Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Zhen Huan Chronicles, An Ling Rong

It was just one plate of pastries, only five or six pieces. Zhen Huan ate one, and the rest was just enough for the people around her to share. Huan Bi was about to step forward…

“Sister Huan, Sister Huan…”

A bright, happy shout came from outside. A sweet, lively figure rushed in, squeezing Huan Bi aside. Huan Bi clenched her teeth in anger and shot a hard glare at Attendant Fang, who had already plopped herself onto the couch. Attendant Fang picked up a mung-bean cake and started eating, saying happily, “So good!

This is really good! Sister Huan, I knew you’d have pastries here. Hee hee.” As she ate, she did not forget to flash Zhen Huan a huge smile.

“If Chun’er likes it, then eat.” Zhen Huan looked at her with a doting face. “It’s not anything valuable. Next time you’re hungry, just come to me.”

“Mhm, mhm! Sister Huan, you’re the best.” Attendant Fang grabbed another piece, took a bite, and her little face showed a satisfied smile. “Sister Huan, I’m going to the Imperial Garden to play.”

Without caring what anyone else looked like, she snatched two pieces of pastry and ran out while eating. Zhen Huan watched her dash away and could not help calling out, “Be careful.”

“Got it, Sister Huan!” Attendant Fang’s sweet, silly reply came from outside.

Zhen Huan smiled and shook her head. Seeing only one piece of pastry left, Huan Bi was so angry her nose practically went crooked.

“My lady, how can you indulge her like this?” Huan Bi could not hold back the anger in her heart. “My lady isn’t pregnant like Noble Lady Shen, able to eat as many pastries as she wants. Are we supposed to take silver and trade for pastries just to feed her?”

“Huan Bi, it’s only a plate of pastries. Don’t argue with Attendant Fang, that child.” Thinking Huan Bi was standing up for her, Zhen Huan still patiently tried to persuade her.

Then she reached out and touched her belly, her expression turning firm. “If Sister Mei can get pregnant, then I can get pregnant too.”

“May the emperor choose My Lady’s nameplate.”

… Huan Bi’s words ended up hitting the mark. That night, the emperor really chose Wan Attendant’s nameplate. For the next several days, it was Wan Attendant serving him in bed. The previously quiet Sui Yu Pavilion became lively again.

“Showered with favor!” Li Si Qi said with a beaming smile. “The mistress of Sui Yu Pavilion and her servants have confidence again, strutting around and showing off. Oh right-during this time, Zhen Huan is already pregnant. I wonder if she can keep that little fetus steady when she’s serving every single night. Hahaha…”

“Master, Zhen Huan is the female lead. She has a uterus of steel. Nothing will happen to the child in her belly.”

“That’s true.” Li Si Qi nodded in full agreement. “Other than Her Majesty the Empress, that miscarriage captain, it won’t be easy for anyone else to make her lose the child.”

“Master, there’s a lot of musk in Noble Lady Shen’s Cun Ju Hall and in Zhen Huan’s Sui Yu Pavilion. Should we help them clean it out?”

“No need.” Li Si Qi’s smile grew even brighter. “Whether they can keep their children depends on them. That goes for Consort Hua and Noble Lady Bo Er Ji Ji Te too. If they can keep the child, that’s their skill.”

“Master, all three mistresses in Yan Xi Palace are pregnant. If other people can’t keep their children but you give birth and raise yours, won’t that be too eye-catching?”

“So what?” Li Si Qi snorted with a laugh. “I want to be eye-catching. Right now the whole palace thinks we’re fools, but those three fools will give birth, and raise the children. Also, Xia Dong Chun and I still haven’t exposed our pregnancies. That woman, the Empress, will definitely keep her eyes on Noble Lady Fu Cha. Put more effort into it-turn Yan Xi Palace into a fortress. No one gets to reach into Yan Xi Palace.”

“Don’t worry, Master. Everything unclean in Yan Xi Palace was already cleared out by me.”

“What about the people?” Li Si Qi narrowed her eyes and ordered, “No matter whose people they are, feed them Puppet Pills. I won’t allow anyone to betray the mistresses of Yan Xi Palace.”

“Anyone with ill intent has already taken it.”

“Whose people were they?”

“The emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Consort Duan, Concubine Jing, Consort Qi…”

“Well, that’s a full set.” Li Si Qi chuckled. “I really don’t get it. All these big shots love stuffing people into every palace to spy. But when something harmful happens, or a concubine sneaks around, these people act like they’re blind and deaf, like they know nothing at all-like they don’t need to report to the master behind them.”

“Master, you’re taking it too seriously. Don’t forget this is just a small world derived from a drama.”

“True. I got stuck on it.” Li Si Qi touched her belly and ordered, “There are already plenty of pregnant women in this batch-enough to give Her Majesty the Empress a headache. Little Teapot, go give the emperor some contraceptive medicine. Let the others get pregnant again in three years.”

“Yes!” Little Teapot vanished at once.

… Imperial Garden! Li Si Qi looked calm as she paid her respects to the smug-looking Zhen Huan. “Greetings to Noble Lady Wan.” She had been favored for several days in a row.

It seemed that figurine really did have some power. Before she even exposed her pregnancy, the emperor had already promoted her to Noble Lady.

“Attendant Xin, no need for such courtesy!” Zhen Huan wore a faint smile, unconsciously putting on a high-and-mighty air. “I believe Attendant Xin will be promoted soon as well. When the time comes, we’ll both be Noble Ladies.”

“Oh? Who are you?” Li Si Qi snapped back without any politeness. “Are you the Empress Dowager, or Her Majesty the Empress? Do you have the authority to promote consorts?”

“Attendant Xin, what nonsense are you saying?” Zhen Huan’s face changed abruptly, and she could not help scolding her. “That’s not what I meant. Don’t try to frame me.”

“You said it yourself, didn’t you?” Li Si Qi rolled her eyes at her. “Am I not allowed to ask clearly? You dare say it but won’t admit it-then you might as well shut your mouth and stop talking.”

“Attendant Xin, you’re far too insolent, daring to disrespect Noble Lady Wan!” Huan Bi spoke up directly, scolding her. “And you’re deliberately twisting Noble Lady Wan’s meaning. Aren’t you afraid of being punished?”

“What are you, exactly?” Li Si Qi laughed in anger. “What-are you, a maid, going to decide things for your mistress? We consorts are talking-what right do you have to butt in? Believe it or not, I’ll have someone smash that filthy mouth of yours.”

“You…”

Huan Bi, furious and unwilling, was just about to retort. Zhen Huan quickly spoke to reprimand her softly, “Huan Bi, step back.”

“My lady!”

“Step back!”

“Yes!”

Huan Bi felt unbearably wronged. Even as she stepped back, she did not forget to glare at Li Si Qi.

“Idiot.” Li Si Qi could not help mocking her. “Do you not know what you are? Daring to act arrogant in front of me-truly asking for death.”

Before leaving, she even shot them a look like they were fools…. Zhen Huan’s face sank. Huan Bi looked embarrassed and angry. “My lady, look at her…”

“We’ll talk after we get back.” Zhen Huan ignored Huan Bi and turned around to leave.

Sui Yu Pavilion.

“My lady, An Ling Rong is bullying people too much.” Huan Bi’s eyes brimmed with tears, as if she had suffered a great grievance. “She’s only the daughter of an eighth-rank county magistrate-how dare she treat My Lady like that?”

“An Ling Rong is just a simpleton. Why are you arguing with her?” Zhen Huan felt uncomfortable too.

She had thought she could finally hold her head high in front of that simpleton. Who knew that simpleton would not follow the script at all? Instead, she ended up furious.

“My lady, your rank is higher than hers.” Huan Bi could not help offering a vicious idea. “Next time she dares disrespect you again, that will be ‘a junior offending a senior.’ My lady can punish her directly and teach her a lesson.”