The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 382 It’s New Year’s Eve Again

Cao Changzai understood that the clothes and jewelry were beautiful and she liked them from the bottom of her heart.

Since Concubine Hua really appreciates it, I will just accept it with open arms.

"In that case, I thank you very much for your grace~"

After seeing off Concubine Cao, Nian Shilan stood up and stretched.

In this life, talking to Cao Changzai is much easier.

One reason is that he was familiar with Concubine Cao's temperament and could see through her thoughts.

The second reason is that Cao Changzai is still young at this time and not as cunning as he was in his previous life.

Songzhi stepped forward and offered tea.

"Your Highness has been talking to Concubine Cao for half a day, so you must be thirsty.

I would not dare to come in without your summons.

This is the tea I brewed just now. It is your favorite Phoenix Dancong tea.

Madam, please take a sip to moisten your throat."

Nian Shilan stretched lazily, sat back on the couch, took the tea brought by Songzhi, and drank half of it in a graceful manner.

Handing the half-empty teacup to Songzhi who was waiting beside her, Nian Shilan said.

“It really takes some effort to talk to this Cao Changzai.

I asked Xiao Linzi to look after the matter, and he did a good job.

Cao Chang's family background was relatively humble, and she was even more eager to climb up the social ladder.

But for someone like her, I have to put in some thought before using her."

Songzhi had never heard the secret conversation between Nian Shilan and Cao Changzai, but she knew that the two of them must have been testing each other and suspecting each other.

Nian Shilan has become much calmer in temperament since she gave birth to the Fourth Prince, but there are always people who come to provoke her again and again.

Songzhi naturally knew all the things that Concubine Wan had given her.

Songzhi could probably guess what happened when she saw that there was now a piece of wood in the topaz teapot used by her master, the same piece of wood as the spinning top sent by Concubine Wan.

It’s a pity about the topaz teapot, as the master only used it for two months.

Songzhi looked at the piece of wood in the teapot and asked Nian Shilan.

"My lady, how should we deal with this thing?"

Nian Shilan was too lazy to look at it anymore and said.

“Tell Xiao Linzi to send it to Li Ke to see if he can use it.

This thing is poisonous to me, but not necessarily to Li Ke."

Songzhi replied "yes", walked out and handed the teapot to Xiao Linzi.

Soon it will be the New Year’s Eve banquet again.

This was the New Year's Eve of the fifth year of Yinzhen's reign. After the New Year, it would be the sixth year of Yinzhen's reign.

This year's New Year's Eve is unusually lively compared to the previous two years.

Ever since the death of the late emperor, Yinzhen had been prohibiting extravagance in the palace in the name of mourning for the late emperor.

In the fourth year of Yinzhen's reign, even the selection of concubines was simplified.

Now it is the fifth New Year's Eve, and Yinzhen has promised Ulanara to hold a grand celebration.

The Forbidden City has changed from its former dullness. In addition to the colorful lanterns arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs according to Ulanara's wishes, each palace has decorated many of them according to its own preferences.

The New Year's Eve banquet is still held in the Qianqing Palace. Unlike the simple layout of previous years, today's Qianqing Palace is decorated with lights and is more grand and majestic.

Yinzhen and the two empress dowagers sat high up.

Ulanara sat beside Yinzhen.

At this time, Ulanara looked at Nian Shilan sitting on the throne of concubine, and felt secretly proud and satisfied in her heart.

No matter how favored Concubine Hua is, I am the Empress of the Qing Dynasty, and she will never be as favored as I am.

Nian Shilan looked up inadvertently and happened to see the smile on Ulanara's lips when she lowered her head.

Ever since Concubine Wan gave those toys to the Fourth Prince, she has been anxiously waiting for news. However, after so long, nothing has happened, and Nian Shilan's attitude towards her has not changed.

Therefore, at the night banquet, Concubine Wan's eyes involuntarily followed Nian Shilan.

When she followed Nian Shilan's gaze, she also saw the smile on Ulanara's mouth.

Concubine Wan did not understand the deeper meaning of that smile, she just thought it was Ulanara's usual expression.

However, when Yinzhen was looking at the concubines gathered together with a smile, he was puzzled when he saw that Concubine Wan was only looking at the Queen.

"Lady Wan is dressed very well today. This purple dress suits you very well!"

Nian Shilan followed Yinzhen's words and looked at Concubine Wan, and suddenly remembered her previous life.

In the previous life, after Zhen Huan regained favor, she wore a purple dress like this.

Nian Shilan missed Yinzhen so much at that time that she went to see the person she had been thinking about day and night.

However, he humiliated her by praising Zhen Huan in public.

Nian Shilan could not forget the smug look that Zhen Huan gave her for the last time, and Ulanara's hidden satisfaction.

In fact, in the previous life, Nian Shilan had shown good intentions towards Zhen Huan, but it seemed that Zhen Huan was more arrogant and chose to stand on the side of Ulanara.

Nian Shilan withdrew her thoughts and turned to tease the Fourth Prince who was in the wet nurse's arms.

The one and a half year old Fourth Prince was very cute. He stretched out his arms and was eager to be in Shi Lan's arms.

At today's banquet, Nian Shilan wore gorgeous armor for the first time since giving birth.

She smiled and shook her head, refusing the Fourth Prince's request to hug her.

Songzhi helped Nian Shilan take off the armor one by one. Nian Shilan also confirmed that she had no jewelry on her hands that might hurt the Fourth Prince. Only then did she take the Fourth Prince, who was impatiently calling for his mother, from the wet nurse's arms.

Nian Shilan held the Fourth Prince in her arms and lowered her head to make him laugh.

She ignored the love between Yinzhen and Concubine Wan.

The Empress Dowager on the throne looked in excellent condition today. Although she was nearly fifty years old, there was not a single wrinkle on her face.

On the other hand, Empress Dowager De, who was younger than the Empress Dowager, still looked weak and occasionally coughed lightly, which earned her more attentive care from the servants serving her.

Yinzhen turned sideways and said to Empress Dowager De.

"Mother hasn't been out for a while, I wonder if today's occasion is okay?"

Empress Dowager De coughed twice again, covered her mouth with her handkerchief, and smiled.

"Your Majesty, don't worry about me. I will go back on my own if I can't sit still any longer."

Yinzhen concealed the slight discomfort in his heart. When Empress Dowager De spoke to him, she always looked very distant.

If Yinzhen had not known since childhood that this was his biological mother, he always felt vaguely that Empress Dowager De was a stranger who had nothing to do with him.

"If mother is not able to support herself, I will have someone send her back in a sedan chair."

Empress Dowager De smiled, a rare look of kindness on her face.

Just when Yinzhen was in a trance, he heard Empress Dowager De say.

"This is an old problem of mine, and the emperor knows it. I am old,

He spends all day lying on his sickbed, prone to daydreaming.

Today is a feast, but I am thinking that I am not feeling well.

His presence also spoiled everyone's fun.

But last night, I dreamed of Old Fourteen.

When the late emperor was alive, the Fourteenth Prince loved such lively palace banquets the most."

Empress Dowager De ignored Yinzhen's gradually darkening face and immersed herself in her memories, with the kind smile on her face growing wider and wider.

"Old Fourteen, my favorite dish is this deer lung and honey-roasted jinzi.

I remember that he always ate more at that time~
The late emperor always said with a fierce face that he ate a lot.

It’s not that I’m afraid that he can’t afford it. There’s nothing that the royal family can’t afford.
I’m just worried that Old Fourteen might eat too much and hurt his stomach, or that he might have indigestion.”

Yinzhen's face sank uncontrollably.