An Lingrong after rebirth

Qiu Fang asked softly, "My lady, are you hungry? I will go to the small kitchen to get breakfast."

An Lingrong nodded slightly and said softly, "Thank you, Qiufang."

Not long after, Qiufang came in with breakfast. An Lingrong had just picked up her chopsticks and hadn't had time to take a few bites when Lian'er ran in hurriedly and said loudly, "My lady, Eunuch Su is here."

An Lingrong was delighted and thought to herself, "Since the Queen has come to give gifts, the Emperor will certainly not be short of gifts as well." She quickly put down her chopsticks, straightened her clothes, and said, "Please invite Eunuch Su in."

Su Peisheng led two young eunuchs in with a smile on his face. When he saw An Lingrong, he bowed and said, "Your servant greets the noble lady Shu."

An Lingrong smiled and said, "Eunuch Su, please don't be polite. It must be hard work for you to make this trip so early in the morning."

Su Peisheng said quickly: "Lady Shu, this is a reward from the emperor. Do you think you are satisfied with it?" Then he asked the eunuch to present the reward.

An Lingrong looked at the reward in front of her with a delighted look on her face, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward, and thank you, Eunuch Su, for sending it specially."

Su Peisheng smiled and said, "This is all the grace of the emperor. I am just following orders." He stepped forward and opened one of the boxes, revealing an exquisite and elegant hairpin. An Lingrong's eyes flashed, revealing her love for it.

Seeing this, Su Peisheng smiled and said, "My lady, anything else is fine, but this golden hairpin with a flower and butterfly pattern inlaid with gemstones was specially selected for you by the emperor."

An Lingrong smiled and replied, "Please ask Eunuch Su to thank the Emperor for me and tell him that I like it very much."

Su Peisheng smiled and said, "As long as you like it, my lady. Now that the things have been delivered, I will go back first."

An Lingrong said, "That's fine. My father-in-law is busy today, so I won't keep him here. Qiufang, see Eunuch Su off."

Qiu Fang escorted Su Peisheng to the door, handed him a red envelope with a banknote, and said, "My young lady invites you to have tea, Eunuch Su. Thank you for taking the trouble to come here in such a cold weather."

Su Peisheng took the red envelope, smiled with satisfaction, and said, "Aunt Qiufang, you can go back." After that, he turned and left.

Qiufang sent Eunuch Su to the gate of Yanx Palace before returning to the side hall.

An Lingrong picked up the hairpin, looked at it, and put it back into the box. She told Lian'er to take it to the storeroom and separate it from the Queen's hairpins. Lian'er packed it up and carried it out.

An Lingrong continued to eat her breakfast, but she was thinking about the upcoming New Year's Eve palace banquet.

New Year's Eve finally arrived, and thanks to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager's special permission, An Lingrong did not need to attend the palace banquet. In the small kitchen of the Yanxi Palace, a special meal was prepared for her as she was pregnant.

Xing'er from the Imperial Kitchen has been in charge of An Lingrong's diet since she came to the Yanxi Palace. Today, Lian'er and Xing'er cooked a few dishes that An Lingrong liked in the small kitchen.

An Lingrong had dinner just after it got dark. Listening to the sounds of various musical instruments coming from afar, An Lingrong couldn't help humming a little tune.

After humming a few words, she stopped, looked at the burning red charcoal in front of her, and said to Lian'er and Qiufang: "Although we are not going to the palace banquet, it is also very boring."

Lian'er and Qiufang were sorting the balls of thread. When they heard An Lingrong's words, Qiufang laughed and said, "How about I think of something to entertain you?"

Then Qiu Fang asked, "Young Master, do you know how to play cards?"

An Lingrong immediately became interested. She had heard of this thing before at home, but she didn't know how to play it. So she asked, "Qiufang, do you know how to play it?"

"I know a little bit." Qiufang turned to Lian'er and asked, "Do you know it?"

Lian Er said that she didn't know how to do it either, so An Lingrong quickly said, "Qiu Fang knows how to do it, you teach us."

Qiufang put down her work and walked to the door. Although she only lifted the door curtain a little, a cold wind blew into the palace, and An Lingrong couldn't help but shiver.

"Fortunately the stove was burning well, so nothing happened." An Lingrong waited for Qiufang to come back with great interest. An Lingrong said to Lian'er. Today is New Year's Eve, you don't have to be busy, put it away and take a rest!

Lian Er quickly replied, "My lady, I don't feel tired. I wonder if you have finished drinking your milk? Is it cold? If so, I will heat it up."

It was the coldest time of the year, and even though there was a blazing charcoal brazier in the house, An Lingrong still held the warm hot water bottle tightly in her arms, refusing to let go.

She was even reluctant to take her hands away from the soft fox fur cloak, and just lazily responded: "I've finished drinking it, put it aside for now.

I don’t want to drink it yet. I can heat it up later if I want to drink it. It will cool down again after a while.”

After hearing this, Lian'er continued to sort out the thread ball. Hearing a sound, An Lingrong turned around and saw Qiufang walking in with a strange expression on her face, holding the bamboo leaf card.

An Lingrong hurriedly asked, "What happened to Qiufang?" Qiufang walked over quickly, put down the leaf card and replied, "Xiao Yanzi is here."

Let him in, Qiufang responded and brought Xiao Yanzi in.

The servant returns to pay his respects to the nobleman. Xiao Yanzi's ears are red from the cold, and his hands are purple and cracked.

He knelt respectfully in front of An Lingrong. Seeing Xiao Yanzi like this, An Lingrong quickly spoke up, and Lian'er took a low stool for Eunuch Yan to sit on closer to the stove.

Lian'er handed over the stool at her feet and placed it next to the stove.

Xiao Yanzi waved his hands repeatedly and said, "I don't deserve it..." But before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Lian'er, "Eunuch Yan, don't worry. Our young master is an easy-going and kind person. You don't have to care about these things. Just sit down."

Xiao Yanzi then sat down. An Lingrong saw that Xiao Yanzi's hands were red from the cold and motioned Lian'er to get him a hot water bottle.

An Lingrong said, "The weather is so cold, if Eunuch Yan has something to say, he must come now." Little Yanzi said, "Today, I was arranged to serve in Yimei Garden and saw a big show."

Seeing Xiao Yanzi's excitement, An Lingrong was reminded of the Miaoyin lady in her previous life. Just after New Year's Eve, Su Peisheng went to find someone and used a poem that said "The headwind is like understanding, and the ink is easily destroyed."

Thinking of this, An Lingrong also became interested. To have them come here in the cold and snow, there must be a big drama going on. Tell us about it!

An Lingrong thought that this was something she had thought of, but when she heard Xiao Yanzi's words, she suddenly became serious.

My lady, I and a little palace maid will be on duty in Yimei Garden all night today. An Lingrong asked, "What's the name of the little palace maid you are talking about?" Xiao Yanzi said, "Her name is Yu Ying'er."

There was nothing going on in the garden, but halfway through the palace banquet, a woman in a large dress came in. An Lingrong asked if she was a concubine. Yes, Xiao Yanzi replied.

When the young lady entered the palace, she was escorted by a servant, and I had the honor of seeing her. The one who came was the concubine Wan from Suiyuxuan, who had been ill since entering the palace.

When An Lingrong heard this, she felt a little nervous for some reason. Xiaoyan went on to say that Wan Chang had just gone in and recited a poem, and hung something on the branch, and the emperor came in alone.

The emperor came in? Did the emperor see Wan Changzai? Xiaoyan replied: No, the emperor heard Wan Changzai's voice, but Wan Changzai probably didn't know it was the emperor, so she hid herself and said her shoes and socks were wet and it was inconvenient for her to see anyone. Then she sneaked away.

The emperor walked forward a few steps and didn't see the person who was talking, so he didn't move forward anymore. Not long after, Prince Guo came to the plum garden with Eunuch Su and others.

An Lingrong rubbed her hands nervously. Prince Guo?

Yes, my lady, in fact, the emperor and Wan Changzai were only a few steps apart, and Prince Guo came from a different direction from the emperor. When Prince Guo saw the things hanging on the branches, he put them away.

An Lingrong picked up the cold water cup on the table and drank it in one gulp. Are you talking about a small statue? Xiao Yanzi replied, "I'm sorry, my dear, I saw it clearly from a distance. I only saw that it was red and something cut with scissors."

I can’t see clearly… the red one cut by scissors… An Lingrong muttered to herself, and suddenly she remembered that in her previous life, there was a banquet at Guo Jun’s body, and in the purse was a small red paper-cut portrait that had been preserved for many years.

Everyone thought that the statue was of Zhen Huan.

Later, Huanbi came out to admit it, and even married into the Prince Guo's mansion and was named a concubine. If this is true, then the person who had an affair with Zhen Huan was not the imperial physician, but Prince Guo...

It turned out that I was wrong. An Lingrong was completely stunned. Seeing this, Qiufang whispered: "Young Master? Young Master..."

An Lingrong came back to her senses and hummed. She spoke again, "You said there was another palace maid named Yu... Yu what?"

Xiao Yanzi replied: Yu Ying'er. As expected...

An Lingrong put one hand on the table, and an idea suddenly popped into her head... The Queen was staring at her very closely now, so maybe she could divert her attention.

Compared to herself, perhaps Zhen Huan of Sui Yu Xuan was the one that the Queen hated. Although she had a good relationship with her before entering the palace.

For the sake of the child, she looked so much like Queen Chunyuan. Only she could distract the Queen.

As for the so-called Yu Ying'er, just be her maid!

An Lingrong asked, "Xiao Yanzi, I heard that you have offended the eunuch in charge of Yimei Garden?" Xiao Yanzi was helpless, saying that Eunuch Liu wanted me to hand over my salary to him every month, but I didn't agree, so he targeted me everywhere.

You are also a pitiful person. How about this! My palace is short of a chief eunuch, are you willing to come?

Xiao Yanzi excitedly stood up and knelt down and said, "My lady, I am willing, I am willing. Isn't it just for this that I stayed in Yimei?"

An Lingrong waved to Xiaoyan, and Xiaoyanzi spoke only after she came closer;

He whispered in Xiaoyanzi's ear... Xiaoyanzi nodded repeatedly, his eyes brightened, and said, "My dear, don't worry, I will do a good job of this."

An Lingrong said: "It's cold outside now, you stay here for one night, Qiufang will take Xiaoyanzi to the side room." Xiaoyan interrupted and said, "I sneaked out secretly."

If the eunuch in charge knew that I lived in the Yanx Palace, it would cause trouble for the lady. I am not afraid of the cold.

Xiaoyan was about to go back after she finished speaking. An Lingrong looked at Xiaoyan's every word and action and was very satisfied. She was neither arrogant nor impatient and would not get carried away by success.

Then he nodded and said, "Then I won't keep you. Don't worry, I won't treat you harshly if you follow me." Qiufang handed a hot water bottle to Xiao Yanzi.

Xiao Yanzi bowed to thank An Lingrong before opening the door and leaving.

An Lingrong fell into deep thought. Lian'er stepped forward and whispered, "My lady, you are pregnant now and cannot think about too many things. If you have anything to say, you can tell me and I will do it well."

An Lingrong raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and said softly: "Of course there is something wrong!"

Her gaze fell on Qiufang beside her, with a sly gleam in her eyes.

An Lingrong raised her voice and ordered, "Qiufang, go get the leaf cards. If you don't teach me and Lian'er a lesson tonight, none of you will be able to rest!"

Hearing this, Qiu Fang couldn't help but chuckle and responded, "My young master is so smart!

With your eagerness to learn, I'm sure we will be able to sleep peacefully tonight!"

After saying that, she turned around and left lightly, and came back soon with a stack of exquisite leaf cards.

Qiu Fang walked up to the crowd, skillfully distributed the cards, and began to explain the rules. Soon, the master and servants sat together and enthusiastically started a fierce "fight".

Sometimes they frowned in thought, sometimes they laughed and talked happily, and the whole room was filled with a tense yet cheerful atmosphere.

Just two days after the New Year's Eve palace banquet, Su Peisheng brought his people to Yimei Garden, where the palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground.

Su Peisheng flicked his whisk and said, "The emperor has been gracious and has issued a couplet. Anyone who can match it will be heavily rewarded."

The head eunuch and head aunt of Yimei Garden responded with two sentences. Su Peisheng raised his hand. Eunuch Xiao Xiazi stepped forward and said: The first couplet is, against the wind, it seems to understand the meaning.

Before Xiao Xiazi finished speaking, the crowd below suddenly exploded with noisy discussions.

Yu Ying'er, who was kneeling on the ground at this moment, was caught in a fierce inner struggle. An indescribable tangle flashed in the depths of her eyes from time to time.

Before Yu Ying'er could respond, another young eunuch with a strange face suddenly interrupted and said, "Eunuch Su, I know the answer!"

When Su Peisheng heard the voice and looked in that direction, he was slightly stunned and secretly surprised: I was clearly told that the person they were looking for was a palace maid, so how come a eunuch suddenly appeared at this time?

Su Peisheng's face darkened instantly, but he still suppressed the doubts in his heart and said in a deep voice: "Oh? Then tell me about it."

The young eunuch nodded respectfully, and then replied softly: "The second line is 'Don't destroy it easily'."

As soon as these words came out, Su Peisheng's face froze completely, as if he was cast under a spell and couldn't move. He originally thought that he could find the target person smoothly by coming up with such a clever plan, but in the end it was still a waste of time.

Seeing Su Peisheng standing there in a daze, Xiao Xiazi hurriedly and carefully tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Master..."

It was only then that Su Peisheng came back to his senses as if awakened from a dream. He took a deep breath, tried to calm the waves in his heart, and then slowly said: "Come with me."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the hall, leaving the confused crowd looking at each other in bewilderment.

After hearing this, the thin and handsome young eunuch hurriedly got up from the ground and followed Su Peisheng to a secluded place.

After the two of them stood still, Su Peisheng stared at the young eunuch in front of him and asked, "What's your name?"

When the young eunuch heard Su Peisheng's question, his body trembled slightly, and he quickly lowered his head and replied in an extremely respectful tone: "In reply to Eunuch Su, my name is Xiao Lizi."