The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Nian Shilan brought a fox fur cloak to Yonghe Palace, and the eunuch guarding the palace hurried in to report to Empress Dowager De.

Empress Dowager De was dressed in a sapphire green dress and sat high up at the table with her hands folded in a graceful manner.

Seeing Nian Shilan greet her, she coughed twice before speaking slowly.

"Hua Fei, get up. It's rare that you have time today, so come and visit me.

Zhuxi, give Concubine Hua a seat."

Nian Shilan stood up carefully and said with a smile.

"First, I would like to thank the Empress Dowager for granting me this seat. Next, I would like to thank the Empress Dowager for not blaming me."

Empress Dowager De frowned when she heard what Nian Shilan said, which seemed to have deep meaning.

"How can I blame you? You are confusing me."

Nian Shilan continued to smile.

"Although I am the emperor's concubine, I am also the daughter-in-law of the empress dowager. As a daughter-in-law, I should serve my mother-in-law.

But the Empress Dowager knows that Hongli was ill in the courtyard a few days ago, and I, in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic,
I asked to seal the Qingliang Palace in the garden. I was in a state of panic all day long, and devoted all my attention to Hongli.
I forgot to serve the Empress Dowager from time to time. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager did not blame me, and I am grateful to her. "

Empress Dowager De looked at Nian Shilan's sincere face and was not sure what she meant.

Ever since she first met Nian Shilan, Empress Dowager De had somehow disliked her.

Over the years in the palace, Empress Dowager De would only see Nian Shilan during major festivals, and they were not very close on other days.

On the contrary, Empress Dowager De knew that her daughter-in-law, Nian Shilan, had a good relationship with Empress Dowager Nianhulu.

What's the song being sung today?
Empress Dowager De took a long while to respond.

"A son is the apple of his mother's eye. You were so worried about Hongli's health that you couldn't sleep at night.

How could I, the Empress Dowager, blame you for this?

If I really blame you for this, and it gets out, I, the Empress Dowager, will be too harsh."

Nian Shilan sneered in her heart, bah! Are you worthy of calling yourself the Imperial Grandmother?

But she just pretended to be relaxed and smiled as if relieved.

"I hope the Empress Dowager does not blame me. The Empress Dowager is so considerate of me and the Fourth Prince, and I have nothing good to offer you."

When Songzhi heard this, she hurriedly stepped forward and held up a fox fur cloak in both hands. Nian Shilan pointed at the cloak and said.

"This cloak is made of the fur of a black fox, which my brother found by chance while hunting in the northwest.

I thought, this is such a precious animal skin, I am afraid I am not blessed enough to wear it.

After much thought, I think only someone as blessed and intelligent as you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, can look elegant in this outfit.

Look, Your Majesty the Queen Mother, I know you love beauty, so I specially made the lining with brocade satin with gold and silver threads.

Now that winter has begun and the weather has turned cold, you will look very elegant and luxurious in this outfit!"

When Empress Dowager De heard Nian Shilan talking about the fox fur cloak, her eyes lit up obviously.

She is only forty-five years old and not old, so naturally she likes these things.

When the late emperor was alive, she was just a concubine, and above her were the empress and Concubine Yi, the head of all concubines. Naturally, her food, clothing, housing and transportation were all within the regulations.

She is now the Empress Dowager, and although there is an Empress Dowager on equal footing with her, as the biological mother of the current Emperor, she is also very honorable and respectable.

But thinking of the Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager De's face suddenly turned cold and she snorted.

"Oh, I have always seen you and the Queen Mother as being like real mother and daughter. Now, such a fine cloak,
I'm afraid there aren't many of them, and you're willing to give it to me? Don't you want to use this cloak to please the Empress Dowager?" Nian Shilan's eyes were drooping and no emotion could be seen, but when she raised her eyes and looked at the Empress Dowager De, her eyes were full of sadness.

She stood up and slowly knelt down in front of Empress Dowager De.

"This is the second reason I came here today. It's just..."

Nian Shilan looked around in embarrassment, and Zhu Xi understood and immediately sent the palace maids who were serving in Yonghe Palace away.

The only people left in the palace were Queen Dowager De, her master and servant Zhu Xi, and her master and servant Nian Shilan and Songzhi.

"But what? Stand up and talk first. I'm afraid you'll hurt yourself if you keep kneeling all the time."

Queen Dowager De seemed to be interested. She wanted to hear what Nian Shilan had to say.

Nian Shilan first kowtowed to Queen Dowager De, then stood up carefully and said.

"I came here for no reason. The Queen Mother is very smart. She probably saw that I have something to say. That's why she was willing to give me some leeway to listen to me."

Empress Dowager De frowned with some impatience.

"Just say what you want to say. Why are you beating around the bush?"

Year of the Landau.

"Yes, then I will speak frankly. Something happened in my palace on the eve of Hongli's first birthday."

As Nian Shilan spoke, she secretly glanced at Empress Dowager De's expression, and seeing that she seemed normal, she continued.

"A palace maid died, and I told everyone that it was caused by an epidemic. But in fact, before she died, the palace maid told me who was the mastermind behind her death."

Having said that, Nian Shilan deliberately paused.

Empress Dowager De's heart skipped a beat. Was Nian Shilan testing her?
But people like Empress Dowager De, who had been immersed in the palace for a long time, even if they might not be very resourceful, could always maintain a basic expression before things became clear.

Empress Dowager De's heart was beating fast, but she asked calmly.

"What happened to Hongli? Who was the mastermind behind that palace maid? Have you found out?"

Nian Shilan slowed down and said almost gritting her teeth.

"Hongli was almost murdered. The maid named Xiaoman confessed before she died that it was the Empress Dowager who did it!
But I really can’t imagine how I have offended the Empress Dowager!

But the palace maid is dead, and I don’t have any extra evidence to incriminate the Empress Dowager.

Besides, the Empress Dowager has been in the palace for many years and has her own power. I am powerless to fight against her.

The Empress Dowager said that a son is the apple of her mother's eye. I am deeply saddened that Hongli has suffered such a disaster!"

As Nian Shilan spoke, she couldn't help but shed tears. Her tears were half real and half fake, but when they fell into the eyes of Empress Dowager De, they made her feel very happy.

Queen Mother De suppressed her inner joy and pretended to be sad and indignant.

"Since the maid said it was the Empress Dowager, why don't you go and ask the Emperor?"

Nian Shilan wiped her tears and raised her head.

"I will not hide this from the Empress Dowager, but I dare not tell the Emperor about this!
I know very well that the emperor values ​​courtesy, righteousness and filial piety the most. The maid Xiaoman is dead.
How can a concubine like you identify my mother, the Empress Dowager, with nothing to show for it?
I have thought about it for a long time and now come to ask you for help.

You are the Holy Mother Queen, and you are the only one in this palace who can rival her in power.

Only you can protect Hongli! You are Hongli's grandmother.
He will definitely consider Hongli in everything.

The love of the parents is far-reaching.

I have also made a plan for my son.
Please, Queen Mother, fulfill my motherly wish~!" (End of this chapter)