Legend of Zhen Huan: Zhen Huan is reborn

096 Songzhi's white and tender claws

(Yikun Palace)

"Did Concubine Xi's family come to the palace to visit?" Nian Shilan asked softly.

"Yes, I arrived at noon." Songzhi answered respectfully.

"It's really hard for her. It's not easy for family members to enter the palace. Back then, my family members were always around me. Now it seems that Concubine Xi is about to enjoy that rare grace and honor." Nian Shilan's words revealed a hint of emotion and complex emotions.

"Although Concubine Xi gave birth to the Seventh Prince and was promoted to Concubine, the one the Emperor loves the most is still you, Your Majesty." Songzhi flattered, "I also heard that although the Emperor promoted Concubine Xi's father's official position, it was just a superficial courtesy to appease people's hearts. How can it be compared with your status, Your Majesty?"

Hearing this, Nian Shilan sneered, "Humph, even if you get promoted, it's just a censorship position. It's hard to achieve anything great. You're really hopeless!"

Her sarcastic words made Songzhi beside her laugh out loud.

Just as the room was filled with an atmosphere of relaxation and laughter, Su Peisheng's loud voice suddenly came from outside the door: "The Emperor has arrived!"

Immediately afterwards, Yinzhen walked into the room with an air of majesty that could not be ignored.

"What are you laughing at? It's so lively here." There was a hint of curiosity and smile in his words, and then he stepped lightly onto the edge of the kang.

Seeing this, Nian Shilan quickly stood up, bowed respectfully, and whispered, "May the emperor be well and safe."

Yinzhen nodded slightly and said gently, "Get up."

Nian Shilan stood up gracefully, with a bright smile on her face. She opened her red lips and joked, "I was joking with Songzhi, saying that the weather is getting hotter and hotter. I wish I could go to Yuanmingyuan with the emperor to escape the heat immediately. Otherwise, if I stay in the palace, I'm afraid I'll be roasted like a sweet potato."

Upon hearing this, Yinzhen looked at her tenderly and said with a smile, "I have always taken you with me when I went to Yuanmingyuan. How could I forget you, a beautiful woman of conversation?"

Nian Shilan had a gentle smile on her face and said to Yinzhen, "Your Majesty, please wash your hands first before we eat."

Yinzhen looked at her, a smile flashed in his eyes, and replied, "Okay."

Nian Shilan nodded in agreement and replied softly, "I have asked the kitchen to prepare many dishes that the emperor likes to eat on a daily basis. I hope they will suit your appetite."

After hearing this, Yinzhen nodded with satisfaction, "Okay, thank you for your trouble."

Nian Shilan waved her hand gently, and Songzhi understood what she meant and quickly came forward with a basin of clean water.

After Yinzhen washed his hands carefully, he sniffed them gently and asked curiously, "It seems that new spices have been added to this medicine powder, which is very different from the past."

Nian Shilan was about to explain, but Songzhi answered first, "Your Majesty, in the past we used to use sweet pine, white angelica, cassia twigs and bamboo leaves to soak pig pancreas, then dried and ground into powder to make hand washing medicine. But Your Majesty doesn't like the unique smell of cassia twigs because of personal preference, so she specifically ordered me to make adjustments and use magnolia bark instead, and add a little white sandalwood. This way, not only will washing hands be more moisturized, but the fragrance will also be more pleasant."

A hint of subtle vigilance flashed across Yinzhen's eyes, and he said slowly, "I never realized you knew these things before."

Songzhi quickly replied, "Your Majesty has always been particular about the things she uses, so I have carefully selected them and tried them myself to ensure that they are foolproof."

Yinzhen nodded slightly, turned his gaze to Songzhi, and said with feeling: "It's hard for you to be so careful. No wonder your hands are so white. Hua Fei is relieved to use what you have tried. I remember your name is Songzhi, right?"

Songzhi's face was filled with joy when she heard this. She looked up and replied, "Your Majesty, my last name is Qiao, and Songzhi is the name given by the Empress."

Yinzhen smiled slightly and praised: "Zhilan Yushu, it is indeed a good name."

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, then turned to look at Nian Shilan and said softly, "It's getting late, let's have dinner first."

Although Nian Shilan was slightly displeased with the emperor's praise of Songzhi, she did not dare to show it. She just glanced at Songzhi lightly and then followed Yinzhen's steps.

-

Lanzhi just happened to gently open the lid of the soup bowl, and an enticing aroma wafted into her nose.

Nian Shilan naturally stretched out her hand and wanted to serve Yinzhen a bowl of hot soup.

However, Yinzhen spoke softly, with a hint of unquestionable majesty in his voice: "Let the servants do these trivial matters, why do you have to work hard yourself, Songzhi, you come and serve the dishes for me."

Nian Shilan's hand paused slightly in the air, then she realized something, a complex emotion flashed across her face, but she quickly regained her composure.

She turned to look at Songzhi, only to see Songzhi looking at her nervously, with fear in her eyes.

Nian Shilan took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound calm and calm: "Since the emperor asked you to serve the dishes, you should do it well."

Upon hearing this, Songzhi quickly responded "yes", then walked carefully to the table and began to serve food to Yinzhen.

Although her movements were a little clumsy, it was obvious that she was putting a lot of effort into it.

Nian Shilan watched quietly from the side, feeling mixed emotions.

Yinzhen tasted a bite of the dish and nodded with satisfaction: "The cooking skills of the small kitchen in your palace are indeed good."

Hearing this, Nian Shilan smiled slightly and replied, "It's best if the emperor likes it. In my opinion, if the emperor doesn't like it, even the delicacies from the mountains and the sea are tasteless."

There seemed to be some deep meaning hidden in her words. At the same time, her eyes inadvertently swept to Songzhi who was standing beside her.

Yinzhen keenly caught the hidden meaning in Nian Shilan's words, smiled slightly, and said: "There is a lot of meaning in your words."

Nian Shilan chuckled and said modestly, "I am the worst at speaking. There is no deep meaning in what you said. It is just some superficial truths."

Yinzhen turned his gaze to Songzhi again, his eyes flashing with a meaningful light: "This one beside you is quite good at talking, which shows that you have trained her well."

This sentence instantly ignited the anger in Nian Shilan's heart, but she knew very well that she couldn't lose her temper at this moment. She could only suppress her anger, barely maintaining a smile on her face, and replied: "Your Majesty is right."

Although her voice was soft, the displeasure and anger in it were difficult to conceal.

-It's night.

At this moment, Nian Shilan was sitting in front of the dressing table, carefully removing her makeup. Her face still retained the warmth of her conversation with Yinzhen during the meal, but the unhappiness had not completely dissipated.

She gently took off a dazzling earring, her eyes revealing a bit of fatigue and complexity.

Seeing this, Songzhi hurriedly stepped forward and wanted to lend a hand, her heart full of concern and loyalty to her master.

However, Nian Shilan did not seem to appreciate it. She waved her hand suddenly and ruthlessly slapped away Songzhi's outstretched hand.

This action stunned Songzhi. She looked at Nian Shilan in surprise and fear, not understanding what she had done wrong.

Nian Shilan had an indifferent expression on her face, as if her previous action was just instinctive and not intentional.

But her tightly pursed lips and slightly trembling hands revealed her inner emotional fluctuations.

Songzhi stood behind Nian Shilan awkwardly, with her hands slightly folded, looking a little at a loss.

She would steal glances at Nian Shilan from time to time, her eyes filled with anxiety and fear.

Nian Shilan saw Songzhi's reaction in the mirror, and a faint sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth, but she did not turn around, but said coldly: "You were so eloquent in front of the emperor just now, why are you silent now?"

When Songzhi heard this, her face turned pale instantly. She quickly knelt on the ground, and her voice trembled a little: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know I was wrong."

"Words of forgiveness? What have you done wrong? Don't you just like to show off your slender hands in front of the emperor? I..." Nian Shilan was about to throw the comb in her hand at Songzhi, but was suddenly stopped by Zhou Ninghai.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, if this comb is not to your liking, why don't you give it to me? It would be a pity to throw it away." Zhou Ninghai gently waved his hand and said, "Miss Songzhi, the fire outside is burning brightly. Your Highness's pregnancy medicine still needs to be stewed. You go and look after the fire."

After saying this, he subtly gave Songzhi a look, and Songzhi understood, slowly stood up, and quietly left the inner room.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. The Emperor was just praising you casually. It's nothing to worry about. If Your Majesty is really angry about this, the Emperor will probably be unhappy when he knows about it." Zhou Ninghai comforted.

"Now, even among my close friends, there are people who are good at flattery and eloquent, and they often show off their gestures. This is really inappropriate." Nian Shilan could not hide her indignation in her tone.

"Your Highness, all the ladies in the palace are here to make the Emperor smile. It is understandable that your Highness cares about the Emperor, but you have just gone through a lot of twists and turns, and you just managed to rescue me not long ago. You need to be more cautious now and not make any mistakes." Zhou Ninghai continued, "Furthermore, even if the Emperor really likes Miss Songzhi, your Highness should show magnanimity to prevent the Emperor from mistakenly thinking that you are jealous. Your Highness, the most important thing for you is to firmly grasp the Emperor's heart."

"I will transfer her away tomorrow and will never let her have the chance to meet the Emperor again." Nian Shilan said resolutely.

"Although Your Majesty is unhappy in her heart, you must not show it on your face. Instead, you should show extra care for Miss Songzhi in front of the Emperor. In this way, the Emperor will surely think that Your Majesty is magnanimous, and it can also be used to shut up the gossips of the people." Zhou Ninghai reminded cautiously.

"I have always acted honestly and have no regrets." Nian Shilan stroked her hair and responded calmly.

"Your Majesty, although people's words are invisible, they are as sharp as a knife. You have to be on guard." Zhou Ninghai spoke again.

At this moment, tears seemed to be flashing in Nian Shilan's eyes. She looked up and said, "Why would I be afraid of rumors? What I am afraid of is that the emperor will be deceived by rumors."

"I know very well that the only thing on Her Majesty's mind is the Emperor." Zhou Ninghai said with a smile on his face.

Nian Shilan continued to comb her long hair, but suddenly stopped halfway and stared at the comb in her hand for a long time.

Finally, she gently handed the comb to Zhou Ninghai and said, "Give it to Songzhi."

Zhou Ninghai gladly took it and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is wise. I will go and make arrangements immediately."