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

Chapter 486 Shen Family

After comforting Mu Jingqiu, the three of them came to Yongzheng and wanted to comfort him, but they didn't know how to say it.

They had to use their eyes to decide who would speak first.

Shen Meizhuang and Feng Ruozhao looked at each other, and then tacitly turned their gazes to Zhen Huan.

Zhen Huan could sense the anticipation of both of them and felt helpless, but she also knew that this was the best time for her to speak.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said softly, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician just reported... that the child has been born. However, I'm afraid that Sister Shunpin... won't be able to have children again."

Upon hearing this, a flash of deep guilt and pain crossed Yongzheng's usually stoic face. He was silent for a moment, his voice low and hoarse, "It's all my fault... I drank a lot last night, and I couldn't help myself. I ended up making such a big mistake..."

Zhen Huan consoled him, "Your Majesty, this was an accident. You don't have to blame yourself too much."

Yongzheng shook his head, his expression gloomy. "It wasn't an accident. She persuaded me, and I was drunk. Is Shunpin... okay?"

Zhen Huan nodded slightly, her tone gentle, "Although Concubine Shun is physically weak, her spirits are still good. She knows that this matter is not the emperor's fault. Please take care of your health and do not worry too much."

Yongzheng sighed, stood up and looked at Shen Meizhuang and Feng Ruozhao: "Take good care of Shunpin and Huanhuan, and accompany me back to the Yangxin Palace."

"I obey the decree!"

The two men comforted Mu Jingqiu with a few words and then returned to the palace.

When she returned to the Yanxi Palace, An Lingrong was waiting for her in high spirits.

Lying on the bed, Shen Meizhuang whispered about the situation in Changchun Palace.

After hearing this, An Lingrong frowned slightly, a sharp light flashing in her eyes: "Shunpin's child may not have been born for some reason, so she took this opportunity to push the blame onto the emperor and gain his pity."

A trace of disgust flashed across Shen Meizhuang's face: "The Emperor is also responsible. Shunpin is pregnant, and he is still playing around like this. He is so dishonest!"

Hearing her words, An Lingrong couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Sister, your mouth is getting sharper and sharper!"

Shen Meizhuang patted her cheek and said, "I learned it from you!"

An Lingrong then said, "The Emperor is not a man who does what he pleases. I'm afraid Shunpin must have resorted to extraordinary means."

"What means?"

"Love Incense."

Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang's eyes flashed with surprise: "Love incense? How dare she use something like this in the palace?"

"Otherwise, the emperor's behavior cannot be explained."

Shen Meizhuang thought for a moment and asked, "Why can't she give birth to this child?"

An Lingrong smiled slyly, "Because the Emperor is old, his sperm quality...his fertility is not good anymore. To put it bluntly, he's weak!"

"You said I was getting sharper and sharper, but you're the one who's even worse."

"Hehe... the truth is always hard to hear." An Lingrong continued, "I've figured things out now. She framed me a few days ago and grounded me, probably in preparation for today. If I went with you today, then she wouldn't be able to hide the fact that she used the love incense. After all, I know about spices and can smell it out."

Shen Meizhuang was curious again: "Not many people in this palace know that you know about spices!"

"So she's very clever!"

The two people's discussion was reasonable and well-founded, but unfortunately they didn't get to the key point.

Mu Jingqiu had no idea that An Lingrong knew about spices, it was just an accident.

"There's another key question." Shen Meizhuang discovered a logical flaw: "She did all these things just to gain the emperor's pity? Now that she can no longer bear children, what's the point of gaining the emperor's pity? Giving her the title of concubine won't help!"

An Lingrong nodded. "Sister, you're right. Her father was the salt transport commissioner of Lianghuai. Perhaps something happened to her father, which is why she took such a risk!"

Shen Meizhuang agreed: "None of the women in the palace live for themselves. Aren't they all enduring hardships for their families and parents?"

After sighing, he continued, "Last time, my father sent the housekeeper to investigate in Lianghuai, but he found nothing. If we want to start the investigation from her father, we will have to use extraordinary means."

"What means?"

Shen Meizhuang lowered her voice and said, "The Ministry of Justice has seventeen branches under its jurisdiction, each with spies across the country. They can uncover secrets that ordinary people can't access. If we can leverage the Ministry of Justice's power, perhaps we can uncover something useful."

An Lingrong's eyes lit up, and she pressed on, "Does the Shen family have connections in the Ministry of Justice?"

Shen Meizhuang nodded. "My second brother has loved solving cases since he was a child, so my father sent him to the Ministry of Justice. Although his position is not high now, he can still get in touch with some people. I can write to him and ask him to think of a solution."

An Lingrong's expression eased slightly upon hearing this, but she was still a little worried: "This matter is of great importance and involves the previous dynasty. We must be careful."

"Don't worry, my second brother always does things prudently."

After saying this, An Lingrong asked curiously, "Your eldest brother is in the Ministry of Revenue, and your second brother is in the Ministry of Justice. Why didn't you follow in their footsteps and become a general?"

Shen Meizhuang smiled slightly upon hearing this, a gentle look in her eyes. She said softly, "My eldest brother has loved reading since he was young. He's a calm and composed person, and he doesn't like to wield weapons. My father, seeing that he was determined to pass the imperial examination, complied with his wishes and allowed him to pursue a career as a civil servant. As for my second brother..."

She paused and continued, "When my mother was pregnant with him, she was stationed with my father. There were some difficulties during the delivery, which resulted in my second brother being weak since childhood. He couldn't ride a horse or carry a sword, let alone go into battle to kill the enemy."

"What about your brother? Your father is a general, so there must be a son to inherit his legacy, right?"

Shen Meizhuang smiled, with a hint of helplessness in her tone: "My father did think about training him well, but my grandmother was frightened by what happened to my second brother. My mother took my brother home when she was pregnant with him. After my brother was born, he has been with my grandmother and grew up under her doting. He is not good at either literature or martial arts. My father saw that he was not that kind of material, so he gave up the idea of training him."

An Lingrong couldn't help but chuckle after hearing this. "Your grandmother does love her grandson, but it's hard for your father. His passion has no one to inherit it."

Shen Meizhuang also laughed: "Yes, although my father is a little regretful, he can't force it. Fortunately, my eldest sister married a military commander, which gave my father some comfort."

An Lingrong nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "I've heard of your eldest and second sisters-in-law, but why haven't you ever mentioned your younger sister-in-law?"

"He's not married yet!"

"Huh? How old is he?"

"One year younger than you."

An Lingrong calculated that he was twenty-four, which at least made him an older bachelor these days. "Auntie, aren't you anxious?"

Shen Meizhuang sighed, "My mother is naturally anxious, but my brother is a laid-back person. He always says it's not his destiny yet and refuses to give in. My father can't do anything about him, so he can only let him go."

An Lingrong couldn't help but shake her head and laugh after hearing this. "Your brother is quite an interesting person, with a free and easy temperament. Unlike those children from aristocratic families, whose marriages are arranged by their families early on."

Shen Meizhuang nodded and smiled, "Yes, although he is uneducated, he does not have the arrogance of a noble son. Among my brothers and sisters, he is the closest to me."

The two of them chatted about some family matters and fell asleep soon.