The Empress Arrives: Rebirth of Concubine Hua

Chapter 83 Gentle and Harmless
Hanlu has already prepared the washing utensils, and Mangzhong is putting the towel into the basin.

Guyu and Xiaoman were waiting outside the door, just waiting for Songzhi to call them to dress up for their master.

Nian Shilan sat in front of the mirror, letting her maid dress her up, thinking about her dream from last night.

She thought of the dreams she had had several times before, and suddenly recalled the medical book that Ulanara had read, and a sentence written on it.

"Almond tea is a good tonic for longevity. Peach kernels are very similar to almonds, but they are more effective in breaking up blood and removing blood stasis. Pregnant women should avoid eating it."

Something flashed through Nian Shilan's mind, but the thought was so fast that she couldn't catch it. She just had a vague premonition.

August 14th soon arrived.

During these ten days, Yinzhen was so busy that he seldom saw anyone. He only summoned Feng to sleep with him once and came to Cheng'en Garden twice.

Nian Shilan wanted to ask whether Yinzhen often sent jewelry to Qi Yuebin like he did when she was still at her parents' home, but when the words came to her lips, Nian Shilan swallowed them back.

Since you have decided to treat Yinzhen as your master now, then don't indulge in these meaningless romances anymore.

On the fourteenth day, Nian Shilan went to pay her respects to Ulanara as usual at the right time.

Hu Gege and Shu Gege had already arrived, but Feng arrived late in a hurry.

"I have met the Master, and I wish you the best of luck and happiness."

Feng was panting as she spoke, and it was obvious that she was afraid of being late in paying her respects, so she walked hurriedly.

Ulanara smiled generously.

"Get up. Sister Feng, why are you in such a hurry? It's so early in the morning and you've sweated so much that your makeup has been ruined."

Feng thanked him, stood up, and still spoke with a slight breath.

"Thank you, Master Fujin, for your kindness. I was lazy today and got up late. I was afraid that I would not be able to pay my respects to Master Fujin in time, so I left in a hurry."

Ulanara was still smiling.

"It's okay. We are all sisters. Greeting you is just a token of my thoughts. It's not a big deal. You can come later next time."

Nian Shilan looked at Hu Gege and Shu Gege and smiled coquettishly.

"Did you hear that, my two sisters? Madam Fu is magnanimous. If you two sisters are late one day, you can come slowly."

Hu and Shu looked at Nian Shilan in fear, but did not dare to respond.

Ulanara had no choice but to say it with an unchanged smile.

"Sister Nian is joking again. Tomorrow you and I will follow the master to the palace to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Sister, you must put away your playful nature, so as not to lose your manners in front of the emperor and the empress."

Nian Shilan smiled indifferently.

"Don't worry, Fu Jin, I naturally know what to say in different occasions. My family also taught me etiquette~"

"Speaking of family background, Sister Nian, your mother's father is a high-ranking official of the second rank in the court, and your second brother Nian Gengyao has just made military achievements, been promoted, and received rewards. Your family background is indeed not low. I heard that the sister who is about to enter the mansion has a family background comparable to yours. Her grandfather was a general stationed in the southwest. Her father is now a fourth-rank cloud commander. In the future, you two should get along well with each other."

Ulanara still had that smiling face, and Nian Shilan just couldn't tell whether it was real or fake.

She really couldn't bear to see Ulanara's mask, which was always gentle and harmless.

"That is indeed on par with me. However, no matter how prominent your mother's family is, we married daughters can only rely on our husbands. At home, we obey our fathers, and after marriage, we obey our husbands. Your mother's family is also of high status, but Master, don't you need them? Don't you think so, right, Madam?"

Ulanara listened to Nian Shilan's sarcasm that last time her father Fei Yanggu was conferred the title of First-Rank General Fubei, but Yinzhen did not accompany her back to her parents' home to give her gifts. The expression on her face changed several times, and she barely maintained a smile.

Nian Shilan felt relieved, stood up and bowed to Ulanara.

"Please forgive me, Madam, for being tired and unable to keep you company." After saying this, she turned around and went back to Cheng'en Garden.

Ulanara watched her walk out, and the expression on her face finally turned cold.

Hu, Shu and Feng sat there, not knowing whether to leave or not.

It was not until Ulanara spoke up and said that the greetings for today were over that the three of them felt as if they had been pardoned. They bowed hurriedly and took their leave.

Hu Gege was walking on the way back to Liufang Pavilion, and Shu Gege was walking side by side with her.

"This concubine is too unruly, contradicting the mistress every day. You and I are both from the general's mansion, and we have both served the mistress. Why don't you speak up to protect the mistress?"

Shugg glanced at Hugg.

"You didn't make any sound either?"

At this moment, Shu Gege no longer looked like a quail as usual, and his face looked cold.

Hu Gege sneered.

"Since you are someone who has finally been favored, you are not polite at all when you speak to me."

Shu Gege stopped and looked at Hu Gege.

"Are you being polite?"

After Shu Gege finished speaking, he simply changed his pace. He had originally planned to go back to have breakfast and catch up on his sleep, but now he had no appetite, so he decided to go for a walk in the garden.

Hu Gege stared at Shu Gege's back and curled his lips.

"Why are you pretending to be so noble? You'll just cling to your master whenever you get the chance!"

Yucui stood behind Hu Gege and sighed secretly.

Nian Shilan returned to Cheng'en Garden and saw a young eunuch in the front yard holding a tray with a wedding dress on it.

Another young eunuch was holding a tray with a set of headgear that looked very suitable for the auspicious robes.

The lake blue ceremonial dress and kingfisher-inlaid headpiece were Nian Shilan’s favorite in her previous life.

When the young eunuch who delivered the gifts saw Nian Shilan, he kowtowed and greeted her.

Nian Shilan called out and said.

"Last time, the wedding dress was damaged by something. I don't know what it was. This time, it won't happen again, right?"

The two young eunuchs said hurriedly.

"To my Lady, this auspicious dress was personally delivered by me from the Embroidery Shop today. I did not ask anyone else to make it. Please check it first."

Hanlu looked at Nian Shilan's eyes, stepped forward, shook out the auspicious clothes, looked at them carefully, and checked the stitches that were easy to be damaged one by one. Only then did she put the auspicious clothes away.

"Forget it. If there are any problems with the wedding dress again, I will let the master ask the Xiuyifang. Go down with Xiao Linzi to claim the reward."

After Nian Shilan beat the little eunuchs, Xiao Linzi quickly took out two purses from his arms and gave them to the two little eunuchs.

The two men who were still trembling with fear because of Nian Shilan's beating the moment before, the next moment they took the purse containing about two taels of silver from Xiao Linzi's hand, and immediately forgot everything and went back happily.

On the way back, the two were still talking about how generous the concubine was and how lucky Xiao Linzi was.

That night, Nian Shilan was helped to wash and rest early. Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she had to get up at the hour of Yin again. It was terrible.

(End of this chapter)