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

After Sun Heyin left, An Lingrong's tense back finally relaxed. She looked down at her slightly red palms, her fingertips still trembling uncontrollably, the aftershocks of the slap still lingering on her skin.

Seeing her like this, Zhen Huan's eyes were filled with pity. She extended her hand to her and said softly, "Rong'er!"

An Lingrong quickly stepped forward, took Zhen Huan's warm hand, and sat down beside her. Her voice was choked with sobs, "Sister Zhen, I'm sorry. She did such a thing, but I only slapped her..."

Zhen Huan gently patted the back of her hand and said softly, "What's there to apologize for? I know this matter can't be made a big deal. Punishing her severely might just cause more trouble. Besides, the key to this matter is Concubine Duan."

Now An Lingrong has aroused Yongzheng's vigilance. She must behave herself for a while, otherwise if something happens again, Yongzheng will be the first to be intolerant of her.

There is also one most important reason. Hongxu is still too young. They need to stabilize the harem and give him some time to grow.

Zhen Huan gently stroked her abdomen and said, "The New Year is coming soon. I've already told the Emperor that I won't be attending the palace banquet on New Year's Eve this year. Would you please bring the children to stay up with me?"

"Okay. We've been in the palace for many years, but we've never spent the New Year's Eve together."

On the other side, Sun Heyin held Bai Zhi's hand and slowly walked out of the threshold of Yongshou Palace.

"My lady..." Bai Zhi looked at the red and swollen palm print on Sun Heyin's face, her voice choked with sobs, almost unable to speak, "Does it hurt? I'll go get some ice for you..."

Sun Heyin shook her head gently, "It doesn't hurt."

Her voice was incredibly calm.

Bai Zhi bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes: "Don't blame Concubine Wen, she is also..."

"How could I blame her?" Sun Heyin suddenly stopped and turned to look at the closed gate of Yongshou Palace.

"If I hadn't slapped her today, how would I have explained to the Imperial Concubine?" She let out a wry smile. "They can't touch Concubine Duan, so how can they touch me?"

"It was my negligence." A complex emotion flashed in Sun Heyin's eyes. "I only thought about ruining the emperor's body, but forgot that the concubines would also lose their children because of this."

She sighed softly: "Change the medicine!"

Bai Zhi hurriedly lowered her voice: "But my lady, only this kind of medicine can leave no trace."

"The clues are already exposed." Sun Heyin interrupted her, her eyes suddenly sharp, "It's just that they won't tell anyone."

The north wind blew the fine snow, swirling it against the vermilion palace walls. In the blink of an eye, the year-end bells could be heard in the distance.

Everyone in Yongshou Palace started working a few days ago, cleaning the courtyard, wiping the carved railings, and even polishing the copper bells on the eaves to a shine. New spring couplets were posted on the palace doors, exquisite paper-cuts were pasted on the window frames, and the servants all changed into new winter clothes.

The entire Yongshou Palace was filled with a vibrant energy, and even the cold wind didn't seem so biting.

Zhen Huan was standing in the corridor wrapped in a silver fox fur coat, with Shen Meizhuang supporting her beside her, and they were looking at the courtyard with smiles on their faces.

Lingxi, wearing a bright red brocade cloak, was chasing Hongzhou to put a velvet flower on him. Longyue and Hongxu were building a snowman together, while Jinghe stood nearby, curiously poking the snowman's round belly with her little hands.

"They are having a really good time." Shen Meizhuang suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a long-lost lightness, with smiles etched in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows.

Zhen Huan looked at the children's red, frozen faces, and tenderness welled up in her eyes: "Another year, they have grown another year older."

She gathered her fox fur and suddenly looked around: "Where's Rong'er?"

"She's in the small kitchen. She said she'd cook dinner herself."

"She hasn't made delicious food in a long time. Today we are in for a treat!"

"Yes! I can't let her work in vain. I have already prepared the New Year's money in advance."

"Sister Mei, is there anything for me?"

"Of course."

The sound of firecrackers could be heard faintly in the distance, and smoke mixed with the aroma of food drifted away.

The chill of the first month of the year had not yet dissipated, and the charcoal basin in Yongshou Palace was burning red, but it could not dispel the coldness on Zhen Huan's body. Her face became paler and paler, and her originally plump cheeks became thinner and thinner, and even her autumn-water-like eyes lost their luster.

That day, Wei Lin came to take Zhen Huan's pulse as usual. As soon as his fingertips touched Zhen Huan's wrist, it trembled. The pulse under his three fingers was so weak that it was almost difficult to detect, and the fetal breathing was almost imperceptible.

Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his Adam's apple rolled up and down several times, but in the end he couldn't say anything.

An Lingrong stood aside and took it all in.

She looked at Zhen Huan leaning weakly on the embroidered pillow, even breathing seemed labored, and she made up her mind and turned to leave the inner hall.

Wei Lin followed him out, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, the dragon fetus is weak and powerless... If you delay any further, I'm afraid the Royal Concubine's phoenix body will also be damaged."

"I understand." An Lingrong interrupted him, digging her nails deep into her palm. "Go and boil the medicine."

In less than half an hour, a bowl of thick black medicine was served. The bitter smell mixed with a bit of fishy smell was particularly pungent in the cold air.

When An Lingrong took the medicine bowl, the hot porcelain rim burned her fingertips red, but she was completely unaware.

In the inner hall, Zhen Huan was leaning on the couch and talking to Shen Meiyu. When they saw her come in, they both stopped talking.

An Lingrong walked straight to the bed and handed the medicine bowl to Zhen Huan, her voice trembling slightly, "Sister Zhen...drink this medicine."

Zhen Huan's eyes fell on the dark medicine, and her nose twitched, and she knew it was not the pregnancy-maintaining medicine she usually drank.

Her body trembled violently, and she slowly raised her head. Tears instantly filled her eyes, and her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible: "Rong'er...let him stay in my belly for a few more days, okay?"

An Lingrong's nose felt sore, but she suppressed her sobs and steeled her heart, "Sister Zhen, I know you're reluctant to let me go, but if you continue like this, your body won't be able to bear it."

She handed the medicine bowl forward again, "Just think of this bowl of medicine as me forcing you to drink it. If you want to blame someone in the future, blame me."

These days, neither of them had the heart to pierce this window paper, and whenever they met, they always deliberately avoided this topic. But now, this bowl of thick black medicine was placed before them, like a sharp blade, severing the last trace of self-deception.

Shen Meizhuang's eyes were already red. She held Zhen Huan's cold hand tightly, tears silently falling: "Huan'er..., you still have Hongzhou and Lingxi..."

Zhen Huan stretched out her hand tremblingly, paused in the air, and finally took the bowl of medicine.

The medicine bowl swayed gently in her hands, the dark liquid reflecting her haggard figure. A tear fell into the medicine, creating tiny ripples, bidding a final farewell to the unborn life.