An Lingrong's Rebirth: The Golden Partridge

After having lunch together, Shen Meizhuang coaxed Longyue to take a nap, and then he and Zhen Huan went to Shoukang Palace to meet the Queen Mother.

As soon as she entered the palace, she saw An Lingrong serving the Queen Mother with medicine. She was a little surprised: "Why is Rong'er out walking today? Is she feeling better?" She quickly walked two steps to An Lingrong and glanced at her. face.

An Lingrong pursed her lips and smiled softly: "Sister, I'm here. The Queen Mother thinks the medicine is bitter and refuses to take it." As if she didn't see Zhen Huan, she sat down on the other side and passed the medicine bowl in her hand to Shen Meizhuang. , "I originally wanted to wait for my sister to come before taking the medicine, but Aunt Zhuxi said that this is a newly prepared medicine today, and the imperial doctor specifically asked to drink it while it is hot, otherwise the medicine will lose its potency, so I took care of it."

"Apart from your Aunt Sun, you are the only one who has served the Ai family the most comfortably." The Queen Mother looked at Shen Meizhuang, smiled, rolled her eyes, and cursed, "Unlike the noble concubine who is full of lies, now she dares to invent the bad things about the Ai family. ”

Shen Meizhuang couldn't help but laugh: "I can only coax the Queen Mother to beg her, but if the Queen Mother says no, I won't dare to breathe, so Rong'er can still control you."

Zhen Huan saw that the Queen Mother was deliberately neglecting her, and she did not dare to take advantage of her pregnancy to be arrogant. She took two steps forward and saluted politely: "I pay my respects to the Queen Mother. I wish the Queen Mother good health and blessings for thousands of years."

"Back." The Queen Mother looked at her with a straight face, her expression suddenly became cold, and her cheerful smile was gone, "Are you still used to living in Yongshou Palace?"

Zhen Huan's eyebrows twitched as she thought of the extremely luxurious palace, and her thoughts turned out to be true.

An Lingrong told her that the ministers of the previous dynasty had been arguing endlessly over the renovation of Yongshou Palace. Even Prince Heng strongly opposed it. Everyone said that it was unheard of for her to return to the palace as an abandoned concubine, and she was so flamboyant. Extravagance is regarded as a disaster for the country, and it was the emperor who suppressed the matter against all opinions.As the queen with the most say in the harem, not only did she not control public opinion, but she also deliberately added a lot to the Yongshou Palace, confirming her reputation as a charming and charming master.Now, the Queen Mother also thinks so, so naturally she doesn't have a good look towards her.

An Lingrong drank tea slowly, her face as calm as water, while Shen Meizhuang stood silently holding the medicine, with worried eyes.

Zhen Huan quickly calmed down and replied: "Yongshou Palace is too luxurious, I am very uneasy."

"Although it is luxurious, it is nothing if the emperor wants to pamper you." The Queen Mother revealed it lightly, but she did not stand up and complained half-truthfully to Shen Meizhuang, "This medicine makes the Ai family's tongue go numb." It’s bitter, just throw it away.”

Shen Meizhuang laughed softly and said jokingly: "I said that the Queen Mother gets younger as she lives longer. The Queen Mother still doesn't believe it. It's not that I am coaxing you. Now you are afraid of hardship and refuse to take medicine and have a child's temper. It's not getting better." Are you living younger?" This was not the first time that she coaxed the Queen Mother like a child.

"The Ai family has always seen how steady a person you are, and now you have learned to be smooth-tongued." The Queen Mother couldn't help but smile, "You must have learned it from the noble concubine."

An Lingrong shouted at the side that he was wronged, and his innocent expression made the Queen Mother laugh out loud.

"The medicine is too bitter, so I just smiled to make the Queen Mother laugh." Shen Meizhuang hurriedly sent the medicine over, and the Queen Mother drank it.

Wiping the corners of her mouth, the Queen Mother lowered her eyes and looked at Zhen Huan, who was still kneeling on the ground. Seeing that she knew the etiquette and was not arrogant, she nodded secretly and asked her to stand up: "A person with a body is still called kneeling, you Come and serve the Ai family to rinse their mouths."

"Yes." Zhen Huan was helped by Zhu Xi to stand up. She lowered her eyebrows and took the tea cup filled with water from Shen Meizhuang's hand, handed it to the Queen Mother, then picked up the basin held by the palace maid and handed it to the Queen Mother. Then he picked up the silk and wiped it with the Queen Mother. The movements were smooth and smooth. It was not only comfortable to serve, but also very beautiful to watch.

The Queen Mother looked at Zhen Huan's jade-like face with burning eyes, and sneered slightly: "I am good at serving people. No wonder I have been to Ganlu Temple for so long and the emperor has never forgotten it." A sword flew over and fell hard on Zhen Huan, " He really learned how to be charming and charming."

Zhen Huan was startled and hurriedly knelt down again: "The Queen Mother's words are serious, I am really frightened."

An Lingrong looked at Zhen Huan quietly. She knew that Zhen Huan would definitely be made difficult when meeting the Queen Mother today, but neither she nor Shen Meizhuang could help.If the Queen Mother cannot pass this test, Zhen Huan will have difficulty in the palace. More importantly, An Lingrong will have to ask the Queen Mother to give up on herself and put her hope of stabilizing the harem in Zhen Huan. Therefore, she can only continue to be ill.
At least, until Zhen Huan gets a firm foothold, she will have to remain "sick".

"Afraid?" The Queen Mother raised her eyebrows and said sarcastically, "Why is it that Concubine Xi is pregnant with a dragon fetus and she is so kind to you, but she also feels scared?"

"My concubine is wearing a sinful body. Your Majesty came to Ganlu Temple to visit you because of your old friendship. I am so grateful that I don't want to get pregnant." Zhen Huan spoke sincerely, every word of which she said, "Your Majesty thinks that your son is of royal blood and cannot bear to let him live outside. Therefore, I have special pity on my concubine."

The Queen Mother didn't believe it, and snorted coldly: "So, the incident at Ganlu Temple was just an accidental encounter between you and the emperor, and was it not a deliberate plan to regain the favor of the saint?"

This question caused both An Lingrong and Shen Meizhuang to break into a cold sweat. If they answered incorrectly, all their hard work would be in vain.

The Queen Mother has experienced more palace battles than An Lingrong, Zhen Huan, and Shen Meizhuang put together. If it is a complete coincidence, the Queen Mother will not believe it, but if it is intentional, wouldn't it confirm that Zhen Huan is still there even if she is deposed and leaves the palace? Is there any power left in the palace?In this way, how can the Queen Mother safely let her and the Queen fight in the ring.

But Zhen Huan is so smart. She told the truth and lies: "I dare not deceive the Queen Mother. The emperor and my concubine did not meet by chance. Because I left the palace before the moon came out, my health was not good, so I moved to Lingyun." When the emperor came to Ganlu Temple while Feng was staying, he didn't see my concubine, so he thought he was still ill, so he went to Lingyun Peak to visit her."

This statement is both irresistible and reasonable.Zhen Huan stated that although she had a plan, she was only outside the palace. If the emperor had not come to Ganlu Temple, she would definitely have no chance. However, she was vague about why the emperor suddenly wanted to go to Ganlu Temple, echoing what An Lingrong and the Queen Mother had said before. "The emperor often went to Ganlu Temple to pray for the Queen Mother," but the Queen Mother did not become suspicious again.

But the Queen Mother did not let down her guard: "As expected, the Ai family has wrongly blamed you."

"I did not report the reason to the Queen Mother in time. I am guilty." Zhen Huan was naturally scrambling to take the blame.

"Back then, you insisted on leaving the palace to practice, even leaving behind your newborn daughter. Now, why are you willing to reconnect with the emperor? You have a child." The Queen Mother asked sharply, and the palace suddenly became cold. Shen Meizhuang couldn't help but speak, but The Queen Mother refuted it and could only continue to stand aside in silence.Zhen Huan calmed down, lowered her head and said: "The emperor is the king of a country, not the king of his concubine. Although I am sad for my father about the affairs of the court, I will only hate the person who framed him and dare not resent him. Your Majesty. I insisted on leaving the palace that day because I thought that the Emperor had no affection for me, so I was completely disappointed." There was a hint of sob in her voice, "But when the Emperor came to see me, I knew that the Emperor was not heartless, so I was lucky enough to return to the palace today. , I just want to serve the emperor with peace of mind and make up for my mistakes."

Previously, she thought the emperor was merciless to her, so she left the palace sadly. Now that the misunderstanding has been solved, she knows that the emperor still has her in his heart, so the old relationship rekindles.This is Zhen Huan's logic, straightforward, simple, but very powerful in persuading the Queen Mother.

"Get up." The Queen Mother softened her tone and gave Zhen Huan a seat.

Shen Meizhuang hurriedly stretched out his hand to help Zhen Huan up, but he heard the Queen Mother accusing her: "I always say that you are considerate. Why do you look at Concubine Xi kneeling like this and don't remind Aijia to wake her up? Aijia is sick and confused, and you are also sick and confused. Yet?"

Shen Meizhuang pursed his lips and smiled. He knew that the Queen Mother was looking for the steps, so he quickly recognized: "Your Majesty, Concubine Xi is kneeling, and the Queen Mother's grandson in her belly is kneeling. The whole family is paying tribute to the Queen Mother. Could it be that I am still here?" Are you going to stop me?"

"Thank you for your sweet words." The Queen Mother smiled, Zhen Huan passed the test today.

An Lingrong breathed a sigh of relief, raised his eyes and looked at Zhen Huan, with a faint smile on his lips, his eyebrows were picturesque, and his voice was like the wind: "This sister is so beautiful, I have never seen it before, and the Queen Mother has never seen her before. Where did you find this beauty?"

The Queen Mother looked at An Lingrong and sighed helplessly: "The Ai family has forgotten that there is really a sick and confused person here." She looked at Zhen Huan, "Don't blame the Ai family for being harsh. The emperor is the biological son of the Ai family. The Ai family is also afraid of recruiting another flirtatious person. Now that you are in the imperial concubine position, you will inevitably be responsible for everything in the palace from now on. You are too simply dressed like this."

"I have been practicing cultivation for a long time, and I don't like too much luxury." Zhen Huan replied humbly.

"You can be so sensible, and it's not in vain that the Ai family has loved you all these years." The Queen Mother deliberately mentioned the matter of taking care of Zhen Huan in Ganlu Temple, in order to let Zhen Huan remember this kindness, "However, now that she has returned to the palace, she will pretend that there is no Ganlu in the future. Regarding the temple, the Ai family will tell others, if these three words are around, your life will never be easy in the future."

Zhen Huan naturally expressed her gratitude.

"The emperor is getting older, but the people around him are not as pure as before." The Queen Mother then gave instructions about matters in the palace, "In the past two years that the imperial concubine has been in charge, there have been many charming people in the palace, and all of them are more evil than before. There are still many stars in the sky. Now we have taken care of a few prominent ones. The remaining few are quite peaceful, but there are also some who are disobedient. Since you are back, you should pay more attention to it. Besides, if you try to persuade the emperor in everything, you must He can also listen to a few words."

"I will obey the Queen Mother's teachings and will never forget my concubine's virtues." Zhen Huan bowed her head respectfully.

The Queen Mother smiled with satisfaction, nodded and said: "You are smart and witty, and Ai Jia's words will naturally come through. Since it talks about the virtues of concubines, you must respect the Queen." She looked at Zhen Huan seriously, with a hint of emotion in her voice. warn.

Zhen Huan felt something in her heart and hurriedly said: "The queen treats me very well, and I am very grateful."

"That's good." The Queen Mother breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Shen Meizhuang, "You entered the palace on the same day as the imperial concubine and the imperial concubine Xi. Now the imperial concubine has her seventh brother, and the imperial concubine Xi also has a second child. Why don't you hurry up? When Longyue comes back to Concubine Xi, you will feel empty under your knees, won't you feel lonely?"

Shen Meizhuang lowered his eyes quietly and did not answer.

"The Ai family has always valued you, but you refused to put your thoughts on the emperor. When the imperial concubine fell ill, the emperor didn't even have anyone to advise him. How could the Ai family rest assured?" On this point, the Queen Mother still had a lot of feelings for Shenmeizhuang. Complaining, if she had been more forceful, it would not have happened that once An Lingrong fell ill, there would be no one in the palace who could take over, and she would have to go through so much trouble to get Zhen Huan back.

Shen Meizhuang said a few perfunctory words as usual, but this time the Queen Mother was not going to let it go: "It's useless to just know, you have to do it. If you and Concubine Xi can help the emperor well, the Ai family will feel at ease." , the imperial concubine can also take good care of her health, and maybe she can recover soon."

A painful struggle flashed in Shen Meizhuang's eyes, but An Lingrong looked at her. For some reason, her heart skipped a beat.

It's like an ominous omen that something has gone off the rails.

After leaving Shoukang Palace, An Lingrong glanced at Zhen Huan without leaving any trace, but for a quick moment, Shen Meizhuang, who was closest to him, didn't even notice.

"Sister, I'm going back first." An Lingrong smiled lightly at Shen Meizhuang, got on the sedan chair and drove away.

Shen Meizhuang sighed softly, with apologetic and sad eyes: "Rong'er's illness has become more and more serious, and you don't even remember Huan'er."

"It will get better." Zhen Huan patted Shen Meizhuang's hand, "Sister Mei, I am more afraid of the heat during this pregnancy than usual. Can you tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide me with ice in the palace as soon as possible?"

"The head of the House of Internal Affairs has been replaced a while ago. The newly appointed Liang Duorui appears to be independent, but in fact he is also one of ours. You can just send someone to the House of Internal Affairs to tell him about this trivial matter." Shen Meizhuang lowered his voice. The voice said, then he looked up at the sun, "It's really hot today."

The servant carrying the sedan chair followed closely and said to please: "If you two ladies feel hot, why not go around the six-sided stone road, it will be cooler there."

This was what Zhen Huan was waiting for, and she nodded in agreement.