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

After another ten days or so, An Lingrong had already finished making the emperor's pajamas.

The finest bright yellow silk was well-cut, and the pattern of a golden dragon flying out to sea on the hem was lifelike. An Lingrong felt a little proud. Oh, the craftsmanship was so good that she couldn't help but praise herself. What should she do?

After Xiao Luzi entered the hall and bowed, he said, "My lady, Xiao Yunzi has come to tell you that the noble lady Wan wants you to go to Xianyue Pavilion."

An Lingrong put away her pajamas and handed them to Su Ye. "Okay, I'll go right away."

Arriving at Xianyue Pavilion, the atmosphere inside the hall was somewhat solemn. "What's wrong?"

Zhen Huan told the story again.

"How did Cao Qinmo know what happened between you and the Emperor in the Imperial Garden? Neither Sister Mei nor I knew!"

Shen Meizhuang also nodded.

On the way here, Zhen Huan had already discussed this with Jin Xi, "Only Liu Zhu knows about this, but I trust Liu Zhu. She would only reveal it to Huan Bi..."

Seeing Zhen Huan's face darken and she stopped talking, Shen Meizhuang changed the subject, "Noble Lady Cao has instigated the Emperor to suspect you with just one sentence. This shows how scheming she is."

The emperor's question was clearly a trap: "I just want to know, when did you fall in love with me?"

"I became attracted to Your Majesty when you helped Yu Shi out of her predicament. I was at a loss and in a state of panic. Although this was a simple task for you, to me, Your Majesty was a gentleman who saved people from danger."

An Lingrong looked at Zhen Huan's pale face and said:

"Sister Zhen, if you answered that it was during the time when they were discussing music and flute under the apricot blossoms and drizzle, then you knew he was Prince Guo and you fell in love with him. That's tantamount to mental infidelity. You are the emperor's concubine, but you fell in love with another man. This is definitely something the emperor cannot tolerate.

If you answer that you fell in love with him after knowing that he was the emperor, the emperor would think that you were just coveting his status as the emperor, which would destroy your image as an affectionate person.

But your answer was very appropriate, cleverly defusing the trap. Since ancient times, there have been countless stories of heroes saving beauties, and beauties will naturally be grateful and offer themselves to you."

An Lingrong complained in her heart: This emperor is already so old but still plays cosplay games. It’s just a game, but he takes it so seriously that he even gets jealous of himself. Doesn’t he know his own worth? He is really cunning!

After saying this, he looked at Zhen Huan meaningfully, "Sister, do you still remember what I said on Sister Mei's birthday last time?"

Zhen Huan nodded, but her heart was in turmoil, as if countless ants were gnawing at her. She had always believed that the Emperor's favor for her was unique, and that there was a deep affection and trust between them. However, now she realized that all this was just her wishful thinking.

She recalled the wonderful times she had spent with the emperor. He called her "Huanhuan" and she called him "Silang." They admired the flowers and the moon, and talked about poetry and songs like an ordinary couple. But now, these beautiful memories have become dim and covered with a layer of dust.

Zhen Huan couldn't help but feel chilled. She didn't understand why the Emperor would doubt her so easily. Was their relationship so fragile? Or had the Emperor never truly believed in her?

Seeing Zhen Huan completely enveloped in sorrow, An Lingrong decided to add fuel to the fire and asked, "Sister Mei, which line in the Book of Songs, 'The Songs of Wei - Rogue', do you think is the most thought-provoking?"

Shen Meizhuang knew what she meant and was about to answer, but Zhen Huan beat her to the punch, "A man's infatuation can still be explained. But a woman's infatuation cannot be explained!"

"Sister is smart, I don't need to say anything else!"

Zhen Huan said bitterly, "I know what my sister means. I will think about it carefully!"

An Lingrong added, "But I must remind you, sister, that the Emperor is probably already wary of the Seventeenth Master. You'd better not get involved with him anymore!"

Shen Meizhuang sighed beside him, "Alas, the emperor's heart is unpredictable. Living with him is like living with a tiger!"

Yongzheng had experienced the struggle for the throne among nine other princes, emerged victorious from a sea of blood and corpses. How could he not be suspicious, distrustful, and cold-hearted? Perhaps he didn't even recognize the word "brother"! With the exception of the Thirteenth Prince, Yinxiang, almost all of his brothers met a miserable end.

The former crown prince, the second prince Yinreng, died of unexplained illness in the second year of Yongzheng's reign.

The third prince Yinzhi was sent to guard the mausoleum of Emperor Kangxi after Yongzheng ascended the throne. Later, he was imprisoned in Yong'an Pavilion in Jingshan for complaining. He was stripped of his title and died of illness shortly afterwards.

The seventh prince Yinyou was disabled and posed no threat to Yongzheng, so he escaped the disaster.

The eighth prince Yinsi was renamed Aqina, and the ninth prince Yin'er was renamed Saisihei. They were subjected to extreme humiliation and tortured to death.

The tenth prince Yinzhen escaped the purge in the early days of Yongzheng's reign because his mother was of noble birth. However, a year later, he was stripped of his title and imprisoned.

The twelfth prince Yinlu was initially granted the title of Prince of Lu, but was later demoted to Beizi of Gushan, and soon after, he was demoted to Duke of Zhenguo.

The fourteenth prince Yinzhen and Yongzheng were born of the same mother and were Yongzheng's strongest competitor. After Yongzheng ascended the throne, he did not kill him out of consideration for their brotherhood. He initially exiled him to Malanyu to guard the imperial tomb, and later directly ordered him to be imprisoned.

After the death of Emperor Kangxi, the fifteenth prince Yinyu was sent to guard Jingling Mausoleum.

The sixteenth prince Yinlu was adopted by Prince Zhuang Boguduo.

Yongzheng kept a low profile for more than ten years, showing filial piety to his father, unity with his brother, diligence in government affairs, disdain to fight for the throne, only doing his own job well, secretly cultivating his own confidants, and winning over important ministers around Kangxi, Zhang Tingyu, Longkodo and Nian Gengyao. On the night of the MVP settlement of the nine sons' battle for the throne, he won the throne in one fell swoop.

For such a person, do you expect him to indulge in personal affairs?