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

Chapter 480 Comfort

the other side.

Zhen Huan comforted Shen Meiyu for a while and then returned to Yongshou Palace.

When I stepped into the main hall, I saw Yongzheng sitting under the lamp reading a book.

Seeing her come back, Yongzheng put down his book and without waiting for Zhen Huan to finish her greeting, he waved his hand and said, "No need to greet!"

Zhen Huan did not refuse and sat on the other side of the couch.

"Where have you been? Why are you back so late?"

After taking the tea from Jinxi and taking a few sips, Zhen Huan said, "Sister Mei is in a bad mood. I talked to her for a while."

After saying this, she lowered her head and fiddled with the armor on her hand, never looking at Yongzheng.

Seeing her like this, Yongzheng couldn't help but laugh in his heart. She was just playing tricks on him.

This kind of Zhen Huan actually made him feel novel and interesting. He raised the corners of his mouth and said with a hint of sarcasm: "It seems that you are not in a good mood either!"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan deliberately put on a fake smile and said perfunctorily, "Your Majesty came to see me, so naturally I am in a good mood."

She looked up at Yongzheng, then lowered her head and continued to fiddle with the armor.

Yongzheng's smile deepened. He casually picked up a book beside him and gently tapped her shoulder. His tone was filled with a bit of pampering: "You are still pretending in front of me? Are you really happy or just pretending? Can't I tell?"

Zhen Huan then put away the fake smile on her face and said, "Your Majesty wants to see me with a stern face, then I will do as you wish."

Seeing that she had finally revealed her true nature, Yongzheng was even more delighted: "Well, I know that you and Concubine Hui are unhappy with my treatment of Concubine Wen, so I came to see you!"

Although she already knew what An Lingrong was thinking, it did not stop her from standing up for An Lingrong!

Zhen Huan said sternly, "Your Majesty, there's something fishy about what happened today. Why don't you let me investigate further? Are you afraid that I might favor Rong'er?"

Yongzheng said nothing, but looked at her with a smile, and his eyes clearly contained four words: You can't do it?

Zhen Huan understood Yongzheng's expression and was stunned for a moment. "Your Majesty, when it comes to trivial matters, I will naturally side with her. However, when it comes to matters involving the imperial concubines, especially your offspring, I will certainly handle it impartially."

Seeing that she was getting anxious, Yongzheng finally put away the teasing on his face and said, "Okay, okay, I didn't mean that. Since I chose you to be the Imperial Noble Consort to lead the harem, I naturally know your temper."

He paused and continued, "I just want you to investigate. There are only two possible outcomes. First, Shunpin is lying. This is unlikely. She wouldn't use the royal heir as a joke to frame Concubine Wen. Besides, the royal heir is fine. I won't punish Concubine Wen severely, so why would she do this? Second, Concubine Wen is lying. This is also unlikely. After all, we all know Concubine Wen's character. She can't have such a vicious mind. So I can only be a peacemaker and attribute today's incident to an accident to prevent it from getting out of hand and damaging the harmony of the harem."

In Yongzheng's view, the truth is not important, harmony in the harem is the most important.

Zhen Huan pressed on, "Then why did you confine Rong'er?"

Upon hearing this, Yongzheng's eyes flashed with helplessness: "She contradicted me. If I don't punish her, where are the rules of the harem?"

Zhen Huan blurted out subconsciously, "It's not the first time she's contradicted you!" As soon as she said that, she realized she had spoken out of turn. She quickly covered her mouth, an awkward smile on her face, and whispered an apology, "I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Seeing this, Yongzheng was not angry. Instead, he chuckled and pinched her nose with his hand. His tone was a little doting: "You, now you have also learned bad things from Concubine Wen. How dare you speak to me like this!"

Zhen Huan blushed at his words and gave him a reproachful look. "Your Majesty is known for his generosity and generosity. He naturally wouldn't mind Rong'er's disrespect. Do you have other reasons?"

Yongzheng looked at her with admiration, she was indeed worthy of being my sweetheart.

"Now that the Qing Dynasty and the Dzungars have reached a temporary peace agreement, I would like to take this opportunity to expand the Green Camp troops in Gubeikou, Xuanhua, and Datong. I would also like to build the Great Wall from Dushikou to Shaohukou. All of this will require a large amount of silver."

Yongzheng sighed and continued, "Shunpin's father is the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner. Tax collection is coming soon. I don't want to distract him with these trivial matters and affect the progress of tax collection."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Huan lowered her head, a flicker of undisguised anger in her eyes. However, when she raised her head again, her expression had changed into a smile. "So, the Emperor wants to appease Lord Mu by punishing Rong'er, right?"

Yongzheng nodded as a matter of course: "Concubine Wen contradicted me and should be punished. Taking this opportunity to reassure the former emperor is killing two birds with one stone."

Zhen Huan's smile deepened. "Your Majesty has thought it all through. I understand. Rong'er is straightforward and indeed deserves a lesson. However, she is still young and simple-minded, so it's inevitable that she may be impulsive. I hope Your Majesty will forgive her a little."

"I'm punishing her for her own good. Within the harem, rules must be upheld. She's too assertive and stubborn, lacking the gentle qualities expected of a concubine. If I don't take this opportunity to curb her temper, I'm afraid she'll become even more arrogant and difficult to discipline in the future."

At this point, Yongzheng frowned. Although An Lingrong was usually a bit temperamental, he had always been tolerant and had never taken it too seriously. However, today, she had contradicted him in front of so many concubines, causing him to lose face, and he couldn't help but feel a little angry.

Seeing that Yongzheng refused to give in, Zhen Huan stood up, lifted her skirt and knelt on the ground.

Watching her actions, Yongzheng said helplessly, "I knew you would plead for her, so I chose the lightest punishment. But didn't I expect you wouldn't even want her to suffer this little?"

Zhen Huan clasped her hands at her side, trying to suppress the turmoil within her. "When I angered the Emperor, wasn't it Rong'er who knelt at the entrance of the Yangxin Palace in the heavy snow, pleading for me? She treated me with such sincerity, how could I remain indifferent while she was punished?"

Since Zhen Huan returned to the palace, both of them tacitly stopped mentioning the matter of Chun Yuan's old clothes and Wan Wan Lei Qing, as if those things had never happened, as if the rift between them had long been healed by time.

Today is the first time.

When Yongzheng heard her mention this, his brows furrowed, a complex look flashed in his eyes, and he was silent for a moment. His gaze fell on Zhen Huan's still beautiful but somewhat haggard face, and his heart couldn't help but soften.

He sighed, his tone conciliatory. "Well, since you've pleaded so hard for her, I'll show some leniency. I'll issue an order to withdraw half the guards from the Yanxi Palace. As long as she doesn't leave, you can do whatever you want."

At this point, there was no point in saying more. Zhen Huan stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"