An Lingrong's Rebirth: Red

The banquet on Penglai Yaotai lasted a whole day and was not over until the evening.

Ling Rong found an opportunity, grabbed Xia Dongchun, who was about to go back to the sky, and took her to a corner where no one would disturb her, intending to ask her in detail about Nian Xi falling into the water.

"You are curious about the things of the previous dynasty." Xia Dongchun actually didn't understand these things very well. She was just a little more perceptive than Ling Rong.

"So who was the person who rowed the boat and hit Nian Xi?"

"Hmm..." Xia Dongchun hesitated as she looked at Ling Rong's curious expression. She hesitated for a long time before speaking, "I don't know who it is, but the person on the boat should be from the Tong Jia clan."

Tong Jia, Ling Rong searched the few memories in her mind, but could only think of Longkodo.

But obviously, all she knew was the romantic past between Longkodo and the empress dowager, and she knew nothing about the affairs of state.

After going through a lifetime, what I remember most are the struggles in the harem. However, everything has changed so much that there is no so-called initiative.

But Lingrong knew that the emperor was wary of both Longkodo and Nian Gengyao, and it was even possible that today's events were planned by the emperor behind the scenes.

"What's the use of you knowing these things." Xia Dongchun could understand what happened between Prince Guo and Wen Shichu. After all, Lingrong and Zhen Huan were like water and fire. It was human nature for Lingrong to seize Zhen Huan's pain and wait for an opportunity to take revenge.

But as the women in the harem cannot interfere in the affairs of the previous dynasty, what’s the point of knowing them?

"I'm just curious." Ling Rong smiled with her eyebrows curved. She patted the back of Xia Dongchun's hand and said affectionately, "I came here mainly to thank you."

"Just a little kiss and that's how you say thank you." Xia Dongchun waved her hand, bringing up a gust of fragrant wind. Ling Rong couldn't help but frown. She clearly remembered that when they watched the boat race together, Xia Dongchun didn't have this fragrance on her body.

"You smell so good."

Hearing this, Xia Dongchun looked at Ling Rong as if she had seen a ghost. She hugged her shoulders and took two steps back, "No, you, you, you, what are you going to do? Why are you talking in the same tone as the emperor?"

Ling Rong looked Xia Dongchun up and down, but didn't see any ornaments on her. There was a strong scent of musk in the fragrance. Xia Dongchun put it on her body without any precautions, so it must have been given to her by the Queen.

"In broad daylight, what can I do but smell a very strong fragrance on you. But I remember that when we were looking at the ship, there was no such smell."

Xia Dongchun was confused, so she raised her arm and smelled herself. "I didn't smell any fragrance either. Maybe it was Fu Changzai's fragrance. I was sitting very close to her."

Ling Rong was skeptical, but she didn't see anything unusual on Xia Dongchun. The main thing was that the smell was strong, and she couldn't tell where the fragrance came from.

Seeing the doubt on Lingrong's face, Xia Dongchun patiently walked around in front of her twice, letting her take a closer look. "It smells good anyway. I can just go back and take a shower."

Ling Rong was not that worried, it was just a little musk, and Xia Dongchun would probably get rid of it by taking a bath. But if she wore something given by the queen, she could only wish for the best.

After all, she couldn't rashly tell Xia Dongchun that the Queen Mother, whom you trust the most, doesn't want you to get pregnant.

Not only would Xia Dongchun not believe her, she might even think that she was trying to sow discord between her and the queen. Xia Dongchun was not an ordinary person. The Ministry of Internal Affairs behind her was an important source of information that must not be lost.

If the musky smell still exists later, it will not be too late to remind Xia Dongchun.

Ling Rong nodded, said goodbye to Xia Dongchun, and hurried back to Shuimu Mingse, instructing Zhaoshui to deliver the ice in her share to Concubine Cao.

Concubine Cao did not refuse the goodwill that was offered to her door. After all, Lingrong was being grilled by the Queen today, and it was not impossible for her to get in touch with Concubine Hua through her.

But after all, it was a favor, and Concubine Cao couldn't just not express anything. But now she and An Lingrong were both concubines, and she didn't have anything special to give as a gift. In the end, she just asked Zhaoshui to bring a black silk fan embroidered with butterflies and a bamboo handle.

When Lingrong saw the butterfly on the fan, she couldn't help but wonder if Concubine Cao knew what she had done in Yongshou Palace and was deliberately using the fan to test her.

But all traces had been destroyed. The imperial physician turned the Yongshou Palace upside down but found no evidence. How could Cao Qinmo have noticed anything?

It should be just a coincidence, Lingrong was waving the uniquely colored fan, and Concubine Cao didn't bring anything to say, so there was no need for her to panic.

"Did Lady Cao say anything when she gave you this fan?"

"Lady Cao only said one sentence, this is all a thank you gift to your young master, well... after that, there was nothing else to say, and she told the servant to go back."

Ling Rong nodded in understanding. It seemed that Concubine Cao just didn't want to owe anyone a favor in this matter, so she gave her such an exquisite and unique fan.

Now both parties are just in the stage of testing each other. With a meticulous mind like Concubine Cao, she would not reveal her knowledge of his secret without asking for anything in return.

After Ling Rong was reborn, she was used to considering everyone she met to see if they had any designs on her, especially when she met someone as smart as Concubine Cao, she was really worried that she would fall into her trap without knowing it.

After all, she still remembered vividly the incident of Shen Meizhuang's fake pregnancy in her previous life, and Concubine Cao in this life was more low-key, as if she was not involved in any incident. But Lingrong knew best that when Zhen Huan reported Concubine Hua, it was she who stepped in to help Concubine Hua save the situation.

So, it can never be too careful.

That night, the Emperor did not go to Fu Changzai's place to raise and lower the skylight, but went to Hua Fei's place. After all, Hua Fei's nephew fell into the water, and the Emperor had to comfort Hua Fei anyway, lest the Nian family immediately make a scene and bring shame to the Emperor.

But no one knew what happened. The emperor left in the middle of the night and went back to Wanfang Anhe to sleep. Lingrong sent someone to inquire, but only knew that Concubine Hua had a fierce quarrel with the emperor, but had no idea what happened.

But on the next day, news came from the previous dynasty that the Tonggiya clan was being held accountable. Longkodo refused to admit that his clan members had intentionally offended Nian Xi, and even under the relentless pressure of Nian Gengyao, he was unwilling to hand over the people who were on the boat that day.

Nian Xi was a man of great talent but met with great misfortune. Nian Gengyao wanted a fair trial, but he never expected that Longkodo, relying on his absolute power, would not take Nian Gengyao seriously and would explain away everything that happened during the boat race as accidents.

He even hypocritically begged the emperor to prescribe famous medicine and asked the imperial doctors in the palace to treat Nian Xi.

However, Nian Gengyao pointed out directly that the person who drove the boat into Nian Xi that day was none other than Longkodo's second son Yuzhu.

For a while, there was an uproar in the court and the harem. Who were Nian Gengyao and Longkodo? Not only did they have the merit of helping the current emperor, but they also held military power.

Now that the two most trusted ministers of the Emperor have fallen out, no one knows what will happen in the court and the country.

Although Ling Rong was in the harem, Concubine Hua was in a very bad mood these days. If she was not pleased with anything, she would be punished to copy the palace rules. The first to bear the brunt were Concubine Jing and Shen Meizhuang.

Jingpin's situation was not bad. She often accompanied the Queen Mother and was personally taught by her. Even if Hua Fei wanted to argue with her, she did not dare to do so. But Shen Meizhuang was different. She no longer had the power to assist in managing the six palaces, and she had a rift with the Emperor, so she became Hua Fei's outlet.

Every day she had to go to Concubine Hua's palace to copy books. Just like in her previous life, Concubine Hua even deliberately blew out the candle, causing Shen Meizhuang's eyes to hurt from copying. She felt a stinging pain in her eyes when she looked at people during the day.

There was also Fu Changzai, who was favored by the emperor. It was said that she was also called at night to dance the Jinghong Dance to entertain the emperor and Hua Fei, just like Ling Rong in her previous life.

However, the emperor felt that the Nian family had been wronged in the matter of Nian Xi, so he gave all the preferential treatment to Concubine Hua and turned a deaf ear to what she did in the harem.

Fortunately, there are no women from the Tonggiya clan in the emperor's harem, otherwise who knows what dangerous things Concubine Hua would do.

In Lingrong's opinion, the incident with Nian Xi was just an excuse by Concubine Hua. She was just jealous of the women in the harem who were favored by the emperor, so she tried every means to torture them. Otherwise, the Queen Mother had the closest relationship with Longkodo, so why didn't Concubine Hua ask someone to drug the Queen Mother and send her to hell?

Fortunately, because the emperor often rested at Concubine Hua's place during these days, Concubine Hua finally had no extra time to torture everyone, and Lingrong finally had the opportunity to leave Shuimu Mingse and visit the palaces of various concubines.

Jingpin went to serve the Empress Dowager as usual. Lingrong failed to catch her, so she left her newly embroidered pattern and went to Bitong Academy to visit Shen Meiyu.

Shen Meizhuang happened to be playing the piano in the yard. The melodious sound of the piano was like the finest silk sliding across one's cheeks, making one immediately immersed in a dream under the summer stars and never wanting to wake up again.

Soon, the leisurely piano sound turned mournful and indignant, like a woman sobbing in the woods, with tears splashing out with every turn of tone.

Ling Rong stood quietly in front of the door. Shen Meizhuang was in a low mood and was venting her feelings by playing the piano. She only needed to wait and offer comfort at the appropriate time.

Cai Xing was smart. The first thing she did when she saw Ling Rong was to come forward and pay her respects. She whispered to Ling Rong to come into the hall and sit down, but Ling Rong just waved her hand. It was not until Shen Meizhuang finished playing a song that she actually stepped into the gate of Bitong Academy.

"I haven't seen you for a long time, sister. When I took a closer look today, I found that you have lost a lot of weight."

Shen Meizhuang and Lingrong exchanged greetings. There was still a look of worry on her face, which made people feel distressed.

"I have been unable to sleep at night these days. Caixing has tried every way to replenish my body, but it has no effect. I am sorry to make my sister laugh."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while. Ling Rong saw the red in Shen Meizhuang's eyes and couldn't help but ask, "What happened in Jianbi Pavilion that day that made Sister unwilling to get close to the Emperor and ended up in such a situation?"

In fact, Lingrong knew very well what happened that day. She said these words now just to make Shen Meizhuang think carefully about whether it was worth it to plead for Zhen Huan again and again.

"I was stupid. I thought the emperor treated me differently, which made him angry." Shen Meizhuang didn't want to mention that incident. She always felt that if the emperor really cared about and liked her, he would be willing to find out the case of Concubine Tian's lost child for her.

But she never expected that the emperor would be so heartless and unwilling to find out the truth and clear Zhen Huan's name.

"Yes, the emperor treats my sister very differently." Ling Rong did not agree with Shen Meizhuang's words. Instead, she said with some jealousy, "My sister is just a noble lady, but she has the power to assist in managing the six palaces. No one else in the harem has this honor.

In the case of Concubine Zhen's missing son, her elder sister was the most suspected, but the emperor still went against the majority's opinion and personally took her elder sister out of Cunju Hall.

Even when Concubine Tian lost her child, she never doubted her sister because she had the best personal relationship with Concubine Zhen. The emperor's kindness to her sister really made her jealous."

Shen Meizhuang had never thought that the emperor's actions had such a meaning. She looked at Ling Rong with great uncertainty, her lips slightly opening and closing, and she finally squeezed out a sentence after a long while, "Then why is the emperor unwilling to find out the truth and is still estranged from me?"

Ling Rong's purpose of coming here today was to ease the relationship between Shen Meizhuang and the Emperor. Naturally, she would explain everything as the Emperor liking Shen Meizhuang, "Because it was Concubine Zhen who caused the trouble, not you, sister. Ask yourself, when you were most suspected, did the Emperor demote you?"

"This..." Shen Meizhuang looked at Lingrong hesitantly. Her situation was very similar to Huan'er's, but the emperor demoted Huan'er's position but never treated her like this. Could it be true...

"It's a pity that my sister is confused. If you still have the power to assist the six palaces, wouldn't it be better to investigate the truth privately than to rashly anger the emperor?

After all, the child of Concubine Tian is also the Emperor's child. How can the Emperor maintain his usual composure and think carefully about the intricacies of this matter after losing three children in succession?"

Ling Rong observed Shen Meizhuang's expression while speaking. Seeing that her emotions had eased, she quickly added the final blow, "If you were your sister, and had lost three children in a row, in that situation, ask yourself, would you really not doubt Concubine Zhen?"

Shen Meizhuang was so shocked by this sentence that she stood there in a daze. She held the teacup and looked at Ling Rong without blinking. She thought about it for a moment and was shocked by the answer in her mind.

She put down the cup in panic, and for a moment she didn't know how to answer Ling Rong.

"If you really want to vindicate Concubine Zhen, and if you don't want to lose the relationship between you and the Emperor, then think carefully about what to do."

Lingrong picked up the teacup and took a sip, frowning at the bitter taste of the tea. What good is it to have power and status in the family? Now that she has fallen out of favor, she still has to drink tea that is several grades lower in quality and taste.

"Lingrong, I want... to have a child."