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

Fortunately, the Yanx Palace was not far from the Jingren Palace. When An Lingrong arrived, the Queen had not yet stood up. She breathed a sigh of relief. Whether she was going to school or work, the fear of being late always dominated her.

Soon, all the concubines from the palace had arrived, even Concubine Hua, who always liked to arrive late. An Lingrong saw that Shen Meizhuang looked a little unhappy and was about to step forward to ask about it when Jianqiu came out from the hall and bowed, saying, "The Empress has risen. Please enter the hall, ladies."

Entering the main hall of Jingren Palace, tea and snacks had already been set out. There were no spices burning in the hall, only a few pots of osmanthus in the corner exuded a faint fragrance. An Lingrong sniffed carefully and found nothing unusual, so she sat at the end as usual.

After a while, the queen came out in a bright yellow robe with great grace and sat on the phoenix throne.

The concubines stood up and saluted, "Greetings to the Empress, may the Empress be blessed with good health and happiness."

The Queen looked at everyone with satisfaction as they finished their greetings and said, "Everyone, stand up!"

Before she finished speaking, Concubine Hua had already sat on the chair.

The Queen was no longer surprised by this disrespectful behavior. She smiled and said, "You just returned to the palace yesterday and came to pay your respects to me today. Thank you for your hard work!"

Concubine Qi immediately turned into a flatterer: "It is the duty of the concubines to serve the Queen, how dare we say it is hard work."

The Empress had heard enough of Concubine Qi's flattery and didn't want to pay any more attention to her. She looked at Shen Meizhuang with a smile and said, "Concubine Hui, you've been having a hard time with your pregnancy. I heard that the Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department was sent to the Ministry of Punishment for dereliction of duty by the Emperor yesterday. I have appointed Deputy Chief Steward Jiang Zhongmin to take over. If you need anything, please feel free to ask him."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Hua was filled with indignation. Huang Guiquan was actually her distant relative, and it was her recommendation that enabled him to take up the position of General Manager of the Imperial Household Department. However, it was the Emperor himself who made the decision, and she had no way of pleading for him. Now that the Queen's person had taken over, she was afraid that things would not be so convenient for her in the future. She felt even more hatred towards the "old woman" the Queen.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am grateful from the bottom of my heart. When I give birth to an imperial heir in the future, I will certainly be filial to Your Majesty." Shen Meizhuang showed a look of gratitude, but her words touched the heart of the Queen.

The Queen's expression changed for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. "You have contributed greatly to the continuation of the royal family's lineage, so I will naturally take good care of you. My sisters should also work hard. If you give birth to a prince, becoming a concubine or consort is just around the corner!"

The concubines all stood up and saluted, "We thank the Queen for her concern."

Looking at the queen sitting at the top with an aunt's smile on her face, An Lingrong's thoughts drifted away. She was clearly filled with hatred in her heart, but her face was still gentle and kind. Isn't this a split personality?

It would be great if there was a psychologist in this palace!

But even if there is a psychologist, it will be useless. The queen will definitely not admit that she is sick!

Just as An Lingrong's thoughts were flying further and further away, someone outside the palace suddenly chorused: The Emperor has arrived.

An Lingrong quickly stood up and saluted along with the other concubines.

Yongzheng walked into the hall, pulled Shen Meizhuang up, and sat at the head of the table. Looking at the beautiful women below, he said with caring concern, "I just finished court and came to see you. The weather is cold, so you must take care of yourselves. I am busy with state affairs, but I am also thinking of you!"

Without any rehearsal, the concubines said in unison: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Empress, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. Have the gifts for each palace been distributed?" The emperor asked the queen beside him, turning the beads.

The Queen smiled and replied, "Your Majesty, the gifts have been prepared by the Imperial Household Department and will be distributed immediately."

"Very good! Now that Concubine Hui is pregnant, the palace hasn't had a new baby in a long time. I am very happy. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival must be celebrated in a grand manner." Yongzheng changed the subject and said, "The Empress is the master of the six palaces. The children of the concubines in the palace are all your children. You must take good care of Concubine Hui!"

After saying this, he looked at the queen meaningfully.

Seeing the emperor's eyes, the queen's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the emperor already knew? Impossible. Those eunuchs didn't even know whose orders they were following. There was no way they would reveal her.

She quickly adjusted her mood and put on a proper smile: "This is my duty. I will definitely live up to the emperor's trust."

Yongzheng looked at Concubine Hua again: "Concubine Hua, what do you think?"

Hua Fei's blood boiled. The Emperor actually doubted her! But at this moment, she could only dispel the Emperor's suspicion and deliberately said coquettishly: "Your Majesty is extraordinary and heroic, and Concubine Hui is dignified and intelligent. When her child with Your Majesty is born, I will definitely take a closer look to see if he looks like Your Majesty or Concubine Hui!"

Yongzheng nodded with satisfaction.

Yongzheng always turned a blind eye to the jealousy among the women in the harem, believing that his own charm was the reason why the concubines tried their best to win his favor. It was only when it came to his offspring that he was forced to punish the Empress and Consort Hua.

It had been two years since any concubine in the palace had become pregnant. If word got out, it was inevitable that some would speculate that he was no longer able to do it! But Huipin's pregnancy this time told everyone that he, the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, was still as powerful as ever.

At this time, Su Peisheng entered the palace and reported: "Your Majesty, the results of the investigation are out!"

"explain."

"The two young eunuchs said they put cinnabar in Concubine Hui's pillow, thinking it would calm her nerves. As for camphor, they only thought it was for fumigating clothes." After saying this, he glanced at the emperor cautiously and continued, "They've already been tortured, so they didn't tell me anything else."

The beads in Yongzheng's hand spun faster and faster, and the people in the hall realized that someone was trying to harm Huipin's dragon fetus!

Concubine Jing and Noble Lady Xin looked at Shen Meiyu worriedly, while Concubine Qi looked disappointed.

"Issue an order that each of them be given forty lashes of the cane. All eunuchs and maids in the palace be present to witness the execution!"

Only by using thundering means to deal with these people can we achieve a deterrent effect.

The Queen could hardly hold back her smile. The Emperor was warning those who had hurt Concubine Hui!

Shen Meizhuang stood up and saluted, "Your Majesty, since I entered the palace, I have received much favor from the Empress Dowager. I should personally thank her, but I am afraid of disturbing her rest. I wonder if Your Majesty would take me to pay my respects to her?"

It would be a waste not to raise this banner!

"Concubine Hui is very filial! In that case, I will accompany you!" After saying that, without waiting for Shen Meizhuang to bow and take her leave, he pulled her up and left!

The queen still maintained a proper smile, "You all can go away!"

"Concubine, please retire!"