The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 71: Away from the Heart
Nian Shilan watched Yinzhen walk out of the side hall before slowly lying back on the bed.

Seeing that there were maids from Yonghe Palace serving in the hall, and Songzhi was also waiting nearby, Su Peisheng quietly retreated to the corridor outside the door, ready to receive orders at any time.

Wen Xianqing glanced at Songzhi, who understood and spoke to the maid in Yonghe Palace.

"Thank you for troubling me, two sisters. Our concubine fainted today, and I am tired of you two serving her. Now that the concubine has just woken up, I want to make some soup for her. May I borrow the palace kitchen for use?"

One of the palace maids with a round face returned to Songzhi.

"You are too polite, sister. Just now, Eunuch An has told me that Concubine Jin is weak and will not have time to eat breakfast when she enters the palace this morning. I have asked the kitchen to cook bird's nest porridge. I will bring it to Concubine Jin right away."

After saying this, she hurried out. Another palace maid was smart and knew that this was Songzhi's excuse. She hurriedly made an excuse to go and get another basin of water and left the side hall.

Nian Shilan listened to the palace maids from Yonghe Palace leaving, then she sat up from the bed.

Wen Xianqing was holding a prescription and bowed to Nian Shilan.

"What does Concubine have to tell me?"

Nian Shilan looked outside the door and spoke in a low voice.

"Doctor Wen, I want to know, is there really a doctor in this world who can change a person's appearance?"

Wen Xianqing looked at Nian Shilan in surprise.

"Where did you hear this rumor, Concubine? I have been traveling among the people for many years and I actually know a doctor. But he has a weird temper. Although he doesn't live in seclusion in the mountains like other people who have attained enlightenment, he doesn't travel easily. Why did Concubine ask this all of a sudden?"

Nian Shilan looked at Wen Xianqing and said softly.

"To be honest, I'm looking for someone, a woman who looks like the old friend in my memory. But this woman can imitate the old friend's demeanor, but not his posture. I wonder if Lord Wen can invite that doctor for me. I miss that old friend so much. Even if she only looks like him in spirit, I won't regret it."

Wen Xianqing pondered for a while and was about to speak when he heard the palace maid speaking outside the hall.

"Your Highness, I have brought you some bird's nest porridge for your nourishment."

Nian Shilan winked at Wen Xianqing, signaling him not to say anything more. She lay down again, and Songzhi then spoke.

"Please bring it in, sister. I will serve the porridge to Concubine Concubine."

The palace maid walked to the bed, handed the bird's nest porridge to Songzhi, and then stepped back.

Wen Xianqing said this.

"This bird's nest porridge is the best for nourishing the body. Concubine, you can eat more of it every day. I will go and watch the medicine being boiled first, and I will have to serve Concubine with the medicine later."

"Then there is Dr. Lawrence."

Nian Shilan had been helped by Songzhi to sit up, leaning against a soft pillow with gold thread, and she nodded to Wen Xianqing.

Ulanara had been seated in the Linxi Pavilion for quite some time before she saw Concubine De coming slowly.

After a while, Yinzhen came with his usual expression and sat in the seat in front of her.

Since Huang Taiji entered the Pass and established the Qing Dynasty, some old customs were overturned.

In the past, at banquets, men and women sat at separate tables, and the seats for male and female guests were separated by a curtain. Even royal couples did not sit at the same table during major festivals.

But now, at banquets in the palace, there is no distinction between men and women, but only arrangements based on social status.

The female relatives brought by the royal family can be arranged behind their husbands.

Ulanara looked at Concubine De, who was sitting below the Emperor and the Empress. She still had a smiling face towards everyone. Ulanara wondered in her heart, wondering what happened to Concubine Nian.

The emperor looked around and smiled as he saw that almost everyone had arrived. "Today is the Qiqiao Festival, and I was invited by the queen to come here. Those present today are all my sons, daughters-in-law, and my most trusted ministers. It has been a long time since I have had such a lively time. I wanted to have a lively time during the Dragon Boat Festival two months ago, but my fourth son fell ill and I was worried and didn't feel like having a feast, so I just passed it by. Today, my fourth son is also here, and all my sons are gathered here, and I am very happy!"

As he spoke, the emperor picked up the wine glass.

Everyone hurriedly picked up their wine glasses and said.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

Yinzhen waited until everyone fell silent, drank the wine in the glass, then picked up his own glass and stood up.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your concern. Please accept my greetings again."

After saying that, he raised his head and drank the wine in his glass.

The emperor smiled instantly and turned to the queen.

"The fourth one is a good one."

The queen nodded in agreement.

The emperor then raised his wine glass, shook it towards Yinzhen, and drank the wine.

The Queen watched the Emperor put down the wine glass before turning to look at Yinzhen and said with a smile.

"Yinzhen, today is a great day for celebrations, but I heard that your concubine fainted and could not come to the banquet. I wonder if she is feeling better now? Has the imperial physician examined her? I woke up early and saw the child coming to pay her respects. She looked very beautiful. I miss her very much."

Yinzhen bowed to the queen.

"Thank you for your concern, Madam. I have settled Nian in a side hall of Yonghe Palace. It is cool and comfortable there. The imperial physician said that it is suitable for relieving the heat. Madam, don't worry. Nian is just a little weak and has suffered from the heat."

"I see. I feel much more relieved now. That child seems to be a good one. You should treat him well."

The queen smiled kindly.

The emperor looked at the queen suspiciously.

"Didn't the fourth family bring their female relatives to your palace to pay respects this morning? How did they get sick from the heat?"

Just as the Queen was about to speak, Concubine De stood up.

"Reporting to the emperor, I got up early and talked to the fourth wife, and asked Nian to wait outside my palace for a while. I didn't expect that the child was weak and couldn't stand the sun, so she fainted. I hurriedly asked someone to invite the imperial physician. The imperial physician examined her and said that the child has always been weak. It seems that it was just a coincidence that the old illness recurred, mixed with a little heat, and she fainted."

Yinzhen said nothing, without even raising his head, he picked up the wine in front of him and drank it all.

The emperor looked at Yinzhen's expression, then at Concubine De's demeanor, and had already made a decision in his heart.

It must be that Concubine De wanted to show off to her mother-in-law, but she didn't expect that the woman from a military family was weak and fainted at the critical moment, which made the fourth son feel uncomfortable.

Forget it. This mother and son didn’t have much affection for each other since they were young, and they were separated in heart.

This is good, so he can worry less, unlike the mother and son of the eighth brother, who have to worry more about the prince.

Thinking of the crown prince, the emperor looked towards Yinreng's seat. Seeing him drinking by himself with a heartless look, the emperor couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

If Yinreng's mother Hesheli was still alive
As a father, he doesn't need to worry so much.

Yinreng was his legitimate son with Empress Hesheli. Although he was not the eldest son, because Empress Hesheli died early, he devoted all his energy to nurturing this son and made him the crown prince at an early age. He was also the first crown prince to be publicly appointed since the Qing army entered the pass.

The emperor sighed in his heart. Over the years, his sons had gradually slipped away from his control. Only the fourth son had always been obedient to his second brother Yinreng, the crown prince, and served him wholeheartedly. The emperor saw it all.

　Today's chapter begins to reach out to the palace. If there are any parts that are not well written, please give me some suggestions.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)