An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

In the blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. Auspicious plates and snack fruit boxes were set up inside and outside the Yanxi Palace. Lingrong looked at the auspicious plates, which contained five green apples, red dates, chestnuts, and millstone persimmons, all of which were foods that Lingrong didn't like to eat, and she looked at them with a bit of lack of interest.

"This auspicious plate is placed here to wish you peace and happiness, early birth of a child, and everything goes well." Xiao Chi kept saying auspicious words, "Look at these fruits, they are all plump and fresh. I hope you will have great luck next year, and everything will go well for you."

"You are the sweet talker in Ledao Hall. When the time comes, ask your sister Zhaoshui for a red envelope. I, your mistress, will add some wealth to your life."

"Oh, thank you very much, my dear master."

Xiao Chizi ran out quickly to hang up the Spring Festival couplets, door gods and palace training pictures. Zhaoshui and Baojuan also took the sky lanterns and longevity lanterns and hung them up one by one.

Lingrong originally wanted to hang it up early, but several maids disagreed, saying that the longevity lantern should be hung later to achieve the greatest effect.

Ling Rong didn't know these things. In her previous life, she was not favored on New Year's Eve. The auspicious plate sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs was just a few dried fruits, and there was only one longevity lamp, which burned for only two hours before it went out. Even Bao Juan, who was eloquent, couldn't say anything auspicious. Just like her life, it passed away in a hurry, so how could there be a long life?

But this life is a little different after all. It’s a pretty good beginning, but I don’t know if it will have a good ending.

Well, I hope I can live longer in this life, at least longer than the queen, right?

Lingrong secretly made a wish to the longevity lamp. This time there was enough lamp oil and it would burn for days and nights without going out. Her wish would surely come true.

At this time, the princes of the royal family outside the palace had already brought their families into the palace to worship their ancestors. The incense in the Fengxian Hall had been burning all day long, and even if you were sitting in the Ledao Hall, you could smell the faint fragrance.

Fortunately, there was a palace banquet in the evening, so she didn't have to continue to be disturbed by the fragrance in the Yanxi Palace. Ling Rong dressed neatly and followed Fu Cha Guiren and Xia Dongchun to the Qianqing Palace.

According to etiquette, Ling Rong sat at the last banquet table inconspicuously, looking at the food on her table and the 109 dishes on the emperor's table, she was almost crying with envy. When she turned her head and saw the food on Xia Dongchun's table, she felt much more balanced.

After all, they were all low-ranking concubines, and their necessities were not much different, just more soups and dishes.

Ling Rong was watching carefully. Concubines of the rank of imperial concubine and above had already arrived one after another. Even the emperor's princes, princes, nephews, and brothers had already taken their seats. Only the emperor, empress, and noble lady Wan had not arrived yet.

Lingrong was sitting in the back and couldn't see Hua Fei's expression, but seeing how Jingpin was avoiding her, she was afraid that Hua Fei's jealousy had already spread to her expensive kingfisher headdress.

The dance had already begun, and the dancers, in their scarlet dance costumes, were dancing gracefully with their sleeves flying. They looked like fairies from the Moon Palace against the backdrop of the red plum blossoms. Lingrong tapped her fingers to the beat of the music, and imitated the dancing steps under the table, feeling that she had a very happy New Year's Eve.

Halfway through the dance, the Queen came alone. Her complexion was not very good, but she still smiled and responded to the greetings from the clan members and concubines. She showed her concern for her brothers Yunxiang, Yunlu, Yunlu, Yunqi, etc., showing the demeanor of a true queen. Although Concubine Hua was very disdainful, she did not lose face for the Queen in this grand occasion and led the concubines to toast the Queen.

The queen's face was bright, and her expression was not as suspicious as when she first came. But soon, the perfect mask of maintaining a smile was broken - the emperor brought Zhen Huan from outside the palace, facing the gazes of relatives and concubines along the way, wantonly showing their love.

Zhen Huan smiled proudly, her arms protecting her belly intentionally or unintentionally, and every step she took was firm and steady. She calmly endured those envious or jealous gazes. At this moment, she had a "husband" who loved her, and an heir who symbolized love. It could be said that everything she wanted most in the world was within her reach.

Zhen Huan, you are so proud.

Ling Rong lowered her head, looked down at the dishes that were already a little cold, poked her chopsticks with her fingers, and suddenly felt that this song and dance was not so interesting. At this time, someone walked past her from behind, bringing a gust of cold wind.

"Old Seventeen, you are late again. You should be punished."

"I was in Jiangnan a few days ago. If it weren't for this New Year's Eve family dinner, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to make it back." The visitor was Prince Guo. He smiled and saluted, his eyes wandering around Zhen Huan, "Your Majesty should know me best. I can't stand these rules."

"Since it's a New Year's Eve family dinner, just relax. Today, I allow you to break the rules."

"Then I would like to thank Your Majesty," Prince Guo sat back in his seat, fanning himself in the winter, his eyes always following Zhen Huan, "I heard that your new sister-in-law is getting married, so I'd like to use this wine to congratulate Your Majesty."

Hey, new sister-in-law, you are so daring to call me Prince Guo. Lingrong took a sip of wine. She didn't even need to look to know how ugly the queen's face was. This pregnancy of Zhen Huan will definitely be more difficult than expected.

Unable to bear the hypocrisy in the palace, Lingrong wanted to take the opportunity to run back to Yanxi Palace and spend New Year's Eve with the maids in the palace. Cook some vegetarian dumplings around the charcoal fire, or eat a pot. In such cold weather, who wants to sit here and eat cold dishes?

Xia Dongchun seemed to see that Lingrong was bored, so she poked Lingrong's shoulder and motioned her to look at Concubine Shen who was sitting in front of her. Lingrong stretched her neck to look, but could only see Shen Meizhuang's profile.

Soon, Concubine Wan came back. The Emperor originally wanted Zhen Huan to sit below him, but Zhen Huan said that it was not in accordance with etiquette and came over slowly, showing the elegance of a concubine who knew etiquette and observed manners. Before she sat down, she came to Concubine Shen first, and chatted with them with their hands folded. Listening carefully, it turned out that Zhen Huan found that Concubine Shen's dish was cold, so she asked someone to replace it with her own hot dish.

"No need, Huan'er. You are pregnant now, so you should eat some hot food. If the dragon fetus is in trouble, I can't wash it off even if I jump into the Yellow River."

"Sister Mei, you are alienating yourself from Huan'er by doing this. I know that sister is still angry about what happened that day. I have already punished Huanbi severely and will never make things difficult for sister again." There was some sadness on Zhen Huan's face. Ling Rong suddenly thought of something and turned to look at the emperor and Prince Guo.

The Emperor was chatting with his thirteenth brother, a scene of brotherly love and respect. Prince Guo was drinking one cup after another, his eyes glued to Zhen Huan the whole time, and he seemed to see that Shen Meizhuang made Zhen Huan sad, and his face immediately darkened.

Ling Rong was puzzled. Why did Prince Guo care so much about Zhen Huan? Could it be that they were old acquaintances? Prince Guo was much younger than the emperor, and he and Zhen Huan looked more like a talented scholar and a beautiful woman. They were a perfect match when they stood together.

"Noble Lady Wan, you are just a lowly noble lady. Do you think you are caring about the concubines in the manner of a principal wife? You really don't take the empress seriously." With just one sentence, Concubine Hua drew Lingrong's attention back. She leaned towards Xia Dongchun, trying hard to see clearly the open and secret struggles ahead.

Xia Dongchun rolled her eyes and asked Mingyu to support An Lingrong to prevent her from falling off the chair and hitting herself, which would be very painful.

"Empress Hua, I just want to change some hot food for Sister Mei. The power to assist in the management of the six palaces is in your hands, and I dare not overstep my authority. However, the dinner has just begun, and the food has already gone cold. It seems that you need to criticize the Ministry of Internal Affairs." Zhen Huan took Shen Meizhuang's hand and turned to look at Concubine Hua. She was not at all inferior in momentum. She raised her eyebrows and looked at the emperor, "If the emperor's meal is also cold..."

"Of course, there is no need for Concubine Wan to worry. The emperor's food will be hot until the table is cleared," Concubine Hua ate a grape that Songzhi fed her. "It will definitely not be like some people's friendship, where they will cling to it even when it is cold, which is embarrassing."

Zhen Huan held onto Shen Meizhuang's hand tightly. Even though Shen Meizhuang was a little uncomfortable and wanted to break free, she had no intention of letting go. "Yes, I think Concubine Hua has more experience with this matter of friendship cooling down. After all, it's appropriate to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new on New Year's Eve, isn't it?"

Concubine Hua's face turned pale. She waved away Song Zhi's hand and walked straight to Zhen Huan. But before she could get angry, Zhen Huan cried out first and fell into Shen Meiyu's arms.