An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

Imperial Garden, Hundred Days Banquet.

Xia Dongchun attended the banquet holding the Ninth Prince. She was dressed very elegantly today, and there was no casualness or frivolity in her every move. It was also rare that she did not wear red or green, looking like a vulgar person.

Before sleeping with the empress dowager, the emperor had visited Xia Dongchun. This was a rebellion of the emperor against the empress dowager's control, and of course, also the stimulation brought by Xia Dongchun's misconduct.

But now Xia Dongchun has become dignified. Although the emperor no longer feels ashamed, he also feels that he has lost a lot of fun. Look, she has become just like everyone else.

However, today was the Ninth Prince's hundred-day banquet, and the Emperor did not have the energy to visit Xia Dongchun. He walked closer to take a look at the Ninth Prince, said some polite words, and then sat down on the side of the official banquet where the ministers were staying to drink with him.

At the palace banquet, in addition to the concubines in the harem, there were also Prince Guo and his concubine Zhen Yuhuan, as well as the emperor's other brother, Prince Shen.

Lingrong was quite familiar with Prince Guo, but she had never seen Prince Shen before. It seemed that he had never attended any banquet in the palace before.

For some unknown reason, he actually attended the banquet this time. However, all the guests at the palace banquet were women, so he could only drink with Prince Guo and show concern for Lady Meng's pregnancy from time to time.

Logically speaking, Meng Jingxian should have given birth to her baby a long time ago, but now she has been pregnant for ten months and there is still no sign of pregnancy.

Prince Guo was also very anxious. He looked at the Ninth Prince and forced a smile. "The imperial physician checked and said there's nothing serious. Plus, Fu Jin is eating normally and is in good spirits, so let's wait a little longer."

"I am in good health, so I can wait a little longer. But I would like to ask my brother to send an imperial physician to wait at the mansion to avoid any accidents."

"Don't worry about this. The Emperor has already sent the imperial physician. I was worried that the banquet would make Fu Jin tired, so I didn't invite her to attend."

"So that's how it is," Prince Shen smiled mischievously and clinked glasses with Prince Guo from a distance, "I thought it was because you, Seventeenth Brother, liked this concubine more, that's why you brought her to the banquet."

"I must be present if the Emperor invites me, and I must personally hand this gift to Concubine Xia.

I am a man, so I shouldn't talk too much with Lady Xia. I must bring someone with me to present gifts to the Ninth Prince."

Prince Shen nodded. He had not married yet and knew some of the twists and turns involved, but he did not care. He handed the gift directly to the eunuch beside Concubine Xia and did not say anything more.

"I didn't expect that you would support her as your concubine. She is not good at poetry and literature, and can't add fragrance to your sleeves. Seventeenth brother, do you really like this Zhen?"

"Huan'er..." Prince Guo looked at Huanbi's figure, but he called out Zhen Huan's name. He took another sip of wine, "Of course I really like Huan'er."

Prince Shen didn't know that the Huan'er that Prince Guo was talking about was Zhen Huan and not Huanbi. He also didn't know that in Prince Guo's heart, Huanbi not only stole Zhen Huan's name, but also stole the position that originally belonged to Zhen Huan.

"It's rare to see you truly like a woman. Now that you have gotten what you wanted, it is indeed a great thing."

Prince Guo drank in silence. He glanced at Huanbi and the woman sitting opposite her from a distance and sighed deeply.

Prince Shen followed his gaze and looked over. At that moment, he was stunned by the woman opposite Huanbi. He widened his eyes and even his breathing became a little rapid.

"Seventeenth brother," Prince Shen called out to Prince Guo, but his eyes never left the woman's face, "Who is the woman who was talking to your concubine?"

"Which one?" Prince Guo looked up and recognized her at a glance. The woman was none other than the elusive Zhen Yurao.

"How could she be here!" Prince Guo muttered to himself. After returning to the capital, he wanted to find Zhen Yurao and take good care of her. However, this person disappeared as soon as she entered the capital. Prince Guo sent countless people to investigate, but there was no news.

It turned out that she had entered the palace and became the emperor's concubine. Looking at her smile now, it doesn't seem like she was forced. She can even be said to be living a comfortable life.

But she should hate the emperor as much as her sister does. How could she happily be the emperor's concubine and enjoy endless wealth and glory?

Prince Guo was filled with resentment. Huan'er was still suffering in Ningguta, but her two younger sisters, one married him as a concubine, and the other entered the palace as a noble lady to the emperor. Each of them lived a very comfortable life, but they turned a blind eye to the suffering Zhen Huan.

It would be fine if Huanbi couldn't see the emperor by her side, but why didn't Zhen Yurao plead for her elder sister when she was serving the emperor, but only cared about enjoying wealth and glory herself?

He clenched the cup tightly. Prince Shen kept urging him. He barely suppressed his wild thoughts and said after a long while, "That was Zhen Yuandao's youngest daughter Zhen Yurao."

"That's your concubine's sister," Prince Shen sighed at the similarities between the two people's appearance, "but Zhen Yurao is more beautiful, making people forget the world when they see her."

Prince Shen stroked the wine glass in his hand. Zhen Yurao was so charming that he had no intention of looking at anyone else at this moment.

At this moment, there was only one thought in his mind, and that was to get to know Zhen Yurao. If he could fall in love with her, it would be the greatest blessing in his life.

"It turns out that the new Concubine Wan in the palace is Huan'er's sister. I originally thought that this title was just a coincidence, but I never thought that they both came from the same person."

"Seventeenth brother, what did you say?" Prince Shen didn't hear clearly. He finally tore his eyes away from Zhen Yurao and looked at Prince Guo. "What coincidence?"

"She is now the emperor's concubine," Prince Guo sighed, "she should be a noble lady."

"Are you already my brother's concubine?" Prince Shen looked disappointed. He took a big gulp of wine and his eyes fell on Zhen Yurao again.

This look was too intense for Zhen Yurao to ignore. She followed the intense gaze to its source and was also startled by the appearance of Prince Shen.

It was a handsome face, different from the emperor's old appearance. His brows revealed a refined and noble air, and his bright and deep eyes were filled with a hint of tenderness.

Zhen Yurao subconsciously avoided his gaze, but couldn't help but look over after a moment. Their eyes met in the air and they looked at each other for a long time.

In the end, Zhen Yurao avoided the sight. Her cheeks flushed slightly and she looked at Huanbi with a very shy smile.

Huanbi didn't understand what was going on and was still telling her about how she had pleaded with the emperor to spare her elder sister.

"Yu Rao, you are the only one by the emperor's side now, and you are the only one who can plead with the emperor. You know much more clearly than I do how much my elder sister suffered in Ningguta."

"I know I know everything!" Zhen Yurao suddenly became annoyed. She took a step back and distanced herself from Huanbi. "I have my own plans regarding my elder sister's matter. You don't need to say more. You finally got a chance to enter the palace. You can use your status as Prince Guo's concubine to plead with the emperor. Why don't you do it?

Because you know very well that if pleading was useful, you would not have left your elder sister in Ningguta on the way.

Now the emperor is trying his best to distance himself from his elder sister and doesn't want to think about anything about her.

If I just keep begging for mercy, it will only backfire. It’s better to take it slow and settle my eldest sister privately first.

But it is not easy for me to do this in the palace. You are outside the palace and have Prince Guo as your backer, so I will leave the matter of settling my eldest sister down to you.

Sister Huanbi, don't just keep begging for mercy. The emperor is a man who has no affection at all.

Don't rely on me blindly. I'm doing everything I can. For the sake of my elder sister and the Zhen family, you should use your brain."

Zhen Yurao shook her head, not wanting to look at Huanbi's face again, but she turned around and couldn't help but persuade her to go back, "Sister Huanbi, go to the prince. If the emperor sees you and me here, he will definitely be suspicious, and I will have no way to ask for this favor."

"Yu Rao, Yu Rao!"

"Concubine," Lianhua walked over quickly and stopped in front of Huanbi, "This is Concubine Wan, you should speak with more respect."

"Respect? If you know what respect means, you shouldn't speak to me in this tone," Huanbi glared at him fiercely, "I'm talking to Concubine Wan, you don't have the right to interrupt!"

"Please forgive me... Concubine." Lianhua smiled and deliberately emphasized the three words "Concubine", "Today is the Ninth Prince's hundred-day banquet. If you make such a noise, I'm afraid it will displease the Emperor and the Empress.

Prince Guo is also at the banquet, you don't want to make things too awkward."

Huanbi wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhen Yurao, "Okay, I'm a little tired. Lianhua, accompany me back to Yongshou Palace to rest."

"Yes, my lady." Lianhua walked closer and held Zhen Yurao's arm, ignoring Huanbi's anger and not even saying goodbye.

Huanbi's face turned red and white with anger, and her silver teeth were almost broken.

Lingrong felt a little tired at the banquet. When she came out to get some fresh air, she happened to see Huanbi at the door. She put on a smiling face and asked about Huanbi's recent situation with concern.

"Why are you standing in such a vent? Be careful not to catch a cold."

When Huanbi heard the familiar voice, she turned around immediately. When she saw Lingrong's face, she was stunned.

"Why, you don't even recognize me, an old friend?" Lingrong's smile remained unchanged. "Or should I call you Zhen Yuhuan?"

"Long live the Empress Sheng." Huanbi didn't even bend her knees to greet him, "After all, I have served in the palace, how could I possibly forget you?

It's just that I was feeling a little unwell, so I was unable to greet Her Majesty right away."

"Greetings are trivial matters. I saw the person who just left, and it seems to be Concubine Wan."

Huanbi's expression remained unchanged. She glanced calmly at Lingrong, but found that she did not see anything bad in the latter.

Why could a girl from a small family become a concubine while her elder sister had to suffer in a place like Ningguta?

What's so good about her that she even snatched the eldest sister's position as a concubine. I really don't know what means this vixen used to confuse the emperor to this extent.

Thinking of this, Huanbi's expression changed a little. She lowered her eyes to hide the disdain in them.

She has always looked down on Lingrong, and even now that Lingrong has taken the position of concubine, she still thinks from the bottom of her heart that Lingrong is not worthy of it.

As long as the eldest sister comes back, as long as she appears in front of the emperor, no matter An Lingrong or the queen, they can't compare with her.

"Your Highness, Concubine Sheng should know that I am a sister to Concubine Wan. Now that I have finally entered the palace, I naturally want to reminisce about the past.

What's more, my name is Huanbi, and Concubine Sheng knows this very well."

"Zhen Yuhuan is a very good name, but you don't like it." Ling Rong sighed with regret, "Do you also think that the word 'Yu' is vulgar and want to hide it?"

Huanbi suppressed her anger and raised her head, she looked straight into Lingrong's eyes, "It has nothing to do with anything else, I just like the name Huanbi more.

Moreover, even if others don't know, Concubine Sheng should know who the name Zhen Yuhuan belongs to."

"This name has changed hands several times, and I really don't know who it belongs to." Lingrong looked at Huanbi with a smile, "Prince Guo once fell in love with Zhen Huan, wrote countless love poems, and secretly met with her. Isn't this person you?

Or maybe the person that Prince Guo wants to marry is not you?"

"How could it be possible?" Huanbi's tone became stern for a rare time when she mentioned this matter. "The only person the prince wanted to marry from the beginning to the end was me, and only me.

Madam Sheng, please do not use words to alienate the relationship between me and the prince. The emperor does not want to hear it. "

"Really? Then I've said too much." Ling Rong felt no guilt at all. She looked at the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince who were coming from a distance, and walked straight past Huanbi and returned to the banquet.

Soon after, Huanbi also hurried back. Then came the Third and Fourth Princes, who were picked up from the Old Summer Palace by Su Peisheng and now just arrived at the palace.

Concubine Tian had never expected that the two princes would rush back today, and she did not make extra seats, resulting in no banquet for Hongshi and Hongli.

The Queen Mother was very angry about this and scolded Concubine Tian in front of everyone, causing everyone to keep silent and not dare to say a word.

But Concubine Tian couldn't predict the future after all. The Queen's reprimand seemed a bit aggressive, but when the Emperor was away, she was the biggest master in the harem, and no one dared to raise any objections.

In the end, it was Prince Guo and Prince Shen who spoke up. They said that there were also seats reserved for them at the official banquet, and the emperor happened to be there too, so the seats were just right for the two princes.

"Sister-in-law, have someone remove the food and prepare meals for the two princes. After all, the two princes are still young and of noble status. Their diet is different from that of the other ladies, so you still need to pay more attention to them."

Prince Guo tried to comfort her, and the Queen couldn't continue to look cold, so she nodded and told Concubine Tian to go down and handle it.