An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

After leaving Wanfang Anhe, Lingrong and Zhaoshui did not stop and quickly returned to Shuimu Mingse and closed the door.

Lingrong looked calm, but she was actually extremely panicked. She poured out the spices in the sachet and destroyed them all with water.

Just now, she secretly lit the incense while the emperor was fainting, causing him to dream while he was unconscious. Then she whispered something about Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan into the emperor's ear.

Under the influence of the spices, every word she said would be regarded by the emperor as a scene in a dream, confusing his consciousness bit by bit.

Because this spice has the effect of disturbing dreams, people who are infected will feel a splitting headache and can hardly think in their dreams. After waking up, they will also be affected and it will take a long time to recover.

Lingrong applied menthol oil on her hands, which was why the emperor's headache went away so quickly.

But it could only suppress his anger for a while. Soon after Lingrong left, the emperor would have a headache again.

"My lady, please wash your hands." Zhaoshui knew what Lingrong had applied on her hands, so he brought the basin of water over. "It's a pity for those spices. The raw materials are very precious."

"No matter how precious something is, it can only be used once in front of the emperor." Ling Rong didn't care. She pulled off the sachet from her waist and pressed it into the basin. "After the sachet is dry, burn it directly. Don't leave any traces."

"I know."

Although Zhaoshui felt sorry for the items embroidered by the young lady herself, he also knew that every decision the young lady made was right.

"After you're done, go down and rest for a while, and let Fanglin take care of you."

Zhaoshui was not too reassured, she shook her head and insisted on serving her master, "Fanglin was sent by the emperor after all, young master..."

"It is precisely because she was sent by the Emperor that we should keep her by our side at this time."

Ling Rong was indeed a little tired. She didn't want to explain too much to Zhao Shui, but was also worried that she might have misunderstood. "The affair between Concubine Hui and Doctor Wen must have been exposed. What we have to do now is to protect ourselves and not let others throw dirty water on us.

Fanglin was sent by the Emperor, so the Emperor will always trust her more."

"My slave understands."

Zhaoshui then felt relieved and went down to rest. Fortunately, Fanglin served his master on weekdays, so changing shifts at this time would not arouse any suspicion.

However, as soon as Fanglin entered the main hall, Lingrong began to pretend to be worried. She took back the nightgown given to the emperor and embroidered it again stitch by stitch.

"Young lady, why are you doing embroidery right after you come back? The sun is setting and the room is getting a little dim."

Fanglin considerately pushed the window open a little further so that the setting sun could shine into the house.

"The Emperor didn't accept my nightgown. I'm afraid he still doesn't like it."

Ling Rong's voice sounded quite aggrieved. She had mastered the art of pretending to like the emperor to perfection and could even squeeze out a few tears when necessary.

"The young lady embroidered so well, how could the emperor not like it?"

Fanglin had heard from Zhaoshui a long time ago that the emperor had cut the young lady's embroidered nightgown for Concubine Xu and Concubine Chun. Now that she was trying to comfort her, she felt that she was not confident enough.

"Forget it. The emperor always prefers embroidery by others. I'm afraid my crude embroidery will not be acceptable to the emperor."

Fanglin inexplicably felt a toothache, but couldn't tell why.

So she could only continue to comfort Lingrong, and for the first time she complained in her heart that the emperor could do something else but cut the pajamas that she had spent so much effort to make.

It would be fine if I just cut it, but I still have to coax it. It's really annoying that I can't coax it well.

Fortunately, Lingrong was only sad for a while. She casually embroidered two stitches on her pajamas and said that she was a little tired.

Fanglin kept all of this in mind, wondering why this master cared so much about the emperor.

But the emperor loved to ask questions, so Fanglin simply told him everything.

As for the main business, nothing was said at all.

What a joke. Now I am serving the princess. When the princess grows up, I will be the most senior person around her. It is much better than being ordered around by the emperor and being a little maid.

Besides, it’s not like the emperor hasn’t been informed of the news, it’s just that the content needs to be selected.

Fanglin muttered to herself as she packed pajamas and embroidery thread for Lingrong. She also did not forget to comfort her, saying that the emperor cared about the young lady and the princess the most.

Lingrong was tired of hearing these words, but for the sake of her image in the emperor's ears, she still pretended to be very shy.

But Lingrong was anxious. After all, she couldn't go out now, and the news was delayed. She had no idea how the emperor would deal with Shen Meiyu and Wen Shichu.

As for the emperor, after he woke up, he was only conscious for a short while before he still felt a splitting headache.

After examining the emperor for a long time, the imperial physician could only conclude that the emperor was suffering from the disease due to anger.

The person most experienced in dealing with this disease in the entire palace is the Empress.

However, the Queen Mother just sat quietly in the palace and did not come to visit the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, how about I go to Wuling Spring Scenery and learn from the Empress?"

Unexpectedly, the emperor shook his head. It was not that he was unwilling to find a way to relieve his headache, but he just didn't want the queen to know that his beloved concubine had done such a thing.

Before anyone knows, we must get rid of these two troubles, Shen Meizhuang and Wen Shichu.

The emperor rubbed his forehead and easily smelled the scent of menthol oil, "Why is Concubine An near Wanfang Anhe?"

"In reply to the emperor, Lady An was strolling in the garden today.

I met the young lady on the way to Bitong Academy. She had been craving for coolness these days and her knees were aching.

The imperial physician advised me to get out more often to get some sun and walk around."

The emperor nodded. He knew that Concubine An had a bad knee. It was the year they first entered the palace.

"You are weak and still walking under the sun. You will definitely get hot again."

Su Peisheng was very understanding. He immediately nodded to show that he understood. "I will tell Fanglin and Fanghua to persuade Lady An."

"Just remember this," the emperor sighed inwardly, and then he asked Su Peisheng to prepare a sedan chair, "I want to go to Bitong Academy."

In fact, the emperor did not want to see Shen Meizhuang immediately, but in order to prevent Shen Zishan from making the wrong decision and getting involved with people he should not be with, he had to deal with these matters as quickly as possible.

Shen Meizhuang really knows how to give people difficult problems.

When the emperor and his entourage arrived at Bitong Academy, the palace had already been cleared out.

There was only Cai Xing accompanying Shen Meizhuang, and her face was frighteningly pale.

He Anming was not allowed to enter the main hall until the emperor and others came. He was sweating all over due to the sun, but because his masters were all there, he couldn't even wipe the sweat off.

"Doctor He, how is Concubine Hui doing?"

He Anming sighed and bowed respectfully, "I haven't had the chance to check the pulse of the noble lady Hui yet."

Although the cause was not mentioned, the emperor already knew it. He nodded and said, "Then take Concubine Hui's pulse now."

He Anming responded, took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his palms, then stepped forward and saluted Shen Meizhuang, "Lady Hui, may I feel your pulse?"

Shen Meizhuang subconsciously protected her belly. She refused to stretch out her hand or answer.

He Anming stood aside and waited for the emperor or Concubine Hui to reply.

The few people were in a stalemate for a long time, and finally Shen Meizhuang put down her hand obediently and allowed He Anming to come over and take her pulse.

"Lady Hui has been pregnant for more than three months, and the fetus is very stable."

The fact that Concubine Hui was pregnant was known to the entire palace. He Anming knew that Concubine Hui had lied about this matter simply by taking her pulse.

Hiding the baby's appearance for nearly a month was really too bold.

But he looked indifferent, pretending that he knew nothing, and stood there with his nose watching and his eyes watching.

Shen Meizhuang's face couldn't be paler. Now that her affair had been exposed, she didn't even know how to explain it.

"Do you need other imperial physicians to take your pulse?" The emperor's tone was very calm, as if what Shen Meizhuang did was just an ordinary matter.

"...No need." Shen Meizhuang straightened her back and maintained a dignified appearance. "Your Majesty, why don't you and I have a good chat?"

At this moment, Shen Meizhuang no longer called herself a concubine. The emperor looked at her deeply and asked everyone to leave.

Only Cai Xing was a little worried. She looked back at Shen Meizhuang every few steps and hesitated for a long time before closing the door, leaving the two of them in silence in an awkward atmosphere.

The emperor was actually in no mood to listen to Shen Meizhuang's explanation as to why she did these things. What he wanted to know was why Shen Zishan knew about it first.

"Your father is quite perceptive," the emperor began tentatively, "he knew all these things before you did, and even wrote to ask you."

Shen Meizhuang was so shocked and horrified because her secret was discovered that she no longer had the mind to think about these things.

Now that the emperor spoke rather than questioned her, but asked about this matter, she finally had the mood to think about it.

Yes, how did my father know about this, and who told him?

Shen Meizhuang thought carefully and realized that the only person who knew about her and Shichu was Zhen Huan.

Neither Shichu nor I had told anyone about it, so she was the only one who was suspicious.

It seems that in order to achieve their goal, Zhen Huan and Prince Guo were willing to sacrifice themselves and use their pregnancy to threaten their father.

But this was just Shen Meizhuang's guess. She had no evidence, and it was not easy for her to tell the emperor that she guessed it was Zhen Huan who did it.

After all, his father already knew about this. If he joined forces with Prince Guo and Prince Dun to force the emperor to abdicate in the next few days, he and Shichu would still have a chance to survive, and the child... could also be saved.

But this was just a naive imagination. Based on my understanding of the emperor, my father must have been controlled by now, and there would be no chance for him to contact Prince Guo and others.

"I……"

"Or maybe you instructed someone else to tell your father."

The emperor had some guesses in his mind. Shen Meizhuang had been living in seclusion since returning to the palace. She was originally good friends with Chun Changzai, but later they gradually became estranged.

Some time ago, he suddenly resumed his former close friendship with Concubine Xu, and they visited each other three days out of five.

But if there is anyone who knows such private matters of the Shen family, it is probably only Concubine Xu.

A breath of foul air blocked his chest. How could the emperor have imagined that the two women he favored actually held such a shameful secret.

A woman who was pregnant and deliberately seduced someone just to make the child match the files in the Jingshifang.

A man who knew that his sisters had betrayed him yet still helped to conceal it, causing me, the emperor, to unknowingly mistake the thief for his son.

"I...I don't know."

Shen Meizhuang didn't say Zhen Huan's name after all. She was holding on to a glimmer of hope at this moment, that is, their relationship could be successful.

"Since you don't want to say it, I will ask Lord Shen." The emperor didn't even force Shen Meizhuang to speak. He just stood up and planned to leave Bitong Academy.

"Your Majesty...Father knows nothing about this. Please let him go."

"Shen Zishan didn't teach his daughter well, so he has to bear the blame." The emperor was a little angry at this moment. He looked at Shen Meizhuang who was still sitting on the chair and begging for help, "He confused the royal bloodline but still didn't know it was wrong. It would not be too much to kill all nine clans."

Like Wen Shichu, Shen Meizhuang was a little frightened when she heard about the extermination of nine clans. She slid off the chair and tried hard to support herself and stand up.

It was a pity that she had completely lost her strength and sat on the ground, losing her former dignity.

"Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with my family, Your Majesty.

I know I was wrong and am willing to take responsibility for my mistake.

But the family members were not affected, they knew nothing about it, so how can they be guilty? "

The emperor looked at Shen Meizhuang who still did not repent, and the anger in his heart was finally ignited, "You have a strict family education, it is impossible that you don't know the crime of confusing the royal bloodline.

You and Wen Shichu were having an affair, and although we weren't husband and wife in name, you were in fact father and wife.

Even if you are not in the royal family, you two cannot escape the crime of adultery.

You knowingly commit such a crime, where is your upbringing, where is your moral character, where is the dignity of your actions! "

The emperor cut open her dignified outer garment, revealing her restless inner self. Shen Meizhuang couldn't stop crying for a moment.

How could I be that kind of person? I have always abided by the ethics and have never done anything that goes beyond the rules.

Everyone who knows themselves would describe themselves as dignified and generous.

How is it possible? How could he be such a dissolute person as the emperor described!

Shen Meizhuang wiped her tears, straightened her robes, knelt down, and stood up straight, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, so he can have three wives and four concubines, and countless concubines in the harem.

Even if the emperor wronged me and caused my child to be aborted, I would not be allowed to have any complaints.

But Your Majesty, I am also a human being, not a flower or plant in the imperial garden.

I will feel resentful and hateful, but I am the emperor's concubine, I must abide by the rules and set an example.

But all this is wrong. The emperor can choose as many concubines as he wants and kick out the ones he doesn't like. Why can't we?"

There was resentment hidden in every word Shen Meizhuang said, but she was concerned about her father and her family, so even though she had resentment in her heart, she didn't dare to really vent it out.

At this moment, she was no longer willing to be bound by these etiquettes. She wanted to live more freely and choose the person she liked.

"Have you ever thought that this is never the fault of the rules, but your dirty character and your corrupt morals!"

The emperor's blood boiled, and he felt a sweet taste in his throat, "Even if you marry a son-in-law, it doesn't mean you can have an affair with others at will.

"Use your dirty body to avenge me, Shen, you really have a good upbringing."