Legend of Zhen Huan: Zhen Huan is reborn

089 Spring Returns

When spring returns to the earth, the icicles on the eaves melt quietly and turn into trickles, dripping all night long. The continuous sound is particularly clear in the quiet night, which can't help but make people feel a little irritated and uneasy.

(Smashed Jade Pavilion)

"Huanbi, listen carefully, the snow outside has melted." Zhen Huan said softly.

"Yes, Your Majesty is so perceptive that she can even detect such subtle changes." Huanbi responded with a hint of admiration in her tone.

"Spring has arrived as promised, and all things are reviving. The frost that once formed will naturally dissipate." Zhen Huan looked out the window, her eyes revealing a hint of indifference and open-mindedness.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor went to Yikun Palace again tonight. Do you feel any discomfort in your mind?" Huanbi lowered her voice and asked carefully.

Zhen Huan gently closed the scroll in her hand, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "You and I both know the heavy burden on the emperor's shoulders. He also has many frustrations and difficulties. If both I and he feel embarrassed, why should we add to each other's troubles?"

"But Your Majesty, the Emperor often visits Concubine Nian, and I am worried that Concubine Nian will become Your Majesty's rival again." Huanbi looked worried.

"Huanbi, don't worry. If I can't defeat him alone, when the emperor and I are in harmony and fight side by side, my enemies will also be his enemies. We will find a way to overcome them together." Zhen Huan's tone was firm and calm. "What's more, I have Hongzhou by my side now. Even if it's not for me, it's for him."

-

After giving birth, Yinzhen showed sympathy to Zhen Huan and allowed her to be exempted from the morning and evening visits, and to go to Yixiu to pay her respects.

However, Zhen Huan knew very well that the palace rules could not be abolished, and she also considered that the Queen was the master of the six palaces, so she should go and pay her respects.

In a blink of an eye, seven days had passed. Zhen Huan felt that her body had gradually recovered under the careful care of Imperial Physician Wen Shichu, so she decided to go to Jingren Palace to pay her respects to the Queen according to etiquette.

It was a sunny morning, and Zhen Huan had specially chosen an outfit that was both warm and dignified, and she wore it carefully in three layers inside and three layers outside to ensure that she would not be disturbed by the cold wind.

She is well aware that women are physically weak after childbirth and need to take extra care of themselves to avoid developing illness.

After everything was ready, Zhen Huan, with the help of the palace maids, slowly stepped into the sedan chair that had been prepared long ago and walked steadily towards Jingren Palace.

(Jingren Palace)

When she arrived at Jingren Palace, Zhen Huan stepped down from the sedan chair and saw that the palace gate was wide open and the maids who were waiting to greet her had been waiting for a long time.

With a smile on her face, she walked into the palace with steady steps, and performed the great ceremony of kneeling three times and kowtow nine times to the empress who was sitting at the head of the table, and said respectfully: "Your servant Zhen Huan, after giving birth, has received the grace of the emperor and has rested for many days. Today, I have come to pay my respects to the empress, and I wish the empress good health and long-lasting blessings."

Seeing this, Yixiu smiled and responded calmly, "Please get up quickly, Concubine Xi. You are weak after giving birth. I didn't want to trouble you to come and pay my respects, but seeing that you look good today, I think Doctor Wen is really good at medicine. Since you are so kind, I will accept your respect."

After that, he ordered someone to give her a seat and asked about Zhen Huan's postpartum recovery. After a conversation, the atmosphere in the palace became harmonious.

"Have you slept well recently?" Yixiu asked gently.

"It's okay." Zhen Huan answered softly, but there was some depth in her eyes.

"I was disturbed by the sound of melting snow last night, which lasted until dawn." Yixiu sighed softly, as if hinting at something.

Zhen Huan knew what was going on, but a look of concern appeared on her face: "Did your Majesty not sleep well?"

“I’m afraid there won’t be any peaceful nights in the harem these days.” Yixiu spoke meaningfully with a far-reaching gaze.

At this moment, Jiang Fuhai's high-pitched voice broke the silence: "Empress Nian has arrived!"

Nian Shilan still walked in with her arrogant demeanor and bowed lightly: "May the Queen be blessed with good health."

"Please take a seat." Yixiu ordered calmly.

Nian Shilan sat down leisurely, and Zhen Huan smiled and greeted softly: "Empress Nian, how are you?"

"Empress Xi, it's been a long time since we last met." Nian Shilan's words were filled with a hint of provocation and contempt.

"My sister feels the same way." Zhen Huan responded in a calm tone.

"However, I can't forget you in my heart. Even though we haven't seen each other for a long time, it feels like we are together every day." Nian Shilan's words revealed her arrogance and conceit.

Zhen Huan turned her gaze slightly to Yi Xiu and said softly, "When the Emperor visited me yesterday, he also mentioned his concern for the Empress."

"You are the emperor's confidant and know a lot." Nian Shilan sneered.

"How dare I," Zhen Huan responded modestly, "It's just that the Emperor misses you, and everyone in the palace knows it."

"Then I'll take your good words." Nian Shilan responded proudly.

Yixiu interrupted at the right time, smiling: "Concubine Nian, the emperor ordered people to select tributes and send them to your palace this morning. Are you satisfied?"

"As long as it is a gift from the Emperor, I will naturally be delighted." While answering, Nian Shilan did not forget to glance at Zhen Huan provocatively.

"I'm glad that you are satisfied. I haven't seen you for a long time and I always feel strange. You need to come to my place often in the future to relieve your loneliness." Yixiu's words revealed a bit of intimacy and expectation.

"Of course, as long as Her Majesty the Queen doesn't mind my disturbing you." There was a hint of pride and unruliness in Nian Shilan's answer.

(Yikun Palace)

Nian Shilan had already carefully prepared the delicious food and was waiting outside the door.

Suddenly, Su Peisheng's loud voice announced: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Nian Shilan then knelt down and said softly, "Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you."

Yinzhen raised his hand gently and helped Nian Shilan up.

Nian Shilan's face was full of spring, her eyes flickering, "Your Majesty often comes to my residence, do you find the meals I prepare boring?"

Yinzhen's expression was calm, and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. "You have never asked this question before."

Nian Shilan felt a little uncomfortable when she heard this. She looked at Yinzhen again and said after a moment of hesitation: "I am actually worried..."

Yinzhen sighed, "If I leave, will you no longer have such doubts?"

"Your Majesty~" Nian called softly in a charming manner.

"You are becoming more and more worried." After saying this, Yinzhen approached me intimately and asked, "Please tell me in detail what delicacies you have prepared today."

Nian Shilan smiled brightly and replied, "You will know once the emperor comes to see it in person."

After saying this, the two of them walked into the hall hand in hand.

-

Songzhi walked lightly to the front, bowed and called softly, "Madam."

"What's the matter?" Nian Shilan asked, with a hint of majesty in his tone.

Songzhi smiled and replied, "The Queen and the Emperor have reconciled, and there is jubilation both inside and outside the palace. According to old custom, many people outside the palace are eager to be favored by the Queen, and they all want to express their respect and filial piety to the Queen."

Nian Shilan frowned slightly, and said cautiously, "Times have changed. It is not easy for me to win the favor of the emperor again. I must not act rashly again."

Songzhi didn't understand what he meant, and continued, "But the emperor's love for the queen is clearly the same as before."

Nian Shilan sighed lightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes: "I can't tell what's wrong, but I always feel that the emperor's attitude towards me is different from before. Although the emperor has visited me frequently recently, he has not restored my original position, nor has he bestowed a new title on me. This makes me feel quite uneasy."

Song Zhi heard this and tried to comfort him: "As long as the emperor is still interested, these things about status are just a matter of time. I heard that the emperor has rewarded the general today, which shows that the emperor is favoring you."

Nian Shilan nodded, her expression slightly relieved: "That's great. Although I sometimes have a temper, I am restrained compared to my brother. What I am most worried about is that my brother will get carried away due to his momentary complacency and offend the emperor. Now that my brother has the emperor's trust, I can feel more at ease in the harem."

Songzhi was relieved when she saw this, so she smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you have thought it through. I will go and see if the medicinal food is ready, and then I will send it to the emperor later."

"Well, go ahead." Nian Shilan agreed, and Songzhi retreated, still with light steps.