to help the Emperor have children."

Cao Changzai sneered in her heart, what a fool. I heard that Yu Changzai has been with the emperor for a long time, but she has not slept with him yet.

Even I, the one who served the emperor from behind, had slept with him several times, but Yu Changzai could only see the emperor at palace banquets and could not even see the emperor in person. Yet she had the audacity to say that she wanted to have more children for the royal family.

Ulanara knew that Yu Changzai had always wanted to sleep with the emperor, but the emperor always ignored her.

"What Yu Chang said here is very much in line with my heart. Today, Concubine Hua is ill. As Concubine Hua's biological sister, Yu Chang should also go to visit her. This is also the relationship between you two sisters."

Yu Changzai nodded and agreed. She thought that today was a good opportunity for her to go to Yiku Palace under the auspices of the Empress, and she believed that her elder sister would not refuse again.

(End of this chapter)