newbobooks Chapter 200 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 13
Chapter 200 The Legend of Zhen Huan, Consort Qi 13
After being repeatedly rebuffed at Yangxin Hall, Jingren Palace, and Shou Kang Palace, Shen Meizhuang was filled with anxiety. Was there really no way to save Zhen Huan? Today was supposed to be a joyous day for Zhen Huan, but unexpectedly, the happy occasion turned into a bad one.
"Caiyue, come with me to Chuxiu Palace," Shen Meizhuang said dejectedly.
Caiyue said cautiously, "Your Highness, it's so late. Consort Jin is probably already asleep. Besides, Consort Jin is pregnant. It wouldn't be good if we disturbed her pregnancy."
"The Emperor won't see me, nor will the Empress or the Empress Dowager. I have no choice but to try anything. Consort Jin is deeply favored by the Emperor; perhaps she can put in a good word for Huan'er," Shen Meizhuang said in despair.
Caiyue could only advise, "It's late now, and it's too cold outside. Why don't you go tomorrow, Your Highness?"
Shen Meizhuang insisted, "We can't worry about that now, you need to come with me to Chuxiu Palace right away."
Caiyue really couldn't do anything about Shen Meizhuang. If something happened to Consort Jin's unborn child, wouldn't that be a serious crime? It's a pity that the young lady has lost her mind because of Consort Wan's matter.
In Chuxiu Palace, Wen Yuan had just lain down when Jing Fu's voice came from outside.
"Jingfu, stop! Her Majesty has already lain down," Fanglan advised.
Wen Yuan propped herself up, and Jing An, seeing this, quickly came over to help her up and lit the candles in the room.
"What is it?" Wen Yuan asked, puzzled.
Jingfu entered, bowed respectfully, and announced, "Your Majesty, Consort Hui requests an audience."
Wen Yuan slightly raised her eyes, a complicated expression flashing in them. She thought it was something important, but it turned out to be this matter. Shen Meizhuang had come because of Zhen Huan. Normally, Shen Meizhuang rarely interacted with her, but now that she had something to ask of her, she came to ask for her help. Was Wen Yuan very familiar with Shen Meizhuang? Was she very familiar with Zhen Huan?
"I won't see you," Wen Yuan said softly, her tone tinged with coldness.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Upon receiving the news, Jingfu hurriedly ran out.
Consort Hui is really inconsiderate. She had spoken to Consort Hui in a very polite manner, and Consort Hui was already asleep, but Consort Hui was still making a fuss outside, insisting on seeing the Empress and asking her to go and inform her. Jingfu couldn't stand Consort Hui anymore, so she ran back to tell the Empress.
Fortunately, the Empress did not blame her. This time, Consort Hui should give up.
Shen Meizhuang stood outside Chuxiu Palace, her heart filled with anxiety. After a short while, the main gate of Chuxiu Palace opened a small gap, and Jingfu, the personal maid of Consort Jin, came out.
Shen Meizhuang hurried forward and asked anxiously, "Is Consort Jin asleep?"
Jingfu said, "Her Majesty has already gone to sleep. Consort Hui, please go back first. When Her Majesty wakes up tomorrow, I will definitely tell her that Consort Hui came."
Upon hearing Jingfu's words, Shen Meizhuang showed a disappointed expression. She still wanted to try again, but after Jingfu finished speaking, he directly closed the gates of Chuxiu Palace. Shen Meizhuang could only wait until tomorrow to talk about it again.
When Wen Yuan woke up, she went to Jingren Palace to pay her respects. The weather was still very cold, but it had stopped snowing.
When Shen Meizhuang was paying her respects, she pleaded with Yixiu on behalf of Zhen Huan. Yixiu interrupted Shen Meizhuang and said that the Emperor had already decided on this matter, and they could not interfere.
Shen Meizhuang then came to Chuxiu Palace to pay her respects again and spoke to her privately about Zhen Huan.
Shen Meizhuang knelt before Wen Yuan and said, word by word, "Consort Jin, please help Consort Wan. Consort Wan did not mean to wear the late Empress Chun Yuan's old clothes. You are deeply favored by the Emperor. Please save Consort Wan. I will do anything to repay your kindness. Besides, Consort Wan's father and your father both work in the Censorate."
The more Wen Yuan listened to Shen Meizhuang's words, the colder her eyes became. "Do you, Shen Meizhuang, usually have any dealings with her? Apart from the first day, it was she who went to talk to Zhen Huan. After that, when she became pregnant, apart from the first day when she sent a palace maid to deliver gifts, which were just ordinary gifts, I never saw any trace of you, Shen Meizhuang or Zhen Huan. Now you're bringing up the kindness of our fathers. I've never seen Zhen Yuandao help her father before."
"Her Majesty the Empress has already spoken about this matter. His Majesty has the judgment and will certainly not wrong Consort Wan. Once the storm has passed, His Majesty will naturally remember Consort Wan's good qualities. Consort Hui, as one of His Majesty's concubines, if you gain favor, His Majesty will definitely care about your words. At that time, you will be able to plead for Consort Wan on your own. Don't you think so?"
Sincerity shone in Wen Yuan's eyes, but Shen Meizhuang dared not look directly into them. Wen Yuan was right; if she were favored, it would be a pity she did not want to.
Shen Meizhuang fled in a disheveled state, and Wen Yuan, watching Shen Meizhuang's flustered steps, couldn't help but laugh.
"Your Majesty, what are you laughing at?" Jingfu asked, puzzled.
"I'm just laughing. The relationship between Consort Wan and Noble Lady Hui is nothing more than this. Even if Noble Lady Hui is thinking of Consort Wan, she won't sacrifice her own interests." Wen Yuan chuckled. How ridiculous. If she really wanted to help Zhen Huan, she would use her own methods to please the Emperor and plead for Zhen Huan. But Shen Meizhuang was unwilling to compromise. It's clear that Shen Meizhuang has a strong personality.
A month has passed since Zhen Huan was confined to Suiyu Pavilion. The Emperor instructed that Zhen Huan be given the same rations as a concubine. Zhen Huan has been eating spoiled food for the past month. Shen Meizhuang, on the other hand, spent the first half of the month running around for Zhen Huan, but gradually became quiet in the second half of the month.
One day, Zhen Huan suddenly fainted. Huan Bi, Liu Zhu, and Xiao Yunzi wanted to fetch the imperial physician for Zhen Huan, but the guards of Suiyu Pavilion refused to open the door. Xiao Yunzi broke down the door, and Liu Zhu ran into a knife. When the guards realized that someone had died, they quickly went to report to their superiors, and only then were the imperial physicians summoned.
Imperial Physician Wen took Zhen Huan's pulse. After Zhen Huan woke up, she saw Jinxi, Huanbi, and Wen Shichu surrounding her.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject congratulates you," Wen Shichu said.
Jinxi and Huanbi, who were standing nearby, also knelt down and congratulated her in unison: "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, Lord Wen says you are already one month pregnant."
Upon hearing this news, Zhen Huan's eyes flashed with a complex expression. After a moment of contemplation, her expression hardened, and her tone was calm yet carried an undeniable authority: "Jinxi and Imperial Physician Wen, please stay. The rest of you may leave."
She had once been full of hope, longing to bear the emperor's child, but now that the truth has been revealed, her heart seems to be frozen, devoid of any emotion.
After everyone had left, Wen Shichu said softly, "Your Majesty, I just took your pulse. You are in a bad mood, and your pregnancy is not very stable. You need to calm down and not get angry. You need to put your mind at ease."
Zhen Huan could not have misunderstood what Wen Shichu was saying, but she simply didn't want to fight anymore; she was tired.
Wen Shichu said that now is her only chance to turn things around, but unfortunately Zhen Huan has not yet heard the news of the lifting of the ban. She understands that her relationship with the Emperor can never be restored, and can only entrust herself and the child in her womb to Wen Shichu.
Given the childhood friendship between Wen Shichu and Zhen Huan, he naturally promised to take good care of Zhen Huan.
Zhen Huan thought of something and instructed Jinxi, "Jinxi, bring me pen and ink."
Jinxi advised, "Your Majesty, you are still weak. Please wait until you feel better before you write."
Zhen Huan was stubborn and said it again. Jinxi had no choice but to comply with Zhen Huan's request.