newbobooks Chapter 605: The Back-up Plan of the Sun Banquet
Chapter 605: The Back-up Plan of the Sun Banquet
Not long after the emperor came to Zhongcui Palace and sat down, Baizhi came in with the reheated medicinal food and repeated her previous words in a soft voice.
"Huan'er, I remember that on the day you gave birth, I ordered Wen Shichu to nurse you back to health. Why do you still need to use medicinal food to nurse you back to health after your second month of confinement?"
The emperor's words revealed a hint of dissatisfaction with Wen Shichu's medical skills.
It is understandable that Concubine Hui of Yonghe Palace is ill, but Huan'er has always been strong, how could she become so weak?
Zhen Huan lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding the emperor's gaze, and explained softly.
"Your Majesty, it's all my fault. It has nothing to do with Doctor Wen. He has done his best."
Cui Jinxi, who was standing by, interrupted at the right time, her voice revealing a hint of heartache.
"Your Majesty, when my mistress first came to Ganlu Temple to pray, she suffered many hardships from the temple residents. Not only was she placed in a leaky meditation room, but she was also required to undertake heavy daily tasks such as washing clothes, fetching water, and chopping wood. My mistress had no time to observe confinement. After giving birth to the prince and princess, her previous illnesses were brought back, which is why she cannot stop taking medicinal food..."
Zhen Huan hurriedly stopped him.
"Jinxi, don't talk about the past anymore."
He then turned to the emperor and gave him gentle advice.
"Your Majesty, it is indeed my poor condition, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."
The Emperor held Zhen Huan's hand with a distressed look on his face. "You are simply too stubborn. Otherwise, how could you have endured so much suffering? From now on, do not ever mention leaving the palace so easily. Even if you wish to do so, I will never let you go."
Seeing the two masters getting closer, Cui Jinxi winked at Bai Zhi, and the two of them quietly left the main hall.
That night, Zhongcui Palace called for water.
The emperor heard Su Peisheng's voice in a daze, and when he saw Zhen Huan frowning beside him, he scolded her in a low voice.
"Su Peisheng, I'm awake now. You don't need to call me anymore."
He gently patted Zhen Huan through the quilt like coaxing a child until her brows relaxed again.
After the emperor left, Zhen Huan slowly opened her cold eyes.
She lay in bed for a long time before calling out gently.
"Jinxi, please help me get up."
The weather was still cold at that time, and the Imperial Noble Consort sympathized with the difficulty of traveling for the sisters, so she continued the rule set by Concubine Hua to pay respects on the first and fifteenth day of every month.
The reason why Zhen Huan got up early in the morning was to order people to clean up the backyard of Zhongcui Palace.
After receiving the emperor's oral order, my father personally wrote back, saying that my mother and sister would enter the palace together a few days before the 100-day banquet, and my sister would stay in the palace for two days to find a suitable husband.
Zhen Huan felt guilty about the suffering her sister had endured and was determined to find a good marriage for her.
Zhen Huan had long forgotten about Guwaljia Wenyuan's sarcasm.
In the past two months, my sister not only learned the palace rules from the nanny, but also received personal instruction from my father.
Zhen Huan thought to herself that she must choose a husband for her sister who has outstanding character and talent.
On the fifth day of April, before dawn, Zhongcui Palace was brightly lit.
Cui Jinxi had to serve her master in the palace, while Bai Zhi was ordered to go to Shenwu Gate to pick someone up.
When she left, she took the sedan chair that belonged to Zhen Huan.
Ever since Zhen Yurao rode in a sedan chair that could shelter her from wind and rain, she has been thinking about it.
Zhen Huan felt sorry for her sister, so she specifically asked Bai Zhi to take the sedan chair to pick someone up.
Bai Zhi didn't have to wait long outside Shenwu Gate before she saw an inconspicuous carriage slowly approaching.
She took out a badge and waved it in front of the gate guards and the eunuchs, and successfully obtained permission to temporarily leave the palace.
"This servant Bai Zhi pays respects to Madam and the Second Miss."
Madam Zhen quickly helped the person up and said, "Miss Baizhi, thank you for coming to pick me up so early in the morning."
"Baizhi, it's you who's here."
As Zhen Yurao spoke, she stretched her head to look behind her.
Seeing this, Bai Zhi hurriedly explained in a low voice.
"Second Miss, the Queen has to look after the Eleventh Prince and Princess Lingxi in the palace, so she can't come to pick you up. However, the Queen has ordered this servant to bring a sedan chair, saying it's for the Second Miss."
"Mother, my eldest sister treats me so well."
Zhen Yurao gently shook her mother's hand and said coquettishly.
"It's good that you know. The Queen has always been thinking about you."
Mrs. Shen said this with a smile, and then said to Bai Zhi apologetically.
"Miss Baizhi, I brought some things from home. Please find someone to help deliver them to Zhongcui Palace."
"Madam, you are so polite. I anticipated that you and the Second Young Miss would have some luggage, so I asked the eunuch to bring a cart when we came out."
Bai Zhi waved her hand, and two young eunuchs pushing carts came forward attentively to help move the boxes.
"Second Miss, it's very cold outside. The sedan chair is waiting inside Shenwu Gate. Please go inside and warm up."
After receiving the master's order, Bai Zhi specially tidied up the sedan chair, and the interior layout would definitely attract the little girl.
Sure enough, as soon as Zhen Yurao got on the sedan chair, her eyes instantly became bright.
When the sedan chair arrived at Zhongcui Palace, her eyes were still fixed on the sky-blue gauze curtain.
"Second Miss, the lining of your bedroom curtains is also this kind of sky-blue gauze. The Empress personally arranged it."
"Eldest sister is thoughtful."
Zhen Yurao smiled at Bai Zhi and asked in a low voice.
"Baizhi, may I ask where my elder sister has arranged for my mother and me?"
"My dear Second Miss, you and your wife live in the east side hall in the backyard. It has a good location and receives sunlight for a long time. The Empress specially ordered it to be cleaned up."
In fact, Zhen Huan originally wanted to clean up the main hall in the backyard, but after Cui Jinxi went into the house, she changed her mind later.
Zhen Yurao looked at Bai Zhi silently without saying anything.
The nanny who taught etiquette once mentioned that the main hall of all the palaces in the palace was the most comfortable to live in.
If she could occupy a palace to herself in the future, she would definitely arrange for her mother to live in the main hall.
In order to support him and his father, his mother braved the wind and snow to treat patients, and even did not stay at home on New Year's Eve one year.
Although she didn't say it, Zhen Yurao witnessed her mother's pain when the cold penetrated her bones.
On the way back to Beijing, the doctor examined my mother and advised her to get more sun exposure.
Zhen Yurao remembered it in her heart. The golden warm sun shone on her body, and moisture rushed out from everywhere.
Even she could clearly feel the coldness in her body, so how uncomfortable her mother must be.
"Mother......"
As soon as she uttered these distressed words, Madam Zhen gently patted her hand.
"Yu Rao, haven't you been thinking about seeing your elder sister and two nephews every day at home? Now that you're at the door, why don't you go in?"
Zhen Yurao said obediently.
"Mother, please go first."
Her mother was very careful and only after she was sure that she had really given up her thoughts did she allow her to enter the palace at the persuasion of her father.
Zhen Yurao didn't want to be taken back by her mother before she even settled down in the palace.
As she crossed the threshold of Zhongcui Palace, what came into view was still the magnificent golden glazed tiles, and she subconsciously lowered her head.
As soon as the curtain of the main hall was lifted, Zhen Huan looked up.
Madam Zhen and Zhen Yurao both knelt down.
"I, a humble woman, pay my respects to Her Majesty the Concubine Zhen. May everything go well for Her Majesty!"
Zhen Huan walked forward with red eyes and helped the two of them up.
"Mother, Yu Rao, we are a family. There is no need to worry about these empty formalities."
Zhen Yurao held her hand affectionately and shook it coquettishly like when they were little.
"Eldest sister, the palace has strict rules, and as your family you should abide by them. Otherwise, if the news gets to the emperor's ears, it will be bad for you and your family."
"I haven't seen you for nearly two months. Your daughter Yu Rao has become a lady from a wealthy family."
Zhen Huan smiled and led the person inside. "The Imperial Concubine sent over the list of names for the Hundred Days Banquet. Sister, I think the Beile and Beizi among them are good, so I sent someone to investigate. So far, no one with bad moral character has been found."
"Come, I'll tell you in detail."
Zhen Yurao blushed with embarrassment and gently shook Zhen Huan's hand.
"Sister, my mother and I came to the palace to visit the prince and princess. Let's not talk about anything else for now. Can you tell me where the Hundred Days Banquet will be held..."
While people were talking about the Hundred Days Banquet in Zhongcui Palace, Concubine Hua took Anle's hand and walked into the main hall of Yongshou Palace.
"Anle pays his respects to Shu'e Niang!"
An Lingrong stepped forward and helped the little person up.
"Zhaohua has been thinking about you. She is learning how to make tea in the backyard today. Go and play with her."
Anle's eyes lit up. She had never learned how to make tea.
"Shu'e Niang, Anle will take his leave first."
After bowing, Songzhi smiled and took Anle's hand as she walked out.
"Sister Nian, you never come to my temple for no reason. Do you have something to say today?"
Concubine Hua nodded heavily.
"Let's talk in your study."
Concubine Hua couldn't wait to ask before she even sat down on the soft stool in the study.
"I heard from the people below that you guided the Emperor in choosing the palace for the hundred-day banquet for Concubine Zhen's twins?"
An Lingrong smiled and nodded.
"It is a great joy for the royal family that Concubine Zhen gave birth to twins, so it is only natural to hold a hundred-day banquet in Baohe Hall."
"Sister Nian, next time I'll let you know before I do anything, so don't be angry."
When Concubine Hua saw that she was still smiling, her cheeks puffed up with anger.
"Lingrong, Baohedian was the palace where the empress was enthroned and the crown prince was congratulated in the previous dynasty. How could her two children have the right to celebrate their hundred-day anniversary there?"
"It is the Emperor's business to choose the palace for the Hundred Days Banquet. How can you interfere?"
"Sister Nian, four children have been born in the palace in quick succession, and the Emperor values Consort Zhen in Zhongcui Palace more. The more he values the twins, the deeper the damage he will suffer in the future."
An Lingrong lowered her head and whispered a few words into her ear.
Concubine Hua opened her eyes wide in shock.
"Is what you say true?"
Zhen Huan was really bold. When she was a nun, she had an affair with Prince Guo. After returning to the palace, she went to great lengths to replace the baby when the woman was giving birth.
Didn’t the emperor praise Zhen Huan for her gentleness and sensibility after she returned to the palace?
If he finds out one day that everything about Zhen Huan is a fake and that he doesn't exist in her heart at all, will he be so angry that he goes to see the late emperor?
Concubine Hua knew very well that it was not appropriate to laugh out loud at this moment, so she could only cover her mouth and laugh secretly.
"Lingrong, there are still a few elderly elders in the clan. Have you invited them?"
An Lingrong shook her head. "The elders are already old and are not suitable for the tiring journey. However, I have asked the embroidery room to send clothes to the princes and princes whose families have lost their elders for entering the palace."
Concubine Hua thought for a moment and asked directly.
"But the Fucha family asked you to appear before the aunt of the clan? The girls of the Fucha family are well-educated. I used to have this idea, but unfortunately the nephews and nieces of the family all have their own ideas."
Her eyes swept over An Lingrong. The emperor gave her a high status and a surname, which made the Fucha family enter the eyes of everyone.
There are many people who want to marry into the Fucha clan, and the Nian family cannot attract attention at this time.
"Sister Nian, Zhen Huan has been looking for talented young men among the clan since the beginning of the year. She must be looking for a husband for her soon-to-be-married sister, and the Hundred Days Banquet is the best opportunity."
"Her sister is not simple. It would be a good thing if she could get married."
It’s a pity that Zhen Yurao was blinded by the wealth and splendor in the palace and she set her sights on the emperor.
An Lingrong thought about it and decided to tell Concubine Hua that Zhen Yurao looked more like Queen Chunyuan.
"Zhen Huan only vaguely resembles Empress Chun Yuan, but she captivated the Emperor the moment she entered the palace. If another, even more similar Zhen Yurao, were to appear, a mere concubine title wouldn't be enough to demonstrate the Emperor's true devotion."
"You mean the position of Queen?"
Concubine Hua was so surprised that her voice changed.
An Lingrong nodded heavily, "Don't worry, Sister Nian, I have a backup plan."
She would never let Zhen Yurao enter the palace.
Concubine Hua was suspicious of her next move, so she gently stroked her neck with her palm.
"Do you need me to do it? You're being too gentle. It would be much easier to just kill him directly."
"Sister Nian, you are overqualified to handle the matter of Zhen Yuyao. I just need your help with something."
An Lingrong continued to whisper in Concubine Hua's ear.
"Sister Nian, am I being too demanding?"
Concubine Hua stiffened her neck and agreed without hesitation.
"It's not forced at all. The Nian family has been rooted in the capital for many years, so they can still find out some things."
"Okay, I'll trouble you, sister."
An Lingrong then began to praise Concubine Hua, making her so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.
The two chatted in the main hall for a long time before she happily took Anle back.
Before going to bed at night, Concubine Hua thought of Zhen Yuyao and shouted outside.
"Songzhi, come in."
Concubine Hua lowered her voice and finished her order. When she found that there was no reply from Songzhi, she looked up in surprise.
"Didn't you hear my order clearly?"
Songzhi fell to her knees and begged crying.
"Master, you are not alone now. Please don't give those terrifying orders at every turn. Taking someone's life in the palace is too risky. If something happens to you, what will the princess do? What will the Nian family do..."
When Songzhi saw that her master didn't say anything, she knew that the imperial concubine's idea was effective. If her master acted impulsively again in the future, she would come and cry again.
Songzhi was afraid that her master would find out something was wrong, so she counted everyone from the eunuch guarding the Yiku Palace to the watchdog at the Nian Mansion.
Anyway, every other sentence he kept talking about was what happened to her and what to do with those people.
Concubine Hua never knew Songzhi was so talkative, so she finally had to wave her hand and tell her to leave quickly.
As for the matter of taking someone's life, let's talk about it another day.