An Lingrong's Rebirth: The Lock of Qingqiu

As An Lingrong stepped into the Cuihe Hall, he heard Xiao Yunzi from Suiyuxuan running all the way to report: "Empress An... Your Majesty... is coming in the direction of the Cuihe Hall."

Little Yunzi ran in a hurry, her head was covered with sweat, and her face was red.

An Lingrong was surprised and quickly realized: The emperor was angry at Suiyuxuan Wanchang and came here to have fun.

She looked around. The yard was full of fresh medicinal herbs, dried bamboo shoots, and wild fruits. If the emperor saw it, wouldn't he know that he had gone to the back mountain?

No, we can’t show it to the emperor!

An Lingrong gave the order, and Xiao Yunzi helped Xiaostool, Baojuan, Juqing, and Qin Yueyue to pile things into the warehouse in twos and twos. Xiaostool also found a copper lock and put it on the lock. , with the key on his waist, just waiting for the emperor to leave before taking the things out to dry.

So, tea was made, cleaning was done, and Cuihe Hall returned to its former leisure and comfort.

An Lingrong was sitting in front of the carved bronze mirror, touching up her makeup carefully and changing into a set of fresh and clean clothes. She had just run back from Suiyuxuan, and her shoes and trouser legs were stained with a lot of mud, and she looked completely different. His appearance was completely new.

"Eh... Yeah... Yeah..." An Lingrong practiced her voice a few times. She hadn't sung a song for a while, but she still remembered the words and her voice was still soft and full of twists and turns.

Not long after, Little Stool came to report with a face of joy: "An Chang is here, I can see the emperor's sedan chair, and it will arrive at the palace gate in five or six minutes."

An Lingrong took a sip of the hot tea, held the teacup with both hands to warm it for a moment, then held up her skirt and went outside to greet the emperor with the other servants in the palace.

Perhaps, compared to Zhen Huan's avoidance, An Lingrong took the initiative to kneel down to greet her, which put smiles on the faces of the emperor and Eunuch Su.

However, the emperor's sedan chair passed in front of An Lingrong and went straight into Cining Palace. It stopped at the main entrance. The emperor went straight to find Concubine Duan. The emperor's brows softened and he put his hands on his sleeves and rubbed them again. Rubbing and saying nothing.

An Lingrong said: "Good luck to the Emperor. I didn't expect that the Emperor would come to Cining Palace in this cold weather. It's really gratifying. Little stool, please go back to the palace quickly and get a hand warmer."

The emperor did not refuse and said: "An Chang is here. It's cold. Don't kneel down. Get up and come with me to visit Concubine Duan."

An Lingrong said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. The Emperor entered the palace first. Concubine Duan has not seen the Emperor for a long time. She must miss the Emperor very much. I will go back and make some cakes to send to the Emperor and Concubine Duan later."

The emperor pursed his lips and smiled and said: "Listening to you speaks not only feels good to my ears, but also feels good to my heart."

The emperor then took Su Peisheng straight into the Cining Palace. There was a commotion in the Cining Palace, and people inside were running around telling each other: "Go and tell Concubine Duan that the emperor is here to see you."

Being a slave is more joyful than being a master, An Lingrong thought as she returned to Cuihe Hall.

"Little stool, go and see if you still have the ingredients for making the Thousand-Flower Cake. Help me prepare the materials. I'm going to make a pot of Thousand-Flower Cake to send to the Emperor and Concubine Duan."

An Lingrong immediately ordered Xiao Shizi, Baojuan and Qin Sanyue to wash the ingredients, Juqing lit a fire, and steamed the thousand-layer cake for six or seven minutes before it was cooked.

When the thousand-layer cake was ready, Ju Qing removed the excess firewood in the stove, and then the faint fragrance filled the whole room as the fire weakened.

An Lingrong asked Qin Sanyue to hold the thousand-layer cake and Baojuan to hold the sesame tea. When the three of them went out, they bumped into Su Peisheng.

When Su Peisheng saw it, he couldn't help but lift the lid. The scent and steam blurred his eyes, making him almost unable to hold back.

Su Peisheng said: "An Changzai is a good craftsman. Please give it to the Emperor and Concubine Duan first. Don't forget to leave a copy for the slave. When you come back, the slave will be waiting at the door."

"Concubine Duan, it's been a long time since I came to your Cining Palace. Are you feeling better? I'm busy with government affairs and have been too neglectful. I have time to come here to see you today." The emperor's tone was light and familiar. His legs were flat. Place them under the chair, then cross each other and shake slightly, their expressions are relaxed and natural, less solemn.

"I am very happy that the emperor can come to Cining Palace. However, my body is being recuperated by De'an. I didn't know that the emperor came here today. When I saw the emperor, my bones are all healed." Duan The concubine's hair and clothes were neatly dressed, but she was not specially dressed. There was a faint smile on her face: "The emperor is so busy, come and see me, I am satisfied."

Concubine Duan cast her eyes on An Lingrong, sniffed, and the aroma was fragrant: "Your Majesty, An Changzai has made another pastry. Try it. Her craftsmanship is excellent."

The emperor turned away and looked at the pastries in Qin Sanyue's hands, but asked Qin Sanyue to hand the pastries to Concubine Duan first. Concubine Duan then pushed the plate in front of the emperor: "Your Majesty will use it first."

The emperor picked up a piece of snack and took a sip, narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly: "Well, An Changzai's craftsmanship is not bad."

Su Peisheng poked his head outside the door, and the emperor called out: "Su Peisheng, come here and try a pastry."

Su Peisheng hurriedly walked in, picked up a piece of cake and said, "Ah, this stuff is glutinous and soft, not sticky to the teeth, full of fragrance, and extremely delicious. I have never eaten such delicious cakes in the palace." Well, An Changzai is good at his craftsmanship."

An Lingrong couldn't hide the joy in his pupils: "Thank you, Your Majesty and Concubine Duan, and thank you, Eunuch Su."

Then, she signaled Qin Sanyue to pass the rest to the emperor. The emperor ate another piece, Concubine Duan also ate another piece, Su Peisheng was greedy and ate two more pieces, and gave the rest to the servants in Cining Palace. They divided it equally.

The emperor smiled slightly at An Lingrong and said: "Noble Fucha said that An Changzai was good at making incense. Concubine Duan said that An Changzai was good at cooking. Concubine Hua said that An Changzai had a clothing shop and was good at embroidery. Wan Changzai ...Wan Changzai said that An Changzai is good at singing. Concubine Duan likes to listen to music on weekdays, so how about An Changzai singing a song live."

Concubine Duan smiled and said: "Your Majesty is interested. I have never heard An Changzai sing a song, but I am quite curious. I wonder if it is convenient for An Changzai."

An Lingrong was naturally happy, and she sang a popular tune without thinking.

Concubine Duan was shocked and said: "An Changzai's voice is really lingering. An Changzai's singing voice can be compared with that of an old friend in the palace. Your Majesty, the quality of this voice is not inferior at all!"

After hearing this, a soft light appeared in the emperor's eyes, and he rubbed his brows with his knuckled fingers: "Yeah, An Changzai is good at singing, and the quality of his voice is also good."

As he listened, the emperor simply raised his head and closed his eyes, while An Lingrong's voice was as gentle as a lark, pouring out his words in detail,

After one song, the emperor murmured again: "An Changzai, please sing another song."

After another song, the Emperor... lay in the large rocking chair... without any movement.

An Lingrong stopped singing, and Concubine Duan stepped forward. Su Peisheng quickly went to the emperor to check on him: "Your Majesty, he is asleep."

Concubine Duan pulled a soft towel over the emperor and whispered: "The emperor is tired. Everyone, please retreat and let the emperor sleep a little longer."