The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 192 The Queen's Hint
Ulanara smiled and said nothing, turning her head to look at the stage. The first play she ordered was "Borrowing the East Wind", and the actor who played Zhuge Liang was speaking on the stage.

"Learning the art of war from the heavenly book is as easy as turning your hand over, setting up an altar to borrow the east wind to help Zhou Lang."

Nian Shilan smiled.

"The Queen's taste is indeed good, but if the east wind cannot be borrowed, I wonder what Zhuge Kongming will do?"

There was lively singing on the stage.

"Cao Mengde took advantage of the weather and had many soldiers and generals. He led his troops south of the Yangtze River and set up camp there. Sun Zhongmou had no decision and was hard to resist. The military officers of the Eastern Wu wanted to fight and the civil officials wanted to surrender. Lu Zijing went to Jiangxia to investigate the situation and asked me, Zhuge Liang, to cross the Yangtze River to discuss the possibility of defeating Cao. Pang Shiyuan had already prepared all the tricks and used fire to attack the weak east wind, which made Zhou Lang very anxious. I predicted that the east wind would come down on the Jiazi day, and I set up an altar on Nanping Mountain and stepped on Kuigang. I am holding the magic sword and holding the Seven Star Altar."

In the audience, Ulanara looked at Nian Shilan with a smile.

"Sister Hua Fei, you are worrying too much. Mr. Kong Ming has made every possible plan in his life. If he can borrow the east wind, then he will definitely be able to escape. No matter how many plans Zhou Yu made, he will eventually be defeated by Mr. Kong Ming."

Nian Shilan picked up a longan in front of her, smiled, and spoke slowly.

"It is said that a long time ago, there was an evil dragon in Fujian. Every August when the sea water was high tide, it would cause wind and waves, destroy crops, ruin houses, and kill countless people and animals.

The people around had to flee their homes and hide in caves. There was a local boy with great martial arts skills named Guiyuan. He saw the evil dragon causing trouble and decided to get rid of it for the people. He fought with the dragon and won in the end. Guiyuan died of exhaustion.

But there grew a kind of fruit where he fought with the dragon. It was white and sweet, and people called it longan. When I heard this story, I fell in love with the longan fruit.

I think that even though Guiyuan was weak, he dared to fight the evil dragon. Even if he died, he was loved and remembered by the people. This is the best result.

Having said that, Mr. Kong Ming was able to use the east wind to escape and return to Shu, and the Eastern Wu soldiers who were killed by him could also follow his example and use the wind to burn down their camps.

The Three Kingdoms fought, but the final winner was Sima Yan. Mr. Kong Ming and Zhou Yu fought for their entire lives, but they were just stepping stones for others. Queen, I wonder if what I said is right?"

Ulanara watched Nian Shilan peel the longan. The longan flesh looked white and smooth against her nails painted with nail polish. She withdrew her gaze and said lightly.

"I have only heard that Sister Hua Fei dislikes poetry and books, but today I know that she is just being reserved. It is not an exaggeration to call Sister Hua Fei the top scholar in the harem. She is not only well-versed in history, but also can quote allusions at will. I have underestimated her."

Nian Shilan was stunned, then burst out laughing. In her previous life, she said that Zhen Huan was the top scholar in the harem, but she never thought that the fortune would turn around and happen to her.

Ulanara frowned secretly. Could it be that Concubine Hua couldn't understand what she meant? She could actually laugh.

When Nian Shilan had laughed enough, she turned to look at Concubine Duan.

"Concubine Duan, you are also the daughter of a general. What do you think of the dispute between Mr. Kong Ming and Zhou Gongjin?"

As luck would have it, Concubine Duan couldn't control her morning sickness, and was hurriedly helped out by Jixiang.

When Jixiang came back, he knelt in front of Ulanara and said.

"Your Highness, our Concubine Duan is suffering from severe morning sickness. I'm afraid she won't be able to accompany you today. Concubine Duan sent me to tell you that she will go back to Yanqing Palace first. This is not what our Concubine wants, as it spoils the Queen's mood."

Ulanara looked worried.

"Help your master go back and rest. I invited all the sisters to watch the show because I have nothing to do. It's nothing serious."

Jixiang kowtowed to Nian Shilan again and said sincerely, "Empress Hua, our queen didn't mean it just now. She was just feeling unwell. Our queen said that when she feels better, she will go to Yikun Palace to apologize to you."

Nian Shilan said with a nonchalant smile.

"Look at what your queen said. I saw that she was suffering from morning sickness, so there is no need to apologize. Besides, the queen didn't say anything, and I am not an unsympathetic person. Let's go and take care of your queen first. Morning sickness is the most uncomfortable. Being pregnant is hard enough, why bother worrying about these meaningless things."

Jixiang then took his leave and left.

Because Princess Kangle had a slight fever, Concubine Jing asked for leave from Ulanara and did not go to Qingyin Pavilion to listen to the opera.

At this moment, she was distracted as she listened to Ruyi reporting to her in detail what happened in Qingyin Pavilion.

Lady Jing knew that in order to survive safely in this palace and earn a good future for Princess Kangle, it was impossible not to participate in the struggle.

When she was in the palace before, Concubine Jing had already noticed that Ulanara was not as kind as she appeared to be, otherwise the Third Prince's mother would not have died during childbirth due to a large fetus.

As for Concubine Hua, in the eyes of Noble Lady Jing, her temperament is very complicated and difficult to understand.

Concubine Hua always treated pregnant women as if they had nothing to do with her, but when necessary, she could protect Concubine Jing to give birth safely. On the other hand, if you say she was kind, she could watch her sister die, and she always treated ordinary concubines with indifference.

On one side is the Empress who comes from a prominent family and has gradually regained the Emperor's favor in recent days, and on the other side is Concubine Hua, the daughter of a general who is currently in great demand. Jing Guiren thought that even for the sake of Concubine Hua's kindness in protecting her and giving birth to the princess, she should not waver.

In the Jingren Palace, Ulanara was leaning on an inverted horseshoe-shaped huanghuali table with her right hand supporting her temple. Fu Guiren was sitting on a round stool opposite her with her hands folded, holding a snow-white silk handkerchief, on which a leaf-shaped, silky red flower was faintly visible.

"Is your Majesty feeling unwell? I have been here for a while and it seems that your Majesty is in great pain. How about calling the imperial physician to take a look?"

Fu Guiren spoke.

Ulanara rubbed her temples again, sat up straight, and smiled faintly.

"I have nothing to do, I am just a little tired. I originally wanted to invite everyone to listen to the opera so that they can relax, but some people can't even watch the opera in peace, which is really exhausting."

Lady Fu also smiled apologetically.

"Your Highness is the Queen, and you are in charge of everything in the harem. If someone makes you unhappy, that person should not appear in front of you again."

Ulanara was very satisfied with Fuguiren's answer, and the smile on her face became even brighter.

"You are a sensible person. But it is unfair for you to be a noble lady. I think it will be the end of the year soon. There are not many concubines in the harem, and there are many empty palaces. You have been living with Xin Changzai, and I am afraid it will be inconvenient for the emperor to summon you. How about I ask the emperor to let you be the head of a palace while you are in favor?"

Fu Guiren's eyes lit up and she said happily.

"Thank you very much, Queen, for your kindness. But I have no children, so I am afraid it will be difficult to get promoted."

As she spoke, Fuguiren's eyes dimmed again.

Ulanara smiled.

"With me here, what are you afraid of? Speaking of offspring, I don't have any, but I'm still the queen. My third prince is not my own, but I still look at him like the apple of my eye. You are still young. In two years, when your favor can be compared with that of Concubine Duan and Concubine Hua, it won't be too late to have children again. By then, you can also give your child a good future."