An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

Ever since Consort Hua mentioned Xianruo Pavilion that day, An Lingrong has always wanted to find out who lived in Xianruo Pavilion and who the "she" Consort Hua was talking about was.

Unfortunately, the servants in Shou Kang Palace were all very tight-lipped, and it was impossible to get any information out of them in a short time. The only thing to do was to have Shuang Xue keep a close eye on things when she moved around in private. If she could get even a few words out of her, it would solve today's problem.

However, now that things have come to this, An Lingrong has learned to calmly deal with the turmoil that has arisen again in the harem.

Although Consort Hua was indignant when she left Shou Kang Palace that day, she only vented her anger on insignificant people like An Lingrong and Fucha Yilan. Towards the Empress Dowager, Consort Hua remained attentive. Specialties from the Western Regions and objects of appreciation were continuously sent to Shou Kang Palace under various pretexts, sometimes even using the Emperor's name.

But the Empress Dowager simply smiled and said, "Consort Hua is very kind," and said nothing more. She remained indifferent, neither revealing what she liked nor disliked.

An Lingrong observed that this was probably the majesty of the imperial family; even knowing it was deliberate flattery, one could not reveal the slightest bit of their true feelings.

Fucha Yilan seems to be more well-informed lately. Whenever a treasure is delivered to Shou Kang Palace, she always knows what it is, how it was obtained, and why it is being presented.

However, most of the items chosen by Consort Hua were flashy but impractical. They looked elegant and dazzling, but in reality, they were useless except for being decorative. They were just for good luck.

Once, Consort Hua sent someone to deliver a snow fox fur cloak. Fucha Yilan couldn't help but play with a piece of vermilion jade that the Empress Dowager had recently bestowed upon her and laughed, mocking, "Although Consort Hua comes from a prestigious family, she always seems to resemble a hunter from beyond the Great Wall. Whenever she hunts something, she is single-minded in presenting it as a treasure, but she doesn't know that the Bodhisattva she worships is thinking of good intentions."

An Lingrong could hear the sarcasm in her words, but she still hadn't figured out Fucha Yilan's true intentions after all this time. Therefore, An Lingrong usually didn't talk to her much, and would just listen to such words with a light smile.

The past few days have been relatively peaceful, and the Shou Kang Palace has been busy preparing the Wanfu Embroidery Scrolls for the Nanshan Sacrifice.

Zhu Xi was very attentive, preparing everything needed. Because Shuangxue had mentioned the palace lanterns the other day, Zhu Xi specially reported to the Empress Dowager to arrange it. She also made an effort to add some lanterns to An Lingrong and Fucha Yilan's residences to prevent them from hurting their eyes while rushing to make them at night.

The "Ten Thousand Blessings" embroidery scroll that the two were to complete was actually a double-sided embroidery with different colors. The entire scroll was not only intricately crafted, but also much larger than ordinary embroidery. When unfolded, the scroll was the size of four screens. Therefore, in addition to An Lingrong and Fucha Yilan serving as the main embroiderers responsible for embroidering the "Ten Thousand Blessings" pattern, the Empress also arranged for six other palace embroiderers to be sent to Shou Kang Palace to assist the two in embroidering the background pattern of the scroll.

Even with so many people on hand, the project was still under tight deadlines. As the deadline approached, the two of them worked day and night, often embroidering until late at night.

As the project was nearing completion, the embroidery pieces, which had originally been sewn separately, were now being sewed together by the embroiderers with fine stitches. The embroidery scroll was so large that a few days ago, the Empress Dowager had to be asked to clear out a side hall and move the embroidery scroll and all the tools there.

It was already dusk, but the side hall was still brightly lit. However, they had been embroidering for two or three hours straight, and apart from dinner, An Lingrong and Fucha Yilan had not moved from their seats.

An Lingrong was just about to get up and stretch her muscles when she saw Zhu Xi coming over with several palace maids.

When the embroiderers saw that it was the head nanny coming over, they quickly got up to pay their respects.

With a kind and smiling face, Zhu Xi gave a slight curtsy to An Lingrong and Fucha Yilan. "Young Mistress An, Miss Yilan, this servant greets you both. The Empress Dowager knows that you two have been very busy making the Wanfu Embroidery Scrolls recently, so she specially prepared bird's nest soup in the small kitchen, saying it would be good for your mind and eyes. She also specifically instructed you two not to rush, just to be careful. If you really cannot finish it on time, the gods will know that Young Mistress An and Miss Yilan are sincere and will surely bless you."

Upon hearing this, An Lingrong quickly replied, "I know the Empress Dowager is understanding, but since I have accepted this task, I certainly cannot let her down."

Fucha Yilan then said obediently, "It's kind of the Empress Dowager to worry about me and Sister An so late at night. It's also kind of you to make this trip. Sister An is right. It's an honor for us to take on this task and contribute to the Nanshan sacrificial ceremony. Please ask Aunt Zhuxi to tell the Empress Dowager that she must take care of her health and not worry about me and Sister An."

Zhu Xi nodded repeatedly after hearing this, and judging from his appearance, he didn't intend to stay any longer. An Lingrong quickly gestured to Shuangxue and took the food box from the palace servant.

After Zhu Xi left, Fucha Yilan opened the food box, saw that it contained only two bowls of bird's nest, and then put the box back. She smiled at the embroiderers present and said, "Sisters in the embroidery workshop have been working hard these days. Seeing that we have finished so much today, there is no need to keep going. Why don't you go back and rest first? We can finish early tomorrow." As she spoke, she turned to Erxue and Erxue obediently took out a few taels of silver from her purse and placed them in the hands of the embroiderers one by one, saying softly, "Thank you for your hard work, sisters. Our young lady and Consort An would like to invite you to have some tea."

The embroiderers were already exhausted, and seeing that they had been rewarded, they all left happily.

An Lingrong saw this and asked with a smile, "Sister, what's the matter? Aunt Zhuxi just came to check on our progress, and now Sister Yilan has sent all the embroiderers back. If word gets out, it will cause unnecessary gossip and trouble."

Fucha Yilan's lips curled slightly, revealing her dimples. Her fair face glowed with a faint blush in the candlelight, and she smiled beautifully. "What's meant to come can't be stopped. We might as well make ourselves comfortable now. We've been busy for so long today, and it looks like we'll be finished in two more days. There's no need to work through the night, unless you're intentionally trying to gain a good reputation."

An Lingrong smiled and said, "It is indeed a sign of your great character that you think this way, sister. I was indeed overthinking it."

Fucha Yilan picked up a bowl of bird's nest soup, took a small sip, and shook her head, saying, "This bird's nest soup isn't ready yet."

An Lingrong took the spoon and tasted it; it was indeed a bit astringent. "The small kitchens in each palace are always the most meticulous in their preparations. How come you've made such a perfunctory stew of bird's nest today?"

Fucha Yilan smiled and said, "Perhaps the Empress Dowager is too concerned about us and is urging us a little too much." As she spoke, she finished the bird's nest in the porcelain cup in a few bites, and then smiled again, "In any case, we can't let down the Empress Dowager's good intentions."

An Lingrong's heart stirred slightly, and she nodded, saying, "What you say is absolutely right, sister," and then finished eating the bird's nest.

Fucha Yilan put down the porcelain cup and walked to the unfolded Wanfu embroidery scroll. Her slender fingers gently brushed over the embroidery patterns on the surface, seemingly admiring it greatly. "It is said that the gods are very insightful, and no matter how small things in the human world can escape their eyes. Yet, the Nanshan sacrifice still requires us to spend our efforts to embroider such a scroll. I wonder if the gods can really see our sincerity through this, or if they think our mortal thoughts are too cumbersome and a waste of our efforts."

An Lingrong felt that although the palace lanterns were bright, she could not make out Fucha Yilan's expression. She only felt that there were shadows and unreal light and shadow floating in front of her eyes.

Fucha Yilan suddenly smiled playfully, "It's getting late. We have to get up early tomorrow, Sister An. Let's go back early."

For some reason, An Lingrong felt a little flustered. She forced a smile and said, "Have the palace servants turn off the lights here and close the doors and windows." She also instructed the eunuch guarding the door to make sure to keep a close watch on the doors, windows, and candles before she was willing to go back to her residence.

Back at her residence, An Lingrong felt uneasy. "Shuangxue, do you remember the white jade pendant I gave you on the day Consort Li had her accident in Jingren Palace?"

Seeing that An Lingrong's face had turned pale, Shuangxue quickly took out the white jade pendant from the bottom of the makeup box and handed it to An Lingrong.

When Shuangxue's fingers touched An Lingrong's palm, she found it was already icy cold, so she quickly asked, "Is Your Highness ill?"

An Lingrong shook her head and said, "I'm just a little uneasy. I feel that the peace these past two days is just an illusion, and I'm afraid something bad is about to happen again."

Shuangxue exclaimed in surprise, "We're currently living in Shou Kang Palace, who would dare cause trouble in the Empress Dowager's palace?" Suddenly, she remembered something, her face paling, "Fifth Prince..."

An Lingrong nodded, "Get me paper and pen."

Seeing that An Lingrong's complexion was getting worse, Shuangxue knew that something was wrong, so she quickly found paper and pen and helped An Lingrong grind ink.

An Lingrong quickly wrote a note, and after the ink had dried slightly, she folded it into several pieces and placed it in Shuangxue's hand along with the white jade pendant. "Perhaps I'm overthinking things today, but after much consideration, I can't leave it unsaid. Go to Shoudong Palace immediately and deliver these two items to Shi Ran. He's seen you before, and if he sees you here, he'll most likely know I need his help, so he won't refuse to see you." After a moment's thought, she added, "There's no other excuse today. Fortunately, your clothes aren't too flashy, so you don't need to change. Just go discreetly and try to avoid being seen by others."

As she spoke, An Lingrong patted Shuangxue's hand and smiled faintly, "I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse, but let's just consider it as a way to put our minds at ease."