An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

That day, Zhaoshui helped Jingpin to dress up again, and Lingrong and she chatted for a while before leaving Xianfu Palace.

But after that, when paying respects, Jingpin still dressed as usual, as if she didn't want to show her true self. When she met Lingrong again, she just accepted the greetings and didn't talk much to her.

Lingrong understood what was going on and knew that Jingpin was afraid of being stabbed, so she would rather stay as she was than be the one who was in the spotlight.

But she had no children, no daughter, and no favor. Ling Rong couldn't understand why she could continue living a life of being bullied.

On this day of paying respects, Lingrong sat at the back as usual, watching the concubines in front of her exchanging sharp words.

Wan Changzai has been promoted to Wan Guiren, which is half a level higher than Fucha Guiren, Bolt Guiren and Shen Guiren who have no title. She finally sits in front of the three of them with full legitimacy.

Concubine Hua was first confined to her room by the Queen for slapping Zhen Huan, and then she was ignored because of the Emperor's anger. She was busy trying to win back the Emperor's favor all day long and had no time to deal with Zhen Huan.

However, a few days ago, the Emperor favored Concubine Hua again, so when facing Concubine Wan, Concubine Hua felt more confident and was more impolite than usual.

As usual, the Queen said something about having a long line of children. Concubine Hua snorted disdainfully, "Your Majesty, if you want everyone in the harem to have long lines of children, the most important thing is to make sure that some people don't flirt with the Emperor all day long. Look at these new ladies, Concubine Borjigit and Concubine Shen. They have been in the palace for nearly a month, but they haven't even slept with the Emperor yet. How can they have children and grandchildren?"

Everyone knew that Lady Borjigit was sent by Mongolia to symbolize the friendship between Manchus and Mongols. Compared with being a concubine of the emperor, she was more like a treasure on an antique shelf.

Therefore, Concubine Hua did not take her seriously at all. She brought her up now just to make Zhen Huan's crime of "seducing the master" more serious.

Lingrong glanced at Noble Lady Borjigit, but she didn't react much. She just stared at the ground in a trance, as if she didn't hear what Concubine Hua said at all.

But that day, while waiting outside the Jingren Palace to pay her respects to the emperor, Lingrong was sure that she saw the eyes of Noble Lady Borjigit and Noble Lady Fucha meet. Although it was only for a moment, she was definitely not mistaken.

I'm afraid this noble Borjigit is the most cunning one, but for some reason, she did not participate in the palace fight in her previous life, and was like an invisible person in the deep palace.

Shen Meizhuang, who was sitting next to Noble Lady Borjigit, was different. When she heard Concubine Hua say that she had not slept with the emperor for a month, her face turned visibly ugly. On the one hand, she resented Concubine Hua for exposing this matter in public, and on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel a little dissatisfied with the emperor.

Lingrong saw it and then looked at Zhen Huan's expression. She saw that Zhen Huan looked even more indifferent, as if she was not the favored concubine who had slept with him for eight consecutive days.

"The emperor was busy with previous affairs, so he has been in the harem less often." The queen said calmly, "As a concubine, you should think about making the emperor feel comfortable. It is understandable that the emperor is willing to visit more often. No matter who it is, if they can comfort the emperor, it will comfort me, so this reward is indispensable."

"The Queen is very generous. There are many treasures in Jingren Palace. I have been tempted for a long time." Concubine Qi immediately said, "A few days ago, the third prince received the poem of the ten scenes of West Lake from the Queen, and practiced calligraphy for several hours happily."

"The Third Prince is the eldest prince. It is worth giving him any precious ink."

"Third Prince received these rewards, but some people could not, such as Concubine Wan. She has a close relationship with Concubine Shen, so how could she forget to share a portion of the spoils with her good sister besides being favored by her?"

As soon as Concubine Hua finished speaking, Concubine Li immediately took over the conversation, as if she was trying to compete with Concubine Qi to see who was more loyal to the master. "People's hearts are different. They may say they are sisters, but they may not be sisters in their hearts. If you are willing to share the pearl flowers and jewelry, how can you be willing to give up the emperor's favor? Of course, you have to hold it tightly in your hands."

"Your Highness Li is wrong. It is my duty to share His Majesty's worries. Like the Empress, I just want His Majesty to be at ease."

After she finished speaking, Zhen Huan glanced at Shen Meizhuang. She didn't want to bring up the matter of the sisters sharing their favors, and she just hoped that Shen Meizhuang would come forward and explain.

Shen Meizhuang's face looked really bad, and she didn't know how much she thought about what Concubine Hua and Concubine Li said, but when she saw Zhen Huan's gaze, she could only bite the bullet and speak.

"Jealousy and resentment are the biggest losses of a woman's virtue. Although I am untalented and dull, I dare not lose my virtue." She did not talk about her friendship with Zhen Huan, but only talked about the emperor's favor. "I will cultivate myself and wait to share the emperor's worries and comfort him."

"Sister Shen is very knowledgeable, and what she said is pleasing to the ears. I guess it is because of the sisterhood that you don't want your sister to introduce you to the emperor." Concubine Cao spoke at the right time, and in a few words brought the topic back to the sisterhood.

Noble Lady Fucha could no longer hold back and deliberately raised her handkerchief to cover her lips and laugh, "That's why Noble Lady Shen went to the Suiyu Pavilion every day, hoping that she could be seen by the Emperor sooner."

Shen Meizhuang always knew that Zhen Huan was outstanding, so she never competed with her in areas where she was good at. She always chose talents that Zhen Huan had never learned and worked hard on them, and in the end she earned a good reputation.

But she had never expected that Zhen Huan, who had entered the palace unintentionally, would become the emperor's concubine together with her. She was obviously not inferior to her, but was not taken seriously by the emperor. The gap between the sisters seemed to be getting bigger and bigger.

"I just have nothing to do on weekdays, and I just want to chat with Lady Wan."

"Chatting?" Concubine Hua glanced at Concubine Jing. "Could it be that the head of Xianfu Palace is unkind, so Concubine Shen would rather go to Concubine Wan to chat in the scorching sun?"

The word "chat" was emphasized very strongly. Jingpin, who was watching the show, realized that the fire was about to burn herself, so she could only stand up and apologize.

"I haven't been feeling well lately, so Lady Shen can't come and talk to me every day."

Shen Meizhuang also bowed immediately, and looked at Jingpin before speaking, "Madam Huafei, please understand. Since I entered the palace, Madam Jingpin has been very caring towards me. How could she be so unkind to me?"

"Yes, Sister Mei came to Suiyuxuan to avoid the emperor, not like what Noble Lady Fucha said."

When Noble Lady Fucha saw that Zhen Huan had pointed at her again, she was a little dissatisfied. She glared at Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang fiercely, "Avoiding the Emperor? So, Noble Lady Shen is spying on the Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Lingrong couldn't help but applaud Noble Lady Fucha. These two sisters, one was dissatisfied with entering the palace, and the other was spying on the emperor's whereabouts. It was really funny that each of them provided testimony.

The Queen could no longer stand by and watch when it came to spying on the Emperor. She stopped everyone from making noise and looked at Shen Meizhuang kindly, "What Concubine Wan and Concubine Fucha said is true. Spying on the Emperor is a serious crime."

"Spying on the emperor's whereabouts is a serious crime," Hua Fei laughed ostentatiously. She would be so happy to be able to clip Zhen Huan's wings. "Empress, peeping on the emperor's whereabouts is punishable by death, am I right?"

"Your Majesty, please know clearly. I dare not do that." Shen Meizhuang panicked and knelt down to beg. She did wait until the emperor left before going to Sui Yuxuan and sent the eunuchs in the palace to inquire about it. Therefore, she did not know how to explain for a moment, "I just... just..."

"Your Highness, Sister Mei... Concubine Shen came to Suiyuxuan because I invited her to chat with you sisters. If the Emperor were here, it would be inconvenient."

Zhen Huan knelt beside Shen Meizhuang and used her eyes to comfort the already panicked woman, "This is not the case of Concubine Shen spying on the emperor. If this is considered spying on the emperor, then Concubine Fucha would also be suspected when she was in Jiangxuexuan that day."

"Noble Lady Wan, just deal with the matter at hand." The Queen naturally hoped that these concubines would have grievances with each other, so that she would not have to worry about them forming their own faction like Concubine Hua and threatening her position as Queen.

Ling Rong looked at Xia Dongchun who was sitting next to her. If anyone was spying on the emperor, Xia Changzai was the best. But no one thought of this Changzai, so she naturally wouldn't say anything and just watched the show.

In the end, this farce ended with Concubine Shen being punished by being forced to copy the palace rules and being confined to her room for a month.

That day at the gate of Jingren Palace, Zhen Huan held Shen Meiyu's hand with tears in her eyes, but before she could say a few words, Huanbi came running over with a happy face and said that the emperor summoned the young lady to accompany him in the imperial study.

The sisters parted hurriedly, and Shen Meizhuang suddenly felt even more aggrieved. Ling Rong stepped forward and handed Shen Meizhuang a handkerchief. "Don't be sad, Shen Guiren."

Shen Meizhuang rejected the handkerchief and held her head high for a while before she calmed down. She took Lingrong's hand and thanked her, "Now that I am under house arrest, you and Huan'er are the only ones willing to comfort me. I remember the kindness of entering the palace together. But don't get too close to me at this time, so as not to implicate yourself."

"Lingrong is not favored and has a low family background, so she doesn't have to worry about being targeted by others. Wan Guiren is deeply favored by the emperor and will definitely ask the emperor to release Sister Shen from house arrest."

Shen Meizhuang was not happy when she heard this, but sighed. She let go of Lingrong's hand and was supported by Caiyue to go back to Xianfu Palace.

Lingrong was not wrong in her guess. With Zhen Huan's pleading and the Queen's deliberate tolerance, Shen Meizhuang was released after being under house arrest for less than half a month.