newbobooks Chapter 205 Oath
Chapter 205 Oath
Songzhi stood up and skillfully lit the candlestick. The dim flames instantly dispelled the darkness in the room.
She caught a glimpse of Concubine Hua lying on the bed with a frown on her face, beads of sweat on her face, and she was obviously in the midst of a nightmare.
Songzhi didn't care about the distinction between master and servant, and hurried forward to gently shake Concubine Hua, calling out anxiously.
"My Lady, please wake up!"
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."
Concubine Hua slowly opened her eyes when Songzhi called her, and what she saw was Songzhi's worried face.
She held out her hand doubtfully, "Songzhi, is there something serious going on?"
Songzhi held Concubine Hua's cold hand tightly and explained in a choked voice.
"My Lady, I heard your screams, but I couldn't wake you up."
She used her hands and mouth, shouting for a long time before she finally woke Concubine Hua from her nightmare.
Recalling the despair emanating from her master lying on the bed just now, Songzhi was still frightened. She even felt that if Concubine Hua was not awakened, there might be unpredictable consequences.
"Are you saying that I had a nightmare?"
The imperial concubine tried hard to recall the fragments of her dream, "Brother, brother, I was so nervous while eating this meal."
"What's wrong with you?"
"...The Emperor hasn't even started eating yet, why are you already doing it?"
"That's fine, but you even let Su Peisheng pick up food for you... You've been following the emperor since you were little, and you still dare to order him around."
"You know my temper. I hate the stench of these eunuchs the most..."
She remembered this conversation with her brother after the celebration banquet.
What happened later in the dream was very different from what happened in reality.
Her brother ignored her advice and acted recklessly.
Under Zhen Huan's instigation, the emperor appears to rely more on his brother, but in fact he orders Zhen Yuandao and E Min to secretly collect evidence of his brother's factional activities.
After Prince Dun was captured by the Emperor, the people arranged by the Emperor came out one by one to impeach his brother, the relatives, friends and servants of the Nian family.
The emperor took advantage of the situation and used this as an excuse to completely eradicate the Nian clan.
Apart from her who was trapped in the deep palace, the Nian family only had a few young nephews and nieces left.
The fire at Suiyuxuan was the key to her demise.
In her dream, she was ordered to be executed by the emperor, but the woman who loved him deeply would not be satisfied until she saw the imperial edict.
When she was in a state of dismay, Zhen Huan told her the secret of Huan Yixiang, which made her so upset that she desperately ran into the wall.
Recalling everything in the dream, Concubine Hua couldn't help but cover her right eye, as if the hot blood had wrapped around her eyes again.
"My Lady, are you feeling any discomfort in your eyes? I will go and fetch the imperial physician."
Songzhi suggested with tears in her eyes.
Concubine Hua pinched herself hard with her other hand, and the pain made her wake up instantly.
She ordered in a hoarse voice
"I have nothing to do. Go and get me a cup of warm water."
Only after drinking a cup of warm water did Concubine Hua feel warm.
"Songzhi, Concubine Shu is right. The child in your belly is the support of this palace and the Nian family."
"No matter how difficult it is, I will give birth to this child."
"I'll take leave for the next three days. I need to take good care of myself."
Before lying down, she specifically instructed Songzhi to pass the message to Yonghe Palace.
The dream was so real that Concubine Hua had the illusion that this was the life she was supposed to experience.
But in reality, she was lucky and met the kind-hearted An Lingrong.
With her suggestion, the Nian family discovered the musk in the Huanyi incense in advance, and also understood the emperor's attitude towards the Nian family.
Her brother made a prompt decision to die, leaving her and the Nian family with a chance of survival.
Concubine Hua touched her flat belly in the dark, muttering silently.
"My child, you are my child, and also the child of the Nian family."
An Lingrong said that her brother sent her the child because he was afraid that she would be lonely, so she had no reason not to keep the child.
Half asleep and half awake, Concubine Hua vaguely saw a tall figure standing at the head of the bed.
She used up all her strength, but couldn't open her eyes.
"My Lady, please leave the bedroom!"
"My lady..."
Concubine Hua, who was awakened, turned her head to look at the bedside. Apart from Songzhi who was kneeling and calling for help, there was nothing unusual.
"Songzhi, did you sleep on the footstool last night?"
"My Lady, this servant has been watching over you the entire time. You slept soundly in the second half of the night."
Songzhi thought that the queen was worried that she would say something disrespectful again in the middle of the night, so she quickly explained.
"You were exhausted last night. I'm taking a break during the day, so you should go get some sleep."
In the dream, Songzhi's ending was not good. She was rejected by the emperor and the end of her life was obvious.
All the suffering she endured was caused by the Nian family.
"Master, I am not tired. You can rest assured to take care of the baby, and I will take care of the rest."
Seeing that the queen's spirit had returned, Songzhi felt full of energy to do anything.
Three days passed in a flash, and Concubine Hua went to Jingren Palace as usual.
Her poor complexion naturally attracted the attention of the Queen, who reminded her implicitly that if she was sick, she should consult a royal physician and not be afraid to seek medical treatment.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am in good health and am fine for now."
"Your Majesty, your eyes are dark blue. I'm afraid you didn't sleep well because of the busy palace duties. This is my fault."
"I will help you as soon as possible."
The emperor's decree appointing her as a noble concubine clearly stated that she was given the power to assist in managing the six palaces, so she must not let the emperor down.
"Then I'll have to trouble Noble Concubine Hua."
The queen, who had only controlled the harem for a few days, smiled generously.
An Lingrong carefully observed Concubine Hua opposite her, and countless doubts popped up in her mind.
What's going on with this guy?
When he paid his respects to the Queen for the first time after returning from his illness, he mocked the Queen's age and showed off his power in managing the six palaces.
Isn’t she afraid of drawing the Queen’s attention away from Suiyuxuan and onto herself?
An Lingrong blinked at her helplessly, which really attracted her attention.
"Noble Consort Shu, I heard you held a small banquet a few days ago. Why didn't you invite me?"
Faced with Concubine Hua's unreasonable questioning, the Queen came to the rescue with a smile before she even opened her mouth.
"Noble Concubine Hua, you were recuperating in the palace at that time, so it would be inappropriate for Noble Concubine Shu to disturb you."
"How about Concubine Shu entertain Concubine Hua alone today?"
The Yonghe Palace was surrounded by Concubine Shu like an iron barrel, and now Concubine Hua was obviously looking for trouble with her, and the Queen was happy to watch the show.
She secretly hoped that Concubine Hua would act rashly and attack the people in Yonghe Palace directly.
"I will obey your Majesty's orders. I wonder if Concubine Hua would be willing to honor me with your presence?"
Concubine Hua raised her chin proudly and said, "It's okay for me to go there."
Zhen Huan did not come to pay her respects. The Queen briefly greeted her, showing the Emperor's favor towards her, and then let everyone go.
Concubine Hua never acted according to common sense. Several people looked at An Lingrong worriedly, but no one dared to step forward to stop her from going to Yonghe Palace.
"Lingrong, I have decided to give birth to this child. Regardless of whether it is a prince or a princess in the future, they will definitely not become an obstacle to your child."
"I swear on my life."
When there were only two people left in the room, Concubine Hua, who was sitting on the couch, suddenly spoke.
An Lingrong rested one hand on the small table and placed the other hand on her forehead.
"You don't have a high fever, why are you talking nonsense?"
"An Lingrong, you have done a favor for the Nian family. This action of mine is done with sincerity."
Under Concubine Hua's fixed gaze, An Lingrong chuckled softly.
"Sister Hua Guifei, my only wish is to raise your three children well."
"I guess you have the same idea."