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

Four days later, at the beginning of the Yin hour (3 to 5 o'clock), An Lingrong was pulled out of bed by Aunt Xiao and Su Ye.

Aunt Xiao was so nervous she couldn't sleep all night, constantly looking through the clothes and jewelry she had prepared, muttering to herself, "Is this one too plain? Is that one too fancy..." She took out each piece of clothing, tested it, then shook her head and put it back. This went on all night until dawn.

Before it was fully light in the morning, Aunt Xiao couldn't wait to pull An Lingrong out of bed.

An Lingrong was sleeping soundly and was still a little confused when she was suddenly pulled up. Aunt Xiao gently applied powder on her face, her movements gentle and careful.

She was still dazed, but when the cool powder puff touched her skin, An Lingrong shuddered and suddenly woke up. She quickly grabbed Aunt Xiao's hand and said, "Aunt, I'll do it myself." Then she took the powder puff and skillfully applied her makeup.

Makeup is no problem for Yu Yang, who comes from the 21st century. She has an unbeaten record of completing a full set of makeup in ten minutes, and can apply different makeup according to different people's skin colors, face shapes and occasions. With this skill, she is a hot commodity in their department.

Although cosmetics weren't as plentiful at the time as they were later, An Lingrong had a good foundation, with fair, delicate skin so delicate it looked as if she'd been blown away. A touch of powder was all that was needed to accentuate her delicate and graceful features. Aunt Xiao anointed An Lingrong's hair with perfumed ointment, then tied it up in strands, creating the same small bun style common among court ladies. She secured it with a hairpin, and paired it with a light green palace makeup. She was truly a beautiful, charming, and naturally charming Jiangnan beauty.

"Miss has really grown up. When you were just born, you were only as big as a pillow, with a wrinkled face. I held you in my arms, but you kept crying. In the blink of an eye, you have become a big girl!" Looking at An Lingrong's face, Aunt Xiao felt a kind of joy and happiness as if "my daughter has grown up", but the tears flowed uncontrollably.

An Lingrong was also somewhat touched. "Don't worry, Auntie. Regardless of whether I am selected today or not, I will protect you and mother well."

Aunt Xiao said confidently, "The eldest lady is as beautiful as a flower, she will definitely be selected!"

After saying this, he moved the bronze mirror in front of An Lingrong.

Su Ye nodded non-stop, "Aunt is right, Miss will definitely be selected!"

An Lingrong looked at the mirror in front of her. Her face was reflected in the bronze mirror, and she complained silently in her heart: What kind of mirror is this? It makes me look like a ghost.

With the previous experience as a lesson, An Lingrong had hired a fast carriage in advance and waited at the gate of the courtyard early. The coachman knew that she was a candidate for selection, so he had fed the horse with the best fodder.

When they arrived outside the Forbidden City, Aunt Xiao handed her identity card to the nanny at the palace gate for inspection, and then An Lingrong followed the palace maid into the inner city of the Forbidden City. Aunt Xiao and Su Ye could only wait outside.

The Forbidden City during the Yongzheng period was not much different from that in later generations. Yu Yang had traveled to Beijing with her friends during college and had also visited the Forbidden City. So now, as she looked at the surrounding buildings and compared the differences with her previous life in her mind, she did not feel much panic. The nanny who led the way saw her calm expression and had a little more respect for her.

Arriving at the waiting area for the concubines, An Lingrong deliberately found a quiet spot and stood there. The beauties on the stage were all different, some charming and cute, some gentle and lovely, and some bright and stunning. Although the ancestral precept stated that the emperor selected the first concubine based on her family background and character, not her appearance, no emperor wanted to face the plain and ugly woman every day. After all, everyone loves beauty. Besides, if the concubines were not good-looking, it would also affect the appearance of the royal heir!

After looking around again, An Lingrong did not see Zhen Huan or Shen Meizhuang, but she saw Xia Dongchun, who was as proud as a peacock.

The sun slowly rose, and the early spring sunshine felt warm on people's bodies. An Lingrong couldn't help but squint her eyes and look up.

At that moment, a burst of intense sunlight pierced her mind like tiny needles. The sudden, intense pain gave her a splitting headache, as if her head was about to explode. At the same time, her mind flashed back to the scene from the TV series where An Lingrong died. The sunlight then, just like today, shone directly on her face.

At this moment, a piece of background music (BGM) began to play automatically in her mind: "Lotus can be picked in the south of the Yangtze River, and the lotus leaves are so lush. Fish play among the lotus leaves, fish play among the lotus leaves in the east..."

An Lingrong shook her head vigorously, trying to drive out the painful memories from her mind, but what followed was a strong feeling of dizziness that made it almost impossible for her to stand, and her body involuntarily fell to one side.

Just as she was about to fall, she suddenly felt a warm and solid force holding her tightly. She instinctively leaned forward, her body like it had found a safe haven to rely on, and her originally tense nerves gradually relaxed.

At this moment, a clear and pleasant voice came into her ears, with concern and anxiety: "Sister, are you okay?"

This voice was like a ray of light in the darkness, slowly pulling her back. An Lingrong's scattered eyes slowly focused and she saw the person in front of her clearly.

"Sister Zhen, Sister Mei." An Lingrong muttered unconsciously.

The people who came were Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang.

Fortunately, the two men did not hear her voice clearly. After An Lingrong stood still, Zhen Huan turned around and found a serving palace maid. She took out a small piece of silver from her purse and asked her to get a cup of tea.

The maid received her reward and quickly brought a cup of tea. Zhen Huan placed the tea to An Lingrong's lips and said with a smile, "Sister, I'm afraid you haven't adapted to the climate in the capital. Please drink some water to calm down."

An Lingrong had calmed down by now and said softly, "Thank you."

When Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang saw that her expression had returned to normal, they said some words of encouragement and blessings and left.

An Lingrong sighed silently. The person she originally wanted to stay away from, somehow they had an intersection again.