The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 66 Rouge Gouache
When Yinzhen arrived at Cheng'en Garden in the evening, Nian Shilan was sitting at the table preparing to have dinner.

The eunuch announced that the master had arrived. Nian Shilan rolled his eyes silently and couldn't even eat his meal in peace.

But the moment Yinzhen stepped into the yard, Nian Shilan still greeted him with a smile.

"I pay my respects to my master, and wish you good health and happiness."

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan. She had a beautiful smile and was dressed neatly, making people feel like they were bathed in a cool breeze on this summer evening.

Nian Shilan was wearing a light green homely Manchu dress with her hair tied up in a simple bun. There was no makeup on her hair at all. Her hair looked black, shiny, refreshing and casual.

Yinzhen walked forward, took Nian Shilan's hand, and spoke as he walked into the house.

"Why are you wearing so plain clothes today? My king's Shilan doesn't like luxury, but simplicity?"

Nian Shilan twisted her body unwillingly.

"Master, you are making fun of me. When did I start to like luxury? I usually dress like this at home."

Yinzhen pulled Nian Shilan to sit at the table, looked at the dishes on the table, and spoke with emotion.

"Okay, okay, I was wrong about you. Seeing that you are beautiful, I thought you like luxury. It's my fault. But, having said that, you wear plain clothes and eat well, which doesn't mean you are wronged at all."

On the table were dishes like abalone and chicken stew with conch, stir-fried pork slices with winter bamboo shoots, shrimp with peas, salad with celery leaves, and a dish of morels stuffed with meat.

The soup was fish maw and black chicken soup, but there was no staple food.

"Why are there only vegetables and soup? Don't you want to eat something else?"

After looking at the dishes, Yinzhen turned around and saw Mangzhong waiting beside him with a basin of water and a towel, so he washed his hands.

"My master just said that I never give in to any grievance, but now you are asking why there are only vegetables and soup. I didn't know you were coming, so I didn't prepare any for you. These are all mine."

Nian Shilan pouted, she was really unhappy.

In her new life, she only wanted to get rid of all those who had made things difficult for her in her previous life. She didn't want to compete for favor, nor did she want to be bothered by Yinzhen every day.

On the contrary, seeing that Nian Shilan didn't like to stick to him, Yinzhen came to visit Nian Shilan more frequently.

"It's hot in the summer, so I mean that you should eat something lighter."

Yinzhen was in a rare good mood and coaxed Nian Shilan.

"If you want to eat light food, I will ask the kitchen to prepare some light dishes now. I don't like light food. I am locked up in this house every day and cannot go out. Now the master will not even allow me to eat this little bit of food?"

As Nian Shilan spoke, she actually started to cry.

Yinzhen was stunned, and then he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I am just saying that it is hot in summer and I am worried that you will not eat well and sleep well. Forget it, I will not say this anymore. Eat whatever you like and I will eat with you."

Yinzhen turned to Su Peisheng and said.

"Tell the kitchen to prepare whatever Concubine wants to eat starting tomorrow. The money should be drawn from my private vault."

Su Peisheng responded and went to give instructions to the kitchen.

As early as when Yinzhen first arrived, Songzhi went to the kitchen and ordered a few dishes that Yinzhen liked to eat, which were light and delicious.

When Yinzhen had happily dined with Nian Shilan in Cheng'en Garden and was sitting in the courtyard to rest in the cool air, Zhiyuan, the second-class maid from Xingfu Courtyard, came.

Zhiyuan knelt in front of Yinzhen and Nian Shilan with her head lowered.

"My Lord, Miss Duan said she was not feeling well. Mrs. Fu sent me here. Please go and see Miss Duan."

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan and said.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Duan is pregnant, and I haven't visited her yet. You are free anyway, so go with me."

Nian Shilan stood up, bowed, and returned to Yinzhen.

"Thank you for your kindness, Master. I have to go to Xingfu Courtyard to see Master Fujin. I have taken off my hairpins and rings today. It would be disrespectful to Master Fujin if I go like this. It would also take a lot of time and effort for me to dress up again. I will not go with Master. Please forgive me."

Yinzhen looked at Nian Shilan for a while and then laughed.

"My dear Shilan, she is adorable when she gets jealous."

Nian Shilan couldn't help rolling her eyes in her heart. What the hell is jealous? It's purely because I'm lazy.

But she replied respectfully. "Master, you are joking. I am not a jealous person. How can I stay in a jealous jar all day? Master, please go quickly. Sister Duan is not feeling well. Don't make her wait anxiously."

After sending Yinzhen away, Nian Shilan lay comfortably on the couch in the yard.

Xiao Linzi came over.

"Master, I went to Xianzi Tower today and picked out some top-quality rouge and powder. Would you like to take a look?"

Nian Shilan knew that Xiao Linzi had something to say, so she reached out and let Songzhi help her stand up.

Songzhi's left hand has almost healed, but there is still a scar. Doctor Wen said that he will prepare scar-removing medicine for her in a few days.

Nian Shilan sat in front of the dressing table, with Songzhi standing beside her.

Songzhi sent all the servants in the room out and only left Xiao Linzi by Nian Shilan's side.

"Tell me, how about going out today?"

Xiao Linzi moved closer and spoke in a low voice.

"Master, your guess is correct. Today, I went to find the shopkeeper of Xianzilou. He only knew that Yuluo was not dead, nor was she sold by the matchmaker. She must have been hidden. As for where she was hidden, the shopkeeper needs to send someone to investigate. The shopkeeper also asked me to bring last month's account book for you to take a look at."

After Xiao Linzi finished speaking, he carefully took out an account book from his arms and handed it to Nian Shilan.

Nian Shilan took the account book and flipped through it.

"Last month we made five thousand taels more than the month before. Manager Wu has done a great job."

Xiao Linzi said with a smile.

"To work for you is his blessing, and also the blessing of the servant."

Nian Shilan tapped Xiao Linzi's head gently with the account book.

"Stop talking nonsense. How's the matter I asked you to investigate going?"

Xiao Linzi said in a low voice with a serious expression.

"My master said that the contraceptive soup was given to you by the old lady, and I personally received it from her, so it shouldn't have gone wrong. But when I went to the mansion today, the old lady checked it out two days ago, and it made her furious."

"how?"

"The old lady received your letter a few days ago and secretly inquired about it. The contraceptive soup was found by the nanny beside the old lady. She is your wet nurse, Nanny Qin."

"How could it be Nanny Qin? She can't possibly harm me!"

Nian Shilan was really surprised at this moment.

When Wen Xianqing said that there was something wrong with the contraceptive soup, Nian Shilan would never believe that her mother would harm her, but she also didn't expect it to be Nanny Qin.

"Master, please don't be impatient. Just listen to what I have to say."

Songzhi couldn't help but hit Xiaolinzi's head with her right hand again.

"Can you please finish your words at once? You're just trying to scare me by panting so hard!"

Xiao Linzi covered his head and spoke quickly.

"Yes, yes, Sister Songzhi, stop hitting me, I'll tell you right away. The old lady has inquired, and Nanny Qin has no intention of harming the master. It was Nanny Qin who was afraid that the pharmacy would be recognized, which would be inconvenient. After all, this medicine is not a common medicine, and ordinary people don't use it. So Nanny Qin found a remote alley where a small clinic had just opened, and Nanny Qin asked someone to prescribe contraceptive soup. But what she didn't expect was that the clinic was actually opened by Aunt Qi's brother, and when the old lady sent someone to find Aunt Qi's brother, the clinic was empty."

Xiao Linzi said this long paragraph in one breath, paused, and then continued quickly.

"I was also confused. How did the old lady know that the clinic was opened by Madam Qi's brother? I asked, and the old lady said that the servant of the Second Young Master's wife had seen Madam Qi go to the clinic to deliver food. The servant was curious and waited for Madam Qi to leave to ask, and then he found out that it was Madam Qi's brother. But for some reason, the clinic closed not long after it opened. Now, the old lady has locked up Madam Qi and the Third Young Master. After the Second Young Master and the Young Master's wife have discussed and found out the reason, they will deal with them."

Nian Shilan laughed grimly.

Whether in the previous life or this life, why don't these people want her to have children?

Although she doesn't want to get pregnant now, it doesn't mean that others can deprive her of the freedom to have children.

Aunt Qi, this is really surprising.

　I have buried a few clues. Let's see if you can figure them out. I will reveal them one by one in the following chapters.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)