An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

No matter whether the emperor was unintentional or Lingrong was intentional, in the end she had to rely on the emperor to interfere in the affairs of the harem.

The first people to be cleared out were the people around Youning. Fortunately, Ling Rong was strict and the palace maid in question was not able to get close to the palace at all.

Ling Rong didn't dare to trust any of the palace maids and eunuchs of unknown origin in the Old Summer Palace, so she could only leave them outside and let them do chores like sweeping the floor and watering the flowers.

But precisely because the emperor found out the spy around Youning, he believed more and more in the words of the Imperial Observatory. Therefore, although he was still busy with the affairs of the previous dynasty on the surface, he had secretly begun to investigate the concubines in the harem.

But most of them were just minor fights where you gave me a palace maid and I gave you a eunuch. The emperor usually didn't want to intervene when he saw them and just let them do whatever they wanted.

The only thing that seemed strange was Yuedi Yunju and Bitong Academy. Concubine Xu and Concubine Hui had fallen out a long time ago, but now, no one knew when they had restored their sisterly relationship.

After hearing from Xiao Xiazi that the emperor was investigating these two people, Ling Rong had someone secretly reveal the matter of Fuling - there was nothing else to it, just that Fuling had not been seen for a long time, and no one knew whether he had done something wrong and was bullied to death by his master.

"It's possible that she's been put under house arrest. But if she really did something wrong, Concubine Hui would have sent her back to the Imperial Household Department for training. Why is there no news about her at all, as if she doesn't exist in the palace?"

Most of the palace maids were from the three banners of the Baoyi Banner. Without solid evidence, they could not be subjected to private punishment, house arrest or bullying, let alone killed at will without reporting.

As soon as the emperor's men heard that there might be bullying of palace servants in Bitong Academy, they immediately reported it to the emperor.

The emperor felt that something was wrong, but it was not easy for him to send someone directly to Shen Meizhuang's palace to check. He could only send a midwife to Bitong Academy under the pretext that Concubine Hui was pregnant.

When Shen Meizhuang heard that the emperor was going to send someone in, her first reaction was not happiness, but to try every possible way to refuse.

She first refused the emperor on the grounds that she had just become pregnant and did not need a midwife yet.

But the emperor felt that this was safer. Having a nanny who knew how to deliver babies to take care of the royal heir would also give everyone in Bitong Academy some backbone, so they wouldn't panic when something happened.

He also emphasized that this nanny had medical skills, and if Shen Meizhuang had abdominal discomfort, she could provide emergency treatment before the imperial physician arrived.

Shen Meizhuang already had something to hide, so how could she dare to let such a person stay under her nose.

If she accidentally takes my pulse and finds out there's something wrong with the pregnancy, I won't be able to save my head.

However, no matter what reason Shen Meizhuang used, the emperor would block her for the sake of the royal heir.

At the end of the conversation, even the emperor felt that something was wrong.

When a pregnant concubine hears that there is a nanny who knows medicine by her side, her first reaction should be happiness. How could she try every means to refuse like Shen Meizhuang and bring shame to the emperor?

This was a tough situation for Shen Meizhuang. With such a nanny always by her side, she had no chance to plan with Zhen Huan in private, and she didn't even dare to make eye contact with Wen Shichu when he was taking her pulse.

She was also forced to keep a letter she wrote to her father and could not send it out in time.

To take a step back, even if she found an opportunity to send it out, it is very likely that the nanny who was kept by the emperor's side would find out, which would put herself in danger.

In order to get in touch with her family, Shen Meizhuang began to pretend that she was sick due to missing her family, in order to ask the emperor to let her see her mother.

However, according to the rules, the concubines' family members are not allowed to enter the palace at will. If they need to accompany the birth, it is also about one month before the delivery.

Although the emperor still had some favor towards Shen Meizhuang, it was not to the same extent as that towards Zhen Huan who had just entered the palace, so he did not agree to it immediately.

He even ran to Lingrong and sighed, saying that for some reason, Shen Meizhuang had not been as dignified and proper as before since she became pregnant, and she had not considered everything for him.

“It’s easy to think a lot during pregnancy, so nature is different than before.

When I was pregnant with Youning, I was also worried every day and often had nightmares.

It is rare for me to take care of the emperor's thoughts and drink tea and discuss poetry with him."

Lingrong comforted the emperor and thoughtfully poured him a cup of hawthorn and lotus leaf tea. Unfortunately, the emperor still didn't like it very much and put it down after taking a sip.

The emperor shook his head. He always felt that the two feelings were different.

Especially Shen Meizhuang, her worry did not seem to be about the child, but rather about something that had not been done.

Which concubine in the harem doesn't miss her family, but not one of them uses her children to threaten me to bring her family into the palace.

"Rong'er was about to give birth, and her mother was unable to visit her in the palace. She never blamed me for neglecting the matter afterwards.

Lady Hui, I have already promised her that I will call her mother into the palace one month before the birth, but she is still depressed and has a cold face all day long. "

Thinking of not being able to see her mother, Lingrong hesitated for a moment with the fan in her hand. But soon she calmed down and looked at the emperor thoughtfully.

"Maybe Lady Hui has something personal to say to Madam Shen. After all, it's her first pregnancy, so she's bound to be a little scared."

Lingrong deliberately placed emphasis on private conversation, which made the emperor feel a little strange.

"Rong'er, what you mean is that Concubine Hui wants to say something that shouldn't be said?"

"When my mother was bullied by my father, she would hug Rong'er and cry, telling him how good my father was to her in the past."

Ling Rong did not directly answer the emperor's question, but instead talked about her parents, "If I could see my mother, I would have to tell her that the emperor only cared about Youning and not me."

She spoke in a coquettish tone, but the emperor felt that it was a bit strange that Shen Meizhuang was making a fuss at this time.

He frowned, which made Lingrong feel awkward to speak.

Lingrong simply sat aside and drank tea quietly, letting the emperor let his thoughts run wild.

After a long time, the emperor finally made some movement, which made Lingrong no longer feel that he was a statue.

"If you have any pain in your heart, just tell me. Why bother to torment me again and again and cause resentment in the harem?"

“It’s inevitable that the sisters in the harem will feel homesick after not seeing their families for a long time.

If the Emperor felt that he should make an exception only for Concubine Hui, it would make the sisters in the harem feel jealous.

It would be better to simply invite the concubines' families to a banquet. Even if we can't have some private conversations, it would be nice to be able to see them from afar."

The emperor nodded, but although this method was good, it was somewhat difficult to implement.

Many concubines' homes were far away from the capital, and it was not easy to rush there overnight.

Moreover, Prince Dun has been more active recently. If he invites these family members to the palace and lets them be controlled by others, it would be even more dangerous.

"This is a good idea, but we need to think about it in the long run."

The emperor took Lingrong's face into consideration and did not say no directly.

But Lingrong's original purpose was not to hold this banquet, so she didn't feel disappointed.

"Your Majesty, it is not necessary to hold this banquet. This is just an excuse for Concubine Hui to calm down temporarily."

Although Ling Rong has not yet found out what Shen Meizhuang is going to do, she knows very well that she must not let Shen Meizhuang pass the news on at this time.

"If I had not done so, wouldn't it be that I was going back on my word and would give people something to criticize me for."

The emperor thought this method was not good, but he was unwilling to lose face and rejected Shen Meizhuang.

In the final analysis, the emperor still needs Mr. Shen's help to do some things in secret.

If I don't satisfy Shen Meizhuang's small request at this time, I'm afraid it will be spread by someone with ulterior motives, and it will be regarded as harsh treatment by Shen's father.

Although the emperor is the Son of Heaven and the Shen family are court officials, they have to be constrained by him and swallow their anger.

"...I really didn't think it through," Ling Rong showed a somewhat awkward smile. She sat beside the emperor and gently touched his arm, "Maybe he was missing my mother, that's why he was so slow.

It would be even better if the emperor could accompany me to see my mother."

"Oh?" The emperor raised his voice, and asked in confusion, "Why do you want me to accompany you?"

"Your Majesty!" Ling Rong's cheeks flushed. She deliberately hit the emperor's arm lightly, and then she spoke hesitantly, "The reason why I can see mother is because, because I am pregnant again.

If I am pregnant, can't Your Majesty accompany me for a while?"

"That's what Nizi is talking about." The emperor couldn't help but laugh. He touched Lingrong's cheek with his fingers and softened his tone. "If you get pregnant again, I will definitely accompany Rong'er to see your mother."

Ling Rong nodded happily, and she did not let go of the emperor's hand, "Your Majesty, why don't you spend more time with Concubine Hui, so that she won't worry too much during her pregnancy, which will lead to instability of the royal heir.

It's rare for such a happy event to happen in the palace, so the emperor should show some favoritism."

"If I accompany Concubine Hui to see her mother first, I'm afraid some of the girls will make a scene."

The emperor stroked Lingrong's hand and had a plan in mind.

Since Concubine Hui insists on seeing her family, why not let her meet Shen Zishan, and have me accompany her personally to prevent her from saying anything nonsense.

"I am not that stingy."

Lingrong pushed the emperor's hand away and went to look in her embroidery basket.

After searching for a while, he finally found the fan cover he had made a few days ago and handed it to the emperor.

"This body of mine is all Rong'er's work."

The emperor took the fan case and tried it out deliberately. It was unknown whether he did it intentionally or unintentionally, but the sachet on his body was indeed the one Lingrong made for him.

However, Lingrong didn't take it too seriously. Now, seeing the pattern on the sachet, she even felt that her approach was a bit rough.

"If you have the chance in the future, why not embroider a set of pajamas for me?"

The emperor completely forgot that he had cut up the nightgown embroidered by Lingrong, and thought that he had given Lingrong a huge reward by asking for it.

"Your Majesty may have forgotten that I once embroidered a nightgown with a golden dragon emerging from the clouds."

The emperor forgot, but Lingrong did not. The words spoken by Zhen Huan and Chun Changzai rang in her ears again, and she couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.

With Lingrong's reminder, the emperor finally remembered, but he was only slightly embarrassed for a moment, then nonchalantly asked Lingrong to do another one.

"It's summer now, so it's more comfortable to wear some light and breathable fabrics."

"I thought the emperor didn't like my craftsmanship. The emperor stayed with me many times, but I never saw him wear the nightgown I gave him."

The emperor didn't care, but Lingrong had to bring it up.

She stared at the emperor with her burning eyes, which made the emperor look a little embarrassed.

"Girl, did you find out from someone that the pajamas were damaged?"

He is still the suspicious emperor, Lingrong complained in her heart. At this time, he still wants to test whether she has any dealings with the people around him.

"Yes, Concubine Xu and Concubine Chun, who are beside the emperor, told me that they got my golden dragon embroidery pattern!"

Lingrong said this with full of jealousy, just to dispel the emperor's suspicion.

Moreover, it was Zhen Huan and Chun Changzai who proposed to cut the nightgown, which indeed dispelled the emperor's suspicion.

"Chun Changzai is lively and a little childish, so it's inevitable that he will make some excessive demands."

The emperor knew he was in the wrong, so he explained a little more, "I'm afraid it was because I loved Rong'er more during that time, and these two were being petty and wanted you to hear them."

After all the talk, the emperor refused to admit that he had acquiesced. He looked nonchalant and pushed all the faults onto Zhen Huan and the other two.

"It's obvious that the emperor loves Concubine Xu the most." Ling Rong muttered to herself, and before the emperor could say anything, she changed the subject, "If Concubine Xu was pregnant now, maybe the emperor would immediately allow Mother Zhen to enter the palace."

These rather sarcastic words did not make the emperor angry, but made him happy instead.

The emperor had originally decided to visit Concubine Hui, but he didn't care and happily rested in Shuimu Mingse.

On the second day, the emperor agreed to let Shen's father enter the palace. Unfortunately, because he was accompanied by the emperor, Shen Meizhuang did not get the chance to hand over the letter in her hand.

She was upset but helpless. Zhen Huan sent someone to ask about it, which made Shen Meizhuang anxious and annoyed. She became so angry that she actually fell ill.

Seeing that Shen Meizhuang was not helpful, Zhen Huan gave up on Shen Meizhuang as a helper. However, this way, Prince Guo had no perfect excuse to contact Shen Zishan, so their rebellion was put on hold again.

Zhen Huan had thought about revealing Shen Meizhuang's affairs to Prince Guo in private, so that he could use the evidence to win over the Shen family to his team.

However, if she did so, her relationship with Shen Meizhuang would only become more distant, and the trust that had just been established would disappear again.

As for Wen Shichu... I'm afraid we will lose this important helper, Wen Shichu. After all, the pill for faking death has not been obtained yet.

The only good news is that Wen Shichu recently found out about a drug that can fake death. If he can find the doctor who can make it, his plan will be half successful.

At that time... it depends on whether Shen Meizhuang has the opportunity to pass the message herself.

If there is really no other way, I am afraid I can only choose to reveal the information in private.

"In fact, whether Concubine Hui said it herself or we said it, the result would be the same." Huanbi looked at her young master sighing and couldn't help but comfort her, "You have helped Concubine Hui, so how could she blame you?"