An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

At the beginning of winter, the war in the northwest was tense. The emperor was worried about state affairs and spent more than ten days discussing with officials in the imperial study. He only went into the harem a few times occasionally, and most of the time he went to Concubine Hua.

Even the once favored Concubine Wan seemed to have been forgotten, not to mention Lingrong who was not favored at all.

On this day, Lingrong had just finished embroidering a new purse and had just put it down to rub her sore eyes when Baojuan came in to report that Concubine Shen had arrived.

Lingrong was a little confused, but she immediately invited Concubine Shen in.

"Sister An," Concubine Shen greeted her warmly as she came in. "It's been cold these days, and I thought your allowance was not much, so I brought you some silver charcoal."

"It's hard for Concubine Shen to remember that this room faces a bad direction in the cold winter, so it will be cold indeed." Ling Rong invited Concubine Shen to sit in the seat of honor and asked Zhao Shui to serve hot tea. "But this is also from Sister's monthly allowance. If I accept it, Ling Rong will feel uneasy."

"Sister, please don't refuse. This is also a thank you gift." Shen Guiren sighed. "During my confinement, only you and Huan'er sent me food and clothes. I am very grateful. If you don't accept this silver charcoal today, I will always feel empty in my heart."

"Ling Rong sent something to her sister at that time, but she was just thinking that she was not able to speak up for her sister that day, and could only watch her sister being punished."

"My dear sister, you don't have to speak for me." Shen Meizhuang was lost in thought as she stared at the falling snow outside the window. "We are just acquaintances who entered the palace on the same day. I am very grateful that you are willing to lend a helping hand when I am down and out."

"In fact, even if I don't send her off, there is Concubine Wan. She is my sister's good friend and she will never see my sister suffer."

"Huan'er, it was Huan'er who begged for mercy, so the emperor released me. I should thank her."

Lingrong raised her eyebrows. Shen Meizhuang had been staring out the window in a trance, and her tone was a little bland when she mentioned Zhen Huan. She just felt confused.

Aren’t these two people very close in relationship? In the previous life, they only had a quarrel because of Concubine Hua, but they soon made up. So why is it happening again this time?

"Lingrong knows that Sister Shen and Concubine Wan are the best friends. Unlike Lingrong, she entered the palace alone and has no one beside her except Zhaoshui."

"Sister, if you are willing, it would be nice to be with me often." Shen Meizhuang finally turned her head, and her slender and cold palm covered Ling Rong's, with unknown emotions dancing in her eyes.

Lingrong keenly realized that it was not entirely a sincere desire to meet and make friends. It seemed that Shen Meizhuang had some disagreement with Zhen Huan, and as a second choice, she wanted to find a "new friend".

So Ling Rong retracted her hand, and slowly put a hand warmer into Shen Meizhuang's hand while she looked a little shocked.

As soon as she got the hand warmer, Shen Meizhuang finally reacted. She quickly adjusted her expression, restored her dignified and generous look, and tried to return the hand warmer.

"Sister, maybe you have been walking in the cold wind for too long. Your hands are cold. Use this hand warmer to warm them up."

Lingrong smiled and comforted her, waving her hand to let the water go down. Seeing this, Shen Meizhuang also asked Caiyue to retreat together.

"Sister An, I..."

"Sister Shen, Lingrong is willing to be friends with you on an equal footing. Do you understand?"

Shen Meizhuang nodded. She held the hand warmer in her hands and rubbed the plum blossoms embroidered on it with her fingertips. "This is how it is between Huan'er and me, but... I always feel like she's getting further and further away from me."

Shen Meizhuang began to daydream again. She murmured to herself, "Huan'er has been very outstanding since she was a child. Her appearance, poetry, and dancing are all better than mine."

"I envied Huan'er so much that I worked really hard to surpass her, but no matter what, I could never catch up."

"So I settled for the next best thing, practicing the piano, learning the rules of being a woman, and aiming to become a lady that everyone admires."

"Indeed, everyone praises me, but I am still not good at poetry, calligraphy, or dancing."

Ling Rong listened quietly. She used to think that these young ladies from aristocratic families would never have those inferiority complex and contemptuous thoughts. But Shen Meizhuang's words made her realize that these people were just like her. Even if their families were well-off and their fathers held high positions and received generous salaries, they would still envy others.

But, Shen Meizhuang, you said your true feelings to the wrong person. How could I go along with your thoughts and comfort you? How could I be willing for you to join hands with Zhen Huan and become the most favored person in the harem?

I want to climb up to the position of concubine, imperial consort, and noble consort, and you are the biggest stumbling blocks on my way.

"Noble Lady Wan is indeed very enviable. She is the best in everything. With the emperor's favor and outstanding appearance, I won't hide it from my sister. When Lingrong sees her, she will feel ashamed of herself."

Ling Rong patted Shen Mei Zhuang's hand, "With pearls and jade around, I feel ashamed. Ling Rong read this sentence a few days ago and felt as if it was written about me."

"...Traveling with Jie is like having a bright pearl by your side, shining brightly on everyone." Shen Meizhuang sighed. Having known him since childhood, she could empathize with him more than Lingrong.

"In fact, Lingrong felt the same way when she saw Sister. Although she tried to be gentle and considerate, she was still looking up at Sister and envious when she stood beside her. Sister, do you understand me?"

Shen Meizhuang remained silent. She suddenly understood Lingrong's previous refusal. She had only been in contact with Lingrong for a short time and originally wanted to win her over so that she would have a useful helper besides Huan'er.

But she didn't expect that Lingrong shared the same sentiment as her. If she continued to try to win her over, she would become alienated.

If you think about it carefully, aren't she and Lingrong just like her and Huan'er? If they are too close, it will not be beautiful. Only when the distance is far can a hundred flowers bloom.

Ling Rong saw her expression change and knew that Shen Meiyu was secretly weighing the matter in her heart, so she just sipped the tea and waited for Shen Meiyu to think it through.

Shen Meizhuang also took a sip of the almost cold tea. She pursed her lips and showed a gentle and generous smile. "I was rude today, but fortunately my sister is generous."

"Sister, you are joking. It's so cold, but you are willing to come and accompany Lingrong. This friendship is rare."

The matter had been said, and Shen Meizhuang had no intention of staying any longer. She did not take the basket of silver charcoal with her, and just stayed there.

Lingrong took a look at it and told Zhaoshui to remember to use it at night. With the silver charcoal, she naturally didn't want to use the choking black charcoal.

"It's better to be favored. You have everything."

Three days later, the news of Zhen Huan's pregnancy spread throughout the harem. When she paid her respects to the emperor these days, her face was full of fatigue. Ling Rong thought it was just winter sleepiness, but she didn't expect that she was pregnant.

The emperor was very happy. He brought the late Concubine Wan to Jingren Palace. The empress immediately made room for the emperor and sat down to congratulate him.

"This is the first child born after the emperor ascended the throne. Lady Wan is truly blessed. I congratulate the emperor."

The emperor laughed out loud. He took the queen's hand and patted it. "Lady Wan has had a difficult pregnancy. She often feels nauseous and uncomfortable. The queen will have to worry about her."

The Queen did not expect that this rare tenderness was because the Emperor wanted her to take good care of Zhen Huan and the baby in her belly. But the Queen immediately agreed without showing any reluctance.

Lingrong saw it all and knew that the Queen was the best at disguise. Even though she cursed her as a bitch thousands of times in her heart, the smile on her face was brighter than that flower.

"I thought that it is not easy to keep a baby, so I promoted her to the position of Lady Wan."

As soon as these words came out, the hall fell silent. The jealousy on Concubine Hua's face almost overflowed. She bit her lip and looked at the emperor's profile with resentment.

"Your Majesty... There is no precedent in the palace for promoting a woman to a higher rank during pregnancy." Wan Guiren stood up sensibly. Her eyes quickly swept over Hua Fei. "My concubines' allowance is enough, and there is also the Empress to take care of me."

The emperor looked a little surprised when he heard the rejection, but when he saw Zhen Huan's gaze, he immediately turned to look at Concubine Hua. The sad look in her eyes suddenly reminded him of the war in the northwest.

The front line still needs to rely on the Nian family and Hua Fei's brother. Wanwan's position cannot be promoted yet.

"You are the most considerate, so you will enjoy the status of a concubine first, and you will be promoted after giving birth."

Although this does not mean an immediate promotion, it is a done deal, unless... Zhen Huan cannot give birth to this baby.

As Lingrong thought so, she swept her eyes over the concubines present and found that without exception, everyone's eyes were looking at Zhen Huan's belly.