The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

Inside the Yanxi Palace.

An Lingrong was embroidering an orchid on an embroidery frame, while Su Ye and Baojuan were sitting on a low stool below to help An Lingrong organize the silk threads.

"I heard that it was Concubine Shen who slept with me yesterday." Baojuan said casually, while straightening her wires and secretly glancing at An Lingrong's expression.

"Well, Concubine Shen is gentle and generous, and comes from a good family. It's not surprising that she's favored." An Lingrong ignored her gaze and put down her embroidery needle. "I always feel that this orchid lacks some spirit. It would be better if it could look like a flower."

Seeing that the young lady was not angry, Baojuan decided to add fuel to the fire: "Young lady, you are naturally beautiful. If you had not been ill these few days, who knows who would have received this favor!"

An Lingrong put down what she was holding and looked at her steadily. "I'm not in good health, and I'm causing you to be unable to lift your head. If you have a good place to go, I won't hinder your future."

A sense of oppression came over her, and Baojuan knelt down tremblingly: "I dare not, I have spoken out of turn, please punish me, my lady."

"Forget it, go see if dinner has been delivered."

"My lady, there's something wrong with this girl!" Su Ye slowly figured out something.

"I know, but now is not the time to deal with her."

Su Ye looked at the food delivered by the imperial kitchen and said as he helped An Lingrong sit down at the table, "The imperial kitchen is quite diligent. These meals are light and delicious, just right for the young lady after her illness."

An Lingrong tapped her with her chopsticks, "You silly girl! If it weren't for Concubine Shen occasionally sending me gifts, I, a sick concubine, would have been completely forgotten. The Imperial Household Department is only taking care of my food and clothing now because of her kindness!"

After a few days, An Lingrong was much better. Baojuan reminded An Lingrong to pay her respects to the Queen and ask her to hang the green card back up, but An Lingrong refused.

As the days of recuperation passed, An Lingrong felt quite at ease. Although she stayed indoors, news from outside continued to trickle into her ears.

"My lady, the one who is most favored these days is Concubine Shen. Others include Concubine Hua, Concubine Li from Qixiang Palace, and Concubine Fucha has also been in bed with you several times!"

"My lady, I heard today that Eunuch Kang Luhai from the Suiyuxuan took his apprentice to work in Concubine Li's palace."

"My lady, I heard that Concubine Hua was fined one month's salary for being late in paying respects to Concubine Shen today. The main Concubine Jing was also fined for her poor teaching."

"My lady, I heard that Concubine Hua called Noble Lady Fucha into the Yikun Palace to grind ink for an hour, and when she came back, she was furious!"

An Lingrong couldn't help but laugh, "Su Ye, where did you hear all this information?"

Su Ye pouted and said, "My lady, you spend every day either sleeping or embroidering. I'm bored, so I went to chat with the other palace maids. You'll understand after chatting more!"

There are no secrets in the Forbidden City!

The weather gradually became colder and a heavy snow came quietly.

Just as the twelfth lunar month began, news arrived from the previous dynasty that Lobsang Danjin was attempting to annex the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. He summoned the taijis (crown princes) of Qinghai to a meeting at Chahan Torohai and announced that the tribes would resume their original titles and no longer use Qing Dynasty titles such as prince, duke, beile, beizi, and gong. He called himself Dalai Hong Taiji, took charge of all the tribes, and formally launched a rebellion.

The emperor summoned Nian Gengyao as the General Fuyuan and Yue Zhongqi as the General Fenwu to assist in military affairs, and sent them to Qinghai to quell the rebellion. At the same time, he gave Hua Fei Nian Shilan a pot of Dongzhu, which was exclusively for the queen.

At this time, An Lingrong had lived in the harem for a full three months.

Watching the snowflakes fluttering outside, An Lingrong became interested. In her previous life, she had visited the Forbidden City in the summer and had seen many videos online of the Forbidden City in winter—when it snowed, the Forbidden City transformed into the Purple Forbidden City.

"Su Ye, let's go out for a walk."

Just as Su Ye was about to stop her, An Lingrong had already put on a fox fur cloak, picked up a hand warmer, and left the house first.

In winter, the Forbidden City is awash in ice and snow. The chilly air envelopes the entire palace, and the spectacle of white snow is breathtaking. Despite the biting cold, the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City stand out even more against the backdrop of the snow.

An Lingrong held Su Ye's hand and walked forward cautiously, neither hurried nor slow, with the demeanor of a concubine. The young eunuchs on the side of the road saluted silently. Only the two of them knew that because of her high-heeled shoes, An Lingrong was afraid to walk quickly. Such a high sole would have caused her to sprain her ankle and possibly break it.

The two walked side by side, talking and laughing along the way.

"I grew up in Songyang County. The weather in the south of the Yangtze River is beautiful in October, but the winter scenery looks like spring. This is the first time I have seen such a spectacular snow scene!"

Su Ye held An Lingrong's hand carefully, fearing that she would slip.

"I have been to many places with my adoptive father and have seen heavy snow in the mountains. The snow there is endless and white. It seems that there is only this color between the sky and the earth. When the sun rises, the white snow sparkles. It is so beautiful! Unlike in the palace, no matter how heavy the snow is, it is just a square piece. It becomes boring after looking at it for a long time." Su Ye sighed.

An Lingrong nodded, agreeing with Su Ye's words. However, she didn't know if she would ever have the chance to see snow in the mountains.

"Su Ye, do you miss life outside the palace?" Looking at Su Ye talking about the outside world, there was a smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.

Su Ye thought for a moment and said, "My lady, although life outside the palace is free and easy, it is hard. In winter, there are no cotton clothes and you shiver with cold. You collect firewood to keep warm, but you can only pick up a few pieces a day, and your hands and feet are frozen stiff. When it's cold, few people go out. There is no place to beg for food. I curl up in a pile of straw, cold and hungry, and I feel that I might as well die!"

Talking about the hard times in the past, Su Ye choked up a bit, but immediately became happy again, "Although I have to be careful in the palace now, but there are gains and losses. I can't have all the good things for myself, right? Besides, with the young master here, I'm not afraid of anything!"

An Lingrong burst out laughing! There is always a price to pay, well said!