An Lingrong's Rebirth: The Lock of Qingqiu

After the Qiao Qiao Festival, the weather got colder, and the emperor was busy with court affairs and was not seen for many days. Concubine Hui returned to old things. Since she had too much free time, she went to the Queen Mother's Palace to accompany the Queen Mother in chanting and copying scriptures and praying. .

An Lingrong wanted to find Guan Concubine, Guojun Wang, Li Concubine and others to form a palace band, so she went to Tangli Palace. When she arrived at the entrance of the palace, she saw smoke inside and violent coughing. The voice didn't sound like a concubine's voice.

An Lingrong initially thought there was another fire. She panicked and opened the door regardless of etiquette. However, she saw Ju Qing burning paper in a corner of the front yard. Her eyes were red. She didn't know it was because of the smoke. , still thinking of sad things, tears streaming down my face.

An Lingrong's heart tightened and she said, "Ju Qing, what's wrong with you? Don't you know that burning paper is not allowed in this palace?"

When Ju Qing heard the sound, she wiped her face a few times with her bare hands, making her face look like a five-coloured cat. She stamped out the burning paper with her feet and said with a cry: "Empress Libin. , I didn’t burn the paper, I accidentally ignited it, so I’ll put it out now.”

After that, she wanted to bring water to put out the soot, but An Lingrong stopped her.

"Ju Qing, is today the death anniversary of your relative? Do you think of your relative again?"

Ju Qing nodded, and An Lingrong wiped the ash from her face and whispered: "I'll watch it for you, you go and burn it, as soon as possible, don't let anyone else see it."

Ju Qing showed a grateful face and said, "Thank you so much, Madam."

An Lingrong watched from the front yard, but Liu Zhu, Cui Jinxi, and Wan Bin were nowhere to be seen in the palace.

Ju Qing took the iron bucket and burned it behind the plant stand surrounded by green vines, muttering something while burning.

After Ju Qing finished burning the paper and came out, An Lingrong checked the condition of her hand. Last time in Tangli Palace, Ju Qing's hand was cut off from the wrist by the guard brought by Concubine Hua. Fortunately, it was cut off in time. , and now when I look carefully, I can see that it has returned to its original state.

"Do you still feel any discomfort in your hands?" An Lingrong asked with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, Madam. My hand is as good as ever. Fortunately, I have the repair plaster, and it healed quickly. Even on cloudy or rainy days, I don't feel pain or any discomfort." Ju Qing said with a grateful face.

"It's just a piece of cake. I've never heard you mention your father and mother. What kind of people are they?" An Lingrong asked.

Ju Qing's body became a little cautious: "Back to your mother-in-law, my servant's mother is a concubine. She is not welcomed in the house. I have been sent to Sister Wan's house since I was a child. Except for my father who took me to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. That time at the Minister's Mansion, and later after his death, I never saw my father again. I can no longer remember his appearance. My mother had been living in a remote countryside before, and my father snatched him from her arms. If I leave, my mother will leave."

An Lingrong said softly, which also reminded her of the past. She was not from a high background, and her mother was still the principal wife. Fortunately, she had moved to the capital now, and her mother was no longer oppressed by her concubines, and she was also Can get along harmoniously with his father.

An Lingrong said: "Then how did your mother die? She shouldn't be very old, you are still so young."

Ju Qing paused for a moment, then choked up and said: "Mom, she hanged herself. She loved her father very much, was depressed for a long time, missed her father and became ill, and she couldn't see him. In addition, I was raped by my father when I was young. She picked me up by her side, and I especially remember the scene when I left. My mother hugged my body tightly and refused to be taken away, and the only heart-warming support was taken away by force."

An Lingrong didn't know how to comfort her: "You were still young at the time, and your father took care of you for convenience."

Ju Qing wiped away her tears and said, "I hate him. He can send me to the palace. Why can't he send my mother to the palace? If my mother follows me, she will not hang herself."

An Lingrong said slowly: "Okay, the past is in the past. Now that you have grown up and entered the palace, Sister Wan will take care of you, and we will take care of you too."

Ju Qing sighed and said: "In the whole family, the one who treats me the best is Sister Wan. Fortunately, I have grown up."

Soon, Guan Bin and Liu Zhu came back from outside. Liu Zhu took off the cloak for Guan Bin. The cloak was stained with a lot of dust. The two of them were covered in dust. It looked like they had traveled a long way.

An Lingrong said: "Sister Wan, the schedule is in such a hurry, it must be because the emperor has something to ask for!"

Concubine Wan sighed and said, "Sister An, you really got it right. The emperor has been very worried about Nian Gengyao's affairs recently. He summoned his father to discuss the matter the day before yesterday and met with his brother again."

An Lingrong asked: "Oh, the Zhen family brother is here too. Is the emperor going to send the Zhen family brother to subdue Nian Gengyao?" She looked up but met Wan Bin's teasing eyes.

When I first lived in the residence of the Minister of Civil Affairs, I was too young at the time, and I vaguely felt that Zhen Heng had an unspeakable affection for me. However, as time passed and after four years in the palace, everything could change, especially the birth of the emperor. After having children, An Lingrong felt that Zhen Heng was a bit childish. Now that he thought about it, he had nothing to say about him at all, just a light and shallow joy between gentlemen.

Now that several years have passed, she has no feelings for her, but in Wan Bin's eyes, her brother once liked her, and this kind of love will take root in his heart and grow wildly. This layer of meaning can only be meant, but cannot be expressed in words. An Lingrong couldn't explain it and felt very uncomfortable.

An Lingrong remained silent, and Concubine Wan added: "Sister An, the emperor proposed marriage to my brother, but unexpectedly he rejected it."

An Lingrong said calmly: "I hope that brother Zhen will be happy. I especially remember that when I lived in your mansion, my brother gave me a scorpion, so that I could take care of each other in the palace with Sister Wan. But I didn’t dare to accept the child, so I gave it back to my sister. Sister, don’t look at me like this. Except for the emperor, we can’t have an affair, that would be risking our lives!!”

Concubine Wan smiled and said, "The falling flowers are intentional, but the flowing water is unintentional."

An Lingrong pretended to be angry and chased Concubine Wan in a circle.

Concubine Wan giggled and said as she ran: "My sister has completely forgotten about her brother a long time ago, but he even refused to marry the originally assigned fiancée and even the emperor's offer of marriage. I asked What is the reason for him? He is very tight-lipped and doesn't reveal anything. He can't find any clues. I guess my brother probably has someone he likes. I found that when I mention my sister in front of him, he blushes. There is a high probability that he is. I like my sister."

An Lingrong smiled and said: "Sister Wan, don't joke, it's a joke about life and death. My brother deserves a better woman."

There was still laughter inside the door, but An Lingrong did not see the figures of Zhen Yuandao and Zhen Heng appearing at the entrance of the palace.

Zhen Heng glanced at An Lingrong. He obviously heard the conversation between her and Wan Bin, and looked a little lonely.