The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

Even though Princess Cheng'an had never recognized her biological mother, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty at this moment because she suddenly realized the truth that she had already passed her biological mother's death anniversary.

Concubine Hu Duan passed away after giving birth to a daughter. Princess Cheng'an was raised by Concubine Deng Xian since she was a child. Every time her biological mother's death anniversary came, Concubine Deng Xian would arrange all the items for worship in advance so that Princess Cheng'an could remember her biological mother.

But the young Princess Cheng'an did not think this was such an interesting activity. When she opened her eyes and could see clearly, her biological mother had already been buried. And when she finally learned to call out "Mother" for the first time, she was not calling out for the soul that was already buried deep in the underworld.

"... Then, let's follow the old practice." Princess Cheng'an moved her still aching ankle - it was injured when she was pushed by Prince Jinxiang on the day of the assassination. "Mammy, please wait here for her to bring the person. I will go and ask Queen Mother for instructions myself."

Missing his biological mother is an act of filial piety, but this is not the capital after all. It is just a place where he stops on his way to a tour. What's more, the emperor seems to be ill... Bringing up this matter at this moment may cause some people to dislike it.

It would be safe only if we could get the Queen's approval.

Princess Cheng'an arrived at Xie Yuzhen's place with a slight limp.

At this time, Xie Yuzhen had already distributed some of the affairs on hand to Princesses Fengning and Shouan, and the emperor was paralyzed and recuperating from an illness. He had just taken medicine and was sleeping, so she had a lot of free time.

Seeing Princess Cheng'an coming over, Xie Yuzhen asked the palace maid to help her sit down: "She was just injured. If there is anything, just ask the servants to come and tell me. Why bother running around yourself?"

Princess Cheng'an was warmly welcomed by the palace servants and sat down on a cushioned chair. She had no time to salute, and she quickly replied, "It's my fault, mother. I'm here for my mother. Her death anniversary is coming in a few days. In previous years, my family would hold a memorial ceremony, so I would like to ask you to allow me to set up a small incense table in my own palace and burn paper money and clothes for the dead... I know that being in the temporary palace is not as convenient as being in the capital, but..."

"Good child, your mother knows what you are thinking." Xie Yuzhen said very gently and kindly. In fact, she was not much older than Princess Cheng'an, and sitting together, they looked more like sisters.

"I have heard the Empress Dowager talk about Concubine Duan before. Before the trip, I had already asked the ladies to prepare in advance. But I thought that there were still a few days before the day, and you had to worry about your brothers, and you had injured your foot... Alas, I really couldn't bear to let you worry and trouble yourself, so I thought, if not, I would tell you a day or two in advance."

Princess Cheng'an was a little surprised.

Her biological mother, Concubine Hu Duan, was the niece of Empress Dowager Hu and a distant relative of the Chengguo Mansion. However, in the last years of the previous emperor, Empress Dowager Hu had a falling out with her natal family. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, the Chengguo Mansion sent a daughter of the clan into the palace as a concubine. Empress Dowager Hu did not have much contact with Concubine Hu Duan, and did not take too much care of this distant niece. Instead, she left the capital to relax.

When Concubine Hu Duan became pregnant, Empress Dowager Hu returned to the palace to take charge. However, Concubine Duan gave birth to a daughter successfully, but died on the same day because she was too weak.

After Princess Cheng'an was born, Empress Dowager Hu only took care of her for a month or two before the Emperor handed her over to Concubine Deng to raise. After that, Empress Dowager Hu continued to recuperate outside the palace and did not show any preference for Princess Cheng'an over other royal heirs.

Princess Cheng'an was not very close to her maternal grandparents' family. Instead, she had more interactions with the Duke of Yingguo's Mansion. If Concubine Deng were still alive, she might not have had such a difficult life as she has now.

But the same thing.

If she let go of her guilt towards her adoptive mother and her sense of responsibility towards her brother, she could live more freely.

"Thanks to you, mother." Princess Cheng'an didn't know how to describe how she felt at the moment.

As for Empress Xie...she didn't like her, but it was also hard for her to hate her. If it weren't for Empress Xie's reform of the official system, it would have been much more difficult for Princess Cheng'an to assist her incompetent brother.

As a mother, there is nothing to blame about Empress Xie. She has done her utmost to be kind to her own children and the royal heirs who lived in Chonghua Palace in the past. If Empress Xie had not openly stood in the court, she would have been given the reputation of a "virtuous queen". Unfortunately, most people nowadays prefer to talk about Empress Xie's cold-bloodedness and decisiveness in private.

But for Princess Cheng'an, who had once been exposed to the gentle side of Empress Xie, whose authenticity was unclear, she did not want to stand on the opposite side of Empress Xie if possible, especially in recent years, the rumor that Lu Weiyuan might become the first female crown prince in history had become increasingly popular both in the court and in the countryside.

pity......

She couldn't easily betray her adoptive mother's cultivation and expectations.

After sincerely thanking Xie Yu for his kindness, Princess Cheng'an felt much calmer and was carefully helped away by the palace maids.

"Empress." Xia Zhi stepped forward, raised his hand and gently massaged Xie Yuzhen's right shoulder twice. After the emperor fell ill, all affairs fell on Xie Yuzhen. Although she had a good physical foundation and had practiced half of the exercises, the damage from her soul prevented Xie Yuzhen's body from reaching the same strength as other orphans who practiced the same exercises.

"His Highness Cheng'an's chess piece made some moves today. Shouldn't we intervene?" Xia Zhi asked.

Xie Yuzhen shook his head: "No need to interfere."

"As the eldest daughter of His Majesty, Cheng'an not only works in the Ministry of Revenue and is active in the previous dynasty, but she also never gives up socializing with the women of various families... Compared to Yongtai who plays all day, Fengning who studies behind closed doors, and Shou'an who gets sick every other day, she does seem to be the one who is most obsessed with power."

Xie Yuzhen raised his hand and gently patted Xia Zhi's hand that was massaging his shoulder. "The person who did it behind her only wanted to let her know the truth about her mother's death, hoping to arouse Cheng An's fighting spirit and hurt her mind, so that she can become an uncontrollable factor in the palace and muddy the waters."

"It's a pity that they never really understood our little Yanzhen."

"Compared to her sisters who all have their own unique characteristics, she is actually the most self-disciplined and dignified one."

"Perhaps she is like her biological mother. I heard that when Concubine Hu Duan was alive, she was also a person of integrity and propriety. Although Cheng An also fights for power, she does everything based on her own ability. Especially since she deviated from the track arranged by Concubine Deng Xian when she was alive, she often uses open schemes instead of shady tactics. Although she is not always successful and often suffers setbacks, she is a little impatient and has a difficult life, but she is also upright."

Xie Yuzhen raised the corners of his lips, leaned towards Xia Zhi, and whispered someone's gossip: "He is the one who is least like her father."