An Lingrong after rebirth

Yixiu had not yet recovered from her shock, but the emperor had already walked away.

She bowed hastily as if waking from a dream, and whispered, "Your Majesty, I respectfully send you off."

After the emperor's figure completely disappeared, Yixiu slowly straightened up, looked up into the distance, with a chilling light flashing in her eyes.

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, according to custom, the emperor had already put down his pen and stopped handling government affairs. How could there be anything in the imperial study that required the emperor to go there in person?

Yixiu pondered secretly, feeling a little doubtful and resentful.

Jianqiu, who was standing by, carefully supported the queen. She was keenly aware of the queen's resentful expression and was too frightened to speak.

The Queen broke the silence and said in a cold tone: "I underestimated her! She has only been in the palace for three months, but she has been promoted to a higher position, and now she is pregnant with the heir. It seems that it is time to use the chess piece placed in the Yanxi Palace."

Hearing what the Queen said, Jianqiu was slightly startled at first, then said cautiously: "Your Majesty, Baojuan..."

"What's wrong with Baojuan?" The Queen interrupted Jianqiu impatiently.

"Baojuan was punished by the emperor and has been sent to the Ministry of Punishment for trial." Jianqiu said fearfully.

"What?" The Queen's expression suddenly turned extremely ugly. She said angrily, "Why would she be punished by the Emperor?"

Jianqiu quickly explained, "Your Highness, I don't know the details. It's just that when I was having dinner tonight, I heard other palace maids say that Baojuan made a mistake in the Yanxi Palace and was punished by the emperor."

"Useless!" the Queen cursed fiercely, "If you can't even handle such a small matter, what use do I have for you?"

Jian Qiu was so frightened that she immediately knelt down and kowtowed, begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, please calm down and forgive me for my death. I will find out the truth as soon as possible and will never let you down."

The queen snorted coldly and said, "It's better this way. If this matter can't be handled well, you can forget about staying by my side anymore."

"Yes, your majesty." Jianqiu responded quickly. The queen stared at Jianqiu coldly. What else did she do? Shu Guiren also asked the emperor to accompany her to the Empress Dowager's Shoukang Palace to pay respects.

The queen's face instantly became extremely gloomy, and her originally sharp eyes were now filled with astonishment and anger, as if they were hit by an invisible force.

Her heart was surging like a raging sea, with all kinds of emotions intertwined together.

The queen has always boasted that no one in the harem can escape her tight control, like a dragnet.

But reality ruthlessly gave her a heavy slap in the face. The seemingly insignificant noble lady easily pulled out the chess piece she had carefully placed.

She even cleverly persuaded the emperor to go to Shoukang Palace with her to seek protection from the empress dowager.

What made the Queen even more unbelievable was that the Emperor actually came forward in person to persuade her to exempt Concubine Shu from the formality of paying respects!

This seemed absolutely ridiculous to her, and she was filled with resentment and unwillingness.

"Okay..." The queen finally squeezed out these two words from between her teeth. Her voice was low and cold, filled with endless resentment and unwillingness.

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deeply into her palms, as if trying to relieve the anger in her heart.

It has been a long time since I had such an opponent.

A noble lady from a remote village actually caught me off guard. She is really good at it and taught me a good lesson.

"It's fine if you don't have a chess piece, but she is not the only one living in the Yanx Palace. There is still a chance. You can pick a few things to mix into the rewards and go and test her background." said the queen.

After hearing this, Jianqiu heaved a sigh of relief and quickly responded, "Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely take care of this matter."

Yixiu raised her hand to pinch her palm, rolled her eyes, and continued, "I remember there is a pair of blood-red jade bracelets in the storehouse, so I will give them to Concubine Shu!"

Jianqiu replied: "Yes."

There was a sudden silence in Jingren Palace. After a while, the palace maid turned off the lights.

The Queen agreed to exempt herself from the formality of paying respects. An Lingrong knew that the Queen would not give up, so she took a break from her busy schedule to enjoy the leisure time.

Before An Lingrong finished her sweet dream, Lian'er woke her up with a soft voice: "My lady, my lady..."

An Lingrong opened her eyes dazedly and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"

Then she saw Lian'er waiting anxiously by the bed! Lian'er saw An Lingrong awake and stretched out her hands to help her up.

Lian Er said, "Jian Qiu has brought the reward on behalf of the Queen, my lady, please get up quickly."

An Lingrong asked, "Is Qiufang accompanying Jianqiu?"

"Aunt Qiufang is talking to Aunt Jianqiu." Lian'er's words surprised An Lingrong.

"Help me up." An Lingrong said, turning around to get her coat. After putting on her clothes, Lian'er deftly tied up An Lingrong's hair.

In the outer hall, Jianqiu crossed her arms over her chest with an impatient look on her face. As the aunt in charge of Jingren Palace, everyone was polite to her wherever she went.

Even Su Peisheng wouldn't dare to do that. How come he went to the Yanxi Palace to deliver the reward, but still hasn't seen the real owner for an hour?

She chuckled and said, "Qiufang, is it that your young master doesn't want to see me? There are other things in Jingren Palace, how about I go back first?"

Qiufang's face turned ugly after hearing that. She knew Jianqiu's identity very well and she didn't know what to say. She could only smile and said, "Aunt Jianqiu, this is my young lady's first pregnancy and she is weak. The imperial physician said that she should rest well and have more rest. It is not right to neglect you." After that, she handed over a big red envelope.

Jianqiu waved her hand and said, "Qiufang, there is no need to do this. The Empress has never allowed servants to accept red envelopes. Since Concubine Shu is not feeling well, I will go back and report to the Empress. I will come to the Yanx Palace another day when Concubine Shu is better." After saying that, she prepared to turn around and leave.

At this time, a voice came out: "Qiufang, is this Jianqiu who is beside the Queen?"

Jianqiu stopped when she heard the voice, with a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. She thought, she had been here for so long, it was impossible for Shu Guiren's maid not to tell her, but Shu Guiren said she didn't know the truth as soon as she opened her mouth, how could she tolerate this?

Jianqiu bent her knees, but could not kneel down, and said, "This servant greets the noble lady Shu."

An Lingrong looked at Jianqiu quietly, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and said: "Aunt Jianqiu, please get up quickly. I have been feeling unwell recently and was unable to greet you in time. I hope you will not blame me."

Jianqiu stood up and said, "Mrs. Shu, you are too kind. How dare I blame you? It's just that the Empress has been concerned about your health and sent me to visit you."

An Lingrong thought that her deliberate actions today would have an effect. Jianqiu had lost her usual manners.

An Lingrong slowly walked to the main seat and sat down. She had a faint smile on her face, as beautiful as a peach blossom in full bloom in spring.

She opened her red lips slightly and said softly, "I'm so sorry to have made Aunt Jianqiu wait here for so long. I heard that you came here today on the orders of the Queen Mother and brought a reward.

After hearing this, Jianqiu thought: Why is Concubine Shu doing this inverted behavior? Jianqiu frowned slightly. After all, she is an old man in the palace, and she will not show her thoughts even if she has any.

Jianqiu then nodded and smiled and said that yesterday the Queen knew that Concubine Shu was pregnant, and sent Concubine Shu a reward to congratulate her.

After saying that, she clapped her hands. Two young eunuchs came in carrying a large tray and put the things on the table. Jianqiu said, "I'm sorry to have delayed Lady Shu. I have other things to do in Jingren Palace. I'll take my leave now."

Jianqiu finished her words and left without even performing the formalities. An Lingrong chuckled. After all, she was by the Empress' side, so she was quick and decisive in doing things.

The hall was completely silent, everyone was silent and no one dared to speak.

An Lingrong spoke again: "Lian'er, Qiufang, go and see what kind of reward the Empress has bestowed. Be sure to check carefully!"

Lian'er responded and carefully opened the exquisite boxes one by one.

An Lingrong's eyes quickly scanned the area and suddenly fixed on a pair of blood-red jade bracelets.

The corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a chilling sneer, and she said softly: "Humph, Her Majesty the Queen is really generous, this gift is really valuable!

Lian'er, quickly wrap these things in brocade and put them in the specially separated open space in the warehouse. Remember, no one is allowed to touch them! "

"Yes, my lady, I will do it right away." Lian'er packed various gifts in a box, found something to wrap up, picked it up, turned around and hurried away, following An Lingrong's instructions.

Qiufang came over and said, "My lady, Jianqiu is an elder in the Queen's palace after all. Would it be inappropriate if you act so casually and the Queen hears about it?"

An Lingrong rubbed her wrist and asked in a cold voice: "Qiufang, do you still remember how I asked you what you thought of Queen Chunyuan? How did you answer?"

Qiu Fang's heart tightened. She didn't know why An Lingrong suddenly asked about this, but she still answered with a stiff upper lip: "I remember."

An Lingrong said: "Just remember it. Now I still want to ask you what you think?"

Qiu Fang glanced at An Lingrong's face, her heart pounding. She swallowed guiltily and said cautiously, "Young Master, please speak..."

An Lingrong suddenly raised her head and chuckled, "You don't have to be nervous. Although you and I have known each other for a short time, it's not too long. You have been in the palace for many years, and you should be able to see what kind of person I am."

An Lingrong stared at Qiu Fang closely and continued to ask, "You don't want to talk about the previous queen, so what do you think of our current virtuous queen who is away?"

Qiufang was shocked. She had guessed An Lingrong's question correctly. She found that An Lingrong was paying close attention to her every move, and she had no choice but to answer.

Qiufang hesitated for a long time, and finally plucked up the courage to speak: "My lady, I think that the Queen is actually a pitiful person..." Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was a little afraid of An Lingrong's reaction.

An Lingrong frowned slightly and asked, "Oh? Poor? Why do you have such thoughts?"

Qiu Fang took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and said, "Although the Queen is in a high position, she also bears a lot of pressure and responsibilities.

She also acquiesced that her husband kept selecting new people to enter the palace, and she had to happily prepare everything.

She has to manage many concubines in the harem and deal with various complicated situations, which is not easy for her. Moreover, she also has her own frustration and difficulties. "

Qiufang said: Actually, I entered the palace from the prince's mansion... An Lingrong interrupted Qiufang and said, "Are you afraid that I will think you are a pawn planted by the queen in the Yanx Palace?"

Qiufang smiled and said: My lady, I was just a little maid who served flowers and plants in the palace. After entering the palace, I worked in the Concubine Dowager's Palace. How could I be favored by the Queen Mother?

If the Empress likes me, I am not bragging, I would serve you willingly instead of going through so much trouble to come to the Yanx Palace.

An Lingrong listened to Qiufang quietly. She looked so confident, which she had never seen before during this period of time. An Lingrong came back and actually mentioned Shuiyuxuan. You should be very clear about the situation inside, so tell me more.

Qiu replied: "Yes, my lady, Concubine Wan is special in that she looks 50% similar to Empress Chunyuan." An Lingrong narrowed her eyes immediately.

Qiufang knew that Concubine Wan was similar to Empress Chunyuan, so wouldn't she also be aware of the voice that she was deliberately imitating?

Then I asked, do you think there is anything special about me?

Qiufang smiled awkwardly and said, "Please forgive my stupidity."

An Lingrong thought: Maybe Qiufang really had never heard the voice of Queen Chunyuan, and just saw it from a distance as she said. It would be better not to let her know about the imitation of the voice for the time being.

After a moment, An Lingrong asked again, "You said the Queen had her own difficulties. What do you think they were?"

Qiufang was silent for a while, as if she was remembering something from long ago, and then she said, "My lady, you know that the Queen had a son before."

Eldest prince, although I, the servant who takes care of the flowers and plants, have heard that you are very smart. You started your education at the age of three, can read and write, and were known as a talented person, but you died early.

He didn't even have a name before he died. Being the eldest son, even if he was a concubine's eldest son, was still too pitiful.

Qiufang said that in her previous life, the Queen had never mentioned the eldest prince. So there is such a thing, An Lingrong asked; don’t you think that the fact that the eldest prince has no name is related to Queen Chunyuan?

Qiufang replied: I don’t dare to conclude whether it is related or not. I only know that when Da’a passed away, all the imperial doctors in the mansion were in Queen Chunyuan’s room, and even Jianqiu was stopped when she wanted to rush out of the mansion to ask for a doctor.

After hearing Qiufang's words, An Lingrong was shocked. No wonder, no wonder, the Queen hated Queen Chunyuan so much...

I only inferred from the Queen's sporadic words that the Queen had killed Queen Chunyuan. It turns out there are other things behind it.

For the revenge of killing her son, not to mention the queen, even she would fight to avenge it. No matter how pitiful the queen was to the eldest prince who died young, what did it have to do with her?

Isn't the current queen trying to harm her own child? Thinking of this, An Lingrong reached out and touched her belly, which had not yet bulged.

It’s just that the former prey has now become cruel and ruthless. Even though she was forced to do so, how could I be kind to her?

Didn't Jianqiu send two or three gifts today that ordinary people had never seen, with "good things" hidden inside? Thinking of this, An Lingrong sneered in her heart and put away her little pity for the queen.