An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

Yuan's promotion was rapid. Less than two months after the last promotion, the emperor wanted to grant her another promotion, making her a Noble Lady.

However, this promotion was in accordance with the proper etiquette, because this Lady Miaoyin was pregnant.

The emperor had just drafted the decree when the empress arrived.

It is said that there is another piece of good news to tell the Emperor. Consort Fucha of Yanxi Palace had irregular menstruation today, so she asked the imperial physician to take a look. Upon examination, he discovered that she was pregnant. He specially asked the Empress to check the records of her visits to the Emperor, and the dates matched. So she came to tell the Emperor.

This is the greatest joyous occasion since the emperor ascended the throne; the imperial harem is about to be filled with new members.

It was naturally a great joy that two concubines were pregnant at the same time.

"However," the Empress said with a smile, "both of my younger sisters are pregnant now and will soon give birth to imperial heirs. It would be too early to promote them now. Wouldn't it be better to wait until the princes are born, so we can have double the joy, and then promote them together?"

The emperor pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "As expected, the empress has thought things through thoroughly! Very well, once the children are born, I will naturally reward them handsomely."

The Queen nodded in agreement.

-----

When the news of the two concubines' pregnancies spread, Consort Hua was the one who was most upset in the entire palace.

Everyone knows that Consort Hua was the emperor's favorite concubine in the Prince's mansion. Even now, with new concubines emerging in the harem, the emperor still spends most of his time in Consort Hua's palace, except for the first and fifteenth of each month when he goes to the Empress's palace.

However, even with this favor, Consort Hua remained childless for many years.

Consort Hua felt a tightness in her chest, and her face also looked unpleasant.

Recently, he has even stopped paying his respects to the Empress, saying that he caught a cold in the winter and didn't want to pass it on to his two pregnant sisters.

News of Consort Hua's illness reached the ears of Nian Gengyao, the Governor-General of Sichuan and Shaanxi. This general, a man of rugged character and a warrior who risked his life on the battlefield, was deeply devoted to his younger sister. Upon hearing of her recent illness, he hastily wrote a letter home. Whether he secretly sent a copy to Consort Hua is unknown, but it is certain that a copy reached the Emperor.

It is said that although Nian Gengyao was a military man, he was quite a good writer. Although his letter home was short, it brought tears to the emperor's eyes. As soon as the court session ended, he hurried to Consort Hua's Yikun Palace.

It was said that the emperor read General Nian's family letter with Consort Hua, and then personally wrote another letter, which was sent back to Sichuan by express courier.

This story not only became a popular tale in the imperial harem, but it is also said to have spread among the common people. They all praised the current emperor for his loyalty and righteousness, treating General Nian as if he were his own brother.

------

Inside the Broken Jade Pavilion.

“This rumor is a bit too far-fetched,” An Lingrong laughed. “The common people have never seen a real emperor, so they’re probably just speculating based on stories from folk tales.”

Zhen Huan smiled and said, "Of the three of us, only Sister Mei Zhuang has actually met the Emperor. What does Sister Mei Zhuang think?"

Zhen Huan's words were clearly a joke at Shen Meizhuang's expense, and Shen Meizhuang, of course, understood. She feigned anger and retorted, "What a disrespectful Consort Wan!"

Seeing that Shen Meizhuang was ignoring her, Zhen Huan quickly coaxed her, "Sister Mei, please tell us. Lingrong and I have never properly met the Emperor. Although we met him briefly in the Empress's palace that day, we never really had a proper time to get along with him."

Upon hearing the words "get along well," Shen Meizhuang blushed. Indeed, of the three, she was the only one who had been favored by the emperor, and she still enjoyed the emperor's and empress dowager's favor.

"His Majesty is a very good person, but he doesn't talk much usually."

Zhen Huan nodded, thinking to herself, "With Mei-jie's girlish manner, she must have truly fallen for the Emperor."

An Lingrong clearly saw Shen Meizhuang's expression, but knew that it was best not to say anything at this moment and could only let things take their course. However, things were still alright for now. Although Shen Meizhuang was favored, she was not the most outstanding one in the harem. It would probably be some time before Consort Hua made a move against Shen Meizhuang, so there was no rush to make Shen Meizhuang realize the truth.

But I still have to say something: “Since ancient times, emperors have often been fickle. Judging from our emperor’s attitude toward Consort Hua and General Nian, he doesn’t seem like a cold-hearted monarch.”

"Since ancient times, the inner palace and the court have been one. The Emperor cares a lot about the inner palace because the inner palace and the court are inextricably linked. Now the situation on the border is unstable and there are not many capable generals in the court. General Nian is naturally someone the Emperor should value and employ." Zhen Huan said slowly. "However, we can only talk about this behind closed doors in our own palace. The inner palace cannot discuss politics."

Upon hearing this, An Lingrong and Shen Meizhuang exchanged a glance and nodded in understanding.

After all, the harem is full of gossip, and who would risk their life? In order to be able to mention Consort Hua when chatting with Zhen Huan, even Bao Juan, who was by Zhen Huan's side, was sent to the Imperial Household Department to get needlework.

"Since the imperial court and the harem are inseparable, I only hope that we can live peacefully in the harem and never implicate our families."

Zhen Huan nodded.

"Is your cough any better, little sister?" Zhen Huan suddenly realized that An Lingrong's cough was not as serious as rumored, and suddenly remembered to ask.

An Lingrong smiled and said, "It's fortunate that you asked me, otherwise I wouldn't know when to bring it up."

“Ever since that day in the Empress’s palace when I coughed like a cripple, the whole palace probably thought I was about to die, and everyone was worried that I had tuberculosis, so they avoided me like the plague. However, my cough is actually because of this,” An Lingrong said, taking out a handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiping it in front of Zhen Huan’s nose.

Zhen Huan felt her throat and nose become dry and itchy.

An Lingrong smiled and said, "This is it. It's a kind of spice from my hometown. Ordinary people will feel an itch in their throat and nose when they smell it, but it's nothing serious. They'll just sneeze a few times and it will be over. But I'm more sensitive to this spice. It makes me cough non-stop when I smell it, but it's not a big deal. I'll be fine after resting for half a day."

Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang was greatly alarmed.

"Sister Lingrong, what do you mean by this?"

An Lingrong said, "My two elder sisters are not outsiders, so I will not deceive them. My father is just a county magistrate. He comes from a humble background and seeks only stability. Given his nature, he has no future in officialdom. As for me, I am naturally timid. By chance, I entered the palace and only hope to live a peaceful life. I do not seek great wealth or status, but only a safe life and not to implicate my family."

Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang was quite moved and nodded repeatedly. "Although we have entered the palace, we are still raised and educated by our parents. There are too many intrigues in the harem, and it is not easy to protect ourselves. I understand your intentions."

Zhen Huan nodded silently, indicating that she understood, but her face was somber, and she said no more.

“My two elder sisters, I am of dull talent and do not expect to rise to the top in the harem. But I know that you two treat me like your own sister. If one day you two need me to serve your favor, I will definitely follow your arrangements.”

An Lingrong spoke sincerely, and Zhen Huan was somewhat moved. "Sister Lingrong, although the three of us have agreed to stand together through thick and thin, I will never let you do anything against your conscience."

An Lingrong nodded with a smile. In her past life, she had done far too many things against her will; in retrospect, almost none of them were things she truly wanted to do.

Oh, there is one thing I really want to do, and that is to deliberately let the pregnant Shen Meizhuang know that Zhen Huan and Wen Shichu are in trouble.

Thinking of this, An Lingrong felt a pang of pain in her heart. How heartless she had been back then to be jealous of the affection between Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang. Although she could not compare to that affection, how many people in the harem could treat her like Zhen Huan did?