The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 65 Personal Serving

On the way back to Cheng'en Garden, Hanlu carefully supported Nian Shilan.

Nian Shilan glanced at Hanlu.

"What do you want to say?"

Hanlu glanced at Nian Shilan's face and saw that she looked normal, so she spoke carefully.

"I'm curious, why do you want to stop Miss Duan from living in Xingfu Courtyard?"

Nian Shilan looked straight ahead and did not answer Hanlu's question, but asked back.

"What do you think of Fu Jin's temperament?"

"Of course I think that the mistress is of a very good character. She doesn't make things difficult for any of the girls. I know that you promoted me with high hopes, and I can only serve you wholeheartedly. That's why I dare to ask for your advice."

Hanlu said carefully.

Nian Shilan smiled and said nothing. After taking a few more steps, she slowly said.

"I brought you with me because I saw that you are smart. You are clever and good at talking, but you still need to practice your ability to judge people. I am counting on you to be my right-hand man."

An indescribable feeling arose in Hanlu's heart.

Did the concubine know something and deliberately test her today?
When Nian Shilan returned to Cheng'en Garden, the eunuch from the front yard was just delivering something.

"My Lord, today the master came to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Defei. The Empress heard that there was a pregnancy in the palace, so she gave the master many gifts. The master ordered Eunuch Su to send some to Xingfuyuan, and asked the servants to bring the rest over, so you can choose first. For the rest, the master said that you can pick one at random, and the servants will give it to Miss Duan, saying that it is a gift from you to congratulate Miss Duan on her pregnancy."

When the young eunuch saw Nian Shilan, he knelt down respectfully, holding a tray high in his hands.

On the tray were a fine Hetian jade Ruyi, a pair of rare blue jadeite peace buckles, a string of pink tourmaline bracelets, and a pair of lustrous Lantian jade bracelets.

Nian Shilan took a look, picked up the pink tourmaline bracelet and put it on her wrist, then pointed to the pair of peace lockets and said to the little eunuch.

"Since Lady Duan is pregnant, give her this peace locket. May she give birth safely."

The young eunuch replied, "Yes."

Yinzhen was in the front yard listening to the eunuch coming back to report after delivering the things, and he just said "I know".

He sat in his study, stroking a ring he had taken off a pigeon's foot.

The anklet was empty, with no note or any text on it, but this pigeon flew into the palace from outside.

The guards came to report that a carrier pigeon had been intercepted, but the pigeon was caught by the guards before it could fly into the inner courtyard of the palace.

In the Prince's Mansion, Yinreng was looking at the person kneeling in front of him with a gloomy face.

"Didn't you say that your pigeons are well-trained and will never be easily captured?"

The man kneeling on the ground replied carefully.

"Yes, my pigeons are all carefully selected, bred and trained. But I didn't expect that even the guards in the Yong Prince's Mansion would be so alert when seeing the peaceful Prince Yong's Mansion. But don't worry, Your Highness. Just to be on the safe side, I only released scout pigeons. On the pigeon's leg ring, I specially engraved the mark of the Prince Zhi's Mansion, so no one can suspect you."

"Oh, Fourth Brother, he is not a person who does not like to fight with the world. Otherwise, he would not have asked to marry Nian Gengyao's sister. But I didn't expect that Nian Gengyao would disagree with him. Recently in the court, his brother-in-law who made great achievements in the war has been confronting him a lot."

Yinreng originally exuded a dangerous aura, but after hearing the words of the person kneeling on the ground, he began to sneer.

Everyone in the court knew that Prince Yong Yinzhen and Nian Gengyao had different political views.

Emperor Kangxi often mediated between his ministers and his son.

It’s just that Yinzhen didn’t mention these things when he returned home, so Nian Shilan didn’t know about them either.

Xiao Linzi was sent out by Nian Shilan, who said that the rouge and powder bought in the mansion were not good and made her face itchy after using them, so she asked Xiao Linzi to go to Xianzilou, the largest powder shop in the capital, to pick some back.

When Xiao Linzi arrived at Xianzilou, the shopkeeper came up to him immediately upon seeing him. Although Xiao Linzi looked like a boy of only twelve or thirteen years old and was still wearing casual clothes, he was a regular customer of Xianzilou.

He often buys a lot of things, and they are all the best and most expensive.

The shopkeeper always entertains this little god of wealth personally.

"What do you want today, Master?"

The shopkeeper said to Xiao Linzi with a smile.

Although Xiao Linzi was wearing ordinary clothes outside, the shop assistants all knew that the old fox of the shopkeeper must have seen that his identity was not ordinary, otherwise he would not be so respectful. Xiao Linzi also smiled.

"You are too polite, shopkeeper. Our master said that the rouge and powder purchased in the mansion cannot be used. He asked me to see if you have any good stuff that can be used. No matter the price, please bring it to me. If it is okay, I can take it back to report."

The shopkeeper was very pleased with Xiao Linzi's politeness. Who doesn't like friendly people? Harmony brings wealth.

The shopkeeper called his waiter and asked him to bring all the best rouge and powder in the store for the young man to choose.

Xiao Linzi was led to a private room on the second floor. Seeing that there was no one around, he quietly asked the shopkeeper.

"Did the master find out who the master asked you to find out?"

The shopkeeper said helplessly.

"I have already checked all the nearby villages, and they all said that they have not seen any strangers living in the villages in recent months. There are also a few farms that I haven't asked about. Those farms are all owned by the palace. I heard that they are all managed by that person. I am afraid of alarming that person."

The shopkeeper pointed his finger upwards as he spoke.

Xiao Linzi understood and comforted him.

"No problem, you can find out first, I will go back and report to the master."

Xiao Linzi heard footsteps coming up the stairs, and then suddenly shouted.

"Hey, as long as you take out the good stuff, are you still worried that my master can't afford the money? Our master loves beauty, no matter what the price is, even if it's not good, isn't there still my master to pay for it?"

"Yes, yes, you are right, young master." The shopkeeper still sounded fawning for money.

The footsteps stopped outside the door and the waiter said.

"Shopkeeper, here are the things you requested."

The shopkeeper opened the door and saw the waiter put everything on the table. Xiao Linzi was sitting at the table, drinking tea from a cup.

"Okay, go down and greet the other guests first. I will serve this gentleman myself."

The shopkeeper waved his hand and sent the waiter away.

Xiao Linzi listened to the footsteps coming down the stairs and whispered again.

"I'm sorry for offending you just now, please don't take it to heart."

The shopkeeper laughed.

"You and I both work for the master, so it's a bit awkward to say this. Although you are old enough to be my son, you are quite clever."

Xiao Linzi laughed like a monkey.

"Then please don't think I'm a eunuch. Just treat me as your son."

The shopkeeper's eyes dimmed when he heard this.

"Come on, stop humiliating me. If my son were still alive, he would be almost your age."

Xiao Linzi continued to laugh.

"Don't be sad, old man. You haven't heard of your son's death in so many years, so he must still be alive. Who knows, maybe he is living a better life than you, and maybe he has met a good family and become their son."

The shopkeeper laughed again.

"You naughty boy, I'm afraid you haven't finished what your master has told you to do yet?!"

Xiao Linzi exclaimed and patted his head.

"I've been busy talking to you. I have to go to the Nian Mansion. I'll come get my things later."

After saying that, he stood up hastily, walked to the wall of the private room, pushed open the cabinet beside the wall, and a door appeared on the wall.

Xiao Linzi opened the door, went down the stairs behind it, and arrived at the back door of Xianzi Building.

There was someone guarding the back door. When he saw Xiao Linzi coming down, he quickly and quietly opened the door, stuck his head out to look around and saw that there was no one around, so he let Xiao Linzi go out quickly.

(End of this chapter)