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

An Lingrong was relieved of her heavy burden and became a pampered concubine, living a life of luxury. However, she felt even more listless every day and even lost interest in her favorite game, mahjong.

Shen Meizhuang saw it and felt pain in her heart.

Just after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, she had packed her luggage in a swift and decisive manner. At daybreak, a bright yellow carriage rushed out of Shenwu Gate, crushing the remaining snow.

"Come back! Come back—" Feng Ruozhao chased to the palace gate with the account book in his hand. He was so tired that the phoenix hairpin on his head was crooked.

She watched the carriage disappear into the morning mist, stamping her feet in anger: "These three have no conscience!"

Turning around, he saw the new emperor, also leaning against the white marble railing, panting heavily. The hem of his bright yellow dragon robe was still stained with the slushy snow he had splashed onto it during his pursuit. Seeing Concubine Jing glare at him, the young emperor rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Um... Empress Jing, thank you for your hard work. Um... the Governor of Fujian has sent a batch of exquisite Western toys as tribute. I know Sister Xinyue will like them, so I'll personally deliver them to your palace shortly."

Feng Ruozhao: ...

An Lingrong leaned on the guardrail of the skylight and looked at the scenery outside.

She watched with her own eyes as the ice on the lake grew thinner day by day, then cracked into the shape of a spider web. A pair of mandarin ducks swam through the ice, creating the first ripples on the spring water.

She watched with her own eyes the weeping willows along the bank. Their dry branches had sprouted tender yellow buds at some point, swaying gently in the wind. Looking at them again today, those buds had suddenly opened up, transforming into new, pale yellow leaves.

The early spring sunset dyed the Old Summer Palace amber.

When Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan walked along the path filled with the fragrance of flowers, An Lingrong was leaning against the vermilion railing in a daze.

Her profile was immersed in the warm golden afterglow, and even her eyelashes were coated with a layer of fine gold powder, but her almond-shaped eyes, which always smiled, were looking blankly into the distance.

The two of them approached lightly and sat down next to An Lingrong.

The setting sun wove a gentle net of light around them, blending the shadows of the three people into one and casting them obliquely on the pavilion pillars.

Zhen Huan spoke first, smiling brightly, and asked, "Rong'er, your birthday is in a few days. What gift would you like?"

An Lingrong shuddered. "Ah, it's my birthday again? I'm another year older?"

"Nonsense!" Zhen Huan tapped her forehead with the fan bone. "Our Rong'er has blossomed another year."

An Lingrong chuckled, "Sister Zhen, your words are almost enough to coax Hong Zhou Lingxi."

Shen Meizhuang held the kettle and poured her more hot tea. The mist blurred the gentleness between her eyebrows and eyes. "Hongxu originally said that he would bring the princes and princesses to kowtow to you and celebrate your birthday. The clan members even prepared a congratulatory letter."

Seeing An Lingrong frown, she smiled and held her hand, "I know you find it annoying, I've already pushed it away for you."

"Well, I don't want so many people reminding me that I'm old!"

"I have already issued an imperial decree, promoting your mother to the rank of Second Rank Consort, your father to the title of Earl of Cheng'en, and the entire family to the Bordered Yellow Banner." Shen Meizhuang paused and said softly, "The imperial decree should have reached the An family by now."

An Lingrong nodded: "Now my father will probably be so proud that he won't even know his own name!"

Shen Meizhuang and Zhen Huan covered their mouths and laughed.

An Lingrong tilted her head and smiled mischievously, "What about you guys? What gifts are you going to give me?"

Speaking of this, the two suddenly fell silent.

An Lingrong noticed that their mood was not right and asked, "What's wrong? You didn't prepare any gifts? It doesn't matter, just accompany me for dinner tomorrow..."

Shen Meizhuang looked at her steadily, reaching out to touch her cheek. Before she spoke, tears glistened in her eyes, and her lips trembled a few times before she spoke, "Rong'er, my grandmother's maiden name was Yu. Over twenty years ago, a granddaughter died young. Her parents couldn't handle the blow, so they didn't announce the news to the outside world."

An Lingrong was a little curious. Why was he telling her this?

Shen Meizhuang tried hard to suppress the tears that were about to burst out and continued, "I have already told my mother, she will arrange everything. After your birthday, you will take her name and identity and leave the palace!"

An Lingrong's body trembled violently. She looked at Shen Meizhuang in disbelief, her voice trembling, "Sister, I..."

Shen Meizhuang forced a smile: "We have been together day and night for more than ten years, how could I not see what you are thinking!"

Zhen Huan, who was standing by, also had red eyes and tears rolling down her cheeks. She took over Shen Meizhuang's words and said, "Now that the dust has settled, we are doing well in the palace. You don't have to worry. Just do whatever you want. Don't worry about us anymore!"

An Lingrong couldn't hold back any longer, so she hugged Shen Meiyu's waist, leaned on her and cried loudly.

Shen Meizhuang gently stroked her hair, letting her tears wet her clothes.

After crying for a while, Zhen Huan said, "Rong'er, this is a gift from Sister Mei. Do you want to see my gift?"

An Lingrong raised her head from Shen Meizhuang's arms, and through her tearful eyes, she saw that Zhen Huan had wiped away her tears, with a gentle smile on the corner of her lips.

Before she could react, Zhen Huan called out, "Liu Zhu!"

Liu Zhu walked quickly over from the stairs and stood in front of the three people.

An Lingrong looked at Zhen Huan in confusion, then at Liu Zhu: "The gift is with Liu Zhu? Take it out."

Zhen Huan chuckled and shook her head, her eyes filled with reluctance yet tenderness: "My gift is Liu Zhu."

"What do you mean?" An Lingrong didn't understand what he meant for a moment.

Zhen Huan slowly walked to Liu Zhu's side and gently stroked her shoulder: "For so many years, Liu Zhu has refused to leave the palace and marry. I thought she was reluctant to leave me, but later I found out..." She paused, with relief in her eyes, "The person she really wants to follow is you."

An Lingrong's breathing stagnated and she looked at Liu Zhu in disbelief.

Liu Zhu's eyes were firm, and the corners of her lips rose slightly. "Your Majesty, this servant has already made up his mind. The Empress Dowager has Sister Caiyue by her side, my Majesty has Aunt Jinxi by her side, and Juqing by your side is also of age to leave the palace and get married. From now on, this servant will follow you and take care of you for the rest of your life."

Zhen Huan said softly, "When you leave the palace, you must have someone to take care of you. So I agreed to her marriage. From now on, she is yours."

Before she finished speaking, Liu Zhu knelt heavily and kowtowed deeply to the three of them: "This servant thanks the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine Dowager! This servant will serve you wholeheartedly throughout my life and will never let you down!"

An Lingrong's tears welled up again. She quickly stepped forward, helped Liu Zhu up, and choked with sobs, "Silly girl... why did you have to do this..."

Liu Zhu smiled and said, "I am willing to do this."

These two "gifts" were something she couldn't refuse.

Ever since Hongxu ascended the throne, An Lingrong felt as if her backbone had been taken away. Waking up in the morning, looking at her face in the diamond-shaped mirror, her makeup barely concealing her weariness, she would often pause for a long moment—what should she do today? What about tomorrow?

She actually missed the feeling of fear she had before - at least back then, every day was full of variables and worth looking forward to.

What terrified her most was that she could clearly see what she would look like ten years from now—still sitting on this chaise longue, still counting the seconds, even the new fine lines around her eyes seemed to be foreseeable. This kind of life was like a pool of stagnant water, so calm it was suffocating.

Now Shen Meizhuang's words gave her an outlet to vent the depression that had been accumulating for days.

"Sister..." She choked with sobs, her voice so soft that it was almost inaudible, "I'm willing to give up wealth and glory, and fine clothes and delicious food, but I can't give up..."

Before she could finish her words, Shen Meizhuang pulled her into a hug, holding her back tightly with her hands, as if she wanted to rub the friendship of these thirteen years into her bones and blood: "I know, how could I not know! But I just want to make you happy, to make you happy. I have bound you for thirteen years, I can't be so selfish anymore!"

Looking back now, it seems that An Lingrong entered the palace just to help her and Huan'er.

Zhen Huan took a handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face, her eyes gleaming with resolute tenderness: "Rong'er, from the day I met you, I knew that you don't belong in the Forbidden City, you belong to the wider world outside the palace."

An Lingrong looked at the two of them, feeling incredibly moved.

In this world, simple love lasts the longest, ordinary companionship is the most reassuring, and people who understand you are the warmest.

The luckiest thing in the world is to have someone who understands you, who loves you, who cares about you, who understands your sorrows and joys. A heart is better than appearance, and understanding is more important than love.