The Legend of Zhen Huan: Rebirth of Ling Rong

After Nian Gengyao was demoted to Hangzhou, he was filled with resentment and dissatisfaction towards the emperor.

This sentiment gradually became known to the outside world, and rumors began to spread that Nian Gengyao was dissatisfied with the emperor. When these rumors reached the emperor's ears, he was furious.

In fact, the emperor did not want to kill Nian Gengyao completely. If Nian Gengyao could stay in Hangzhou honestly and live a peaceful life, the emperor might not pursue his mistakes anymore and might even forgive him.

However, Nian Gengyao could not get over his demotion, and his resentment grew day by day.

He thought of the great contributions he had made in his battles for the emperor in the past, but now he was treated like this by the emperor, and he felt very unbalanced.

The Emperor then issued another decree: "I consider Nian Gengyao's military achievements to be remarkable, but his superiority overshadows his own, and his disrespect for the Emperor is truly intolerable. I am hereby stripping him of his title of Grand General and Grand Tutor, expelling his First-Class Dukedom, and demoting him to the position of guard at the Hangzhou city gate. I hope he will repent and reform in order to repay my grace."

When this order was issued, the entire court was shocked, and the emperor was still somewhat merciful to Nian Gengyao.

Nian Gengyao himself felt deeply humiliated and angry about this, and he believed that he was treated unfairly.

Concubine Hua went to ask for an audience with the emperor again. She had gone back and forth three times, but the emperor still avoided her.

Every time, she would kneel until late at night before stumbling back to the Yikun Palace. Her legs were already numb and she could barely stand.

As soon as she entered the door, she collapsed to the ground and tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty..." Songzhi looked at her with heartache, but didn't know how to comfort her.

"I'm fine!" Hua Fei fought back tears and said through gritted teeth, "It's just that my knee hurts a lot."

"Baojuan, go and find out if Concubine Hua has returned yet?" I asked softly while sitting on the bed.

"My lady, why are you asking this?" Baojuan was puzzled.

"I'm just asking."

"My lady, you are just too kind. Concubine Hua is not very friendly to you on weekdays." Baojuan couldn't help but say.

"Although Concubine Hua is arrogant and domineering, she also has her pitiful side," I sighed.

"Pitiful? Is someone like her worthy of being called pitiful?" Baojuan snorted disdainfully.

"Baojuan, you don't understand." She shook her head. "Hua Fei was once a simple and kind woman, but unfortunately she was blinded by power and desire."

"My lady, you should take care of yourself." Baojuan reminded her, "Hua Fei is not a good person. We must be careful."

"I know, I was just asking casually." I comforted Baojuan.

"Baojuan, it's still early. I want to go out for a walk."

"My dear, I'll go with you!"

When we passed the road that must be taken to Yiku Palace, we indeed met Concubine Hua and Songzhi.

"Baojuan, wait here, I'll be back soon." I looked around and saw that there was no one around, so I whispered to Baojuan.

"My lady, you'd better not go." Baojuan said worriedly.

"It's okay. I'll just say a few words and be back. Are you worried about me watching you here? Just leave it at that. Just keep quiet."

"I pay my respects to Concubine Hua!"

Concubine Hua also didn't expect that I would suddenly appear in front of her.

"An Lingrong, why is it you? Now even you can come to laugh at my joke?" Concubine Hua raised the corners of her mouth slightly, smiled self-deprecatingly, and her tone was sarcastic.

"Your Majesty, please be suspicious. I didn't mean any of that. I was just passing by and wanted to say hello to you!" I smiled slightly and spoke softly, without any ridicule or hostility.

"Oh? You're so kind? We've never been friends, but rather enemies. What's behind all this?"

She stared at me intently, trying to find a flaw in my expression and tone.

Lowering her head slightly, she replied softly, "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. I did not intend to target you. What happened in the past is over, and I no longer care about it. Your Majesty is in a difficult situation now, and I simply wanted to express my concern."

My tone was sincere and genuine, making it difficult for anyone to doubt my sincerity.

Concubine Hua was silent for a moment, and the expression on her face gradually softened. She sighed softly and said with a hint of resignation, "Never mind. I've fallen so far, I don't care what you people think." After saying this, she closed her eyes, as if lost in thought.

I bowed slightly to Concubine Hua and said softly, "Take care, Your Majesty. I will take my leave first."

Where no one could see, I slipped a note to Concubine Hua.

Although Concubine Hua was a little surprised, she realized what I meant and quietly accepted it.

Then I turned and left, leaving Hua Fei standing there alone with a complicated expression.

After a long while, Concubine Hua called Songzhi to help her go back.

"My lady, what did you just say to Nian Dan? I'm really worried." Baojuan couldn't help but become curious.

"Nothing, just a few words. Concubine Hua has a bad temper and is never happy with anyone."

"Then my lady, let's go back!" Baojuan saw that it was getting late and urged me to go back quickly.

"Well, we should go back!"

"Your Majesty, how are you? Does your knee still hurt today? Let me apply medicine for you!" Songzhi asked with concern.

"It's nothing. I'm a little tired today and I want to go to bed early!" Hua Fei told Songzhi.

"Yes, I'll wash and dress for Your Majesty. You can go to bed early!" After saying that, Songzhi turned around and went to fetch water.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Concubine Hua immediately opened the things that Concubine An had just given her.

It was a small piece of paper, but every word on it struck Hua Fei's heart like a heavy hammer.

The contents of the letter made her face pale, and her eyes revealed despair and helplessness.

"If you want to save the lives of the entire Nian family, instead of persuading the Emperor to consider their old friendship, it would be better to persuade your brother to sincerely admit his fault to the Emperor and not embarrass him any further. Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope."

This sentence deeply hurt Hua Fei's heart. She had always thought that her family's status was stable, but she didn't expect that it had now reached a critical moment of life and death.

Her brother was demoted again and again, and she herself was demoted to a concubine.

If she couldn't keep her wealth and glory, she would accept it. Now she only hoped that the emperor could save her brother's life.

But the emperor no longer wanted to see her, and now she had no other options. These few words gave her new hope.

Nian Shilan reacted and immediately burned the note.

After Songzhi came in, she prepared to help her mistress wash up.

"Songzhi, go get me some paper and pen. I need to write to my brother and ask about his situation so I can feel more at ease."

"Yes, I'll get it right away!" Although Songzhi didn't know what her young lady meant, she still did as she was told and immediately went to get paper and pen.

"Nian Shilan wrote down some important instructions and gave them to Songzhi, asking her to find a way to get them out of the palace immediately and send them to her brother in Hangzhou."

"Be sure to hurry!"