The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 76 Brocade Purse
The summer days dawned early. Songzhi supported Nian Shilan and slowly walked towards Xingfuyuan, while Xiao Linzi followed behind Nian Shilan.

After leaving Cheng'en Garden, Xiao Linzi looked around. There were only a few eunuchs sweeping the path working. They were far away, and there was no one else around Nian Shilan except him and Songzhi.

Xiao Linzi took two steps closer and whispered beside Nian Shilan.

"Master, last night I followed your instructions and paid attention. Hanlu took advantage of your sleep and walked to the southeast corner of the yard. There was a pigeon there. The pigeon was black and hidden in the dark. I couldn't see it at first. It wasn't until Hanlu approached that the thing jumped out a few steps and then I saw it."

Nian Shilan stopped and looked sideways at Xiao Linzi.

"Pigeon?"

"My Lord, it was a black pigeon. I have good eyesight and saw something on the pigeon's feet. Hanlu took it away and then slipped back. I sent the eunuch on duty early and told him that I couldn't sleep and was on duty for him. This gave Hanlu the opportunity to sneak in and out."

Xiao Linzi said.

Nian Shilan turned around and continued to walk slowly forward, and met two young eunuchs carrying water coming towards her. The two men knelt on the side of the road when they saw Nian Shilan from a distance, and only stood up and walked away with the buckets of water after Nian Shilan had passed.

"Did you alarm her?"

Nian Shilan asked Xiao Linzi.

"My Lord, of course not. I am small and I am hiding in another corner, in the shadows. She can't see me."

Xiao Linzi continued to look around while talking.

Nian Shilan looked at him and felt amused.

"Okay, look openly, don't stare at it like a thief. It's good that you didn't alarm her, otherwise I'm afraid she would get anxious and do something."

In Xingfu Courtyard, Nian Shilan arrived not too early, but not too late either.

It was not early, because Mrs. Hu, Mrs. Shu, and Mrs. Feng had already arrived. It was not late, because Mrs. Duan had not yet arrived.

Ulanara didn't come out either.

Nian Shilan walked to the seat below Ulanara and sat down, and the other three bowed and greeted her.

Nian Shilan glanced at him and spoke lightly.

"No thanks. Sisters, please get up."

The three of them stood up and had just sat down on their chairs when Ulanara arrived.

After everyone had asked how they were and sat down again, Nian Shilan spoke casually.

"Why don't you see Duan today? Even if you live with Fu Jin, you should follow the rules."

Ulanara looked at everyone and then spoke.

"Duan got up early today and sent someone to ask for leave, saying that she had not been feeling well for the past two days. So I let her rest. Pregnant women always feel more tired."

Nian Shilan smiled, casually pulled the handkerchief in her hand, and said.

"I wonder what's wrong with Sister Duan? Has a doctor been consulted? After you greet me, I will go and see Sister Duan to see if she needs my care, so that Madam Madam won't be tired alone."

Before Ulanara could speak, Hu suddenly spoke.

"I think Miss Duan will feel tired in the early stages of her pregnancy. I heard that pregnant women need to rest and it is not appropriate to visit them. Concubine, why don't you go another day and take us with you. Today, why don't you let Master Concubine send someone to take care of her."

Ulanara looked at Hu, smiled, nodded, and agreed with her.

"What Hu said makes sense. Since Duan is unwell, I will ask the imperial physician to take her pulse and help her with her pregnancy. Sister Nian, why don't you wait two days before visiting her? I will also tell Duan about your feelings."

Nian Shilan smiled and looked at Mrs. Hu.

"Oh? If I remember correctly, my sister hasn't been sleeping with me recently, right? Hearing what my sister said, it's as if she had given birth herself, and I almost overlooked the words "I heard"."

I have to say that Nian Shilan can touch people's hearts.

Even the servants in the palace knew that Hu had served in the emperor's bedchamber once five or six years ago. If it weren't for the kindness and protection of the concubine, such an unfavored half-slave would have been bullied by other servants.

Hu Gege blushed and stopped talking.

Shu Gege and Feng Shi were the most obedient ones, so naturally they couldn't talk.

The atmosphere in the hall froze for a moment.

Although Ulanara still had a smile on her face, her tone was somewhat blaming.

"Sister Nian is too picky. Who serves the master more and who serves the master less? We are all sisters. Why do you have to be so aggressive? Since you came into the mansion, the master has been in your room the most. Logically, you have received the most care. If you take it so seriously, won't the harmony between sisters be lost?"

Nian Shilan rolled her eyes in her heart, but still looked nonchalant.

"Madam is really good at joking. When did I ever take it to heart? I was just joking with Mrs. Hu." Having said that, Nian Shilan stood up.

"It's getting late. I'll go and see Mrs. Duan and then leave."

After saying this, regardless of Ulanara's objection, he quickly walked out of the hall and went towards the left wing where Duan lived.

Songzhi hurriedly followed her master, and Xiaolinzi was waiting at the gate of Xingfu Courtyard.

Nian Shilan came to the house where Duan lived and saw that the door was closed. Just as she was about to ask Songzhi to push the door, it opened from the inside.

Jiang Fuhai walked out of the door and saluted.

"This servant greets the concubine, and wishes the concubine good luck."

Nian Shilan looked at him and said.

"Why are you here? Are you serving Duan's servants?"

Jiang Fuhai replied respectfully.

"Reporting to Concubine, Concubine said that Miss Duan was not feeling well this morning, and asked me to stew the medicine to maintain pregnancy. I just helped Miss Duan drink it."

Nian Shilan stared into Jiang Fuhai's eyes and smiled.

"Since you have helped Miss Duan drink her medicine, please move aside. I will go in and see Miss Duan."

Jiang Fuhai opened his mouth to speak when Ulanara came with Hu, Shu and Feng.

"Jiang Fuhai, move aside and let Concubine go in and take a look at Miss Duan."

After hearing what Ulanara said, Jiang Fuhai stepped aside and made gestures.

"Please come in, Concubine."

When Nian Shilan entered the inner room, Duan had already heard the noise at the door and was standing beside the bed.

Duan wanted to greet Nian Shilan, but Nian Shilan raised her hand to stop her.

"No thanks. Sister Duan is not feeling well, just lie down. I just came over to take a look and disturbed her rest."

"Thank you, Concubine. I felt a little dizzy when I woke up this morning, so I informed the Concubine. Fortunately, the Concubine showed mercy and exempted me from paying my respects."

Duan spoke, her tone soft and she sounded tired.

Nian Shilan looked at her face carefully, and apart from it being a little sallow, he couldn't tell anything else.

"Sister, you have seen Duan Shi. Can I still lie to you?"

Ulanara said with a smile from behind Nian Shilan.

Nian Shilan turned around and smiled at Ulanara.

"Fujin, you are joking. I don't dare to take it as that. Sister Duan is not feeling well, so I won't bother you for now."

Nian Shilan was about to leave when she saw a brocade purse placed next to Duan's pillow.

She walked over, picked up the purse and looked through it in her hands.

"What an exquisite purse! The lotus embroidered on it looks real. Is it the work of Sister Duan?"

There was no expression on Ulanara's face as she continued.

"This is the purse that Shu gave to Duan. It contains some flowers and plants that can calm the nerves. My sister doesn't know that although pregnant women are sleepy, they often can't sleep well. With this purse, Duan looks much better than a few days ago."

Nian Shilan took the purse and turned it over twice in her hands, then looked at Shu and said.

"Shu Gege is really good at needlework. Can you give me a purse someday?"

Shu took a step forward and bowed.

"Thank you, Concubine, for your appreciation of my craftsmanship. I will make one well and present it to you. I just don't know what kind of spices Concubine likes so I can pack them in."

Nian Shilan smiled and put the purse back next to Duan's pillow.

"It doesn't matter what kind of spice it is, just don't be too cliché."

After saying this, she bowed and saluted to Ulanara, then returned to her Cheng'en Garden.

(End of this chapter)