An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

What An Lingrong said was exactly what Zhen Huan was worried about.

In their daily interactions, Zhen Huan could sense that the Emperor treated her differently from the other concubines. This difference made her often feel incredibly fortunate to have met someone in the harem with whom she shared mutual admiration.

However, the events that followed her entry into the palace filled Zhen Huan with panic. She had never been afraid of difficulties, but for some reason, the more she perceived what she possessed, the more afraid she became of what she might face.

An Lingrong's words were true, but Zhen Huan's inner confusion was also true. What she feared was not just becoming someone everyone in the harem envied, nor was it that someone would scheme against her like they did against Consort Hua today. Rather, she worried that one day, she too would have to face the Emperor's suspicion, just like Consort Hua.

Zhen Huan sighed softly, "Ling Rong, I understand everything you're saying, but..."

An Lingrong had already guessed what Zhen Huan didn't say.

At this time, Zhen Huan, like other concubines who still harbored illusions about the emperor's favor, felt that she was special and that her relationship with the emperor was different.

An Lingrong looked into Zhen Huan's eyes and asked, "But perhaps if we struggle a little longer, we can at least find a peaceful corner of the world, right?"

Zhen Huan smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her smile extremely beautiful, "Perhaps if we deal with each move as it comes and do our best to protect ourselves, we can also earn a peaceful and tranquil place like Suiyu Pavilion, where we can stay in the harem with Sister Mei, accompany each other, and grow old together."

An Lingrong nodded. If it could really be like that, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

However, An Lingrong always had a vague feeling that even with so many changes in this life, it is difficult to change a person's temperament. Zhen Huan's biggest weakness is her deep affection, and isn't Zhen Huan now deeply trapped in the love potion?

An Lingrong suddenly realized what Cao Qinmo's unusual behavior was all about today, and discussed it with Zhen Huan, saying, "Cao Qinmo suddenly showed goodwill, and the method she obtained was ambiguous. Now it seems we really don't know what she wants to do."

Zhen Huan shook her head. "It's indeed hard to tell. Everyone in the harem knows that Cao Qinmo is Consort Hua's person. But today, when she came, she said that she stayed in the Empress's palace a little longer, implying that the Empress was treating her differently."

She implied that Consort Fucha's poisoning was orchestrated by someone using a bridging method, but it was an impractical one. How much she actually knew about this matter, and how much she was involved, remains a mystery.

However, it seems that Consort Cao has probably guessed the Emperor's thoughts, and may already be considering changing her allegiance.

An Lingrong snorted, "The most taboo thing in this harem is infidelity. If she really has such thoughts, she probably won't live long."

This is not just hearsay. In her previous life, Consort Cao was promoted to the rank of concubine by the emperor for her meritorious service in reporting Consort Hua, but she suddenly fell ill and died not long after.

Later, she overheard the Empress casually mention Consort Cao's affair, saying that those who are disloyal and unfilial are the least likely to last. This gave her a second thought. She secretly bribed someone in the Imperial Medical Academy to inquire, and was told that the higher-ups were intentionally giving Consort Cao "special treatment." At that time, no one in the harem could challenge the Empress. In this palace, the only ones who could get the Imperial Medical Academy to directly target the concubines were the Emperor, the Empress, and the Empress Dowager's family.

Zhen Huan nodded upon hearing this, "Although Consort Hua has been implicated in this matter and may already be suspected by the Emperor, her favor with the Emperor has not diminished in the slightest. It's unlikely that Cao Qinmo will immediately turn against her. It seems that she is playing both sides to leave herself an escape route. If Consort Hua really falls one day, she won't be implicated and lose her life. After all, she still has Princess Wenyi. It's not wrong for her to want to find a way out for herself and her child. Let's wait and see."

The two chatted about everyday things for a while, but they were exhausted from the day's events and returned to their respective chambers to rest.

------

Jingren Palace.

Jianqiu presented the apples that the palace maids had cut to the Empress and said softly, "Consort Cao is quite obedient; she has already made an appointment with Zhen Huan."

"Well, although she has relied on Consort Hua all these years, she has remained lukewarm and has not said much. When the princess grows up, whether she is betrothed to a son of an official nearby or married off to Mongolia or Tibet, Consort Hua is not reliable." The Empress said slowly, her tone devoid of any emotion, as if she were not talking about the Emperor's most beloved princess, but any random cat or dog on the street.

“Of course, all the children in the harem are the Empress’s children, and in the future, their marriages will all be decided by Your Majesty the Empress,” Jianqiu said with a smile.

This is indeed true. The Qing Dynasty had a long-standing custom of intermarriage between the Manchus and Mongols. If a Mongol daughter was to marry a foreign prince to the capital, the emperor's daughters would naturally also have the opportunity to marry a Mongol prince. If a neighboring small country requested a marriage alliance with the emperor to establish diplomatic relations, from a national perspective, the emperor would certainly agree. At that time, the decision of which daughter to marry would be made jointly with the empress.

The Empress, that's what she's referring to.

After the morning greetings concluded, the Empress deliberately kept Consort Cao behind and had her bring Princess Wenyi over, indicating that she intended to bring up the matter.

Consort Cao was incredibly clever. The Empress had only said a few words, but Consort Cao already knew that the Empress's words had a hidden meaning and that she was being intentionally courted. However, Consort Cao was also well aware that Consort Hua was currently very powerful, and if she switched her allegiance to the Empress now, Consort Hua would certainly not spare her.

It's just that I wonder if Consort Cao might have other ideas amidst all this.

Thinking of this, Jianqiu asked, "However, this maid still doesn't quite understand why Her Majesty the Empress wanted Consort Cao to openly show goodwill to Zhen Huan. Wouldn't that make Consort Hua clearly see that Consort Cao had ulterior motives?"

The Empress smiled and said, "Consort Hua has always been proud and will never allow her people to have disloyal intentions. I want to make Consort Hua suspicious of Consort Cao. Among the people Consort Hua is on good terms with, only Consort Cao is a smart person. Without her advice, Consort Hua is just a tiger with its teeth pulled, only knowing how to bark."

"But Your Majesty, aren't you worried that Consort Cao might speak carelessly to Zhen Huan and ruin your plans?" Jianqiu asked.

The Empress chuckled, “Consort Cao, ha, she doesn’t have the guts.”

Firstly, she still needed Consort Hua's protection and dared not break ties with her in the short term. Secondly, since Princess Wenyi's future had been mentioned, she knew that she was the only one she could rely on in the future. Therefore, she would definitely not provoke either side. On the contrary, she would rack her brains to stir up trouble in this situation, because only when the water was muddy enough would she have a chance.

However, what kind of future she and Princess Wenyi can earn depends entirely on her own understanding and ability.